--
"Dead?"
"Yes, my lady. This man is confirmed dead. There are no signs of life in his body."
Selena couldn't help but ask in disbelief. Just moments ago, she had been interrogating this assassin—yet suddenly, he was dead?
It felt as if something had intervened, preventing the assassin from revealing the mastermind behind this attack.
"Judging from the way he died, it doesn't look like suicide."
"Agreed," Astrid replied, stepping away from the corpse, responding to Seraphina, who had been quietly observing until now.
"What should we do, my lady?"
"..."
Still shaken by the sudden turn of events, Selena didn't even register Vine's question. She was lost in thought—until a sudden wave of pain surged through her head. Her vision swam, her body staggered, and she felt herself about to collapse.
"My lady!"
"Lady Selena!"
Alarmed, Astrid, Seraphina, and Vine all rushed to catch their mistress before she could hit the ground.
Selena's eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and the last thing she saw was her followers' panicked faces closing in on her.
"What's happening to her, Seraphina?" Astrid asked, supporting Selena's head as Seraphina gently placed it on her lap for a cushion.
"She's just fainted. I think she's been overthinking too much. For now, let's head home. Astrid, you take the reins."
"Understood."
With Seraphina taking charge in Selena's stead, they made their way back, Astrid driving the carriage.
---
When they arrived at the Everthore estate, Astrid immediately began issuing orders to the household staff—who were shocked to learn their lady had been attacked by assassins and left unconscious.
"Elena! From this moment on, I want patrols doubled around the Everthore estate—twenty-four seven. I want status reports every hour."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Astrid ordered the deputy commander of her marksmen unit to tighten security.
"Rina! Do the same for the melee unit! And if anyone in my unit slacks off and lets Lady Selena get even the slightest scratch, I'll cut off one of each of your fingers! Understood?!"
"Y-y-yes, ma'am!"
Unlike Astrid's calm and commanding tone, Vine barked her orders with unrestrained fury.
Selena, still unconscious, was carried to her bedroom, and a doctor was summoned to examine her.
"Lady Selena has only suffered mild fainting—likely from prolonged mental strain. With the medicine I prescribe, she should recover soon," the female doctor explained.
Astrid gave a brief nod. "I see. Thank you."
The doctor excused herself, leaving Astrid, Seraphina, and Selena in the quiet room.
---
Seraphina sat at Selena's bedside, her fingers intertwined with Selena's. With her other hand, she caressed her lady's cheek gently, as though she were touching something precious and irreplaceable.
"Astrid, tonight you'll sleep here and watch over her. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm lacking in combat skills—so I'll leave her protection to you."
"You didn't have to say it. I was going to do it anyway."
After the attack, all three—Astrid, Vine, and Seraphina—had come to the same conclusion: Selena must not be left alone for even a moment.
It wasn't that Seraphina couldn't fight at all—she could—but she wasn't on Astrid or Vine's level, both of whom had been honing their natural talent since childhood.
Without constant training, talent dulls over time—but Astrid and Vine were not the type to grow complacent. They had pushed themselves relentlessly to become the warriors they were now.
Seraphina leaned forward, lowering her head until her forehead was directly above Selena's. Then, she softly pressed her lips to Selena's forehead.
"Oi. What do you think you're doing? Even if you're the closest to her because of your position as secretary, that's still inappropriate." Astrid's eyes narrowed, her tone sharp—but she didn't actually stop Seraphina.
Pulling back, Seraphina said calmly, "When I saw Lady Eveline kiss Selena, my heart ached. I love her too, you know? I couldn't resist kissing her as well. Don't you feel the same way, Astrid?"
"Of course I do. But I have enough respect not to kiss her while she's resting."
"That's why I kissed her on the forehead."
"Hah?"
"What I mean is… when she wakes up, that's when I'll kiss her lips~"
"You damn woman."
Seraphina's playful smirk only made Astrid more irritated, but instead of hitting her, Astrid simply exhaled slowly.
"Go. You still have business to attend to for Lady Selena, right? I'll stay here."
"Yes, yes, Lady Bodyguard~ Then I'll be on my way."
With that, Seraphina left, leaving Astrid alone with Selena.
"That cunning woman," Astrid muttered under her breath before looking down at Selena with longing and quiet affection.
"My lady…"
---
"Ugh… where am I?"
Selena awoke groggily, her head still aching as she tried to recall the last thing she remembered.
"My lady! You're awake! Are you still in pain? If you are, I'll call the doctor!"
"Ah… Astrid. So this is home, huh?"
"Yes, my lady. You fainted during the interrogation of the assassin."
"I see…"
Slowly, her memories returned, though still hazy.
"Thank you, Astrid… for protecting me."
"It's no trouble at all. In fact, that is the very reason I exist—my lady."
After a brief silence, Selena asked, "Astrid, who do you think sent those assassins?"
"I'm sorry, I don't know. But one thing is certain—I will always protect you, no matter what it takes. Even if I have to lay down my life."
"Don't say such things. If you died for my sake, I'd be devastated. Isn't it better for us both to survive?"
"My lady…"
Selena lay back down, her eyes fixed on the ornate ceiling.
"Astrid… I know this isn't the right time, but I want to ask you something. Do you love me?"
"I love you!"
"Whoa, straight to the point, huh?"
Astrid's blunt answer made Selena blink in surprise. Sitting up on the edge of the bed, she looked directly at Astrid.
"In that case… would you kiss me?"
"E-eh? E-excuse me?"
"I mean… a kiss. On the lips."
"Ah… but…"
Astrid was caught completely off guard. It wasn't that she didn't want to—on the contrary, she wanted it badly—but could she?
"You don't want to?" Selena asked, putting on a mock-sad expression.
"I—I do!!" Astrid blurted out.
"Then…"
Without hesitation, Selena leaned forward to kiss her, and Astrid mirrored her movement. Their lips met, soft and warm, sparking a craving neither wanted to end.
Astrid grew bolder, slipping her tongue past Selena's lips.
"W-wait, Astrid—"
But Astrid's tongue had already found its way into her mouth, moving in a slow, claiming rhythm.
Shocked, Selena tried to push Astrid away, but Astrid caught her wrists and gently pushed her back onto the bed.
When they finally broke the kiss, a thin strand of saliva still connected their lips. Both women were flushed, breathless.
"My lady… I can't hold back anymore…"
"C-can't hold back? Oh my…"
"Do you hate it?"
Selena turned her face aside, avoiding Astrid's intense gaze.
"I-it's not that I'm refusing…" she murmured so softly it was almost a whisper.
Astrid's sharp hearing caught it anyway.
"J-just, s-slowly, i-it's my first time..."
"My lady!"
Astrid wasted no time, sealing Selena's lips once more in a deep, passionate kiss.
---
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