I watch the familiar back in front of me, tense, as it disappears deeper and deeper into the spider nest.

  I don’t take my eyes off him for a single moment.

  I trust his decisions and his ideas completely.

  Even when they defy all logic, the years we’ve spent together have shown me that, somehow, things always work out in the end.

  Maybe I will crawl into his bedroll tonight after all.

  The way he looked just now—so flustered, so desperate to hide it—was simply too cute.

  I probably do feel a little guilty after all. Even though last night was entirely his fault!

  During the audience in the elven throne hall, he stared at that elven warrior without even trying to hide it. Just openly drooling. That’s when I snapped.

  Still… seeing him now, looking so focused and reliable, I can’t stay mad at him.

  “Your relationship seems complicated,” Leana says, turning her head toward me with curiosity.

  “Not at all,” I reply, never taking my eyes off Arik.

  “It’s actually very simple.”

  “We’ve known each other forever, and we trust each other completely. At first, since I was older, I had to look after him like an older sister and scold him constantly. He was nothing but trouble.”

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  “Over time, Arik grew up—and my feelings changed too. That doesn’t mean he isn’t still an idiot sometimes. He can drive me absolutely crazy. That’s why I still like teasing him just like I did back then.”

  The thought makes me smile.

  Leana nods thoughtfully and turns her gaze back toward Arik.

  “I see… even if those are feelings I don’t really know or understand. During my training, there was no time for… things like that.”

  Her cheeks tint slightly red.

  She’s so innocent.

  I really need to protect her from Arik.

  I still remember him mumbling something about a harem when he was around six years old. He probably thought I couldn’t hear him. I didn’t take it seriously back then—his face was covered in bread crumbs, after all.

  But after yesterday, I’m certain he has his sights set on this innocent girl.

  I’ll keep watching for now. And if necessary, I’ll step in—especially if he goes too far, like he usually does.

  As a fellow woman, I won’t abandon Leana.

  During our conversation on the way to the cave, I already noticed how kind she really is, even if she always acts so serious and rigid. Maybe she’s just insecure?

  Still, I doubt much will happen anytime soon.

  Arik makes things unnecessarily difficult for himself, as usual.

  I get the feeling that he often lives in a world entirely his own—one that barely overlaps with ours. It’s not just his absurd plans. One moment he’s confident and decisive, and the next he’s crushed by reality.

  I honestly can’t tell what goes on inside his head.

  But normal?

  That definitely isn’t it.

  It’s like he lacks even the most basic common sense.

  This morning was another perfect example.

  Leana offers him a perfectly good piece of ham—and instead of thanking the woman he supposedly wants to impress, he just stares at her like she’s grown a second head.

  What kind of woman falls in love with a man who reacts like that when she does something nice for him?

  Fine. A little help—just to make up for last night.

  “You know,” I say casually, “Arik often seems like he’s living in his own world. But don’t let that fool you. He’s a genuinely kind and wonderful man.”

  Leana nods slowly.

  Together, we watch in silence as the familiar back moves deeper into the heart of the cave.