Of course, I missed Ascan. But saying outright to his face that I missed him so much it nearly drove me crazy? That wasn’t easy.

Somehow, my heart began pounding wildly. Lately, whenever I saw him, my chest fluttered so intensely I worried I might develop a cardiovascular condition.

“See…”

At my tiny whisper, Ascan’s golden eyes shimmered with unmistakable anticipation.

“See?”

He echoed my word.

It was, objectively, nothing significant—but under his full attention, my lips refused to part.

Unintentionally, a wave of heat surged toward my face.

I didn’t need a mirror to know my cheeks had flushed crimson.

“W-why ask something so obvious!”

I whipped my head away to hide my burning face. Somehow, I thought I heard him chuckle softly—and it made me mortified.

When I peeked back at him, he was smiling gently, eyes crinkled at the corners.

“Was it really so obvious? That you missed me.”

“Yes. It’s such an obvious question you shouldn’t even need to confirm it.”

I blurted out the first thing that came to mind, flustered. But the moment I spoke, I realized the weight of what I’d just said.

Oops. Too late. In that moment, Ascan, as if unable to hold back any longer, furrowed his brow and leaned toward me.

Tap. His lips brushed my forehead, then withdrew.

The spot where his lips had touched burned as if branded.

“But many things won’t be conveyed unless spoken aloud. I read in a book—you shouldn’t hold back expressions of affection.”

Instinctively, I covered my forehead. While feeling my heart thump wildly, I suddenly wondered what book he meant.

“Book? What book?”

When I stared at him with puzzled eyes, Ascan replied with a mysterious smile.

“There is one. Such a book exists.”

Unaware that Carlton had gifted him a book titled [Eleven Ways to Capture a Woman’s Heart], I could only tilt my head in confusion.

Ascan unlaced his fingers, then began removing the apron I wore to protect my dress during work.

“No matter how much you alter the exterior of Calspeliver, this is absurd. You’re never seen in the mansion—only holed up in your workshop. If you’re going to do this, you shouldn’t have accepted the commission.”

“I’m busy. What else can I do?”

Redesigning the legendary magical sword Calspeliver’s exterior wasn’t easy.

Ascan, of all people, knew that well—yet he was teasing me anyway.

“It seems only I’m suffering here.”

I looked at him, confused by his meaning. He moved my apron aside and gently smoothed my messy hair as he continued.

“I missed you.”

His low voice dripped like honey—sweet and thick.

Unconsciously, my lips curled into a smile. No woman could remain indifferent facing a man who expressed love so openly.

Suddenly, I remembered how I’d felt about Ascan long ago.

Even when bad boys were in fashion, I’d always preferred pure, devoted men. Especially those overflowing with puppy-dog charm—they were the best.

Even the cynical, amnesiac Ascan had been charming—but this version of him, boldly expressing affection, suited my taste even more.

“It’s only been a few days. People will misunderstand if they hear this.”

Though I was anxiously awaiting Noxia’s reply regarding Orland’s silence, it hadn’t been long since I’d parted from Ascan in the royal guard’s interrogation chamber.

Anyone watching might think we’d been separated for ages.

“Look here. I’m the only one fretting over missing you.”

“That’s not true. I… thought about you too.”

Though embarrassment glued my lips shut, his boldness forced me to stop hiding and express my feelings honestly.

Ascan’s eyes softened as he smiled—that uniquely deep, warm smile of his.

“Even obvious things, things needing no confirmation, should be said aloud sometimes. Because hearing them is just… too sweet.”

“Hmph, fine, I get it.”

I fiddled with my cheeks, trying to hide my flushed face.

Ascan stared at me intently—then, as if remembering something, slipped his hand into his pocket.

“Ah, I have a gift for you.”

The word “gift” immediately brought to mind the jewelry and gems that had recently filled the treasure vault.

I still hadn’t returned the key to that vault he’d given me then.

One diamond tiara would’ve been more than enough—but somehow, I’d ended up accepting gifts so extravagant they could’ve traded for an entire mine and still had surplus.

