Kiriel shamelessly answered and sat back down on the sofa. He noticed her deep fatigue and some change in Kana’s aura.

While Kana sighed instead of answering, he continued speaking nonchalantly.

“Miss Kana, did your spirit’s rank increase by any chance?”

“Yes. You always notice changes in my aura quickly. You’re the first to realize it, Lord Kiriel.”

Kana clapped her hands in mock surprise, praising him. In reality, Celia had been promoted to the highest rank, and she had adjusted her disguised rank to intermediate accordingly.

Regardless of her true feelings, Kiriel felt pleased by her words. He ran his hand through his hair with a confident air and smiled brightly.

“Of course, it’s me. By the way, you said you’d raise the rank, and you really did it. Congratulations.”

“Thank you. I made good use of the spirit stone you gave me, Lord Kiriel.”

Though it was unusual for him to congratulate her sincerely, she smiled warmly without showing it. Kiriel’s eyes filled with curiosity.

“Oh, so you fed the spirit stone and it reached the intermediate rank?”

“Yes. I think the spirit stone supplemented the energy from all the training so far.”

Kana added an explanation. Kiriel clenched and unclenched his fist as he pondered, then examined her expression.

“I’d like to ask you to summon the spirit, but you look too tired right now.”

“…Yes.”

Kana shrugged with an embarrassed smile. She thought they might move past it without further comment, but suddenly, Kiriel’s eyes sharpened.

“Something did happen at the monster hunting festival, didn’t it?”

“Yes.”

What a natural build-up. Kana resigned herself and briefly explained the situation. Letie had followed the delayed return of the Second Prince, and she had sent her spirit for reconnaissance while waiting.

Kiriel clicked his tongue and ruffled his hair.

“Tsk, I get the gist. Since the imperial family is involved, there will definitely be an investigation. It’ll be pointless, though. Just more unnecessary work when I’m already busy.”

“You must be tired.”

No one welcomed meaningless extra work. The same was true for characters in the novel. For once, she genuinely sympathized with him.

Kiriel nodded and spoke.

“Still, it’s a relief that you told me in advance, Miss Kana. If I’d heard suddenly while working, I would’ve been furious.”

“You need time to prepare a suitably polished report, right?”

Kana responded absentmindedly, recalling her own work experiences. Kiriel subtly probed her.

“Yes. But you seem to know a lot about paperwork, Miss Kana, even back in the West.”

“Oh, it’s just from occasionally observing my parents. I’m just guessing.”

Kana modestly offered a reasonable excuse. Boasting would only increase her workload unnecessarily.

Unless there was a star rating involved, she didn’t want to add more tasks.

Kiriel clapped his hands and changed the subject.

“Well, let’s move past the complicated stuff. You helped Lady Serade again, didn’t you?”

“It’s only natural to help a friend in danger if you can.”

“But you’re particularly lenient with that lady.”

Kiriel hit the nail on the head. His violet eyes, reminiscent of violets, were full of questions.

Usually, characters in novels would see supporting characters helping and praising the main characters and think nothing of it.

Sometimes, characters would have doubts, but they would become accustomed to it over time. Especially someone like Kiriel, who saw supporting characters as less significant than pebbles on the street, wouldn’t care.

‘Well, Letie is the female protagonist I need to support in my role. No wonder he seemed oddly displeased recently…’

Maybe it was because he was such a self-centered character. His tone seemed like someone sulking over losing a friend’s attention. After some thought, Kana looked him straight in the eye and answered.

“That’s because I want to maintain our friendship. Of course, if another close person were in a similar situation, I would help them too.”

“What about me?”

His eyes were sharp, determined to get a definite answer. Kana calmly replied with a polite smile.

“The same goes for you, Lord Kiriel.”

“Wow, are you serious?”

“Yes. Unless you don’t like it, of course.”

Kana waved her hand dismissively, feeling annoyed. Kiriel laughed heartily at her response. His eyes softened, and his lips curved into a gentle smile.

She said she would help him. For someone who had been asked for help ever since his magical talents bloomed, it felt refreshing. The sense of being within acceptable bounds wasn’t bad.

‘Is my comment that funny?’

Unable to understand his feelings, Kana watched him laugh heartily, half resigned.

Kiriel finally stopped laughing and wiped the small tears from the corners of his eyes with his shirt sleeve.

