Four days had passed since Village Chief Berndt left. The memory still smoldered in Miyuu's mind. That moment by the spring when the two of them had leaned close. Rion's racing heartbeat. And Berndt's cold voice—"Prove to me there's no impact on the ley lines." Ever since, she'd been holed up in the training room. Her research notebook was covered in sketches of curses. Thorns of Tornis—the pain magic that activates when trying to leave the kingdom's territory—she was meticulously recording where it took root, confirmed through her healing sprouts. "Deep in the left chest. Magical threads tangled near the heart." "No impact on ley lines (current assessment)." "However, long-term verification necessary." Neat handwriting filled the pages completely. "[sarcastic]……Really, why does it have to be such a difficult curse?" As she muttered to herself, footsteps sounded outside. Multiple footsteps. Not one. Not two. Many more. Miyuu looked up. The door rattled violently. When she opened it, people were standing in the yard. Ten, twenty—nearly thirty villagers surrounded the cottage. At the front was a sturdy man with graying hair: Village Chief Berndt Hoffman. His expression no longer carried the composure of "waiting" from four days ago. "[cold]Verdant Shrine Maiden. We need to talk." The villagers' faces behind him were frozen in anger and fear. A middle-aged man in a leather armband stepped forward. A member of the Fraesan Herb Guild—but Miyuu didn't recognize him. He was a different person from the regular inspector who came by. "[angry]The curse is rotting the ley lines! The guild members said so!" "That's right, we're breaking the forest guardian's code!" "Bring out the prince! Throw him out right now!" Miyuu's mind worked quickly. (A guild member said that? The inspector who came last week said "the curse and ley lines are separate issues." A different guild member…?) But there was no time to confirm it now. "[serious]Wait, please. The curse and ley lines are separate problems. I'm researching it right now—" "[angry]Researching! Always researching! While the villagers can't sleep!" "[serious]There's no confirmed impact on the ley lines at this point. I have data. My notebook—" "We can't trust written words! A cursed person shouldn't be anywhere near the ley lines!" Voices demanding she leave overlapped. Just as Miyuu was about to continue arguing, the door behind her opened quietly. She turned around. Rion was standing there. His pale silver hair caught the morning light. His blue eyes swept across the villagers in the yard, then narrowed quietly. His lips pressed into a thin line as he took one step outside. "[gentle]If I leave, she won't be troubled." Miyuu had no time to stop him. Rion began walking toward the village—in that instant. Silently, his body stopped. Paralysis. His entire body froze as if bound by invisible force. The Thorns of Tornis activated mercilessly. Rion's knees buckled. He collapsed to the ground. His hands pressed against the soil as his teeth clenched, a groan escaping his lips. The yard fell silent. "……っ、ぁ——" His entire body trembled. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. "[scared]It really is a curse! Stay back!" Footsteps retreated. The circle broke and widened. Miyuu rushed to Rion. She dropped to her knees beside him, placing both hands on his chest. Healing sprouts—she poured the life force of plants into his body, suppressing the pain carved by the curse. Green light spread gently. Rion's trembling gradually subsided. In exchange, heat drained from Miyuu's body. Her fingertips grew cold. When she tried to stand, the world tilted. She instinctively gripped Rion's shoulder. Both of them remained on their knees, facing each other. "[sarcastic]……That's why I told you not to move on your own." "I'm… sorry…" A bright voice cut through the chaos of the yard. "[excited]Excuse me! Is the Verdant Shrine Maiden's teacher here!?" A girl stood at the gate. Bright golden short bob hair. Clear golden eyes. A bouquet of flowers in both hands. Sixteen-year-old Eliza Metz—daughter of Lily Metz, the village florist. Eliza took in the state of the yard at a glance. Two people on their knees. Retreating villagers. Heavy atmosphere. "……Huh, this looks serious." But in the next moment, her gaze was drawn to Rion. Her face gradually turned bright red. "H… he's so cool… like a prince…" "[angry]No no no, this is not the time for that!!" "[surprised]Wait, are you and this person dating!? No way!?" "No." "Then… am I a rival!?" The villagers stood frozen, bewildered. In the chaotic yard where curse attacks and romance drama unfolded simultaneously, Miyuu stood up. Still unsteady, but she looked across all