As soon as the voice was heard, an eerie gust of wind swept over Karina's head with a squeaking sound.
Immediately after, someone grabbed Karina, who was frozen and pulled her hard.
Karina was pulled into a firm and comfortable embrace.
Strong arms hugged her tightly.
Then, she felt a cool and refreshing body scent that she had smelled somewhere.
'Ah... It seems like the same situation happened before.'
Rather, the scent felt stronger than at that time.
As Karina was thinking that, a pitiful and trembling voice called her name again.
"Karina...!"
Unlike that time, the heart of the person holding her was pounding like crazy.
'No, is that my heartbeat?'
She was so shocked that she couldn't tell whose heartbeat it was.
Mikhail carefully examined Karina from head to toe.
"Are you hurt?"
Mikhail asked, and his expression was so desperate that she could feel his emotional turmoil.
Karina just blinked blankly. She tried to answer that she was okay, but her throat was so choked up in shock that she couldn't make a proper sound.
Instead of answering, Karina nodded.
Mikhail was deeply relieved when he confirmed that Karina wasn't hurt.
"Haa. That's really fortunate."
Mikhail let out a long breath he had been holding back with a groan.
Karina was surprised by his reaction.
It was the first time she saw Mikhail so flustered.
'You're really surprised.'
“I thought I was going crazy.”
The moment he saw Karina standing defenselessly in front of the giant monster and trembling,
Mikhail felt like he was going crazy.
Time seemed to have stopped, and his mind went blank. He was just worried that Karina would get hurt, so his heart raced as if it was going to burst. As soon as he came to his senses, he used all his strength to attack with magic without controlling the power.
He slashed the entire area along with the monster that was rushing at her with its mouth open.
He didn’t have time to think about anything.
“I’m glad you’re safe. Really.”
Mikhail was only able to feel relieved after embracing Karina.
His heart calmed down after feeling Karina’s breath in his arms.
He wanted to keep her, so small and delicate, completely in his arms.
He wanted to keep her safe under his protection.
Mikhail lifted his head from where he had been leaning and looked at Karina.
His heart ached at the sight of Karina looking up at him with her still-pale expression.
Her face, trying to reassure him, smiled weakly, and his eyes were fixed on her.
Mikhail carefully touched Karina’s face with both hands.
As if he was engraving her face one by one in his eyes.
Then he approached her carefully and gently kissed her forehead like a butterfly landing on a flower.
Something soft and warm touched her forehead.
‘Huh...?’
Karina looked at Mikhail with a blank expression.
Karina’s eyes widened as she realized that he had kissed her forehead.
‘Huh...?’
Whether he knew Karina’s embarrassment or not, Mikhail simply kept examining her with a worried voice.
“Your hands are cold too.”
While she was startled and embarrassed, Mikhail wrapped his arms around Karina’s two hands and took them into his arms.
Then he kissed her two hands as if they were precious to him.
“...!”
The feeling of his lips touching her hand was so vivid.
She could feel the soft and gentle feeling, as well as his warm breath.
Karina felt dizzy for a moment.
She didn’t know what to do because the place where he touched her felt hot and ticklish.
On top of that, she was even more flustered when she realized that she was now being held by Mikhail like an affectionate lover.
“You... You...!”
Pfft!
"Keeeeeeeeeek!"
She felt the monster in front of her let out a creepy scream.
"...!"
Karina narrowed her eyes.
'Huh?'
When she opened her eyes, the monster and the entire area were cut down as if they had been cut by a giant's sword.
"...!"
Karina was flustered at the sight before her.
"What..."
"Keeeeeeeeeek!"
She felt the monster in front of her let out a creepy scream.
"...!"
Karina narrowed her eyes.
'Huh?'
When she opened her eyes, the monster and the entire area were cut down as if they had been cut by a giant's sword.
"...!"
Karina was flustered at the sight before her.
"What..."
Immediately after, someone grabbed Karina, who was frozen and pulled her hard.
Karina was pulled into a firm and comfortable embrace.
Strong arms hugged her tightly.
Then, she felt a cool and refreshing body scent that she had smelled somewhere.
'Ah... It seems like the same situation happened before.'
Rather, the scent felt stronger than at that time.
As Karina was thinking that, a pitiful and trembling voice called her name again.
"Karina...!"
Unlike that time, the heart of the person holding her was pounding like crazy.
'No, is that my heartbeat?'
She was so shocked that she couldn't tell whose heartbeat it was.
Mikhail carefully examined Karina from head to toe.
"Are you hurt?"
Mikhail asked, and his expression was so desperate that she could feel his emotional turmoil.