I hastily waved my hands to refuse.

“Gift? No, no. What you gave me before is already so much I don’t even know what to do with it all.”

Ascan chuckled softly and placed a pink perfume bottle into my palm.

“This is different. And I still have many more things I want to give you—so don’t preemptively refuse.”

“What is this? Perfume?”

Having received such extravagant gifts last time, I hadn’t expected something as ordinary as perfume.

Surprised by this sudden gift, I stared at him questioningly—so he explained.

“You remember stealing perfume from Marquis Manoko at the imperial palace?”

“Of course.”

“I analyzed it afterward. It contained various compounds and was made using a special method—I couldn’t fully decipher it all, but I confirmed it was designed to make hypnosis easier.”

The mention of Luphilmo naturally brought back memories of what happened at the imperial palace.

That inexplicable clock chime… the perfume that clouded my mind…

The memory of slicing my palm just to cling to sanity wasn’t exactly pleasant. Frankly, I never wanted to experience that again.

Noticing my expression had darkened, Ascan cupped my face gently with his large hand.

“Don’t worry. I haven’t fully figured out how they make this perfume or precisely how the hypnosis works—but I did find a way to prepare against it.”

“A way to prepare?”

Ascan nodded and pointed to the perfume bottle he’d just gifted me.

“Get used to this scent. Then you won’t be affected by the perfume Marquis Manoko uses.”

“Oh—”

I stared at the perfume bottle with renewed curiosity.

His explanation was brief, but I instantly understood.

It was like building immunity to poison by ingesting small amounts of toxic herbs—preemptively exposing yourself to the scent to prevent mental fog.

The perfume he’d given me seemed designed to build resistance against hypnosis.

“When did you make this? I truly never expected such a gift.”

Seeing my bright, delighted expression, he seemed satisfied.

“I can’t guarantee the Manoko family will give up on you just because you rejected the Emperor’s proposal. The thought of you being vulnerable when I’m not beside you… it worries me too much.”

“Thank you. I’ll treasure it.”

I carefully cradled the perfume bottle he’d gifted me. But then, a sudden thought made me look back at him.

“What about you? Shouldn’t you also get used to the scent beforehand?”

“I’m fine. You saw how unaffected I was by the scent Andro scattered last time. I’m not sure exactly when it started, but things like that simply don’t affect me anymore.”

“I see.”

I felt unexpectedly reassured.

Ascan didn’t know—but I knew the substance Andro had scattered back then was a sedative.

Though sedatives and hypnotic perfumes were different, perhaps years of childhood experiments had granted Ascan some innate resistance.

“Actually, the idea for this perfume came from the Emperor. After allying with the Manoko family, the first thing the Emperor extracted from them was that mysterious incense burner.”

Thinking about it, Helsion must’ve also needed countermeasures against the Manoko family’s hypnotic techniques.

Given Helsion’s meticulous nature, he’d likely been building resistance to hypnotic scents for some time already.

Ascan spoke casually, but noticing such details was impressive—he’d caught something most would’ve overlooked.

“Thanks to you, I won’t fear the Manoko family anymore. But… did you come all the way to the workshop just to give me this perfume?”

“I told you. I came to see you.”

“But the perfume—”

“I intended to give it to you when I saw you, but that wasn’t the main reason I came. I just… found myself here, without really thinking.”

Nothing could’ve moved me more. That he’d come simply because he missed me—with no other agenda—why did it sound so sweet?

“Have you… eaten?”

To my question, Ascan smiled faintly and shook his head.

“No. Even if I had, I’d say I hadn’t.”

“What kind of answer is that?”

“You’re clearly inviting me to dinner. So no, I haven’t eaten.”

He could’ve just said “no”—but he phrased it so sweetly, as if he deeply understood a woman’s heart.

I shot him a teasing glare.

“What’s this? Since when did you learn to talk so sweetly?”

“I’ve been wondering lately—how can I make you adore me more?”

“You don’t need to try so hard. I’m already crazy about you.”

“Really?”

Seeing Ascan’s eyes crinkle with genuine delight, my own mood lifted instantly.

