120.

“You’re awake.”

It seemed I had dozed off for a moment. Norma was nuzzling against my tousled hair with his nose and lips, whispering softly.

“The sun is rising.”

“…Already?”

The sunrise meant only one thing: his departure for Baghdad was imminent. My voice betrayed my disappointment as I barely managed to lift my eyelids.

“Yes.”

As he said, faint light filtered through the translucent curtains. I scrunched my face, fighting the sleep that threatened to pull me back under. But the exhaustion was overwhelming.

It had been a day and a half since Norma, with his usual playful smile, had warned me that he didn’t plan on letting me sleep. Though mischievous, Norma was never one to make empty promises, something I should have remembered.

He had made good on his word, staying up for two nights, giving his all. It had been exhilarating—almost intoxicatingly so. But by the end, my head felt like mush, and if asked to endure it again, I’d surely refuse.

‘I know every moment matters, but… I just can’t get up yet.’

Even though he’d replenished me with divine energy throughout, the lack of proper sleep had left its mark. Divine energy worked wonders for healing, but it also lulled one into a serene drowsiness.

Then his hand began trailing through my long hair, smoothing it from the crown of my head down to the ends in slow, soothing strokes.

That’s when I realized I was snuggled up against him like a child, while he leaned casually against the headboard. Most importantly, we were both still unclothed. The realization hit me like a shock, but I didn’t have the strength to feel embarrassed.

I let my body relax, feeling the soft caress of his hand against my back. His body was firm, almost unyielding, yet warm and comforting—something I’d grown used to.

The rhythmic beat of a heartbeat, whether his or mine, filled my ears with a calming steadiness. For a moment, I felt like I might drift back to sleep.

“We’ll be apart for more than a month… are you really going to keep sleeping?”

‘Oh, right. A month.’

His gentle voice pulled me back from the edge of sleep. I suddenly felt wide awake. Burying my face in his neck, I let out a long sigh. The breath tickled against his skin, drawing a soft chuckle from him.

His lighthearted laughter only fueled my irritation. I turned serious in an instant, my simmering discontent spilling out.

“You seem far too unaffected by all this.”

“Do I?”

“You do. I feel awful, yet here you are, laughing.”

“…You’re feeling awful.”

His hand, still soothingly stroking my back, paused as he tightened his embrace around me. The sensation of being held so securely was comforting. We stayed like that, wrapped in each other’s arms, in silence for a while.

But then, as if jolted by something, I suddenly pulled back, pushing against his chest in shock.

“…Again? Why, seriously, why?”

I stared at Norma in disbelief. His dazed face and the hint of a blush that followed only added to my exasperation.

‘Is he embarrassed? Where on earth is he finding the energy for this right now?’

I frowned, analyzing our earlier conversation for anything remotely suggestive that might have triggered his reaction.

Norma’s timing was as unpredictable as his laughter, and understanding his reactions seemed just as elusive. His physical enthusiasm was baffling; he truly was annoyingly healthy.

“Don’t worry. I’ll just hold you like this.”

He murmured, as if trying to reassure me. But trust was a luxury I couldn’t afford with Norma Diazi, especially not in bed.

He carefully cradled the back of my head and lower back, guiding me to rest against his shoulder again. Despite his gentle gestures, I remained wary.

“I’ll return as quickly as I can.”

He whispered, his hand resuming its soothing path along my back.

“Until I come back, please don’t do anything dangerous. Just stay as you are now.”

“And who’s worrying about whom? You’re the one who needs to be careful. If you come back hurt, I won’t let it slide.”

I wasn’t joking, but he laughed again.

“Ahaha. What would you do to me?”

“I’d teach you a lesson.”

“Really? And how would you do that?”

His amused tone carried an odd hint of anticipation. Did he actually like being scolded? I brushed aside the thought and replied seriously.

“Well, for starters, I’d punish the knights who accompanied you. Von Bains would be first, naturally.”

“…I’ll be careful,” he said quickly, seemingly abandoning whatever he’d been expecting. His swift change of tone made me laugh softly.

By now, the sun had fully risen, casting a cool blue glow over the room. It felt like someone might knock on the door any moment. Frustrated by the passage of time, I spoke impulsively.

“It’s strange. We’re not parting forever, but it feels… oddly final.”

“Wait, hold on, Aisa.”

Norma suddenly sat up, lifting me off his shoulder. His expression had turned serious, catching me off guard.

“What is it?”

“When I ask you to stay as you are, I mean it.”

“I’m not a child. What, do you think I’d cause trouble?”

His concern felt almost endearing, though I was mostly brushing it off. His next words, however, sent a chill down my spine.

“Whatever you do, don’t go to the pond. Not alone.”

…How could he possibly know?

“You seemed… different before. Like someone was trying to stir up bad memories deliberately, as if to mess with you.”

