Lusian lowered his sword.
Sweat ran down his brow as his breathing slowly steadied.
Dainslein rested in his hand, faintly humming—its pulse matching his own.
He could feel it.
The blade wasn't just a weapon.
It was listening.
Drawing traces of mana from his body.
Adjusting.
Balancing.
As a special-rank weapon, it demanded constant energy.
Too much for most.
A beginner would collapse in seconds.
Lusian exhaled and wiped his face with a towel.
Just holding it was exhausting.
I'm not ready for this yet…
He turned toward the courtyard gate—
And paused.
A servant was running toward him.
"My lord—" the man said, slightly out of breath. "Miss Emily Carter has arrived."
Lusian frowned.
"…Again?"
He carefully sheathed Dainslein, slow and deliberate.
Even now, the connection felt unstable.
Like one wrong move might break it.
His arms still trembled from training.
And something tightened in his chest at the thought of seeing her.
When he entered the main hall, he stopped.
Emily was already there.
Speaking with Sophia.
And laughing.
Not polite.
Not forced.
Real.
Sophia watched her with quiet interest.
Lusian stepped forward.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
Emily turned toward him, but it was Sophia who answered.
"I invited her."
Of course she did.
"The city is close," Sophia continued. "A walk would be good for both of you."
Lusian frowned slightly.
"Wouldn't it make more sense for you to go with her?"
Sophia smiled.
Not amused.
Certain.
"I have other matters to attend to," she said. "And you have better company."
There was no arguing with that tone.
Lusian exhaled quietly.
Resigned.
Whatever her reason—
This wasn't optional.
Maybe she saw something in Emily.
Maybe she was testing him.
Either way—
He was going.
A few minutes later, they stepped outside.
Two knights stood near the carriage.
William.
Alejandro.
Both alert.
Watching everything.
Sophia spoke before anyone else could.
"Miss Carter will be under Douglas protection."
Simple.
Final.
The knights stepped back.
They understood.
Lusian glanced at Emily.
She smiled at him.
Soft.
Calm.
Like she could see right through the tension he was trying to hide.
He looked away first.
He adjusted his jacket as he walked toward the carriage.
Each step felt heavier than it should.
Things had changed.
There was no going back to normal.
No hiding.
Every word mattered now.
Every action.
This wasn't a game anymore.
He stopped beside her.
Hesitated.
Then—
"…Ready?" he asked.
It wasn't perfect.
But it was honest.
Emily nodded.
And for a moment—
It felt like the world outside was waiting.
Not just for them to walk through it—
But for what would happen next.