At my sudden embrace, Irene flinched.

But she soon became still.

"T, T... Oh. Why this sudden-"

"Stay still, just like this for a moment."

I interrupted Irene, holding her tightly in my arms.

"Ah, uhm... Ok," she replied quietly.

While holding Irene, I glanced out the window.

A faint thud reached my ears - an easy catch using [Focus] stored in [Magic Cartridge].

"Did you, did you hear that noise?"

Irene, who was buried in my chest, looked up at me with a puzzled face.

...It seems that Irene heard it too.

'Damn it, Jang Woohee.'

Such a mistake from an assassin.

Remaining outwardly calm, I answered, "I didn't hear anything, Rin."

"Ah... Ok."

'Rin' - a nickname her friends sometimes called her.

She appeared to still have a soft spot for it, given how easily she complied.

I hugged Irene even tighter, making it impossible for her to even lift her head, and focused my gaze on the window.

Soon, black hair was visible beyond.

Following that, the face of a young girl with brown eyes appeared.

It was Jang Woohee.

Upon locking eyes with me, she wore a look of surprise.

Grinning mischievously, I nodded in her direction.

She quickly disappeared from view.

After about five minutes, I released Irene.

"..."

She looked up at me, her face, neck, and ears all rosy.

"...Theo."

"Yes."

"Do you really think a single hug will make me fall for you?"

I slowly shook my head.

"Of course not. But..."

"But?"

"I just wanted to hug you, Irene. I didn't think that was too forward."

"But you should've warned me first... such a surprise-"

"Is it wrong for a fiance to embrace his fiancee?"

"That's not what I mean."

Irene replied in a small voice.

I maintained a steady gaze on her.

"The past is something we must face. I never planned to ignore it like a coward."

"If that's the case...!"

Irene's eyes shone with anticipation.

"But now is not the time, Rin. I promise, when the moment is right, I will tell you everything."

"But I need a timeline. It's tough. Even while being held in your arms just now, I was worried that this happiness would disappear like a mirage... I hate myself for not trusting you... but we can't just ignore what happened. You should understand that. I want to face it fully."

Irene's gaze was resolute.

... This is not something we can just gloss over.

But I still don't know what 'that incident' was.

I racked my brain.

Firstly, it was impossible to resolve during the semester.

Elinia Academy and Waldeurk are quite far apart.

And since I don't even know what happened, I can't measure how long it would take to resolve it.

But for now, I should set a definitive deadline to reassure her.

'Ha, what a problem.'

Suddenly, a phrase from the frame on the Hero's Department training field popped into my head - [Overcome. Surpass.]

... I really have become a full-fledged student of the Hero's Department.

Is this due to Theo's influence?

I met Irene's gaze and spoke, "...By this time next year, at the latest, I'll reveal everything. Can you wait until then, Rin?"

"..."

Silence stretched out between us.

Even as our meal was brought in, Irene remained silent, her eyes filled with sorrow.

Finally, she spoke,

"...Alright. Until next year. Even if it's tough, even if I'm upset, even if I feel like crying, I'll endure it, Theo."

"Thank you."

"Just don't make me wait too long, okay?"

Wiping away a tear with her finger, Irene managed to smile - that heartwarming smile I had come to know.

"...Understood, Rin."

I turned away, afraid I might make that same smile.

Meanwhile, Jang Woohee returned to the room where Aisha and Siena were.

Creak---

"Did, did anything happen?"

"What happened?"

A worried Aisha and an agitated Siena fired questions at her.

Calmly, Jang Woohee replied, "...They were hugging."

"Oh..."

"Hooo, hooo. You said they were hugging each other, right? Hehe, Aisha. What did I tell you? Ah, don't stop me now."

Siena, her face impassive, abruptly stood.

"Wait!"

Aisha had a hunch that something was terribly wrong.

She knew Siena was out of control now.

The elf princess in her current state was like a wild horse that had broken its reins.

If Siena barges into Theo and Irene's room as she is now... its' clear what would happen.

Siena would spill everything, and she would definitely be in trouble.

And Theo would return to his previous cold attitude.

Regardless, Siena remained determined.

"What do you mean 'wait'? I was right, wasn't I? She even wore makeup today, which she never does. I have to see this through, even if it means calling upon the warriors of The Great Forest."

With that, Siena strode towards the door.

Aisha swiftly wrapped her arms around Siena from behind.

"Siena! Hold on! As we discussed earlier, we need to plan our strategy. Didn't you agree?"

"I don't know. I'm bored now. I'm annoyed. At the very least, I need to get hold of that cunning woman."

Desperate, Aisha held onto Siena tightly.

"No, listen! Irene is Theo's fiance! They're engaged, a hug isn't unusual!"

"No. They can't hug. He never once embraced me, despite all my help. The more I think about it, the angrier I get. I'm not going to let Theo off the hook either, even if it ignites conflict between The Great Forest and Waldeurk."

"...Sigh."

Aisha heaved a deep sigh and made up her mind.

To just give herself up voluntarily.

After Irene and I finished our dessert, we exited the room, only to be met by three watchful women - Aisha, Siena, and Jang Woohee.

I immediately understood the situation.

'Aisha brought Jang Woohee, and Siena tagged along.'

As I looked at them calmly, Siena approached me, chuckling.

"Theo. What were you doing with her?"

"We were having a meal."

I immediately amplified [Twisted Noble's Dignity] using [Amplification Orb].

Because Siena's momentum was not to be taken lightly.

But I can't back down now.

Irene had just calmed down; I didn't want to confuse her again.

Like Jang Woohee, Irene was a young girl with emotional swings - her feelings could change as swiftly as the wind.

Siena alternated her scrutinizing gaze between Irene and me.

"You've never dined alone with me... and if you were here for a meal, why were you hugging each other?"

"Even as a student, isn't it normal to hug a fiance? Besides, it's not like we did it in public. Your way of thinking is quite strange, Siena."

"What... did you say? Say it again. I think I misheard."

"I said your way of thinking is quite strange, Siena. Don't make me repeat myself. And don't raise your voice in such a public place. It's embarrassing."

I took Irene's hand and walked past Siena.

I can feel Siena trembling with anger over my shoulder.

Did I go too far?

...But I have no choice.

Siena needs to hear something like this to get the point.

Of course, her unpredictable and self-absorbed personality could spell trouble.

She might suddenly kidnap me, or start pressuring me.

But I can't back down any further.

It was preferable to risking Irene's recently restored peace of mind.

Moreover, I doubted Siena would hurt me.

As I passed Siena, a trembling Aisha stepped forward.

***