Lawine carried Kondo into his room and gently laid him down on the bed.
For a few moments, she simply stood there quietly, staring at him. She reached out and placed a hand against his forehead, checking his condition.
Then, slowly, she walked toward the door and shut it carefully.
A faint magical aura spread from her body as she checked the surroundings with magic perception.
No presence.
No one near the room.
Only after confirming that nobody was nearby did her gaze slowly drift toward the cupboard standing at the corner of the room.
Her eyes lowered slightly.
Regret flickered across her face.
Lawine took a deep breath before slowly walking toward it.
She opened the cupboard doors and stared silently at the small safe box hidden inside.
Without changing her expression, she unlocked it with a key.
The safe clicked open.
For a moment, Lawine looked back at Kondo.
This time, there was something painful in her eyes… something almost desperate.
Then she turned back toward the safe and carefully took out a tiny bottle, barely the size of a finger.
She stared at the bottle silently before walking back toward Kondo.
Reaching the bedside, she gently opened his mouth slightly and poured the contents of the small bottle into him.
Afterward, her fingers softly brushed through his hair.
Lawine quietly returned to the safe, placed the now-empty bottle back inside, locked the box again, and closed the cupboard.
As she stepped out of the room, she stopped once more at the doorway and looked back at Kondo.
Then she quietly closed the door behind her.
---
Lawine walked downstairs, where everyone was gathered together talking.
She sat beside Sam.
Sam glanced toward her before looking at Agru.
"So… tell me. What exactly happened?"
Agru lowered his head silently.
He hesitated.
A part of him feared Sam would never forgive him after hearing everything.
But before Agru could speak, Shin suddenly began explaining everything herself.
She told them about entering the forest, meeting Kim and Kint, and how Kondo eventually ended up fighting Kint—resulting in his current condition.
After explaining everything, Shin casually added,
"And Kim wants to marry Kondo."
The moment those words fell—
Both Lawine and Sam froze.
"…What?"
The two looked at each other and blinked.
Then suddenly—
"BAHAHAHA!"
Sam burst into loud laughter.
"I never imagined my son would bring home a monster girl!"
Lawine slowly turned toward him.
Sam instantly went quiet.
"…Ahem. Sorry."
Lawine thought silently for a moment before finally speaking calmly.
"I don't really mind… if Kondo himself agrees to it, then I won't stop him."
The moment Kim heard that, her face instantly brightened with happiness.
Meanwhile, Shin's expression completely fell.
"But tell me honestly," Lawine continued while looking directly at Kim, "are you truly serious about marrying Kondo… or are you simply joking?"
Kim nodded immediately.
"I will marry Kondo."
The answer came without hesitation.
Shin immediately shouted from the side,
"WHAT?! You actually agreed?!"
Lawine looked toward her calmly.
"Why? Shin, what happened?"
Shin lowered her gaze.
"…I didn't expect this…"
Her fists slowly tightened.
Then suddenly—
"IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN I ALSO WANT TO MARRY KONDO!"
The room instantly became silent.
Kim immediately looked toward Shin.
"Why do you suddenly want to marry Kondo?"
Shin glared back at her.
"Huh?! Are you the only one allowed to marry him?!"
And just like that, the two immediately started arguing again.
Agru quietly placed a hand against his forehead.
Meanwhile, Sam simply watched the entire scene while laughing loudly.
Eventually, Lawine raised her voice between them.
"Will you two girls stop arguing already?!"
Hearing her, both Shin and Kim instantly went quiet.
Then Lawine sighed softly.
"To be honest… I can't reject Shin either."
The moment Shin heard that, her face instantly lit up with happiness.
"But," Lawine continued firmly, "until Kondo himself says something, nobody will decide anything."
Both girls quietly nodded in agreement.
Agru rose to his feet. "Then, Mr. Sam, we should get going now."
Sam immediately stopped him. "You only just arrived. There's no way I'm letting you leave without eating first."
Agru tried to refuse, but Sam glanced toward Kim and added, "Besides, Kim must be hungry too."
Agru looked at Kim for a moment before finally nodding in agreement.
Lawine stood from her seat. "Alright then, I'll prepare dinner right away."
