Of course, Laura was the one he needed.

More precisely, the mana he possesses.

But he doesn’t know that fact.

Still, she had a strange feeling that he might know.

Killian tilted his head and looked at her with a slight smirk.

Then, the silky silver-blond hair fell over his forehead.

When she was momentarily distracted by that sight…

“Wasn’t that what my wife needed?”

Laura was secretly surprised.

Does he really know something?

“Could you be more specific?”

Laura waited for his answer, her heart pounding.

She was so nervous that her hand, which was clenched in a fist, was moist with sweat.

He slowly scanned her face and then looked down at her hand.

He then reached out and wrapped his hand around hers.

“Ah.”

Laura gasped and blinked her big eyes at him absentmindedly.

The pleasant mana flowed into her body through the hand that was in contact with his. An electric thrill ran through her body.

“It’s a strange thing, but my wife likes it when we touch. Sometimes it’s the most important thing.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yesterday, when you collapsed, the attending physician said that since your energy was so low, you needed to rest comfortably.”

“So you thought you’re helping me by sleeping next to me, is that right?”

“That’s right.”

“…….”

When Laura didn’t say anything, Killian’s gaze turned cold.

“If you were uncomfortable, I apologize. It was my fault for lying down without asking for your permission.”

Killian pulled his hand away from hers.

“No!”

Laura jumped up and grabbed his hand.

When he looked at her two hands that were overlapping each other in confusion, she held onto his hand even tighter.

“I’m not uncomfortable at all! You’re always welcome.”

“……”

This time, he didn’t say anything.

“What I mean is… thank you for being by my side.”

Suddenly feeling embarrassed, Laura spoke in a whisper.

She had been tightly embraced in his arms last night. Judging by the fact that her mana was full, he must not have let her go for a moment while she slept.

And now.

The two of them were standing up in bed facing each other like a loving couple.

At the sight of their natural appearance, Laura’s heart fluttered anew.

Whether he knew it or not, he had been by her side, which had helped her recover quickly.

“You’re welcome.”

He spoke indifferently and moved his body as if he was trying to get out of bed.

“Will you sleep with me from now on?”

“……”

He hesitated before moving. After lowering his gaze for a moment, he looked straight at her.

“Do you want me to?”

“Yes….Do you?”

Under normal circumstances, she would have said no.

But not in this mood.

With him by her side all night.

He might take her up on her offer.

Still, nervous, Laura swallowed her dry saliva and waited for his answer.

“Okay.”

“Just one more thing….Are we just going to sleep?”

“That question is…”

“What you’re thinking is right. A real husband and wife relationship.”

By the time she finished speaking, her heart was pounding out of her chest.

Just by simple contact, she had gained a lot of mana.

What if they had a deeper relationship?

It was just a guess, but I expected that I could absorb a tremendous amount of mana.

If that were the case, I might be able to raise my abilities to the level of an average wizard, if not like the previous Laura.

So I took a chance.

“……”

His distinct lips were tightly shut.

And his cobalt-blue pupils stared at her silently as if piercing through her. They were persistent and tenacious, as if trying to stir up her deep inner self.

An oppressive silence flowed.

‘It’s okay for us to sleep together, but do you dislike a real husband and wife relationship?’

The tension became so intense that it felt like her nerves were being severed. It was when Laura, who couldn’t stand the restlessness, was about to withdraw the proposal,

“If that’s what you want.”

At his words, her heart momentarily stopped beating and then began to thump madly.

“I want to.”

Laura took the hand that he was holding tightly and placed it on her chest.

Did he feel the pounding beats that were racing at an incredible speed?

His straight eyebrows twitched, and then his gaze became filled with deep emotions.

“When should we start? If we set a date, we can make it easier for each other…”

“When I feel like it.”

It was a somewhat disappointing answer.

Not only could she not know when his heart would desire it, but waiting for that day endlessly made her feel bleak.

But there was no one more regretful than her.

Laura humbly accepted it.

“When will that be?”

“Right now.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.

In an instant, Laura was surprised, her eyes widening in shock as she was embraced in his arms.

“Because I want it too.”

His pupils, filled with a sultry heat, gazed at her intently.

The next moment.

“Kyaa.”

Laura fell onto the bed as he pushed her.

Soon after, his firm lips swallowed her scream.

* * *

Horrified, Laura grimaced instead of drinking her tea, sinking into the soft sofa.

“Madam, does it not suit your taste? Shall I bring another tea?”

Head maid Heather asked.

“It’s hot. Bring me some ice.”

Laura stuck out her tongue at the hot tea.

“But ice water is not good for an unwell body.”

Melissa, standing next to Heather, said.

“My body is fine.”

“No, Madam. The Archduke ordered us to take good care of you.”

Heather firmly shook her head.

“I’m fine.”

Laura repeated, but Heather and Melissa paid no attention to her words.

They were circling around Laura and interfering with everything like mother hens.

When she tried to go out to the glass garden, they stopped her, saying where could she go in this hot weather. If she left even a piece of bread, they looked like the sky was falling.

“You’re acting like this because I fainted once a few days ago. Don’t worry. It won’t happen again.”

