“I thought it was my fault for not giving you enough trust, usually, which made you anxious.”

 

“No way! I believed that Yves would definitely tell me it was okay.”

 

I waved my hands vigorously and added that I trusted Yves Leblanc completely.

 

“I was just scared all by myself.”

 

When I added that I hadn’t been able to confess because I lacked courage, Yves Leblanc gently patted my back.

 

As if comforting me and saying it was alright.

 

For a moment, I leaned against him and felt his body heat.

 

‘It feels comfortable and cozy.’

 

Even the steady sound of Yves Leblanc’s heartbeat sounded like a lullaby, so I almost fell asleep again without realizing it. But his voice brought me back to my senses.

 

“There’s something I’m curious about.”

 

“…Yes?”

 

Still half-asleep, I replied a beat late. Then he stroked my hair and, with a faint smile, slowly continued.

 

“Once you complete your mission, will you return to your original world?”

 

“Um… I’m not sure. I can’t be certain about that either.”

 

First of all, it was certain that I had died in my previous life.

 

Laura, on the other hand, was different.

 

Although she was originally destined to die, the moment I possessed her was before her death.

 

There was a high possibility that Laura’s soul was somewhere else.

 

Therefore, no one could know what would happen once Selene’s regression issue was resolved.

 

‘Unless it’s the god who brought me to this world, that is.’

 

The unidentified god whose name I still didn’t even know.

 

Since I still couldn’t fathom what he wanted from me, the things I could say to Yves Leblanc were limited.

 

“Honestly, I’m not even sure if solving Selene’s problem is really my mission.”

 

“I see.”

 

While his reply sounded calm and accepting, Yves Leblanc’s complexion remained dark.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“The fact that you could suddenly disappear one day, just like how you suddenly appeared, scares me.”

 

I understood how he felt. Because I, too, was sometimes seized by that same anxiety.

 

“It’ll be okay.”

 

Probably.

 

Swallowing the word that hovered in my mouth, I quickly changed the subject before the atmosphere grew any heavier.

 

“Anyway, all the misunderstandings are cleared up now, right?”

 

However, Yves Leblanc’s expression didn’t brighten easily.

 

“Yves, are you listening?”

 

To get his attention, I deliberately pinched his cheek and asked.

 

“That I don’t have even a hair’s worth of rational affection for Endymion.”

 

“Yes.”

 

When I pressed him repeatedly, Yves Leblanc finally relaxed his frozen expression.

 

Although a faint trace of anxiety still lingered in his silver eyes, since it was a problem that couldn’t be solved right away, I didn’t point it out.

 

Because of the anxiety about the future, a short silence settled between us. While I was lost in thought, worrying about the unpredictable days ahead,

 

“Laura.”

 

Yves Leblanc called my name.

 

“There’s one thing I’d like to clarify as well. It seems Laura has a misunderstanding, too.”

 

“What is it?”

 

I tilted my head, looking at him as he spoke cautiously. I couldn’t really guess what misunderstanding I might have.

 

“The person I have loved has always been you.”

 

“What?”

 

I unconsciously made a dazed face and asked back at his sudden, out-of-nowhere statement.

 

But Yves Leblanc paid no mind to my bewildered reaction. Instead, with an even more serious expression, he continued.

 

“From the beginning until now… and forever into the future as well. The only person I love is you alone.”

 

“…”

 

Narrowing his eyes softly, he lifted the corners of his mouth into a bright, innocent smile. His appearance was languid yet gentle, resembling a white magnolia.

 

I stared blankly at Yves Leblanc, who looked brighter than the full moon floating in the night sky. Then he said slyly,

 

“You really are weak to my smiling face.”

 

Only then did I realize that Yves Leblanc had been teasing me.

 

‘He really is such a fox.’

 

When I made a sulky face, Yves Leblanc, with only one corner of his mouth raised, poked my cheek repeatedly and spoke.

 

“Until now, I have never once considered my abundant divine power as a blessing, but right now I truly think it’s fortunate.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because divine power slows down the aging process.”

 

“Wait a moment. I don’t like you just because of your appearance, Yves!”

 

Of course, I couldn’t say it had no weight at all, but I could firmly declare that it wasn’t just that.

