Jens turned his gaze to where the maid was pointing. Aira looked in the same direction as well.

“Ah!”

Their firmly clasped hands—held as though unwilling to let go—finally separated.

Aira startled, having not even realized how long she’d been holding his hand. Jens, just now becoming aware himself, hastily released her hand and awkwardly averted his gaze.

Aira discreetly hid her arm, where blood was only now beginning to circulate again.

Jens stared blankly at his own hand before vigorously rubbing his face and walking ahead.

Perhaps from rubbing too hard, his face had turned completely red.

Aira was guided to the third floor, while Jens silently waved his hand and continued up another floor.

As they parted, the maid who had been cheerfully waving goodbye to him turned to her with a broad smile.

With two long dots below her eyes and dimples to match, she had quite a charming appearance.

She even seemed quite close with Jens.

“I’m Laura. I’ll likely be serving you for a while. Please find me whenever you need anything.”

“Ah, yes…”

She would be departing soon anyway.

Nevertheless, Aira nodded and followed Laura to the room she was leading her to.

True to its name “Amethyst,” the door was decorated with purple amethysts.

Between geometrically arranged patterns, a woman with long flowing hair was bathing in a lake. The woman’s eyes were also inlaid with purple amethysts.

The long hair reminded Aira of royalty, making her feel slightly strange.

Had he also associated her with the image carved on this door and offered her this room?

Laura gave her a moment to examine the door before opening it.

“Oh…”

This purple-themed room seemed a bit excessive for a guest room.

Though unfamiliar with Republic upper-class customs, even by Imperial royal standards where she had lived, it was too grand and spacious to be offered as a guest room.

When Aira turned a confused gaze toward Laura, she smiled brightly and said:

“Would you mind waiting here briefly? To stay in this room, we need the master’s permission. I’ll go ask and return shortly.”

Aira quickly nodded. Just by the window size alone, this was no ordinary guest room.

She briefly wondered why the heir would need his father’s permission for every guest room assignment, but assumed it must be Republic custom.

With Aira’s consent, Laura cheerfully pressed down on her shoulders to seat her on the purple-tinted sofa in the reception area before dashing out of the room.

But the sound from outside the door was concerning.

Thump, thump, thump.

Despite the early hour, she ran away making tremendous footsteps.

For a maid likely holding a fairly high position in such a mansion to run so recklessly… like master, like employee, perhaps.

The sofa was so comfortable it felt like her body would melt into it.

But would it be appropriate to wake the sleeping head of the household for such a trivial matter?

Lost in thought, Aira unconsciously drifted off to sleep.

* * *

Without opening her eyes, she could tell precisely where she was by the sensation against her skin. This was inside the palace of the country commonly called the Archipelago, but officially known as the Archipelago Kingdom—specifically, the Queen’s chamber.

The feel of the blanket was familiar. It was quite heavy, which suited her taste.

Luten disliked heavy blankets.

He barely used them, and even when he did for appearance’s sake, they were light ones, which always displeased Aira.

She had never thought she had particular preferences regarding bedding, but now she detested light blankets to the point of revulsion.

Because on the night after he had taken her to his room while intoxicated, the light blanket couldn’t even warm her n*ked body.

But today it felt especially fluffy and nice. Compared to the thin blankets issued at the naval academy…

“…!”

Aira bolted upright, alarmed by the soft blanket wrapped around her.

The chilling dream’s effects vanished instantly, but a shiver ran down her spine.

Goodness, how could she have let her guard down so completely?

She had simply fallen asleep leaning on the sofa.

Aira felt her body. Sure enough, she had been changed into a soft chemise. It was astonishing that she hadn’t awakened while being changed and moved to the bed.

Then again, she had foolishly fallen asleep in the flower carriage too.

Having risen too quickly, Aira briefly held her dizzy head before taking deep breaths.

Her condition was definitely not normal. She felt lightheaded.

After catching her breath and regaining enough clarity to distinguish her surroundings, Aira blinked as she looked around at where she had been sleeping.

It was different from the purple-themed room where she had fallen asleep.

This room was white.

The amethyst room had been luxurious, but this one was even more so. Though predominantly white, it featured incredibly intricate craftsmanship to overcome the monotony, making it an extravagant bedroom.

The cloud-like bedding was neither too warm nor too cold, but perfectly cozy. The thin canopy surrounding the bed swayed gently in the breeze, slightly revealing the lavish room beyond.

Where was this place?

It seemed unlikely that they had moved her because the master had denied permission for the Amethyst room… even at a glance, this bedroom was larger and more ornate.

