Ahyan sat on the edge of the roof, staring at the window across from him.
Kinemia was huddled against the wall, clinging to it as if she were afraid of the dark.
Ahyan watched her for a while, and when she flinched and squeezed her eyes shut as if startled by something, he raised his hand.
With a snap of his fingers, glowing orbs of light popped into existence, rising gently.
Kinemia yelped, startled, and looked around. Ahyan chuckled softly.
Kinemia finally spotted Ahyan, threw open the window, and leaned out.
“Ahyan!”
“Yeah.”
He smiled and waved his hand.
“What are you doing there? It’s dangerous.”
Ahyan smirked. 'Funny, isn't it?'
Ahyan walked across the air towards Kinemia. Then, he looked down at Kinemia, whose eyes were wide open.
"Mia, what took you so long? It's already dark out."
“I had some things to do.”
“Things to do?”
“I had to recruit a guild for that dungeon I bought, and I had a mithril sword made as a, you know, starting point.”
Kinemia, with an excited face, told him about finding mithril in the dungeon and that Row was the guild leader of Heukya and also Kshahn.
He played along, agreeing that the mithril and the Heukya Guild were impressive, but his attention was entirely on Kinemia's excitement.
“Mia, take me with you next time you go out.”
"You're always so grumpy. I don't want you around."
“I won’t be grumpy, okay?”
“Don’t lie.”
"I worry when you're out so late. I promise I'll be good. I'll stay right by your side."
Ahyan pleaded, practically wagging an invisible tail.
“……”
"I'm supposed to protect you, Mia. That's my job."
"Don't you want me to? Huh?' Ahyan kept asking, batting his eyelashes and cupping his chin.
Kinemia tried to look annoyed, but ended up pouting.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Really?”
Ahyan beamed, and Kinemia dramatically slapped the windowsill.
“I’ll think about it!”
With that, she spun around and marched back into her room.
Ahyan kept grinning, flexing his stinging hand.
Just then, a lark landed silently on his shoulder.
-So, you finally gave up on the mind magic?
Ahyan lowered his eyes.
“……Yes.”
Normally, Ahyan would have bragged to his master about how Kinemia was immune to his magic.
No, before that, he would've forced the answers out of Kinemia.
But he hadn't done any of that. He'd just been hovering around her like an idiot.
-Looks like you're becoming human after all.
At that, Ahyan smiled faintly.
"'Wouldn't you say I'm a more evolved human than you, Master?'"
-That's it, you little-!
At that moment, Ahyan frowned and touched his temple.
-He's faking it again...!
The lark, who'd been sputtering in rage, paused when Ahyan continued to clutch his head.
-Could it be a second awakening?
'Some people can't use magic during an awakening. Pain is better than that,' his master muttered.
-Why don't you come back now?
Ahyan suddenly sighed, the pain gone, and grinned.
'Gotcha again!'
With a squawk of fury, the lark attacked Ahyan, pecking relentlessly.
Ahyan warped around, dodging the furious attacks.
His master, fuming at his disciple's trickery, yelled.
'You're driving me nuts! You little brat!'
The Behemoth sisters weren't kidding. They actually delivered the greatsword in a single day.
Though they looked totally wiped, with dark circles under their eyes and hollow cheeks.
They must've been channeling aura all night. No wonder.
Kinemia gave them some alchemist's stamina potions, a few days off, and a hefty bonus.
'This is too much... Just working with mithril was payment enough...'
'It was a real learning experience. You don't need to thank us so much...'
The sisters protested, but they eagerly accepted the bonuses.
The next day,
Kinemia sat across from Row on a sofa in the reception room.
He had dark skin, snow-white hair, and gray eyes. He looked like a panther, and his mere presence seemed to weigh down the air.
‘So this is the leader of the S-rank Heukya Guild…!’
There were fewer than seventeen A-rank guilds in the entire Empire, and he was S-rank!
S-rank! She could practically see a golden road opening up before her.
Perfect. I'll get Heukya under my control and mine all the magic stones I want!
And, you know, protect world peace while I'm at it!
It's a win-win!
‘This is getting awkward.’
Kinemia subtly glanced at Row.
He was sipping the tea the maids had prepared—
'Is the tea okay?' 'It's good.' 'Are you comfortable?' 'I'm fine.' 'Can I get you a cushion?' 'I'll get it—' 'No, I will—!'
The maids were practically falling over themselves to get Row's attention.
And she could feel the other maids practically burning holes in Row with their stares.
‘They're going to devour him.’
Row, however, remained completely unfazed.
Maybe he's not interested in women? Just as Kinemia was thinking this, Row spoke.
'Everything's fine, but... I do have one question.'
“Yes? Yes!”
'How long are you going to keep this up?' '...Excuse me?'
'You're clearly bothering the Grand Duchess. Leave.'
His tone was ice-cold. Row stared them down, not breaking eye contact.
"Now," he repeated, his voice like steel.
She'd only seen him smile before, so she'd assumed he was gentle. She was wrong. Row was cold as ice.
‘And they seem to love it.’
The maids scurried away, but they were blushing even harder, completely smitten.
‘Are cold guys popular in this world?’
No, maybe it's just any hot, well-built guy.
Lost in thought, Kinemia accidentally met Row's eyes and smiled. He returned the smile, his face lighting up like a blooming flower.
And yet, the moment he picks up a sword, he turns into a total battle maniac...
And that wasn't even the most surprising thing.
Kshahn Row was only nineteen...!
Even without being the leader of Heukya, there was no way that guy was only nineteen.
Row's body was ripped and undeniably sexy—he looked like a fully-grown man.
'My fairy, I knitted a lace headband for you today.'
Lace? Kinemia eagerly took the headband, which had delicate strings for tying it.
Ooh!
Kinemia gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.
‘This is professional-level!’
The quality was incredible. As a Grand Duchess, she'd seen her share of lace, but this was something else—delicate, intricate, and with a unique, almost exotic design. She wanted to drag him to the embroidery room and make him her personal lace artisan.
Was he giving up the sword because he had this kind of talent?!
That would not work for her...!
Kinemia asked, trying to hide her panic.
'Row, are you really giving up the sword?'
'...My master?'
'Ah, yes. Shen Tian told me.'
'I have no plans to wield a sword again.'
“Because your sword broke?”
'Yes. Tuyen was the legendary sword passed down through generations of Kshahn leaders. Its destruction signifies the end of the Kshahn line.'
Just because a sword broke? But Row's expression was resolute.
“Then have you looked for a new sword?”
He shook his head.
“There is no other sword like it in the world.”
Kinemia's voice was a little strained as she asked,
“Row, what if I could make you a sword that is stronger and sharper than Tuyen?”
