"........," 

Eckles knelt before me, his voice raw with a desperate plea.

I watched him for a moment, then glanced at the interest bar hovering above his head.

The glow and negative number sent a jolt through me.

"[Interest -70%]," it displayed, a stark reminder of the potential danger Eckles posed.

"Well done, Eckles,"

I said, my voice firm but laced with a hint of praise. 

This blind obedience, while unsettling, was something I couldn't entirely dismiss.

The thought of what he might become without guidance, a weapon pointed at whoever displeased him, sent a shiver down my spine. 

But then, a question arose.

'How?' I thought, glancing down at him again. 'Where in the world could we have possibly met before? We're from different countries.'

Pushing aside the mystery for now, I reached out and ruffled Eckles' hair, a habit I had with anyone younger or shorter. 

My twin sister used to grumble about it, but it felt… comforting.

'Oh, Si-Yeon, if only I had the chance to do it one more time.'

"Get up," I instructed, pulling him gently to his feet. "You did a damn good job tonight." 

Pride swelled in my chest as I remembered the satisfying crunch of my fist connecting with Kluy's jaw.

Yet Eckles deserved recognition for his part in the fight.

Eckles' expression upon receiving praise was a strange combination – a dullness that seemed to mask a deep-seated gratification.

He rose obediently, like a loyal puppy finally rewarded for a good deed.

As I turned away, a flash of movement caught my eye. 

Eckles, momentarily out of sight, muffled a sound behind his hand. 

His cheeks flushed a brilliant pink, and I saw him bite his bottom lip, hard enough to draw a bead of blood. 

He was… excited?

"........," 

╔. ■ .═══════╗

╚═══════. ■ .╝

"........,"  

Confused and a little disturbed, I shook my head. 

These recent events were starting to twist my understanding of the world, and Eckles was quickly becoming the biggest puzzle of all.

He opened his mouth, and a low growl escaped his lips, followed by a muttered sentence that vanished before I could decipher it:

"Fu*K,... I want to kill you so bad... Ah~"

This behavior was unsettling, to say the least. 

It resembled psychopathic enthusiasm, twisted and eerie yet strangely… endearing. 

Eckles was a puzzle, a dark enigma wrapped in a loyal bodyguard. 

But for now, loyalty was what I needed.

"Hurry up, Eckles,"

I urged, not wanting to linger in this blood-soaked alleyway any longer.

He seemed momentarily startled, then blinked rapidly, his expression reverting to its usual stoicism. 

"Weirdo," I muttered to myself, unable to shake off the unsettling scene I'd just witnessed.

Eckles followed suit, falling in step beside me as we melted into the shadows of the night.

"Let's get out of here,"

I said with a sigh, the weight of the fight finally settling upon my shoulders. 

The promise of Penelope and Alissa waiting for me, safe and sound, urged me on. 

No one, especially not them, deserved to witness the brutal reality of this world.

Relief flooded me as we emerged onto the bustling main street. 

There, bathed in the warm glow of a carriage lantern, sat Penelope. 

"It's okay, darling..."

Penelope soothed my daughter gently stroking her curls.

She seemed calm under pressure - a testament to her strength and resilience.

Alissa, nestled in her arms, cried out upon seeing me, relief washing over her features after believing that I perished in the fight for so long, her small arms reaching towards her father. 

Now me, as it seems.

Her small figure launched itself into my arms.

"P-Papa,..."

With a face streaked with tears, she clung to me like a desperate vine. 

The bloodstains on my clothes, a harsh reminder of the fight, didn't faze her. 

In her innocent eyes, I was her hero, her safe new home.

The warmth that spread through me at her embrace chased away the lingering chills of violence. 

Here, in this innocent embrace, I found my peace.

Eckles, his presence a silent shadow beside me, drew a hesitant glance from Alissa. 

She momentarily unfurled her grip on me, a spark of fear flickering in her eyes. 

Swiftly, she retreated behind Penelope's comforting form.

Penelope, her face etched with worry, pressed my coin purse into my hand. 

Her gratitude needed no words. 

Her gaze then flickered to Eckles, taking in his bleeding lips and injured arm. 