the villagers and spoke firmly. "[serious]As you can see, the curse only causes pain. It's a separate issue from the ley lines. If you won't believe me, so be it. But if you drive this person out, he might collapse alone in the forest and die. Is that the right code to follow?" The yard fell silent. The villagers exchanged glances. Berndt stood with his arms crossed, silent for a long time. "[cold]……Three days. Prove there's no impact on the ley lines. Until then, I'll wait." He turned on his heel. The villagers followed in a line. The footsteps faded, and the forest grew quiet. ────────────────── After the villagers left, Miyuu carried Rion into the cottage. Eliza stayed put. "[excited]Please make me your apprentice! I've always admired the Verdant Shrine Maiden! I can use herbs to some extent! I'll definitely be useful!" "[sarcastic]Right now I need hands more than an apprentice. If you can help manage the herbs, then… I guess…" "[excited]Yes! Really!?" "And I'm rejecting the rival declaration." "That's mean! But first, please tell me the prince's name!" Rion slowly raised his upper body from under the blanket. His silver hair was disheveled. Sweat marks still lingered on his cheeks. "[gentle]Nice to meet you. I'm Rion." It was a gentlemanly smile. Despite his exhaustion, he maintained perfect courtesy. Eliza's face turned a brilliant shade of red. "I… I can't… he's real…" She collapsed on the spot. "[sarcastic]Prince, don't be so gentlemanly in front of people. It raises the bar too high." "I'm terribly sorry… but it comes naturally…" Eliza began circling around Rion. "You and Rion are close, aren't you? How close are you?" "[sarcastic]I have to prove the ley lines within three days, so stop asking pointless questions and get to work." "Yes, ma'am!" Eliza headed toward organizing the herbs. Work sounds began echoing from the training room. Rion watched her back and smiled softly. "She's quite energetic." "[sarcastic]I thought the same thing when I first met her. It's like a storm came to our village." Rion laughed quietly. It was a genuinely happy laugh. Miyuu looked away. ────────────────── That night, after Eliza left. The cottage was quiet. The pale light of Luna mushrooms fell across the research notebook. As Miyuu wrote equations into her notes, Rion spoke. "[gentle]……Thank you. I've been helped so much today." "[serious]Prioritize recovery over thanks." She replied curtly. "Miyuu." His voice was serious. Her hand stopped. "[serious]Because of me, you're being ostracized by the village. The three-day grace period… proving the ley lines—honestly, I think it's difficult. So I'll leave. This time, I'll endure the pain." "[angry]Don't decide that on your own." She snapped back. But Rion's eyes didn't waver. There was no hesitation in them. The weight of his resolve left her speechless. Miyuu lowered her gaze to the notebook. Neither found an answer as the night deepened. ────────────────── When she woke the next morning, the corner of the training room was empty. Rion's belongings were gone. Checking inside the cottage, a single sheet of paper lay on top of the research notebook. Written in neat handwriting: *I'm leaving to protect you. I'll handle the curse myself. Thank you for the short time. —Rion* Miyuu held the paper, unable to move. Anger came first. Then something far heavier followed. An emotion she couldn't quite name. The door burst open. "[excited]Good morning! Where's Rion—" Eliza stopped as she entered, reading the room's atmosphere and Miyuu's face. Her golden eyes quickly grasped the situation. "He's… gone?" "Yeah." "[surprised]Aren't you going after him!? If he goes deep into the forest alone, won't the curse make him collapse!?" Miyuu bit her lip. (If I chase after him… I'll wound his pride.) That was true. But the real reason lay elsewhere. She was remembering the previous world. How she'd grown tired of work, how village relationships had become tedious, and one day she'd simply cut off contact. She'd run from people who mattered. The excuse she'd made back then—"I don't want to burden them." "It's for their sake." The same words were in Rion's note. That hurt the most. "[gentle]Teacher…?" Eliza's voice was worried. Miyuu couldn't respond, gripping the note tightly. Outside the window, the trees of the Verdant Great Forest swayed slightly. Deep in the forest, the Thorns of Tornis might be shooting sharp pain through him right now. Vine Great Wolves might be prowling. Yet Rion had written "I'll handle it myself." Anger, fear, and regret for her past self swirled violently in her chest. Slowly, Miyuu turned her gaze from the window and placed the note on the desk. The edge of the paper trembled faintly.