Show Me Your Stats!

After buying Janus dinner, Ayra returned to the castle, pretending to have stayed in her room the entire time. As expected, Bloom stood guard right outside the door, his posture rigid. The moment Ayra stepped out, the knight gave a curt nod in greeting, his expression as neutral as ever.
Ayra was about to return the gesture and walk past when a sudden curiosity made her stop.

"Sir Bloom, can you walk around blindfolded?"
It was nothing more than a passing question, but Bloom, ever the dutiful knight, seemed to take it as an order. He promptly responded with a stiff "Understood," and reached into his pocket for a handkerchief, preparing to blindfold himself.
Ayra hurriedly shook her head. "No, it's not an order. I was just curious."

"Yes, Lady Ayra. However, my reaction time would likely slow."
"So, you wouldn’t bump into anything?"
"I could manage, but..."

As Ayra watched with keen interest, Bloom finally wrapped the handkerchief over his eyes. Without hesitation, he strode down the hallway, reached for a door, stepped inside, then exited and walked back. Ayra tried to startle him by suddenly blocking his way or quietly placing obstacles in his path, but each time, he paused just before impact and carefully maneuvered around.
"How in the world are you doing that?"
Was this common knowledge? Had Ayra spent too much time in the Labyrinth and missed something obvious? Just as Ayra began to wonder if there was a gap in her common sense, Bloom removed the blindfold and explained in a matter-of-fact tone.

"When the body is trained to its limits, the senses sharpen, making it easier to detect one’s surroundings."
"...So, in simple terms, you're just sensing things? Like a sixth sense?"
"A sixth sense... Yes, you could call it that. It's also useful for espionage, such as eavesdropping on conversations through walls."

Ayra understood immediately. It wasn’t unlike how she manipulated magic. When she blocked arrows from afar, it wasn’t because she saw them and reacted. Instead, she spread her mana like a fine mist or a web, allowing her to sense the moment something entered her range and respond accordingly.
Then, something clicked in Ayra’s mind.
"Wait a second... So, you knew I’ve been sneaking out every day?"

"Yes, I was aware."
Bloom nodded without hesitation.
Ayra, recalling how she had climbed out of the window, suddenly felt embarrassed and rubbed her cheek. But Bloom, in his usual deep and steady voice, reassured her.

"Please do not concern yourself with me, Lady Ayra. You are free to leave as you wish. No one in this castle has the authority to oppose you."
"Sir Bloom..."
He truly was the kind of knight one only read about in novels or saw in films. Having spent too much time in the bizarre and lawless Labyrinth, Ayra had no immunity to this kind of unwavering loyalty.
It was overwhelming yet oddly satisfying at the same time.

With a perfectly measured bow, Bloom retreated.
As Ayra grew more accustomed to wandering around the estate, exhaustion no longer took such a heavy toll. In the past few days, she had collapsed into bed the moment she returned, but tonight, for the first time in a while, she felt at ease enough to simply enjoy the evening.
After soaking in hot water, Ayra settled onto the bed and pulled out her instrument. Running her fingers lightly over the taut strings, her thoughts drifted to Janus.

Was his carefree and erratic nature just part of being a mercenary? To Ayra, he felt like someone who belonged nowhere and could never be tied down.
She recalled the absurd, mischievous dance he had performed in the streets earlier. It had been completely inappropriate, something that should have annoyed her—but strangely, when she thought back on it now, it didn't seem all that unpleasant.
Instead, what lingered in her mind was the warmth of his body pressed close, the firm grip around her waist, and the faint, pleasant scent that clung to him.

Absentmindedly, Ayra plucked the strings one by one, replaying the memory over and over in her head.
'So this is... liking someone, isn't it?'
Her fingers stilled over the instrument.

The first thing that surfaced in her mind was rejection.
It had nothing to do with the fact that they were the same gender. After all, in the Labyrinth, people changed bodies as easily as changing clothes. The seniors she had once studied under were literal monsters, dissecting beasts and grafting parts onto their own flesh to create new life forms. Some even experimented directly on themselves. In such a world, same-sex relationships—or even polyamorous ones—were hardly shocking.
No, this rejection wasn’t about Janus.

It was a warning. A warning against falling for someone too quickly.
Ayra’s golden eyes darkened with a metallic sheen. Then, after a brief silence, she let out a small chuckle.
"No need to take it so seriously... People are allowed to like someone, after all."

