Chapter 110

“Th-That’s ridiculous…!”

 

Rahar’s face flushed bright red in an instant.

 

Whether it was from embarrassment, disbelief, or anger—no one could tell.

 

But seeing him get so serious, yelling about how people must think of him, insisting it was absolutely not like that… Enria was fairly sure that, at least for now, his feelings toward Belona weren’t romantic.

 

“I only said that because you were worrying too much. Thought maybe—just maybe—”

 

“Maybe? Maybe? Roseanne, what do you take your brother for? As if I’d ever go after a woman who just lost her lover—”

 

Knock, knock.

 

A knock cut him off, and a butler stepped inside.

 

“The light-attribute mage is looking for Lady Enria.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Enria tried to rise, but the butler quickly continued.

 

“She is already here.”

 

“Oh, really? Please show her in.”

 

After a polite bow, the butler hurried out.

 

Roseanne gave Rahar, who was visibly rattled, a strange look.

 

“Lady Enria, Lady Roseanne—”

 

Belona entered, calling out to them, but froze as soon as she saw Caldeon, Tearen, and Rahar inside as well.

 

Apparently, she had been told only Enria and Roseanne were having tea. It made sense she would be thrown off by the number of people.

 

“Come sit here, Lady Belona.”

 

Roseanne pointed to an empty seat. Because the servants had replaced the single chairs with two-seaters for the tea gathering, Belona had no choice but to sit right next to Rahar.

 

Thus, the seats lined up as:

 

Enria beside Caldeon.

 

Rahar beside Belona.

 

Roseanne beside Tearen.

 

Rahar sat unnaturally stiff, sneaking nervous sideways glances at Belona.

 

He’d insisted so much on checking whether Belona was okay, but now that she was actually sitting beside him, he said nothing.

 

Enria began to suspect that maybe Rahar did have some feelings for Belona after all.

 

The awkward silence broke when Belona’s tea arrived.

 

“Try it, Lady Belona. It has a wonderful aroma.”

 

Trying to dissolve the awkwardness, Roseanne offered the tea. Belona lifted the pale-green drink and took a sip.

 

“It does.”

 

She nodded once more after another sip, seemingly liking the fragrance.

 

Beside her, Rahar picked up his own cup of the same tea and spoke to Roseanne.

 

“She’s not fully recovered yet. You could’ve given her a tea that’s better for her health.”

 

Belona turned toward him.

 

“Are you talking about me?”

 

“Of course. Who here isn’t fully recovered besides you?”

 

“Who are you calling a patient? I’m completely fine now.”

 

“You are a patient. Half your soul was eaten, you didn’t wake up for ages, and even after waking you had strange symptoms—”

 

“That’s rude. I said I’m fine.”

 

Belona frowned at him. Rahar, looking awkward, lifted a shoulder.

 

“Still, it’s best to be careful.”

 

“Believe it or not, I am being careful.”

 

“That’s what you call being careful? Do you even know the meaning of the word?”

 

“What did you just say?”

 

They were practically sparring, tossing arguments back and forth.

 

The others watched in silence, but Belona and Rahar were oblivious.

 

Tearen leaned slightly toward Roseanne, whispering into her ear.

 

“They’re going to end up attached at this rate.”

 

Startled by the sudden closeness, Roseanne’s face instantly went crimson.

 

“Y-Yes… it seems so.”

 

“Are you hot? Your face is red.”

 

“Ah—yes, it seems so.”

 

She answered without even realizing what she was saying. Her mind couldn’t function with Tearen’s face so close.

 

Across from them, Enria quietly sipped her tea, watching the two with a faint smile tugging at her lips.

 

While Tearen got up to open a window for Roseanne, Enria watched her fanning her flushed face.

 

Their eyes met—Roseanne’s cheeks, already red, flushed even deeper.

 

It was so adorable that Enria couldn’t help but smile.

 

At that moment, a large hand gently gripped her chin.

 

Her vision shifted naturally—and Caldeon’s strikingly handsome face filled her view.

 

Enria didn’t realize it: the moment she met those pitch-black eyes, her face turned just as red as Roseanne’s.

 

“Who are you smiling at, Enria?”

 

Enria swallowed reflexively.

