In the dead of night, a shadow fell across the balcony.

The tall figure carefully opened the door and entered.

The soft moonlight illuminated the man as he quietly approached the bed.

Black hair and black eyes.

He stood crookedly, looking down at me.

“Seems like you’re alright.”

A low murmur echoed.

As if confirming what he wanted, he turned to leave without hesitation.

I quickly sat up and grabbed his hem.

“……!”

“Where are you going?”

You tardy bondservant.

I glared up at him, and Carl looked flustered.

“…You were awake?”

“Yeah. I slept a lot during the day.”

So, when I saw a familiar silhouette beyond the curtain, I pretended to be asleep.

“I was wondering when you’d come. You carried me from the Tower to the mansion, right? So why are you sneaking in like a guilty person late at night?”

“I couldn’t just intrude among the nobles.”

Carl answered calmly, sitting lightly on the edge of the bed.

I frowned.

“Who’s giving you a hard time? You’re my bondservant. From now on, don’t hesitate to come see me.”

“……”

“Honestly, I was a bit upset you didn’t visit. I wanted to thank you and praise you for doing your bondservant role well.”

Carl, listening quietly, chuckled.

He leaned slightly toward me, resting his hand on the blanket.

“How were you going to praise me?”

“Hmm… like this?”

Smiling, I reached out and patted Carl’s head.

His hair, as if soaked in ink, was softer than expected and had a fluffy texture due to its thickness.

Wow, it’s so fluffy.

Though he paused momentarily, he lowered his head, allowing me to pet him more comfortably without resistance.

“Are you satisfied?”

“Yeah, it feels like petting a black puppy.”

“It feels a bit strange hearing it that way…”

Carl murmured, furrowing his brow. I giggled and ruffled his hair messily.

Without complaint, Carl shook his head once and smoothed his hair back.

That made him look even more like a dog, but I decided to keep that a secret in my heart.

“Is that all for the praise? Aren’t you giving me a gift?”

“A gift? Do you want a gift?”

I widened my eyes.

Could it be that my bondservant finally developed a desire for material things?

“If there’s something you want within my entire fortune of 600,000 gold…”

“Master, are you silly? I’m not wishing for material things.”

“Then what do you want?”

Looking up at him in confusion, I held my breath.

“……!”

Carl leaned forward, drawing close.

His features, finely chiseled like a sculpture, with a hint of boyish charm, made me think.

‘His face is insane…’

Isn’t this the real gift?

Noticing my wandering thoughts, he frowned slightly before speaking.

“Promise me you’ll take me with you next time, no matter the moment.”

“Uh…?”

“I’m officially hired as your bondservant, but it feels pathetic not being able to do anything in dangerous times.”

“Ah…”

“I want that promise as my gift.”

His voice was very firm.

Moved by my bondservant’s strong sense of duty, I nodded.

“Alright, then I’ll bring you as my escort knight to Lady Celsior’s party.”

“……”

His firm arm and broad shoulders, supporting himself on the bed, noticeably flinched.

Carl stood up and said decisively.

“You go alone.”

“……?”

What, how can someone change their words so easily?

I asked, bewildered.

“Didn’t you just say ‘no matter the moment’?”

“I’ll correct that. ‘No matter the moment I choose.’”

“What does that—”

“It’s late. Try to get some sleep even if you napped a lot.”

Carl unilaterally bid farewell and leapt off the balcony before I could protest.

What the…

What kind of thug-like bondservant is this?

* * *

Carl was lost when he first met Shailyn on the street.

He was like a ship without a captain, like a compass that had lost its direction.

It hadn’t always been this way.

In fact, he had quietly persevered toward a single goal for a long time.

But everything changed when he was betrayed by someone he trusted.

‘Gus, why did you…’

‘I no longer need you.’

‘What…?’

‘Don’t forgive someone like me. But don’t forgive your own foolishness either. One should not trust people easily.’

‘You…!’

He stabbed Carl in the abdomen and set fire to the cabin where they stayed before fleeing.

Thus, Carl was abandoned.

Barely surviving, he wandered aimlessly, having lost his purpose in life, like a puppet with its strings cut.

What should someone who has lost everything live for now?

Not knowing where to go, he drifted without a destination until he accidentally bumped into Shailyn and was attacked by her.

That strange encounter led him to become Shailyn’s bondservant.

It was a rather impulsive decision.

‘I feel like I could be useful to this woman.’

He felt this while rescuing her at the Viewglass Inn.

For Carl, who had been wandering after losing his purpose, being needed by someone had a greater impact than he thought.

Thus, he inadvertently took her as his master and observed her from the side. Shailyn was unpredictable and whimsical.

Her goal of marrying a handsome blonde man was peculiar, to say the least.

Yet, she had a way of saying things that shook Carl’s heart.

‘Not everyone lives with grand goals. Many people work hard today just to eat their favorite jam on bread tomorrow.’

‘…Is it possible to live life on such trivial things?’

It was a conversation they had on the way to the capital.

Shailyn’s remarks completely contradicted his way of thinking.

Carl only knew a life of running towards a grand goal of reclaiming everything he had lost.

Thus, he couldn’t fully agree with her.

‘I can’t possibly live on trivial goals.’

This thought persisted even after entering the Duke of Diart’s residence.

While teaching Shailyn swordsmanship, he was secretly filled with discontent.

‘Why am I wasting my energy on this foolish task?’

He knew better than anyone that pouring effort into an impossible task wouldn’t end well.

The sooner one gives up, the better.

That way, there’s less hurt, and the aftermath of failure doesn’t last as long.

But Shailyn didn’t listen to him, stubbornly dragging him into pointless endeavors.

At first, it was annoying, but gradually, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

It was truly strange.

At some point, Carl began to cheer for her perseverance and effort.

And when Shailyn finally achieved victory in the sparring with the Crown Prince…

Carl’s heart quietly stirred. She shone with life, vibrant and alive.

‘She’s… different from me.’

He wasn’t sure exactly what emotions he felt about that fact, but he was mostly relieved that she achieved her goal.

Later, when Shailyn was carried out unconscious from the Tower, in stark contrast to the sparring,

Carl felt his heart sink.

‘You can’t die. Not here, not like this, not yet…’

He fervently prayed, realizing that his life, which had lost its driving force, was now revolving around Shailyn.

While organizing his thoughts alone, Carl made a decision.

From now on, his small goal to keep living would be to protect Shailyn.

Even if she didn’t need him.

‘I’ll follow you.’

Perhaps then, someday, a new meaning might emerge in his life.

7. The Uninvited Guest is Too Much

Finally, I was free from bed rest.

As promised, Deborah secured an invitation to Lady Celsior’s party for me.

I prepared diligently for the party, getting a new dress tailored at the boutique Deborah recommended.

Deborah kindly offered help where I lacked.

“I picked out some accessories from my collection that would suit you. How are they?”

“Thank you, they’re all so beautiful.”

Deborah, wearing a proud smile, suddenly grabbed my hand and spoke seriously.

“Remember, the capital’s social scene is like a jungle. Show even a little vulnerability, and they’ll tear you apart.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, even if your lips look pale, rumors will spread that you’re gravely ill.”

…That’s intense.

Even the hostile Sharofe territory wasn’t that extreme.

“But trust me. I’ll make sure you’re dressed to impress so you won’t feel intimidated.”

Deborah assured confidently.

Under her guidance, I was polished and shined from the day before the party.

Mentally, I’m exhausted, but the result on the outside was…