There were two types of seals—Combat seals and Life seals.

Combat seals were expensive. Even the cheapest First-Grade Combat seal cost around ten crowns.

In contrast, Life seals were much cheaper. Take the Heating seal Felyn often used to warm up meals—it only cost a few crowns.

seals came in a vast variety. The Church of Truth had poured centuries of effort into their development.

Felyn had once experimented with using his Luck Draw skill on low-cost Life seals, hoping to minimize expenses.

Unfortunately, the skill had no effect on Life seals.

When venturing into the dungeon, survival needs were just as important as combat capability.

Temperature, food, water, even air—none of these could be overlooked.

Zervanie picked out seals without hesitation, hoping to finish quickly before Felyn remembered anything.

If he did remember, he’d definitely curse me in his heart!

In the basket she carried were the seals she had just selected:

【Fifth-Grade Heating seal】

【Fifth-Grade Cleaning seal】

【Fifth-Grade Repair seal】

【Fifth-Grade Music seal】

Felyn finally couldn’t hold it in and pointed to the last seal she had just placed inside.

“Zervanie, I can understand the other seals, but this Music seal… what’s that for?”

“It’s a seal that helps soothe the mind and body. Good for falling asleep,” she explained.

“Is it meant to lull monsters to sleep?”

“It’s for us. Hypnosis-type effects on monsters would fall under Combat seals, right?”

Felyn frowned. “Why would we need to sleep in the dungeon?”

“What if we want a nap after lunch? With this Music seal, we’ll rest better.”

It wasn’t that Zervanie thought going into the dungeon would be as easy as a picnic.

She just wanted to bring more seals, in case Felyn needed something—so she could be helpful.

If Felyn wanted to nap after lunch, she could use the Music seal to help him sleep soundly, and stand guard while he rested.

Anyone else wouldn’t understand Zervanie’s way of thinking.

But the one standing before her was Felyn.

And he readily accepted her reasoning. After all, in his heart, Zervanie really did seem like the kind of person who would nap in a dungeon.

“But isn’t an actual Sleep seal better than a Music seal?”

Felyn turned toward the shelf and picked up a black-colored Sleep seal. It looked strangely familiar.

“Did I buy this before?” he muttered to himself.

Zervanie leaned in and immediately recognized it—it was the Sleep seal she’d been using most frequently recently.

A whole stack of these had been sitting in the nightstand drawer for who knows how long.

As she looked at the seal in Felyn’s hand, a memory came flooding back.

…

It was half a year ago, when they had come to this shop together.

The shop clerk seemed to be the same person. The layout hadn’t changed much.

And Felyn… was still by her side.

At 3 a.m., Felyn had walked in with heavy eyelids, struggling to stay awake.

“Felyn! Look! They actually have Double Bathing seals!”

The seal reflected the gleam of excitement in Zervanie’s sky-blue eyes.

“Double bathing?”

“Yeah! It says two people just need to hold hands to enjoy a cleansing effect!”

“Wouldn’t a regular bath do the same thing?” Felyn asked, baffled.

Zervanie clutched his hand tightly. “This one’s for field use! Like when we get all dirty in the dungeon, clothes and all. This lets us clean up right away.”

“We need to worry about hygiene even in the dungeon? That’s so like you, Lady Zervanie!” Felyn gave her a thumbs-up.

“Hmph, of course!” Zervanie proudly lifted her chin, basking in the praise.

“But wouldn’t a single-person Cleaning seal be enough? Why get one for two people?”

At those words, Zervanie stomped hard on Felyn’s foot just as he tried to turn away.

She took a deep breath, cheeks puffed out.

“You idiot! Of course it’s for us to use together in the dungeon! Why else would I buy a double one?!”

“Seriously… you’re already set to marry me, and you’re still this dense!”

After that, Zervanie linked arms with him and continued picking out all sorts of odd seals. Before long, the basket was overflowing.

“Felyn, what are you looking at?” she asked, noticing him staring intently at a black Sleep seal.

“Sleep seal. You always have trouble sleeping, right? This should help.”

Zervanie pouted and waved her hand. “I don’t need that stuff. If I can’t sleep, I’ll just come to you.”

But this time, Felyn didn’t go along with her words.

“There will be times when I’m not around.”

“Don’t be silly. There’s no way you won’t be around.” She hugged him tightly.

“You’re going to marry me—you’ll belong to me forever. So how could you not be around?”

“…Still, it’s better to buy a few.” Felyn placed the chosen seal into Zervanie’s shopping basket. “Who knows, maybe you’ll need it someday.”

“I told you I won’t need it…” she muttered under her breath, but didn’t stop him.

After they returned home, Felyn stored those Sleep seals somewhere.

Eventually, Zervanie forgot all about it.

She continued as she always had—whenever she couldn’t sleep, she’d go to Felyn.

The Sleep seals were never used.

Not until Felyn ended their contract and left her.

Not until she truly couldn’t sleep.

That was when she found that thick stack of Sleep seals in the drawer beside the bed.

…

The memory faded. Zervanie stood frozen, staring blankly at the seal in Felyn’s hand.

So that’s what it meant.

That’s what Felyn meant back then.

When he said, “There will be times when I’m not around,” he was talking about after he left.

Back then, Felyn really had been thinking of her. If it had only been about money—just about the contract—he never would have thought that far ahead.

Just as he predicted, after the contract ended, Zervanie fell into chronic insomnia. On most days, she barely got three or four hours of sleep.

And just as he predicted, she started using the Sleep seals he left behind. It helped, even if just a little.

“You’re such a jerk…”

Her voice trembled.

Even if Felyn didn’t love her back then… those were the days when they were closest. The days when there had still been a real chance for something more between them.

If only I hadn’t been so sure you wouldn’t leave me…

If only I had paid more attention to how you felt…

If only I had understood what you really meant…

What would we be like now?

Would I have been the first girl to melt your heart?

But there are no “if onlys” in life.

The greatest regret is realizing what you lost only after that person has become a stranger.

Zervanie bit her lip, using every ounce of strength to keep Felyn from noticing her expression.

He was still looking down at the Sleep seal, deep in thought, unaware of her turmoil.

“…We should buy it,” he said at last.

He placed the Sleep seal into her basket again.

“Your sleep’s always been bad, right? If you doze off while we’re fighting monsters in the dungeon, that’d be a real problem.”

The exact same scene.

Felyn had unknowingly repeated the same gesture from back then.

Even after all this time, he hadn’t changed.

“Zervanie, why are you smiling like that?”

Felyn noticed the gentle arc of her smile and the subtle tremble in her shoulders.

He quickly added, “You’re still paying for it yourself, though. Don’t think I’m footing the bill.”

Zervanie knew now.

During their contract, Felyn hadn’t been pretending the entire time.

Some things… never changed.

Even if his reasons for caring now were completely different.

“Thank you, Felyn.”

After saying that, Zervanie turned away, feeling her nose tingle.

“Why are you thanking me all of a sudden? Just because I showed a little concern?”

Felyn looked confused.

“You’d better be careful in the future. A lonely heiress like you could get swept away by a few kind words from some guy. If a scandal breaks out, my autograph’s going to tank in value.”

Zervanie stood in place, blinking.

One hand pressed tightly over her heart.

Felyn, you’re too late. You already stole my heart a long time ago.

(End of Chapter)