Maggie overestimated herself. After Charles took her to his residence, she was forced to stop at the door before even stepping inside, feeling dizzy and nauseous, even more so than if she were carsick.

She swayed, and just when she thought she was about to fall, she landed in a warm embrace.

Thank goodness I didn't fall; it would have been so embarrassing.

Maggie, relieved but somewhat bewildered, looked up and caught a glimpse of Harlan's clearly defined Adam's apple.

Oh no, I saw something I shouldn't have.

She subconsciously looked away and glanced to the side, only to meet Perkin's snake-like eyes. He had somehow stepped out of the shadows and seemed to be trying to catch her, but Harlan beat her to it.

Perkin and Maggie exchanged a glance for a moment, then silently transformed into shadows again and disappeared from the spot.

Harlan subtly tightened his grip, drawing the two closer together.

"Your Highness is not feeling well; you shouldn't be enduring it."

His voice was deep and gentle, and his warm breath brushed against Maggie's neck, sending a ticklish sensation straight to her heart.

I feel so dizzy and nauseous. Also, please don't get so close to me, it's so itchy, my neck is so ticklish.

Maggie's body stiffened instantly, and even her tone of voice became much more unnatural.

"Um... thank you, I'll be more careful next time."

Maggie longed to get up in his arms, but she felt dizzy as soon as she tried to think. If she stood up, she would probably fall down, which would be even more embarrassing. So she could only endure it for now.

Quickly, find a place to put it down.

"I will escort Your Highness inside."

Harlan lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on Maggie's jet-black hair, her long, silky hair cascading down her sides, revealing her fair and slender neck.

It's beautiful.

"Thank you, Commander Knight."

Maggie reluctantly agreed.

She could feel Harlan's arms around her waist, leading her step by step into the room, but perhaps because she was too dizzy, Maggie felt that the pace was abnormally slow.

However, she didn't have the extra energy to think about these things right now; she was only thinking about...

Go to bed early and get some rest; you should feel better.

Although he was supposed to be supporting her, Harlan had actually put most of Maggie's weight on him, so she felt light and almost weightless. If he wanted, he could even pick Maggie up with one hand.

Harlan placed his long, slender fingers behind Maggie's head, and gently supported her as she lay down on the bed with his other hand. This action brought the two closer together, and they could even feel their breaths mingling.

Maggie had a vague, almost imperceptible feeling that her hair had been stroked, with a soothing quality.

She didn't see the slight upturn of Harlan's lips and the faint smile in his eyes.

Maggie certainly didn't have any romantic thoughts; she was too uncomfortable to notice them at all.

This place is really unlucky for me, it's so frustrating. I need to think of something, otherwise I can't do the quest.

The moment Maggie lay down, the dizziness and discomfort she had felt earlier subsided considerably. When she opened her eyes again, she was met with Harlan's bright blue eyes.

Harlan bent over, reaching out as if to touch her forehead to check if she had a fever.

Maggie, whose mind was filled with thoughts of his germaphobia, subconsciously turned her head away from his hand, and the air fell into a silent and awkward atmosphere.

Harlan's hand froze in mid-air, seemingly unsure whether to retract it.

"..."

In fact, Maggie regretted it a little the moment she dodged. Her actions were somewhat of a cover-up, and it would be bad if the person misunderstood.

Although Harlan isn't narcissistic, normal colleagues don't avoid each other so obviously. She's overreacting, and it might cause a misunderstanding.

"I'm fine."

Maggie forced a smile, her voice barely audible as she spoke.

"Your Highness, do you really have absolutely no trust in me?"

Harlan lowered her eyes, her voice calm and devoid of emotion, but Maggie inexplicably sensed a sadness in it, making her seem like some kind of heartless woman who deceived people's feelings.

"Why are you suddenly saying that...? I don't distrust you."

Maggie was telling the truth. She and Harlan were now in the same boat. She wasn't worried about Harlan betraying her for the time being, so she still had a little trust in him, but not more.

At least she wasn't worried that Harlen would suddenly smash her head in, so the touch just now wasn't actually a way of avoiding it out of caution, but it's hard to explain.

However, his sudden, direct question made it somewhat difficult for her to answer.

"Then why...didn't you tell me before accepting the mission to the frontier?"

Harlan didn't dwell on whether Maggie's words were true or false, but instead went along with her and asked the question he had always wanted to ask.

His deep eyes were filled with seriousness, as if he wouldn't give up until he got an answer.

Being suddenly asked about something that had little to do with her current situation made Maggie pause for a second before she belatedly realized why Harlan had been acting strangely that day.

Was he angry back then?

Was he angry that she wanted to leave but didn't tell him, which is why he replaced the deputy commander and personally accompanied her to the border?

But... their relationship doesn't seem to require them to report everything they do, right?

Maggie was completely confused.

However, her emotional intelligence wasn't so low that she would directly reveal her true thoughts. If she did, this person might be so angry that he would die. He was the most petty of the God of Light.

"Because I have other things to do and I don't want to take up your time."

After a moment's consideration, Maggie chose a compromise that was easy for people to accept.

"I am your knight, have you forgotten?"

As Harlan spoke, he simply knelt on one knee in front of the bed, bringing his eyes level with Maggie's.

A condescending posture always gives people a sense of oppression, but when he does this, it gives others the illusion that he is pledging allegiance and submitting.

The handsome God of Light spoke his loyalty to her word by word in such a deceptive manner that it was terrifyingly persuasive, especially since Maggie was currently feeling dizzy, the environment was safe, and she was much more relaxed than usual.

"I remember."

Maggie pursed her lips.

"So don't worry about taking up my time, Your Highness is the most important."

Harlan's voice is very pleasant, especially when Maggie isn't feeling well; listening to his voice actually makes her a little sleepy.

"I see."

Maggie's vision gradually blurred, and Harlan's face became indistinct in the light and shadow. She seemed to hear her own reply, yet she also seemed not to hear it.

The last vestige of consciousness remained, consisting only of the outline of Harlen's face and his final sigh.

"Your Highness, what am I supposed to do with you?"

Harlan stood by the bed, looking at Maggie's peaceful and serene sleeping face, and his heart felt as if it had been filled with something.