Karina just blinked blankly. She tried to answer that she was okay, but her throat was so choked up in shock that she couldn't make a proper sound.
Instead of answering, Karina nodded.
Mikhail was deeply relieved when he confirmed that Karina wasn't hurt.
"Haa. That's really fortunate."
Mikhail let out a long breath he had been holding back with a groan.
Karina was surprised by his reaction.
It was the first time she saw Mikhail so flustered.
'You're really surprised.'
Karina completely understood.
'That makes sense. I really thought I was going to die.'
Only then did Karina relax, as all the strength left her body.
'I'm so glad Mikhail came in time.'
Thanks to Mikhail, she was safe.
Karina took a deep breath and exhaled, trying to calm herself down.
"I... I'm okay."
Her voice was still a little shaky, but she felt better than before.
Karina tried to reassure Mikhail with a small smile on her lips.
However, Mikhail's expression hardened when he heard her say that she was okay.
"What do you mean, 'I'm okay?' Your face turned as white as a sheet of paper."
Mikhail pretended to look pained as he stroked Karina's face.
"No. This is... I'm just a little surprised... "
Karina stuttered.
In both the past and present, Karina could count on one hand the number of times she had actually seen a monster.
The first monster she saw after her return was much bigger and more hideous than the monsters she had seen before, which also played a part.
“I thought my heart was going to burst.”
Mikhail muttered softly, leaning his head on Karina’s shoulder.
Karina was flustered and trailed off.
“Huh...? That...? Were you that surprised?”
'That makes sense. I really thought I was going to die.'
Only then did Karina relax, as all the strength left her body.
'I'm so glad Mikhail came in time.'
Thanks to Mikhail, she was safe.
Karina took a deep breath and exhaled, trying to calm herself down.
"I... I'm okay."
Her voice was still a little shaky, but she felt better than before.
Karina tried to reassure Mikhail with a small smile on her lips.
However, Mikhail's expression hardened when he heard her say that she was okay.
"What do you mean, 'I'm okay?' Your face turned as white as a sheet of paper."
Mikhail pretended to look pained as he stroked Karina's face.
"No. This is... I'm just a little surprised... "
Karina stuttered.
In both the past and present, Karina could count on one hand the number of times she had actually seen a monster.
The first monster she saw after her return was much bigger and more hideous than the monsters she had seen before, which also played a part.
“I thought my heart was going to burst.”
Mikhail muttered softly, leaning his head on Karina’s shoulder.
Karina was flustered and trailed off.
“Huh...? That...? Were you that surprised?”
“I thought I was going crazy.”
The moment he saw Karina standing defenselessly in front of the giant monster and trembling,
Mikhail felt like he was going crazy.
Time seemed to have stopped, and his mind went blank. He was just worried that Karina would get hurt, so his heart raced as if it was going to burst. As soon as he came to his senses, he used all his strength to attack with magic without controlling the power.
He slashed the entire area along with the monster that was rushing at her with its mouth open.
He didn’t have time to think about anything.
“I’m glad you’re safe. Really.”
Mikhail was only able to feel relieved after embracing Karina.
His heart calmed down after feeling Karina’s breath in his arms.
He wanted to keep her, so small and delicate, completely in his arms.
He wanted to keep her safe under his protection.
Mikhail lifted his head from where he had been leaning and looked at Karina.
His heart ached at the sight of Karina looking up at him with her still-pale expression.
Her face, trying to reassure him, smiled weakly, and his eyes were fixed on her.
Mikhail carefully touched Karina’s face with both hands.
As if he was engraving her face one by one in his eyes.
Then he approached her carefully and gently kissed her forehead like a butterfly landing on a flower.
Something soft and warm touched her forehead.
‘Huh...?’
Karina looked at Mikhail with a blank expression.
Karina’s eyes widened as she realized that he had kissed her forehead.
‘Huh...?’
Whether he knew Karina’s embarrassment or not, Mikhail simply kept examining her with a worried voice.
“Your hands are cold too.”
While she was startled and embarrassed, Mikhail wrapped his arms around Karina’s two hands and took them into his arms.
Then he kissed her two hands as if they were precious to him.
“...!”
The feeling of his lips touching her hand was so vivid.
She could feel the soft and gentle feeling, as well as his warm breath.
Karina felt dizzy for a moment.
She didn’t know what to do because the place where he touched her felt hot and ticklish.
On top of that, she was even more flustered when she realized that she was now being held by Mikhail like an affectionate lover.
“You... You...!”
She was so flustered that she couldn’t speak properly.
“You were really surprised, weren’t you? It’s my fault.”
