On one side, Kemiro sipped his tea, legs crossed, eyes closed, and silent. On the other side, Mandipha enjoys her favorite dessert; her cheeks flush as she relishes the perfect combination with the tea Kemiro had prepared. Placing her cup gently on the saucer with a soft click, she asks, "So, when do we begin?"

Opening his eyes, Kemiro looked directly into Mandipha’s, sending a slight shiver down her spine. She reflected, “I know the Boronéa lineage has grayish eyes, but what did he do to develop such a peculiar effect? I’ve heard of Rune Eyes before—is that what it looks like?”

Noticing Mandipha’s curious gaze and twitching ears that signal her interest, Kemiro smiles. He comments, "It seems you’re calmer now to stare at me like that. Can I assume you’re interested in my eyes?"

Mandipha snapped out of her analytical state, responding with a teasing tone, "Oh! And why do you think it's just your eyes instead of your face?"

"I’m confident in my face, but even I tend to get distracted with my Akrava," Kemiro replies, keeping their gaze locked.

"Akrava," Mandipha repeated. She asks, "I’m sorry to be intrusive, but is Akrava another name for Rune Eyes?"

Gathering her courage, Mandipha’s curiosity overcame the unspoken rule about questioning another Ma’Ji about their Qualities.

"Don’t worry. I don’t mind telling you. But no. Akrava is a type of Rune Eye."

Kemiro notices Mandipha open and close her mouth several times, her hands squeezing her soft tail, unsure about what to do. He thought, “It seems that my answer wasn’t enough. She’s really curious.”

"If you have more questions, feel free to ask."

"Do you really not mind?"

Kemiro nods.

"Thank you! I’d love to know: What are the peculiarities of your eyes? How did you get them? Do those circles always move, or can you make them stop? Do you see normally, or has your vision changed? Can you feel the circles moving? If so, do they bother you?"

Kemiro is surprised at how Mandipha leans forward on the edge of the couch, her eyes sparkling with expectation and curiosity. He answers honestly, "If there’s a way to ‘turn them off,’ I don’t know. I’ve never tried before. They’re constantly active.

As for my vision, it changed in the sense that the world became much clearer. Ah! If I focus, I can see small things within a 50-meter radius without any problem. For example," he points toward the kitchen refrigerator, about 20 meters away, "that sticker on the fridge says: Usage Tips: 1) To avoid energy waste, keep the door closed until you’re sure of what you want to take; 2) Once the door is closed, wait at least 3 minutes before opening it again, or the gasket will be stressed, eventually losing its efficiency..."

As Kemiro continued reading, Mandipha was shocked to notice the small rectangular sticker. Even leaning against the arm of the couch and straining her eyes, she could only make out the blurry title, "Usage Tips."

While she leaned forward, Kemiro could clearly see her back, noting that her dress had a unique opening for her tail, adorned with a ribbon. Her thick, fluffy tail stood erect, swaying back and forth, as Mandipha was entirely focused on the challenge of reading the sticker.

"Incredible! I always thought my vision was good, but having an Akrava is really convenient. How did you—"

Turning back, Mandipha froze, surprised to find Kemiro staring at her waist. Sitting back down, she incredulously remarks, "You’re bolder than I thought. Don’t tell me you made me look at the fridge just to check out my butt."

Unfazed, Kemiro took a sip of his tea, then looked into Mandipha’s eyes and said, "Actually, I was admiring the ribbon adorning the opening for your tail in your dress."

"The ribbon… Are you serious?" Mandipha asks, her brow furrowed.

"Yes," Kemiro replied, averting his gaze back to his teacup. He continued, "In fact, if our relationship deepens, there’s a problem you’ll need to help me solve."

"A problem? What problem?"

"I believe that due to the conditioning I underwent during my training at the main house, adding to that the control required to perfectly refine my body..." pausing, Kemiro looked Mandipha in the eyes and exclaimed, "Well, to be blunt, I have no libido."

"Eh?"

"I don’t feel sexual desire."

"It’s not that I didn’t understand what you said. I absolutely need a moment to process that."

Mandipha raises her left hand to stop Kemiro as she massages her brow with the other, reflecting, ”Heavy! He’s being way too honest!”

No matter how much she massaged, Mandipha could feel her face heating up, her cheeks flushing intensely.

“What’s wrong with him saying something like that? I mean, he warned me he’d be blunt... Well, he didn’t lie! But what’s with this level of honesty? It’s like we’ve been married for decades." Mandipha tried to steady her thoughts. Then she asks, "Wait! So, you admit you have refined your body perfectly all the way to Rank 4?" 

"Oh! You still harbor doubts? From the certainty you showed yesterday, I thought you already comprehended that. Plus, it’s not a secret; I merely don’t go around revealing my cards.”

"As if anyone could infer anything from a battle that didn’t even last a minute! Even if someone in this world could read minds, they’d still be left with doubts after seeing that smile you always have tattooed on your face."

"Oh! That was undoubtedly sincere. I liked it," Kemiro chuckles, entertained by Mandipha’s exasperated expression.

“Grrr! You’re just laughing... What do you mean you don’t have des... are you imp... impotent?”

“No. It’s not physical illness. If it were, it would’ve been fixed when I refined my body to Rank 1.”

“That... makes sense...”

Kemiro responded calmly. Mandipha still felt out of place, but her curiosity grew. Hesitant, she asks, “What’s the issue, then?”

“As I said, my body works perfectly. I just don’t have any sexual desire. Even being alone with a charming young woman like you, I... feel nothing. Not a single thought crosses my mind. I mean naturally. But if I try to ‘force’ myself to think that way, it’s even worse, because it only reminds me of my inability.”

Noticing the defeated tone in Kemiro’s voice, Mandipha felt compelled to say, “When you put it like that... it does sound awful. Have you tried seeking medical help?”

“No. It’s not difficult to imagine the disaster that would unfold if this information became public knowledge. That’s the kind of damage my reputation doesn’t need.”

Mandipha nodded in agreement, thinking, “He’s right. In his position, especially as a man, rumors like that would be much ‘worse’ in many ways.” Intrigued, Mandipha asks, “Aren’t you worried I might spread this information?”

“Not in the least.”

“What gives you that kind of confidence?”

“Isn’t it obvious? You, the princess of Hauveron House, and a priestess no less, unilaterally proposed this engagement to me, an outcast from a support House. There are only two possible reasons for this decision. First, your family intends to use this engagement purely to comply with the Royal Family’s decree. Using my terrible reputation, you could fake a reason to annul the engagement by accusing me of doing something vile.

At worst, you might face some criticism, but you could avoid entering into another engagement.”

Mandipha smiles mysteriously, asking, “And the second?”

“The second reason is a question I was saving for last. But since we’re on the topic...” Startled, Mandipha feels paralyzed under Kemiro’s gaze, his face utterly devoid of emotion. The circles in Kemiro's Akrava are moving more intensely as he asks:

“What are you and your Goddess plotting?”