His earlier story about the pond and the strange sensation he’d felt came rushing back. We’d searched the area thoroughly but found nothing unusual. Still, it had lingered in my mind, and apparently, in his as well.

“I wasn’t planning to go myself. Just one more inspection,” I admitted.

Norma’s disapproving look made me feel like a reckless troublemaker. It was an expression I’d seen more frequently since he’d learned how precarious my life was.

“Fine, I’ll stay away.”

“If you do anything even slightly dangerous, I’ll have to punish you.”

“You? Punish me? How?”

What would he do? Scold me? I couldn’t imagine him raising his voice.

“For starters, you’d be confined to this room with only me for company. And the rest…”

His angelic smile hinted at unspeakable consequences.

Judging by the past two days, that would be more punishment than I could handle. Glaring at him, I reluctantly nodded, conceding to his unspoken threat.

* * *

“What’s gotten into her?”

Antoinette wriggled frantically, escaping from my arms. She darted between me and Norma, visibly unsettled. The baby beast’s restlessness delayed Norma’s departure by a few minutes.

“Little one, what’s wrong today? Your master will be back soon. You’re too small to ride a horse properly. Come here,” I said, bending down to extend my hand to her. Antoinette glanced up at me, clearly unsure. After hesitating for a while, she turned away as if making a firm decision, and nestled herself firmly against Norma’s chest.

“Antoinette clearly likes Uncle more,” came Archie’s voice, full of disappointment, from behind me. I couldn’t blame him—I felt the same sting of rejection.

“For some reason, Antoinette seems uneasy. Norma, perhaps it’s best if you take her with you,” I said, suppressing a sigh of exasperation. Norma, equally baffled, patted the little beast on her rump.

“She’s good with travel, so she’ll manage,” he reassured me.

“…All right.”

“Yes, Aisa. Then I’ll be off.”

‘How can I not see him for an entire month? Maybe I should hug him one last time—or even just hold his hand. That would be enough.’

I was caught up in thoughts like these, all while keeping my expression neutral. I’d already hugged and kissed him thoroughly before Antoinette’s antics. To avoid looking overly desperate, I couldn’t bring myself to suggest doing it again. I didn’t want to appear needy.

“Take care, Norma,” I said reluctantly, envying Antoinette as she clung to his chest.

Norma pressed his lips together as if stifling a laugh. He must have guessed what I was thinking. Though I thought I’d masked my feelings well enough, he could always see right through me.

“Aisa, may I have one more hug?” he asked, eyebrows drawn together, putting on a pitiful expression. Being so easily read was embarrassing, but I wasn’t about to refuse.

The moment I spread my arms, he folded himself into me without hesitation, ignoring his size. Startled, Antoinette wriggled out from between us, clearly displeased by the sudden squeeze. I barely noticed her escape. I wouldn’t have minded if time froze right then and there.

“I’d be delighted if you thought of me every day,” he murmured.

“I already do.”

Norma stiffened slightly at my reply, and I couldn’t help but laugh. I’d started to enjoy catching him off guard like this. Looking back, I’d been saying everything except “I love you” without even realizing it.

Releasing my arms, I glanced up at his face. Seeing his flushed cheeks and uncertain eyes brought an absurd sense of satisfaction. Now I understood why he so often looked for opportunities to tease me. It was addictive.

Riding the momentum, I reached out to grab both of his cheeks. His eyes widened in surprise, and I felt a swell of pride at his reaction as I leaned in. Norma, ever perceptive, slid his arm around my waist and bent down to meet me halfway.

After a brief but passionate kiss, I found myself lifted into his arms, now at eye level with him. With our noses brushing, I whispered softly.

“When you return, I have something to tell you.”

“What are you planning to say that could make me any happier?”

His lips curled into a gentle smile, his lashes fanning out in a curve as his golden eyes gleamed in the morning light. It was a breathtaking sight.

“So come back soon.”

I leaned in once more, my lips brushing against his as I whispered. In that moment, it felt as if we were the only two people in the world.

But of course, that was merely my illusion. We were far from alone.

The castle was more crowded than usual with people gathered to see off Lord Norma, a figure who had become incredibly popular at McFoy Castle. From the early morning, the gates were teeming with onlookers.

McFoy’s people respectfully held their breath, suppressing their urge to applaud the affectionate display before them. Instead, they stood frozen, cheeks flushed, captivated by the sight.

‘Finally, Lord Norma has succeeded in changing Lady McFoy’s story genre!’

Surely, this was a day that would go down in McFoy history.

Amid this, Aisa’s sudden, spontaneous kiss left Lady Seymour no time to shield Archie’s eyes. The young boy stood in stunned silence, witnessing the full extent of the adults’ intimate display. His jaw dropped as he watched the sensual scene unfold up close.

At twelve years old, this was Archie’s first exposure to such a sight.