Rachel, who had left the reception room, encountered Tervan standing in front of the door.

[See? I told you so.]

Creon said smugly after confirming Tervan’s presence.

‘Yeah, yeah.’

Rachel responded casually to Creon before looking up at Tervan. Tervan looked down at Rachel, appearing somewhat flustered.

“You’re here? Why didn’t you come in?”

When Rachel greeted Tervan normally, Tervan hesitated.

“Go in. Viola and Edward are inside. And I came with Erika. Erika said she wanted to see Viola and you.”

Rachel finished speaking and walked past Tervan.

“Wait a moment.”

However, Tervan grabbed Rachel’s wrist, forcing her to stop.

“Why are you just leaving?”

At Tervan’s question, Rachel turned around to look at him. Tervan looked down at Rachel with an expression that suggested he had much to say.

“What do you mean, why am I leaving? What are you talking about?”

Tervan took a deep breath at Rachel’s feigned ignorance and briefly checked the reception room door. Then, in a low voice, he continued speaking to Rachel.

“Let’s move somewhere else first.”

At Tervan’s suggestion, Rachel also shifted her gaze to the reception room door.

She quickly understood why Tervan was being cautious.

“Let’s do that.”

When Rachel readily agreed, Tervan tried to lead her by the hand. However, Rachel forcefully pulled away from his grip.

Tervan reflexively turned to look at Rachel. She shrugged nonchalantly.

“Lead the way. I’ll follow you.”

At Rachel’s words, Tervan’s lips quivered before he eventually nodded.

Tervan began walking ahead.

Rachel followed him down the stairs, maintaining a certain distance.

Upon reaching the garden of the Count’s residence, Tervan stopped and turned to Rachel.

“Go ahead and speak.”

Rachel spoke first before Tervan could.

“You knew I was standing outside the door, didn’t you?”

Tervan asked Rachel. He was certain that she had known.

“Yes. I knew. But why does that matter?”

Instead of feigning ignorance, Rachel honestly admitted it.

“If you knew everything and came out, why did you try to walk past me?”

Tervan couldn’t understand Rachel’s behavior.

If Rachel had known Tervan was beyond the door, her reason for leaving the reception room was obvious.

She must have wanted to confirm whether Tervan had heard what she had just said to Viola.

But after coming out, Rachel had merely confirmed Tervan’s presence.

Of course, the fact that Tervan hadn’t entered and was waiting outside was enough to make an educated guess.

However, Tervan thought that the Rachel he knew wouldn’t have acted this way.

“Have you not considered that my purpose for coming out might not have been because of you?”

At Rachel’s question, Tervan couldn’t bring himself to speak.

“Did you hear what I said inside?”

Rachel crossed her arms and took a step toward Tervan. Tervan retreated half a step away from Rachel.

“Did you hear it or not?”

At her continued pressing, Tervan hesitated before opening his mouth.

“…I heard.”

“Then you should know now, right? That I no longer have feelings for you. I think I told you once before.”

“…”

Tervan couldn’t bring himself to speak.

Strictly speaking, Rachel was right.

If Rachel had come out to check on Tervan, she could have asked him for some time when she encountered him in the hallway.

However, Rachel tried to walk past Tervan even after confirming his presence. That meant her original purpose might not have been Tervan at all.

“So you’re saying you came out for some other business?”

Rachel nodded in response.

“Then can I go now?”

Rachel asked the bewildered Tervan. There was no answer from him.

After giving him a moment and still receiving no response, Rachel uncrossed her arms and shrugged.

“I’ll be going then.”

Rachel walked past Tervan. Even until that moment, Tervan couldn’t bring himself to stop her.

[You didn’t come out to meet that guy?]

Creon questioned Rachel just as she entered the building.

‘…I did.’

Rachel hesitated briefly before confirming.

‘But after seeing him, I felt like we didn’t need to talk. This is enough, I guess.’

After answering Creon, Rachel climbed the stairs and arrived at the reception room.

When Rachel entered, everyone inside turned to look at her.

