Evolaine was troubled. She needed to meet the Marquis of La Voletta, but there was no way to meet him.

It had been something she’d vaguely thought about before, but after her conversation with Siana, she’d become certain.

‘If I can’t meet the marquis, I can’t fully awaken Kelic.’

Though she didn’t know Siana’s intent in mentioning Kelic to her, even without Siana, this was something she needed to address.

“Hah…”

The problem was that for years now, the marquis hadn’t engaged in any outside activities.

He didn’t come out, and she had no idea where he was or what he was doing.

She’d thoroughly searched through gossip magazines and newsletters, but news about the Marquisate of La Voletta consisted only of a few traces of the marchioness and Hesion.

‘Come to think of it, the marchioness has been quiet too.’

It was quite different from the marchioness Evolaine remembered.

No matter how differently things had gone from her two previous lives—with Evolaine entering the Duchy of Radelica, becoming a Knight Squire, and appearing at banquets—she wasn’t someone who’d back down just from that.

Even if variables were at play, it was strange for her to stay hidden this much.

“What could she be doing…”

“What?”

“Eek!”

When a familiar voice questioned her, startled Evolaine lost her balance. Fortunately, she quickly grabbed a tree branch and avoided the disaster of falling to the ground.

Flutter—

Birds startled by the shock flew away. As a bonus, they dropped the branch they’d brought for nest-building onto Cardel’s head.

“…Dame, are you a monkey instead of a human?”

“…”

“Come down.”

“Yes.”

Seeing Cardel’s face, Evolaine quickly climbed down the tree.

Her body shrank at his terrifying expression that looked ready to explode in anger any moment.

“I told you to wait because I’d come get you after organizing things, but you were nowhere near the lecture hall.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“You couldn’t concentrate in class either. What’s going on?”

Cardel was really perceptive. Even if Evolaine showed the slightest sign of being troubled, he’d notice before she did.

“You could run a fortune-telling shop, Cardel.”

“I’ll take that as a joke. I have zero interest.”

At his firm refusal, Evolaine’s shoulders drooped.

“Actually… I was thinking I need to meet the marquis.”

“The marquis?”

“Yes…”

Cardel seemed surprised by the unexpected answer.

After clearing his throat, Cardel first took Evolaine toward the academy’s main gate.

Since all classes were done for the day, it seemed better to talk while waiting for the carriage at the main gate.

“…Do you want to go back to the marquisate?”

“No! That’s not it. Absolutely not.”

When Evolaine waved her hands in denial, an embarrassed Cardel rubbed the back of his neck.

“Then why do you want to go?”

“I think I need to learn about Kelic. To fully inherit Kelic, the previous Kelic swordsman must perform a succession ceremony for the next generation.”

“But right now the marquis is a recluse. You’re troubled because there’s no way to meet him.”

“…That’s right.”

Even if she met the marquis, there was no guarantee she could perform the succession ceremony, but couldn’t she at least get a small clue?

Because no one else could answer these questions but him.

“Dame, have you tried going to a guild?”

“A guild?”

“Information guilds handle more diverse information than you’d think. They have information that’s not easily accessible through normal means. How about visiting a guild?”

It was something she hadn’t thought of at all. She hadn’t even known guilds existed.

Cardel was right—it would be better to visit an information guild and gather various clues.

“That seems better. Thank you, Young Master, I mean Cardel.”

“Alright, then let’s stop by the estate later and go together.”

“Yes.”

When he emphasized once more that they’d go together, worried she might go alone, Evolaine burst into laughter.

Though she’d caused it herself, Cardel’s insistence on going together was amusing.

“Dame, that seems like a rather irreverent attitude.”

“I’ll correct it.”

Evolaine instantly straightened her face. The shift was so fast you’d think someone else had been laughing just moments ago.

Still, he was pleased by this change. Before, she would’ve agonized alone, but now she shared her worries with him.

If only she’d fix her habit of wandering off alone when lost in thought, that would be perfect.

“I wish you’d take my other words to heart too.”

“…”

“Will you answer me?”

Having nearly gotten her ears talked off more than once or twice for responding wrong, Evolaine kept her mouth shut until the end.

