35. Loba

In the evening, a beam of white light flew into the castle, signaling Ned's return. Laura, who was eating a purchased egg tart in her room, offered him one upon seeing him.

"Try it, maybe you'll like it. The taste is a bit different from what you're used to," she said, holding it up to his mouth.

Ned, being a carnivore, was not particularly interested in the sweet treat, but he gladly accepted it from Laura's outstretched hand. He felt a sense of warmth towards her and increasingly believed that she was his destined partner, though there was still something missing.

When Laura saw that Ned didn't react immediately, she assumed he didn't want it and said, "If you don't want it, that's fine. I'll just eat it myself." But Ned quickly grabbed it from her and said, "Who said I don't want it? I'll have it," with a slightly disgusted expression. As he took a bite and chewed, he realized the familiar taste and seemed to understand something.

"Laura, I have something to do. Wait for me here. Y