“Madam, Duke Graham has arrived.”

Rivet announced Ains’s arrival while I was in the middle of getting ready.

“Already?”

I hurriedly turned to check the time.

Fortunately, there were still 20 minutes left until our 10 o’clock appointment with Ains.

It seemed he had arrived early, perhaps worried about being late.

“Yes, I’ve shown him to the reception room for now.”

“Alright. Could everyone pick up the pace a little?”

“Yes, Madam.”

The hands of the maids preparing me became more hurried.

After some time, once I finished getting ready, I made my way to the reception room where Ains was waiting.

Knock knock.

After a gentle knock, Rivet opened the door to let me in.

“Have you come?”

As I entered the reception room, Ains, who had been sitting on the sofa, stood up.

“You’re here?”

“I’m sorry. Did you wait long?”

“No, I just got here myself. If I had known you were still getting ready, I should have waited a bit longer before coming. You probably couldn’t prepare properly because of me.”

Ains said with a sheepish smile.

Though I’ve grown somewhat used to it now as time has passed, I still find myself surprised whenever I face this emotionally honest and gentle Ains.

It was the same now.

“Cecilia?”

“Yes?”

Lost in these newfound thoughts, I must have spaced out for a moment when Ains called out to me.

“Are you perhaps not feeling well? Or…”

“It’s not that. Just… yes, just thinking.”

“…”

Ains examined me with a suspicious expression.

The emotions in his furrowed eyes were worry and concern.

He was still concerned about my illness, even though I had recovered.

Even though he knew there was no need to worry anymore since I could control my mana, including the aftereffects, he seemed unable to fully believe this fact.

Whenever my complexion didn’t look good, he would approach me with a worried expression and check on my condition.

Such behavior from him felt strange.

The Ains I knew before would never have dreamed of showing such gentleness.

Not that I disliked his current demeanor. It was quite the opposite, actually.

“You don’t need to look so worried. Even if it really were the aftereffects of my illness, we’ll be together for the next four days anyway.”

Since my illness originated from my mana stopping and going berserk, there wasn’t much to worry about when I was with Ains, who could freely control mana.

“That’s true. But still, if you ever feel unwell, tell me right away.”

“I will.”

I couldn’t help but smile at Ains’s excessive worry.

“So, where are we going that you asked me to keep these days free? Four days at that.”

“Somewhere you’ll like too.”

Ains answered vaguely.

I just blinked, not knowing exactly where he meant.

Meanwhile, Ains extended his hand to me.

“Shall we go then?”

Looking down at Ains’s outstretched hand, I eventually nodded. Then I placed my hand on his.

“Let’s go.”

Ains’s warm hand gently enveloped mine. Then he slowly began to escort me.

Today, we boarded the carriage he had prepared.

Only after Ains sat down across from me did the servant close the carriage door.

“Let’s depart.”

“Yes, understood.”

At Ains’s command, there was the sound of the coachman striking the horse’s rear with his whip.

The carriage began to move at a leisurely pace.

Just a few days ago, Ains had asked me to spare four days of my time.

Since I had nothing else to do besides going to my newly assigned research lab at the Magic Tower, it wasn’t difficult to clear my schedule.

Though I was curious about where exactly he planned to go, whenever I asked, he would give vague answers without revealing the precise location, which left me feeling somewhat uneasy.

“Rest if you’re tired.”

“I’m not tired.”

“Then?”

“Just… curious, that’s all.”

Ains chuckled at my words.

“I suppose it’s because I haven’t told you where we’re going. Right?”

“Yes. I trust you, but I’d still like to know at least our destination.”

Ains nodded in agreement, then spoke.

“Do you remember when we went to the villa in the Jermel territory together when we were young?”

“The Jermel territory?”

I slowly traced through my memories. And it didn’t take long to recall the childhood memory.

It was from when I had just arrived at the Graham duchy.

When I was struggling after losing both my parents at once, Ains’s father, Lord Alex, had taken Ains and me to the villa.

That place we visited was in Jermel territory.

“I remember. Lord Alex at that time…”

I started to speak but suddenly pressed my lips shut.

I realized I had thoughtlessly mentioned Lord Alex.

However, Ains understood why I had abruptly closed my mouth and nodded with a smile.

“Yes. The villa where father took you and me. That’s where we’re going.”

Thankfully, Ains didn’t seem to be consumed by pain like before.

I smiled back at him, considerably relieved.

* * *

It took a day and a half by carriage to reach the Jermel territory.

Because of this, even though we departed fairly early in the morning, we had to camp on the road for the evening.

The Graham duchy’s employees quickly prepared a place for us to rest.

I stepped out of the carriage one beat slower while watching them prepare.

Though it was now fully spring, the evening air was still chilly. As I reflexively rubbed my arms, something was suddenly held out in front of me. When I turned to look, a thin blanket was being offered to me.

“Wrap this around you. You’ll only hurt yourself if you catch a cold.”

After speaking, Ains personally unfolded the blanket and draped it over my shoulders.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

The cold certainly subsided once I had the blanket around my shoulders.

Then Rivet, having prepared it somewhere, brought warm tea and served it to both Ains and me.

I looked around while holding the cup with both hands.

“The tent won’t be ready for a while, you should have rested more in the carriage.”

“We’ve been in the carriage all day. I felt stuffy, and my body was stiff, so I came out.”

“Then at least a chair…”

“No. I want to stand for a bit. I’d like to move around if possible.”

We had been sitting in the carriage since 10 AM until now. We did briefly get out of the carriage at lunchtime, but that was all.

“I’d like to take a walk, but I suppose that’s not possible.”

“No, this area isn’t too dangerous, so it should be fine if you go with me.”

“Really?”

I asked him with surprise.

Though it wouldn’t be as dangerous as I worried since the sun hadn’t set yet, we were still in a forest.

If we happened to encounter any wild beasts…

“Ah, right.”

I belatedly remembered that Ains was highly skilled in swordsmanship.

And I too could now use magic to some extent.

So even if we encountered wild beasts, it shouldn’t be much of a problem.

“Then could we take a short walk until everything’s ready?”

“Gladly.”

I started walking with Ains.

As we headed toward the forest, the voices of people gradually grew more distant.

“We’re walking together again.”

Ains muttered, feeling nostalgic.

I felt the same way.

“We are.”

I thought I would never walk side by side with him again.

Back when Ains hated and despised me, I believed we could never return to our previous relationship.

But in the end, after coming full circle, Ains and I were walking side by side with the sunset forest as our backdrop.

“Cecilia.”

Ains began hesitantly.

Somehow feeling I knew what he was going to say, I smiled slightly.

“If you’re going to apologize, you don’t have to. You’ve already done it several times.”

Hitting right on the mark, Ains looked flustered. Then he laughed softly.

“You’ve changed a lot too.”

“For the better?”

“Yes. For the better.”

Ains nodded and answered.

I was definitely feeling it too, how much I had changed compared to before.

“Thank you for saying that.”

“It’s the truth.”

As he was answering, Ains furrowed his brow and looked behind.

Wondering what was wrong, I turned in the direction he was looking. Then I focused my senses.

“This is…”

The moment I realized it, Ains stepped in front of me as if to block me. Then he drew the sword at his waist.

Even after Ains had finished preparing, the forest remained quiet for a while.

I focused my senses and detected multiple presences approaching.

The undergrowth rustled, and then suddenly, monster-like creatures that looked like huge insects sprang out from between the bushes.

“Stay right here. I’ll handle this.”

“Will you be alright?”

“Of course.”

After finishing his words, Ains leaped toward the giant insects.