Though her voice was still trembling, Aris seemed to have regained her composure. Mishuan checked her condition and then shifted his gaze.

“Your Highness…”

Even with Mishuan’s arrival, Kalaian remained motionless, holding Aris tightly. Peeking her head out from his embrace, Aris looked at Mishuan with an awkward expression.

She had been able to regain her composure because there was someone right beside her who seemed even more shocked than herself.

“Um, Your Highness. Sir Mishuan is here…”

Aris gently grabbed his arm that was holding her. Though he seemed to be breathing and his body was still trembling, Kalaian made no movement while holding Aris.

Mishuan glanced at where the monster had been cut apart, thought for a moment, then spoke.

“Doctor, it seems His Highness isn’t in the best condition.”

“It seems so, doesn’t it…? Could he have been injured while fighting that monster?”

If so, that would be serious. When Aris tried to push him away with effort to check his condition, Kalaian finally moved.

He released Aris from his embrace and gazed at her intently. Finally able to breathe freely, Aris looked up at Kalaian.

“Your Highness, are you alright? Please tell me if you’re hurt anywhere. Though I’m not in the best condition myself so I can’t perform major healing, still, for now…”

Aris stopped speaking and let out a short scream. This was because Kalaian had wrapped his arms around her shoulders and under her knees, lifting her up suddenly.

Aris reflexively wrapped her arms around his neck. As she looked at him with bewildered eyes, Kalaian, who had been silent, spoke.

“…First, we’ll descend the mountain.”

Aris was about to ask to be put down, but ultimately chose to remain quiet. This was because Kalaian’s voice was trembling.

Docilely allowing herself to be carried, she checked Kalaian’s condition. There were no signs of injury in his movements.

Then, what exactly had made this person so anxious and frightened?

Mishuan followed behind Kalaian as he descended the mountain in silence. Aris’s gaze met Mishuan’s over Kalaian’s shoulder. When their eyes met, Mishuan, who had been wearing a deeply worried expression, relaxed his face and showed a playful look.

‘…I’ll ask what this is all about later.’

Aris let out a small sigh. Her lower back hurt terribly. Perhaps it hurt more because she was tensely stiffening up while being carried by him.

Finally, Aris relaxed and rested her forehead against Kalaian’s chest. As the tension released, she had no strength left.

Kalaian flinched slightly at her movement, but then held her more securely.

Thinking it fortunate that he didn’t complain about this, Aris closed her eyes.

* * *

Kalaian carefully laid Aris down on the bed. She must have been exhausted, as by the time they arrived at the inn, she had fallen asleep, making small breathing sounds.

Kalaian grasped Aris’s limp hand. A magic circle appeared over their touching warmth. Along with a faint golden light, the scratches under Aris’s torn clothes healed, and her appearance became clean.

Only after confirming that her strangely furrowed brow had relaxed did Kalaian sit down on the bed as if collapsing.

His hands were still trembling and his heart was beating fast.

Perhaps in her sleep, Aris gently squeezed Kalaian’s hand that held hers. Kalaian carefully stroked her small, delicate hand with his thumb, feeling emotions he could hardly express in words.

After staying like that for a while, he finally left Aris’s bedroom.

The door to the dark bedroom closed behind him. Mishuan was waiting for him in the bright hallway with a tense expression.

When Kalaian passed by silently, Mishuan quietly followed him. When they entered a quiet room, Kalaian turned to look at Mishuan with sharp eyes.

“Mishuan Clanef, what was the order you were given?”

“…To protect Lady Aristena.”

Mishuan barely managed to answer, feeling cold sweat on his hands. He wondered if he should bow his head and apologize immediately. It was his fault for making careless judgments, as there had been no problems during the ten days of exploration.

“I apologize, it was my oversight. I will accept any punishment you give.”

Mishuan apologized sincerely. Though he generally had a light and mischievous manner, when it came to loyalty at least, he was second to none.

Knowing this, Kalaian withdrew his piercing gaze.

“No. You cannot be punished as you must continue to protect Aristena. However, if you neglect Aristena’s protection again…”

Kalaian stopped speaking and stared into Mishuan’s eyes. Under the pressure of the silence, he quickly bowed his head. He felt a chill run down his spine.

“I understand. I will ensure such an incident never occurs again.”

