Romei appeared calm, seemingly having anticipated that Barmas would ask such a question.

This question actually touched on something that Romei herself found most curious and strange.

Romei blinked her clear, transparent blue eyes slowly before expressing her sincere feelings.

“You know that I could have killed you if I wanted to. And it’s not like I lacked reasons to do so.”

“…I know.”

Barmas acknowledged this with a troubled expression, lowering his gaze.

It was undeniably his fault that she had come so close to death she couldn’t even properly hold a spoon. He had no defense, even if he had two mouths to speak with.

Romei continued calmly.

“Though I decided to live because of you, you were also the main reason I had resolved to die, so I struggled with this for a long time. I couldn’t make up my mind.”

“…”

“But the moment I saw you collapsed, my mind was made up automatically. That’s why, despite having plenty of reasons and motives to kill you, I chose to save you instead.”

Barmas, who had been quietly listening to her, asked a question. There seemed to be a crucial part missing from her explanation.

“What exactly made up your mind to save me? You need to tell me that.”

Unlike Barmas, who was anxious to hear the answer immediately, Romei simply smiled gently and replied unhurriedly.

“I’ll tell you later. Right now, we should check if your physical condition is okay.”

“I’m perfectly fine. And your feelings are more important than my collapse, so tell me now. Quickly.”

Barmas clung to Romei like a petulant child, but she remained firm.

“How can I trust what you say? Have you forgotten that you lied to me about your physical condition and then collapsed?”

“Well, that’s true, but… Can’t you just tell me now? Does it have to be later?”

“Consider it punishment for lying to me.”

Romei calmly reasoned with him while guiding him back to lie down.

Though Barmas obediently lay down, he looked at Romei with complex emotions—both upset and hurt that she wouldn’t tell him something so important.

His gaze was intense enough to bore holes in her face, but Romei didn’t budge. She simply answered with a gentle and affectionate tone, yet with unwavering resolution.

“No matter how you look at me, I won’t tell you until I hear that you’re definitely okay. But one thing is certain…”

“…?”

“Being with you was my choice. And though it was somewhat difficult, I enjoyed it too. So don’t blame yourself too much. You don’t need to feel sorry toward me.”

With Romei’s additional words, Barmas felt the various negative emotions he had been feeling toward her melt away like snow.

Instead, deep relief filled the empty space.

‘She enjoyed it…’

If that was true, nothing could be more fortunate.

He felt relieved that he hadn’t hurt or wounded Romei, that she wasn’t leaving his side out of disgust toward him.

Noticing his gaze softening and the tension in his facial muscles relaxing, Romei covered him with a blanket and said:

“I’ll call your familiars now.”

“…Where are they that you need to call them?”

“Don’t worry, they’re waiting right outside the door to prevent you from collapsing again like before.”

“Well… that’s good. They’re doing their job well for once.”

Barmas, who had abruptly sat up fearing Romei might go far to call those creatures, sheepishly slid back under the covers after hearing her response.

Finding his behavior somewhat cute, Romei let out a light laugh before standing up and walking toward the door.

When she opened it, Rajie, who had been waiting outside all night, looked at her.

Responding to his gaze that seemed to ask what was happening, Romei said:

“Nothing serious, but Barmas just woke up. Could you check his condition once more to make sure he’s okay? If you’re too tired, we can call someone else.”

“No. I’ll do it.”

Seeing his clear determination, Romei nodded and opened the bedroom door wider to guide him in.

“Then please do. Come inside.”

“Thank you.”

“…Why are you dawdling at the door?”

Uncomfortable with the seemingly intimate interaction between the two, Barmas showed his displeasure and picked a fight with Rajie.

“Is your collapsed master invisible to you?”

Despite lying in bed, Barmas exuded an intimidating presence that made Rajie immediately bow his head in apology.

“I apologize, Lord Barmas. I will ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

“Good. Be careful from now on.”

“Thank you, Lord Barmas.”

Only after receiving forgiveness from Barmas did Rajie lift his head and step forward.

