Sigmund’s appearance was undoubtedly human, but he was far too beautiful to be considered the same as her.
Not just Romiya, but everyone in Shulmir Castle who had seen Sigmund said the same thing.
His slightly curly black hair, falling just over half of his forehead, his sharp yet graceful eyes, his straight nose, and his crimson lips.
There was nothing to criticize.
No matter how stunning a person might be, there were always imperfections, but not with Sigmund.
‘Perhaps it’s because he’s a transcendent being.’
A transcendent, by definition, was a being who surpassed the laws of the mortal world. It made sense that no human eye could find flaws in him.
Romiya pressed her reddening cheeks with the back of her hand.
‘Maybe that’s why I can’t stop thinking about him.’
She recalled hearing long ago that humans have an instinct to seek beauty and harmony. At the time, she hadn’t understood that idea at all, but now, she did.
‘In that sense, it’s a good thing I’m afraid of him.’
Even now, when she was terrified of him, she often found herself thinking about him in a daze. If she weren’t afraid, she would probably have stared at him constantly, as if bewitched.
‘If that were the case, Lord Sigmund would have already driven me away. He still seems displeased with me.’
Romiya’s expression darkened slightly as she recalled what had happened a few days ago.
「I have no intention of making you my guide. Return at once!」
In truth, Romiya hadn’t been acknowledged by Sigmund as his guide. She had forced her way into his presence and stayed by him out of sheer persistence.
‘Stop thinking about useless things and brew the tea.’
Romiya shook her head to clear her thoughts and took out the tea leaves she had received from the innkeeper the day before.
The brown paper bag was full of dry tea leaves, releasing a faint fragrance.
Carefully, she transferred them to a dish and began picking out the discolored or spoiled leaves.
‘What’s wrong with these tea leaves? Isn’t this a bit much?’
Romiya frowned slightly as she continued to sort through the leaves.
Even though she had paid extra to get the best quality, as a former count’s daughter, this was far from satisfying.
‘Is it really okay for Lord Sigmund to drink this?’
Even to her human eyes, the tea seemed lacking. How much more so for Sigmund, a transcendent being?
Though she understood it was the best she could find in a hurry, Romiya bit her lip in frustration. She needed to prove her worth as a guide as soon as possible, but there wasn’t much she could do yet, and that only made her feel worse.
“What are you doing so early in the morning?”
A voice from behind startled her, and Romiya quickly turned around.
There, leaning casually against the arched doorway, was Sigmund, watching her.
The shadows on his face emphasized his sharp features, and his golden eyes gleamed brightly, even in the dim light.
The moment their eyes met, Romiya hastily lowered her head and clasped her hands together.
‘Please, please don’t shake. Please.’
Despite her efforts, her fingertips grew cold, and sweat gathered between her clasped hands.
She felt foolish for thinking, even for a moment, that it was a good thing to be afraid of him.
To hide her trembling, she quickly leaned against the table for support.
Romiya pressed down hard on the table, so much that her back ached, but it helped calm her trembling a little.
She steadied her voice and spoke as brightly as she could.
“I was preparing tea.”
“Tea?”
“Yes, for you, Lord Sigmund…”
“Did I not tell you it’s unnecessary? Last night, I specifically told you to stop with the pointless tasks. I said the same the night before and the night before that. Have you already forgotten?”
The courage she had mustered drained away at his cold tone. Romiya swallowed hard. The piercing look in Sigmund’s eyes felt like sharp nails stabbing at her.
“I also told you something else. I told you to leave. So, why are you still here? I’ve emphasized many times that I don’t need a guide.”
His cold reprimand made her heart sink. Romiya couldn’t even respond, focusing all her energy on gripping her trembling arms. She just hoped he wouldn’t notice how much she was shaking.
The fact that the kitchen was dimly lit was a small blessing. And with the distance between them, perhaps he wouldn’t notice. She finally managed to open her mouth.
“I only wanted to repay the favor, at least until Shulmir territory is stable…”
“Repay a favor, you say? Didn’t I tell you that’s unnecessary too? What use would I have for the help of a worthless human?”
In an instant, Sigmund was closer, his cold words cutting through the air. The dish on the table clattered from the sudden movement. All the color drained from Romiya’s face. Her body began to shake uncontrollably, making it impossible to hide her fear any longer.
It was inevitable, really. Even when Sigmund had tried to calm her a few days ago, she had been terrified. Now that he was intentionally showing her such coldness, how could she possibly endure it?
Watching her, Sigmund spoke again.
“I’ve tolerated your stubbornness because I owe you a debt. But if you continue like this, that debt will be settled very quickly.”
“…!”
“I’ve already forgiven your insolence several times. Don’t test the limits of my patience.”
Sigmund swept out of the kitchen. Romiya, who had been frozen in place, collapsed to the floor, her trembling hands covering her face.
“Why… Why am I crying again?”
Romiya quickly wiped her tears with her sleeve. The tears had come suddenly, and even she didn’t know why. Overwhelmed with emotion, Romiya quietly sobbed for a while.
