Sikar was holding out his hand toward me with an expression that said he’d make me regret it if I didn’t take it right away.

As usual, I wondered why he insisted on me grabbing his hand when he could just take mine, but then I recalled how he flinched every time I took his hand first.

Looking back now, I thought maybe he reacted that way because no one had ever taken his hand first before.

Anyway, I took Sikar’s hand as he wanted—not because his glaring eyes scared me, but because I was going to take it anyway.

When I grabbed his hand, Sikar showed the gentlest expression I’d ever seen on him.

In other words, the corners of his eyes, which were always raised sharply, looked softer and milder than ever.

“Search carefully through your memories for something about flying in the sky.”

Sikar furrowed his brow slightly, as if groping for something with his eyes, and scratched his forehead lightly as he spoke.

“Tossing a kid into the air? I knew it’d be something weird… Can’t you ask for something more normal?”

I knew Sikar’s reaction wouldn’t be normal, but I didn’t expect it to be this extreme.

“It’s because you’ve never played with kids, but it’s perfectly normal. I bet even Lord Reidox plays with kids like that.”

“Reidox playing with kids like that?”

Sikar’s expression was so full of doubt, as if he couldn’t believe it at all.

“Of course. Good fathers play with their kids physically like that. You know how good a father Reidox is.”

Sikar paused to think for a moment, then let out a low sigh and nodded.

“Fine. I’ll do as you say. But I won’t be getting that penalty. I won’t say that forbidden word again.”

Sikar acted quite cynically, but in the end, he accepted my forbidden word.

That meant he was accepting everything I asked of him.

So, maybe he’d do this too?

“Sikar, now that we’re done with the foundation, how about doing some sewing?”

As expected, Sikar shot me a cold, scornful look, as if telling me to stop talking nonsense.

“A duke sewing? Even a passing dog would laugh.”

“And I’d laugh too. Of course, I’d laugh out of joy. I’ve never seen a man sew, but I think it’d look cool.”

“A man sewing being cool…?”

“Yeah. Sewing is such delicate work. I always thought women sewing was beautiful, but a man doing it would look cool.”

Sikar’s face looked deeply troubled. He turned his head as if to brush it off, but I caught him glancing at the sewing kit out of the corner of his eye.

Then, Sikar naturally picked up a needle, threaded it, and said,

“I’m curious if I’d be good at sewing too.”

It didn’t seem like curiosity was his real motive.

Funnily enough, Sikar actually started sewing quite well. He was meticulous, fast, and precise, as if using a sewing machine.

Maybe because his character was designed that way, there was nothing he couldn’t do skillfully.

“It’s your first time sewing, but you’re surprisingly good at it.”

“I’m the type who’s above average at anything I try for the first time. Like that kiss we had—didn’t I do pretty well for my first time?”

Why did he suddenly bring that up?

“Tch, that was a dream!”

“Even so, a kiss in a dream is still a kiss.”

“Eating in a dream doesn’t fill your stomach. So that doesn’t count.”

“You’re right about that.”

Absolutely, completely right.

Even though he resisted a bit, seeing Sikar follow my words made me think it was time to get him to admit he likes me.

I leaned toward Sikar, who was engrossed in sewing, and said as if landing a blow,

“You seem to like me a lot.”

Sikar paused his sewing, glanced at me as if I’d said something absurd, and then resumed sewing.

In other words, I was thoroughly ignored.

I hit the mark, and he’s dodging with silence. If he’d just admit he likes me, I might loosen the reins a bit.

Undeterred, I spoke a bit louder, as if to make sure he heard,

“As soon as I said a man sewing is cool, you started sewing. What does that mean?”

But this time, he didn’t even glance at me and just kept sewing silently.

This reaction was unexpected. I thought he’d at least respond, but he’s just ignoring me completely.

As expected, he’s not an ordinary guy, and his reactions are unpredictable. I planned to fix that cynical personality if he admitted he liked me, but as expected, it’s not that easy.

Still, his response sparked my determination. If that’s how he’s going to be, I’ll just have to confirm it again.

I remembered how his ears turned red yesterday when I said “thank you.” I spoke a bit louder to make sure he couldn’t mishear.

“Thanks for sewing!”

But it seemed the word “thank you” didn’t thrill him twice, as his ears didn’t turn red this time.

That confirmed he definitely misheard something yesterday.

What did he hear? What did he think I said to make his ears turn red?

Sikar just looked at me with a pitiful expression, and I ended up being the one whose face turned red.

