Thorn raised his head and looked at Hinako for a moment, but there was something different in his gaze than usual.
"What's wrong, Master?"
Hinako noticed that his mood had shifted slightly toward embarrassment and shyness, something she felt was completely new coming from him.
"It's nothing."
He answered, trying to end the subject as quickly as possible.
"Come on, Master, don't deny it."
Hinako grabbed his arm and began urging him in her usual childish way, a method she had found very effective on many occasions in breaking through the calm, solid wall he constantly built around himself.
"I told you it's nothing."
Thorn replied as he tried to free himself from her grip.
But Hinako refused to stop or give up, continuing to press him with the same persistence until he finally jumped backward, putting a suitable distance between them.
"Alright, alright. Just stop clinging to me."
Hinako looked at him expectantly, remaining unusually silent.
"It was only a message from my father. He simply told me a few things."
Hinako immediately replied, unconvinced.
"Hehe, come on, don't hide it from me. It's obvious that's not all there was."
He let out a quiet sigh that carried more surrender than acceptance before continuing.
"Fine. Tomorrow, after the battle is over and you successfully seal the demon, I'll tell you everything. I promise."
Hinako remained silent for a moment as she thought it over, then answered.
"Alright. It's a promise. Don't forget."
"Don't worry. I won't."
Then he slowly raised his hand, and the small sharp claw emerged once again from the ring on his finger, something Hinako had grown accustomed to seeing on many occasions. He made a motion as though slicing through the air before him, causing a small gray tear to appear in space . He reached his hand inside, and after a brief moment withdrew it. Resting in his palm was a circular golden crown that shimmered beneath the room's light.
The crown's design resembled an unbroken chain of delicate, beautiful roses surrounding its circular frame, each flower carved with remarkable detail.
He stepped toward Hinako, holding the beautiful crown in his hand, and spoke with a slight embarrassment that contrasted with his usual composure.
"Here. This is a gift for you. It was sent by my family."
Hinako lowered her head as she accepted the crown with both hands in an instinctive gesture of respect. But this time, respect alone was not the reason she bowed her head. Her face had turned noticeably red, and she couldn't bring herself to lift her head immediately as sudden embarrassment overwhelmed her.
She spoke in a soft voice, unlike her usual self.
"Thank you."
Thorn replied in an equally embarrassed tone.
"Don't mention it. It suits you."
Before Hinako could raise her head to answer him or say anything else, she heard his voice.
"I'm going to train."
He disappeared at that very instant with his incredible speed, leaving the room in sudden silence.
Hinako remained standing in the same position for several moments after he vanished, her head still slightly lowered and the crown resting in her hands. Then she slowly lifted her head and looked toward the place where Thorn had been standing only moments before.
She lowered her gaze to the crown in her hands, her fingers gently tracing the carved roses decorating its sides. Then she thought about what Thorn had said that it was a gift sent specifically by his family which meant they already knew about her existence.
She closed her eyes, completely absorbed in thought. Tomorrow, a great battle awaited both her and her village. But at this particular moment, Hinako was thinking about something entirely different . the promise Thorn had made to tell her everything after the battle.
Thus, the young woman's mind was now filled with expectations and endless possibilities, something that also eased the tension she had been carrying because of the coming battle. What she did not know was that this had all been intentional on Dan's part, for he had already begun to regard her as his son's future wife.
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