I imitated Hans and flicked Kabir’s forehead lightly.

“Take care of yourself first.”

Seems I’m getting influenced by Hans, I even startled myself with how similar my tone was to his.

“After seeing the carnage on the chandelier yesterday, how can I be worried about myself first?”

“Underestimating the shrine maidens’ skills? Look, not a scar on me.”

“…Their skills are indeed remarkable.”

I looked at Kabir, puzzled.

“Why don’t you call a shrine maiden? They can surely cure a simple cold.”

While calling a shrine maiden for healing might be costly, Kabir wasn’t poor enough to not afford it, being a high noble.

Kabir, coughing, replied,

“I don’t want rumors spreading.”

Apparently, if a shrine maiden visits, many eyes watch, and rumors spread.

Was he that averse to showing his weaknesses? I tilted my head in dissatisfaction.

“So what if people know you’re sick? Why can’t you just be openly unwell?”

“Nonsense. The domain would be in chaos.”

Kabir averted his gaze as he continued,

“In such a dangerous domain, I’m the one the people rely on. I can’t afford to crumble.”

“……”

Kabir cared more for his domain than I realized.

Despite being an area rife with demons and being the subject of criticism, Kabir loved the Hayward domain.

“You’re kind of impressive.”

“I appreciate the compliment.”

Kabir chuckled.

“And this cold will be gone in a day. I’ve had it as a child, so I know.”

“Not getting a cold since then is impressive too…”

His constitution must be robust, last having a cold as a child in such a frigid domain.

“I won’t disturb you while you’re ill.”

I stood up to leave, but Kabir caught my sleeve.

He looked up at me with a wistful gaze.

“…Leaving?”

“Don’t leave?”

Kabir slowly nodded.

With nothing (as usual) on my agenda today, I decided to sit back down and keep him company.

“You’ve taken medicine, right? Aren’t you sleepy?”

“The medicine hasn’t kicked in yet.”

“Your body resists poison, but medicine works?”

“I have a personal physician.”

It seemed the Hayward family’s physician had taken care of it. With Kabir’s unique constitution, a physician was necessary.

“You’ll be better by tomorrow, right? I’ll come to check.”

“That’s a good idea.”

Kabir giggled.

I smirked along.

“You like it when I come? I bring chaos.”

“That’s what I like about it.”

Kabir had closed his eyes now. His voice was drowsy as he spoke,

“After you leave, the mansion becomes too quiet, hard to get used to.”

“……”

“Strange, isn’t it? The time we spent together is just a fraction of my life.”

It sounded a bit like a reproach.

“Why leave behind warmth and then go away.”

At that, I had no reply. After all, I had come and gone as I pleased.

Kabir opened his eyes and looked at me. A small smile played at the corner of his mouth.

“It’s nice to see you happy, Anais.”

I smiled back at him.

Soon after, he fell asleep due to the medication.

I whispered to him as he slept,

“Goodnight, Kabir.”

I’m always sorry.

For not accepting your feelings, for not loving you. I’m so sorry.

I swallowed the words that couldn’t follow.

* * *

While I was enjoying tea time as usual, Hans spoke up.

“Feeling good after your little escapade?”

I nearly choked on my tea at his words.

Surprised, I opened my eyes wide and stared at Hans.

“…How did you know?”

“Didn’t I tell you to check if your stream was completely off? Don’t make me into someone obsessed without reason.”

I must have forgotten to turn off the broadcast completely again, leaving Hans on the viewer list.

But I hadn’t even started the broadcast today. When had I started forgetting to turn it off? Hans, who hadn’t left, found it just as absurd.

“You could have just not watched.”

“How could I not, when my partner is meeting another man alone?”

“Jealous?”

“Don’t.”

“No, I like it. Go on.”

“You’re being weird, seriously…”

Hans seemed puzzled by my reaction.

I calmly sipped my tea again.

“You saw it, so you know. I just had a talk with Kabir.”

“Next time, come with me.”

“Are you asking me to go with my fiancé in front of someone who likes me?”

“All the more reason to stay with me.”

Is that how it is? I’m new to relationships, so I didn’t know.

“Alright, I’ll be more careful in the future.”

Since Hans didn’t like it, I decided to follow his wishes for now. I had heard somewhere that consideration between lovers is necessary.

“Then you should take me along when you meet other women.”

“I don’t meet other women.”

“What about her? She was quite beautiful.”

“Who?”

“If I say she’s the original author, you’d know. Pretty enough to recognize immediately.”

“Oh, her.”

He seemed to remember her now. Hans replied indifferently,

“I don’t meet her separately. Besides, she’s married.”

