Nellaf gave a slight nod to the coachman and continued speaking.

“If you’re heading to Marquis Lafjehill’s residence, may I accompany you?”

“Ah, ah! You’re Viscount Benjamin, aren’t you? I-I apologize for not recognizing you. Please, get in quickly! There’s already a young lady inside, though…”

“Phew… that’s a relief.”

He wiped his forehead and opened the carriage door to enter.

“I apologize for the inconvenience, but I’ll join you for a moment.”

Sera, clutching her bumped arm tightly, looked at him with slight suspicion.

Nellaf sat across from where she had bumped into him, offering an embarrassed smile.

“I’m not a strange person. I’m Nellaf Benjamin, the physician at the Marquis’s residence.”

‘Hmm… if even the coachman recognizes him… he shouldn’t be suspicious.’

Sera looked at Nellaf. Under the carriage’s light, his blue eyes, matching his hair, shone with a freshness that was almost pure. His appearance was too trustworthy to be wary of.

‘Even in this darkness… such a dazzling face…’

“Ah… yes. I’m Sera. I work at the orphanage sponsored by the Marquis’s family… they offered me a job…”

Even though blood was soaking her clothes from the wound on her arm, she didn’t seem to show any pain. Nellaf, noticing Sera’s arm, interrupted in surprise.

“You’ve injured your arm! Ah, I’m so sorry for running to catch the carriage. May I see your arm?”

Sera, unable to take her eyes off Nellaf, handed over her injured arm. Through the sky-blue monocle on his right eye, his gaze appeared both sad and kind, making her forget the pain.

‘His eyelashes are long too…’

Sera admired Nellaf’s beauty.

He gently lifted her clothes and took out a necklace with black beads on a silver string, the Collect Necklace, from the bag.

“Uh… Collect… Necklace?”

Sera recognized the familiar item as it appeared.

“Oh, you know it. Surprisingly, not many people are aware of this.”

When the beads of the necklace were brought to her arm, a black light shimmered around the beads, and the wound healed as if it had never been there.

“I’ve been treated with it before. It’s really amazing to see it again…”

She marveled at her arm, where both the pain and the visible wound had vanished completely.

Nellaf showed a faint smile of relief but still looked worried.

“I’m sorry. I’ve ruined your clothes.”

“What? Oh, the blood…”

‘It was my favorite outfit…’

“It’s okay! As long as it’s healed, that’s what matters. I can wash it!!”

“When we return to the capital, I’ll make sure to compensate you. I’ll get you an outfit that suits you, Sera.”

“No, it’s really okay. More importantly, what kind of wounds can that necklace heal?”

Sera changed the subject to prevent Nellaf from feeling awkward.

“Ah, this. It can heal external wounds, those that can close up. But it can’t heal what time alone can’t mend.”

Nellaf adjusted his monocle for no reason.

“So it heals wounds that time can heal.”

‘Ahh… I just repeated exactly what the Viscount said because I saw him adjusting his monocle. I must look so foolish.’

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“L-last time, I twisted my ankle at the temple, and the priest treated it for me.”

“I see. This is a masterpiece by the Marquis and Jake. Thanks to it, the medical field will become much more convenient. It’s not widely available yet, but with a little more research…”

Nellaf smiled contentedly and murmured as he put the necklace into his bag.

“If it’s Jake… you mean the dragon, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“By any chance… if I go to the capital, could I also meet the dragon? Um… I mean, would there be a chance to meet him? I’ve only ever lived in Letren, so I’m not familiar with things…”

Sera spoke hesitantly, as if embarrassed.

“Well… the possibility of meeting him… isn’t zero. Jake doesn’t have a permanent residence, so he practically stays at the Lafjehill mansion. I came to find him because he hasn’t been seen lately…”

“Really? Wow… a dragon…”

‘Being able to meet a dragon! Dragons use magic… maybe he knows how to open my mother’s letter. Or at least a way to find out my name…! I must meet this dragon named Jake somehow.’

Sera looked delighted. The thought that she might find her name sooner than expected made her heart flutter, and her eyes sparkled brightly.