And because I raised my voice for no reason, I ended up waking Kian from his nap. Kian woke up with a start, his eyes wide open.

“Mother, I must’ve slept too long.”

“No, no. I woke you up by being loud. Sorry, Kian.”

“It’s okay, Mother. I was just dreaming about wanting to see you.”

“How does our Kian always say such sweet things?”

Kian smiled brightly and started to come to my side but glanced at Sikar and went silent, as if sharing telepathy.

Then, unbelievably, he went and sat next to Sikar.

The unbelievable situation continued. Sikar, who never cared whether Kian woke up or not, actually started greeting him.

“Did you sleep well, Kian?”

“Yes, Duke. Were you sewing with Mother?”

“Yes, I was sewing.”

“I’ll help too.”

“No, needles and scissors are dangerous for kids, so you should read the fairy tale book you brought.”

“Okay, Duke. I’ll read my fairy tale book quietly then.”

Was my wish for them to get along manifesting right now?

They were like an adult lion and a cub, always growling at each other through the air without even making eye contact.

But seeing them suddenly getting along so well, I couldn’t easily adjust to this situation.

Could it be that because this is a temple, the gods made love magically appear in their hearts?

Is this temple a place overflowing with love?

Amid my confusion from their sudden closeness, Sikar’s next words left me even more stunned.

“By the way, didn’t we agree to make Jeremi’s uniform today, Madam?”

Was Sikar threatened by Kian? Why the sudden change in tone? Did he decide to speak respectfully in front of Kian now?

Flustered, I could only respond,

“Y-Yes, we did. But why do you ask…?”

“Then we should measure Jeremi’s clothes now. I’ll go, so please wait here, Madam.”

Sikar stood up abruptly and said,

“I’ll be back.”

At the same time, I stood up too.

“Wait a moment.”

If I let Sikar go alone, I could already see him messing up with Jeremi.

Without a sword, he’d probably threaten Jeremi at the coming-of-age festival, saying, “I’ll cut you down if you don’t attend.”

“I’ll go instead. Duke, you should spend some quality time with Kian.”

At that moment, Sikar suddenly lifted Kian into his arms, startling me, and Kian looked equally shocked.

“You’re saying you’ll measure Jeremi’s sizes yourself, Madam? Stop talking nonsense and let’s go together.”

What’s the point of using honorifics when his tone is still like an angry lion?

“If we all leave, Grandmother will be surprised when she comes in. Someone needs to stay.”

Kian, who’d been watching me and Sikar, quietly raised his hand.

“I’ll stay, Mother. You and the Duke go together.”

“No, Kian. I can’t leave you alone when you’re only seven years old.”

“I’m fine. I’ve stayed alone before.”

“That was because you had no choice back then. But now you’re a child with parents. You deserve your parents’ protection. No matter what you say, we won’t leave you alone.”

“Then let’s wait until Grandmother arrives, Madam.”

“That was my plan, Duke.”

So we sat back down. Sikar carefully placed Kian back on the chair, sat down, and tilted his head slightly to look at me.

The way he tilted his head and stared at me, his face seemed full of dissatisfaction.

“How could a dignified duchess think of measuring a mage’s clothes…?”

Sikar looked incredulous, but I was the one flustered.

“I was only going to ask him to measure things like waist or chest himself and just measure lengths he can’t do alone. What misunderstanding do you have, Duke?”

“Don’t you know measuring lengths means getting physically close? It’s improper for a duchess to measure a stranger’s clothes or get close to them here, Madam.”

Even though I’d only been here a few months, that was a ridiculous rule.

In high society, you dance with complete strangers after just a brief “I’m so-and-so from such-and-such family,” but measuring clothes is too close?

If Kian weren’t here, I’d have argued, but I couldn’t let Kian know I’m from another world, so I just apologized.

“I didn’t think that far. I’ll be more careful next time, Duke.”

“Just don’t think about going off alone next time…”

Sikar stopped mid-sentence. I noticed Kian tugging at his collar, glaring at him.

Sikar cleared his throat once and continued,

“Go with me, Madam.”

Only then did Kian let go of Sikar’s collar.

‘There’s definitely something going on between them… What is it?’

I apologized, but it wasn’t heartfelt, so I didn’t say a word to Sikar, and he didn’t bother talking to me either.

Until Grandmother arrived, I read a fairy tale to Kian while Sikar silently sewed.

When Grandmother entered the room, she blinked several times in shock at seeing Sikar holding a needle.

Seeing Sikar sew must have been surprising. Her reaction was completely natural.

“Are you sewing right now?”