The Knight of Light plants the sun in the eternal night.

Poppy pushed open the door and saw the Countess and Leo lying on the bed. He was surprised and his eyes widened.

Then he sighed, as if deflated.

The Countess covered her head with the blanket, while Leo, leaning against the headboard, greeted her politely, "Popeye, is that right? Good morning."

"Good morning, Your Excellency Leo." Poppy wanted to glare at Leo, but she knew perfectly well that she was just a servant, so she said irritably, "I saw Doris go upstairs too. Don't you need to go back and wash up?"

"Ahem, yes, it's time to go." Leo calmly threw back the covers and got out of bed. "Take good care of Madam."

The Countess poked her head out from under the covers, her hair disheveled, and called out, "Leo."

"See you later, madam." Leo walked out of the room and closed the door.

Doris was in the corridor when she saw her young master coming out of the guest room wearing only a pair of trousers and carrying clothes in his hands.

I was immediately shocked.

Fortunately, she didn't cry out in surprise, but quickly followed Leo into the master bedroom: "Young Master, you, you..."

"As you can see."

"Oh God, by the Holy Light!"

……

In the guest room, Poppy lit kerosene lamps one by one, illuminating the room.

The Countess had gotten out of bed, wearing a silk camisole nightgown, her exposed neck, shoulders, and chest covered in hickeys.

Her shyness had subsided, and she yawned, "Poppy, I want to take a bath. Prepare the bathwater for me."

"The bath water is ready. I'll tell Goya and the others to bring it up."

After preparing the bathwater, Poppy gestured for Goya and the others to make the bed in the outer room, while she served the Countess in the inner room.

"Madam, you..." Poppy hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.

The Countess smiled as she lathered her slender, fair arms with soap and gently rubbed them. "Alright, alright, Poppy, I know what you're going to say, but there's nothing I can do. Leo... Leo is different."

"Alas, I know that Lord Leo is different from those knights who are all show and no substance, whether in appearance or knowledge."

Pope understood and felt sorry for his wife: "Madam, I was the one serving you when you were still a young lady. I have indeed wronged you over the years. If you think Lord Leo is very good, then I will not say anything more."

"Thank you, Poppy."

"But you and Lord Leo should be careful. Butler Elias is fine; he was promoted by you, so he'll naturally side with you. But the knights in the castle are unpredictable; we can't let them find out."

"Mmm," the countess hummed a little tune.

Poppy continued, "And, Madam, you mustn't get too caught up in it. After all, Lord Leo is only..."

"I know, he's only sixteen." The Countess smiled faintly. "I spoke to Leo last night. He has his own life to live. Sooner or later, he'll get married and have children under pressure from his family. As for me, as long as he doesn't forget me, that's enough."

She raised her head, looked at her slender hands, and sighed, "In this life, shouldn't one become a real woman at least once? Leo gave me what I wanted, and I have no regrets from now on."

"Whatever makes you happy," Pope could only say.

He then helped the Countess rub her back and asked, "Will you still have contact with Lord Leo in the future?"

Why not?

"Okay, never mind, I didn't ask."

"He is the love of my life," the Countess said with a sweet smile.

……

After washing up and changing into his long robe, Leo didn't rush to leave the master bedroom, but instead went to the window.

Listening to the pattering rain outside.

Reflecting on this crazy yet wonderful night, he, like the Countess, had also been baptized from a boy into a man.

"What an amazing experience."

He still had the Countess on his mind, her body warm as fire in the dim light.

My body is already very tired.

But my mind remained excited.

Suddenly, he felt a familiar yet unfamiliar warmth in his palm, different from the warmth that triggered the flower's meaning; this time it was even hotter.

Raise your left hand.

The sun's mark under the skin of the palm has not yet fully charged and will not be completed until after 5 p.m.

But the sun's markings are different now.

He raised his palm and stared intently at the sun mark, discovering that the first petal of the twenty-four-petaled mark had changed.

To be precise, yes.

A name is etched on this petal.

Leo examined it carefully, then read it aloud in surprise: "Mariliana Juncus, her name is engraved on the Sun Mark. Why? Why would the Sun Mark engrave Marialiana's name?"

He expressed a strong desire to inquire.

Soon, the solar imprint gave a vague response, a strange feeling related to the mind and spiritual power.

"It seems... to be a contract, a contract of the heart." Leo slowly came to understand. "The experience of being completely intertwined with each other has forged a contract of the heart between me and Mariana. From now on, her heart belongs to me."

Leo clenched his fist and murmured, "And I, too, can keep my 'good luck' by her side."

To be precise.

It is the effect of the Sun Mark on the Holy Light that will also affect Mariana. As long as the Countess casts the Holy Light spell, it will have a special effect on the sunflower, making the sunflower shine as brightly as possible.

"Besides Holy Light, can other Holy Light spells also receive the blessing of the Sun's Mark?"

We don't know yet.

But Leo can just ask directly.

Even if it has no effect, the fact that it only works on Holy Light and Sunflower is still very beneficial.

"Could it be that in the future... I can rely on the power of the Sun Mark to bring forth the Sunflower Sea of ​​Light sooner? And will the Dragon of Light be able to tear through the eternal night and descend upon the Sea of ​​Light, allowing me to ride it?"

His mind wandered.

As he got up and went downstairs, Butler Dirk came forward to greet him: "Young Master, did you sleep well last night? Breakfast has been prepared for you and the Countess."

"Hmm, where is Madam?"

Elias, the butler, was also in the living room. Upon hearing this, he replied, "Goya just came downstairs and said that our lady is still taking a bath."

"Then let's wait for Madam to join us for dinner."

Leo didn't just wait idly; he went to the castle gate and looked at the oak trees and cordyceps in the rain.

The fiery red light appeared somewhat disordered due to the rain.

The meteorite's glow remained as stable as ever.

"I'm so sorry, Lord Leo, this heavy rain has blocked the road and we may have to stay at your castle for a few days," said Butler Elias apologetically. "But rest assured, we will pay for the lady and the knights' expenses in cash."

Leo withdrew his gaze and said gently, "That's too polite, Butler Elias. How could we let our guests spend so much?"

He was grateful for the heavy rain.

The Countess could stay at Sunflower Castle for a few more days.