I knew worrying wouldn’t change anything—but Orland’s silence still weighed on my mind like a burden.

Thanks to Ascan, I could clear my head of clutter and smile again.

“Ugh, what a mood. I’ll treat you to something delicious tonight.”

Ascan looked at me, surprised—then answered with a playful, hazy smile.

“Then it has to be something expensive.”

“Obviously. Pick whatever you want.”

The profits I’d earned so far from magical engineering weapons were substantial. I’d saved all that money precisely for nights like tonight.

I walked side by side with Ascan through the bustling district.

It had been a long time since I’d walked the streets without a carriage or horse.

Though I was troubled over the true culprit behind Charles’s death, in this moment, those heavy thoughts felt distant.

This feeling? Entirely because of Ascan.

“Where should we go?”

In response to my question, Ascan countered.

“Is there anything you’re craving?”

I thought for a moment, but nothing specific came to mind.

Honestly, with him beside me, anything would taste delicious.

“Well… I’m fine with anything.”

“Then let’s go hearty—meat. You’ve been so absorbed in your work lately, you’ve lost weight.”

“That’s a good thing.”

At my words, Ascan chuckled helplessly.

Perhaps because it was late, the air felt unexpectedly chilly. My fingertips grew cold, so I cupped my hands and blew warm breath onto them.

Ascan, watching quietly, enveloped my hands with his large, warm palms.

He always ran warm—I could feel the comforting heat radiating from him.

‘Huh?’

Without meaning to, I ended up walking hand in hand with him.

It felt slightly ridiculous to think this way after we’d already kissed—but this was actually the first time we’d walked holding hands without him formally escorting me.

I stole a glance at Ascan walking beside me.

I still hadn’t gotten used to the ticklish, fluttery feelings of new romance.

My eyes darted around awkwardly—when suddenly, I noticed a white glove peeking out of Ascan’s jacket pocket.

“You… had gloves?”

If he had gloves, he didn’t need to hold my cold hands.

I didn’t mind—but his hands might get cold. He should’ve worn them.

“Ah, I forgot.”

“Aren’t your hands cold too? Want me to give you the gloves now?”

Ascan looked at me with an odd expression, then nodded.

He reached into his pocket as if to pull them out—but as he drew his hand out, plop, the glove fell to the ground.

“Oops!”

Watching from beside him, I couldn’t help but jump in surprise.

To make matters worse, Ascan—whether by accident or not—firmly stepped on the white glove as he walked. His shoe print left a glaringly dirty mark.

“Oh dear, my hand slipped. My fault.”

“No, it’s because of me—it fell and now it’s ruined.”

“It’s fine. If my hands get cold later, I’ll just hold yours again.”

Huh?

My hands were colder than his. When we held hands, it was me—not him—who warmed up.

Besides, back at the mansion, there were plenty of gloves—and if not, I could always gift him new ones.

“What? You talk like someone who only owns one pair of gloves.”

“If necessary, I could burn every glove currently in the Calua Empire.”

“What? Why suddenly?”

I stared at Ascan, puzzled. He wrinkled his nose as if exasperated, then flashed me an unbearably sweet smile.

“Can’t you understand? I dislike the idea of new gloves preventing me from holding your hand.”

Ah. Now I got it.

Ascan was saying he didn’t need new gloves—because he wanted to keep holding my hand.

His phrasing was a bit extreme—but “burning every glove in the empire” was just his dramatic way of saying that.

Suddenly, my head felt hot—as if all the warmth in my body rushed to my face.

‘What is this… seriously…’

My heart fluttered so violently I thought I’d faint.

That was when it happened. Ascan, walking beside me, pressed close against my side.

In the crowded district, this sudden closeness felt like my senses short-circuited.

“A-Ascan.”

I looked up at him, flustered. But unlike before, his voice had grown deeper, more serious.

“I wasn’t sure in this crowd—but someone’s been following us since earlier. Don’t turn your head. Stay close to my side as we walk.”

…What?

Someone was tailing us?

The problem was—there were far too many suspects.