Throughout the journey, Lorin and Xueyi sat in the same carriage but didn’t exchange a single word.

Watching Xueyi—usually so domineering—now unnaturally quiet, Lorin felt a flicker of curiosity. What had happened to change her like this?

It was like a cat that always hissed fiercely, now tucking its tail and hiding silently in the corner.

When they reached Lorin’s mansion, the maids who usually greeted him froze at the sight of the other passenger.

In their minds, the second prince had no friends, let alone brought anyone home—especially a girl.

“We’re here,” Lorin said, stifling a yawn. Xueyi’s silence had left him feeling stifled too.

Lost in thought or just spacing out, Xueyi paused for a long moment before replying, “Hmm.”

“Oh, right,” Lorin told the maids. “Take her for a hot bath and find her suitable clothes.”

He didn’t know when she’d been splashed with water, but if she didn’t change soon, she’d catch a cold.

Lorin had considered using his water magic to dry her off, but after consulting the Bookkeeper, he learned it couldn’t fully dry clothes. So he abandoned the idea.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The two maids led Xueyi inside. Throughout, she remained silent while they curiously sized her up.

They recognized her noble academy uniform but didn’t know which family’s daughter she was. Seeing her return with Lorin like this sparked all sorts of speculations.

Lorin rubbed his temples. If it weren’t so late, he’d head straight to Lilith’s house to ask what happened that day.

To avoid misunderstandings, he’d had the steward write a letter to Xueyi’s father, saying she was staying over as a guest.

Lorin wasn’t sure if this wording was appropriate, but it was all he could think of. What the father believed depended on whether he knew the truth.

At the dining table, Xueyi—now in plain clothes—sat several seats away from Lorin.

The maids explained this was the best women’s attire available in the mansion. Compared to her usual outfits, it was modest, subtly softening her noble aura.

Yet even here, Xueyi stared blankly at the food, ignoring it completely. Lorin had clearly heard her stomach rumbling in the carriage.

Seeing this, Lorin finally snapped. He got up and sat beside her.

“Hey, how long will you keep this up?”

When she didn’t reply, he scooped hot soup from the bowl the maids had prepared for her.

The spoon at her face jolted Xueyi awake. Seeing Lorin holding it, she flustered, “W-what are you doing?”

“Oh, finally talking?” He kept the spoon steady. “Eat.”

“I can feed myself,” Xueyi retorted, her tone regaining a hint of its usual sharpness.

“Fine. Eat quickly—the maids are waiting to wash dishes.”

Xueyi noticed the maids nearby. They weren’t clearing the table. Instead, they whispered while watching her and Lorin.

This snapped her fully awake. She wasn’t home; she was in the mansion of a prince she barely knew—and it was her first time in a man’s house.

A faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

Lorin didn’t notice, but the maids saw it clearly, stifling giggles behind their hands.

Once Xueyi started eating, Lorin left the table without another word.

After she finished, a maid led her to a prepared room. Lorin’s mansion rarely had guests; besides his chambers, the study, and servants’ quarters, most rooms stood empty.

At the door, the maid whispered in Xueyi’s ear, “His Highness’s room is the third one across the hall.”

Xueyi didn’t understand at first. But seeing the maid’s mischievous smile, she realized the implication and flustered, “We’re not like that!”

Though a noble lady, Xueyi had glimpsed cheap romance novels popular among commoners. She knew exactly what the maid meant.

The maid said nothing more, but her grin widened as she left.

Alone in the unfamiliar room, a wave of emotion washed over Xueyi.

This was her first night not in her own bed. She didn’t even grasp how it happened. In her duel with Lilith, she hadn’t cheated—she didn’t know why Lilith collapsed. No matter how she explained, no one believed her. Not even her brother.

The swelling on her face had faded, but sorrow lingered. Her own brother had lashed out based on rumors, without witnessing anything.

In the end, only Lorin—the guy she barely spoke to—had come for her, bringing her to his home.

Lying in bed, replaying the day, Xueyi couldn’t sleep. As she stared at the ceiling, the maid’s words echoed like a devil’s whisper.

“No, no! I barely know him. What am I thinking?”

She pulled the blanket over her head. After a while, her cheeks burned hot—whether from the covers or something else.

“...I’m just thanking him,” she muttered. “I haven’t properly thanked him since arriving. I’ll say thanks and come right back.”

Xueyi grabbed the small lamp from the table, tiptoed out of bed, and stepped into the hallway. She murmured as she walked, “Third room across, third room across.”

At the door, she took a deep breath, steadied herself, and after a long pause, slowly pushed it open.