So, because of me, you…?

Let’s talk about the details later. If we keep leaving them like this, this place will turn into a flood.

The “them” Sikar was referring to were Hersia and Aaron. The two were still clinging to each other, sobbing loudly.

The moment I replied that I understood, Sikar lifted me up into his arms and said,

“You’re trembling so badly in your legs that I’m carrying you. Don’t even think about telling me to put you down—I won’t listen to you anyway.”

Even without that, I was too shocked and dizzy to walk on my own, so I had no intention of saying anything like that.

Still, the moment Sikar carried me out onto the terrace, even though I was nestled in his arms, I felt dizzy from all the people staring at us.

Sikar immediately noticed that I was uncomfortable with the attention and said,

“You don’t need to acknowledge every single person’s gaze. Turn your head toward me.”

Following Sikar’s words, I promptly buried my face against his chest. Avoiding people’s stares like this felt much better.

Though I could hear everyone murmuring in surprise, not a single person dared to ask Sikar what had happened.

Instead, they questioned Hersia and Aaron, who were following behind us, about what had occurred and why.

Gradually, people’s voices grew distant, then faded into silence—and I felt a chilly breeze.

When I turned my head slightly, I realized we had left the palace and were heading toward the carriage.

Perhaps it was due to the soft streetlamps lining the darkened path—but stepping away from the dazzlingly bright chandeliers felt like I could finally breathe again.

“Now, on my own feet…”

“We’re here.”

Though he said we’d arrived, we still walked quite a while before reaching the carriage.

Only when we reached the carriage did Sikar set me down. Despite how his arms must have ached from carrying me this far, he looked perfectly fine.

Actually, I couldn’t tell whether he genuinely was fine or just pretending to be.

“Weren’t I heavy, carrying me all the way here? Are your arms okay…?”

“Hold out both your hands.”

Why was he suddenly asking me to hold out my hands when I’d just asked about his arms?

I obeyed his instruction and held out my hands. He took them, turned my palms upward, then placed his longsword—the one he always wore at his waist—onto my hands.

The sword’s heavy weight made me unable to hold it for even a moment.

Soon, the sword dropped with a thud—and Sikar swiftly caught it with his hand.

I stared at him with a dumbfounded expression, but Sikar looked down at me with haughty eyes and said,

“I carry this around my waist all day. Carrying you this far? Ridiculous.”

“Well, fine then.”

“Let’s head home first.”

“What about Vika? He hasn’t come yet.”

“If Vika comes, who will handle the cleanup? Vika will inform the king that I left first, then neatly finish the cleanup before returning.”

‘He’s going to complain a lot about how annoying this is.’

“He’ll certainly grumble quite a bit about being given such a bothersome task.”

‘As expected.’

“You must feel disappointed—all that hard work practicing dancing for nothing.”

“Not at all. I’m so relieved I didn’t have to dance.”

“Still, don’t forget what you’ve learned. You’ll probably need it someday.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t forget.”

‘After all that effort, how could I forget?’

“Now, get into the carriage.”

As soon as Sikar and I boarded, the carriage surged forward as if it had been waiting.

On the way back to the mansion, my mind kept replaying the assassins collapsing one after another.

And Sikar’s words, too.

“Even if they’re assassins, you’d be startled if someone died right before your eyes.”

In the original story, Sikar was a man who showed not even a speck of mercy—he’d cut down every assassin without a moment’s hesitation.

Yet this time, worried I might be startled, he ordered Vika to subdue the assassins instead.

Even though I don’t know much about spirit magic, I understand that putting five people to sleep at once isn’t easy—especially not strong men like assassins.

Moreover, given Vika’s personality, he wouldn’t have agreed easily. It was obvious he’d have immediately complained, “Why go through all this trouble when you could just kill them?”

Still, Sikar persuaded him—or more likely, threatened him—and somehow made Vika subdue the assassins. It was uncharacteristic of Sikar.

No, Sikar wouldn’t do something like this. Especially not for someone else.

‘Was Sikar really this considerate? Did I misunderstand him all along?’

No. If he were truly considerate, he wouldn’t have pointed a sword at me from the very beginning to strike a deal. He’s simply not that kind of person.

Then perhaps…

‘Could Sikar possibly… like me?’

Come to think of it, he has been subtly kinder to me lately.

I stared intently at Sikar, who appeared tired with his eyes closed—then quickly turned my head away when our eyes met.

‘Should I ask if he likes me?’

Ah, no. One person deluding themselves is enough—just Sikar is plenty. I mustn’t get dragged into this too.

Still, I could feel Sikar’s quiet gaze fixed on me.

‘Why is he staring like that?’

Actually, now that I think about it, he often stares like this—but for some reason, today I’m unusually aware of it.

Even if that man liked me, it’s not like he’d show me any great mercy. I should just ignore it.

I mustn’t make the mistake of deluding myself too. I should focus solely on raising Kian.

But the next morning, as I ate breakfast with Sikar, I completely forgot my resolution to ignore him as I kept catching him staring at me.

