Having made up my mind to travel with Ascan, I wasted no time and immediately began preparations.

I wanted, if possible, to choose a destination that Ascan himself wished to visit—but it was difficult for him, who had spent his entire life confined to a laboratory, to decide on a place.

With no other option, I selected the location rumored to be the most relaxing among the Brellof family’s villas.

It was a place with a beach in front and a forest behind. Everyone unanimously praised it as quiet, perfect for rest due to its sparse population, and exceptionally beautiful in scenery.

As previously promised, I planned to teach Ascan how to swim if the opportunity arose, and if the weather turned cold, we would enjoy the mountain hot springs.

Just imagining myself gazing at the forest’s natural beauty for a while and healing from accumulated fatigue lifted my spirits immensely.

The day of our planned trip arrived.

I had already loaded the luggage prepared from Brellof Mansion onto the carriage and was about to board, when I noticed only Matela had come to see me off—this struck me as odd.

“Where is Master?”

At my question, Matela answered with an awkward smile.

“He hasn’t stepped outside since he saw the new magic stone you showed him a while ago.”

“Oh.”

Barnen seemed quite shocked upon seeing the new magic stone.

I hadn’t spoken with him since then, so I couldn’t be sure what exactly he was thinking—but the expression I saw on his face that day somehow radiated burning enthusiasm.

Uncertain what to say, I hesitated briefly—then Matela smiled brightly and continued in a cheerful voice.

“Don’t worry. Seeing something unexpected developed, he probably wants to try many things. He’ll immerse himself in research for a while, then reappear as if nothing happened.”

“Yes, please take good care of Master.”

“Of course. Don’t worry about things here—have a wonderful trip.”

I nodded and boarded the carriage.

As if suddenly remembering, Matela hurried to fetch a small box from behind and handed it to me through the carriage window.

“Take this with you, Miss.”

“What is it?”

“I prepared it just in case.”

Opening the box revealed a magical engineering weapon embedded with a conventional magic stone—

A ring crafted from a blue water-attribute magic stone.

I knew its power without needing explanation: it granted temporary, complete mastery over the element of water.

I looked at Matela with a puzzled expression.

“Why this…?”

“Lord Orland was worried about your trip, so I recommended it. In case swimming becomes dangerous, take it with you.”

By “Lord,” she meant Orland.

Since the academic festival, where I concealed the reason for my injury, Orland and I had been slightly distant. Of course, Orland had also been so busy I rarely even saw his face.

I expected he knew I was traveling—but I never imagined he’d prepare such a gift, and unexpectedly, my nose tingled.

‘Family… really is wonderful.’

In my previous life, I had no family, so I didn’t know. Living as a member of the Brellof family, I was newly realizing just how warm and reassuring the presence of family could be.

“Father really… to give me such an expensive magical engineering weapon.”

Though I frequently handled such items due to my magical engineering research, I well knew the staggering price of even one such ring.

No one but Orland could so easily offer such a generous gift.

Noticing my touched expression, Matela smiled gently and spoke.

“Had he thought you needed something even greater, he surely would have prepared that too.”

“Please tell Father I’m grateful. And say I’ll visit him when I return.”

I removed the water magic ring from the box and slipped it onto my finger. Seeing it on my hand, I couldn’t help but smile.

I’d planned to buy gifts for Orland and Noxia Brellof at our destination—but now I resolved to choose the most expensive and finest items available.

“Then have fun, Miss.”

At Matela’s farewell, I nodded with a smile.

“I’ll bring gifts for Master and you too, Matela.”

“Oh my, then I won’t refuse, Miss.”

Her playful reply made me smile even wider.

Finally, Ascan climbed aboard and closed the carriage door—the carriage promptly set off as if waiting for him.

I waved to Matela and Jerin visible through the window. Since caretakers were already stationed at our destination villa, there was no need to bring maids along from here.

Leaving them behind was actually the more considerate choice, allowing Jerin and the other maids to rest while I was away.

Turning my head absentmindedly, I saw Ascan watching me.

We’d departed with minimal personnel to avoid crowds, so inside the spacious carriage, only Ascan and I remained.

“Are you that pleased?”

“Of course. Travel is always enjoyable.”

“I meant the ring.”

Only then did I realize what Ascan was asking about.

The magic stone ring had just been placed on my finger. Apparently, my delight over Orland’s unexpected gift was obvious.