She headed toward the kitchen, and after some time passed, everyone gathered around the dining table. Lawine and the maids served food to everyone while Sam looked at her curiously.
"Aren't you going to eat with us?"
Lawine gently shook her head. "No, I'll eat together with Kondo once he wakes up."
Meanwhile, Vain served food to Shin before quietly whispering, "What are you still doing here this late at night?"
Shin immediately grew nervous. "W-Well, I…"
Before she could continue, Lawine noticed the exchange and calmly said, "Vain, don't disturb Shin while she's eating."
"Yes, ma'am."
Shin let out a small relieved laugh, but the moment Vain shot her a sharp glare, her smile instantly disappeared.
After dinner, everyone returned to the sofas and continued talking.
Agru and Sam were still in the middle of a conversation when Kim suddenly stood up and looked toward Lawine.
"Aunty… may I use your kitchen for a little while?"
Lawine tilted her head. "For what?"
Kim's cheeks turned slightly red as she lowered her gaze.
"I… want to make something for Kondo."
A faint smile appeared on Lawine's face.
"Of course. If you need help, the maids are there."
Kim bowed politely. "Thank you very much."
She headed toward the kitchen while three maids followed behind her.
Lawine then turned toward Shin. "So, Shin, are you planning to stay here tonight?"
Shin smiled brightly. "Yes."
But before the conversation could continue, a voice came from behind her.
"No, ma'am. She'll be going home with me."
Shin immediately froze before nervously turning around.
"S-Sister, what are you saying?"
"I took a few days off," Vain replied calmly, "and you… are coming home with me."
She grabbed Shin's hand and began pulling her away, but Shin resisted.
"I don't want to go! I'm staying here with Kondo!"
"Vain, wait a moment."
Sam walked over to them before pulling out a letter from his pocket and handing it to Vain.
Vain blinked in surprise. "There was no need for this…"
Sam laughed warmly. "It's fine. And bring Shin along too."
"…Understood."
"There's a butler waiting outside. He'll escort you home safely."
"Thank you very much."
Shin and Vain eventually left the mansion together.
Half an hour later, Kim finally emerged from the kitchen.
The maids followed behind her carrying trays filled with small bowls, carefully serving one to everyone.
Lawine looked down at the dessert curiously.
"What is this? I've never seen anything like it before."
Kim answered softly, "It's called gulab jamun. It's very sweet."
Everyone took a bite.
Sam's eyes widened immediately.
"Whoa! These are delicious!"
Lawine nodded in agreement. "You're right. They're incredibly sweet."
Agru chuckled while glancing toward Kim.
"Princess Kim always ends up creating strange-looking dishes that somehow taste amazing."
Kim looked toward the maids.
"I left extra in the kitchen for all of you… and for Kondo too. Please give it to him once he wakes up."
The maids happily thanked her.
Soon after, Agru stood up once more.
"Princess Kim, we should leave now."
Kim looked toward Lawine with a reluctant expression.
"I don't want to go… but I have to."
Agru then turned toward Sam. "Mr. Sam, we'll be taking our leave."
"Wait a second."
Sam pulled another letter from his pocket and handed it to Agru.
"Please deliver this to King Rose."
"Yes, sir."
With that, Agru and Kim mounted the horse and departed into the night.
Once the guests had left, the maids cleaned everything before returning to the kitchen. The living room gradually became quiet, leaving only Sam and Lawine sitting together on the sofa.
Sam broke the silence first.
"So… you gave it to Kondo?"
Lawine's expression turned emotional.
"Yes… I did. I don't know how he'll endure it. I never thought I'd have to give it to him this soon."
Sam gently placed a hand on her head.
"He's strong. He'll be alright."
Lawine looked at him quietly before nodding.
"Yes… you're right."
A moment later, Sam suddenly remembered something.
"Ah, right. I still haven't finished preparing those letters. I should complete them now."
"And I'll stay beside Kondo for a while."
"Alright. Let me know once he wakes up."
"I will."
Lawine quietly entered Kondo's room and sat beside the bed.
She gently stroked his hair while silently watching him sleep.
After a while, Kondo slowly opened his eyes.
