Chapter 3

It felt like I had dreamed an entire epic.

I had come to the academy on a whim, drunk a strange experimental potion, met Teansis—the man I had only imagined—and even been attacked by monsters.

Too much had happened in such a short time for it to feel real.

As I slowly regained consciousness, I heard voices nearby.

“What do you think caused the monster to go wild like that?”

“I’m not sure…”

I couldn’t tell who was asking, but the one answering—it had to be Teansis. His deep, husky voice was so distinct, I recognized it immediately.

Though he sounded displeased, he continued in a calm, composed tone.

“And what about the tree that suddenly fell? Did anyone check what happened with that?”

“Yes. It doesn’t seem related to the fight. Apparently, it was already unstable from a recent typhoon. Some staff had even expressed concern about it.”

“And yet they left it there? The academy’s maintenance is a mess.”

“Exactly. The staff claimed they were too busy preparing for the upcoming festival. But more importantly… what is that alchemy professor planning with those monsters?”

“Whatever twisted idea he’s got in his head, we’ll find out. From now on, we need to keep a closer watch.”

I couldn’t understand everything they were discussing, but I could tell the matter was serious.

I wanted to keep listening, but my heavy eyelids pulled shut again—and I slipped back into unconsciousness.

I didn’t know how much time had passed when I finally woke up.

At first, my head throbbed and my body felt sore, as if I’d come down with a fever. But now, I felt strangely refreshed, like I’d slept deeply for days.

The last thing I remembered was something hitting the back of my head—so I had no idea where I was now.

As I slowly looked around, trying to make sense of my surroundings, a maid nearby gasped in surprise.

“Oh! You’re awake!”

“Where… am I?”

“This is Duke Acruge’s personal residence at the academy. I’m Emily, one of the maids who works here.”

His residence? Here?

Teansis might be the youngest duke and ruler of the North, but this was still student housing.

Yet everything in this room—from the décor to the furniture—looked far too luxurious for any dormitory. It could rival a noble’s mansion.

“The duke’s quarters… I see.”

Clearly, Kamar Academy didn’t do anything halfway—not even when it came to student housing.

I gathered my scattered thoughts and slowly sat up. Emily rushed to support me.

“You shouldn’t be getting up so quickly! You’ve been unconscious for three days!”

“Three… days? Oh… Well, I’m feeling much better now. Could you pass along a message to the duke? I’d like to thank him for saving my life.”

I truly wanted to thank him in person, but I didn’t want to inconvenience him. A man of his status must be busy.

He’d already done enough. I didn’t want to impose any further. Just admiring him from afar was more than enough.

But Emily looked shocked and quickly waved her hands.

“Oh no, miss! You should tell him that yourself. In fact, the duke specifically asked to be informed the moment you woke up. Please wait here.”

“What?”

I blinked in disbelief.

The duke… is coming here? Personally?

I was the daughter of a low-ranking baron. Teansis was a duke—one of the empire’s highest nobles. The difference in our social standing was like heaven and earth.

The thought that he would come see me made my heart race.

Before I could say anything, Emily had already hurried out of the room. Her rushed steps made it clear—she was going to inform Teansis himself.

What do I do?

I had admired him from afar for so long—collecting his photos, cheering him on in tournaments.

Now, I was going to see him face-to-face.

The memories came rushing back like a flood—him calling me “my lady,” asking if I was okay, the look of concern in his eyes.

My cheeks flushed with heat.

And then I remembered falling into his arms before everything went black.

My heart skipped. My head spun. Was this really happening?

What am I supposed to do?

Back when the monster attacked, I had no time to think. But now—fully awake and clear-headed—my heart pounded just at the thought of seeing him again.

I ran my fingers through my messy hair, trying to tidy up. I wished I had time to properly fix myself up, but there was nothing I could do now.

I stood there awkwardly, unable to sit or stand still, my thoughts a mess.

Thump… thump…

I heard footsteps approaching outside—steady and strong. With each step, my heart beat faster in sync.