Seemingly satisfied with this, Kalaian sighed and slumped onto the sofa. He covered his eyes with his hand. Mishuan stood quietly by his side before asking.

“…You held a sword. Are you alright?”

Mishuan’s cautious question made Kalaian lower the hand covering his eyes. His revealed gaze was deeply gloomy. Kalaian looked down at his two hands.

“…It was an unavoidable situation.”

“Yes, it was.”

Despite his sudden mumbling, Mishuan responded calmly. Kalaian continued, seeking confirmation.

“No one was hurt… and Aristena is safe.”

“…Yes.”

Mishuan’s gaze fell on his trembling hands. Blaming himself again for his oversight, he pressed his lips tightly together. His feelings were truly complicated and miserable.

Kalaian clenched and unclenched his hands, letting out a pained groan.

From the moment he gripped the sword, and from the moment he saw the monster. His hands had been constantly enveloped in an unpleasant feeling of being soaked. He didn’t even want to imagine what that lukewarm, sticky sensation was. No, he could realize its identity without having to think about it.

The blood that had stained his hands for over a decade was still drenching him completely, making him feel that horrific moment with his entire body.

How could he not know, when those desperate memories were still so vivid?

But when he looked down at his hands, unable to bear that unpleasant and terrible feeling, what entered his vision were hands that were surprisingly clean.

Kalaian buried his face in his hands as if collapsing. There was no smell of blood. Even after confirming this, he muttered painfully, more miserably.

“…I hear sounds. I hear calls searching for me and desperate screams. The sounds of bodies burning and buildings collapsing won’t stop… The sounds of swords clashing and breaking keep, noisily holding onto me and won’t let go…”

“Focus, Your Highness.”

Kalaian, who had been breathing raggedly, gritted his teeth. Mishuan watched his collapsed form with a stifled heart.

“If that necklace hadn’t called me, again, Aristena would have…”

“No.”

“……”

“She is not someone who will easily fall like that anymore. It’s clearly different from back then.”

Mishuan spoke firmly. So that he could wake up to reality from the swamp of the past.

“We should suggest withdrawing to her. Since a monster appeared even without a rift forming, we should withdraw first, deploy the knights…”

“…No.”

“…Did I mishear you just saying ‘no’? Perhaps I’m hearing things too.”

“The investigation will continue.”

Hearing Kalaian’s firm words, Mishuan doubted his ears.

“Didn’t a monster appear? It suddenly appeared without even a rift. After being so worried about the Doctor’s safety… Are you still confused?”

“Because a monster appeared, we need to research more. Aristena would surely want that. She feels responsible for this matter.”

“Even so…”

“I will protect Aristena. If monsters appear again, I just need to protect her.”

Mishuan made an exasperated face at Kalaian’s solemn gaze as he raised his head.

“For someone who can barely hold a sword due to trauma…”

“If you’re dissatisfied, you can withdraw alone.”

Meeting his eyes, Mishuan finally let out a long sigh.

“…Really, you’re someone who troubles your subordinates in many ways. Now I have to protect two people throughout the investigation period. Since I have to protect a big man too, please double my salary.”

Mishuan grumbled. Yet he looked at Kalaian with deeply worried eyes. Fortunately, he now had a much more relaxed expression than before.

Holding back a sigh that threatened to escape, Mishuan left the place gruffly.

* * *

After tossing and turning while having a comfortable dream, Aris slowly opened her eyes as she woke up. Still half-asleep, she couldn’t quite remember where she was or how she had fallen asleep.

While blinking drowsily like that, she turned to her side seeking comfort and was startled. Someone was sitting in a chair beside the bed.

Blankly blinking her eyes as she looked at him, Aris suddenly drew in a sharp breath. It was Kalaian. He had fallen asleep leaning against the chair.

‘What’s this, why is he…’

Aris stared at him blankly with her mouth open like a fool. His eyes were firmly closed beneath his lowered lashes, and his lips were similarly closed.

His head was slightly tilted down as he leaned against the chair with his arms crossed. His silver hair flowed down following that angle.

As she quietly looked at him, Aris felt as if she were lost in a daydream.

‘…This person saved me.’

He always seemed to appear suddenly from somewhere in urgent situations.

Though my dislike for you hasn’t changed… Still, it’s natural to feel grateful for that, separate from everything else.

While lying on her side looking at him, Aris slowly reached out her hand toward the man who was close enough to touch.