“…?”

Kabir seemed taken aback by our sudden visit, despite probably having been forewarned.

‘He hasn’t aged a day, has he?’

He looked exactly the same as he did seven years ago. Perhaps it’s the demon bloodline, granting him a longer lifespan.

“Hi, Hey!”

“Again, you.”

Kabir sighed deeply at Irmin’s words.

“You were supposed to let me know before you came.”

“The kids were waiting, you know.”

Irmin making excuses using us. He really was a laid-back character.

“Jamon informed me. You were looking for me?”

Kabir tried to soften his voice, but the inherent authority in it made me shrink a bit. From a child’s perspective, Kabir’s stature seemed even more imposing.

‘I just wanted to see his face, actually.’

My mission was already accomplished. I had nothing specific to say.

As I hesitated, Kabir stood up.

Then he crouched down to my level, meeting my gaze with a kind smile.

“It’s okay, speak freely. There’s no need to be afraid.”

Kabir was surprisingly gentle with children. More tender-hearted than I imagined.

I glanced at Hans out of the corner of my eye. Hans whispered to me with a look of disbelief.

“Didn’t think of what to say?”

“I only planned to see him and leave…”

“You’re a commoner now, you know? Got the prince to help you meet the Duke and now you want to leave just like that?”

“Um…”

Hans had a point. I racked my brain for something to say.

Then, an idea suddenly struck me.

“Your Grace, aren’t you in need of an heir?”

Kabir’s expression froze for a moment. It seemed I hit the nail on the head.

Considering he still didn’t even have a fiancée, he likely wasn’t thinking about marriage. But he’d need an heir, probably looking for a suitable candidate now. That was just my guess.

“Wow, has the rumor spread already?”

Judging by Irmin’s reaction, it seemed I guessed right.

Ah, whatever. Let’s push forward.

I placed a hand over my heart and calmly spoke.

“I came about that matter. The heir.”

“…So, what you’re saying is.”

Kabir maintained his smile as he spoke.

“You want me to take you as an heir?”

“No? I already have a perfectly fine family.”

“Then?”

At Kabir’s inquiry, I quietly pointed beside me. To where Hans was.

“This friend here.”

“What?”

Of course, Hans hadn’t been consulted.

Ignoring Hans’s glaring eyes, I continued.

“He’s currently living in an orphanage. Owen here is incredibly smart and amazing. He’s definitely fit to be an heir to a ducal house.”

It wasn’t a lie. Hans was certainly not inferior to Kabir, perhaps even superior.

“Ahaha!”

Irmin burst out laughing, clearly enjoying the situation. 

“…This is quite perplexing.”

Kabir seemed uncomfortable. It was naturally awkward for two commoner kids to suddenly show up and ask to be taken in as heirs. He seemed to be mulling over how to politely decline.

“Why not, Hey? It sounds fun. Just accept them.”

“This is about the future of the family. Don’t make rash decisions because it’s not your concern.”

Kabir seemed ready to refuse, as expected.

I seized the moment to speak.

“As expected, it won’t work, right? Then we’ll be leaving. Thank you for your time.”

It was just an excuse anyway. I never really intended to push Hans on him.

“Wait.”

Kabir called out as I was about to leave without any regret.

“……?”

I looked back at him, puzzled.

Kabir seemed confused as well, as if he had called out to me without realizing it.

“….”

His brow furrowed in thought. Irmin asked,

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s just… something about the memory….”

“Ah.”

Had I acted too much like Anais? Although the memories had been completely erased, maybe because Kabir had once visited the Celestial Realm, some faint traces remained.

“Hmm….”

He seemed deep in thought.

Finally, Kabir broke the silence.

“As you said, I am in need of an heir.”

“……?”

“Your courage to come here as a commoner is commendable.”

“What?”

Kabir looked at Hans and me and said,

“How about staying here for a while? We’ll decide about the heir later.”

Is this really happening? Both Hans and I were utterly dumbfounded.

“Well done, little friend! Looks like a provisional acceptance.”

Irmin cheerfully congratulated us, clearly lacking any sense of the situation. Hans’s face was a contortion of disbelief and frustration.

‘…Well, it’ll work out somehow.’

I decided to go with it since it was interesting.

* * *

Eventually, a room was arranged for Hans to stay at the Duke’s estate.

“Why aren’t you staying?”

“I have parents waiting for me at home.”

“Hah….”

