***

“Excuse me, but may I know how old Lady Valletta is?”

“It was my 20th birthday when my father died. What about it?”

Carlon Delphine was silent for a moment. Then after a while, he opened his mouth again.

“… I think there’s a good place for you to stay.”

There was a lot of problem sending out a person who hasn’t adapted to social life. She seems to be knowledgeable about etiquette, but that was all. She had no knowledge needed in life.

“Lady Valletta, you just need to go to the address that I gave you. We will prepare it for you to live in. There will also be someone there to advise you.”

“I understand. What will be the delivery schedule for the potions?”

“… You’ll find out once you get there.”

Valletta immediately nodded her head. After the talk, she got up from her seat without any regret. Since the deal had been sealed, there was nothing to regret.

“I’ll make sure to inform you about the details and how Alchemists work once you arrive at the mansion.”

“Yes. Well then, please excuse me, Your Grace.”

“I heard you have no place to stay indefinitely right now. There’s a lot of room available, you can go to one and take a rest for the day.”

Valletta’s sharp gaze landed on Carlon Delphine after she heard his invitation. Valletta, who looked at him with emotionless eyes, had a smile that seemed to have been drawn literally on her lips for a moment before opening her mouth.

It was as if she was drawing a line. It was cold, yet polite.

“No, it’s okay.”

With those words, Valletta left the room without any hesitation.

Carlon Delphine sat on the sofa, as he stared at the expensive looking ornaments that Valletta had left on the table.

Just selling these would be enough to buy a suitable house and to be able to live comfortably for the rest of her life.

‘Now that I think about it, I wasn’t able to ask.’

Why she wanted to sell potions and what her intentions were. The Duke Carlon Delphine sighed.

The child who grew up without knowing anything, seemed to have taken a light invitation as a sign of hostility.

“Just what did Count Delight make her do.”

He must have been blinded by money and fame, and had no awareness of what he had done.

He got up and tied the thing Valletta had left behind in a cloth.

Valletta did not show any pity or kindness to the child that she had brought along. There was only duty.

He eventually admitted that he felt like he was talking to a doll, she has no emotions at all. And Carlon Delphine who realized that fact, was not pleased in various ways.

***

“I’ll go back to the inn.”

“Yes.”

“If you’re having a hard time, you don’t have to chase me around.”

“I’m okay!”

Therion’s body trembled and he clenched his fist. And he shook his head from side to side desperately. She wasn’t planning on throwing him away, but the child’s face was full of worries.

Valletta, who was about to explain that she was simply leaving and was going to return, bit her lips.

She was not confident with her persuasion skills, but she had absolutely no idea how to get rid of the child with puppy-like eyes.

‘It’s like he’s going to be killed.’

Just like how Count Delight has destroyed every single thing that I got attached to. She was sure that she knew how to speak without hurting other people, but now she couldn’t even remember.

Reinhardt was indifferent to that, and Valletta also did not care much.

‘My father is already dead…’

He would no longer be able to take away what she has. Valletta, who thought so, saw the child struggling to hold the hem of her robe and stretched out her hand.

“Do you want me to hold your hand?”

At Valletta’s offer, the child’s face instantly brightened, like a light was radiating from it. Therion blinked his blue eyes and nodded his head hastily as he grabbed Valletta’s hand.

Pop!

It was the shoulder of Valletta who was watching the child as he roaringly responded.

(T/N: I’m guessing Valletta’s shoulder popped but not the painful one? If it’s the Korean word its 베! Which is Be!…)

The child grabbed Valletta’s hand, that was loosely grabbing his, tightly. It was to the point where she felt a bit of pain.

“Let’s go in.”

“Yes!”

As soon as Valletta opened the door and entered the inn, she stopped breathing for a moment. A familiar presence and a familiar scent stimulated her sense of smell.

I’m sure it was already late in the evening…

“Hello, Master. Have you been doing well?”

She doesn’t know what that hateful guy was sitting by the window and enjoying the pouring moonlight. It wasn’t even daytime, but it was dazzling.

Therion, who was holding her hands, clung behind Valletta’s leg due to his startling voice.

“Why did Master run away like that? My tender heart was hurt.”

“Crazy…”

Valletta did not even bother to hide the swear words that flowed out into the scene.

“Did your patience run out prematurely?”

Reinhardt’s eyes widened at her words, and burst out laughing.