“You—why do you keep staring at me?”

“Is it uncomfortable?”

“No, there must be a reason.”

‘Maybe he’s staring because he likes me… or because I’m constantly on his mind…’

‘Why am I like this…? Did I catch Sikar’s delusion sickness?’

“If I must give a reason, I suppose I’m keeping watch.”

“I’m already living trapped in this duke’s mansion—what exactly are you watching me for?”

“To see how cultured your behavior is.”

‘Ah. He’s going to nag me.’

“Still, you’re improving gradually.”

Thanks to you.

“Since we’ve safely returned from the king’s wedding, I plan to visit Grandmother in a few days. So today, I’ll go out to buy her a gift—get dressed and come out as soon as you finish eating.”

“Then Kian should come too.”

“Why Kian?”

“It’d be nice for Kian to come when we visit Grandmother. It’d be even better to pick out gifts together.”

“Well, fine. It’s not difficult.”

Today, Kian was having breakfast with Vika.

Apparently quite attached to him by now, Kian had gone to Vika’s room early in the morning to wake him up and make sure he ate—since Vika had slept through breakfast.

‘How can someone be so kind and wonderful?’

Anyway, I quickly finished my meal and quietly opened Vika’s door to call for Kian.

I opened the door intending to tell Kian to hurry and get ready to go out—but seeing Kian gently feeding Vika, I couldn’t bring myself to interrupt.

Apparently, because we took the carriage first yesterday, Vika couldn’t get one and had run through the forest all night.

Vika kept dozing off, and each time his head drooped, Kian pushed a spoon into his mouth.

“Master Vika. Please wake up a little.”

“Young Master. Is this a newly invented torture? I’m trying to sleep—why do you keep feeding me?”

“People need to eat well, especially when they’re unwell.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t die from something like this.”

“Even if you won’t die, you still need to eat. That’s how you’ll recover quickly.”

Every line Kian spoke now was what Valije had said to him when Kian had been sick with a cold and refused to eat.

‘People need to eat well when they’re unwell. That’s how you recover quickly.’

It was clear Kian genuinely cared for Vika.

Perhaps Kian understood how Valije had felt back then—or perhaps he was afraid of losing someone else to death again.

Though the sight of the two of them was pleasant, Kian’s words sounded strangely sad to me.

‘It’s time for me to make my entrance.’

Kian blinked in pleasant surprise at my sudden appearance.

“Mother?”

“Kian. Let’s let Master Vika rest now and go out ourselves.”

“But nutrition is even more important when someone’s sick…”

“It’s fine. Master Vika only has a slight fever—he’ll recover quickly.”

Kian looked regretfully at Vika, who kept nodding off, then sighed deeply and said,

“Hmm… alright.”

“Then shall we get ready to go out?”

“Get ready to go out?”

“Yes. Remember Grandmother? We’re planning to visit her in a few days. So today, we’re going to buy her something she’ll like.”

“Wow! Great! Mother! I’ve really missed Great Grandmother!”

Seeing Kian so delighted made my own heart bloom with joy.

If I’d known Kian would be this happy, I should have taken him to visit Grandmother sooner.

Though we hadn’t planned it, our little family ended up dressed similarly. It turned out Andrea had heard we were going out and coordinated our outfits—just like taking a family photo in modern times.

Upon arriving in the capital city, we first bought plenty of chocolate cake, chocolate fondue, chocolates, and other treats Grandmother loved.

The reason Grandmother loved chocolate was due to the influence of her older sister, whom she lost as a child.

Grandmother’s sister used to comfort young Grandmother with chocolate whenever she cried. So even now, the dignified Grandmother still loves chocolate treats and remembers her sister through them.

Next, we bought plenty of knitting yarn Grandmother liked, then entered a teahouse.

And in the teahouse, we couldn’t help overhearing people’s conversation from beyond the partition.

“Apparently, yesterday Duke Blake carried the Duchess in his arms all the way from the hall to the carriage.”

“Crazy. So cool.”

‘I guess they didn’t see what happened afterward—when he put his longsword on my hands.’

“And then he made a sword oath.”

Huh?

“They say he held out his sword and declared something like, ‘I swear upon this sword—I will protect you!’”

Hearing this, I nearly burst out laughing and barely managed to cover my mouth. They were just fabricating stories as they pleased.

Meanwhile, Sikar nodded approvingly.

“Not a bad line. I should use that one next time.”

‘Snap out of it!’

Come to think of it, maybe Sikar’s consideration yesterday—subduing the assassins for my sake—was because he was immersed in playing the romantic hero.

Once I reached that conclusion, all his actions suddenly made sense.

“And another thing.”

What now? At this point, their fabrications don’t even surprise me.

“They say yesterday, Duke Blake subdued all the assassins so the Duchess wouldn’t be startled! Isn’t that so cool?!”

Was it because this was true?

The moment I heard those words, my heart sank—then began pounding wildly.