I had heard that from the woman herself. She even had a child.

I shook my head.

“I’m just me, but your taste is quite peculiar, Hans. How did I ever catch your eye?”

“If it were about looks, you should have gone to Kabir instead of me.”

Indeed, Kabir was incredibly handsome. Hans continued as he picked up a cookie,

“Looks are utterly insignificant. What matters is the person.”

“Wow, that sounded like something an old person would say.”

“Well, I am old, after all.”

He was indeed much older than me.

I looked at Hans with sparkling eyes, my hands gracefully positioned like a flower.

“So in Hans’s eyes, I must be a good enough person to date?”

“Yeah.”

Hans answered without a hint of hesitation.

“I told you, you’re a good person.”

You had told me before. You said I was not just nice, but ridiculously kind.

It was a playful comment, but his serious response suddenly made me feel shy.

“What, being serious now?”

“Even when I give you an answer, you complain.”

Hans reached out and pressed his fingers against my forehead. I burst into laughter.

“You’re a good person too, Hans.”

In my eyes, Hans was indeed a very good person. That’s probably why I fell for him so deeply.

“……”

Hans lowered his hand after hearing my words, then turned his head slightly, resting his chin on his hand.

“Are you embarrassed?”

“Of course not.”

“Your ears are red.”

“They are not.”

He was denying it, but it was obvious to my eyes.

“Did you manage to have a good talk with Irmin?”

Hans seemed to be trying to change the subject, probably unable to handle the ticklish atmosphere more than I could.

“Yes. Irmin still suspects the angels. So we decided I would investigate the angels, and Irmin would handle the humans.”

“How are you supposed to investigate angels here?”

“I have to go to the Celestial Realm, obviously.”

“The resurrection ticket now costs 160,000 points, you know?”

“Lover’s chance.”

“Absolutely out of the question.”

Hans, the man of principles, would not agree. Not even for his partner.

I pouted.

“But this time it’s not because of an accident, it’s for investigation for the broadcast. Isn’t it human to show a little leniency?”

“I’m not human.”

“I misspoke. As a manager, then.”

Hans seemed to ponder for a moment.

Then, he spoke,

“But only this once. Are you confident you’ll find what you’re looking for this time?”

“I’ll try my best.”

“…Alright, I’ve been feeling uneasy about it too. I’ll turn a blind eye just this once.”

Despite being a lover, the fact that he was performing his role as a manager so properly was surprising. Hans really knows how to separate personal and professional matters.

This could be my last chance. I was getting tired of going back and forth to the Celestial Realm, so this time, I needed to make the most of it.

* * *

I was getting used to visiting the temple. The priests welcomed us familiarly, their faces now recognizable.

“Lady, are you going to the Celestial Realm again?”

“Yes.”

“Haha, you’re on a business trip quite often.”

Was it considered a business trip? I wondered if we had become too accustomed to it.

And so, we found ourselves in the Celestial Realm again.

This time, for some reason, we ended up in Gabriela’s office.

“Hello, Hans. Jiha.”

“Hello, Gabi.”

“Brought this one here for some business.”

“Haha, both of you must be tired.”

Gabriela looked at us fondly. More precisely, she was looking at our hands holding each other.

Hans, realizing it late, hastily let go of my hand.

“It’s already obvious, why let go?”

“Oh, Hans. No need to be so shy.”

“Quiet.”

He was always so shy. Cute, but…

We left Gabriela’s office. I walked briskly beside Hans and asked him,

“Can’t you hold my hand now that there’s no one around?”

“It’s still the company.”

“But I’m not even a company person.”

“Even more reason to keep boundaries.”

He’s so strict. I fiddled with my empty hand, grumbling.

“Well, we’re here now. What do you plan to do?”

“Um…”

After a moment of thought, I said,

“Hans, do you want to see my dorm?”

“What?”

Hans looked utterly baffled.

It must have been bewildering for him, the person who came all this way to hunt down an assassin, to suddenly hear me suggesting a visit to my house.

“The assassin?”

“It’s already late. You’ve never seen my dorm, why not take a look around?”

“…Is there someone at your place?”

“No? Why would there be?”

It was my dorm, so obviously no one else would be there.

Hans rolled his eyes and then asked in a more hesitant voice than before,

“…Is that okay?”

What would be?

I tilted my head, puzzled.

Taking my partner to my home, what could be not okay about that?

Then it hit me, a bit belatedly.

‘Ah, that’s the problem.’

We had been sharing a bed even before, but now we were in a relationship. Things were definitely different than before.

“……”

But then again, what could possibly happen? I cheerfully replied,

“Yes.”