Kalaian spoke worriedly to the stumbling Aris.

“You seem a bit drunk, are you alright?”

“I’m not that drunk.”

Kalaian looked at Aris’s flushed cheeks. Her pronunciation was still clear despite being a bit slow, and her gait wasn’t too unsteady, so her words didn’t seem to be a lie.

Seeing her keep smiling brightly, apparently in a good mood, Kalaian couldn’t help but smile a little too.

“I’ll escort you.”

“I’m fine… Ah.”

As Aris was refusing his offer while holding onto the stair railing, she suddenly let out a pained sound. She lightly grabbed her waist.

“Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”

“Maybe because I carried a heavy bag today, my waist hurts a bit.”

Aris let out a small sigh, her expression darkening.

“I guess one treatment wasn’t enough. I should return to the capital for proper treatment…”

“I’ll cast another healing spell on you.”

“What?”

“And tomorrow you’ll rest, then take the carriage back the day after. It would be quite uncomfortable to ride in a carriage for long hours while injured.”

“No, I’m fine…!”

“Didn’t you say you were in pain?”

“That’s true, but… I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. Really…”

Aris said this while deliberately straightening her posture. However, her complexion still betrayed the truth. It seemed the strain from today had aggravated her previous back injury.

Kalaian sighed disapprovingly at her response and began supporting her. The sudden closeness startled her.

“Managing the treated area is just as important as treating the wound itself. And when the alcohol wears off, it might hurt even more. Are you feeling dizzy?”

“…A little.”

After hesitating, Aris answered honestly. There was no flaw in his reasoning. Kalaian carefully supported her to prevent any strain.

His actions were so deeply considerate that Aris didn’t know how to feel. It was such a thorough care and attention that she couldn’t decide whether to be grateful for his actions or feel burdened and push him away.

Lost in these thoughts, she found herself arriving at her room with Kalaian’s assistance.

“You must be tired, so let me help with the treatment quickly. Would it be more comfortable lying down like last time?”

His words snapped her back to reality. After some consideration, Aris pushed him away.

No matter how much this was purely kindness toward an injured person and consideration for a subordinate who had achieved results, the more she thought about it, the more inappropriate it seemed. To begin with, being alone with him in a bedroom was…

“Your Highness, I’m really fine. I can manage with a pain-relief spell on my own… When I return, I’ll seek treatment from a physician. Thank you for escorting me here.”

“…Perhaps you’re uncomfortable receiving treatment from me? You can be honest about it.”

Kalaian’s expression turned serious. If Aris were to nod now, he would truly understand and withdraw.

After hesitating, Aris answered.

“…Yes. Your Highness, you’re close to Lady Frencia. Even if you have no intentions, being alone like this… if I were in her position, I would be quite upset.”

Kalaian, who had been listening quietly to Aris’s words, slightly narrowed his eyes. Rather than being displeased by her honest answer, his expression suggested he found something strange.

“Are you saying I’m courting Lady Serena Frencia?”

“Aren’t you two particularly close?”

“You mean, me?”

“Yes, Your Highness and Lady Frencia…”

Somehow, the questions and answers seemed to go in circles. Something felt off about the conversation.

Kalaian thought for a moment, then spoke with slightly furrowed brows.

“I am not in a relationship with Lady Serena Frencia.”

“What?”

Aris’s eyes widened in disbelief. Perhaps due to the alcohol, her expression was even more exaggerated. He seemed both dumbfounded and slightly exasperated.

“Did you think all this time that I was in a relationship with that woman?”

“Yes… If that’s not the case, then at least that your feelings are mutual…”

Kalaian let out a short laugh of disbelief. Seeing the clear displeasure in his expression, Aris quickly closed her mouth.

And then she realized. She had been completely mistaken.

‘But in my previous life, I was sure they had a tender relationship…’

Could her actions in this life have influenced their relationship to change? Or perhaps, they were never that kind of relationship from the start.

Aris looked at the man who was clearly showing his disapproval. She felt rather strange about it.

“I seem to have misunderstood something… I’m sorry.”

“…So you thought I was the kind of base person who would spend the night with another while having a lover.”

“Yes… Ah, no!”

Aris, who had been answering hazily due to the alcohol, hastily changed her words. She hadn’t expected him to suddenly bring up that incident, and her face flushed red.