Perhaps sensing the need to shield Alissa from further distress, she remained silent about his wounds.

"It's alright, sweetheart,"

Penelope murmured, stroking Alissa's hair in a soothing rhythm.

I helped Penelope climb into the carriage, my heart torn between the desire to hold my new family close and the urgent need to address Eckles' condition. 

He was a puzzle, yes, one who could and would possibly end my life, but right now, his well-being couldn't be ignored.

He was a love interest, after all, one I'd try matching with Penelope.

"My lady,"

I began, my voice laced with concern. 

"I need to make a quick stop. There are some things I need to get." 

A small white lie, but one necessary to avoid unnecessary questions. 

"Would it be alright if I take Eckles with me? He needs his wounds tended to."

Penelope's gaze flickered between me and Eckles, a silent question hanging in the air. 

"Of course,"

She finally replied, her voice a soft understanding. 

"Is there anything you need, Alissa?"

"No, thank you, Auntie Penny!"

A beat of silence followed, then a rumble from within the carriage. 

Alissa's face flushed a bright red, a sheepish grin replacing her tears. 

There was no mistaking the sound – a hungry little tummy making its demands known.

I chuckled, relief washing over me. 

"Actually," I confessed, "we could all use a bite to eat. Perhaps we can find a quiet place where Alissa can get something warm in her belly."

Penelope's lips curved into a gentle smile.

My breath hitched.

A genuine... one?

"Sounds perfect," she agreed.  "But Alissa seems to get tired easily. Would you mind taking her with you for a while? I can wait here for your return."

I hesitated for a moment, the thought of leaving Penelope alone unsettling. 

Yet, the idea of Alissa falling asleep in the carriage, only to wake up in an unfamiliar setting, didn't sit well with me either.

"Alright," I decided finally, scooping Alissa into my arms. "We'll be back soon, my lady. Just try to get some rest."

Alissa snuggled into my chest, her eyelids already drooping with exhaustion. 

With a final ruffle to Penelope's hair, I turned and headed off with Eckles in tow, the weight of responsibility and a growing sense of mystery pressing down on me.

'Did I just pick up a new habit of ruffling Penelope's hair...?'

We hurried down the bustling street, Alissa nestled peacefully against my chest. 

Eckles, ever the silent shadow, trailed behind, his injured arm hanging limply at his side. 

My heart pounded a frantic rhythm – a mixture of concern for Penelope and Alissa, and the enigma that was Eckles.

First stop: the herbalist's shop. 

The air inside was thick with the fragrant aroma of dried leaves and exotic spices. 

I quickly selected a few healing poultices and bandages, their soothing properties a stark contrast to the brutal alleyway scene just ago.

"Wait outside, Eckles,"

I instructed, my voice firm but laced with concern. 

"Tend to your wounds. You took one for me back there, and that was a foolish move."

Eckles didn't reply, simply nodded curtly and shuffled out the door. 

With a sigh, I reached for a damp cloth from the shopkeeper and stepped outside. 

Eckles sat hunched on a nearby bench, his face a mask of stoicism as he attempted to bind his injured arm.

"Here,"

I said, kneeling before him and offering the cloth as I sat the sleepy Alissa beside him.

"Let me help you with that."

He flinched slightly as I approached, but offered no resistance. 

As I began cleaning the bloody gash on his arm, a stray thought flickered across my mind. 

I reached into my pocket, intending to pull out a clean napkin to tend to his bloody lips.

My fingers brushed against something soft and surprisingly warm. 

Fur. 

Bun-Bun, my usually savage rabbit companion, was uncharacteristically still. 

My brow furrowed in confusion.

"Wait a minute,"

I muttered, the gears in my head suddenly grinding to a halt. 

Bun-Bun wasn't just any rabbit. 

He… he possessed magic.

Realization dawned on me with the force of a thunderbolt. 

Why hadn't I thought of it sooner? Bun-Bun could heal! 

This whole time, the solution had been nestled right in my pocket, sound asleep.

A surge of frustration washed over me. 

"Bun-Bun!" I hissed, shaking the dozing rabbit gently. "Wake up! We need your help!"

Bun-Bun blinked sleepily, his twitchy nose twitching even more in protest. 