Creeeak—

The door opened, and in walked Teansis Kashan Acruge—his sculpted face looking like it had been carved by the gods themselves.

Every movement he made felt slow, deliberate—like time had slowed just for him.

Everything that had happened before—falling unconscious, being saved by him—felt like a dream. And now, seeing him standing in front of me… that felt like a dream too.

“You’ve woken up, my lady.”

The way he called me “my lady” again sent a soft, fluttering warmth through my chest.

Just as I began to nod, trying to say something back—

Drip.

I suddenly felt something running from my nose. I reached up to wipe it—

Bright red.

Blood.

…Yes.

I had, embarrassingly, gotten a nosebleed just from seeing Teansis up close.

“Ah…”

While I stood frozen in embarrassment, Teansis pulled out a handkerchief and held it out to me.

But it looked so clean and expensive—and it even smelled faintly of a pleasant scent—that I just stared at it, unable to bring myself to use it.

Seeing my hesitation, Teansis tilted his head slightly and said gently,

“Please, take it.”

“I-I’m sorry… It just looks too expensive to use…”

It was a pristine white handkerchief. If I used it to wipe my nosebleed, the stain would never come out.

At my words, Teansis glanced down at the floor and replied dryly,

“If we’re going by value, the carpet is worth far more than the handkerchief.”

“Ah!”

I quickly noticed the drops of blood that had landed on the carpet and hurriedly took the handkerchief from him.

Pressing it firmly to my nose, I waited for the bleeding to stop. Teansis studied my face and spoke again, concern in his voice.

“The physician said there shouldn’t be any major issues. Are you still feeling unwell?”

“N-no, I’m fine.”

I couldn’t possibly admit the truth—that I’d gotten a nosebleed just from seeing him up close.

He had looked so dazzling, the moment so unreal—it had overwhelmed me.

But I couldn’t say that out loud. So, trying to change the subject, I asked something I’d been wondering about since waking up.

“Why did I faint, exactly?”

I remembered watching as the monster’s arm was cut off and the danger passed… Then, something suddenly struck me from behind. It made no sense.

What hit me?
Another monster?
I couldn’t figure it out.

But Teansis answered casually, clearing up my confusion in a single line.

“You were knocked out by a flying fruit.”

“…A fruit?”

“Yes. It looks like when the tree fell, it dislodged some of the fruit it was bearing.”

“…Ah.”

I had fainted… because I got hit by a flying fruit.

My mouth clamped shut.

The image of myself getting knocked out by a rogue piece of fruit popped into my head.

The embarrassment was suffocating.

How ridiculous did I look?

I wanted to disappear into a hole.

I didn’t know what to say, but Teansis continued speaking as if it were nothing.

“The physician said there’s a bump on the back of your head, but it’s nothing serious. If you feel any discomfort, report it to the academy.”

“R-right, I will…”

I reached back without thinking, and just as he said, there was a noticeable lump.

This was humiliating—but I was still grateful. Despite being one of the most high-ranking nobles in the empire, Teansis had treated someone like me, a baron’s daughter, with dignity and care.

He had a reputation for being cold and distant, but clearly, he wasn’t the type to look down on others just because of their status.

Whenever people criticized his character, I always believed in him.

And now, I felt like that belief had been rewarded.

Teansis suddenly looked at me closely and asked,

“Does your ankle hurt?”

“My ankle?”

I moved it a few times where I stood, then nodded.

“No, it’s fine.”

“The physician said the same. But truthfully, it should have been broken.”

“…What?”

“With the strength of that monster’s grip, your bones should’ve been shattered. It’s… quite strange.”

A chill ran down my spine.

The memory of the monster grabbing my ankle came flooding back—the soft, squishy, jelly-like texture of its hand. I shivered.

“That’s why I’d like to ask… If it’s not too much trouble, may I examine your leg myself?”

“W-what?”

I stared at him in disbelief.

Examine it? Personally?

My… leg?