“Now I understand why you suddenly brought up Lady Frencia’s name then.”

“About that time… ah, can we not talk about it?”

Kalaian crossed his arms with an uncomfortable expression and spoke while fixing Aris with an unwavering gaze.

“Let me be absolutely clear. I have no connection with Serena Frencia, nor have I ever had any interest in her.”

“I see… You didn’t have to say it like that, but if my words made Your Highness uncomfortable, I’m truly sorry…”

Discouraged by his stern attitude, Aris quickly apologized. Seeing how clearly he addressed it, her words must have really displeased him.

Kalaian looked at Aris, who had dejectedly lowered her head, and spoke again in a gentler voice.

“Lady Aristena.”

“Yes…”

Aris, who had been showing only her crown, raised her head to look at Kalaian.

“Would you sit here?”

Aris carefully observed his expression before gently sitting on the long reception sofa he had indicated. While she anxiously clasped her hands together, not understanding his intentions, Kalaian took a seat beside her.

Then he said,

“If you could turn sideways, I’ll treat you. If that was the reason for your discomfort earlier, it should be fine now, shouldn’t it?”

“…Then, I’ll shamelessly accept your help.”

Despite unintentionally insulting him, he was still treating her with such sincerity. Aris could no longer refuse his kindness. From her perspective, she should rather be grateful.

“Is it the same area that hurts as last time?”

“Yes… probably.”

Kalaian lightly placed his hand on Aris’s waist. Soon, a warm magical energy emanated from her back. While Aris was feeling somewhat dazed by that gentle and tender warmth, he spoke.

“You must have been through a lot, thank you for your hard work during this investigation.”

“Not at all. I only did what needed to be done.”

“Mere sense of duty rarely achieves results. It must have been your effort.”

His hand slowly spread warmth as he gently, yet respectfully, caressed the injured area.

Even though her clothes weren’t as thin as last time, Aris tensed her hands as she felt her body becoming sensitive with each movement of his hand.

“Thank you for bringing back good information. And… I’m truly glad you’re safe, Lady Aristena.”

Aris glanced at him. When their eyes met, Kalaian gave her a handsome smile.

Soon after, his hand withdrew. Though she felt a sense of disappointment, she desperately ignored her feelings.

“Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes, the pain is gone. Thank you, Your Highness.”

“I’m glad. Well then, I’ll take my leave now, and you should get some rest.”

Kalaian left the room without any further action. Aris, who had remained frozen in place, let out a small sigh.

She lightly rubbed her waist. Kalaian’s magic was unexpectedly gentle, unlike the image of that person she remembered.

Since there was no more pain, Aris got up and began preparing for bed. Perhaps because of the healing magic, both her body and mind felt drowsy.

Maybe it was the peace of finally completing the investigation today.

Soon she could return. To home.

* * *

The carriage that had been carrying Mishuan and Aris for a long time came to a stop. Aris got out of the carriage holding Mishuan’s hand. They were in front of the grand gates of the imperial palace.

“Thank you for everything, Sir Mishuan.”

“Not at all, Doctor. I also enjoyed our time together.”

“I hope we can meet again. If we happen to cross paths, may I greet you?”

“Of course. It would be my honor. Take care, Doctor.”

After exchanging farewells with Mishuan, Aris picked up her bag and headed home. It would have been nice to say goodbye to Kalaian as well, but she heard he had left at dawn without a word while she was staying an extra day at the inn for recovery.

“…It’s a bit disappointing.”

Aris unconsciously muttered these words and quickly covered her mouth in surprise. Disappointing… why?

It would have surely been uncomfortable if they had ridden in the carriage together. Just as he didn’t particularly like Aris, she didn’t like him too.

Deep in thought, she passed by the familiar mailbox and stopped briefly in front of her house’s gate. Her swirling thoughts settled into a single conclusion.

‘…No, Aristena. Since he saved me… isn’t it natural to feel this way, just a little?’

Aris organized her thoughts and pulled open the gate.

It was true that she felt disappointed, and it was also true that she felt relieved that he had left first. Since they were nothing to each other, there was no need to assign meaning to these natural emotional fluctuations.

With that, Aris tried not to think about it anymore.

Thinking about Kalaian always made her heart complicated. She recalled something else that would put her mind at ease.

‘Today, I can finally write a letter to him after such a long time.’

Aris smiled brightly.