Gareta was helping Ivy clean her body. Even though the healthcare expert hadn't found a healing sorcerer to treat her, Ivy felt better. Gareta was gently rubbing Ivy's back, which was covered in scars. Gareta stopped rubbing and lightly touched the raised scars. Ivy smiled and moved away from her servant.

"Why? Are you uncomfortable rubbing my back? You must find it gross and disgusting, don't you? It's okay, Gareta. You can go back to the kitchen. I'll take a bath myself," Ivy said with a smile.

Gareta widened her eyes and shook her head. "No, young Miss Ivy. I don't find it disgusting at all. You misunderstand," Gareta said, feeling more pity for Ivy than anything else.

Ivy smiled again and took the rubbing tool from Gareta's hand. "It's okay, really. Go back to the kitchen, Gareta!" Ivy insisted.

"Young Miss, I'm truly sorry. I didn't mean it that way. I actually feel sorry for you, young Miss Ivy. How does it feel to endure all this pain from these scars?" Gareta asked.

Ivy looked at Gareta and smiled weakly. "I've already gone through all of this, Gareta. No need to be sad anymore. Sooner or later, everyone will know about all of this, but I can't tell them how I got these scars."

"Does Young Master Race know?"

Ivy paused momentarily before answering, "Yes, he knows."

Ivy looked at Gareta, understanding why she was so curious about this. She shouldn't have any scars as a noblewoman, especially as the wife of a royal knight like Race. It could be a reason for the marriage to be canceled. Ivy smiled again, though deep down, she wanted to cry now. She nodded gently in response to Gareta's question.

"Young Miss, what should we do? What if Young Master Race gets angry and cancels the marriage? What can I do?" Gareta asked, worried.

Unexpectedly, it was Gareta who started crying loudly, not Ivy. Ivy was surprised and tried to comfort her servant.

"Gareta, don't cry!" Ivy said softly.

"How can I not cry, young Miss Ivy? You might be kicked out from here, don't you know this can't happen? Not to mention having so many and such big scars, not even the slightest bruise is allowed."

Gareta spoke at length while continuing to cry. Ivy, wearing a sarong to bathe, and her body was wet, felt unsure how to calm her servant.

"Gareta, please stop! Don't cry like this, or I will start crying too. I can't hug you right now, or you'll get wet," Ivy said, perplexed.

But Gareta continued to cry, leaving Ivy even more bewildered. Ivy sighed in frustration and disregarded that Gareta would get wet. Ivy hugged Gareta and gently patted her back.

"Please calm down! If Race kicks me out, it's fate. Besides, this pavilion will be empty again. You can relax as if I had never been here.

"I don't want you to be kicked out, Young Miss Ivy," Gareta sobbed.

Ivy smiled upon hearing Gareta's words and continued to gently pat her back to stop her from crying. Both of them were equally surprised when the bathroom door opened. Ivy and Gareta were even more shocked that Race entered the bathroom.

"Are you helping my wife bathe or watching a sad theater, Gareta? Why are you crying so loudly?" Race said flatly.

"Young Master Race," Gareta called out softly and stood up. She bowed apologetically while Race glanced briefly at Ivy, still in the bathtub.

"Young Master, did you hear our conversation? You won't kick Young Miss Ivy out, will you? She's your wife, Young Master. Regardless of her current condition, Young Miss must have her reasons for it. I beg you not to cancel your marriage," Gareta pleaded, on the verge of tears again.

Race didn't respond and just looked at Ivy. He then sighed and shifted his gaze back to Gareta.

"Go back to the kitchen, change your clothes first, Gareta!" Race commanded.

Gareta lifted her head and looked at Race with wide eyes of surprise. "Young Master Race."

"What now? Quickly do as I say! I'll take over your unfinished work due to crying," Race said.

"But, Young Master Race."

"Tsk, Gareta!"

Race's tone rose slightly, and Gareta finally nodded obediently. She strolled out of the bathroom.

"Gareta!" Race called again before his servant ultimately left the bathroom.

"Keep what you know a secret! I won't cancel the marriage, let alone kick Ivy out," Race said firmly.

Not only was Gareta surprised, but Ivy was also taken aback by Race's words just now.

"What is this, Race?" Ivy asked in astonishment.
***
"What? Aren't you busy at the basecamp?" Ivy asked as she had spent the last few days with Race at the pavilion.