"…Mom."
Lawine's face immediately brightened.
"Kondo, you're awake. How are you feeling?"
Kondo spoke weakly.
"I don't know… my body feels strange."
Hearing that, Lawine's expression became worried. She placed her hand against his chest, and a soft blue light began glowing from her palm.
The moment the magic spread through his body, Kondo immediately felt better.
"You must be hungry," Lawine said gently. "Wait here, I'll bring some food."
She soon returned with a tray and helped Kondo sit upright. After placing a cloth across the bed, she carefully set the plate down and began feeding him herself while eating alongside him.
After eating for a while, Kondo finally looked much better.
"Mom… where did everyone go?"
"They already left," Lawine replied calmly before suddenly asking, "By the way, what exactly did you do to Kim for her to suddenly want to marry you?"
Kondo nearly choked.
"M-Mom, I didn't do anything! She suddenly proposed on her own!"
Lawine raised one eyebrow.
"Really?"
"I'm serious!"
"And what about Shin?"
Kondo looked completely confused the moment he heard her name.
"What did Shin do?"
Lawine lightly pinched his nose.
"Don't act innocent. Shin said she wants to marry you too."
Kondo froze in shock.
"What?! She actually said that?! Mom, I seriously didn't know anything about this!"
Lawine fed him another bite before sighing.
"Honestly, every time you go somewhere alone, trouble follows you. Forget all that for now and finish your food first."
Kondo laughed awkwardly.
"Mom, did you and Dad already eat?"
"Your father ate together with the guests. And I'm eating here with you."
Once dinner was finished, Lawine took away the plates before returning with a small bowl in her hands.
Kondo tilted his head.
"What's that?"
"Kim made this especially for you."
Kondo looked inside the bowl and immediately recognized it.
"…Gulab jamun?"
Lawine blinked in surprise.
"How do you know? Kim called it the same thing."
Kondo quickly tried to cover himself.
"Ah… well… Kim told me earlier."
Lawine laughed softly.
"Kondo, you really don't know how to lie."
Kondo gave an awkward smile, but inside his mind, countless thoughts raced endlessly.
(How does Kim know about gulab jamun? That dish only existed in my previous life… Don't tell me… Kim is like me too?)
Lawine noticed his silence.
"What happened? Why are you suddenly lost in thought? Aren't you going to eat it?"
"No, I'll eat."
Kondo took a bite.
"…It's really sweet."
After he finished eating, Lawine helped him lie back down on the bed.
"Get some rest. I'll bring your father here."
Kondo already felt much better now.
Before heading to Sam, Lawine changed into a beautiful red gown.
Meanwhile, Sam was placing several letters into a box when Lawine called out softly,
"Dear husband."
Sam looked toward her and smiled.
"I'm almost done. Kondo is going to love this surprise."
He then asked, "Is Kondo still asleep?"
"No. He woke up earlier. I fed him, and he's feeling much better now."
Lawine walked closer.
"It's already late. We should get some sleep too."
Sam nodded.
"You're right. Kondo must be feeling lonely."
"First go change your clothes. I left them near the sofa."
After changing, the two quietly walked toward Kondo's room.
But the moment they opened the door, they realized the bed was empty.
Kondo was standing near the window, silently staring at the moons outside.
"Kondo…"
Lawine called out to him softly, but he gave no response.
A worried look crossed her face as she glanced toward Sam.
Sam gently held her hand before the two walked toward Kondo together.
Sam placed a hand on his son's shoulder.
"What's wrong, Kondo?"
Kondo continued staring at the moons outside the window.
"I don't know, Dad… I was feeling strange earlier. But the moons are so beautiful… after looking at them, I feel a little better now."
Lawine and Sam exchanged sad glances.
Lawine noticed that Kondo's eyes had gained a faint reddish tint.
Without saying anything, she pulled him into a warm embrace.
"You seem better now. Come on, let's go to sleep."
"…Okay, Mom."
Lawine lifted Kondo gently while Sam silently looked toward the moons outside before slowly closing his eyes.
That night, Lawine laid Kondo down between herself and Sam.
Surrounded by their warmth, Kondo quietly closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.