n

n

nAfter dinner, Dalia sat at her desk and finished her homework given by Madam Mathieu.

nAnd after chatting with the nanny for a bit, brushing her teeth and washing her face, she lay down on the bed in her pajamas.

n‘It’s been a long day.’

nIt’s really been a very, very long day.

nShe lay down but couldn’t sleep, so she looked up at the ceiling.

nKnock knock.

nIt was then that someone knocked on her door.

nDalia opened the door with a puzzled look.

nStanding there is…… Hikan with a book by his side. Dalia asked in surprise at the completely unexpected person.

n“Brother, what are you doing here at this late at night?”

n

n

n“……I have something to say.”

nFor some reason, Hikan’s eyes looked more sunken than she had seen in the afternoon.

nHe also looked like someone who had made a big decision. Dalia tilted her head and guided him inside.

n“Were you about to sleep?”

n“Yes. But it’s okay since I can’t sleep anyway.”

n“No, lay down. You can talk next to me.”

nHikan dragged a chair from the desk and brought it next to Dalia’s bed.

nNot knowing what he’s trying to say, Dalia quietly lay back on her bed.

nHikan pulled the blanket up to her neck and patted Dalia’s chest slightly. Her heart feels warm.

nShe turned her body and looked at Hikan. He also looked at Dalia.

n“I’ve made up my mind.”

n“What……?”

n“If His Highness Cedric has done anything to you, I will officially file a complaint against this matter, even if it means against the Imperial Family.”

nDalia shook off her blanket and jumped out of her seat.

n“Huh? What do you mean all of a sudden!”

nStill, Hikan’s expression was serious.

n“There’s no way that damn bastard can leave you alone after talking about his first love.”

nDalia unknowingly covered Hikan’s mouth from his profane remarks.

nHe couldn’t bring himself to take Dalia’s hand off and just lowered his eyes in melancholy.

n‘No.’

nIt must be because he was too tired from work with the Knights.

n‘But you’re complaining to the Imperial Family. I have something else to say.’

nDalia hugged his neck and patted his head.

nThen she pushed his shoulder back and said.

n“Well, is your head clearer now? It’s hard to control your magic power because the other knights are watching……”

n“My mind is more normal than ever.”

n“…….”

nDalia awkwardly returned to the bed.

n“Brother, nothing really happened to me.”

n“This is how I will feel at ease.”

n“…….”

nBut you’re sending an official letter of complaint to the Imperial Family.

nThis is different from just grumbling to the Emperor. It really means that the issue will be highlighted as a political issue.

nAlthough the Emperor and Hikan were close, it cannot guarantee that their relationship would be the same after he crossed the line.

nIt was even more so for Dalia, who had personally seen the Emperor give Hikan the death penalty in the original game.

nAs if reading her thoughts, Hikan spoke softly.

n“If I could hear what happened from your own mouth then I might not.”

nEventually, Dalia opened her mouth. She did not leave out a single detail of what happened.

nHikan must have calmed down now that he knew nothing had happened.

nDalia glanced at him. As expected, he certainly looked more calm than before.

n“So it’s really dangerous. I think I have to work hard to not be bewitched.”

n“……Yes, I think so.”

n“So, we’re supposed to meet again next time, but I don’t know what to do with this. I’m sure he’ll want to see me again soon like last time.”

n“…….”

n“It was fun though. I think it would be fun to meet again. Nothing happened. So you’re not going to complain anymore, are you?”

nHikan nodded heavily.

nDalia looked at him with a smile.

n“Thank you for your concern. Are you going now?”

n“No, since I’m already here, I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”

nHe laid Dalia down again and tucked her in. Dalia was desperate.

n‘I hope I don’t need to kick the blanket again.’

nThen, suddenly, her mind went crazy at the book he brought.

n‘What was that?’

nShe turned her body vertically.

nAnd she was so bewildered to see him holding a fairy tale book with a big picture on the cover.

n“Wh, what is that, brother?”

n“I brought it because I thought you liked fairy tales last time.”

n“…….”

nWhen he was bedridden with fever, Dalia’s attempts to tease him were now completely backfired. Although Hikan was sincere. He opened the cover even though Dalia tried to dissuade him with sorrowful eyes.

n“Four centuries ago, in a certain territory, there was a demon king…….”

n‘Oh my God, in the end he started reading it.’

nDalia resigned and closed her eyes. Then she began to listen to the old tales by Hikan.

nAll the fairy tales in this world didn’t make sense to her because they were about angels or demon kings. She used to read fantasy novels when she was younger.

nBut such a story, combined with Hikan’s low and deep voice, sounded very plausible.

n‘……it’s quite good?’

nAs expected, she fell asleep better than she thought because she likes his voice.

nThe warmth of a person nearby gave her a sense of security more than she thought.

nDalia opened only one eye and looked at Hikan, who was concentrating on reading.

nHe doesn’t have to wear glasses now, but he’ll be wearing them for work in a few years.

nTranscendents have far better eyesight than ordinary people, but in return, they have hyperopia as they get older, and they usually wear glasses for work. Like the Emperor.

nHe is still handsome now, but if he wears glasses then, he will look really cool.

nShe was happy that she could think of his future now.

nDalia reached out and held Hikan’s empty hand on his lap.

nIt must be hard these days, so she thought that she should at least clear it up, and she wanted to hold his hand. Hikan held her hand without hesitation.

nThe still quiet voice continued. Shortly after, Dalia fell asleep.

n* * *

nHikan looked at the sleeping Dalia. The paper that he was holding in his hand was quickly crumpled.

nCrumpled.

nDalia furrowed her eyebrows at the sound.

nHikan was bewildered and opened the paper gently so that it wouldn’t make a sound.

nThen, carefully removing her hand that was holding him so as not to wake her, he put the blanket over her neck again, and quietly left the room.

nAs soon as he left the room, his steps accelerated. Soon he strode out the front door of the mansion with a big stride.

nThe coachman rubbed his sleepy eyes and brought the horse out.

n“Where are you going at this hour……?”

n“I’m sorry. I’ll be right back, so wait for me.”

nHikan hopped onto the horse and headed somewhere.

nHe arrived at the townhouse in the capital of Beniter. Count Beniter and his wife did not come to the capital, so Adrisha was the only one who lived here.

nAdrisha quickly came out of the mansion with a look of annoyance.

nIt was clear that she wanted to settle it right away without letting him in.

n“What brings you from so far tonight……”

n“I must separate Dalia from His Highness Cedric.”

nAdrisha’s eyes widened. She immediately led him to the drawing room.

n

n

nAfter hearing all the explanations from Hikan over a light tea, her expression darkened terribly.

n“How did that happen….. I can’t give Dalia away to such an inhuman person.”

n“I totally agree.”

n“He’s so clever that he’ll buy Dalia’s heart soon. We need to separate them as soon as possible.”

nHikan nodded in agreement.

n“But how……?”

nAdrisha was troubled as she bit her nails and shook her legs.

nIt was far from behavior befitting of a noble, but neither Hikan nor she had the time to care about such things.

nAfter a while, she put her hand down. She declared with a very determined look.

n“I thought of a way.”

n