Her soaked body immediately began to dry, as if it had never been wet at all.
Using magic while maintaining direct contact was actually quite manageable.
The moisture that had drenched her body quickly evaporated and scattered into the air.
Her drooping hair became soft again, and the ceremonial dress returned to its original appearance.
"Natural Magic is really convenient. And you can do it so easily without any magical tools. That’s impressive."
Mary looked at her now dry body and exclaimed in admiration.
Kalius also looked somewhat surprised as he watched Eliana evaporate the water in an instant.
After all, she had not only splashed water without using any magical tools, she had then evaporated it as well.
At first he might have assumed he had simply missed the use of a magical tool.
But not twice.
Kalius asked with an expression that showed he could hardly believe what he had just seen.
"A distillation type?"
"It’s a freezing type."
Eliana answered with a bright smile, implying that they should get along since they both used Natural Magic.
It seemed Hera had not yet explained Eliana’s abilities.
Freezing type magic was capable of manipulating liquid, gas, and solid states. Among Natural Magic, it was considered one of the higher ranked systems.
Distillation type magic, on the other hand, could only manipulate liquids and gases. Kalius had probably assumed Eliana used that type after seeing her dry the water.
Eliana wore a deeply apologetic expression.
After all, that man had ended up looking like a drowned rat because of her. She had at least a shred of conscience.
Besides, picking a fight with the male protagonist would only cause trouble for an extra like Eliana.
"What an excessive power for someone like you."
‘I take that back. It seems I can afford to be on bad terms with him after all.’
Eliana maintained her polite smile while inwardly cursing him thoroughly.
Unaware of her thoughts, Kalius arrogantly extended his arm toward Eliana.
It was a gesture asking her to dry him as well, just as she had done for Mary.
Honestly, she would have preferred to send him straight back to his castle like that.
But if she did that, she would truly earn his hatred.
Eliana grabbed the collar of Kalius’s clothes.
At the same time, smoke-like steam began rising around them.
Before long, Kalius was dry as well. His previously styled hair, however, had fallen flat and now covered his forehead.
"I don’t have the ability to style hair."
Eliana said this as Kalius touched his hair.
Kalius simply shrugged as if it did not matter.
She should have left when he first told her to go.
In the end, Eliana had been chased out and was now heading toward the imperial residence.
Her first meeting with the male protagonist had ended in a water fight.
And not just a little water either. It had practically been like dumping an entire basin on him.
Eliana pointed her finger toward the grass and shot water like a water gun.
She had sprayed water at someone she definitely should not have.
He must have taken note of it.
"Ugh…!"
Eliana clutched her head.
She should have stayed quiet, yet she had practically challenged him to a fight.
It was best not to get on the bad side of the main characters, but things were already ruined with Kalius.
Despite the confusion filling her mind, her feet kept moving, and before she realized it she was standing in front of Velkirei’s bedroom.
"Good work."
She passed the guard and entered Velkirei’s bedroom.
Velkirei happened to be exercising, doing a handstand with his upper body bare.
His back was completely exposed to Eliana.
Sweat ran down his back and occasionally dripped onto the floor.
Eliana deliberately made her presence known and spoke.
"You were exercising?"
"Ah, you’re here."
Velkirei slowly placed his feet on the ground and stood up.
Eliana took a towel from the drawer and wiped the sweat from Velkirei’s body.
He closed his eyes and simply entrusted himself to Eliana.
Judging by his rough breathing, he had been exercising for quite a long time.
"Aren’t you overexerting yourself all of a sudden?"
"I have too much energy."
Velkirei chuckled softly with his eyes closed.
‘No, when I first met him he looked sickly. Why does he suddenly have so much energy?’
He had not taken any miraculous medicine, yet his recovery had been incredibly fast.
There had to be something behind it.
Eliana narrowed her eyes as she looked at Velkirei.
Her gaze naturally drifted to his chest.
When he was clothed, she had assumed he was thin.
But seeing his body now that he was shirtless proved otherwise.
The small muscles kept drawing her attention.
Eliana found herself looking at his abdominal muscles before suddenly realizing it and quickly looking away.
Embarrassed, she cleared her throat.
Velkirei chuckled again.
After finishing wiping the sweat, Eliana placed the robe beside him over his shoulders.
Then she asked calmly,
"Are you going to wash?"
"I suppose so."
Velkirei smiled lazily.
"I’ll call the maid."
Just as she was about to call a maid, Velkirei grabbed Eliana’s hand.
Eliana looked at him in surprise.
The hand he had seized was soon lifted toward his lips.
Velkirei spoke while holding it just close enough that his lips nearly touched the back of her hand.
Each time he spoke, his breath brushed against her skin.
"You smell like wind."
"Oh, I met the Duke of Hafons in Princess Mary’s residence."
Eliana sniffed her other hand.
But no matter how much she tried, she had no idea what "the smell of wind" meant.
"Did he threaten you? It seems you were directly exposed to his magic."
Velkirei asked again in a slightly colder voice.
He seemed displeased.
Seeing that he seemed to be taking her side, Eliana blinked.
Then, realizing she suddenly had someone she could complain to, she smiled brightly.
Deliberately making a sullen face, Eliana muttered,
"It would have been better if it were just a threat. I almost died."
"It seems the duke was being difficult. He is known to be rather rigid."
Velkirei laughed quietly. His lips were smiling, but his expression remained cold.
Still holding Eliana’s hand, Velkirei seemed lost in thought.
Remembering that she had actually won the confrontation rather spectacularly, Eliana spoke boldly.
"It was a mistake, but I did give him a good hit before leaving."
"How?"
At Velkirei’s playful question, Eliana made a gesture like firing a gun at him.
Bang!
Of course, she knew he could see.
"I splashed water on him."
"...It’s a miracle you came back alive."
Velkirei laughed aloud, amused by her unexpected behavior.
Even Eliana herself thought it was a miracle she had survived.
There were few people in the Owen Empire who did not know that the Duke of Hafons had a terrible personality.
It was simply that he was so capable that no one dared say anything.
Kalius was a workaholic who had no interest in others and hated anyone who caused him trouble.
Considering that his usual principle was to return whatever he received, the fact that she had returned unharmed was an incredible stroke of luck.
Eliana continued excitedly.
"Princess Mary was on my side. The duke seems completely wrapped around Princess Mary’s finger."
"They are engaged, after all. That would be natural. How are the debutante preparations?"
Velkirei asked as he released her hand.
Eliana seemed to think for a moment before answering lightly.
"Marquis Demeter has been helping me, so it’s more fun than I expected."
"It seems you’ve become quite close with him."
"I suppose that’s inevitable since we meet often."
Eliana rolled her eyes.
After a brief pause, Velkirei spoke quietly.
"...Do not get too close to him."
"What?"
"I should go take a bath."
Eliana looked at him in surprise, but Velkirei changed the subject and left the bedroom.
Eliana blankly watched his back as he headed toward the bath with a maid guiding him.
Was it simply her imagination that his words sounded like jealousy?
Eliana twisted her hair absentmindedly and muttered,
"What is that supposed to mean? He’s just making things confusing."