‘But that’s just a method she used to stay by her side—it has nothing to do with Verit changing.’

If the personality change wasn’t due to Haina, it was safe to assume this was her true nature.

‘She hasn’t been there long enough to be influenced that much.’

Then there must have been a trigger. Finding what that trigger was would allow her to form a deeper connection with Verit.

“Ashiel, I heard you’re having tea time today.”

“I greet Mother. I was drinking tea with Verit.”

Right on cue, the Empress appeared. The play had begun.

“Verit, it’s been a while. Your beauty seems to have blossomed since I last saw you—men might start eyeing you soon.”

“I greet the Moon of Vesasium. Your Majesty grows more beautiful with each passing day. Time seems to pass you by.”

“Oh my, this child. You’re quite good at flattery. Don’t stand on ceremony—sit down.”

As the Empress approached, a waiting lady-in-waiting arranged a new chair.

‘The preparations are complete.’

It was time for the performance to begin in earnest.

“If I’d known Your Majesty was coming, I would have paid more attention to my appearance…”

“You’re pretty enough as you are, so don’t worry.”

They started off well with a warm atmosphere.

In this play, the Empress played the role of an aunt who cherished her niece, while Ashiel played the daughter of the Empress and a happy older sister meeting her close younger friend.

“Really…?”

“Of course, truly.”

As Verit’s walls melted further, Ashiel spoke up.

“Verit, do you have anyone you like these days?”

“Anyone I like?”

“I heard the main interest among young ladies lately is fortune-telling about their future husbands. Have you tried it, Verit?”

It was actually trending among unmarried women.

Rumor had it that a famous fortune-teller gave readings that were almost never wrong, guaranteeing reliable results.

‘Good thing I researched this beforehand.’

Though it was completely outside her interests, knowing anything could prove useful somewhere.

“I’ve never heard of it. Where do they do it?”

“I heard a fortune-teller has set up a tent on Fastro Street. They say she’s a wanderer, so you should visit before she leaves.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Confirming Verit’s shy expression, the Empress made eye contact with Ashiel.

The bait had been cast.

The hyenas targeting the prey would hold their breath and watch the trap, while the prey would assess the danger of their situation.

‘In the end, you’ll become a card.’

No one had ever successfully escaped the Empress’s grasp.

So there were no exceptions.

As always, and forevermore.

* * *

Hot summer. The long-awaited summer training had come to an end.

When summer training ended, most knights except the emergency standby personnel got leave, so the Duchy of Radelica was in a thoroughly excited mood.

“It makes no sense that we only get two weeks of leave.”

Caryl, who’d been desperately waiting since the middle of training, muttered with a despairing expression.

“Is that short?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Ugh, I can’t believe it. I think we should get at least a month of leave.”

“Go tell the Commander. Say you’re taking a month off.”

When Evolaine giggled and laughed, Caryl’s face crumpled with a contemptuous look.

“I’ve befriended a demon. I’ve befriended a demon…”

“That demon is your closest friend in the knight order.”

“…”

Too much to say, so saying nothing. Though she had much to say, she wouldn’t.

Instead of getting angry, Caryl smiled a rotten smile with an expression of having achieved enlightenment.

“But are you really staying? What are you going to do here?”

“Just rest a bit. I have things to do.”

“Well, it’s your freedom.”

Having analyzed Evolaine while training together, Caryl wondered if she really had things to do, since she seemed like the typical homebody who’d only live inside the dormitory.

‘Still, she’ll probably manage fine.’

Just because someone stayed in their room didn’t mean they did nothing.

“I’m leaving. See you in two weeks!”

“Yeah, have a good trip.”

Caryl, carrying her pre-packed bag, left the duchy in a carriage sent by her family.

‘She’ll have fun.’

She said she’d make cookies and bake bread, so she’d definitely have a good time.

“I should do what I need to do too.”

Evolaine muttered, stretching her arms out to loosen her stiff shoulders.

“Shall I get going then?”

To start what she needed to do.

* * *

“…”

“…”

At Cardel’s office, the room was filled with silence, an awkward atmosphere lingering.

After seeing Caryl off and returning to the dormitory, Evolaine had come to the office with determined eyes and was now staring persistently at Cardel.

Meanwhile, Cardel was busy avoiding Evolaine’s gaze and playing dumb.

To understand how this picture came to be, we need to go back an hour.

An hour ago. Evolaine, on leave, returned to the dormitory to wash and change.

There was only one reason for returning to the dormitory.

It was because of the letter the Head Maid had delivered a few days ago.

She’d been flustered that it came from the imperial palace, but the sender wasn’t hard to guess.

‘The invitation wasn’t empty words after all.’

First Princess. Ashiel Ea Vesasium.

Since she’d spoken in the open venue of the banquet hall, Evolaine thought it wouldn’t be empty words, but the invitation came sooner than expected.

