The Grand Duchess panted as she deflected yet another strike, her blade now trembling in her hand.
Sweat dripped from her brow, and her elegant uniform was torn and bloodied—an embarrassing state for someone of her rank.
She grit her teeth, barely keeping up with the relentless attacks from the two pale figures that moved like ghosts in the night.
They had the same lifeless white skin, white hair, and white eyes as the saintess.
And though they hadn't spoken a word, their intentions were clear—they wanted her dead.
She knew she couldn't keep this up for long. Her current strength wasn't enough—not while she was still pretending to be the delicate, powerless noblewoman most assumed her to be.
So, with a deep breath, she made a decision.
A surge of golden mana burst out of her, rippling through the air with enough force to fracture the barrier surrounding them.
The dome trembled violently, then shattered like glass, the shards dissolving into the wind.
The two pale enemies faltered, visibly surprised for the first time since the battle began. Amanda didn't waste that opening.
With regal fury, she slashed forward, her blade glowing with enchantments and mana-enhanced speed.
One attacker barely managed to block; the other was struck and hurled into a tree, the trunk cracking from the impact.
Amanda followed up with another spell, a binding enchantment that exploded into glowing chains and snaked around the figures.
They struggled against it, but her magic was too strong. Within moments, both were forced to their knees, bound tightly.
Amanda narrowed her eyes.
"Now, let's see what secrets you're hiding—"
Before she could finish her thought, the two figures suddenly began to glow from within. Her eyes widened in alarm.
A silent explosion burst forth from both bodies, disintegrating them into white mist and ash. The shockwave sent Amanda flying backward, tumbling across the dirt.
When the dust settled, there was nothing left. No enemies. No bodies. No clues.
Amanda sat up slowly and groaned, rubbing the back of her neck.
"People these days… no spine. At least leave a note or a clue before dying."
She sighed, brushing dirt from her clothes.
"Why does everyone always explode before giving me the answers I need?"
Standing shakily, she glanced down at herself and grimaced. Her once-regal appearance was in tatters. Her hair was disheveled, her armor cracked, and her boots caked in dirt.
"Absolutely unbecoming of a Grand Duchess. There's no way I'm walking through the front gate looking ."
She muttered with a shake of her head.
With that, Amanda adjusted her cloak, set her blade back in its sheath, and turned toward the direction of Kyle's settlement.
"Guess I'll sneak in from the back and surprise that clever fiancé of mine. He better be impressed. And someone really needs to name that damn place already."
She grumbled as she set off, limping slightly but otherwise composed.
Meanwhile, back in Kyle's quarters, the first rays of morning sunlight peeked through the wooden shutters.
The soft light fell upon Melissa's face as her eyes fluttered open.
For a moment, she was content and warm.
Then her mind caught up.
She blinked. Her gaze shifted down—and there was her young master, peacefully asleep right next to her.
Her entire body froze.
Her face flushed bright red as her memories returned in scattered flashes—the late-night drinking, helping her master walk, him grabbing her wrist… and her deciding to lie beside him just for a while.
Apparently, "a while" had lasted the entire night.
She gasped softly and scrambled up as gently as she could, trying not to wake Kyle.
Her movements were clumsy, and her heart was pounding so loudly she swore it might wake him by itself.
You fell asleep beside him! In his bed! Like some lovesick fool!
Her thoughts spiraled as she covered her beet-red face with her hands.
"I-I can't function."
She muttered to herself, swaying slightly from the sheer panic and embarrassment.
She dared a glance back at Kyle, who was still resting soundly, his hair tousled and expression peaceful.
Melissa looked like she was about to melt on the spot.
Kyle stirred as the morning light crept across his bed. He blinked slowly, groaning a little as he sat up and rubbed his head.
"Ugh… that's the last time I let Bruce rope me into a drinking contest…"
Melissa was standing beside the bed, clearly panicking. Her eyes widened the moment their gazes met, and she stumbled over her words.
"Y-Young Master! I—um, I swear I didn't mean to stay here the whole night!"
She blurted, her hands flailing a little.
"It wasn't intentional! I was just… you were swaying, and I helped you back, and then you—grabbed my wrist, and I couldn't just pull away, and I thought I'd just sit for a second and—!"
Kyle blinked again, then sighed and offered her a small, amused smile.
She stopped mid-sentence, cheeks burning as she stared at him.
"I'm not going to scold you or say anything mean. You were tired. I was barely standing. You helped me out. Honestly, I'm grateful."
Kyle said calmly, brushing a hand through his tousled hair.
Melissa's eyes widened slightly. Her mouth opened, then closed, and then opened again.
He gave a light shrug.
"You did me a favor. There's nothing wrong with resting for a bit after a long day. I trust you."
That last sentence hit her like a soft punch to the heart.
Melissa felt her entire body warm up, a gentle flutter taking hold in her chest. The tension in her shoulders slowly melted, replaced by something gentler… and far more dangerous.
'Does this mean… I have a chance?'
The thought slipped in before she could stop it.
Kyle was already engaged to the Grand Duchess. He was respected, powerful, and destined for greatness.
Compared to him, she was just a low-born girl trying to catch up. Just someone trailing behind.
But still… that small warmth refused to fade.
She looked at him, still sitting on the bed with a relaxed smile, and knew she couldn't help the way she felt.
Even if it was foolish, even if it would never come true… this warmth was hers, and for a moment, it made the world seem less cruel.
"…Thank you, Young Master. I'll do my best."
She said softly, bowing her head.
Kyle tilted his head.
And that—more than anything—made her heart flutter wildly.
Melissa stood frozen for a moment, unsure whether to smile or cry.
Kyle's gentle words echoed in her head, chasing away the fear and replacing it with something almost terrifying in its sweetness—hope.
She straightened up and gave him a small, determined nod.
"Then I'll continue to do my best… until you can't imagine managing without me."
Kyle chuckled at that, clearly amused but not dismissive.
Melissa grinned shyly. "I learned from the best."
As she turned to leave the room, her steps felt lighter, her chest filled with quiet resolve. Foolish or not, she would walk this path.