* * *
As a child, Romiya had always been timid. She envied her brothers, who boldly and fearlessly handled dangerous tasks. She often felt frustrated with herself, startled by the smallest things.
「Romiya, there isn’t just one kind of strength. Sometimes, the vine that wraps around a mighty tree is stronger than the tree itself.」
Her father used to say that to comfort her.
「It’s not the strong who survive, but the survivors who are strong. What you see isn’t everything. You have a tenacity that your brothers lack. Your strength lies in your ability to endure. One day, your strength will help you achieve your goals.」
His words were warm, but they didn’t help much. The idea that a vine could be stronger than a towering tree made no sense to young Romiya.
Even now, she wasn’t sure she believed it. She was still frustrated by how weak she felt. If only she were a little braver, she wouldn’t have acted so pathetically in front of Sigmund.
By now, she would have already proven her worth as a guide. Or perhaps she wouldn’t have had to flee Shulmir Castle in such a shameful manner. Maybe she would have stayed and dealt with her uncle’s retainers. Or maybe she wouldn’t have lost her family so easily in the first place…
As her thoughts spiraled, the sadness returned. It felt like she was all alone in a vast desert. Romiya suddenly stood up and turned on the faucet. She splashed cold water on her face, the icy chill biting at her skin, but she didn’t stop.
‘I have to get a grip. I’m on my own now. I have to find my own way through this. I need to prove to myself that I can survive.’
Perhaps, that was why she clung so desperately to the idea of becoming Sigmund’s guide.
It was the first thing she had ever wanted to accomplish as Romiya, not as the daughter of Count Shulmir.
If she couldn’t even repay the one who had saved her, she felt like she wouldn’t be able to do anything in the future.
After finishing her face wash, Romiya went back to brewing tea.
She still didn’t know if her father’s words about vines being stronger than trees were true. But this was the only thing she could do right now, so she clung to it.
Romiya took the steaming teapot and headed to Sigmund’s room.
“What on earth are you doing?”
Sigmund’s reaction was just as she expected. No, it was colder than she had anticipated.
“I prepared tea. I heard that when you were staying at Shulmir Castle, you liked human tea. It’s not quite like what you had at the castle, but still…”
“I told you it’s unnecessary.”
Sigmund’s voice was as cold as ice, but Romiya still stubbornly placed the tray down. She set the teacup in front of him and turned the handle of the teapot. She clasped her hands tightly together, pressing her nails into her palms, hoping the pain would steady her enough to speak without trembling.
“I’ll leave it here. Just try it, and if you don’t like it, I’ll dispose of it myself.”
As she spoke, Romiya silently prayed. She prayed that, like the previous days, when she returned, the teapot would be empty. Even if he found her annoying, she hoped he would enjoy the tea she prepared, that it would bring him a small moment of joy.
Romiya bowed her head deeply and turned to leave, her hands still tightly clasped. Her nails had dug into her palms, and she could feel a dampness spreading at her fingertips.
Then, suddenly, she was pulled back with rough force. Before she could react, Sigmund grabbed her wrist, his grip firm as he yanked her around. His eyes widened in fury as he saw the blood seeping from her palm. His voice thundered at her, full of anger.
“What is this!?”
“Huh, what?”
“Why did you let your hands get like this!?”
Sigmund’s sudden outburst left Romiya speechless as he pulled her forward, forcing her to sit in the chair. He knelt in front of her, inspecting the wounds on her hands, his expression twisting in frustration.
“I thought you were just stubborn, but you’re a fool as well! What reason do you have to hurt yourself like this? Do you want to drive me insane?!”
“Huh? I-I…”
“I asked if you’ve lost your mind! Do you even know who I am?! I am a transcendent! If you treated another transcendent like this, they’d kill you without hesitation!”
Romiya tried her best not to cry, but Sigmund’s fury terrified her. She was so scared she couldn’t even understand his words properly.
“I’m sorry…”
Tears began to trickle down her cheeks as Sigmund cursed under his breath and began healing her hands. A warm, golden energy flowed into her palms, easing the pain. Even after the pain subsided, Romiya couldn’t bring herself to look at him. The memory of Sigmund using his dragon powers from a few days ago came flooding back.
With a strained voice, Sigmund spoke.
“…Tell me.”
“W-what?”
“If there are any other injuries, tell me! I need to heal them!”
“Injuries?”
“If you’re hurt anywhere else, let me know!”
Injuries? Pain? Healing? Only then did Sigmund’s words start to make sense.
He wasn’t angry at her. He was trying to help her.
Something flashed in her mind—something she needed more than anything at that moment. Something she had asked Sigmund for days ago, only to be harshly rejected.
Time to get used to being around him.
Romiya’s lips moved without her realizing it.
“Your hand…”
“What?”
“If you could, keep holding my hand…”
“What?”
“No, never mind.”
Realizing what she had said, Romiya quickly shook her head. She remembered how sternly Sigmund had reacted the last time she made such a request. Not wanting to upset him again, Romiya twisted her hand out of his grasp.
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