Liam lifted the paper bag he had been carrying and showed it to Harriet. Inside, there was a book. When Harriet opened it, there was a list of ingredients for herbs from the East Continent that were famous for their medical technology. 

This was a book that was still very difficult to obtain even after world transportation had developed rapidly since decades ago. Harriet looked up at Liam who was gently caressing her cheek and stared at the man with pain.

"I know I'm very late. I regretted it as soon as I knew I love you. And most likely, this too will fail," Liam said softly.

"Milord," Harriet hugged the man before her with despair in her chest. It hurt her to see that Liam would go this far to try to make her happy. She didn't know how to react.

"Listen, Madam," Liam whispered as he hugged Harriet back. He explained, "This is just a book that I can get my hands on with a little effort. Several other books are still waiting to be shipped far from the East Continent, and some I will never be able to obtain. Moreover, our time is very limited. Even so, those books are books that I couldn't have gotten decades ago."

"The world continues to evolve, thanks to my grandpa, thanks to the Emperor, and thanks to you sitting in the highest seat of government. All of that helped me immensely, even though you might not realize it. Plus now, I really intend to be able to recover, so I'm going to work three, four times harder than before," he added.

Harriet sobbed, nodding slightly in Liam's arms.

"I really don't want to give you any hope," the man whispered. "But for the first time in my life, I was afraid to face death," he continued.

"Me too," whispered Harriet. "Me too, Milord…"

"I'm sorry, Madam," he whispered again.

"Everything is my fault," he continued.

***

Liam didn't want to end their date by making Harriet cry, so he took her to the most beautiful side of the park, where an artificial lake existed. Liam pampered Harriet by taking her up to the treehouse with a wooden balcony overlooking the lake.

He did everything to bring her smile back by telling anecdotes from his childhood and when he was young. He told her the story of when he first turned into a Lycan when he was seven years old, and all the chaos he caused in the North at that time.

He told about so many farm animals he unknowingly ate in his wolf form rampages and made Harriet laugh after he mentioned that he had gotten very fat because of his habit of eating unconsciously when he lost control as a wolf.

Liam showed his molar behind his canine teeth, which were broken after falling off a cliff when he lost control as a wolf, and the story of when he came home in his wolf form and all his fur was covered in dirty mud that ended up littering the castle halls.

Liam lightly massaged Harriet's cold fingertips as he continued to talk. He saw Harriet's eyes lit up as he told her about his childhood and his family, and was grateful he could still make the woman he loved to smile.

The sun was beginning to set as Harriet laughed at Liam's school days with some of the other Lycans and their silliness. Liam leaned his head against Harriet in the wooden chair on the balcony. He was still massaging the tips of Harriet's fingers in his hands, and he silently remembered Heath's stories about his childhood with his sister.

Harriet's nails were beautiful, and it was obvious that Harriet had gotten used to grooming them that way. He didn't dare to ask about Harriet's past, it was also nice that Harriet didn't get triggered by her awful childhood by listening to Liam's stories that he told carefully.

"Would you like to have dinner outside, or at the castle?" Liam asked.

"Let's just have dinner at the castle, Milord," said Harriet softly.

"Okay," Liam nodded on Harriet's shoulder. He said, "You should go home first, and I will follow. I forgot to buy something before."

"We… can buy them together," said Harriet confused because Liam suddenly wanted to part with her for a while.

"Come on, I just wanted to buy you a small gift, so go home first," Liam said gently.

Harriet narrowed her eyes in vexation. "You've bought a lot for me today," said Harriet.

"But what can you do if I was determined to buy you that long skirt at the shop earlier?" Liam asked back.

"Milord!" Harriet cried out in exasperation.

Liam smiled, straightened himself and kissed Harriet on the cheek. "Go home first," Liam said softly.

"But…"

"Come on, go home before the sun goes down," Liam said, pulling Harriet's hand down from the treehouse.

Harriet didn't really tell Liam, but she actually had to speak to the Old Duke and Heath this afternoon to continue their discussion last night. She disappeared from the castle without saying anything to anyone, and even though they must have known she was planning to go out with Liam all day, Harriet still felt a little guilty. 

She went out for a walk with Liam, even though there was an important guest in the castle that needed to be watched over. Well, at the same time, Liam must also want to do something without her, so she understood. 

"Okay. Don't overdo it and head back to the castle for dinner, okay?" asked Harriet.

Liam smiled, kissed Harriet on the lips in a rather loud wet sound, and pushed her away gently. 

"See you later," he said.

Harriet looked back with an amused smile and waved her hand. It wasn't until Liam confirmed that Harriet was far away, out of sight, did he glance into the opposite corner of the park.

He didn't think that person, whoever he was, would follow them even now.

He felt uncomfortable and annoyed. Who did the man was following? Harriet?

If that person's target was Harriet, Liam would literally rip their face off and drag them to the dungeon for him to teach them his next lesson. However, he was surprised to feel that the man wasn't following Harriet, but following him.

He also didn't sense anyone other than this one person, so Liam decided to take a detour, slightly away from the direction of the road leading to the castle. After he arrived at a more deserted place off the main road, he immediately turned around and chased after the man–