"Race, please stop! I can explain what you saw earlier."
Ivy held onto Race, who was about to leave her and enter the pavilion. Since they returned from the Winter pavilion earlier, Race had yet to speak to Ivy. Even inside the carriage, they remained silent, and Ivy hesitated to initiate a conversation with her husband.

Race, feeling angry and jealous, roughly brushed Ivy's hand away.
"Don't touch me!"

Ivy looked at Race in disbelief as he once again rejected her touch. She lowered her hand and took a deep breath to hold back tears.
"I'm sorry, I've upset you," Ivy whispered.

"I'm not angry, don't misunderstand! Now, let's go inside! I don't want to spend more money on your treatment with that sorcerer," Race retorted, genuinely upset.

Race's words took away Ivy. She thought Race truly loved her, so why was her husband speaking so harshly now?

The dining table was tranquil, with only the sound of utensils clinking against plates. Occasionally, Ivy glanced over at Race, who was engrossed in his meal. Race himself seemed to ignore Ivy's presence altogether. However, a voice suddenly caught Ivy's and Race's attention, causing them to lift their heads and look toward the source of the sound.

"Good evening, Young Master Race, Young Mistress Ivy. I apologize for interrupting your dinner."

"Miranda? Why have you suddenly come here?" Race asked, placing down the spoon he was holding.

Ivy looked at Miranda, puzzled, wondering why the servant from Race's pavilion had come to her.

"Why is Miranda here? Is Race going to move back to his pavilion?" Ivy speculated in her thoughts. She then looked at Race incredulously, her eyes welling up with tears.

"I've been sent by Mistress Maria to return to this pavilion. Mistress Maria said I should come back to take care of Mistress Ivy, as you're also staying here," Miranda explained.

"Staying here again?" Ivy asked incredulously.

Miranda looked at Ivy and then gave a faint smile.
"That's right, Young Mistress. I will be staying here again to take care of you and Young Master Race," Miranda spoke with emphasis as if trying to reassure Ivy of her position.

Ivy fell silent and looked at Race. Ivy felt uncomfortable having Miranda in her pavilion but remembered that Miranda was Race's favored servant. Race himself nodded in agreement, understanding the situation.

"Well then, go back to your quarters now. I also agree that you should return to taking care of this pavilion. The owner of this pavilion seems to be getting busier in the future," Race stated, then gazed sharply at Ivy.

"Why is he speaking like that?" Ivy thought to herself.
***
This morning, Ivy didn't go to the palace. After her bath, she had been busy with her magic books. Race, on the other hand, had just finished practicing swordplay in the backyard. He entered the room and saw his wife engrossed in reading her books. Race felt curious, but he was too proud to initiate a conversation with Ivy first. He couldn't forget what he had seen a few days ago.

Race sighed profoundly and walked past Ivy, sitting in a chair by the window. Catching a glimpse of her husband's figure, Ivy shifted her gaze from the book and looked at Race as he walked into the bathroom.
"He's still angry," Ivy whispered.

A few minutes passed, and Race had finished bathing and changed into his usual attire for the base camp. Seeing this, Ivy stood up and approached Race, gently holding his hand.
"Race, wait!"

Once again, Race roughly brushed Ivy's hand away, leaving Ivy stunned by Race's attitude.
"Race, why do you seem to avoid my touch now?" Ivy asked with a trembling voice.

"What's the matter with you trying to stop me?" Race asked without answering Ivy's question.

Ivy remained silent for a moment, as Race even disregarded her question. She took a deep breath and cleared her throat.
"Please take this to Winter," Ivy said, offering a red bracelet.

"What's this now?" Race asked, slightly annoyed because, once again, Ivy was so focused on Winter.

"It's a protective thread for him. This item is a companion to the talisman I gave him some time ago. Winter's condition isn't good right now. He's not only constantly bothered by forest monsters that seem to hold some grudge against him, but your cousin also appears to be suffering from an illness. I'm not sure what exactly is wrong with Winter," Ivy explained.

Ivy explained what she knew to Race, and his brow furrowed in disbelief. Race then handed back the item Ivy had made.

"Winter doesn't need this. Just take it back and keep it!" Race commanded.

After saying that, Race left Ivy abruptly. Ivy was left speechless by Race's behavior.
"He no longer trusts me," Ivy muttered.

In Ivy's pavilion kitchen, Gareta was prohibited from assisting Miranda in preparing breakfast for Ivy. Gareta felt strange because it was uncommon for Miranda to be so enthusiastic about catering to Ivy's needs.
"Gareta, quickly inform Young Mistress Ivy! I will serve her breakfast in the dining room," commanded Miranda.

"Alright," Gareta complied with Miranda's instruction.

Selina, on the other hand, merely glanced at her two friends. Just like Gareta, Selina was also highly suspicious of Miranda. Usually, Miranda would be very reluctant to involve herself in anything related to Ivy.
***
Several days passed, and Race continued to be cold toward Ivy. Ivy was consistently made sad by Race's demeanor. In contrast to Race, Miranda was unexpectedly kind and attentive to Ivy. Ivy's needs were well taken care of, so Gareta only needed to accompany Ivy without tending to her needs.

This morning, Ivy had to go to the location of the upcoming annual competition. Ivy was dressed comfortably, wearing her usual gown. After a few minutes of Gareta helping her comb her hair, Ivy was ready to head to the palace to report to King Michel beforehand.

"Young Mistress, everything is ready," Gareta said while looking at Ivy in the mirror.

Ivy smiled and nodded her head slowly. She then stood up and turned to face Gareta.
"I'll be leaving now. I won't need breakfast since I'll be having it with King Michel and Queen Nami. Um..."
Ivy suddenly paused mid-sentence.

"Why, Young Mistress Ivy?" Gareta asked.

"Has Race left?" Ivy finally asked the question she had been holding back.

"Ah? Young Mistress Ivy, aren't you aware?"

"About what?"

"Young Master Race left with Miranda this morning. That's why Miranda couldn't arrange all your necessities and pass them on to me."

Ivy fell silent upon hearing Gareta's account. Ivy felt increasingly distant from Race, never expecting her actions for Winter to lead to a rift between her and her husband.

Elsewhere, Race had just arrived at the base camp, where he met with Winter to discuss the location of the annual competition. While engrossed in their discussion, Winter suddenly clutched his chest, which throbbed with pain. He groaned and tried to catch his breath to alleviate the pain. Race heard Winter's irregular breathing and looked at his cousin in distress.

"Winter, what's wrong?" Race asked in a panicked tone.

Winter shook his head softly.
"It's nothing," Winter whispered.

"What do you mean, it's nothing? Look at your pale face."

"No need to worry, Race. This pain will go away soon. Please get me a drink!"

Race complied with Winter's request, nodding his head. He stood up and rushed to the basecamp kitchen. A reasonably loud explosion occurred in the base camp field at that moment. Once again, the strange creatures that burrowed through the earth had come to pillage the base camp.

"Winter, stay here and hold onto this. Take your medicine as well!" Ivy ordered, suddenly appearing along with the arrival of the monster creatures.

"Ivy?"

"Yes, it's me. Follow my instructions! Don't help me fight them!" Ivy ordered as she ran towards the monsters, creating a protective barrier beforehand and sealing it.

Seeing his wife rushing toward the increasing horde of monsters, Race couldn't do anything. He was unable to penetrate the protective barrier that Ivy had created.
***