“Of course, there is that reason as well.”

Heather glanced at Laura before finishing her sentence.

Melissa also avoided Laura’s gaze while fiddling with her apron.

A flush rose on both of their cheeks.

“Is there another reason?”

“You’ve secluded yourself for three days.”

“……”

At Heather’s words, Laura blinked.

The next moment, Laura’s cheeks turned red.

Yes.

She hadn’t left her room for three days.

She spent hot nights with Kilian.

It was unexpected, since he seemed so nonchalant and uninterested.

“The Archduke is too much. He treated a woman who just came to her senses like that… um, someone who isn’t fully recovered… um, anyway, thank you for your efforts, Madam.”

“Thank you for worrying about me, but I’m really fine.”

Laura straightened her back and leaned her face towards Heather as if to show her something.

“Your complexion… looks really good.”

“You look really bright…”

After Heather, Melissa also stared at Laura and mumbled.

“Still, Madam, it would be better to take care of your body for a while. We will take good care of you.”

Melissa clenched her fists along with Heather’s plump oath.

“Ha, do as you please.”

Laura raised one hand and waved it.

In fact, she understood why they were handling her like glass.

Their master had just spent his first night with his wife in over a year.

Now that Laura had reached an untouchable position, the employees could not go against her will, especially since their master was now interested in his wife.

“I’ll drink this tea as it is, but I’ll drink what I want next time.”

Laura took a sip of the slightly cooled tea.

In fact, contrary to their thoughts, her current condition was at its best.

Spending the night with Kilian for three days was difficult, but she absorbed a large amount of mana, so she was not tired at all.

Her hands were itching to try magic right now.

“By the way, I was worried because you didn’t come out for three days.”

Melissa opened her mouth carefully.

“If there hadn’t been a delay in the palace affairs, would it have been longer than that?”

Laura replied calmly.

Then Heather and Melissa looked shocked.

Whether they would or not, Laura tapped her fingers on the table, thinking.

“It’s awkward, isn’t it? I have to meet someone, but I can’t go out right now… What should I do…?”

“Wouldn’t it be possible to bring them here?”

Heather asked.

“Really?”

Laura crushed a short sentence on the letterhead that Melissa brought and put it in an envelope.

The next day.

The Duchess of Tormaite visited the Archucal residence.

“Welcome, Duchess.”

Laura greeted the Duchess who entered the reception room warmly.

“You must have been surprised by the sudden request, thank you for coming.”

“It’s an invitation from the Archduchess, so I can come anytime.”

The two hugged each other like a loving mother and daughter.

When they took their seats, refreshments were served on the table.

The Duchess of Tormaite spoke first.

“Congratulations, Archduchess.”

“What for?”

Laura blinked at the sudden greeting, and the Duchess of Tormaite smiled warmly.

“I heard a rumor. You spent your wedding night with the Archduke.”

“Oh my.”

“It’s so cute to see you embarrassed. It’s something everyone does, why be ashamed?”

“Are you saying that the Archduke is like everyone else? He’s so calm that not even a needle can move him. He doesn’t even blink at things that don’t touch his heart.”

Laura nodded in agreement.

“Since the Archduke has finally been moved, you should be congratulated enough. How long have you been boiling inside?”

Duchess Tormaite patted Laura’s hand with a sympathetic expression. Her attitude does not seem pretentious.

“Thank you for understanding. It’s something I can only say now, but it was really hard.”

Laura thought about everything that had happened since she was reincarnated as Isabella’s body.

She wandered around Kilian’s side, desperate to get just one more piece of mana.

It was a harder before because he was someone who subtly refused to get close.

But look now.

She has become someone who shares a bed with him!

When she was reminiscing about the hard days that had led up to today,

“Maybe that’s right. After all, he’s the head of the Lucendorf family.”

“That’s right…?”

Laura replied, tilting her head.

What does Kilian’s having slept with his wife have to do with being the head of the Lucendorf family?

Does it mean he needs to quickly produce an heir to continue the lineage?

The Duchess of Tormaite, who noticed Laura’s puzzled expression, spoke up.

“Perhaps the Archduchess doesn’t know about this. I heard it from my father. Not many people know about it.”

“What is it?”

“Although it’s rare in the Lucendorf family, there are descendants who are born with the power of a guardian spirit.”

The Duchess of Tormaite leaned forward as if whispering a secret.

“The power of a guardian spirit? What is that?”

“I don’t really know. Maybe it means the power to protect or watch over someone?”

“What happens if someone has that power?”

“Well, I heard that having that power doesn’t necessarily mean they do anything special with it. However…”

“However?”

Laura was now fully engrossed in her conversation with the Duchess.

Not only was the content of their conversation interesting, but as she listened, she felt something weighing on her mind.

“They have to find their master.”

“Master?”

“That’s because only the master can use the power of the guardian spirit. It seems like it’s a bit tricky to hold onto that power until they’ve meet their master. If they touch someone who isn’t their master, they lose it. Anyway, that’s all I’ve heard.”

It was truly an amazing story.

It was so similar to what Kilian had said before.