 

“I like everything about you, Yves, so even if time passes and your face becomes full of wrinkles, I will still like you. So please rest assured.”

 

I had said many things even more embarrassing than this, but for some reason, I felt shy. I cleared my throat and changed the subject.

 

“Ahem. Anyway, we can’t just laze around forever just because our schedule is empty, so shall we get up soon?”

 

“Schedule…”

 

It had been a casual remark, but Yves Leblanc, who had been smiling brightly just moments ago, suddenly muttered to himself, and his face hardened.

 

Sensing an unusual atmosphere from him, I asked carefully,

 

“Is something wrong?”

 

“Now that you mention it, yesterday His Holiness the Pope commanded me to bring you to his office because he had news to deliver.”

 

I had wondered why Yves Leblanc, who had been avoiding me for a while, suddenly came to my room. So that was the reason.

 

“But why are you only telling me now?”

 

“While I was waiting in the room, I happened to witness you talking with my brother… and my eyes went blank…”

 

I was staring at him in bewilderment as he trailed off, when a thought suddenly flashed through my mind, turning me deathly pale in an instant.

 

It was because I remembered that this room and the Pope’s office were on the same floor.

 

“W-Wait a moment. That…”

 

I couldn’t finish the sentence and just opened and closed my mouth.

 

It was too embarrassing to mention last night’s memories out loud, and moreover, the hypothesis that suddenly came to mind was too horrifying.

 

‘No way, no way… What if the Pope heard everything?’

While I was sinking into worry, imagining all sorts of things, how I would ever face her again, or whether I should run away from the Holy Kingdom right now…

 

Yves Leblanc’s voice cut through my thoughts.

 

“Since the soundproofing barrier was in place, there’s no need to worry about any sound leaking out.”

 

“Why are you so sure?”

 

“I had installed the spatial isolation barrier I learned from Fenrir.”

 

In a calm tone, Yves Leblanc explained that unless the barrier was broken, no one could enter or exit, and no sound could escape either.

 

“Well, the room is originally quite soundproof anyway, and His Holiness the Pope probably has a vague idea that we were fighting, so he’ll understand even if we’re a bit late.”

 

“…Alright. We should go now, then.”

 

Having wrapped up the conversation with him, I headed to the bathroom to get ready. But even before washing, I faced a shocking sight in front of the mirror.

 

It was the colorful marks covering my entire body.

 

The heat flowers blooming chaotically on my white skin were nothing compared to what came next.

 

‘No. What are all these bite marks…’

 

What made me gasp in horror were the clearly visible bite marks.

 

The ones clearly remaining in my memory were only on my ankle and the nape of my neck, but the marks engraved on me were far more than that.

 

It really felt like Yves Leblanc had devoured my entire body.

 

I had been staring at the mirror for a long while when,

 

“…I’m sorry for not being able to control myself.”

 

Yves Leblanc, who had entered the bathroom at some point, lowered his gaze like a child who knew he had done wrong and apologized in a dejected tone.

 

In response, I swallowed the sigh rising in my throat and said,

 

“It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt.”

 

Besides, except for the bite marks around my neck, all of them would be covered once I put on clothes.

 

I turned my eyes away from the traces Yves Leblanc had left and moved on. I needed to wash quickly and go meet the Pope.

 

💫

 

The long-awaited day finally dawned.

 

It was the scheduled day to depart for the Zagros Mountains. I looked up at the clear, cloudless sky while waiting for Fenrir.

 

‘Thank goodness the weather is nice.’

 

Since we were traveling by magic anyway, rain wouldn’t have mattered, but a clear day was still more comfortable.

 

While I was lost in such trivial thoughts, an unexpected voice called out.

 

“Miss Laura, are you ready?”

 

It was Enheduane, wearing a gentle smile as warm as spring sunlight.

 

“Enheduane, what brings you here?”

 

“I told you it was fine to call me comfortably by ‘An.’… Yet Miss Laura never calls me by my nickname unless I point it out. Does that mean you find it uncomfortable?”

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

The person who replied to her deliberately sorrowful complaint, meant to provoke guilt, was Yves Leblanc.

 

“Oh my, I am currently talking with Miss Laura. So could Sir Leblanc please refrain from interrupting?”