Just as Aira was about to set her feet on the floor, the same careless footsteps—thump, thump, thump—came running, and the canopy was swiftly pulled aside.

“Miss! You’re awake?!”

“…?”

Aira was taken aback by the concern and affection evident on Laura’s face.

But that statement…

“I… fell asleep, didn’t I?”

“Yes! And not just that—you’ve been asleep for a full five days before waking. You must be hungry? I’ll prepare a meal… no, I should call the doctor first.”

“No! I…cough.”

Confirming she had been asleep for so long, her throat constricted when she tried to speak loudly.

The bitter metallic taste in her mouth suggested that cursed disease was holding her back again.

Laura’s eyes widened before she hurriedly prepared water and offered it to her.

“Slowly, drink slowly. I’ll bring the doctor right away!”

Laura pulled a bell cord, turning, ready to dash out. Aira urgently called after her.

“W-wait! Laura!”

“Yes! Are you feeling very unwell? The mansion’s doctor is extremely skilled, so there’s no need to worry at all…”

“Just a moment. Where… is this place?”

Laura briefly rolled her eyes in thought before exclaiming, “Ah,” and explaining with her expression.

“No need to feel burdened. Do you remember the young master saying to give you the Amethyst room? Well, the master absolutely insisted on Argent, throwing a fit about it. No matter how accomplished the young master is, he’s no match for the master. Hoho.”

“Argent?”

Unable to comprehend what she meant, Aira blinked.

The only thing she could understand was that, as her first impression suggested, the mansion’s owner maintained quite a friendly relationship with his employees.

“By the way, is the Lieutenant Commander…?”

“Lieutenant Commander? You mean the young master?”

Aira nodded.

“He’s been so busy with something that he left again right after you arrived, only occasionally returning to the mansion. I’ll send word to the young master right away. You must feel anxious being alone?”

“No, not at all.”

Why would she feel anxious without him?

Aira rolled her eyes in confusion.

Clearly, multiple misunderstandings had piled up. But then…

“Then by ‘master,’ could it be…”

Laura, who had been about to leave, stopped abruptly. Soon, her face beamed with pride as she said:

“The master is none other than the great…”

“Has my grandson’s bride-to-be regained consciousness?!”

With a bang loud enough to nearly break the door, it flew open to reveal a large elderly man with neatly combed snow-white hair.

* * *

“Haah…”

Jens generally didn’t use the family’s automatic carriage.

The estate had one basic carriage mainly used by his grandfather, but he thought there was no need for two vehicles when he himself barely used one a few times throughout the year. This was separate from the fact that they had money to burn.

Jens, who had to use the country’s funds, was more accustomed to living frugally on his ship.

However, immediately after arriving in Oculer, he had to meet various admirals, committee members, and even the President, making it extremely inconvenient to call for rental carriages each time.

While looking into purchasing his own, his grandfather unexpectedly offered his automatic carriage.

Jens wondered what had gotten into the old man who usually enjoyed going out, but good heavens—using that excuse, the old codger rejected all external invitations and shut himself in the mansion.

And according to Laura, who attended to the guest in the Argent room, he visited that room so frequently the threshold was wearing down.

Jens rubbed his throbbing forehead.

Aira, who had appeared relatively fine, collapsed as soon as she was shown to her room.

He already knew her physical condition wasn’t great since she had fallen asleep like she’d fainted in the flower carriage, but now she was burning with fever.

The family doctor who rushed over scolded him for leaving her in such a state.

Jens felt somewhat wronged.

Wasn’t it her fault for not eating or sleeping properly while suffering from a major chronic illness like the Emperor’s Disease?

To make matters worse, she had even contracted pneumonia, possibly from that terrible room she had been staying in.

It was maddening.

Still, he couldn’t just watch over her indefinitely.

After making the excuse that he needed to rest too, Jens quickly washed up and returned directly to naval headquarters.

He monitored the progress of ship repairs at headquarters, fought fiercely to secure various budgets, and upon returning to the mansion, held his head in his hands.

By the master’s order, Aira’s quarters had become the Argent room.

By any measure, this was his mistake.

The Amethyst room was temporarily given to those who weren’t yet official family members but would soon join the Will family—such as the heir’s fiancée.

He truly hadn’t given it much thought.

He had simply remembered it when he saw her purple eyes and told Laura it would suit her. He had also felt annoyed and irritated by the dilapidated room she had been in before.

But however his intention was interpreted, Hurst Will, the head of the Will family, had ordered her moved to the Argent room while Jens was away working.

It was the mistress’s room.