Sage was Saena’s brother, but their faces were a bit different. One resembled the paternal side, and the other the maternal side.

But Yuri and Saena looked like they shared the same side, like siblings.

“The love I meant is exactly this. Sibling love.”

“……I see.”

But it was strange to feel sibling affection just because they looked alike.

“Did you make him look like this on purpose?”

“Huh?”

“Is it possible to change his appearance…?”

Yuri snorted and shook his head.

“Are you asking if Morev can change his form? If it’s possible, tell him to try.”

Yuri conveyed his message through Saena.

He thought that if he were in human form, he could speak directly like other Guardian Spirits, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.

Constantine summoned Morev.

The black lion appeared, his mane fluttering as he stared intently at Yuri.

Suddenly, his mind started to race.

—What is this? What is this? This can’t be right! Human form?! Me too! Me too! I want to try! Master! Ask how to do it! Please!

Caligo had been unusually quiet during their stay at the mansion, but now he burst out with a loud presence.

He had been unusually quiet during their stay at the mansion, likely because Saena didn’t like him being too noisy at night, and he seemed particularly tired from playing with friends late into the night.

After a few days, Caligo suddenly broke the silence and started causing a ruckus.

—Can I talk to him? Please? Master! Please, please, please, pleeease!

Trying to ignore the noisy thoughts in his head, Constantine asked Morev to try changing into another animal form.

—……

Morev quietly shook his head, indicating it was impossible.

Yes, that’s normal.

Guardian Spirits could change their size and presence, but their appearance was fixed.

When they first crossed over from the Spirit Realm and formed a Covenant with their Oathkeeper, their form was set and couldn’t be changed.

So, did Yuri appear with this similar face from the beginning? Or was it a coincidence?

‘It’s too much of a coincidence.’

It was strange…

From the start, Saena had several unusual traits, and they were still evident.

“Did he appear in human form from the beginning?”

“No, after the Awakening.”

What was so special about the Awakening?

Yes, it was special. An oathkeeper without the covenant process, and one who had the aura of protection from the start.

—How does he do it? If he can, I can too! I want to know how! Please, Master! Let me talk to him! Please?

It was noisy, this bastard….

He had always slept with Saena since her awakening, so his mind was usually quiet. When he suddenly burst out, it felt even more exhausting.

‘Maybe I should check the Tower’s records.’

But even if he did, it was unlikely to reveal anything new, given how many other things about Saena defied the norms.

Meanwhile, Caligo, moving through the shadows, approached Yuri and was caught.

Yuri smirked and stomped on the approaching shadow.

—Aaaah! Ow!

How much did he want to learn how to transform into human form that he forgot his aversion to things that were opposite in nature?

Yuri stomped on the shadow, and Caligo screamed in agony.

The one suffering was Constantine. The screams echoed in his head, making it feel like it was about to explode.

“…Could you lift your foot, please?”

Rubbing his temples, he asked Yuri.

Yuri, smirking again, lifted his foot as if granting a favor.

Then, he dematerialized and disappeared.

—Wow! What a jerk! So mean! Stinks too! Only he knows how to do it and won’t share! Creepy, just like his master!

Constantine sighed and took Saena’s hand.

Caligo’s voice immediately intruded.

“Is the misunderstanding cleared up now?”

Why Yolly could take human form.

Why they looked so similar.

There were still many unresolved questions, but knowing ‘his’ identity, they could now reach a compromise.

The feeling of unease from her saying she loved Yuri still lingered, but since it was sibling love, it was somewhat reassuring.

Saena didn’t lie about such things, so he felt a bit relieved.

“…I’m sorry. I must have been a bit overreacting.”

Looking at the embarrassed Constantine, Saena smiled as if understanding.

* * *

A few days later, one early morning.

“…Saya!?”

“Huh!”

Saena suddenly woke up.

“A nightmare?”

Constantine, who had woken up from her groaning in her sleep, was trying to wake her up.

“Ah….”

It was just a dream.

Saena wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and was momentarily dazed.

It wasn’t exactly a nightmare, but it felt like one.

“I dreamed that you had another wife.”

“…What?”

She glared at Constantine, even though it wasn’t his fault, and tears welled up in her eyes.

It was a dream where she wasn’t his wife, but Elizabeth was.

Unlike the past, they had married out of love. They were happy and had several children.

He smiled at Elizabeth, not Saena, with a look so sweet it could drip honey.

“Bad.”

Even though she knew it was just a dream and it never happened, she couldn’t help but feel this way.

“…Saya?”

“Getting cozy with another woman… So affectionate…!”

Constantine was bewildered and flustered.

“And with Elizabeth…!”

“Huh? Elizabeth? Who… Could you mean the Hebeta, that woman?”

Mentioning the name of a woman he had no affection for or connection with made him even more flustered.

Saena, not only saying absurd things but also sobbing, added to his confusion.

“Saya…!”

Tears streamed down her face like a flood.

“It’s just a dream. You know it won’t happen.”

Struggling to console her, he tried to reassure her.

“That woman isn’t even my type. I don’t even remember what she looks like.”

In his panic, he rambled, trying to defend himself.

“I only have eyes for you. I don’t need any other women. I’m not interested in them. And don’t you know, there’s no one else I could touch but you?”  