"Ugh… what is it now?" he grumbled in his husky voice, still half-asleep.

"Heal him, you lazy furball!"

I exclaimed, gesturing towards Eckles who was staring at us with surprise.

Head empty.

"The big oaf over there needs patching up."

Bun-Bun yawned dramatically, then hopped onto Eckles' lap, nuzzling his injured arm with a soft glow emanating from his fur. 

Eckles, initially apprehensive, seemed to relax slightly under the magical touch. 

A low purr vibrated from the rabbit's throat as he worked his magic, the wound visibly mending before our eyes.

I watched in fascination, a wave of relief washing over me. 

Bun-Bun, despite his grumbling exterior, always came through in the clutch.

His magic faded, leaving behind a faint scar where the wound once was.

Eckles, ever stoic, remained silent, but a flicker of gratitude might have crossed his eyes as he flexed his healed arm. 

Here we were, a silly bunch – a worried father, a gruff soon-to-be-knight, a grumpy rabbit wielding magic, and a sleeping toddler – united in this strange surgery.

A relieved chuckle escaped my lips.

I used the damp cloth to clean the bloodstain from Eckles' lips.

His gaze darted to the now-reddened cloth, then back to me. 

A quick glance at the interest bar above his head offered a sliver of hope.

"[Interest -64]," it displayed.  Perhaps the act of healing, this unexpected kindness, had softened him up a touch.

Eckles' hand twitched, reaching towards the mask that hid the upper half of my face.

There was a flicker of something in his eyes – curiosity, perhaps, or a fleeting hope for a connection.

I moved swiftly, catching his wrist before he could make contact. 

"Know your limits," I said gently but firmly. 

This mask wasn't just a fashion statement; it served a purpose, and Eckles didn't need to know what lay beneath.

With a curt nod of acceptance, he withdrew his hand. 

Clearing my throat, I rose to my feet. 

"Come on," I said, shouldering the bag of herbs. "Alissa needs some new clothes."

The bustling marketplace unfolded before us, a mixture of sights and sounds. 

Alissa, still nestled in my arms, mumbled in her sleep, oblivious to the chaos around us. 

We finally settled upon a bustling clothes shop, its entrance adorned with rows of colorful children's dresses.

"For her,"

I said, pointing to Alissa. 

The shopkeeper, a plump woman with a warm smile, bustled about, pulling out a selection of vibrant dresses in the appropriate age range.

"Send them all to my estate,"

I instructed, indulging in pride for the first time in a long while. 

Alissa deserved more than the tattered rags she currently wore, a grim reminder of her past.

Next stop: sweets shop. 

Alissa's face lit up with delight as I presented her with a selection of candied fruits and honey cakes. 

Penelope, despite her earlier stoicism, wouldn't be above indulging in a sweet treat, so I grabbed a box of chocolates for her as well.

Reaching into the bag I held, I pulled out a single candied strawberry. 

A mischievous grin spread across my face.

"Here,"

I said, tossing it playfully into Eckles' open mouth before quickly ruffling his hair. 

'Again with this habit,'

He caught the candy with a surprised grunt, his usual stoicism momentarily cracking. 

A hint of pink dusted his cheeks, and for a fleeting moment, he looked less like a hardened bodyguard and more like… well, a young man slightly bewildered by unexpected affection.

As a final thought, I stopped by a vendor selling brightly colored vegetables.

"Those carrots are for the real grumpy one,"

I added with a wink, tossing one into my pocket where Bun-Bun now resided in. 

A muffled thump and a disgruntled squeak told me the grumpy rabbit had woken up from his nap.

With our shopping bags overflowing and Alissa finally stirring awake, we retraced our steps back to the carriage.

The weight of the world still pressed down on me, but the warmth stirring in my chest, a mix of relief and protectiveness, was a welcome change. 

Perhaps, just perhaps, amidst the chaos and uncertainty, I was starting to build a semblance of a family.

"........," 

The carriage door swung open, urging us all inside.

Penelope who was sat already, protectively draped an arm around Alissa as soon as the latter sat. 

A flicker of surprise crossed my face, a silent question hanging in the air. 

'Did she adopt her while I was gone or something?'

