“Here…”

Astel handed the bottle of pure white potion to Bell.

“It’s a potion of courage that I promised.”

“Good!”

As soon as Bell took the bottle, he opened it and swallowed the potion in one quick gulp.

He was so excited that I could see his tail popping out.

I chuckled lightly as I entered the prescription medication on Bell’s medical chart.

“Wow!” ᴮᵉˡˡ

Bell, who bravely took the medicine, rubbed his lips with the back of his hand.

His cheeks were flushed like white wheat bread.

“Too bitter!” ᴮᵉˡˡ

“Now, put your hand on your heart.” ᴬˢᵗᵉˡ

“I’m so excited! I’m full of courage!” ᴮᵉˡˡ

I smiled and ruffled Bell’s hair.

At the words of a six-year-old who said it was very effective, I felt like my courage was welling up.

“Hey, sister. But what does this really smell like?”

Bell asked, cautiously holding my sleeve.

“My father, the head of the household, also said that I smell strange. I wonder if it smells bad…” ᴮᵉˡˡ

I hugged Belle’s small body tightly. The sweet smell I smelled the other day lingered at the tip of my nose.

I muttered unconsciously and spoke out…

“…Well, it smells good.” ᴬˢᵗᵉˡ

I pondered what the scent of Bell was.

It smells like a mixture of herbs or incense…

I frowned and straightened out as I thought about it.

‘Why does this baby’s successor smell like this?’

‘I could smell the Meili herb, but what exactly was the other one?’

While gently stroking Bell’s cheek during a strange day, someone knocked on the door of the treatment center.

Entering the treatment center, the creepy-looking knight declared as if to notify everyone.

“Two hours later, His Majesty the Duke will return to the mansion.”

“Huh, he’s returning already?”

Ricardo frowned and showed off his displeasure.

“When the Duke returns, will I not be able to pretend to be Astel’s guardian?”

“…”

The people around looked nervous at Ricardo’s expression.

Only the knight armed with a sense of duty to have courtesy for his superiors urged.

“You have to go outside. We must have a welcoming party.”

“Yes. Anyway, that’s it. Let’s go out together.”

If the owner of the Duke castle returned from wartime conditions, it was the northern custom to welcome all the members of the family in front of the castle gate.

It’s also a kind of exhibition situation now, so they have to welcome the Duke.

Most of them, except for essential workers, changed into the neatest clothes and gathered at the main gate of the castle to wait for the Duke.

Although I was under the Duke Anais’ protection, my official position was somewhat ambiguous.

So, in the middle of the welcoming procession, I waited for the Duke with a small handkerchief tightly in my hand.

Ricardo, who treated me like a child who was near the shore, was attached next to me without going to his place, spoke.

“Finally, His Majesty the Duke’s coming.”

“Ah yes…”

At a distance, a horse was galloping with soil dust.

It was insanely fast.

The sound of clattering and horse hooves kicking the ground grew louder and louder.

And, finally, the words of the Duke reached the castle gate.

Brilliant black hair scattered in the wind, followed by thunderous shouts.

The heads of each family quietly surrendered in front of the Duke’s black horse.

I was wondering when I could see the Duke again, but the crowd right in front of me split like the Red Sea.

“Astel.”

Duke Anais, who came in through the gap between the beastly vassals, bent one knee in front of me.

The countless vassals of the Duke Castle in this place were all watching the scene.

Some were so startled that their humanization even unraveled.

“I’m back home.”

So…

Not everyone would be able to find out that it was because of our imprint, but wasn’t it arranged into a guardianship relationship?

No matter how slow I am, if the Duke does this… I think he wanted to draw attention?

I couldn’t hide my embarrassment, so my cheeks heated up and blushed.

The Duke stared at me and smiled sincerely.

✿

All the beasts with sweaty hands came to witness this situation.

How Astel will react has emerged as a matter of keen interest.

In fact, to all who gathered here, the Duke of Anais was the object of fear and awe.

However, Astel didn’t seem to think so.

Astel just smiled brightly and held out her hand to the Duke.

“I’m glad you came back.”

The body of the vassals stiffened at her attitude of treating the Duke of Anais like a normal servant.

As if he didn’t care about their gaze, the Duke gently kissed the back of Astel’s hand.

Ricardo, who was standing next to the Duke, clicked his tongue inside.

That’s enough of a mark.

It was clear that he deliberately meant and revealed to everyone not to even dare mention Astel nor touch her.

If anyone touched Astel, Duke Anais expressed his willingness to step up himself.

They weren’t even allowed to sponsor her. The unfamiliar sight of the Duke who once fought together on the battlefield gave them goosebumps.

“Did you leave your schedule empty for this evening?” ᴬⁿᵃᶦˢ

So, everyone except one person, Astel, realized it.

That the bloody comment was similar to asking for a date.

“Yes!”

It goes without saying that Astel’s intimate answer made everyone’s eyes determined again.

This situation made it clear.

The power structure of the Duke’s Castle began to be reorganized around Astel.

✿

Within the Duke’s castle, on top of a huge spire.

It was freezing cold outside the window, but thanks to the burning fireplace and tapestry, the small attic of the spire was as warm as a small log cabin in the forest.

…So, it feels like a log cabin in the hunting grounds I lived in when I was a kid?

‘There’s a room like this in the Duke castle. It’s fascinating.’

Looking at the surroundings curiously, I sat facing the Duke in a chair on a small rug.

“What do you think, Astel..?”

He looked strangely elevated.

That expression on the Duke’s face that makes the viewer feel obligated to give praise.

Seeing his proud smile, I followed my inner thought and gave a compliment.

“It’s warm and nice! But…”

Then hesitated for a moment.

I was wondering how to say it, and I decided to throw a fastball.

“I’m worried that other beasts will misunderstand. I’m afraid that they will find out that I’m the Duke’s ‘imprint’.”

I felt it while talking through the sphere before, but the Duke seemed to be less interested in people’s opinions than I thought.

The Duke, who was staring still at me as I spoke, tilted his head again.

“I was worried that there would be people gossiping behind Astel. When I’m away, Astel’s position shouldn’t be shaken.” ᴬⁿᵃᶦˢ

Did something happen without my knowledge? ᴬˢᵗᵉˡ

I was a little surprised at his consideration.

Although the Duke seems to care about me, I didn’t expect him to consider not only my life but also my position during my stay in the Duke’s Castle.

It’s a little embarrassing because there was no one except my brother who treated me so carefully until now.

“Tha- thank you so much for that.”

“Aren’t we in a relationship?”

Were you inspired by those rough words?

“It’s only natural that I care about Astel.”

Is that so?

Well I was trying to persuade the Duke, but it was I, who was strangely persuaded in the end.