Even Hans couldn’t argue with that.

“I’ll visit often. Take care until then.”

“Suit yourself, you rascal.”

Hans seemed resigned.

I returned home, holding Irmin’s hand. After a light farewell, Irmin disappeared again.

“Camilla!”

My parents were already waiting for me, probably worried.

“Are you okay? Weren’t you cold?”

“Yes, His Grace the Duke was very kind.”

“Really…?” 

Mom seemed skeptical, perhaps influenced by the not-so-positive rumors about Kabir.

“But where’s Owen?”

Dad looked around, puzzled. It was natural for him to wonder, given that Hans and I had left together, but I returned alone.

I casually replied,

“He decided to stay at the Duke’s estate.”

“What?!”

As expected, both were shocked.

“What happened? Explain, Camilla.”

“Um…”

I hesitated for a moment before recounting the events that had taken place.

Their expressions became more animated as I continued my story.

“Don’t worry, I’ve agreed to visit him often.”

“Really…”

My parents loved me, but sometimes they found me a bit too much to handle.

Well, what can you do, that’s just who I am. I subtly avoided my parents’ gaze.

* * *

“Hello, Camilla. You came today too!”

A few days had passed.

As promised, I often visited the Duke’s estate. And every time, Irmin accompanied me.

‘Weren’t you supposed to be busy with your duties?’

Seems like he had long forgotten the promises he made before. He was slacking off again whenever he got the chance.

I didn’t mind saving points on scrolls, but I could almost see Jamon’s disgruntled face.

“You’re all dressed up today – going to meet your boyfriend?”

“Yes.”

Irmin probably asked teasingly, but since I really did dress up to look nice, I simply answered him.

Irmin, brimming with excitement, kept asking questions.

“How did you two first meet? Owen’s orphanage is quite far from here, isn’t it?”

So much curiosity for a child’s romance. He was a child at heart.

“Just, you know… by chance…”

“Come on, no vague answers!”

“….”

What an annoying person.

Anyway, we safely arrived at the Heyward Duke’s estate.

“We’re here. Where’s Owen?”

“He is currently in a lesson.”

A maid answered Irmin’s question.

Hans, he’s diligently attending classes. They must be quite boring for him, but he seemed to be playing along.

“Then where’s Kabir?”

“His Grace the Duke is giving the lesson.”

“…?”

Kabir is personally teaching? I was taken aback and asked the maid.

“What lesson are they having?”

“They are in the training ground for a swordsmanship lesson.”

“….”

Sorry, Hans. It seems I inadvertently got you into sword training.

I offered a silent apology to Hans, knowing it wouldn’t reach him.

“Shall we watch? It should be fun!”

Irmin was ever cheerful.

Curious to see Hans wielding a sword, I nodded in agreement.

We followed the maid to the outdoor training ground.

“Ah, there he is.”

Irmin pointed, and I followed his gaze.

There was Hans, focusing intently as he struck a straw dummy with a wooden sword. Sweat dotted his forehead.

“….”

I quietly observed him.

A man focused on something is always attractive. This wasn’t just my bias.

‘Of course, my boyfriend is the best in the world.’

A purely objective assessment.

“Break time.”

Kabir clapped his hands to signal a pause. Hans finally put down his wooden sword.

“Camilla’s here.”

Kabir, having noticed our presence earlier, smiled in our direction, drawing Hans’s attention to me as well.

“Owen!”

I called out to Hans and ran towards him, a smile naturally forming on my lips.

Kabir, smiling, discreetly left us to have some privacy, perhaps intending to chat with Irmin during the break, and went inside.

Finally, some time for a relaxed conversation.

We sat side by side under the shade of a tree.

“You were really focused.”

“I have to be.”

At my remark, Hans responded with a bittersweet expression.

“Trying to adjust to the skill level of a seven-year-old requires a high degree of concentration…”

“…Hans, you know sword fighting?”

“Of course. I even worked as a knight during a vacation once.”

My boyfriend truly is multi-talented.

Well, considering his time as Bates. He must have some decent swordsmanship skills.

It’s a tricky balance, being good enough not to lose his position as a potential heir, yet not too skilled to raise suspicions. No wonder it’s challenging.

While we were chatting, Kabir opened a window from inside.

“Owen, Camilla.”

He called out to us.

As Hans and I looked over, Kabir said,

“Could you come here for a moment? There’s something I want to discuss.”

He looked unusually cheerful.