I offered a small smile as I handed her a box wrapped in colorful paper.

"Chocolate," I said simply. "A small thank you."

Her gaze darted back and forth between me, Alissa, and the box before she finally accepted it with a nod. 

She wrapped herself in the travel blanket provided by the driver, a subtle barrier between us.

Eckles hesitated for a moment before climbing in, careful not to disturb Alissa further.

Penelope spoke softly, her voice barely a whisper. 

"We should head to my destination first," she began, "before discussing anything else. However…"  Her voice trailed off, then she continued hesitantly. "I received a letter from you once? It left me quite curious."

"Yes,"

I replied, meeting her gaze directly. 

A glance at Eckles, now settled in the corner, confirmed it was safe to be truthful.

"You are the same (Y/N) from the ball, aren't you? And why did you buy me the mask without even knowing me?"

I hesitated for a moment, the weight of unspoken words heavy on my tongue. 

Eckles watched intently, his expression unreadable.

"I bought you the mask because…" 

The explanation I'd prepared seemed to evaporate into thin air. 

"I felt like it,"

I finally managed, the words sounding hollow even to my own ears.

Penelope's lips curved into a faint smile, more of an acknowledgement than genuine belief.

"[Interest 5%]," the bar above her head flickered, a sliver of progress in the face of my lame response.

The carriage ride to the Eckhart Duchy stretched on, an eternity compressed into a few short hours. 

Finally, the carriage lurched to a halt at the estate gates.

As Penelope and Eckles disembarked, the driver cast Eckles a nervous glance, clearly uncomfortable with icy demeanor.

"Goodbye, Penelope,"

I said, offering a small wave. 

"Eckles." 

With a nod, I instructed the driver to continue on to the Cha estate.

Inside the carriage, Alissa slept soundly, her peaceful expression a balm to my soul. 

I gently adjusted her blanket, and as I did, Bun-Bun poked his head out of my pocket, his tiny pink nose twitching excitedly as he observed the world passing by the window.

"What about that 'flower in bloom' comment?"

I asked him softly, curiosity tugging at me.

Bun-Bun's tail swished thoughtfully. 

He glanced down at Alissa before replying. 

"Yes, Your Grace. She has magic flowing through her veins. A young bud waiting to blossom."

"Magic?" 

The word hung in the air, heavy with implications. 

"Are you sure?"

My mind raced, possibilities and consequences swirling like a storm. 

If Alissa possessed magic, it changed everything. 

Her safety, the balance of power in the kingdom, even my carefully laid plans were thrown out the window.

Bun-Bun nodded vigorously, his eyes sparkling. 

"Oh yes! Very sure. I can feel it from here!" 

He gestured enthusiastically towards the sleeping child.

A sigh escaped my lips.

This unexpected revelation was another wrinkle in an already complex situation. 

Not only were my relationships with the male leads and my own identity causing problems, but now Alissa's magical potential added another layer of concern.

Magic is forbidden in this kingdom, let alone the fact she can't control hers yet.

"Very well,"

I murmured, accepting Bun-Bun's assessment with a heavy heart. 

Knowing this now only complicated the game further. 

Everything was changing at a breakneck pace, and I wasn't sure I could handle another plot twist.

For now, I decided to keep it to myself. 

There was no need to stir the pot until absolutely necessary. 

Instead, I focused on returning home, a mixture of worry and anticipation gnawing at me. 

What had transpired within those walls during my absence?

And, I wished, I hadn't asked so at that time.

"Well, well, well… Look who decided to finally grace us with their presence."
.

.
.
╰┈➤ ❝ [Ɒσи'τ fσяɢєτ τσ vστє αиɒ cσммєиτ!]

₊❏❜ ⋮ ⌒(A/N): Whew! This chapter turned out a bit longer than I anticipated. 

Apologies if it felt like a slog to get through – there's a lot going on in our Grand Duke's world right now! 

Speaking of revelations, who do you think greeted the Grand Duke upon his return home? A furious Callisto demanding answers? A concerned Hans worried about his safety? Or perhaps someone else entirely? 

Leave your guesses below and we'll find out together in the next chapter!

Happy reading! >ᴗ<

ִֶָ๋𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