“I told you, I came to Grace to obtain necessary information. Right now, I want to focus more on that.”

“…Is that so.”

Again, she pushed him away just before their lips could meet. Ray, feeling that if he kept his hands on her any longer he wouldn’t be able to resist kissing her, tried to pull them away.

But then, Iva shyly interlaced her fingers with his, and his eyes widened.

“Ray, I promise to respond to your feelings. Just give me a little more time, please.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I will definitely respond.”

Her eyes, looking up at Ray, seemed so sincere, as if to confirm she was not lying.

Ultimately, he couldn’t resist that gaze.

Puch.

He pressed his lips against the mole under Iva’s right eye and then pulled away.

“Wha-what was, what was that…”

Startled by the unexpected peck, Iva jolted as if she were a malfunctioning robot.

Ray, finding even her flustered state utterly adorable, couldn’t help but pull her into his embrace.

“I’m sorry if I seem to be pressuring you continually, Iva. But it seems I have my limits too.”

She understood his anxious emotions.

She had been avoiding confronting the confession properly.

However, the weight of death through two executions was too heavy. Nothing felt assured in a situation where not just her, but everyone around her could potentially die.

“Okay. I will answer as soon as possible, so please wait for me.”

More strength seeped into Ray’s hands as he hugged Iva even tighter. The strength seemed proportional to his anxiety, so Iva stayed still, wordless.

“Sigh… I will go back to my room now.”

Summoning his last ounce of patience, Ray released Iva.

“Sleep well and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yes, have a good night, Mr. Ray.”

Even a casual wave and greeting felt like a dangerous stimulus to Ray. She was too adorable, but right now, dangerous.

“May you have sweet dreams too, Iva.”

Finally, the moment Ray closed the door behind him,

“Haaah.”

Iva’s legs gave out, and she slumped down, burying her face in her palms.

“…I really thought he was going to kiss me.”

Murmuring to herself, her breath escaping, her face, inside her palms. Everything was incredibly hot.

Not getting a proper answer, and yet approaching her must have been tough for Ray, but pushing him away, Iva wasn’t feeling at ease either.

Even though she knew she should refuse, she felt fluttered by his approach, letting him seep into her heart.

“Iva, get a hold of yourself. You came here to find out about the magic. You have to get along with the people Leo introduces you to tomorrow.”

Chiding herself, and steadying her heart, she stood up.

“Haaah, the strength hasn’t returned to my legs yet.”

Ray’s heart was racing, unreasonably fast. The touch of his lips on her mole and the embrace lingered vividly in her mind.

“Ugh, but why does my heart feel like it’s beating even harder than usual?”

Her heart wasn’t just fluttering; it was pounding with something other than excitement mixed in, and it hurt a bit.

Iva, feeling suspicious of the peculiar heaviness in her heart, slumped down. While outside there was another whose legs had given out.

“Haah…”

Ray, too, sank down right outside Iva’s room door, sliding his hand over his face.

“Just wait, it’s what you do best.”

He’d have to wait for Iva’s answer again.

He’d always considered his sincerity, patience, and calm demeanor to be his strengths, yet, in front of her, those constantly crumbled.

Instinct always came before reason.

His neatly organized lifestyle was going awry because of Iva, which was both delightful and unsettling.

He couldn’t even begin to fathom how shattered he’d be if everything fell apart and he still couldn’t have her.

“Crying again, are you?”

Leo, adorned with a white shawl and carrying warm tea in one hand, headed toward the room and approached when he spotted Ray.

“…I don’t cry anymore. I’m past the age of crying because I miss my brother.”

Ray slowly lifted his seated body, nearly stumbling as his strength hadn’t fully returned.

“Did Iva turn you down when you asked to sleep together?”

“No, what are you talking about? I didn’t ask that.”

“So, you said something else then? What might you have said? Or, was it not words but actions?”

As Leo teased him by pushing out his lips and making a pouting action, Ray went up and stopped him, fearing Iva might hear.

“Brother, please stop it.”

“What are you talking about? I’ve been waiting for three months to tease our crybaby, how could I stop now?”

“Tease me when I’m alone, at least.”

“Hmm, I don’t want to.”

Leo, smiling, sidestepped Ray and entered the room, while Ray, rubbing his forehead, headed toward his own room.

His room, which he entered after a long time, was as clean as if it had always been tidied up. He looked around familiarly, then his eyes met his own reflection in the mirror.

“…There seems to be some merit in wearing a uniform. When I return, I should give Hanz some time off.”

Feeling that he had gotten a bit closer to Iva today, a faint smile leaked out from Ray.