Romei, who had been standing nearby, felt sorry that Rajie had to apologize unnecessarily due to a misunderstanding caused by her, and followed behind him.

Rajie approached the bed where Barmas lay. Romei, following behind him, stood a few steps back to avoid causing any misunderstanding with Barmas.

“Check quickly and finish. Otherwise, I might end up lying in bed until I’m completely recovered.”

“Yes, understood, Lord Barmas. I’ll finish right away.”

When Barmas moved his bright red eyes to indicate where Romei was standing, Rajie bowed his head in understanding, accepting his master’s command.

Barmas’s physical condition wasn’t much different from when they had checked it the previous evening. In fact, it was slightly better than yesterday; the sufficient replenishment of life energy and comfortable sleep seemed to have helped his recovery.

When this information was relayed to Romei, who had been standing behind with an anxious face, she let out a sigh of relief.

“That’s good news. I was worried because he didn’t look well after waking up.”

“…I told you I’m fine. You worry too much.”

Barmas grumbled from the side, happy that Romei was concerned about him yet still harboring some resentment that she wouldn’t tell him her feelings until his condition was confirmed.

Ignoring Barmas’s complaints, Romei made one final confirmation about his condition.

“So he’s really okay now?”

“Yes. Thanks to the sufficient life energy you provided yesterday, Lord Barmas was able to wake up like this. Thank you again.”

“I said it before, but it was nothing special. If he consumes life energy regularly from now on, will he collapse again…?”

“He won’t.”

Romei nodded with relief after receiving the confirmation she wanted from Rajie.

When the conversation seemed to be wrapping up, Barmas, who had been sitting with his back against the headboard, gestured toward Rajie.

Understanding the gesture to mean he should leave quickly without disturbing them, Rajie acted swiftly. He also remembered not to exchange words with Romei.

“Since I’ve completed my task, I’ll take my leave now. Please call me anytime if you need anything, Lord Barmas.”

“Alright, go ahead.”

Despite Rajie’s polite and respectful greeting, Barmas responded indifferently and waved his hand.

Though he didn’t explicitly say “get out,” Barmas’s body language spoke volumes, and Rajie vanished like smoke following his gesture.

Seeing his frosty attitude that seemed colder than a winter wind, Romei approached and sat beside him.

“You don’t need to be that cold to someone who worked hard for your sake.”

“You’re the one who saved me, so what hard work did he do? You worked the hardest.”

“It’s true that I gave you life energy, but without Rajie and the other familiars’ efforts, you wouldn’t be sitting here like this.”

“…”

Left speechless by Romei’s accurate and correct observation, Barmas averted his gaze and pretended not to hear.

What she said was true, and though he knew it well, he didn’t want to admit it readily. Moreover, he didn’t like how close she seemed to have become with his subordinates.

“Barmas.”

Along with Romei’s soft, admonishing call, he felt soft skin and warm heat touch the back of his hand.

This drew Barmas’s gaze unconsciously to his hand. Her small, snow-white hand rested on his like a cream decoration on a cake.

While Barmas was distracted by Romei’s fingertips caressing his hand, she continued speaking.

“Tell them later that they did well and thank them. They’ll surely appreciate you more deeply for it.”

“…”

“And you seem to dislike me getting involved with your familiars, so I’d also like you to tell them I’m sorry they got scolded because of me.”

“When did I ever…”

Barmas grumbled, pretending to be nonchalant despite his ear lobes turning bright red at being caught jealous of the seemingly intimate relationship between the two.

Noticing this, Romei asked playfully:

“Then, can you call that familiar back? I want to apologize directly.”

“Alright, fine. I’ll relay the message, okay? I just can’t win against you.”

Barmas shook his head in surrender while pulling the corners of his mouth into a smile.

He liked that Romei cared about him, and he appreciated that she recognized his jealousy and was being considerate.

Perhaps it was also because she had silently taken his hand.

Barmas simply liked Romei. That’s why, in the end, he could only smile and listen to what she said.