“Hmm, it’s not so much that the ring itself is wonderful—it’s feeling Father’s thoughtfulness toward me. It makes me feel loved.”

It was a sense of fulfillment I’d never felt in my past life.

It felt as if a hollow space in my heart—once impossible to fill—was finally being mended.

Had I, without realizing, been starving for affection?

That thought suddenly crossed my mind—and then I saw Ascan before me.

Ascan resembled my past self somewhat. Perhaps I should call him a lonely soul, with no one to grasp his outstretched hand.

In the past, I was different from now.

Every night I slept alone, and every morning I woke alone. Life itself was so fierce I had no leisure to cultivate relationships.

After leaving the orphanage, I’d lived entirely alone—so returning home with my exhausted body, I was always greeted by cold air devoid of human warmth.

Suddenly, I recalled that hollow loneliness.

If I weren’t here, would Ascan feel that same emotion?

He’d endured an even harder childhood than I had. I knew well, from the novel, just how horrific his life in the laboratory had been.

Unexpectedly, I wanted to give Ascan a good feeling—something as satisfying as the contentment I’d just experienced.

“Is there anything you want?”

At my sudden question, Ascan looked at me with puzzled eyes.

Having no excuse ready, I used the ring from earlier as justification.

“I’m happy receiving a gift, so if there’s something you want, I’d like to buy it for you.”

I expected he’d be pleased—but Ascan’s face showed no particular emotion. Instead, he stared at the ring on my finger and murmured softly.

“I don’t particularly want anything.”

“Really nothing at all? Think carefully—surely there’s at least one thing.”

Even as I spoke, Ascan’s gaze remained fixed on the ring.

What? Could he possibly want the magic stone ring?

If Ascan desired it, I could craft a weapon using the newly developed magic stone.

Perhaps even develop something exclusively for him, beyond existing weapons.

Unconsciously, I stared at him with hopeful eyes—but for some reason, Ascan looked at my face and smiled bitterly.

“Don’t make such promises lightly. Someone greedy might want to exploit your goodwill.”

It was an answer I hadn’t anticipated.

I’d only ever said such things to Ascan—promising rewards, offering to buy whatever he wished.

Then… perhaps he was feeling greedy?

But my thoughts stalled there. I’d already declared I’d grant him anything—yet I couldn’t understand why he hesitated to speak.

“What’s so difficult? Just say what you desire.”

It felt like solving a riddle, so I said it.

For some reason, at my words, Ascan’s lips relaxed slightly.

“Will you truly grant me anything?”

“That’s what I said.”

Ascan silently spread his palm—and as if conjured by illusion, flames flickered into existence above it.

Currently, he could summon four flames. Through intensive training, he’d gained control over one of them without risk of rampage.

“When I can freely wield all the flames, I’ll claim the reward you promised. May I also speak of something unrelated?”

“Of course. What do you want? You must tell me in advance so I can prepare.”

“No preparation is necessary.”

“Is there such a thing?”

At the moment I gazed at Ascan with curious eyes—

Thud. The carriage jolted, apparently passing over a bumpy road.

“Ah—”

As my upper body tilted, Ascan firmly caught me. I felt his face gradually drawing closer to mine.

Wha—wha—what?

Startled for entirely different reasons, I could only widen my eyes.

Somehow, our noses were nearly touching. Ascan stopped right before me, gazing deeply into my eyes as he spoke.

“May I kiss you?”

My mind panicked.

What—what did he say about kissing?

“Wai—!”

But I couldn’t finish saying “wait.”

Thud. The carriage jolted again—and my lips met Ascan’s first.

The first thing Dekain did upon returning to Igteon Trading Company was examine the volcanic stone he’d received from Tanashia Brellof.

But he couldn’t determine how she’d infused mana into an ordinary volcanic stone.

He gathered every expert within Igteon’s network and all those personally available to him—yet each one merely shook their head.

Only then did Dekain realize.

‘No one but Tanashia can create new magic stones.’

To uncover how she did it, he had no choice but to pry the secret from Tanashia’s lips.

‘She’ll never tell me willingly—what should I do?’

The contract was already finalized. Due to the conditions Tanashia set during negotiation, Igteon Trading Company couldn’t make any demands.

It was a headache.

While racking his brain for solutions, it happened.

Despite the late hour, Louivan—head of Igteon Trading Company and Dekain’s adoptive father—summoned him.

Since Louivan never did this unless something important arose, Dekain felt puzzled—but went without protest to Louivan’s office.

