After answering, he lifted the wrung towel and wiped my forehead.
When I looked at him questioningly, he said there was dust on my face and lifted my chin to thoroughly wipe my face.
His touch was gentle. As I obediently received his care, he smiled slightly.
“You’ve worked hard. You must be tired.”
“You too, Your Highness.”
“Will you sleep here?”
“No.”
He must have expected me to answer that I would naturally sleep here. Looking at him with surprise on his uncharacteristically flustered face, he continued to hold my chin and stare directly into my eyes.
As I examined the Grand Duke’s sharp nose bridge, well-shaped lips, and golden shining eyes, I opened my mouth.
“How could I sleep comfortably here?”
“You seemed to sleep well until now.”
He looked genuinely puzzled. I flinched at that but wasn’t fooled.
The Grand Duke’s gaze had deepened. The change was clearly visible at such a close distance where I could feel his breath.
Smiling brightly, I placed my hand over his hand on my face and said.
“Your Highness, eyes are the windows to the soul.”
He then curved his eyes into half-moons and replied.
“I can’t tell what you’re thinking even when I look into your eyes.”
“I can see it.”
“What do you see?”
As I pushed his hand away while still holding it, he obediently removed his hand from my face and straightened his back. Still maintaining eye contact.
I sighed and answered.
“Your eyes look like they’re going to devour me.”
At those words, his gaze deepened even more.
*** 
The Grand Duke withdrew obediently.
He said he would rather sleep outside himself, but that couldn’t be allowed. I picked up my share of the sleeping bag and walked briskly outside.
Heading toward where people had set up their spots, I could see servants and knights who had finished organizing their belongings gathering in small groups, chatting or resting.
Just then, Sion and Demian were having a conversation.
“You two look friendly.”
As I approached cheerfully with a pleased expression at the warm atmosphere among my household members, their gazes turned toward me.
“I’m here.”
“Why are you here? Are you planning to sleep outside?”
“Yes. Why?”
Demian took the sleeping bag from my hand and said that a maid who serves should be beside her master. I shrugged my shoulders at that.
“Well, I’ve done everything I needed to do for him before coming out.”
“I’ll prepare a spot for you.”
Demian set up a place for me without any complaints. Sion handed me a blanket.
“It’s cold.”
“Thank you.”
Sitting on the sleeping bag covered with a blanket, huddled together by the warm fire, it reminded me of old times.
“I don’t know how long it’s been since we were together like this.”
“Indeed.”
“I missed this.”
We quietly gazed at the embers for a moment. Then fatigue gradually crept in.
As I was sluggishly crawling into the sleeping bag, Sion, who was arranging my sleeping bag, said in a casual and peaceful tone.
“I missed you.”
Looking up at his face, I saw deep worry etched on it.
His expression revealed how much he had suffered hearing the rumors all this time. He hadn’t been indifferent during the day; he had been deliberately hiding it. All I could do was smile back.
“I missed you, too. You too, right, Demian?”
“Well.”
Demian must also have a mountain of questions. He was just suppressing and hiding them because of the situation.
I deliberately interacted with the two of them with an even brighter expression. Then I lay down immediately and looked up at the sky.
Due to the demonic energy, not a single star was visible, and it was pitch black.
“It’s just like my future.”
“What do you mean?”
“The sky. It’s so dark you can’t see anything.”
“Don’t say useless things.”
Demian started nagging, saying words become reality. That made me chuckle softly.
Yes, I actually missed this nagging, too. It’s only been a few weeks.
“Ah, I just want to finish everything quickly and go home.”
“Me too.”
Sion nodded vigorously in agreement. I missed the little ones at home.
“What if Soho and Mia grow too big for us to recognize them?”
“Don’t say such frightening things, as if we won’t return until then.”
Demian started nagging again. I raised my hand and covered his mouth. Demian frowned, removed my hand, and groaned with a disbelieving expression.
“That hand…”
“Yes, I didn’t wash it.”
“……”
Demian’s complexion darkened rapidly. I actually had washed it, but I didn’t intend to tell him.
Ignoring his ashen face, I started rambling about what I wanted to say.
“Today, I’m thinking a lot about the people I care about.”
Until I first left the Epine family, I never thought I would come to the Land of Blessing. I just thought I’d live quietly as an unemployed person, spending money lavishly.
It must have been the same for these two, so I felt very sorry. That’s why I tried not to bring them along.
“Demian, isn’t it hard for you too? I told you to go back first.”
“I knew you would cause some incident.”
“Do you think I only cause incidents?”
“Yes, hand on my conscience…”
“I think we should lower our voices.”
As Demian and I started raising our voices, Sion mediated between us. Demian looked at Sion, who had interrupted him, with a resigned face and then sighed. Sion simply turned his gaze back to me as if nothing had happened.
Sitting beside me and patting me, Sion brushed back my fallen bangs and said.
“Don’t worry. We’ll be able to return safely.”
His comforting words, as if he had read my mind, made me smile.
“Yes. We need to marry off Soho and Mia and see our great-grandchildren too!”
“Yes.”
“Ah, you might not be able to see them. You’re older than me.”
“As I’ve said before, we’re not that far apart in age.”
As if we had never been serious, we started bickering like on any ordinary day.
Eventually, Demian said there’s no order to who goes first, Sion took my side, saying not to speak carelessly, and only after Demian sighed did our battle of words with only casualties end.
“I’m going to sleep now, so don’t disturb me.”
“You’re the one who shouldn’t disturb, miss.”
“Hey.”
Just as I was about to start a second round in response to Demian’s provocation, a low voice interjected between us.
“You there. Are you the maid of Lord Kalschmitz?”
The voice that suddenly cut in was Calix’s. Silence fell at the unwelcome appearance. His footsteps grew closer and closer.
What’s this? Why is he coming suddenly?
Frozen, we just rolled our eyes at each other and chose to pretend to be asleep. All three of us closed our eyes simultaneously.
For a long time, we remained motionless, buried in our sleeping bags. Sion and Demian also pulled their robes down and pretended to sleep while sitting.
After some time had passed, we heard Calix’s footsteps walking away.
Just to be safe, I poked my head out of the sleeping bag only after a considerable time had passed since the footsteps disappeared. It was an action based on the assumption that he would be long gone by now.
“Gasp.”
I almost screamed in shock at the military boots and dark shadow standing right in front of me.
Slowly raising my gaze, I saw Calix looking down at me lying in the sleeping bag. Sensing my gaze, he asked indifferently.
“Why didn’t you answer?”
Why indeed…
Trembling at his persistence, I sat up. As I got up sluggishly, pulling my robe down, Calix spoke.
“I asked why you didn’t answer.”
Without responding, I turned my body around. Calix let out a disbelieving laugh. He must find it absurd that a maid would ignore a noble’s words and turn away, but I had no choice. If he heard my voice, he would immediately recognize me.