As I sat there with my mouth slightly open, Teansis stepped a little closer.

And for some reason… the way he moved felt incredibly… sexy.

I quickly closed my mouth, worried I might literally start drooling.

S-snap out of it!

“You… want to look at my leg?” I stammered.

“Is that not allowed?”

At that moment, his violet eyes shimmered with what looked like… subtle melancholy.

“N-no, that’s not it…”

Teansis didn’t look offended. He calmly continued,

“The physician already examined you once, yes. But when it comes to monsters, the Acruge family are the foremost experts. Even if you appear fine, there could be aftereffects. It’s best if I check it myself.”

He wasn’t wrong.

Just because I looked healthy didn’t mean everything was fine—especially after making contact with something from the Taran Forest, a place where logic and reason didn’t always apply.

“I-it’s not that I don’t want you to… It’s just, I feel uncomfortable showing you something like that…”

That was what I had truly meant to say.

The idea of someone like him—someone so noble, so regal—looking at something as plain as my leg… It felt almost offensive. Like I was staining the image reflected in his beautiful violet eyes.

Teansis tilted his head slightly, clearly not understanding why I was hesitating, but he didn’t press. Instead, he motioned toward the bed.

“In any case, if it’s all right with you, please have a seat over there.”

“Huh? But there’s a sofa—why the bed…?”

I wasn’t misinterpreting him. A man like Teansis—who had everything—would never make a suggestion like that with impure intentions.

Still, the mention of the bed made me feel flustered. I wasn’t that young anymore, and I knew it probably seemed silly, but I couldn’t help it.

“You just regained consciousness after collapsing. I thought the bed would be more comfortable than a narrow sofa. But sit wherever you prefer, my lady.”

“Then… the sofa is fine.”

I chose the sofa, my heart racing. Teansis nodded, then gracefully knelt on one knee in front of me.

The gesture—it looked like something out of a knight’s oath or a royal proposal. My face heated up instantly.

Meeting him was already like a dream. But this? This felt completely unreal.

With trembling fingers, I lifted the hem of my dress slightly, just enough to reveal my calf. Teansis stared at my leg, his face calm and unreadable.

He stayed that way for a while, not moving at all. I almost joked that he was going to bore a hole through my leg at this rate—but I swallowed the words.

I held my breath, my heartbeat pounding in my ears, until he finally spoke.

“May I touch it?”

“W-what?”

The heat I had been trying to keep in suddenly burst to the surface. My face felt like it was on fire.

Of course I knew it was a professional request—just for examination. But still… this was Teansis Kashan Acruge.

I had once daydreamed about what it would be like just to hold his hand. Never in those dreams did I imagine him touching my leg before even that.

“I know it’s a bold request,” he said, his tone still gentle, “but I want to check it directly. Cases like this… they don’t happen.”

I couldn’t speak. My face was burning too hot.

Seeing my silence, Teansis looked up at me with a soft, searching gaze.

“…Is it not allowed?”

I had no intention of refusing, but the moment I met his slightly dewy, sincere eyes, my head began nodding all on its own.

I thought I saw a faint smile at the corner of his lips—but when I blinked, his expression had returned to its usual calm, unreadable state.

Did he… smile to make me feel more at ease?

I shook my head, trying to chase the thought away.

Meanwhile, Teansis pulled a pair of white gloves from his pocket and slipped them on.

To others, this might seem like a display of good manners, or perhaps unnecessary caution.

But I knew better.

Anyone who had observed him closely would know—Teansis always wore gloves in public.

There had once been rumors in high society that he had a cleanliness obsession, but those were quickly dismissed when he was seen training without gloves during sword practice with other men.

Since then, the reason for his constant gloved hands had remained a mystery.

But I, unlike others, didn’t need to know why. Everyone has things they’d rather keep to themselves. I respected that.

A moment later, I felt the soft pressure of his gloved hand on my ankle.

Slide—

Even though I had given him permission, I flinched when I felt his touch.