Colin smiled as he gently stroked Laura’s head, about to say something, when out of the corner of his eye he caught Liaamy biting her nails, wearing a grim expression as she looked at him.
Colin’s hand froze mid-pat on Laura’s head. He quickly withdrew it, then cleared his throat a few times and asked Liaamy if there had been any problems with the communications tonight.
Seeing that Colin had finally taken his hand away, Liaamy reluctantly replied that there was no problem. Then she slowly headed upstairs, ready to rest.
But just as she was about to round the corner, she suddenly turned around, shot Colin a sharp glare, and then swiftly fled.
Downstairs, Colin witnessed everything. He silently watched as Liaamy disappeared around the corner, lost in thought.
Finally, he told Laura to rest first and that they would do other tasks tomorrow. After saying this, he also headed toward his bedroom.
In Liaamy’s room, she buried herself in bed without moving, looking as if she had fallen asleep.
However, after only a short while, Liaamy suddenly sat up, clenched her hands into fists, and slammed them viciously into the pillow beneath her.
After venting for a bit, Liaamy began to wail.
“Ahhhh! What was I just doing?! Why would I think such things?!”
The reason for her anguish was, of course, the incident downstairs.
There was nothing wrong with Colin touching Laura’s head, so why did I feel so upset? I used to be a man, even calling him brother! How could I do this to myself? What if he misunderstood? I—I definitely don’t want him touching my head!
After wailing and venting for some time, Liaamy gradually calmed down. She glanced around at the chaotic state of the room and eventually collapsed onto the bed, exhausted.
No, I can’t keep thinking about this! I must hold on to my male identity! I won’t lose to some trivial magic circle!
With her resolve renewed once again, Liaamy peacefully drifted off to sleep.
Though she seemed to have strengthened her resolve, this was not the first time she had such thoughts. How long could this self-deception last?
The next day, although Liaamy felt slightly awkward when she saw Colin in the morning, she quickly returned to normal once she realized he had no reaction.
After breakfast, Liaamy lazily lay on the sofa while Colin read a book nearby, and Laura was wiping the table.
Whether intentional or not, Laura always made a point of inching closer to Colin, occasionally sneaking a glance his way. After yet another furtive look, Liaamy finally couldn’t hold back.
“If you want to be with him that badly, just tell him straight out. He’s a softhearted guy—he won’t refuse.”
Liaamy said directly to Laura, whose face flushed faintly at the words. Then she awkwardly looked toward Colin.
Colin put down his book and asked Laura, “What’s wrong? Any problems? Like Liaamy said, just tell me directly.”
Hearing this, Laura lowered her head shyly and said timidly, “Um, Lord Colin… could… could I also look at this book?”
She pointed at the book in Colin’s hands. Colin smiled and handed it over.
“You should have said earlier. Here, take it.”
Receiving the book, Laura’s voice dropped even lower.
“Lo-Lord Colin, sorry, I… I can’t read.”
Colin was momentarily stunned. Then he patted his own head lightly.
“Oh, sorry, I completely forgot about that. Come here. I’ll read it to you and teach you at the same time, how about that?”
After speaking, Colin patted the space beside him, signaling Laura to sit next to him. Laura glanced at Liaamy, then slowly sat down beside Colin.
Just as Colin was about to read the prologue aloud, he heard Liaamy’s slightly mocking voice.
“Oh my~ Your progress is really fast~ Already personally teaching someone to read and write~ I hope the Chosen Paladin isn’t just dragging them straight to the bedroom~ 😊”
At her words, Colin paused mid-page, unsure whether to continue reading to Laura or to refute Liaamy’s wild imaginations.
Liaamy simply smiled at Colin without saying a word. No matter what he did, she didn’t seem to care.
At that moment, the mansion’s front door opened. Sifney walked in slowly but froze at the scene before her.
“Uh, what’s going on here?”
Seeing Sifney, whom they hadn’t seen for a while, suddenly appear and ask about the situation, Liaamy immediately sneered.
“Nothing~ Just that a certain Paladin has taken on a little maid~ And now he’s planning to teach his little maid to read~”
A maid? Reading lessons?
Sifney raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled by Liaamy’s words. But judging by Colin’s reaction, although Liaamy’s tone was odd, what she said wasn’t wrong.
Though unaware of what had happened during her absence, Sifney put it aside for now. She cut to the chase and dropped a bombshell on Liaamy and Colin.
“I found Alec’s whereabouts. When can you go?”
“What?!”
Liaamy’s sneer instantly turned into surprise, then excitement.
Colin also perked up, sitting upright to listen seriously to Sifney’s explanation.
“…Anyway, after all this time, I finally found where Alec lives. So, are you going now?”
“Yes! Of course we’re going! I’ve been waiting for this moment!”
Liaamy was the first to speak. She could no longer wait. She feared that if she continued living as a woman, her relationship with Colin would change drastically. To prevent the worst from happening, she had to find a way to change back quickly!
Colin nodded in agreement. He too felt they couldn’t let Liaamy continue like this. Thinking about how she had been acting around him and Laura recently sent a chill down his spine. He couldn’t stay in this environment any longer!
With both agreeing, Sifney wasted no time. After telling them the meeting place, she set off ahead.
Liaamy quickly returned to her room to prepare, while Colin instructed Laura to be ready to watch the house alone for the next few days. After giving his orders, he waited downstairs for Liaamy.
He didn’t have much to prepare—just needed to put on his armor and grab his sword, then he could set off immediately.
Liaamy, upon returning to her room, quickly pulled out her gear and various items.
But just as she was about to take her weapon, her eyes fell on the wooden box beside her favorite dagger. She knew what was inside, and she knew its true purpose.
Staring at the box before her, Liaamy hesitated.