Ivy had just woken up after a whole night of sleep. She winced as she felt a throbbing pain in her left chest. She held her chest and realized it was bandaged.
"Pain," she whispered.

Ivy then scanned the entire room. There was no one else in the room but her. For some reason, Ivy felt a bit disappointed.
"Usually, Race is always by my side when I'm injured or sick. Doesn't he know?" Ivy muttered, slowly pulling back her blanket.

She got out of bed and strolled to the window of her room. Somehow, the window was Ivy's favorite spot. She looked out the window and saw the servants cleaning the garden. Ivy smiled happily because they tended to her favorite flowers without any orders from her.

A moment later, Ivy held her painful chest again.
"Why does it hurt so much? I should use my magic to heal this wound," she monologued.

Ivy then chose to sit in a chair and began reciting a spell. She touched the wound on her arm and then moved to her left chest. After expelling considerable energy, Ivy stopped and took a deep breath.

"I should have used mana instead of haras, but if I use mana, I won't be able to replenish my mana energy anymore. There's no one I can embrace to restore mana energy," Ivy murmured, then stood up from her seated position.

Ivy looked out the window again and breathed in the fresh air from outside.
"I should take a bath and go outside. It always makes me happy to quickly replenish my energy," Ivy said again.

After showering, Ivy changed into simple and casual clothes to go to the garden, despite the lingering pain in her chest. She left her room to head to the park. Upon reaching the front door, Ivy was surprised to see Race approaching her with a tray.

"Race."

"Ivy? Why are you coming out?"

Race quickly approached Ivy, getting closer to his wife and carefully observing Ivy from head to toe.
"Are you feeling better?" Race asked.

"Huh? What do you mean, Race?"
Ivy pretended not to understand Race's intention, even though she was slightly surprised that Race knew her condition.

Race gazed at Ivy and then let out a deep breath.
"Eat first! I brought breakfast for you," Race said, walking towards Ivy's room.

Ivy furrowed her brow in confusion but followed her husband inside the room. Once in the room, Ivy sat facing Race. The usually calm and distant man was now meticulously removing fish bones so Ivy could comfortably eat her meal.

"Now, eat!"

"Thank you."

Ivy immediately began enjoying her breakfast without further delay, while Race continued to look at Ivy with a flat expression. A moment later, Race let out a relieved sigh. Ivy, hearing this, looked up and glanced at Race briefly.

"I'm glad you used your magic to heal your wound."

Ivy was shocked by Race's statement and ended up choking and coughing. Race quickly grabbed a glass of water for Ivy.

"Take it slow!"

Ivy accepted the glass and quickly gulped water. A moment later, she looked at Race with a fearful expression.
"Race, I'm sorry for all of this. I just wanted to heal Winter, not hurt myself. I promised not to use my magic recklessly."

Race fell silent upon hearing Ivy's words. The fair-skinned handsome man then gave a faint smile. He reached out his hand and held Ivy's hand on the table.
"Why are you so scared like this? I'm not angry with you."

"Really? Why aren't you angry? I've done something you forbade, Race."

Race continued to gaze at Ivy, a thin smile appearing on his lips. He released her hand and then stood up. He made Ivy stand up, looking confused. Race hugged Ivy without asking for permission.

"Thank you, and I'm sorry that in the end, you've sacrificed so much as my wife."

"Race."

Ivy was surprised by Race's words; she didn't know how to respond. Race smiled again and took a deep breath.

"Ivy," he called.

"Yes?" Ivy answered briefly.

"Is it too late for us to start our marriage properly now?"

Ivy was shocked and quickly broke free from Race's embrace. She looked at her husband with disbelief now. Race gave a thin smile and gently held Ivy's cheek.
"Let's start our marriage from the beginning and do it right this time. Will you?"

"Am I not dreaming?"

Race chuckled at Ivy's words and gently stroked her cheek. "Of course, this is not a dream."

Race leaned in and kissed Ivy's lips without hesitation. Ivy's body tensed from the surprise, but a few seconds later, she enjoyed the kiss. The two of them got lost in the warmth of the morning.
***
Winter had just taken some medicine and washed it down with water. He let out a heavy sigh after completing his morning ritual. He then looked towards the door and took another deep breath.

"I really don't feel like going to the base camp today," Winter mumbled.

"But Race is probably with Ivy in the pavilion right now," Winter continued his monologue.

Winter sighed and slumped in his chair with some force.
"I probably shouldn't have told Race about Ivy's condition yesterday, but if I didn't say anything, I wouldn't have been able to take care of Ivy in my own condition," he said again.

Winter groaned in frustration and then stood up once more.
"Enough! I shouldn't stay here," Winter finally said and decided to leave his room.

Upon arriving at the base camp and training the guards, Winter recalled recent events. Every time something wrong happened, he seemed to be with Ivy.
"Could it be that Ivy's fainting when we first spoke in the garden was also because she was protecting me?" Winter mumbled to himself.

"If that's true, doesn't it mean Ivy is my destined savior?"

"It'll be a double combo for me when I become king and have Ivy as my wife. Not only can she do magic, but Ivy can also foretell the future. She'll be my unbeatable shield."

Winter smiled knowingly after speaking to himself while gazing straight ahead at the training field. It was unclear what was going on in Winter's mind at the moment.

"But how can I separate Ivy and Race? Or should I just ask Ivy from Race? That kid Race never seemed serious about marrying Ivy anyway."

Winter found a solution to his problem. He then walked away from the training field without further delay. Winter was one to save time; of course, he wanted to meet Ivy soon and express what was on his mind.
***
Plakkk!

A hard slap landed on Ivy's cheek out of nowhere. Ivy was taken aback, as it was the first time she had witnessed her mother-in-law's anger. She held her throbbing and warm cheek in pain.

"Mother! What are you doing?"
Race restrained his mother's hand to prevent her from hitting Ivy again. Mrs. Maria herself glared at Race with frustration. A moment later, she turned her gaze back to Ivy.

"Why did you befriend a sorcerer? Don't you know that sorcerers are wicked and manipulative? Did you not tell Ivy what's allowed and not allowed here, Race?"

Mrs. Maria shifted her gaze between Ivy and Race. Ivy was utterly surprised—could her mother-in-law be talking about Tesla?

"Mother, how do you know about this? The sorcerer isn't Ivy's friend. He was the one who treated Ivy when she got hurt during the attack by strange creatures at the base camp," Race explained, trying to reassure his mother.

"Treated? Why was Ivy hurt there? How could she have been injured?" Mrs. Maria became even more puzzled about why Ivy would have been at the base camp.

"That..."

Race was confused about how to answer, but Ivy quickly grabbed her mother-in-law's hand.
"I'm sorry, Mother. That day, I was just meeting with Race. I was careless and got hurt. The sorcerer's name is Tesla, and he's a good person. She treated my injuries."

"Good person? Are you insane, Ivy? There are no good sorcerers. All sorcerers are wicked and deceitful. They'll use all sorts of tactics to make us believe in them and then attack us in secret. I don't want to hear about you meeting that sorcerer again. If you get hurt, the healthcare experts in the East are far better and more capable of treating you."

Ivy was shocked by Mrs. Maria's words.
"Wicked and deceitful? Are sorcerers truly seen that negatively in the East?" Ivy thought to herself.

Race himself looked at Ivy with a worried expression. Looking at Ivy's face, Race could tell his mother's words were troubling Ivy. A moment later, Ivy gazed at Race with a sad look.
"What if they find out that I'm also a sorcerer?"
***