“……”
Sabina suddenly felt a renewed sense of wonder.
‘He really is like a hero out of a fairy tale.’
A person as bright and warm as the sun.
Strong like an unyielding blade, and kind without flaunting his good deeds.
Honestly, she had never once thought someone like that could exist in this world.
“I have something I want to ask too.”
Right then, Adrian spoke up.
“It’s about Maybell. Didn’t you say she’s your younger cousin?”
At those words, all the color drained from Sabina’s face.
She opened her mouth slightly, at a loss for what to say.
“…That is…”
“Is she a familiar?”
That question wasn’t so much asked out of curiosity.
It was more like seeking confirmation for something he was already sure of.
“Um, our May is…”
Sabina nervously clenched the hem of her skirt.
But at that moment—
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep your secret.”
Adrian finished softly.
Surprised, her crimson eyes widened.
“What?”
“You don’t want anyone to find out that Maybell is a familiar, right?”
He knew well how precious familiars were to magicians.
The soulmate of the soul—familiars.
A mage and their familiar are bound by soul.
That means they become the one and only being in the world to each other.
Especially since Sabina was so reluctant to show herself to the world, it made even more sense.
Adrian added playfully.
“See? I really do have a good eye for people.”
“…Adrian?”
“Right? I managed to bring in a mage capable enough to have a familiar.”
Adrian remained as relaxed as ever.
Sabina looked at him quietly—then suddenly bowed deeply.
Startled, Adrian hurried to help her up.
“Why are you doing this all of a sudden? Get up!”
“I was late in giving thanks.”
With her head still lowered, Sabina spoke clearly.
“Thank you so much for saving our May. And also…”
She slowly raised her head.
And smiled brightly.
A smile with not even a hint of shadow.
“Thank you for saying you’d keep the familiar’s secret.”
Adrian froze for a moment.
‘Ah.’
What was this fluttering feeling?
Every time Sabina opened up a little more, it made him feel… strange.
The more he learned about her, little by little—
The more he wanted to know her deeply.
And so…
“In return for keeping your secret, can you do me a favor?”
Adrian spoke as casually as he could.
Sabina tilted her head in curiosity.
“What is it?”
“Adrian.”
At the unexpected answer, Sabina looked puzzled.
“…Sorry?”
“I mean,”
Adrian cleared his throat briefly, then finished firmly,
“From now on, don’t call me ‘Sir Adrian’—just Adrian.”
“…That’s…”
“It just means I want us to be friends.”
At those words, her crimson eyes wavered greatly.
Adrian smiled gently.
“How about it?”
—
The first thing I noticed was a faint, herbal scent brushing the tip of my nose.
‘…Where am I?’
Even though I had woken up from sleep, my mind was still in a fog.
I lay there, unable to even move a finger for a while.
Honestly, I just wanted to fall back asleep, but—
‘Wait, what about Adrian oppa?!’
Sure, he had taken care of the monster, but who knows?
What if he got hurt?!
‘He was already injured to begin with!’
I forced my heavy eyelids open.
It felt like there were weights tied to them—it was shockingly hard just to open my eyes.
After blinking a few times, my blurry vision slowly became clearer.
When I instinctively tried to sit up, a groan escaped my lips.
“Ow…”
Ugh, this is brutal.
A strong muscle ache surged through me.
My whole body screamed in pain.
And then—
Someone called out to me urgently.
“May, are you okay?”
Violet hair like iris petals, and eyes as red as rubies.
The most beautiful and smartest person in the world—my sister Sabina.
I reflexively gave her a dopey grin.
“Unnie~!”
She couldn’t hide her worried expression as she touched my forehead.
“How’s your body? Does anything hurt?”
“Nope, I’m fine!”
As I replied, I quickly hugged my sister.
Her face was filled with concern when she looked at me.
She gently patted my back.
Her touch was very soothing.
But only for a moment.
“May, what did I tell you?”
Unnie pushed me back slightly, narrowing her brows.
“I told you not to let anyone find out you’re a familiar, didn’t I?”
Gasp.
I swallowed a dry breath.
But her scolding was just getting started.
“Seriously, how much more are you going to worry me, huh?”
“U-Unnie?”
“Charging at a monster like that—are you out of your mind?!”
Whimper.
I was shrinking more and more under the storm of nagging.
Right then—
“Sabina, it’s all over now.”
A gentle voice came from behind.
Huh?
My eyes widened.
‘That voice!’
I peeked my head around my sister.
Adrian oppa had entered the room without me noticing, and smiled the moment our eyes met.
“Did you sleep well, May?”
“Adrian oppa!!”
He’s here! My savior, here to rescue me from Unnie’s nagging!!
My face lit up—but only for a moment.
“But how’s your body? Are you okay?”
I looked at him worriedly.
“You coughed up blood back then.”
“Pfft, of course I’m fine!”
He puffed up his shoulders proudly.
‘Hmmmm.’
My eyes narrowed.
From Unnie’s unconvinced expression, it didn’t look like he was that fine.
Still, he seemed well enough to move around.
If he were in serious condition, Unnie would’ve made him stay in bed.
Then—
‘Wait a minute?’
I felt something off.
I mean, with Unnie and Adrian oppa…
“Hey, Unnie.”
I looked back and forth between her and Adrian oppa.
“You’re not calling him ‘Sir Adrian’ anymore? And you’re not using honorifics either!”
“Ah, that’s…”
Unnie started to explain, but Adrian oppa was quicker.
“That’s because Sabina and I are friends now.”
“…Friends?”
I blinked in a daze.
Adrian oppa’s smile deepened.
“Yeah. Isn’t it weird for friends to use formal language with each other?”
W-What was that supposed to mean?!
I quickly turned to look at my sister.
She looked a little embarrassed, but she didn’t deny it.
Which meant…
‘Whoa. They really became close?’
My face lit up with a bright smile.
—
That night—
Adrian didn’t return home until it was very late.
‘That was really close.’
He thought back to the events of the day.
‘This is the first time a monster appeared near the capital.’
It was, objectively, a pretty dangerous situation.
He’d even had to forcefully draw on his aura despite his injuries.
‘Well, at least everything ended up okay.’
But it looked like he’d need to be more cautious from now on.
First, he planned to report the incident to the palace and advise them to heighten security.
While he was lost in thought—
‘Speaking of which… Sabina.’
A small chuckle slipped through his tightly closed lips.
‘She’s surprisingly… cute.’
It felt like he was starting to learn more about her.
Sabina, who usually hid behind sharp glares an
d a cold demeanor like armor.
But in truth, she was unexpectedly kind.
“Um, Second Young Master.”
Then someone interrupted Adrian’s thoughts.
“About that matter you asked us to look into… regarding Lady Sabina.”
In an instant, his warm green eyes turned cold like ice.
The attendant bowed deeply.
“We’ve found the trail.”
—