 

“R-Roseanne…”

 

“So why are you smiling at Lady Kaznaren?”

 

“W-Well, because—”

 

“That smile is mine, Enria. Look at me. Smile only at me.”

 

Caldeon’s jealous tone—almost as if Roseanne were a man—left Enria speechless.

 

“You’re starting again.”

 

Tearen shot Caldeon a frown, glanced briefly at Enria’s flushed face, then turned to Roseanne.

 

“Is it hot in here? All three of you are bright red… ah, four.”

 

He looked over at Belona and Rahar, still arguing intensely.

 

Belona had turned fully toward Rahar, arms crossed, continuing their verbal battle.

 

Rahar mirrored her posture, refusing to back down.

 

“Why do you care so much about my health? Your meddling is unbelievable.”

 

“How can you twist someone’s concern into an insult!”

 

“How’s that an insult?”

 

“It is.”

 

“Did you just drop honorifics? You trying to pick a fight now?”

 

“Say it back if you’re offended.”

 

“You think I won’t?”

 

Their bickering showed no signs of stopping.

 

Tearen rose, opening Enria’s window as well.

 

“The ladies seem quite warm, so let’s open every window in the room.”

 

“Not too much. It snowed until this morning—the air’s freezing.”

 

Caldeon warned him, saying that if Enria caught a cold, Tearen’s own throat wouldn’t survive the consequences.

 

And yet, the hand holding Enria’s chin did not move.

 

“Caldeon, let go…”

 

Enria grasped his wrist, asking him to release her.

 

He looked at her for a moment, then leaned down—and pressed a brief kiss to her lips.

 

Then another. And another.

 

Tearen and Roseanne grimaced like they’d seen something they shouldn’t.

 

Belona and Rahar shouted simultaneously: “What are you doing in front of so many people?!”

 

“Have some restraint in public!”

 

But Caldeon didn’t care.

 

He pecked her lips repeatedly—like a bird picking at seeds—until Enria finally pushed his cheeks with both hands.

 

“Ugh, now I want a drink.”

 

Belona muttered, leaning back against the sofa.

 

Rahar immediately frowned.

 

“A drink? Absolutely not. Not in your condition.”

 

Annoyed again, Belona turned to Enria.

 

“Enria, can I have some wine?”

 

Enria blinked, surprised, then answered: “Ah—one or two glasses should be fine.”

 

“You think she can drink in her state?” Rahar demanded with disbelief.

 

Enria nodded.

 

“A glass or two is actually good for you. It can improve circulation—”

 

“Then how about we all have a drink?”

 

Belona stood.

 

“There’s something I want to talk about honestly while drinking.”

 

When she turned to go get it, Rahar instantly stood and followed.

 

“Someone in poor health shouldn’t be wandering around. Sit. I’ll go.”

 

“Do you have any words besides ‘you’re not well’? Is that the only phrase you know, Kaznaren boy?”

 

“It’s the truth, so I say it. And why are you calling me by my family name? There are two Kaznarens here.”

 

“That’s why I added ‘boy,’ didn’t I?”

 

Belona quickened her steps, giving him a small glare.

 

“You’re coming with me?”

 

“If we’re drinking, I want something good. Not sure if what I’m looking for is here.”

 

“What are you looking for? The Grand Castle has almost every wine.”

 

“Hommel wine. Know it?”

 

“Ah—the specialty of Count Zamelande’s estate in the south?”

 

Their bizarre back-and-forth—half polite, half not—continued as they walked farther away.

 

“Hm.”

 

Tearen rested his elbow on the sofa arm, hand supporting his chin, lips quirking slightly.

 

“Those two are about to start dating.”

 

“What? No way. They’re always fighting.”

 

Roseanne looked flustered.

 

Tearen smiled, eyes narrowing.

 

“I’ve seen plenty of couples who started out like that.”

 

“That’s impossible. Lady Belona lost the man she loved not long ago. Even my brother wouldn’t fall for someone like that—”

 

“Love always appears where you least expect it.”

 

Tearen’s gaze lingered on Roseanne—strangely pained, strangely gentle.

 

As if he had fallen for someone he never intended to love.

 

“When you like someone, you stop thinking straight.”

 

Hearing that, Enria became even more certain.

 

Tearen definitely liked Roseanne.