Chapter 34

At those words, Varkan looked at Diena with an instantly complicated expression.

“Yeah. I wonder what Father will say when he sees you…”

Originally, he had planned to send Diena to another family before Sevar returned.

After all, Sevar would recognize her identity almost immediately.

And if that happened, she might end up having to return to House Rothwell.

But aside from that, Diena had a different concern.

She recalled a conversation she had once had with Varkan.

“What kind of relationship did you have with your parents, Varkan?”

“My mother was a good person. But… I wasn’t very close to my father. He was always out on the battlefield. He was already a reserved person, and after Mother passed away, even more so.”

“I see.”

“And honestly, I don’t really know what kind of person Father is.”

“Why?”

“I told him that the Duke of Rothwell had tried to drive me into a Berserk State. But after hearing that… he didn’t do anything.”

“…”

“I wondered if he didn’t believe me. But instead, he told me to forget about it.”

“…”

“He said it couldn’t be helped. That it was my own fault for trusting people from Rothwell.”

To Diena, that sounded like Sevar knew something.

After that, Varkan had said he could no longer share his suspicions with anyone.

As a result, he eventually stopped understanding what kind of person Sevar truly was or what he was thinking.

Remembering that conversation from her previous life, Diena worried most about what would happen when she met Sevar.

‘He’s really going to hate me.’

‘He might throw me out the moment he sees me.’

Resolving the Great Overflow of monsters had been the responsibility of her father, Duke Theodore Rothwell.

Sevar Kardian had been standing by as reinforcements in case of an emergency.

However, her uncle Baltazar had amplified Varkan’s darkness using his ability, causing the tragedy.

In the end, Varkan’s mother and her own father both died.

Thinking that all of her and Varkan’s misfortunes might have originated from her uncle’s schemes made Diena feel even more sorry toward Varkan and the people of House Kardian.

Especially Sevar.

He likely hated House Rothwell deeply.

The reason she had acted so confidently when she first came to House Kardian was because she knew Varkan.

‘Lord Sevar is someone I know nothing about.’

So she couldn’t act around him the same way she did with Varkan.

‘I can’t get kicked out of the family yet.’

Bianca still wasn’t completely healed.

Diena needed to remain in House Kardian and continue purifying her.

Meanwhile, Varkan was lost in thought as well.

‘Should I tell Father about Diena’s ability?’

But he hesitated.

He had no idea how Sevar would react to Diena, a member of House Rothwell.

Until he understood Sevar’s true intentions, he couldn’t act carelessly.

“Lord Varkan.”

Diena grabbed the sleeve of his jacket.

Varkan turned around.

Without realizing it, they had already arrived at Diena’s room.

The maids saw him and hurriedly bowed.

Ignoring their reactions entirely, Varkan said,

“Bring towels immediately.”

“Y-Yes. Right away.”

Soon, one maid approached carrying a towel.

Varkan took it from her and placed it on top of Diena’s head.

This time the maids looked like they were about to faint.

Varkan had started drying Diena’s hair himself.

Even Diena was startled, yet Varkan looked completely unaffected as he spoke to the maids.

“What are you standing around for? Go prepare hot water.”

The maids finally snapped out of it and hurried into the bathroom.

They were preparing Diena’s bath.

Once they disappeared, Varkan spoke.

“Don’t do anything weird.”

“Don’t wander around working either.”

“Don’t leave this room.”

“Just soak in warm water and rest.”

Unconsciously, he brushed away a droplet of water from Diena’s cheek with his fingertip.

When his warm finger touched her cold cheek, Diena’s shoulders visibly trembled.

The one surprised by that reaction was Varkan.

He stared at his own fingertips.

‘What did I just do?’

It had happened without him even realizing it.

His lips tightened.

‘Her ability really is dangerous.’

Truthfully, ever since experiencing her ability, he had occasionally dreamed about it.

Dreams of that moment when he had felt Diena’s power.

And he had realized something.

He was paying an abnormal amount of attention to her.

Surely that was because of her ability.

The Purification Ability was so captivating that any Ability User would naturally develop favorable feelings toward her.

Thinking that way made him worried.

Not because of anything else, but because of her reckless personality.

She never valued her own safety.

Hadn’t she entered this house in the first place offering to use her ability?

If it meant getting what she wanted, she would do anything.

If someone offered a greater price for Diena’s ability…

If she left his side because of it…

Would he really be able to endure that?

A strange unease stirred inside Varkan.

At that moment, Diena blinked and spoke.

“Are you okay?”

“Why?”

“You don’t look well.”

At those words, Varkan realized he had been frowning.

Unable to tell her the real reason, he coughed and came up with an excuse.

“No. I’m not okay.”

“Why?”

“I keep thinking about what happened today.”

At his answer, Diena’s expression darkened.

“Lady Bianca went through something unpleasant because of me. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect her properly.”

Even if everything had been for Bianca’s sake, she had still gotten hurt.

If Varkan, her older brother, wanted to hold Diena responsible, she wouldn’t have any defense.

However, Varkan stared at her expressionlessly before speaking.

“What are you talking about?”

“How were you supposed to protect Bianca?”

“You’re so fragile you can barely protect yourself.”

“…Huh?”

“I’m worried because you almost got hit by that idiot Daniel or whatever his name was.”

“And didn’t you see Bianca?”

“She looked like she was ready to fly from happiness.”

“…”

Diena’s eyes widened at those completely unexpected words.

That meant…

“Are you worried about me?”

Varkan flinched and took a step back.

Diena was looking at him with sparkling eyes.

“N-No…”

He was about to deny it.

But then he noticed her expression starting to droop again.

So he hurriedly changed what he was about to say.

“…Maybe I was worried.”

At those words, Diena smiled brightly.

Only then did Varkan realize he had been completely played.

“I’m fine.”

“…”

“I’m just glad Lady Bianca didn’t have to face all that alone.”

“And I was happy that I could step forward for her.”

For some reason, hearing those words only made Varkan even more irritated.

Yet he had no reason to be angry at her.

Diena had simply gathered her courage to protect Bianca.

If anything, she deserved praise.

But…

‘What about yourself?’