Rudis had to clean Noah’s house as payment for forced sleep without a penny to her name, immediately after waking up there. Even while moving the broom across the spotless house, she couldn’t concentrate as memories of Xenon from last night kept flooding back. Fortunately, she managed to leave the house almost like she was being chased out after blankly staring at an unfamiliar document that caught her eye. The moment she escaped Noah’s house, Rudis headed straight for the tavern without hesitation.

Did Xenon manage to escape on his own? He wasn’t captured again by those bad guys while hiding, was he?

The image of him abandoned in the cave with his hands and feet bound and his desperate voice resurfaced in her mind. Xenon had always been playful and relaxed. Last night was the first time she’d seen him so desperate and powerless. Remembering that image made Rudis tremble with anxiety. She felt this trembling wouldn’t stop until she confirmed Xenon was safe.

He has to be okay. What if he’s captured somewhere strange again? What kind of crazy people would do such a thing!

With anger and worry mixing in her heart, Rudis quickened her pace. The familiar path to the tavern felt endlessly long today. Her mind filled with all sorts of worst-case scenarios.

‘What if he’s not at the tavern? Should I go back to the cave? No, what if they moved him somewhere else? I have no one to ask for help…’

Just as her thoughts became increasingly tangled, the tavern door appeared right in front of her. Rudis took a deep breath and composed herself.

He must be here. Yes. Xenon will be here.

“Rudis.”

He’s here!

Xenon’s familiar voice reached her ears. Rudis’s gaze quickly scanned him. He definitely looked paler than before, but just seeing him there brought her relief.

‘Thank goodness. Really, thank goodness. You escaped safely.’

Rudis stared blankly at Xenon for a while before unconsciously letting out a sigh of relief.

“Rudis. Why are you standing there? Come in already. Would you like a beer?”

Xenon asked with his familiar smile. His voice urging Rudis, who had stopped at the doorway, sounded no different than usual. No, it somehow seemed to strangely remind her of last night…

“N-no. I just…”

Rudis hesitated, trailing off. She suddenly remembered she was completely broke. Her mind became complicated, forgetting even why she had come to the tavern.

“Why? Are you short on time?”

At that moment, Rudis felt her breath catch at Xenon’s words.

‘There’s no time!’

She recalled what she had said to Xenon last night. That moment when she pinched her nose, awkwardly disguising her voice while urging about time, was vivid. Could Xenon have recognized her? Rudis tried to hide her flustered appearance, but she couldn’t help the cold sweat breaking out.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

When Rudis remained silent, Xenon stopped wiping glasses and asked with a curious look. Those red eyes seemed to see right through her. Rudis swallowed dryly and forced herself to speak.

“No, not at all! I was just spacing out.”

Rudis quickly shook her head and laughed awkwardly. The pounding of her heart seemed loud enough for Xenon to hear from across the room.

“That’s good then.”

She had spoken with a nasal voice last night to disguise herself, but there was still a possibility he knew. Rudis was overwhelmed with anxiety.

“Don’t just stand there, come in. You’re letting the cold air in.”

Xenon approached the door and gently pulled Rudis inside. She entered the tavern without resistance.

No way. He couldn’t have noticed. If he had, he would have said something by now.

Reassuring herself, Rudis sat down and carefully observed Xenon. His face was paler and his movements slower than usual, but there were no visible injuries, nor did he seem particularly concerned about her.

“What did you do yesterday?”

Xenon returned to his place and casually asked while resuming his glass-wiping. Rudis flinched and unconsciously averted her gaze.

“Just busy with farm work. Nothing special.”

Rudis answered as nonchalantly as possible. She wanted to believe Xenon’s question was just casual conversation.

“Really? That’s good then.”

Xenon nodded slowly with a smile. Just as Rudis was about to relax, his continued questioning kept her on edge.

“But you know.”

Xenon put down the glass and slowly continued.

“Mr. Zimmer said he saw you in the western forest?”

When was that? Rudis felt like her breath stopped. Her heart raced and her palms sweated.

“That’s impossible!”

Rudis hastily waved her hands in denial. But she couldn’t control her trembling voice.

“Right? Mr. Zimmer has bad eyesight, so he must have been confused. Though pink hair as pretty as our little lady’s would be hard to mistake.”

Xenon spoke jokingly as he raised a glass. Rudis just laughed awkwardly while breaking into a cold sweat. She just wanted to go home quickly. While looking for the right moment to say she needed to leave, wiping her sweat, Xenon casually asked another question while cleaning glasses.

“By the way, Rudis, what’s your preference?”

“…Preference?”

Rudis inhaled sharply. She recalled what Xenon had firmly declared while tied up last night.

‘It’s my preference.’

That phrase echoed in her mind, making her face burn red.

“Yes, preference. I’m developing a new menu item. So I was wondering.”

Just as she was relieved and trying to relax upon hearing something completely unrelated to what she’d been thinking, Xenon continued.

“I prefer licking it like this. Hmm, what about you? Do you like that too?”

“Huh.”

Rudis swallowed her breath as she mulled over his words. Was this really a question about a new menu item? Or was he hinting at last night to test her reaction?

“Other people say they prefer sucking on it. But what about you, Rudis?”

“I, I…”

Trailing off and not knowing what to do, Rudis felt sweat running down her back. When she couldn’t answer further, Xenon chuckled and changed the subject.

“Never mind. I should just give up on the new ice cream. It’s too difficult to make.”

So it was just about menu development. I got nervous for nothing.

Just as Rudis finally let out a sigh of relief, Xenon offered her a beer mug.

“Here, special beer.”

“But… I didn’t order anything.”

Xenon smiled leisurely and said, “I can give this much for free. You did me a favor, after all.”

Rudis’s hands trembled slightly as they gripped the glass.

‘He knows… He knows! He’s deliberately teasing me!’

Just as the flustered Rudis was about to say something, Xenon continued with a playful smile.

“This is to thank you for those ingredients you got for me back then. I appreciate it. Looking forward to your help in the future too.”

She nearly revealed everything due to a misunderstanding. Rudis let out another sigh of relief.

“Um… but are you okay physically?”

When Rudis asked cautiously, trying to be vague, Xenon answered with a bright smile.

“Yes, completely fine. Thanks for your concern.”

His white teeth, matching perfectly with his shining red hair, appeared briefly before disappearing beneath his smoothly angled jawline. In that moment, it was like time slowed down—all surrounding noise faded, and only Xenon’s smile remained vividly clear.

Simply calling him handsome or attractive wasn’t enough. Something more intense, more instinctively captivating drew people’s gaze. It was an expression that blended kindness, confidence, and a mischievous hint that he knew something others didn’t.

Facing that smile, Rudis felt her rationality crumbling. It was difficult to continue speaking or look away. Realizing for the first time how a simple smile could be such a powerful weapon, her face grew even hotter.

“I, I should get going now!”

Rudis hastily stood up and fled the tavern. The entrance door shook violently, matching her urgency.

Watching her leave, Xenon licked his lips slightly and muttered while wiping a glass.

“She’s so cute.”

* * *

Though Xenon had returned safely, they still hadn’t found the ‘Sparkler.’

Rudis made her way back to the western forest.

The people who imprisoned Xenon in the cave might still be here.

Entering the cave, Rudis gripped her knife handle firmly. Remembering last night made her nerves stand on edge. What happened to Xenon was clearly not something a normal person would do. The dim light illuminating the dark cave entered Rudis’s vision again.

Stay calm. Slowly. Don’t rush.

Extremely tense, as she advanced one step at a time toward the inner cave, Rudis’s gaze stopped at something on the floor.

Huh? What’s this?