It must have been quite a difficult process. Cade pressed and rubbed his eyelids, which were closing from fatigue. The meeting, which started early in the morning, did not end until 10 am, so it was natural.

Cade raised his bloodshot eyes.

“Amerigo can help too.”

“…I have already decided to open the doors of grain warehouses in each province. You will be notified soon too.”

Abella nodded her head.

Cade smiled faintly.

“Did you have breakfast?”

“No. Anyway, the attendants will be bringing sandwiches soon. Would you like to eat, too?”

“Good.”

Come to think of it, Abella was also running on an empty stomach. It was because she had lost her appetite as she had not eaten anything since yesterday she faced Laurelia.

“But what did you come here for?”

Cade asked bluntly. There was a strange coexistence of anticipation and excitement on his face. Abella looked at Cade blankly.

Come to think of it, Abella had never come to Cade in the first place. Besides, she had come this time because she had a business.

How was Cade so far?

Time and again she thought of Cade, who had come to Abella to help her.

There was a strange sense of guilt.

So Abella’s voice became more cheerful.

“I’m here to give you something, Cade.”

“Hmm?”

Cade opened the box Abella had held out. It was a simple and luxurious accessory that even men could wear.

Cade put a smile on his lips.

“…This time, it’s an ornament produced in the Amerigo Territory. It’s made with magic stones, and it’s an item that can help magic swordsmen. I don’t think you need it, but…”

“In other words, it’s a gift, right?”

“What? No, not that…”

Abella stumbled over her words.

It seemed that the words that used to come out well were now stuck. It might have been because of Cade who was smiling with a sunny expression on his face. The bright smile that bloomed on his face was as beautiful as a flower.

“…a gift with a purpose, Cade.”

“It’s still a gift.” Cade said stubbornly as he lifted up jewelry and looked back and forth like a child. Abella’s cheeks were hot.

It seemed like she knew Cade’s intentions to accept an impure gift innocently.

It made her feel everything without directly conveying any emotions every time.

She couldn’t refuse.

Abella rubbed her red cheeks with her palms.

“Thank you, Abella. I will definitely wear it.”

Cade’s red eyes widened tenderly.

“Can I engrave your name here?”

“No!”

“I think it would give me a little more strength.” Cade begged like a child. “For those who wield swords, luck is really important. Abella.”

His low voice shook Abella’s heart.

Actually, it wasn’t an unreasonable request. He was just going to engrave her name on the jewelry…

“I’ll do it without anyone knowing.”

Eventually Abella nodded her head. “Don’t beg me with such a face…,Cade, you’re mean.”

“You are using me instead.”

That’s true.

“Go eat. I feel really good right now. I think today will be a happy day if you even eat with me.”

There was no strength to win against that friendly struggle.

It’s rare that someone needed Abella because of her affection.

*

“Mother!”

Arsene raised her voice. Despite Arsene’s response, who did not raise his voice well, Grand Madam’s Sirius’s reaction did not change.

“Dissolve your engagement.”

Arsene’s patience was about to wear out thanks to Grand Madam Sirius who insisted on repeating the same words for weeks.

“……why……”

“Didn’t I say it was for you?”

“I cannot live without Abella.”

Arsene was brainwashed.

Madness brimmed in the eyes buried in his palms. Seeing this, Grand Madam Sirius swallowed her sigh.

Arsene’s obsession with Abella from his childhood went beyond the limit. When she proceeded with Abella and Arsene’s engagement she thought it went well. Rather, it stabilized Arsene’s obsession.

However, it was impossible to misunderstand, and Arsene tried to possess all of Abella. If Abella didn’t go his way, he returned to his house and mutilated the pets. Grand Madam Sirius removed all the animals from the mansion.

The child l became sensitive, snarled and screamed at the maids who raised their voice even a little, and Grand Madam Sirius reduced the number of servants in her mansion. A frugal and simple Duchy of Sirius.

Arsene, who often behaved like a crazy child, was difficult for the Grand Madam to handle. There were days when she wanted to give up everything.

But, from one day on, Arsene changed.

Like someone who had lost all his memories. She thought it was a miracle.

She thought everything was fine now. Arsene was often showing his old eyes as if the miracle was going to break.

“Arsene, please…”

Grand Madam Sirius buried her face in the palm of her hand.

It was her who wanted to beg him not to do that.