‘Vivid purple eyes…’

Nellaf pondered as he gazed into Sera’s eyes.

‘It’s an unusual color. I feel like I’ve seen something similar somewhere…’

“Hmm. But, Viscount, how did you end up separated from the Marquis?”

“Ah… well… in such a remote village, there are naturally fewer doctors. I was going around the village taking care of the residents, but then the Marquis’s condition worsened. I hurried to follow but ended up getting separated.”

Nellaf said with an awkward smile.

“That’s right. That’s why I suddenly set off too… huh? Didn’t you say you were the doctor at the Marquis’s mansion? Shouldn’t you be by the Marquis’s side?”

“This was something beyond my ability to help with… so I came looking for someone who could resolve it. I often visit remote villages like this to make rounds.”

‘A person whose heart is as kind as their face. They go all the way to distant villages to treat people.’

Sera smiled contentedly, then quickly adjusted her expression and spoke with a worried look.

“Is the Marquis’s health… alright?”

Seeing the worry in Sera’s eyes, Nellaf felt a familiar sensation once more.

‘Ah… where have I seen this before…?’

“Seian… no, as you know, Marquis Lafjehill possesses a very strong pheromone. Sometimes, there are instances of pheromone outbursts… well, that’s how it is. That’s all I can tell you.”

Nellaf spoke with a thoughtful expression, then belatedly smiled.

‘Telling all sorts of things to a lady I’ve just met. And about Seian’s matters… hmm, that’s unlike me.’

Kyle returned from the market and headed straight to Sera’s room.

‘Think of me whenever you see the handkerchief. I’ll come find you when I become an adult.’

“Ahem.”

Recalling the words he would say when handing over the handkerchief, he cleared his throat and knocked on Sera’s door.

Knock knock.

There was no response.

“…Sera? …Sera?”

Even when he called, there was no response. A girl from the next room came out at the sound and spoke to Kyle.

“Kyle? Sera just left a moment ago.”

Kyle asked with eyes wide in surprise.

“What?!”

Bang.

He opened Sera’s door, but she wasn’t there. All of Sera’s belongings were gone.

Only the vase with the bouquet Kyle had given her remained.

“Sera…”

Kyle looked around Sera’s room with empty eyes.

.

.

.

Kyle, who had rushed to the director to hear the situation, sat on Sera’s bed.

Tears flowed from his eyes. He kissed the handkerchief he couldn’t give to her.

“Sera…”

Wooo, woooo.

“Why don’t you rest at this village inn? We’ll set off again tomorrow morning.”

The coachman said after stopping the carriage.

Nellaf got off the carriage and helped Sera down by holding her hand.

‘Oh my, to be escorted by such a handsome man… It’s like something out of a book. I feel like a noble lady.’

Sera descended with a shy smile, holding Nellaf’s hand. Once off the carriage, she stretched her back and felt the stiffness of the world.

“Ugh, ahhh. Oh, my back.”

Sera let out a strange sound as she stretched after getting off the carriage.

‘Oh no! I did it without thinking.’

Seeing Nellaf’s expression, he was trying to hold back his laughter. Sera felt her face flush as she spoke.

“Well… it’s my first time riding a carriage, and sitting for so long made me stiff…”

“Pfft. I’m sorry. Your unpretentiousness is refreshing. You remind me a lot of someone I know.”

‘I remember now. Count Shyloz had those violet eyes.’

Nellaf, feeling relieved as his curiosity was satisfied, escorted Sera with a fresh smile.

“Please, go in and rest.”

Sera felt a bit closer to Nellaf for some reason. She glanced up at him and noticed his monocle turning a light brown under the bright lights.

‘The Viscount is so kind and makes me feel at ease. It’s fascinating how the monocle changes color.’

Sera entered the inn, changed into simple clothes, and fell asleep as soon as she lay on the bed.

(5 years ago.) [Imperial Year 325]

Nellaf was heading to the Taintree Temple in the capital for the coming-of-age ceremony.

Puhihihing!! Whoa.

Thud!!

Nellaf tumbled to the opposite seat of the carriage, hitting his face.

“Ugh…”

The coachman stammered in panic.

