As per Lolopechka's arrangement, both siblings were to remain in the Heart Kingdom for six months before returning to the Clover Kingdom. The process would repeat six months later with other promising candidates.
Kirsch was assigned to train under Sarado, the Plant Spirit Guardian, in the mornings, and under Floga, the Fire Spirit Guardian, in the latter half of the day.
Mimosa also trained with Sarado, though her afternoons were left unassigned. She insisted that El teach her the rune methods of the Heart Kingdom, and he did not reject the idea.
She proved remarkably adept at handling runes—much like her brother, who joined them in the evenings.
After three months of training, Kirsch showed tremendous progress in manipulating mana runes and merging them with his magic, creating breathtaking phenomena. But that was all. He thought only of beauty and presentation.
In contrast, even without having received her grimoire, Mimosa could already perform minor healing on plants and small animals.
The siblings had made El's cottage their second home. They spent nearly every evening there and often slept atop the skull of the ancient demon.
Each morning they awoke beneath an endless sky scattered with stars and distant galaxies. Being so close to a strong magic region, they occasionally witnessed green auroras and other rare celestial phenomena shimmering across the sky.
"I hate to admit it," Kirsch muttered one night, staring upward, "but this phenomenon is more beautiful than my magic."
He fell asleep mid-gaze.
They lived on fruits from the surrounding trees, drinking their juices—which carried a faint hallucinogenic yet refreshing effect.
Mimosa and El let the moment pass in silence. Lying beside one another, neither noticed when their hands intertwined. They fell asleep that way.
Late in the night, El stirred at the faint scent of sweetness drifting into his nose. He opened his eyes to find Mimosa asleep, her head resting on his chest as she murmured softly within some pleasant dream.
Kirsch, meanwhile, had rolled dangerously close to the edge of the ancient demon's skull—one careless movement away from falling.
El's mind urged him to save his friend immediately. But his heart refused to disturb the sleeping princess in his arms.
Carefully, he rose, lifting Mimosa in a gentle princess carry. He teleported, carrying her to the top floor of his cottage and laid her upon the bed. Then he returned for Kirsch, dragging him back from the edge and settling him safely on the second floor.
A small smile touched his lips when he sensed Mimosa's Ki shift—she had awakened when he lifted her, yet she had not protested.
It was useless to deny it any longer.
He had grown accustomed to her presence.
He did not understand why his heartbeat quickened around her, why his face warmed, why his words sometimes faltered. But he understood one truth clearly—
He had begun to love her.
And though Mimosa did not yet know how to name the feeling in her heart, she felt it too.
"Hey, El… I wanted to ask you something. If it's okay with you. It might be personal, so if you don't want to…" Mimosa fidgeted as she arranged documents in the corner of the cottage.
"Just ask, Mimosa. You can ask me anything." El tried to sound indifferent, though his heart pounded in anticipation.
"Do… you have a girlfriend?"
"No. I don't." he answered calmly. "Do you have a boyfriend?"
"Wh–what? No! I don't even have friends in the Clover Kingdom other than my cousins…" she said quickly.
"That's good." He said smiling.
Butterflies erupted in her stomach at his words 'Did he say he was glad, does it mean he also…. noooo'
Though she steadied herself. Aware of her emotions through her Ki, El's own smile widened slightly.
As the time for Mimosa and Kirsch's departure drew near, El found himself unable to focus on his research becoming restless. He had not stepped into the Spade Kingdom for nearly four months, instead finding every excuse to steal moments alone with her, getting to know her better.
The opportunity came when Mimosa declared she no longer wished to train under the other guardians and instead wanted to assist El in his rune research. She claimed she was drawn to the runes.
In truth, it was him she was drawn to.
From then on, an unspoken understanding formed between them. Research became an afterthought. Instead, El began taking her to places he thought she would like. Holding hands during became another normal.
They spoke endlessly—about his dungeon adventures, the history of the continent, forgotten civilizations. Mimosa shared stories of her life in the Clover Kingdom—how she had always felt like the clumsiest among her siblings.
