Seira’s eyelashes fluttered weakly at Louis’ call. It was not long before her lips parted slightly.

“Ah… there you are,” Louis stared at her with eyes wide open, “I was beginning to worry.”

“I feel dizzy,” Seira frowned, her brows scrunching for a moment, but then her face straightened and she smiled sheepishly, “When I use my power extensively, I tend to become very hungry.”

“Oh, we should’ve eaten first,” Louis said.

“I know, right?” she jokingly replied as if it wasn’t a big deal, but in fact, Seira was dying inside.

‘Did I overdo it?’ she slightly panicked.

She didn’t think she was going to puke digested food she previously ate, but the taste and smell of fishy blood came up and it was making her sick. To avoid getting caught, Seira tried her best and pretended to be fine.

It was very dangerous to show the slightest weakness to someone who might one day become an enemy. Despite their alliance now, the moment she stumbled, anyone would want to rush in and bite her heels when she least expected it.

“I’ll go ahead and wash up,” Seira said as she slowly rose from the tub while Louis’ eyes followed her.

“Would you like me to help?”

“Of course.”

Seira straightened her body and walked towards the bathroom. It was the same bathroom where she took off her clothes beforehand, which was connected to the room where the glass tub was. It was fortunate that it was close.

As soon as she closed the bathroom door, Seira immediately collapsed onto the floor. She felt like her life flashed in front of her eyes the moment she spat out the disgusting blood.

‘But at least I finally know where my limit is…’

Her injury was worse than she thought. She could feel that it wouldn’t be possible to take a day or two off.

‘Should I meet Baron?’

Seira groaned as she pushed herself up and went to the bathtub. She soaked in the hot water for a long time, and even cleaned up her mess.

‘Let’s get out of here. I’ve been delayed too long.’

However, Seira, who dug through the pile of clothes she had taken off previously, was overcome with embarrassment. It was too late when she realized she had no extra underwear. The one she wore had been soaked wet, which was in no condition to be worn again.

‘There’s no way a woman’s underwear would be available in here,’ she thought.

In the end, Seira wore her clothes without underwear beneath her blouse and pants. The jacket she wore on top concealed the fact she had nothing underneath. Nobody would know unless one would put their hands over and touch it.

As she left the bathroom, Louis rose from his seat, beaming and on his toes.

“Seira, I have great news!”

“Huh? What is it?”

“My initial estimate had been at least 40 days to fill the required amount, but I think 15 days would be enough with your power of amplification,” he said excitedly, but then stopped and quickly added, “Oh, of course, you can’t do it daily, so it would still take a certain period of time.”

If she could do 15 times more than she could today, Seira could fill black crystal with the help of her power.

“Wow, that’s great.”

Seira’s smile spread across her face. 15 times more… No, if she was honest, she found it tiresome to do more work including the newly saved wreckage, but wasn’t it significantly less than 80 times? Considering that it was the key to reviving Askan, which hadn’t progressed for a long time, rejoicing wasn’t enough.

“Now that the test is over, shall we finalize the contract?”

“All right.”

It was what she wanted as well. Seira felt she had to sign the contract and return to the mansion immediately and rest or go see Baron.

The two signed the contract that they had written earlier side by side.

“Then, please take good care of me in the future,” Louis smiled and handed her a copy of the contract inserted in an envelope.

“I hope this would be beneficial for the both of us,” Seira nodded after she received it and put it in her arms.

Inches apart, their gazes met. As if unsure of what to do next, the two of them finally bent after a long time, mirroring each other without intending to.

“Then now…”

Reaching out and tucking her hair carefully behind her ear, Louis suggested, “Shall we go on our first date? We do need to eat breakfast.”

‘This man…’

Seira wasn’t in any condition to chew food right now, but her excuse was that she was hungry, so what could she do now?

“…Alright.”

Seira had no choice but to adjust to his sudden invitation for now. She swallowed a big sigh, and then followed Louis who seemed to be in a good mood. She only hoped there was a way to get out of this situation.

* * *