“What have you been up to again, sneaking around behind my back?”

The moment Rean opened the door after returning home, Olga’s irritated voice hit him.

*Ugh. Knew it.*

Rean chuckled wryly and shook his head. Truth be told, he’d expected this the moment he told Tyler yesterday about meeting Gloria. Whether it was Olga’s jealousy or her obsession with the arranged marriage, she watched his every move—yet her emotions kept making her act against her own goals. Honestly, what *was* going on in her head?

…Then again, this was just Olga being Olga.

With a resigned sigh, Rean closed the door and sat beside her—she’d clearly been waiting. He shot her a teasing grin.

“So worried about where I go? Don’t tell me you got lonely after just one morning apart?”

“W-Who’s lonely?! I was just worried you’d go harass some innocent girl again…”

Blushing, Olga sat up straight, curling into the sofa corner. Her four white wings stretched forward, nearly wrapping around her.

*Wings are back. Must’ve washed off the potion while bathing.*

*Rumble—*

An awkward sound cut the silence. Realizing it wasn’t his, Rean’s lips twitched into a smirk, eyes glinting with amusement.

“N-No! I’m definitely not hungry or anything… Don’t laugh! Just tell me where you went!”

Flustered, Olga clutched her stomach, offering a feeble denial. Ignoring her, Rean smiled and opened an elegant box before her. Golden light glimmered from beneath the lid; a rich, savory aroma instantly caught Olga’s gaze.

“I knew you’d be hungry coming home late, so I grabbed this to-go from that shop we visited last time.”

Egg sandwiches never lasted long. He’d planned this—she rarely left the house, and bringing lunch back was the surest way to soothe her mood.

“Guess you’ve got a conscience…” Olga’s defiance melted. Pouting, she took the bento. “What about you? Already eaten?”

“…Let’s just say I grabbed a bite on the way.”

Rean hesitated—a vague reply. No way he’d proudly say he’d stood up for Gloria, dissolved that coercive engagement, and been treated to a lavish lunch by Tyler. With Olga’s temper? The bento might’ve ended up on his face.

“Is that so… So what was so urgent you left just a note? Really off ‘harassing girls’ again?”

*Even food can’t shut your mouth. Do I do *nothing* else in your eyes? Wait—I’ve never harassed anyone! Today I *saved* a girl ready to sacrifice herself. That’s rescuing a damsel, not ‘harassing’! What a vicious, baseless accusation!*

“Picked up gear for the next fight.” Rean pulled out the pistol and bullets from Gloria. His face lit up. “Once this alchemy genius tweaks it? Mammon’s taking a serious fall right here!”

“This… looks like a gun? But different from books.”

Olga took a bite of grilled meat, then examined the pistol on the table, brow furrowed.

“Heard it’s a new Royal Capital product. Custom bullets too—but too costly to mass-produce.” Rean’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. “But with my skills? Even one unit can unleash hundreds of times the original power!”

“Hmph—so you’re itching to rush upstairs and tinker, huh?”

Olga raised an eyebrow, handed the pistol back, and gave him a knowing look.

“Obviously! More time = more joy! My genius feels like a volcano about to erupt!”

“Go on then. Don’t let me delay your *important work*.”

“Right, I’ll—huh?” Rean froze mid-stand, eyes wide. “You’re… *not* arguing back?!”

He’d expected her to snap, *“Is alchemy all you think about?”* to diss him. This quiet compliance felt… off.

“Why assume I’ll always fight you?!”

“See?! *This* is the Olga I know!”

In his excitement, Rean slapped the wheelchair—wait, the *armrest*. What happened while he was out?

“Ugh… You made me lose my cool again…”

Olga pressed a hand to her forehead, sighing deeply. After several breaths, she looked up, slightly awkward.

“I’ve reflected since yesterday. I *do* want to watch over you… but I’ve been too fixated on the marriage. Maybe I was too strict. Made you feel trapped?”

“Mm. Makes sense. Then?”

Rean settled on the armrest, arms crossed, listening intently.

“And… I’ll ease up. You won’t run anyway, right? Giving space helps us both. You won’t have to look so impatient with me…”

Her confession left Rean speechless. She recognized her pressure—but missed the core issue: his coldness wasn’t just about habits. It was their fundamental positions. Still… space *would* keep their sharp edges from cutting each other.

But saying that felt awkward.

Their usual fights blew over fast. This sincere apology? Made his tongue tie. Words stumbled.

“Well… don’t blame yourself. I’ve provoked you on purpose too. You’re right—we’ll give each other space. Don’t overthink the marriage. Getting along matters most… I’ll head up to research now.”

Watching her sit meekly, lost in thought, Rean—mischievous as he was—couldn’t press further. He’d also acted out of spite. Seeing her pitiful expression twisted something in his chest. No fake smile came easily.

He could play the charming playboy or polished gentleman for others. But before Olga? He was an actor stripped of all masks. Joy, anger, childish bickering, teasing schemes—all raw, all real.

So why did this “perfect resolution” feel… strange?

*Yeah. Polite formalities don’t suit us.*

Halfway up the stairs, Rean paused at the corner, a wry, unseen smile touching his lips.

“Hey—dinner later? Eat out or cook?”

He peeked back, grinning at the flustered Olga.

“I want to eat out—!” She blurted it, then flushed crimson and hurled the nearest bento lid like a shuriken. “Asking about dinner before lunch is done?! What do you take me for?!”

“A little bottomless pit who’s always hungry?”

Rean caught the spinning lid, set it sliding down the armrest, eyes dancing.

“If we eat out, wait downstairs tonight. I’ll show you Yethania under the stars. See you~”

He waved flippantly and climbed up.

*Yeah. This feels right.*

Settling into his alchemy workshop chair, Rean leaned back, Gloria’s pistol in hand.

Important matter done. Time for work.

First: observation magic to map every component. Melt, recast identical parts. Assemble. Then modify—

…Like forging an alchemical weapon that fires pure high-concentration mana?

Alright. Let’s begin.