On one such outing, El brought her somewhere unexpected.
Two white-hooded figures appeared atop a high clock tower, blending into a swirling snowstorm that overlooked a frozen capital.
"El… where are we?" Mimosa asked, shivering as she stared at the blackened, half-burnt castle looming in the distance.
"El… where are we?" Mimosa asked, staring at the worn streets below and the blackened, half-burnt castle in the distance.
"Mimosa," El said quietly, his tone different—serious. "You know everything about me… except the most important part. I wish to tell you the truth. Before I ask you something."
The air grew heavy.
"We're in the Spade Kingdom."
"The devil-infested kingdom?" she whispered, shock evident in her voice.
"It wasn't always like this," El said. "Twelve years ago, it was cold and harsh—but peaceful. Until devil worshippers staged a coup. They killed my mother, Queen Ciel… and my father, King Loyce… and seized the throne."
Mimosa's thoughts raced.
"Oh… those poor people," she murmured instinctively. "I hope we can help them someday."
El blinked at her response—surprised.
He gently tapped her forehead and realization struck her instantly.
"Your parents… were the rulers of the Spade Kingdom?"
"Yes." His voice softened. "I am the prince of the spade kingdom. A runaway prince who lost everything twelve years ago."
"You were just a child…" she said quietly.
"It's my most closely guarded secret. Apart from the Dryad, no one knows. Not even Queen Lolopechka."
"Then why tell me?" she asked, her heart racing. She felt something monumental approaching.
"Because before I ask you to be part of my life, you deserve to understand the danger that comes with it. My future… is a battlefield. There will be wars. There will be enemies I may not survive."
He drew in a slow, unsteady breath.
"Knowing that, I should probably stay silent. I should keep you far away from all of it." His fingers slowly intertwined with hers, sharing his warmth through that single touch. "But I can't hold it back any longer."
His voice softened.
"I've fallen in love with you, Mimosa."
Her emotions spiraled—shock, relief, joy. These were the words she had longed to hear for months.
Before he could finish whatever careful proposal he had prepared, she threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.
"I've been waiting for this, you dummy," she whispered against his chest. "I love you too. What took you so long?"
El froze—then laughed softly, relief flooding through him.
He had known she would accept him even if he had claimed to be a nameless commoner from the Spade Kingdom.
But he owed her the truth.
He would not begin his relationship over lies and secrets.
Soon the cold air of the Spade Kingdom was forgotten the moment their lips met. It was a desperate, hungry collision, their breaths mingling as they clung to each other, fighting for warmth.
The world around them blurred as El used Instant Transmission moving them to his cottage.
They collapsed onto the bed, the atmosphere thick with months of unspoken tension. As their bodies tangled, Mimosa pulled back for a shallow breath, her face a deep, beautiful pink as she looked up at him.
"That night... after we drank." she whispered, her heart hammering against his chest. "I intentionally crawled onto you. I wanted to feel your heartbeat... It was the best feeling in the world."
El's gaze softened, his hand tracing the curve of her neck and waist as he pulled her closer, the heat radiating from his skin making her shiver with delight.
"I never wanted to move you," he murmured, his face so close she could feel his ragged breath against her lips, "but your idiot brother was about to fall off the demon's head. It's a pity—you'll have to make up for that night today."
He pulled her back into a kiss, his hands sliding beneath her robes to find the soft warmth of her waist. They moved as one, half-rising as they removed their robes.
El's hands cradled her face, his thumbs grazing her lips, and for a moment, the world was nothing but the scent of crushed flowers.
Just as El leaned down to press a kiss on her neck, a sharp, rhythmic blinking caught his eye. The ring on his finger was pulsing with a cold, black light—a signal for a kingdom-level threat.
Mimosa noticed the shift immediately. She stepped back slightly, concern replacing the blush on her face.
"El… what happened?"
His jaw tightened.
"The Heart Kingdom is under attack."
Without another word, both of them reached for their robes forgetting their desires replaced with concern for their loved ones.