Actually, you are more beautiful.

Hana almost said those words but stopped herself. She was unsure if it would be a compliment he’d like or not. Objectively, with his tall stature, broad shoulders, and striking appearance, ‘handsome’ might be the more fitting description.

Yet, to her, he somehow appeared beautiful.

Lost in these thoughts, they soon arrived where Calden was staying. Although not as big as the room she shared with Weed, it seemed quite lavish for receiving guests.

‘He’s leisurely enjoying tea, huh.’

Hana had heard that Lar was not a place that easily allowed entry to other races. However, once inside as a guest, the situation seemed quite different.

Seeing Calden comfortably settled, she felt a bit silly for worrying about him.

“Gree, greetings, master of the forest.”

However, that moment was fleeting. As soon as Calden saw them, he stood up, knelt down, and bowed deeply. He was almost prostrating. His voice shook, and uncharacteristically, he even stuttered.

Upon closer inspection, he was trembling.

It was the same greeting she had heard when they first met, but his reaction was vastly different. While she observed him, Weed gave Calden no instructions to stand. Hana looked up, wondering if Weed would at least tell him to rise, but he wasn’t even looking at Calden.

Catching her gaze, Weed merely nodded slightly towards her, leaving her to guess what that meant.

‘Could it be he dislikes dealing with humans?’

Despite her uncertainty, Hana addressed Calden.

“Calden, stand up.”

Calden lifted his head, then bowed again before hesitantly straightening his legs to stand. He looked confused.

“Go ahead and sit, and Weed, you can put me down in front. Um…”

Hana hummed thoughtfully, feeling that a conversation wouldn’t flow easily with all three present. She indicated the far edge of the room as much as she could.

“Weed, just stay over there for a moment.”

“But…”

“It’s just that I have something to discuss, just the two of us.”

Weed twitched visibly.

“You have something to discuss, just the two of you?”

“Yes.”

Was there a rule that he needed to know every conversation that took place here?

Hana looked up curiously, but Weed didn’t press further. He just pursed his lips as if about to say something, then shut his mouth firmly.

Weed seemed displeased with something, but he complied with the request. He placed Hana on a chair in front of a table, albeit very carefully, and then moved away to the far edge of the room as she had indicated, glancing back briefly as he did.

Finally alone with Calden, Hana noticed the princess, his sister, was nowhere to be seen, despite her looking around.

On the other hand, as if he was relieved to see Weed had moved away, Calden let out a sigh of relief and poured a cup of tea for Hana, opening up more easily.

“Inis, my sister is with another Ligna. They’re looking after her condition.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Yes, they didn’t seem much interested in the affairs of our kingdom, but our use of spatial magic seemed to intrigue them. And they found Inis’s condition quite interesting as well. Whether this is fortunate or not, I cannot say.”

He glanced over Hana’s shoulder towards the corner where Weed had positioned himself.

“Also, I am very grateful to you. It became clear that their willingness to listen to our situation was thanks to you. I hadn’t expected any improvement in the divine disease…”

Hana sipped her tea from the teacup. It was pleasantly warm, as if freshly brewed.

“You didn’t believe me when I said I was a guest.”

“That’s… not a common occurrence for us. I hope you understand.”

“Well, sure.”

As Hana continued to sip her tea, Calden didn’t touch his. Instead, he fidgeted with his hands, seemingly preoccupied. Hana didn’t wait for him to stop fidgeting.

After another sip, she initiated the conversation.

“Calden, there’s something I want to ask. If you feel grateful or sorry, answer this for me.”

“What is it?”

Clank.

Hana set her teacup down on the table.

“When you explained the situation in your kingdom, you said that the royals and nobles had gone mad trying to rationalize the incurable disease.”

“Yes, I did.”

“You did. You talked about an incurable disease. And just now, you said you didn’t expect the divine disease to improve, and even with Ligna’s involvement, it’s uncertain if it’s fortunate or not. Calden, did you really come here seeking a cure for the divine disease?”

Calden didn’t offer any excuses. That alone was telling. Initially, he had mixed some lies when dealing with her, but now it seemed he had little intention of hiding anything.

Hana asked again, more pointedly.

“Again. Tell me everything you know about it, why you thought coming here was the solution.”

“…I’ll tell you. But in return, you must answer my questions too. It’s a long story.”

Hana simply nodded without a reply.

After a moment of silence, Calden took a sip from his teacup, seemingly to moisten his throat. He then began to speak indirectly about the topic.

“…I didn’t expect you to find me out. I’ve been pondering how we could have a conversation just the two of us…”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“What about?”

It was unexpected. Calden had said he had business with the Ligna, and she had thought she would never see him unless she went to look for him. But it seemed he also had something to say to her.

“You’re called a foreigner here, a wizard from our world. The wizards here are very instinctual beings. Magic, fundamentally, is about borrowing the power of nature. Magic talent often depends more on animal-like senses and talent than on the study of knowledge. That’s why skilled wizard trusts their instincts.”

“And?”

“I’m asking if you will come with me.”

“What?”

“I can assure you wealth and power. Of course, the kingdom has medicines not inferior to here…”

Hana frowned. It was a completely unexpected and irrelevant question.

“Wait, why would I follow you? What do you mean by this?”

Calden glanced back briefly and then quickly looked down, a hint of fear in his voice.

“If you stay here, or rather, by his side, you won’t last long. My instincts have never been wrong.”

Hana was momentarily stunned, then let out a smirk.

His instincts were supposedly good. It seemed they were accurate. But Hana didn’t stop at a mere smirk; she burst out laughing.

“Ah, hahaha. I thought it was something else.”

Calden raised an eyebrow as if asking, ‘You think that’s nothing?’ It wasn’t nothing. But still.

“People die eventually. It’s part of life.”

“That sounds like something an old person would say.”

“Your way of speaking sounds even older.”

Hana gestured around her neck with one finger as if drawing a line.

“Are you planning to offer me some kind of noble title? Sitting on thorns without any real power or backing, just relying on you, sounds like a fast track to getting my head chopped off for some minor offense.”

“No need to worry about that. If you marry me…”

“Ahaha!”

Hana couldn’t help but let out a burst of laughter, even though it was rude.

“That’s even worse. No matter how much wealth and power are guaranteed, I’d hate a life where my position is solely at the whim of someone powerful, and I have to cling to that.”

“Really? You find that idea so dreadful?”

Calden was blushing, and he clicked his tongue lightly, facing her as she leaned back comfortably.

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