The clash between Sasha and the Grand Duchess showed no signs of ending soon.
Both women were formidable, their mana clashing in the air like thunder.
Ruins glowed fiercely around Sasha, pulsing with unstable energy, while Amanda's sword radiated regal authority with every swing.
The ground trembled beneath their feet, and even the wind seemed to hesitate as their battle raged on.
But eventually, the tide shifted.
Amanda, despite her exhaustion, had more experience in real battle.
Her strikes became sharper, more focused. Sasha's ruins struggled to keep up, and though Sasha pushed herself harder, she was losing ground.
Then, with a precise step forward, Amanda broke through a ruin shield and raised her sword—aimed straight at Sasha's chest.
Just before the blade could land, it halted mid-air.
Her body instinctively backed away. Her sword had been blocked—not by Sasha, but by a sudden, invisible force.
Her eyes shot toward the side and locked onto the figure now standing a few feet away.
She muttered, lowering her blade at once.
Kyle stared at both women with exasperation. "That's enough. Both of you."
Amanda brushed hair away from her face, grimacing at her tattered state.
"Your reception is terrible, you know that? Is this how you greet your fiancée? You should really hire better people to welcome a lady."
Sasha, panting, turned toward Kyle, confused.
"Young master, you… you know this woman?"
"Yes. That's the Grand Duchess Amanda. My fiancée."
Sasha's blood ran cold. Her eyes went wide, and the ruins floating behind her instantly fizzled out.
"What?! I—That—That's the Grand Duchess?!"
Amanda raised a brow, clearly still irritated.
"I am. The one you tried to skewer a moment ago."
Sasha immediately fell to one knee, her head bowed in shame.
"I deeply apologize for my actions, Your Grace. I did not recognize you. Had I known—"
Amanda looked down at her, clearly weighing whether to scold or dismiss her.
Then, with a sigh, she waved it off.
"Fine. I suppose I can't blame you completely. I did sneak in looking like I crawled out of a cave. Still, you owe me a house. That one's half in ruin now."
Kyle crossed his arms and muttered.
"Already ordering compensation…"
He looked around and raised his voice, calling for nearby villagers.
"Get that house fixed. I want the rubble cleared out and repairs started by morning."
Several villagers hurried to respond, bowing as they ran.
With that handled, Kyle turned back to Amanda.
"Let's go. We need to talk. There's too much going on."
Amanda nodded and fell into step beside him without complaint.
Sasha stood in place, watching them go. She wanted to follow.
She should follow—after all, she was an important part of this village's core development now.
But something kept her rooted in place. Her pride stung sharply from the defeat, and her embarrassment from attacking the Grand Duchess weighed heavily on her chest.
"I'll… resume work on the ruin barrier."
She mumbled, barely audible.
Kyle paused mid-step and glanced back at her.
"Don't push yourself too hard."
She gave a quick nod, still avoiding his eyes.
As Kyle and Amanda disappeared into the village, Sasha exhaled slowly and turned back to her work.
She opened her palm, letting a new sequence of ruins gather there.
But her hands trembled slightly, not from the effort—but from the shame. She couldn't even bring herself to look Amanda in the eyes again.
'Sorry, Racheal, I don't think I can stay unbiased toward you anymore.'
She thought bitterly.
Her student's words about wanting to win Kyle's heart echoed in her head, and Sasha finally understood what Racheal had meant.
She now knew how hard it was to stay impartial when her own feelings had begun to blur the line.
Kyle led the Grand Duchess through the village's winding paths, nodding occasionally at passing villagers.
Amanda didn't say much, but Kyle didn't need words to understand her mood.
Her silence wasn't her usual calm confidence—it carried a sharp edge. Her narrowed eyes flicked past every curious gaze that landed on her disheveled appearance, and her jaw clenched a little tighter with each passing second.
Kyle sighed inwardly.
Even if she hadn't complained out loud, Amanda's pride was clearly bruised.
Her normally flawless appearance had been replaced by torn sleeves, dirt-smudged cheeks, and unruly hair that had escaped its usual elegant arrangement.
After a few more steps, Kyle stopped in his tracks and shrugged off his cloak. Without a word, he turned and draped it gently around Amanda's shoulders.
Amanda blinked in surprise, startled by the gesture.
"Kyle, I'm not a fragile child you need to humor."
She said, frowning faintly.
He met her gaze calmly.
"I'm not doing this because I think you're fragile. I'm doing this because I care about you—and because I'd rather not see you get sick walking around ."
Amanda stared at him, lips slightly parted. She felt her chest tighten as her fingers slowly clutched the cloak he had just placed on her.
It was still warm, carrying his scent faintly. She turned away slightly, trying to hide her expression, but a subtle pink crept up her cheeks.
She murmured after a pause, the edge in her voice softening.
She wasn't foolish enough to think Kyle was treating her delicately.
No—he was protecting her dignity, shielding her pride from further damage.
He hadn't commented on her appearance, but he had acted swiftly, sparing her from more judgmental stares.
Amanda, who had spent her life being strong for others, found herself quietly warmed by this kind of care.
They approached the large house Kyle used as his office.
As they neared, Amanda noticed a young woman pacing nervously just outside the door.
The woman was fidgeting with her fingers and mumbling to herself—clearly anxious about something. Amanda's eyes narrowed as she observed her, though she didn't recognize the girl.
Kyle stopped as well.
The girl turned around, her face lighting up the moment she heard her name.
Her voice was filled with relief and happiness, but then her eyes locked onto Amanda behind him.
The joy on her face faded instantly.
Her gaze flicked to the cloak draped over Amanda's shoulders.
Her expression stiffened, lips parting slightly in shock, and then pressing into a thin line.
Amanda noticed the shift and gave her a cool, assessing glance—nothing malicious, but definitely curious.
"Is something wrong, Racheal?"
Kyle asked, noticing her reaction.
"N-No, young master. I was just… making sure you returned safely."
Racheal said quickly, bowing her head.
Kyle gave a nod, not thinking much of it, and opened the door to his office.
The Grand Duchess stepped past Racheal, her chin slightly raised as she walked with grace despite her earlier state.
As she passed the girl, she noticed how Racheal's eyes briefly followed the cloak—his cloak—still wrapped around her shoulders.
'Interesting. Looks like another one fell for Kyle's charms.'
Inside the office, Amanda took a seat while Kyle closed the door behind them.
She still held the cloak close around her, but her thoughts were now slightly preoccupied—not just with the battle she had endured, but with the girl outside.
She could tell from one look—Racheal wasn't just a subordinate.
That kind of look, that kind of disappointment, only came from someone whose heart had a stake in the person they were watching.