Knock knock. He knocked, and Louivan’s voice drifted out.

“Come in.”

With permission, Dekain entered the office.

No one else was there. Louivan sat alone on a spacious sofa, waiting for Dekain.

“You called for me?”

“Yes. I found the new magic stone you reported quite intriguing—but since no one can decipher how it was made, I summoned you.”

“I was just pondering that very issue.”

“What’s your plan?”

“I must coax Tanashia into revealing how she creates new magic stones.”

“And if she refuses?”

“….”

At the final question, Dekain had no answer.

Even if he employed every possible method, if Tanashia ultimately refused to speak, he had no idea what to do.

Yet abandoning the new magic stone as it was felt far too regrettable.

A moment of silence passed.

Louivan spoke first.

“I’ve learned that Lady Brellof has departed on a journey.”

Dekain looked at Louivan with a confused expression. Why had he suddenly investigated Tanashia’s whereabouts?

“They say she left with minimal personnel and almost no escort.”

The more Dekain listened, the more something felt amiss.

“Why are you suddenly mentioning this?”

“Do you truly not know why I ask?”

Louivan countered his question.

Hearing that, Dekain’s spine stiffened—he guessed Louivan’s intention.

“You can’t possibly be considering kidnapping Tanashia?”

“Then do you intend to abandon the new magic stone?”

He couldn’t abandon it. No—he didn’t want to.

But kidnapping Tanashia was unthinkable.

“Father, are you in your right mind? The other party is the Brellof family. Don’t you realize how dangerous this is?”

“…It’s already beyond my control.”

Dekain couldn’t comprehend what Louivan meant.

At that moment—

Creeeak. Suddenly, the secret passage in Louivan’s office opened.

As far as Dekain knew, only Louivan and himself were aware of that passage. Yet now, someone entered the room through it.

It was a familiar face.

His name was Retanda—a man whose robust physique belied his 40s, Duke of Lazent Empire and the Emperor’s younger brother.

Retanda, essentially the Emperor’s right hand—how had he arrived here?

Glancing briefly at Dekain’s rigid posture, Retanda spoke.

“If you cannot agree, step aside.”

“What are you saying right now—”

“Can you not deduce from my presence? This is an action approved by His Majesty the Emperor. Lady Brellof must belong to the Lazent Empire.”

Whatever the full story, one thing was certain.

Drenched in betrayal, Dekain stared at his adoptive father, Louivan.

He’d never dreamed Louivan would directly report his findings about Tanashia to the Lazent Imperial Court.

As if sensing Dekain’s thoughts, Louivan darkened and offered an excuse.

“I had no choice. You don’t know—Carlua Empire is now preparing for war. I couldn’t idly watch my homeland face threat.”

Dekain had heard that Carla Empire was developing weapons for war—but was there more he didn’t know?

Dekain looked at Louivan with questioning eyes, but Louivan firmly shut his mouth, offering no further explanation.

The answer came unexpectedly—from Retanda himself.

“Since you’ve come this far, no need to hide further. Carla Empire is currently developing something called ‘human weapons.’ For our empire to counter them, we require weapons equal to human weapons.”

Human weapons?

This was entirely new information to Dekain.

Tanashia, having read the original novel , knew—but this information was originally classified at the highest level.

Though Dekain’s mind reeled from these revelations, one question he couldn’t leave unasked.

“Are you planning to forcibly bring Tanashia to Lazent Empire and make her create new magic stones?”

The crucial point was that Lazent Empire desired Tanashia, creator of the new magic stone.

Neither Louivan nor Retanda answered—as if bound by silent agreement. But Dekain realized their silence was affirmation.

In the most serious tone he’d ever used, Dekain asked again.

“And if Tanashia refuses to the end?”

At that, Retanda’s eyes gleamed coldly as he murmured softly.

“Then kill her. If our empire cannot possess her, such dangerous talent must not be left alive. Imagine if it fell into Carla Empire’s hands—terrible things would unfold.”

It was absurd.

Igteon Trading Company was renowned for its integrity and trustworthiness.

Unilaterally confiscating weapons from contracted individuals for magical engineering weapon distribution was unthinkable.

Yet this absurdity was unfolding—because the new magic stone Tanashia developed was simply that extraordinary.

Dekain realized matters were unfolding in the worst possible direction.

Suddenly, Tanashia’s face from their recent parting flashed in his mind.

‘Tanashia…!’

She was in danger.