Kana tilted her head. Kiriel looked at her with eyes full of interest and curiosity.

“They’re adapted to the environment and have experience, but this is your first time. Isn’t it more surprising that a young lady who’s been quietly staying in the capital is now active?”

“Um, well. I just managed somehow.”

“Aha, so Miss Kana has an aptitude for practical work.”

He accepted it with a gentle smile, making her inner worries seem needless. Being talented at everything himself, he seemed to understand easily.

“I didn’t know that about myself either.”

Kana played along smoothly. As they ate together in the quiet atmosphere, Kiriel suddenly spoke up.

“Ah right, since you went to complete a request, you must have Nubes with you?”

“Of course.”

“Then after we finish eating, let’s reinforce it in the workshop. Since your spirit’s grade has risen.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Kana lowered her eyes slightly. Though she was grateful for his casual care, conflicting feelings coexisted.

‘I shouldn’t get used to his kindness and let my feelings deepen like this…… This is bad.’

The experience and affection that seep in with good feelings last long. She might suddenly remember them even while working on other novels. She focused on eating while carefully managing her expression.

After finishing the meal, Kiriel took her to the workshop. Kana held Nubes, took a slow deep breath, and summoned her wind spirit. Celia quickly scanned the surroundings and blurted out.

[Kana, are we doing equipment reinforcement with Kiriel again?]

‘Yes.’

[Oh my, it’s become so natural we’re used to it.]

‘I know.’

Kana let out a resigned laugh.

Kiriel silently watched her chatting with the wind spirit. Though it hadn’t been long since it rose to high-grade, a quite stable energy surrounded her.

As if rather than rising from below to above, it was like something that had been below for some reason was pulled back up.

Usually the higher a spirit’s grade, the harder it is to control, but instead it was more smoothly refined.

Detecting this subtle dissonance and lost in thought, he was pulled back by Kana’s clear voice.

“Lord Kiriel, should I use wind spirit arts this time too?”

“No, since it’s high-grade, let’s use a different method if you’re okay with it.”

His eyes turned resolute.

‘What, there are different measurement methods from high-grade?’

The protagonists of ‘Fake Saint’ weren’t spirit summoners, so spirit-related settings weren’t detailed in the work. Though slightly puzzled, she trusted him and answered casually.

“Alright, then use whatever method is comfortable for you.”

“Okay.”

Suddenly Kiriel strode closer to her. As Kana and Celia were both bewildered, he carefully added.

“First, hold out and extend one hand.”

“Okay.”

When she followed Kiriel’s instruction in a daze, his hand gently touched hers. While she blinked at their joined hands, he spoke softly.

“Now try flowing your energy while thinking about wrapping my hand with spirit energy.”

“Is that okay? If the energies clash……”

“I can control that much, so don’t worry.”

His long fingers tightly interlaced between her fingers. Kana flinched before carefully flowing her spirit energy.

Watching this scene, Celia let out a hollow laugh.

[What’s this, did he just want to hold hands with our contractor? Somehow I feel like my grade was just used as an excuse.]

‘Would Kiriel, who takes work seriously, do something troublesome for just that reason? There must be reasons for everything.’

She defended him. Celia clicked her tongue.

[……Didn’t you say before that main and sub male leads in romance stories would do anything for someone they like?]

‘That’s true but isn’t it awkward to say that in this situation?’

[Instead of agreeing you’re defending him…… You’ve been wrapped up by him.]

‘Haha.’

Kana laughed awkwardly and evaded answering. Kiriel softly called to her when her attention momentarily wavered.

“Miss Kana.”

“Ah, is there a problem with the energy?”

“It wavered a bit. Please do it again.”

Kiriel still didn’t release their interlaced hands. Kana nodded and said.

“Okay. But how long will this take?”

“Until I say it’s done.”

“Alright.”

Though her energy was spirit energy, his was mana so there seemed to be differences. Kana silently followed his request. The task only ended after some time had passed.

“Done. Now give me Nubes.”

A strange regret could be felt in his voice as he slowly unclasped their hands.

Kana dismissed her spirit summon and handed over Nubes. As before, Kiriel skillfully worked on the magic tool.

Kana silently watched him focus on his work and Nubes glowing white while wrapped in mana.

Not long after, Kiriel finished and handed the adjusted Nubes back to her.

“All done.”