With that, she scattered the lingering unease. Ayra had no intention of forcing herself to suppress or indulge in anything. She would simply let things flow as they were.
Maybe, while governing this estate, she could occasionally sneak out and spend time with Janus as a close friend. That would be nice.
Ayra let out a quiet sigh, barely realizing she had done so.

 
****
Bloom was wrong. There was someone in the castle who could oppose Ayra.

On her way to breakfast the next morning, Ayra encountered Jinas. Perhaps due to his workload as the acting lord or the ongoing preparations for the succession ceremony, he seemed thinner than before.
When Ayra invited him to join her for breakfast and casually asked if she could go out again, Jinas' expression instantly hardened.
"Lady Ayra, you are currently the only heir of Solar Estate. This is precisely the time when you must be most cautious with your well-being. If something were to happen to you, all sorts of distant relatives with no Solar blood would flock here, claiming to be the rightful heirs. They would tear this land apart and turn it into ruins!"

The more he spoke, the more bloodshot his eyes became.
From Ayra’s perspective, what Jinas needed wasn’t breakfast—it was sleep. She had been enjoying her days, eating well and resting, while he had been overworking himself. Feeling slightly guilty, she offered to help with the preparations for the succession ceremony.
But Jinas immediately and firmly refused.

"Lady Ayra, you are of noble birth. Until the succession ceremony, please focus on resting. If you need anything, do not hesitate to ask."
"Hmm, in that case..."
"That does not include dismantling bricks out of curiosity, tearing up floorboards, or prying tiles from the bell tower roof."

Wait, she hadn’t even mentioned bricks! Though, to be fair, she had considered it. Ayra opened her mouth to protest but promptly shut it again. Jinas, as if expecting this, gave a polite bow.
"Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m quite busy."
With that, the steward turned on his heel and hurried away.

Ayra frowned slightly as she watched him leave. No matter how she looked at him, he seemed noticeably thinner than when they first met...
Well, in any case, since Jinas had reacted that way, Ayra had no choice but to continue sneaking out of the castle as she always had.
Janus was still wearing his torn clothes from the day before.

The sight of it made Ayra stare in disbelief. Every day since arriving in this territory, the weather had been colder than the last. And yet—
"Goodness, aren’t you freezing?"
"You could touch me and find out. I'm sure you’ll find me quite warm."

Janus waved his tattered sleeves lazily, showing no signs of discomfort. For a split second, Ayra was tempted, but she quickly came to her senses. Regardless of how unbothered he seemed, she couldn’t just let him walk around in clothes that made her feel cold just looking at him.
Since she was already getting a free guide, she figured it wouldn’t hurt to buy him something decent to wear.
After dragging him to a nearby clothing shop, she dressed Janus in a black linen shirt with a deep blue overcoat. Once he was properly attired, Ayra smiled in satisfaction. Just looking at him made her feel a little warmer, too.

"Well? Feels nice and warm, doesn’t it?"
Janus ran a hand over the fabric, his golden eyes curving slightly in approval.
"I like it. I'll repay you for this someday."

"No need."
To Ayra, it was a negligible expense. More than anything, she felt oddly pleased that he was wearing something she had chosen for him.
With each moment of contact, Ayra couldn’t deny that she felt increasingly giddy.

'There are times when you just feel drawn to someone for no reason at all...'
That unexplained interest, that natural curiosity—it inevitably turned into a liking.
Then, before you knew it, you found yourself buying them meals, buying them clothes, sharing drinks together... You enjoyed the time spent with them. Even when you told yourself to keep a distance, you would suddenly realize that you'd grown even closer.

And from there, it wouldn’t be long before you wished they felt the same. Like that mercenary from yesterday, Nadal.
That, however, would be troublesome.
But since she would inevitably see less of Janus once she became lord of Solar Estate, Ayra made no effort to distance herself from him. She would just enjoy this fleeting happiness while she could.

'Then again, if it comes to that, I could just hire him as a mercenary… There's no harm in keeping a lover in the castle, right?'
She was still indulging in such thoughts when Janus suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.
Ayra jolted in surprise.

This was the closest they had ever been. As expected, his body was warm—just as he had claimed. His embrace was firm, and the low timbre of his voice brushed against her ear.
"Watch your step."
Only after Janus released her did Ayra notice the small puddle she had almost stepped into.

Solar Estate’s roads were far from well-maintained; potholes and uneven ground were common.
A few seconds later, her ears burned with a faint blush. Clearing her throat lightly, she hurried after Janus.