The letter’s content was an invitation to tea time.

There was nothing particularly problematic about attending, so Evolaine tried to send a reply, but her skills weren’t good enough to write properly yet.

That’s why she came to the office for help, but Cardel refused to help.

“I don’t see why you need to reply to something you don’t even have to attend.”

At such a brazen attitude, Evolaine was at a loss for words, and eventually a battle of wills began, leading to the current situation.

“Even if I don’t attend, I should send a reply. So…”

“You’re not attending? Then I’ll write it.”

“…”

At the attitude that changed in an instant like flipping a hand, Evolaine tried to add more but gave up.

‘Why is he acting like this?’

Was he on such bad terms with the Princess?

Setting aside the letter’s reply, she couldn’t understand why he was acting this way.

‘Or does he dislike me now?’

Is that why we’re having this argument?

Reaching that conclusion made her feel stifled. With a feeling like something was completely blocked, Evolaine unconsciously frowned.

“…I know you’ve been avoiding me lately, Young Master. I’m human too, so when you avoid me so openly, I can’t help but notice.”

Was it because feeling hurt was rare?

Words she normally wouldn’t dare think of came pouring out.

Evolaine was flustered by her own sharp words, but the one who took the most direct hit was none other than Cardel.

“…That’s,”

“Do you dislike me?”

“No, absolutely. Absolutely not.”

“Then why are you avoiding me?”

At the question that stuck like thick slime, Cardel couldn’t bring himself to lift his face.

Because his head was lowered, his ear visible through his disheveled black hair seemed to be tinged pink.

“Young Master, your ear…”

“…It’s not red.”

“I didn’t say it was red…”

“…”

Cardel silently picked up the letter paper on the desk and quickly wrote a reply.

For Evolaine, who was still learning words, it was writing she couldn’t fully understand, but she didn’t see any negative words of refusal.

“…Sir Heron, mail this.”

“Me?”

“Then should I mail it?”

“I should mail it…”

At his prickly temporary lord’s retort, Heron trudged out of the room with drooping shoulders, taking the letter.

“Wait! I should at least know the contents.”

Evolaine, belatedly noticing something odd about the too-natural action, grabbed Heron, but Cardel instead pushed his back.

“It says you’ll attend, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“…Really?”

“Why would I lie?”

That’s true, but… The earlier action left quite an impression, and Evolaine’s eyes narrowed.

“You said you wouldn’t write it.”

“I was going to.”

“You suddenly changed your mind? Why?”

“…Just because.”

When he answered while avoiding her gaze, Evolaine approached closer.

“There’s no ‘just because.’ You have a reason.”

Before he knew it, Cardel had been pushed back like a cornered mouse until his back touched the wall, and Evolaine had become like a cat interrogating the mouse he’d become.

“…You’ve become quite aggressive.”

“What?”

“It looks good. How you are now.”

For a moment, Evolaine blinked. And shortly after, her face heated up red like a ripe apple.

“I’m, I’m sorry.”

Pulling back the body she’d unconsciously moved close, Evolaine finally understood the saying about wanting to hide in a mouse hole.

‘I must be crazy.’

Her heart pounded wildly, dancing on its own. Her face was hot, and like giant waves of an angry sea sweeping through her heart, it raged.

Cardel, who was growing taller by the day, was already a head taller than Evolaine.

She hadn’t properly realized it because he’d been passionately avoiding her lately, but today she felt it clearly.

He was gradually shedding his boyish appearance.

“…Evolaine?”

“I’ll be going now. I’ll come again next time.”

Evolaine rushed out of the office like someone running away.

She returned to the dormitory so fast her breath reached her chin, closed the door, and locked it.

Click—

Hearing the lock properly engage, strength left her legs. As her back touched the door, her body slid down.

“What is this… Why am I like this?”

It’s confusing. I don’t know why my body is acting this way.

Evolaine placed her hand over her still-raging heart.

Thump— Thump—

The fierce pounding transmitted vividly through her skin.

“…Why am I like this?”

Her eyes felt hot. She felt like crying, but why?

What is this emotion I’m feeling?

“…”

The room where she was alone was so quiet it seemed like she could hear tinnitus.

On summer nights at least cicadas cried, but on winter nights no one cried out.

‘I’m scared.’

The more good people appeared by her side, the more she felt happy emotions, the more anxious she became.

Because it felt like this wasn’t hers.

Because she felt unqualified to receive it.

Because she feared being abandoned by them someday.

She pulled her knees in and buried her face. Soon her sobbing body trembled in time with her crying.

‘Will there ever come a day when I can accept things as they are?’

When they smile, I can truly smile too.

When I feel affection, will there come a day when I become someone who can say I like them?

I want to know. If such a version of me exists in the future.