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“Aren’t you going to do it?”

“Huh, what?”

“Why aren’t you disinfecting it?”

“I was just about to do it.”

Ray quickly moved his hand, worried that his dark emotions might show.

“Ugh.”

Feeling the unfamiliar coldness inside her nose, Iva’s body flinched.

“Just bear with it a little longer.”

Ray calmed her with his gentle voice and continued to work quickly.

The scent of alcohol spread into her nose, and when Iva wrinkled her brows, he immediately blocked her nostrils with the cotton.

“It’s done. Did it hurt?”

“No, it didn’t.”

“If the bleeding continues even after you remove the cotton, it would be best to keep the cotton for the rest of the day.”

“I understand…”

Now that the treatment was over, Iva opened her eyes, planning to leave right away.

She looked directly into Ray’s eyes as he calmly explained. Her red hair was so close to his brown irises that she could almost see herself reflected in them.

“Ahem. I-I’ll take care of the rest back at the mansion.”

Iva moved her body back first, avoiding his gaze. However, she couldn’t help but be surprised. It was the closest she had been to his face in her three lives.

“Please, make sure to treat it properly at the mansion.”

Ray also felt his dark emotions surging fiercely during their eye contact. He quickly moved away from her.

The medical room was filled with the sound of two hearts beating. After a moment of silence, Ray spoke first.

“But why did you come to the training grounds?”

“Ah, I came to meet Chase, the aide of His Highness Claude. I came to see his face, and got lost on the way, ending up here.”

She didn’t mention anything about being in charge of the delegation’s party.

“…You must be quite close to go out of your way to meet the aide.”

“Well, yes. I just got lost and ended up here.”

Iva was afraid that Ray might misunderstand and think that she had come to peek at the knights’ naked bodies, so she denied it even more vehemently. 

However, Ray was only concerned about her coming all the way to the palace to see Chase’s face.

“Would it be okay if I accompany you to the western gate?”

“Huh?”

“Since you got lost, I thought I could guide you. But if it’s too much trouble, I can call for a subordinate.”

He wanted to take her all the way to Blanche Manor in the carriage, but he understood her rejection and couldn’t push her any further. He secretly hoped that she would allow him to be by her side, even for a brief moment.

“Please call for someone else.”

However, Iva firmly refused. There was no room for compromise.

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

Though it pained him, Ray maintained a calm expression after another rejection.

“I’ll call someone right away…”

Just as he opened the gate to leave the infirmary, he heard a loud stumble.

“C-Captain!”

“We, we weren’t trying to eavesdrop.”

Four knights were entangled and sprawled on the floor.

Just as they were eavesdropping on the conversation, the gate suddenly opened, causing them to fall forward.

“It seems like today’s training was insufficient.”

“Yes, uhm?”

“Also, who said the training was over? Who let you leave the training grounds without permission?”

“Well, uh…”

The sinking, earth-shattering voice sounded, and the knights who had been slow to realize the situation were on their feet in an instant.

“Run 40 laps around the training ground right now. The last one in the back will run an additional 20 laps.”

“Yes, understood!”

“Run!”

As soon as the order was given, they sprinted away, desperate to avoid any further punishment.

“I apologize. I’ll call for another knight.”

“No, just take me yourself, Your Grace.”

Iva didn’t want unnecessary rumors to spread if she asked another knight for help.

“You… you mean me?”

“Yes, Duke Castello.”

Doubting her sincerity, Ray asked, and Iva nodded in confirmation.

At that moment, the stern expression on Ray’s face melted away. His relief at being granted permission to accompany her was evident in his expression.

“I’ll guide you right away.”

The two of them headed to the back of the training ground, where knights seldom passed by.

“It will take about 15 minutes from here to the western gate.”

“I see.”

As the night deepened and the moon faintly shimmered, they walked neither too close nor too far apart.

With only the sound of their footsteps echoing, Ray cleared his throat and asked, “Have you been… doing well?”

“Huh? Yes. I’ve been doing well.”

“I see. I’ve been doing well too.”

After the belated greetings, silence fell between them again.

As the suffocating awkwardness grew, they saw the western gate.

“It’s all here. I can go alone now.”

“Okay.”

“Thank you for escorting me. Please take care on your way back.”

Iva hastily bid farewell and tried to distance herself.

“Lady Iva, wait.”

Ray called her name and held onto her.

“Is it okay if we greet each other as friends?”

His voice trembled slightly as if he wanted to cling to even the last straw.

“Just a simple greeting whenever we meet at the palace or outside, is that acceptable?”

It was a plea, just to have that much.

Without hesitation, Iva answered, “No, I’m the type who won’t greet someone after rejecting their confession.”

“….”

“Since we probably won’t meet again, there’s no need for greetings. Thank you for escorting me today.”

To solidify her final decision, she bowed deeply in farewell.

Then, with a firm and steady gait, she boarded the carriage of Blanche.

As the carriage departed, Iva turned her gaze out of the window to catch a last glimpse of the moon she hadn’t properly seen.

However, Ray was still standing there.

“Now let’s really not meet again. We shouldn’t get involved any further.”

In any case, he would fall in love with Julian on the day of the party. Iva covered the window with the curtain.

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