"No," Race replied shortly.

They were both in Ivy's favorite garden, the place where Race chose to help Miranda instead of Ivy, his wife.

"Isn't the basecamp going to be relocated? Doesn't that keep you busy?" Ivy asked again.

Race waited to answer Ivy's question. Instead, he gazed at her intently. Ivy felt a little embarrassed being looked at like that by her husband.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Ivy asked, turning her face away shyly.

"Don't you like me being here?" Race asked, probing.

Ivy quickly turned to face Race and shook her head, denying his assumption. "No, it's not like that."

"Then why are you so concerned about whether I'm busy or not?"

Now Ivy fell silent and didn't answer immediately. She continued to gaze at Race. Ivy felt at peace looking at her husband, who rarely spent time beside her.

"Ivy," Race called her again, surprising her.

Ivy was startled and quickly turned her face away, her head bowed down.

"I'm afraid of taking up your precious time when I'm not someone important to you," Ivy whispered.

"If you feel like you're not important to me, then why did you sacrifice yourself to help me?" Race asked, making Ivy look up at him now.

"Ah?"

"Answer me! Why did you want to help me until you got injured and exhausted like this?" Race pressed.

Ivy continued to gaze at Race and then took a deep and heavy breath.

"Because you're my husband, Race."

"Exactly! That's the answer. I'm here to accompany you and leave my work because you're my wife. Shouldn't that reason be enough, more than anything else?" Race insisted.

Once again, Ivy was taken aback by Race's behavior. She couldn't understand why Race had changed so drastically. He was not the Race she used to know. As Ivy looked surprised and confused, Race, who rarely smiled, now had a faint smile. He pulled Ivy into his embrace without asking for permission.

"Don't ask for reasons or why I'm acting like this! I just want to hold you like this, Ivy. I haven't been able to find a healing sorcerer for you. So, I hope my embrace can give you some strength and restore your magic," Race said sincerely.

"You're like this because of me. I should be the one taking care of you, not the other way around. Thank you and I'm sorry," Race continued.

Ivy was amazed, and her heart was now pounding irregularly. Ivy extended her hand and gently wrapped it around Race's waist without realizing it.

"Thank you, Race," she whispered.

Race didn't respond. He smiled faintly, nodding, and tightened his embrace on Ivy. But he quickly let go of the hug upon seeing Miranda's sharp gaze directed at them.

"Miranda."

Ivy turned her head as well, hearing Race call Miranda's name. The face of the servant she hadn't seen in a long time looked angry. It was evident that Miranda did not like the interaction between Ivy and Race.

"What are you two doing here?" Miranda asked with disapproval instead of answering Race's question.

"Should I report to you every time I want to accompany my wife?" Race retorted.

Miranda stared at Race sharply, disapproving of Ivy and Race being close. A moment later, she shifted her gaze to Ivy, alternating between them.

"Your parents are in the main hall. They came to the Race pavilion, so I brought them here," Miranda said to Ivy.

"My parents are here?" Ivy couldn't believe what she heard.

Then, Ivy turned to look at Race, only now realizing and fully comprehending what Miranda had said earlier.

"So, you've been living in the same pavilion with Miranda all this time?" Ivy asked Race.

Race raised his eyebrows in confusion, wondering why Ivy was suddenly asking such a question instead of immediately going to meet her parents.

"Yes, ever since that day when I brought you to the Bulango pavilion, where I live. I took care of all your needs, from the moment you opened your eyes until you fell asleep," Miranda explained without Ivy even asking.

Ivy looked at Miranda with an incredulous expression, and then she looked back at Race with a sad face.

"Is Miranda explaining that she can take care of you better than I can?" Ivy thought.

"Is Miranda also explaining that you prefer to stay with her rather than with me?" Ivy continued to wonder.

"Ivy, what are you thinking? Didn't you hear that your parents are inside?" Race interrupted, holding Ivy's arm.

Ivy pulled her arm away from Race's grip and forced herself to smile.

"I heard, Race. Let's go inside!" Ivy invited coldly.

Ivy's cold attitude slightly took me aback race. Ivy walked away from Race and Miranda without a second glance. Still stunned and silent in place, Miranda approached Race.

"You should go back to the pavilion, Young Master Race. Young Master Winter is waiting for you there," Miranda said, confidently holding Race's hand without hesitation.
***