“Are you disappointed because you can’t touch anyone else?”

She snapped, her eyes filled with tears.

Why she was so irritable, she didn’t know. But she was.

“It’s not that….”

Seeing her glare, tears in her eyes, he quickly spoke.

“You know it’s not true. I’m sorry. I….”

“Sorry? What did you do wrong? What are you sorry for?”

“…I misspoke. That’s not what I meant.”

“You really didn’t mean it?”

“No! Absolutely not!”

Seeing Saena, who kept crying, he earnestly tried to convey his sincerity.

“I love you. Saena. I only have you.”

“……”

“No one else matters to me. Even if I could touch anyone, it wouldn’t mean anything if it’s not you.”

“…Really?”

“All the good things, all the happiness, come from you. It’s true, and I mean it.”

Why am I like this?

Saena knew her behavior was a bit strange.

Even though she was making unreasonable demands, Constantine’s gentle and loving response helped her regain her composure.

“Yes. I love you too.”

“It was definitely a terrible dream. Let’s forget about it.”

“Okay….”

Yes, it was a terrible dream.

It shouldn’t happen, and it wouldn’t happen.

Wiping away her tears, Saena snuggled into Constantine’s arms.

Feeling quite drained from the brief bout of crying, she soon fell back asleep.

* * *

Later that afternoon, Saena told Yuri about the dream.

She mentioned how it made her cry so much and how bad it felt.

Yuri, who had been listening, suddenly looked at her seriously, as if scrutinizing her.

“…What, what are you doing?”

He even seemed to be examining her body, as if measuring something.

“Wow.”

Did I gain some weight? I did eat a lot during the celebration.

“Why, why…?”

…Did I gain weight? she was about to ask when Yuri scowled.

“Your husband, that bastard! Ugh….”

Then, he suddenly started muttering angrily.

I don’t mind him taking my side, but he doesn’t need to swear….

“Actually, it wasn’t Constantine’s fault…. It was just a dream, and I….”

It’s one thing for me to see my own bad dreams, but it’s another for someone else to defend him. Saena felt a bit embarrassed.

“Ah, that’s not it….”

Yuri continued irritably.

“The energy is weak and not very clear, so I was waiting for it to become more definite before I said anything. But now I see…. That brat of a husband of yours….”

“Energy? What energy? What did you mean by ‘becoming more definite’?”

“Oh, twins!”

“…What?”

“Putting two in danger by getting you pregnant! What is he thinking, this guy!”

Pregnant?!

“…I’m pregnant?”

Come to think of it, when was the last time she had her period?

“Ugh. Yes, it’s true. And they’re twins!”

The reason for her unusually intense and uncontrollable emotions was now clear.

She had heard that pregnancy could cause mood swings. It must have been the cause.

“……”

Saena’s mouth dropped open in surprise.

Pregnant…? And twins?

It was strange and unreal, yet somehow very real.

Pregnancy and childbirth were new experiences for her. It was unfamiliar and intriguing.

“…Will he be happy?”

She had never heard Constantine talk about having children….

She couldn’t imagine how he would react to the news of her pregnancy.

“Of course he’ll be happy. Why would he not be?”

Who should you thank that you’re so cozy now. Yuri grumbled.

“Twins?”

“Yeah.”

“Like us?”

“…Yeah.”

A lump formed in her throat.

Although she hadn’t officially confirmed it with a doctor, Yuri’s words were unlikely to be wrong.

If so, then they were definitely twins….

“I hope they grow up to be as close as we are.”

Saena felt as if the twins had come to her instead of Yuri, and she had a small wish for them.

“Of course they will.”

Yuri nodded, his eyes glistening slightly, and smiled reassuringly.

“Definitely.”

He smiled, confirming it.

* * *

After revealing his human form, Yuri no longer seemed to hide it. He often appeared in human form, especially in front of Constantine.

He would appear and show excessive affection to Saena, often in a way that was too close.

It seemed like he was deliberately trying to make Constantine jealous, though it was hard to say anything about it.

“Really? You can interpret it that way?”

“Yes, yes. You’re a genius, Yuri!”

Their relationship was not just productive but also academically oriented.

Whatever Yuri said, Saena’s enthusiasm for breaking down Arlesian letters on paper was… very enjoyable and… very engaging.

It was clear that Yuri’s presence was a great help to Saena, and she thoroughly enjoyed the time they spent together.

“Oh, then maybe we can engrave it on the black diamond in this form to activate its function?”

When she asked for a lot of new black diamonds, he brought out the stored ones, and now she was deeply engrossed in research.

Watching them, Constantine felt a growing unease. Was it just because of his personality?

“Wow! Let’s try it right away!”

A Guardian Spirit who knew Arlesian and collaborated on research?

What exactly was this creature….

The wedding gift he made for Sage and Kirsten was probably done in a similar manner.

He couldn’t watch them then because he had to go on a hunt, but they must have discussed and made it together, heads bent in close collaboration.

“…….”

He was very uncomfortable, but it was hard to say anything.

If he left them alone, it would only make him more uneasy, so Constantine awkwardly sat in a corner, watching the two who seemed to be very much in sync and overly affectionate.