Kana spoke slowly.

“…Are you done laughing now?”

“Yes. Sorry if I surprised you. Anyway, I’ll remember what you said.”

His violet eyes sparkled with amusement. Kana nodded indifferently.

“Please do.”

“Don’t forget later.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not bold enough to deceive the Master of the Magic Tower.”

Kana replied shamelessly, shrugging. Kiriel chuckled. If anyone else said it, it might have seemed annoying, but she was different. She knew how to keep proper boundaries.

Contrary to Kiriel’s feelings, Kana wanted to send him off soon. She cleared her throat, looking at him as he silently watched her.

“Ahem, Lord Kiriel. Now that I’ve told you everything about the incident at the monster hunting festival, have you finished your business here?”

“Hold on.”

Kiriel’s eyes turned serious. Kana tilted her head in confusion.

“…Do you have more to discuss?”

“Yes. Did you receive a return gift for the handkerchief from Alderaan Short at the monster hunting festival?”

“Of course. He gave me a high-quality spirit stone.”

She didn’t know why he was curious, but she answered honestly. Kiriel stroked his chin, hesitated, then asked.

“Are you keeping that spirit stone somewhere special?”

“Yes. It’s stored in the subspace of my ring.”

“Just curious, could you show it to me?”

Kiriel’s eyes gleamed sharply. He seemed genuinely interested.

‘Does he want to check the spirit stone?’

Kana took out the subspace ring from the small drawer by her bed. She didn’t know his intentions, but showing it once wouldn’t harm the spirit stone.

After a brief hesitation, she retrieved the spirit stone from the subspace and placed it in her palm. The large purple spirit stone almost covered her hand.

It was quite a strong spirit stone from a monster. Kiriel’s eyes sparkled. It seemed Alderaan Short was more capable than his public image suggested.

Some people kept spirit stones as mementos from the monster hunting festival. Thinking that Kana cherished the spirit stone from Alderaan made Kiriel’s mood sink.

Impulsively, he spoke.

“Miss Kana, would you sell me that spirit stone?”

“What?”

“I might need it. I’ll pay you well.”

Kiriel extended his hand naturally.

Kana hesitated. Handkerchiefs or return gifts were usually kept out of respect for the giver’s sincerity, but supporting characters didn’t put much meaning into it.

She wouldn’t mind if her industry friend treated the handkerchief as he pleased. Similarly, Alderaan wouldn’t care how she used the spirit stone.

Given Kiriel’s status as a sub male lead, he wouldn’t go to such lengths to cheat her out of a mere spirit stone. After weighing her options, Kana finally agreed.

“Alright. I’ll sell you the spirit stone, Lord Kiriel.”

“Really?”

Kiriel blinked in surprise at her unexpectedly straightforward response. Kana nodded and added.

“Yes. You’ll pay a good price and use the spirit stone more efficiently than I would, right? I believe it’s better to use special materials than leave them unprocessed.”

“You’re practical.”

“I suppose I am.”

Kana smiled faintly. She had always been practical, but working as a supporting character made it more pronounced.

She handed the spirit stone to Kiriel. He put it away and took out a money pouch from his subspace, placing it on the small drawer.

Kana put the money pouch into her ring’s subspace. Judging by its weight and a quick glance, she realized he had given her more than the market price.

One thing she liked about typical romance novels was that the male protagonist or sub male lead was never stingy with money. Kana smiled softly.

“Thank you, Lord Kiriel.”

“You’re welcome.”

Kiriel nodded. For him, it was a minor expense.

Having successfully completed the transaction with the sub male lead, Kana couldn’t resist yawning long and wide.

Kiriel watched her cover her mouth with her hand, her eyelashes fluttering, and casually remarked.

“Miss Kana, are you sleepy?”

“Yes. As I mentioned earlier, I used a lot of energy at the monster hunting festival. You must be tired too, Lord Kiriel. How about going back and taking a rest?”

Kana suggested with a gentle smile, hoping to send him off. Sensing her intention to get rid of him, Kiriel asked mischievously.

“What if I stay until you fall asleep?”

“…Please consider our social reputations.”

Kana’s eyes dulled as she replied reluctantly.

Kiriel clicked his tongue at her firm stance. If she wanted to kick him out, she should at least be kind about it. Feeling frustrated, he gently tousled her hair.

‘…What is he doing all of a sudden?’