“Thank you as always. I’ll try it out and send you feedback again.”

“Okay, and tell me anytime if something doesn’t fit.”

“Yes.”

Kana nodded while handling Nubes. As she was about to leave the workshop with him, she remembered the snow essence in her ring’s subspace and stopped. Kiriel made a puzzled expression.

“Miss Kana, what’s wrong?”

“Ah, I have something to give you, Lord Kiriel. Just a moment.”

She took out five snow essence from her ring’s subspace and handed them to him. Kiriel received them in surprise and admired the condition of the snow essence.

“Wow, these are good snow essence with abundant energy.”

“Yes. I received more than expected and thought of you, so I brought them.”

The corners of Kana’s eyes curved prettily. Though she thought it didn’t suit her, actually handing them over made her feel proud.

Kiriel was happy to receive the high-quality snow essence, but he was even more pleased by her words that she had thought of him and brought them. He asked with a broad smile to confirm.

“You thought of me?”

“Yes. Since they’re good quality materials, I thought they’d be helpful to you.”

“Thank you, I’ll use them well.”

Kiriel carefully put away the snow essence. Unusually, he even felt they were too precious to use as materials.

After finishing in the workshop, they moved to the reception room and had tea while making small talk.

After spending comfortable time with him and returning to the mansion, she quickly swallowed the remaining snow essence to absorb their energy.

* * *

After adapting to the adjusted Nubes and properly integrating the energy from the swallowed snow essence, Kana handled her busy schedule and sent feedback in report form to Kiriel.

Around then, the protagonists’ wedding date was officially set. Her eyelashes trembled as she held the elegant letter while her spirits sat at the desk.

‘The protagonists’ wedding is already in a month. Time really flies.’

[I thought you’d be happy since it’s almost the ending, but your complexion is dark. Is it because of Kiriel?]

‘……Yes.’

Kana smiled weakly. Kiriel was still friendly to her. What should she do if his attitude doesn’t change even after the ending?

There were clearly several points where the flow had gone wrong, and the lack of system warning messages and star rating changes from the Otherworldly Library also bothered her.

Overwhelmed by troubled feelings, she just messed with her hair. Celia and Gnome noticed their contractor’s low mood and silently comforted her.

Just then, light came on in the communication crystal on the desk.

‘Of all times, to get a call while thinking about Kiriel.’

The timing was quite coincidental. Kana clicked her tongue and answered. Kiriel’s excited voice flowed from the communication crystal.

— Miss Kana, did you hear about His Highness the Crown Prince and Lady Serade’s wedding news?

“Yes. I just received the letter. It seems it will be held grandly in the palace hall.”

She deliberately responded formally. She didn’t want him to notice her complex feelings. Fortunately, Kiriel was focused on other aspects and naturally continued the conversation.

— They picked quite an appropriate timing. Since you’ll definitely attend, I can meet you there.

“I suppose so.”

— Um, and……”

Kiriel hesitated and trailed off. Kana spoke the words he wanted to say.

“After Lady Letie and His Highness the Crown Prince’s wedding ends, I should give you the answer I promised on the last day of the Founding Festival.”

— Ah, that was the main point but hearing you say it makes me nervous. I wish the month would pass quickly.

“……I see.”

Kana smiled faintly while listening to his emotionally elevated lines. Kiriel asked with puzzlement at her flat voice.

— Miss Kana, are you feeling unwell?

“No. I’m a bit tired from focusing long on spirit arts training.”

Kana made an ordinary excuse. Kiriel comforted her with genuine concern.

— It’s good to work hard but don’t overdo it. You’re already doing well enough.

“Yes.”

— Drink some healing water or release some spirit energy and rest well. It’ll help relieve fatigue.

“Alright.”

The communication crystal disconnected. Kana closed her eyes and took slow deep breaths. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

It was her personal maid. Lena carefully observed her resting mistress’s mood and spoke up.

“Miss, the Viscount is calling for you. He asked you to come to his office.”

“Father? I heard he was going to the west today.”

Kana narrowed her eyes and straightened her posture. Her mother had also gone to a noble ladies’ gathering, so she was supposed to be alone briefly. Lena carefully hinted.

“He said he has something to discuss with you about that matter.”

“I see.”

Kana tidied her clothes and left the room with her spirits flanking her.

Soon arriving at her father’s office, she carefully knocked on the door.

“Father, it’s me.”