His black hair was neatly arranged, not a single strand out of place.

His eyes were red as blood—the same eyes that had met hers for a brief moment right before she burned to death.

And though he was utterly cold……

He possessed a beauty like a god from a legend, along with a dangerous air that stood in stark contrast to it.

The Cahilid before her was exactly the same as the final image Ihis remembered.

As if he alone had crossed back through those two years of time.

For a moment, without realizing it, her heart began to pound wildly.

Even though all she knew about him, at most, was his name.

But only for a moment.

As Ihis watched Cahilid take his seat, she flinched without meaning to.

“Lord Cahilid, I sincerely thank you for coming to House Erbereje.”

Regardless of what Ihis was thinking, Mahie parted his lips with an exceedingly gentle smile.

“Now that we have come to share the same purpose, it would not be an exaggeration to call us family. If there is anything you need, please tell me anytime without hesitation.”

At the sight of Mahie acting as if he would offer up anything, Cahilid let out a small chuckle.

“I am the one who should be grateful for such a warm welcome. I feel the same way. Since we have now become something like family, Duke, please feel free to ask me anything you are curious about as well.”

Meanwhile, Ihis’s eyes, fixed on Cahilid, were churning violently like the midnight sea.

Why…… is that kind of energy coming from Cahilid……?

Why on earth?

Even on the day I died, I never felt it.

“There is no need for you to secretly attach people to me and risk souring our relationship for nothing.”

Without realizing Ihis was standing there in confusion, Cahilid continued in a low laugh.

“You understand what I mean, don’t you?”

“It seems there has been some misunderstanding.”

Mahie deliberately answered with an embarrassed expression.

“I only did so out of concern that something might happen to you, Lord Cahilid. If I offended you, I apologize.”

He knew people had been placed on him all this time?

And he could say something like that so casually, right in front of Father?

Beneath the table, Mahie’s hand, resting on his thigh, clenched tightly into a fist.

“I can take care of my own safety, so there is no need for such useless concern.”

At Cahilid’s words, which carried a sharp thorn, silence fell for a moment.

“You called us something like family, Duke, so it seems you must have been thinking of me almost like a son. Parents are, by nature, always overly worried about their children.”

Cahilid continued speaking with a bright smile, as if he had never shown such sharpness at all.

“But as you know, I am someone who has never received a parent’s love or affection. I would appreciate it if you simply understood that such concern makes me somewhat uncomfortable.”

“Of course. It seems I thought of you too familiarly on my own, Lord Cahilid. I will be more careful from now on, so please do not worry.”

Dietrich and Adelheid, the siblings, also smiled very awkwardly, as if agreeing with their father’s words.

“Now then, shall we eat? I sincerely hope the food suits your taste, Lord Cahilid.”

No sooner had he spoken than appetizing dishes were placed on the table.

Without saying a word, Cahilid looked back and forth between the members of House Erbereje, as if observing them.

In that moment, Mahie turned his head slightly and sent Ihis a look.

As if asking whether she had discovered anything.

There was not nothing that bothered her, but Ihis shook her head.

There were two reasons.

First, because she did not want to tell Mahie what she had just sensed.

Second, because she could not yet be certain what the powerful energy inside Cahilid was—an energy that felt as though it might run rampant at any moment.

At her gesture, Mahie looked forward again.

As if nothing had happened.

The dinner continued, and Ihis remained rooted to the spot, doing nothing but watching Cahilid.

His face shone beautifully beneath the moonlight poured down by the full moon……

And for some reason, as time passed and the night deepened, it seemed to grow subtly paler.

“I will take my leave first.”

Cahilid rose from his seat after the entire dinner had ended, just as they were about to have tea.

“Why not stay a little longer and enjoy some conversation? It is your first day here. Would it not be too much of a shame to end the evening like this?”

“Yes. I agree with Father.”

“It is still too early to go to bed, after all. Isn’t that right?”

When every member of House Erbereje said the same thing and tried to keep him there, Cahilid’s expression stiffened slightly.

Ihis was the same.

It isn’t my imagination. It’s growing stronger.

With a deeply uneasy expression, she watched Cahilid.

At this rate, in front of everyone……

In a situation like this, it would likely be difficult for Cahilid to stubbornly insist on leaving.

