Lina couldn’t sleep.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t close her eyes.
The image of Caelis kissing the back of her hand kept replaying in her mind.
Even after several hours had passed, her right hand still felt warm.
And what did he mean when he said, “I will dream of you, my beloved”?
Afraid of disturbing her son’s sleep, Lina decided to step outside for some fresh air.
She deliberately did not wear a jacket or change into thicker clothing.
It wasn’t winter yet, and although the northern night wind was sharp and biting, she would not feel cold thanks to the cold energy flowing through her body.
Once again, the memory of Caelis kissing her hand flashed through her mind, and her cheeks heated up.
Damn.
I was the one who wanted to tease him… so why am I the one being cornered?
She was certain that the Northern ruler did not like her—or at least, that had always been her assumption.
So what kind of game was he really playing?
Suddenly, a sense of danger surged through her mind.
Her thoughts cleared instantly, becoming sharp and focused.
Lina closed her eyes and concentrated on the shifting currents of wind around her.
She began counting silently.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Four people.
They were hiding in the shadows, surrounding her.
She could sense their malicious intent clearly, and the Moon Sword within her trembled violently, eager to be unleashed in her defense.
But if she drew the Moon Sword here, everyone would sense the aura of a Sword Master.
That could not happen.
Using magic was not ideal either.
Most of her mana remained sealed.
If there had been only one opponent, she might have managed, but now…
She was like a lone girl surrounded by thugs.
If she did not act, she would die.
After a brief moment of consideration, she decided that using a sword was still the best option.
At the very least, the relationship between the beast clans and the sword sects was not as hostile as their relationship with mages.
But Caelis already knew she was a mage.
If he discovered she was also a swordman, would he not become suspicious?
It seems I have no choice but to use my last card.
Lina prepared to summon her first contracted beast—when suddenly, she sensed a fifth presence.
By the time Lina opened her eyes, the attackers were already dead, their bodies lying motionless on the ground.
Caelis stood beside them, tall and composed, blood still dripping from his weapon.
“Are you alright?”
Fortunately, Lina had canceled her summoning spell in time.
Otherwise, her future husband might have become suspicious upon seeing a contracted beast far more powerful than a harmless, adorable panda.
“What could possibly happen to me?” Lina replied flatly.
“You dealt with them before I even had the chance to react.”
“These four rats have been watching you all day,” Caelis said calmly.
“They were waiting for you to step outside alone.”
“Oh?” Lina’s brows furrowed as realization dawned on her.
“So… when you kissed my hand and called me that endeared name…”
“Because I knew they were watching,” Caelis replied without hesitation.
In an instant, the unease that had kept Lina awake throughout the night vanished.
She let out a soft laugh—light, almost bordering on madness.
“Lina?” Caelis looked at her in surprise, momentarily worried that the incident had shaken her mentally.
“Good.
Very good,” Lina said as she took a deep breath.
“Now I can finally sleep in peace.
Good night, Your Grace, and thank you.” Without hesitation, she turned and walked back toward the palace, her steps light and her mood significantly improved.
Caelis watched her retreating figure.
“She can sleep soundly knowing someone is trying to kill her…” A faint smile curved his lips.
His golden eyes seemed more alive than ever.
“Brother… your wife is truly fascinating.”
The next morning, Lina woke early.
As a Sword Master, she no longer required long hours of sleep.
Moreover, she could not afford to fully lower her guard in unfamiliar territory.
Back in the Eastern Region, she could set up protective arrays or assign her defense-oriented contracted beasts to guard Claude whenever she visited the auction house.
But here, things were different.
She could not summon the same contracted beasts, nor could she activate any protective formations without risking exposure of her identity.
Lina stood by the window, leaning lightly against the wall.
The sky was still dark, but the faint scent of dawn was already in the air.
Her thoughts drifted back to the four assassins from the previous night.
That had been the first attack since her arrival in the North—and it was certainly no coincidence.
The Grand Duke’s announcement of their marriage had clearly stirred waves beneath the surface.
Lina took a slow breath.
Since childhood, she had lived among the sects in the mountains.
Court etiquette and power struggles were unfamiliar territory to her.
But she understood one thing clearly.
The only person who could save her son was Caelis.
For now, Claude may be hunted by many—but as long as he survives and rises as the true heir, none will dare lay a hand on him.
Lina lifted her gaze toward the dark sky.
The faces of her sister and brother-in-law appeared in her memory, smiling gently at her.
“Rhea… brother-in-law… have I made the right decision?”
Of course, there was no answer.
She let out a soft sigh, then remembered something important.
If the situation worsened, she might have no choice but to summon her first contracted beast.
The nine-tailed fox was no ordinary creature—it was a sacred beast, its status nearly equal to that of the Dragon Clan.
Forming a contract with even one beast was already rare.
Having multiple contracted beasts was extraordinary.
But possessing a sacred beast…
That was something far beyond normal.
However, Lina had never fully subdued the cunning fox.
Their contract had been formed when the fox was on the brink of death.
“I suppose I should introduce him to Caelis… and explain things beforehand,” Lina murmured to herself.
It would be far better than allowing Caelis to discover the fox’s existence through other means.
But first, she needed to speak with the fox.
Lina closed her eyes and began chanting the summoning spell.
Moments later, a handsome young man appeared before her.
His hair was snow-white, his silver eyes held slit-like pupils, and nine thick, cloud-like fox tails swayed behind him.
The young man looked at Lina with clear displeasure before letting out a cold snort.
“Who are you?”
Lina pressed her fingers to her temples, a headache beginning to throb.
“I know you dislike me,” she said tiredly, “but can’t you at least recognize your own contractor?”
The fox recalled the little girl who had forced him into a contract long ago.
At the time, he had been on the verge of death and desperate to survive—but that did not mean he had willingly accepted becoming a human’s contracted beast.
But now…
Through their bond, he could sense her overwhelming power—the strength of both a Sword Master and a True Mage.
For a brief moment, he thought… Perhaps having a master like this was not so bad.
Of course, he would never admit that aloud.
Crossing his arms, the fox maintained an indifferent expression.
“What do you want?