“Y-Young master! I’m sorry! A-Are you okay?! Someone suddenly jumped out…! Hey! Who are you?!”

“Huff… huff… To… the temple…”

Thud…

Nellaf pressed a handkerchief over his bleeding right eye and looked outside.

A man with hair that seemed to shimmer silver was kneeling, clutching his chest in agony.

‘Damn… It must be a pheromone outburst. Silver hair… Could he be from the Shyloz family?’

Nellaf instructed the coachman to bring the collapsed man into the carriage and quickly head to the temple.

‘Right eye… I can’t see well. Not sure if it’ll recover.’

Taintree Temple in the capital.

Clutching the blood-stained handkerchief, Nellaf arrived at the temple and got off the carriage. The dazed man, supported by the coachman, also moved inside the temple.

Two startled priests rushed out.

“Th-This person… It’s a pheromone outburst…! Wait, isn’t this the young master from the Benjamin family too?!”

One priest seated the collapsed man and spoke, seeing Nellaf bleeding.

“What happened to your face…?”

“The pheromone outburst seems urgent, please calm it quickly. It’s been going on for a while, it’s dangerous. I’m fine, just hurry.”

Several priests gathered, placing their hands on the man’s head to collect the pheromones.

Swoosh. Swoooosh.

The white light surrounding the man gradually faded.

“Huff… whew…”

As he gradually regained consciousness, the man looked around.

“This is… the temple… Thank you.”

He stood up, stretched, and thanked the priest.

“Ugh… Ahh! Whew… My body feels so stiff.”

“My lord, Count… Please maintain your dignity. And you should thank this person. They brought you here.”

“Ah, right. The benefactor who brought me– your eye?!”

The man who had just woken up was at a loss seeing Nellaf with an injured eye.

“It’s alright. A human life is more important. You were in great danger. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

Nellaf returned after receiving treatment and wearing an eye patch, guided by the priests.

“Are you alright? With blue hair, you must be the young master of Viscount Benjamin. I am Suzette Shyloz of the Shyloz family.”

Suzette, with his silver-tinged white hair and deep violet eyes, appeared to be just a bit older than Nellaf, looking quite composed and neat.

“Count Shyloz. Hello. I am Nellaf of the Benjamin family. Please, don’t worry about this incident.”

“Because of me… your eye… Is it alright? I hope your vision isn’t affected. I’ve shown such disgrace to a young man. I’m truly sorry.”

‘Count Shyloz. Gentle and soft-spoken, just like his appearance. Still unmarried. He must be popular with women, so how did he end up in a pheromone frenzy? Does he have a phobia of women?’

Nellaf, seeing Suzette repeatedly apologize, smiled gently and said,

“It’s really alright. I was careless too. But, Count, how did you end up in such a frenzy?”

“It’s because I didn’t calm my pheromones. It’s not a big deal. I used to drop by the temple occasionally to collect them. As I got older, my pheromones didn’t come out as much as they used to. Plus, I got lazy. Haha. So, visiting the temple sporadically led to this situation. Just… like this… Oh, never mind.”

Suzette was brighter and more cheerful than Nellaf had expected.

“I see. Still, if you don’t calm your pheromones in other ways, you should visit the temple regularly to collect them.”

“You’re quite knowledgeable for a young man. Hahaha. Oh, I’m not upset at all. I’m just grateful. I’m happy that someone cares about me like this. Yes, I’ll visit often to collect them as you suggested. By the way, what brings you to the temple? Are you here for the coming-of-age ceremony?”

“Yes. I came to offer prayers for the coming-of-age ceremony. There’s about a month left until my birthday, but I’ve been feeling changes in my body recently. I wanted to manifest early and learn how to control it.”

About a week ago, Nellaf had started experiencing morning erections and could only calm down by masturbating.

“Haha, you know you have to be especially careful when your pheromones manifest. If only I hadn’t made such… ‘mistakes’…”

Nellaf looked at Suzette, who was momentarily speechless.

‘Mistakes…?’

Suzette couldn’t continue speaking as memories of the past came flooding back.

‘I couldn’t control it back then, and that’s how we ended up with Seria… Feria, Seria…’