But if the dinner continued like this, there was no telling how the power stirring inside him might run rampant.

And then Mahie would obtain the very weakness of Cahilid’s that he so desperately wanted.

She did not want to simply stand by and watch that happen.

As if she had made up her mind, Ihis bit down hard on her lip and whipped around.

When she did, she saw a maid coming with a trolley carrying tea and refreshments.

After hesitating for a moment, Ihis snatched the trolley away as the maid passed beside her.

“Lady Ihis!”

Aila, startled by Ihis’s unexpected action, called her name, but it was already too late.

Ihis had already stepped into the hall where her family and Cahilid were seated.

“Ihis?”

It was not only Mahie whose face stiffened at Ihis’s sudden appearance.

The siblings looked at her with expressions of disgust, as if they had seen something they should not have, and spoke humiliating words without hesitation.

“How dare someone like you intrude on a place like this?”

“There seems to have been some mistake. You do not need to pay this child much attention. She is not worth that much.”

And Mahie……

“Ihis, what are you doing?”

With an utterly cold expression, he looked at his daughter and asked.

“I-I am Ihis Erbereje, the youngest daughter of the Erbereje ducal house, Lord Cahilid.”

Ignoring the sharp words her family hurled at her, Ihis only looked at Cahilid and greeted him.

Cahilid quietly met her gaze.

“I heard an esteemed guest had arrived, so I came to greet you despite my rudeness. Please forgive my lack of propriety.”

At Ihis’s cautious words, Cahilid simply looked at her for a moment without any reaction.

Then, before long, one corner of his mouth twisted upward in a smile.

“……Here I thought you were the sort to show parental concern even to a complete stranger.”

Cahilid’s low voice slowly settled over the hall.

“It seems that does not apply to your own daughter.”

At those sarcastic words, Mahie’s face stiffened subtly.

“I will pour the tea.”

Ignoring everything, Ihis slowly began setting down the items from the trolley.

And then……

Right in front of Cahilid, she released the strength from the hand holding a plate.

Crash.

Sharp fragments scattered across the floor with an unpleasant noise.

Among them, one small shard of glass flew up and scratched Cahilid’s hand.

“What do you think you’re doing, Ihis!”

“This stupid girl, finally……!”

Quietly taking in the siblings’ irritation, Ihis slowly lowered her head.

“I apologize, Lord Cahilid. My hand slipped…… I have no excuse.”

After apologizing to Cahilid in a faintly trembling voice, Ihis surprisingly grabbed his injured hand.

“Please allow me to examine the wound for a moment.”

Holding Cahilid’s hand firmly, Ihis murmured softly.

At that moment, the look in Cahilid’s eyes as he gazed at Ihis changed subtly.

“Still, I’m glad you were not badly hurt. A-and…… it is nothing impressive, but I possess healing power.”

“Ihis!”

“May I heal your wound? Of course, only if you are all right with it, Lord Cahilid……”

As Mahie had expected, Cahilid seemed to already know about her ability. He gave a slight nod and parted his lips.

“Duke.”

And then……

“Even for me, I do not wish to receive treatment in front of everyone, so I will step away for a moment with your daughter.”

He spoke words Ihis had never expected, as calmly as could be.

“If you were deliberately avoiding introducing your youngest daughter, then I will receive treatment here. Please feel free to say so.”

“……”

“Did you not say earlier, Duke? That I should feel free to tell you if there is anything I want. I feel the same way.”

It was as if Mahie had been caught in a trap of his own making.

For a moment, Mahie stared at Cahilid with a stiff expression……

“Very well.”

In the end, he answered while trying to force up the corners of his rigid mouth.

“Heal Lord Cahilid’s wound. But there must not be even the slightest flaw. Do you understand what I mean?”

He was not simply telling her to heal Cahilid’s wound.

Since she would be alone with Cahilid anyway, it meant she had to find out something—anything.

Ihis nodded as if she understood.

Cahilid slowly rose from his seat, looked down at Ihis, and said,

“Come with me, my lady.”

“……”

“To somewhere we can be alone.”

In Cahilid’s red eyes, filled entirely with Ihis, there was a sinister gleam that had not been there at all before.

Unfortunately, Ihis failed to notice it.