Valletta frowned as she watched his shaking shoulder like it was something funny.

“Master’s words have become harsh while I haven’t seen you.”

“I don’t think this is the time to be saying that you haven’t seen me in a while.”

“It wasn’t intentional. I also wanted to give Master a little more time…”

Reinhardt raised his head with an exaggerated look and let out a low sigh. He took one step closer to her as he jumped off the window.

When Valletta beckoned the child to go to bed, the child nodded his head and walked away. Reinhardt didn’t even look at the child.

“This pitiful slave needs it’s Master.”

He came so close that it took her breath away, he spread his arms and hugged Valletta. He took a deep breath while his head was buried into her nape, something else must be bothering him.

Valletta, who has wrapped in his arms, knitted her brows. She hardened her body like a wood and did not react.

“I’ve made it clear several times that you are not my slave.”

“… Then, how about a pet?”

“I’ve never raised anything big and creepy like you.”

“How cold-hearted.”

“Get off.”

Reinhardt let out a sigh, but he backed away quietly.

No matter how impatient he was, Valletta never thought that he would come so early. He didn’t come right away, so she thought she could relax for a while.

“Master, did you see the Imperial Family issuing a poster for ‘Valletta Delight.’?”

“I saw a missing person poster. Even your wanted poster.”

When Valletta pointed that out, Reinhardt’s eyebrows went up. Even with his sweet smile that can even melt ice, Valletta only frowned in displeasure.

“A decrepit Goldy put a bounty on my innocent Master’s neck.”

He pretended not to hear what she had said and naturally talked again.

Wait. The fact that the Emperor couldn’t stay still…

“… What did you do to the Crown Prince?”

“Oh my, you really don’t have any trust in me.”

Even with his sly remark, Valletta did not masked her suspicions. Then Reinhardt’s cheek slightly puffed up.

“I’m only guilty of returning their limbs to how they were. I didn’t kill nor hurt anyone, they were all intact.”

In fact, it was a very rare action from Reinhardt. Surely, no one would understand why not killing anyone who bothered him required a lot of patience.

However…

“Master should know. How much I tried.”

The lovely Master in front of him would understand.

“So please praise me, Master.”

“I still ended up with a bounty on my neck, so what was the point of all your effort?”

Right now, she has a poster for a missing person, but no one knows when the bounty will multiply.

“Uhm…”

After Valletta pointed that out, Reinhardt eventually lost his words. He looked down at her hands regretfully, but he didn’t ask for more.

Valletta’s gaze met Reinhardt’s in the air. When their eyes met, Reinhardt’s eyes reflexively melted and curved into a half moon.

“If that’s all you have to say, then go back.”

“Master, aren’t you curious how I found you here?”

“If you put your mind to it, there’s nothing you can’t do.”

“….”

Reinhardt’s eyes widened slightly and slowly fell down.

Seeing his bright smile, Valletta’s expression turned bitter. She didn’t know what on earth made him that happy.

‘We’ve been together for a time, but I still don’t understand his mood.’

Reinhardt’s lips drew a soft arc with a sense of satisfaction.

“It would be nice if the master was a doll or precious jewel.”

“…What are you talking about?”

In response to Valletta’s question, he raised his hand and carefully placed it on her cheek.

Reinhardt’s warm hand was scalded by Valletta’s relatively cold skin.

“Then I can own you completely.”

A jewel would not wander around nor would it move, it would be entirely his. Reinhardt smacked his lips and carefully took off his hand.

He wouldn’t need to be worried that it would be ruined or destroyed, or that her gaze would disappear.

“… I’ve said it before, if you’re going to kill me, do it all at once so it wouldn’t hurt. Give me that much mercy.”

Reinhardt’s head tilted.

“I told you, Master. If I was going to kill you, I would’ve killed you that day.”

“Good, if you’re not going to kill me, then leave. My head hurts because I haven’t slept properly for the past few days.”

He looked still at her and lightly clasped his hand. Valletta’s body floated and landed into Reinhardt’s arms.

She didn’t know where the strength in his body came from, but without any change in his expression, he laid Valletta down on the bed while supporting her hips and back. Valletta’s eyebrows narrowed as she felt the soft bed on her back.

“What are you doing?”

“It’s magic that I often casted on Master.”

He gently rubbed her forehead with his thumb.

“You…”

“Sleep well, Master.”

At the end of that greeting, her mind drifted further and further away.

***