As he spoke, Mikhail looked as if he had been deeply hurt.
Seeing his expression distorted in pain, Karina forgot what she had been trying to say.
‘Why is this your fault?’
That was all Karina could think.
The appearance of a monster in the village, the fact that she was suddenly pushed by the fleeing crowd, and the fact that the monster appeared in front of her. It was all unexpected.
It wasn’t something he should feel guilty about.
Of course, as a guard, he didn’t seem to think that way at all.
Still, she didn’t want to keep seeing his gloomy expression.
“What are you talking about? You were the one who saved me from danger. If it weren’t for you, I would have been food for the monster by now.”
Karina pointed to the traces of the beast that the monster had eaten in the distance and said,
“It’s thanks to you that I’m safe without any injuries. Thank you so much for coming on time, Mikhail.”
Karina smiled sincerely.
“...”
Mikhail stared at Karina’s face silently.
His eyes, which filled his vision with Karina’s appearance, seemed to waver for a moment.
But soon he smiled prettily as usual, squinting the corners of his eyes.
“Karina. You really...”
Karina felt better as she saw his expression relax as he snickered.
Mikhail looked at Karina with warm eyes.
Then he tapped his forehead against Karina’s, which he had kissed earlier.
Their faces were close enough that their noses were touching.
‘This seems too close.’
Karina pulled back slightly in embarrassment.
However, the feeling left on her forehead was still clear.
Karina made an embarrassed expression. She unconsciously raised her hand and touched her forehead.
Mikhail still smiled and gently stroked Karina’s head.
“Huh?”
Mikhail was smiling with a surprised expression.
Seeing that expression, she suddenly remembered him stroking Aiden’s head in the same way.
“You’re not treating me like a child just like Aiden, are you?”
Karina’s expression turned refreshing.
Karina lifted her finger and lightly tapped Mikhail’s nose.
“...?”
“But you, why are you suddenly speaking informally? I never said you could speak informally.”
Mikhail looked blank after hearing Karina’s words.
“Ah...!”
Mikhail seemed to realize that he was speaking informally only then.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to, but I was so surprised...And I was relieved to see the Grand Duchess safe...”
Mikhail wiped his face with his hand in embarrassment.
Karina giggled as she watched him panic.
"Yes. You can talk.”
“Yes...?”
“You can talk freely when it’s just the two of us.”
He was the person who saved her life twice.
‘I think Mikhail thought he did what was expected of him as my bodyguard.’
Countless people ran away because they were afraid for their lives.
Karina knew that fact well.
She wanted to become true friends with him, leaving her position as the Grand Duchess and the escort.
“From now on, when we’re alone, I want you to treat me as just me, not as the Grand Duchess."
“You were really surprised, weren’t you? It’s my fault.”
As he spoke, Mikhail looked as if he had been deeply hurt.
Seeing his expression distorted in pain, Karina forgot what she had been trying to say.
‘Why is this your fault?’
That was all Karina could think.
The appearance of a monster in the village, the fact that she was suddenly pushed by the fleeing crowd, and the fact that the monster appeared in front of her. It was all unexpected.
It wasn’t something he should feel guilty about.
Of course, as a guard, he didn’t seem to think that way at all.
Still, she didn’t want to keep seeing his gloomy expression.
“What are you talking about? You were the one who saved me from danger. If it weren’t for you, I would have been food for the monster by now.”
Karina pointed to the traces of the beast that the monster had eaten in the distance and said,
“It’s thanks to you that I’m safe without any injuries. Thank you so much for coming on time, Mikhail.”
Karina smiled sincerely.
“...”
Mikhail stared at Karina’s face silently.
His eyes, which filled his vision with Karina’s appearance, seemed to waver for a moment.
But soon he smiled prettily as usual, squinting the corners of his eyes.
“Karina. You really...”
Karina felt better as she saw his expression relax as he snickered.
Mikhail looked at Karina with warm eyes.
Then he tapped his forehead against Karina’s, which he had kissed earlier.
Their faces were close enough that their noses were touching.
‘This seems too close.’
Karina pulled back slightly in embarrassment.
However, the feeling left on her forehead was still clear.
Karina made an embarrassed expression. She unconsciously raised her hand and touched her forehead.
Mikhail still smiled and gently stroked Karina’s head.
“Huh?”
Mikhail was smiling with a surprised expression.
Seeing that expression, she suddenly remembered him stroking Aiden’s head in the same way.
“You’re not treating me like a child just like Aiden, are you?”
Karina’s expression turned refreshing.
Karina lifted her finger and lightly tapped Mikhail’s nose.
