He already disliked how she’d been so concerned about Benjamin from the start, but the idea of spending the whole night in the same room with him? That was beyond what he could tolerate, so he brought Benjamin to his own room instead.

He hated having anyone except Angelina enter his personal space, but it was preferable for her to spend the night worrying over that kid.

Or so he had thought.

Seeing the kid still unconscious as the sun rose only made his mood worse.

He should have been enjoying a pleasant morning with Angelina, who might have been grumbling from sleepiness by now, but instead, here he was, stuck with this. It irritated him to no end.

His hand instinctively moved toward the sword by his side, but just then, Benjamin woke up.

‘I need to go see Lina quickly.’

As Edwin hurried to the door, Benjamin suddenly called out to him.

“W-wait, Your Grace.”

Annoyed, Edwin turned to look at Benjamin.

“H-how did I… I remember the monster attacking…”

“I saved you. That’s why you’re here,” Edwin replied bluntly.

“But it hurt so much… I couldn’t even move…” Benjamin, looking at his own body, was still in disbelief.

“You were healed,” Edwin answered.

“How long have I been unconscious?”

“Not even a full day.”

“What?”

Benjamin’s face turned to one of utter shock, and he stammered, unable to form a response.

“I called a magician to heal you, so there’s no need to be so surprised,” Edwin explained, knowing full well how rare it was for a magician capable of such feats to exist in this era.

There were no priests with divine healing powers anymore, nor any magicians with skills advanced enough to heal someone on the verge of death in an instant. But he had to give this explanation to prevent Angelina from being suspected.

“I see…”

Benjamin looked at Edwin in awe.

“Listen closely, kid,” Edwin said, grabbing Benjamin by the shoulders.

Benjamin tensed up.

“Don’t tell anyone about the magician. Just say I saved you from the monster. Understand?”

After a brief moment of confusion, Benjamin slowly nodded.

“You don’t need me to explain what will happen if you let this secret slip, do you?”

The cold, threatening look in Edwin’s eyes made Benjamin’s face go pale. Trembling with fear, he nodded as quickly as he could.

Satisfied, Edwin patted the boy’s head as if praising him and then left the room.

“Tell Huey to keep an eye on the kid,” Edwin quietly ordered Beryl, who stood guard outside the door, before heading to the adjacent room.

“Lina!”

He shouted as he entered the room, startling Angelina, who had been gazing out the window. She flinched in surprise.

‘She reacts the same way every time. It’s adorable.’

He always called out loudly when entering because he enjoyed seeing her jump like a frightened rabbit. Smiling contentedly, Edwin scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the sofa.

“How’s Benjamin?”

“Is the kid more important than me?”

After spending the whole night with the kid in his room for her sake, the first thing she asked about was Benjamin.

“N-no, of course not. You’re the most important, Edwin. I was just asking about Benjamin because I knew you wouldn’t be able to rest until he woke up,” Angelina stammered nervously, trying to explain.

Though her reasoning was obviously a flimsy excuse, Edwin didn’t get angry. She had been through a lot the previous day, so he decided not to scare her this time.

“He’s awake. He’s perfectly fine, and I’ve already informed the Earl’s household. So don’t worry about him anymore.”

“Thank goodness,” Angelina said, visibly relieved.

Though Edwin didn’t like how much she had worried about Benjamin, the matter was now over, and they wouldn’t have to see him again.

“I took care of him all night. Don’t I get a reward?”

“Um… you did a great job,” she replied awkwardly, rolling her eyes as if unsure how to respond.

“Just words? I gave up my bed, stayed up all night, and made sure he was okay so you wouldn’t worry,” Edwin said, letting his eyes droop in a show of disappointment. Angelina fidgeted anxiously.

He stifled a laugh, watching her struggle, and leaned in closer.

“Then, how should I…?”

Edwin smiled broadly, turned his cheek toward her, and tapped it with his finger.

Angelina’s violet eyes wavered as she hesitated, but Edwin didn’t relent. He pushed his cheek closer.

Reluctantly, she closed her eyes tightly and leaned in.

‘She won’t even touch my cheek at this rate,’ Edwin thought, both amused and exasperated.

An idea sparked in his mind, and as her small lips drew nearer, he subtly turned his head.

Press.

Her soft lips landed squarely on his.

//kyaa

Electricity seemed to shoot through him, making every inch of his body tingle. He clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly, trying to shake off the strange sensation.

Compared to their accidental brush of lips in the carriage, this was something entirely different.

While that moment had felt like a tiny prick, it felt like his whole body had been pierced.