Rachel sat down casually.

Before long, there was a knock on the door.

“Young Master Tervan Sanchez has arrived.”

A servant’s voice was heard, and soon the door opened.

Tervan walked in with an expressionless face.

“Oh, you’re here?”

Viola awkwardly greeted Tervan. Her stammering might have seemed strange, but Tervan focused too much on Rachel to notice Viola’s unusual behavior.

“You’re late?”

Rachel greeted Tervan while moistening her lips with tea.

Tervan stared at her silently before nodding. Then he sat down across from Rachel.

“It just happened that way.”

After answering, Tervan stared intently at Rachel. Rachel seemed completely unaware of Tervan’s gaze as she quietly enjoyed her refreshments.

Except for the parties directly involved, Rachel and Tervan, the only one who didn’t feel the awkwardness was the young Erika.

“Big brother!”

Erika called out to Tervan. Tervan shifted his gaze from Rachel to look at Erika.

His sharp gaze softened a bit as it turned toward Erika.

“It’s been a while, Erika. Are you doing well at the academy?”

“Yes! They say I can choose my major starting next year, so I’m thinking about it.”

“Has it already come to that?”

“Of course. How old do you think I am?”

Tervan laughed silently at the sight of Erika speaking proudly with her hands on her hips.

“But I’ve already decided what I’m going to do.”

“You’ve decided? What are you going to major in?”

“I’m going to do magic. I’m going to be a wonderful mage like my sister.”

“Can you sense mana?”

“What do you take me for? Of course!”

Erika answered with a frown. Her expression was so cute that Tervan, Viola, and Edward all suppressed small laughs. Rachel did the same.

When everyone smiled, Erika, not understanding the atmosphere, puffed her cheeks.

“Why is everyone laughing?”

“It’s nothing. Just that you’re cute, Erika.”

When Viola soothed her, Erika pouted.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she turned to Tervan.

“Come to think of it, I heard you went with my sister on the monster subjugation team this time? How was my sister? Huh?”

Tervan laughed awkwardly at Erika’s pressing.

As Erika said, Tervan had been with Rachel on the monster subjugation team, but he couldn’t quite figure out exactly what had happened.

“Wouldn’t it be better to ask Rachel directly rather than me?”

“That’s true, but… Sister always talks as if it’s nothing special. I asked her several times during meals, but she wouldn’t tell me properly.”

Listening to Erika’s complaints, Tervan recalled his memories and began to speak.

“Rachel was truly amazing that day. She blocked the lightning magic with incredible foresight. If it hadn’t been for Rachel, many people would have lost their lives there.”

As Tervan continued, Erika’s eyes sparkled.

Though it was a simplified explanation so Erika could understand, it contained everything that had happened there, so Viola and Edward, who had been curious about what had happened in the monster forest, also listened with interest to Tervan’s words.

“…I rushed there urgently, worried about Rachel who had disappeared. But by the time I arrived, Rachel had already dealt with the witch. Afterward, we were busy handling the monsters that had been released from the magic.”

“My goodness, so Rachel really defeated the witch all by herself?”

When Tervan finished speaking, Viola turned to Rachel in shock.

“What if you had gotten hurt doing that?”

At Viola’s worried gaze, Rachel shrugged.

“I’m fine, aren’t I? That’s all that matters.”

“It’s fortunate that you’re safe! But what if you weren’t? Even with your exceptional skills… Think about how many people would be upset if you got hurt.”

Viola’s large eyes welled up with tears, seemingly saddened by just the thought.

Rachel looked at the teary-eyed Viola and smiled bitterly.

“It won’t happen again, so don’t worry.”

“Okay…”

“But you’re really amazing, sister!”

Only Erika, who didn’t fully grasp the situation, gave a thumbs up.

“Thank you for saying that, Erika.”

Erika, smiling broadly, turned back to Tervan. Her shining eyes seemed to anticipate the next story.

Afterward, Tervan had to share what had happened during their time in the witch’s forest in response to Erika’s continued questions.