“...?”
“But you, why are you suddenly speaking informally? I never said you could speak informally.”
Mikhail looked blank after hearing Karina’s words.
“Ah...!”
Mikhail seemed to realize that he was speaking informally only then.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to, but I was so surprised...And I was relieved to see the Grand Duchess safe...”
Mikhail wiped his face with his hand in embarrassment.
Karina giggled as she watched him panic.
"Yes. You can talk.”
“Yes...?”
“You can talk freely when it’s just the two of us.”
He was the person who saved her life twice.
‘I think Mikhail thought he did what was expected of him as my bodyguard.’
Countless people ran away because they were afraid for their lives.
Karina knew that fact well.
She wanted to become true friends with him, leaving her position as the Grand Duchess and the escort.
“From now on, when we’re alone, I want you to treat me as just me, not as the Grand Duchess."
She continued, thinking that she should also drop the stiff title of 'Grand Duchess.'
“When you call me, just call me Karina. Didn’t I mention you calling me that earlier?”
“Ah...That’s too urgent...”
Mikhail hesitated, perhaps feeling embarrassed, and couldn’t continue speaking.
“Call me again quickly.”
Karina urged him.
“...”
“I told you to call me quickly?”
“...Karina.”
Mikhail pretended to lose and called her name.
He looked so cute.
Karina smiled with satisfaction.
“Thank you so much, Mikhail. You’ve already protected me twice.”
“Of course, that’s a given...”
As expected, the expected answer came out.
Karina laughed silently at his usual reaction.
'Now that I think about it, I don't know much about Mikhail.'
Karina looked at Mikhail and asked.
"Now that I think about it, Mikhail is your first name. Do you have a last name?"
It was common to call someone by their last name before becoming close.
However, when he first introduced himself, he only said his first name without his last name.
'Maybe you don't have a last name? It could be because you're a wizard.'
“Ah...That’s too urgent...”
Mikhail hesitated, perhaps feeling embarrassed, and couldn’t continue speaking.
“Call me again quickly.”
Karina urged him.
“...”
“I told you to call me quickly?”
“...Karina.”
Mikhail pretended to lose and called her name.
He looked so cute.
Karina smiled with satisfaction.
“Thank you so much, Mikhail. You’ve already protected me twice.”
“Of course, that’s a given...”
As expected, the expected answer came out.
Karina laughed silently at his usual reaction.
'Now that I think about it, I don't know much about Mikhail.'
Karina looked at Mikhail and asked.
"Now that I think about it, Mikhail is your first name. Do you have a last name?"
It was common to call someone by their last name before becoming close.
However, when he first introduced himself, he only said his first name without his last name.
'Maybe you don't have a last name? It could be because you're a wizard.'
She had heard that for wizards, status doesn't really matter.
Furthermore, in the Magic Tower where they live together, magical ability is considered more important than status.
"Um..."
Mikhail scratched the back of his head, trailing off as if he had difficulty explaining.
Karina felt sorry for asking him at his ambiguous response.
'This could be a sensitive topic, but did I ask him for nothing?'
"It's just...I have some circumstances. It's a bit much to talk about now... "
There seemed to be some reason, but she decided not to ask anymore, in case it was a sensitive topic in the family.
“Just call me Mikhail like you are now. It’s more comfortable.”
Mikhail said with an awkward expression.
His tone of speech had returned to formal speech.
“I see. If that’s more comfortable for you, then I’ll do that. Mikhail.”
Karina snickered.
“I guess it’ll get better with practice at speaking slowly.”
“...”
Mikhail groaned.
“It’d be better to get out of here first.”
Mikhail nodded at Karina’s words.
The two of them started walking back.
Furthermore, in the Magic Tower where they live together, magical ability is considered more important than status.
"Um..."
Mikhail scratched the back of his head, trailing off as if he had difficulty explaining.
Karina felt sorry for asking him at his ambiguous response.
'This could be a sensitive topic, but did I ask him for nothing?'
"It's just...I have some circumstances. It's a bit much to talk about now... "
There seemed to be some reason, but she decided not to ask anymore, in case it was a sensitive topic in the family.
“Just call me Mikhail like you are now. It’s more comfortable.”
Mikhail said with an awkward expression.
His tone of speech had returned to formal speech.
“I see. If that’s more comfortable for you, then I’ll do that. Mikhail.”
Karina snickered.
“I guess it’ll get better with practice at speaking slowly.”
“...”
Mikhail groaned.
“It’d be better to get out of here first.”
Mikhail nodded at Karina’s words.
The two of them started walking back.
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