The small, quiet town of Tsurinvale was a welcome relief after the steep chaos of Mt. Arashveil. It smelled of woodsmoke and clean mountain air. The inn they found was cozy, warm, and far away from the rigid elegance of Asteruya.
Seraphine was utterly exhausted. Her muscles ached, and her feet throbbed painfully. She was so tired she almost walked into a wall—a true sign of her natural careless state.
The Kitchen Rivalry
To thank the innkeeper for the warm room and to help distract herself from the pain, Seraphine decided to use her excellent Herbal & Medicine Skills to prepare a large batch of soothing tea and a quick, comforting soup.
She had barely started chopping vegetables when the three handsome leads appeared in the tiny kitchen, crowding her space instantly.
Yuzael Valestrian stood in the corner, looking elegant and utterly nonchalant. "Do not cut the mushrooms with your left hand, Seraphine. It is inefficient," he stated, observing her technique with a cold, critical eye. He wasn't helping; he was supervising.
Kael Arisugawa was next to her immediately, his flirty charm in full force. He smoothly took the knife from her. "Princesses shouldn't chop. You could hurt those pretty hands. Let me do the hard work." He gave her a wink and quickly finished the chopping, showing off his quick, neat skill.
Lionel Kisaragi stomped into the room, his fierce face twitching. He hated Kael's easy touch. "She can do it herself! Move, Kael! She needs to stir the pot, I'll watch the fire. I know how to handle heat better than you," he barked, shoving his way toward the hearth to prove his strength.
Seraphine just giggled, watching the ridiculous, silent competition over who could help her with chores. They were constantly fighting, but she felt deeply cherished.
Kael's Comfort... her?
After the chaotic kitchen war, Seraphine finally collapsed onto the bed. Her feet were screaming.
Kael, having won the clean-up duty, was the first to approach her. He knelt by the bed, his handsome face full of soft, familiar concern.
He gently lifted her aching feet, cradling them in his warm hands. "Oh, my poor Princess. You're too good and too soft for climbing mountains," he teased, his voice dropping to a comforting whisper that felt instantly like home.
He smoothly pulled out a high-quality balm—a gift he'd bought in Mizurelle after noticing her difficulty walking. His skilled, warm fingers began to softly massage her ankle and arch, smoothing out the pain. "It's my duty to keep your feet ready for dancing," he murmured, giving her a sweet, flirty look.
Seraphine closed her eyes, completely melting into the relief and the familiar warmth of his hands.
Flirty Moment: Tsundere Defense
Lionel couldn't stand it. He watched Kael's intimate touch for a full minute, his face darkening with intense jealousy.
He quickly marched over and shoved Kael aside with a dramatic cough.
"That's enough! That oil is too weak!" Lionel growled, his fierce face aimed at Kael. He then roughly picked up Seraphine's other foot. His cheeks immediately turned a deep red blush at the intimate contact, but he forced himself to hold it. "Here. My hands are stronger. I'll use her proper herbal paste, it works faster."
He started to rub her foot with firm, serious pressure, trying desperately to maintain his annoyed facade. He was protective in a possessive way, and his words were annoying, but the careful tenderness of his touch completely betrayed his unbelievably soft heart.
"You're so sweet, Lionel," Seraphine said softly, giving him a gentle, kind-hearted smile.
"I am not sweet!" he hissed, immediately dropping her foot and jumping up, completely embarrassed. "I'm just protecting my travel companion from your terrible massaging skills, Kael!"
The Cold Observation
Yuzael watched the entire childish squabble and the resulting massage with a cold, fixed expression. He felt the rising tide of jealousy, but he kept it hidden.
"The room is now too warm from the fire," he stated, his voice utterly nonchalant. He didn't offer comfort, but he walked to the window and opened it, letting a stream of cool air into the room.
"You should sleep, Seraphine. Being careless with rest will result in unnecessary injuries," he commanded, then quietly walked out. He acted cold, but Seraphine knew he had made the room perfect for her rest.