That is, until the coachman intervened before she melted away and lost all form under Cardel’s nagging from the side.

* * *

After returning from the academy, Evolaine and Cardel finished an early dinner and immediately visited an information guild.

They planned to tour all the renowned guilds in the capital to gather clues.

“Be careful not to let your hair stick out from the robe.”

“Yes.”

Her hair had grown long now, reaching down to her waist.

She tied her dark navy hair into one bundle hanging down her back, then wore a robe to hide it.

“I still think the black uniform suits me better.”

“White suits you, Dame.”

“…”

She’d subtly expressed her desire to wear the black uniform, but it didn’t work at all.

Cardel seemed to like Evolaine wearing the Marchi Knights’ formal uniform.

Except for quiet outings like now, he nagged to prevent Evolaine from wearing the black uniform.

“I have the right to choose my clothes too.”

“And I’m your superior.”

“That’s petty.”

“I’m originally childish, so it’s fine.”

Since when did he stop caring about such things? At Cardel’s shameless retort, Evolaine bit her lip hard.

“Besides, the white uniform shows better.”

“…I won’t become blurry just because I wear black.”

“That’s not what I mean, anyway.”

Then what’s the reason? While she grumbled, they’d already arrived at the guild building.

The first place they’d visit among the capital’s famous guilds was the Naoremi Guild.

“The name is unique.”

“The introduction says it’s a name chosen with the determination to lead harmony between East and West. Aren’t the East and West already on good terms?”

“…That’s what I know too.”

Did they want things to go bad now so they could profit? It was a name with an unclear purpose—you couldn’t tell if they were cursing or what.

Tilting their heads, the two entered the guild.

“Welcome to Naoremi Guild.”

Inside the building felt like a quiet bar. In one corner sat someone so drunk their face was red from drinking all day, while others sat quietly at tables and chairs.

It was quiet, probably because it wasn’t evening yet.

“I’d like to make a request.”

“I’ll escort you to Room 1, sir.”

When they spoke quietly to the bartender, he immediately called an employee to guide them to Room 1.

Just as Evolaine and Cardel were about to follow the employee to Room 1, someone sitting at a table near the entrance stood up abruptly.

“…?”

A person wearing a robe strode toward them.

Evolaine quickly moved in front of Cardel.

“Who are you?”

“…”

The other person didn’t answer. Instead, they lifted their robe slightly to show their face.

“…!”

It was the Crown Prince, Astrian.

“I’d like to have a conversation.”

“…What should we do?”

When Evolaine sought permission, Cardel sighed deeply.

It was an irreverent attitude before the crown prince, but if he couldn’t endure even this in such a headache-inducing situation, he might collapse from stress.

“Let’s go in together for now. Guide us to Room 1.”

“Yes, please follow me this way.”

In the end, the three gathered cozily in Room 1.

Finding the robe stuffy, Astrian removed his hood and tidied his disheveled hair, and after confirming the employee had left, Evolaine and Cardel removed their robe hoods.

“I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“That’s what we’d like to say.”

“The young master is still prickly. People are always consistent.”

“Your Highness also always wanders around everywhere. It’s nice to see you unchanged.”

The one who became uncomfortable watching them growl at each other like they’d devour one another was Evolaine.

She was truly caught between fighting whales. She wanted to finish their business and leave quickly.

“Why did you two come here?”

“I don’t think we need to tell Your Highness.”

“Really?”

His reaction was lukewarm. Cardel’s left eyebrow rose crookedly. When he was displeased, he had a habit of raising his left eyebrow.

“You’ll regret it quite a bit later.”

“…”

If Evolaine and Cardel had come to the guild secretly, it was likely related to Kelic.

It was easy enough to guess without asking.

But Astrian was unpredictable. He used information guilds for more reasons than the two of them.

“Does it concern us?”

“Probably?”

His shrugging response was needlessly irritating.

His attitude of speaking like he was doing them a favor made Evolaine marvel at the fact that there was one more person who could make others feel bad—no less arrogant than Cardel.

“We came to look into the marquisate.”

When he stated their business, it was Evolaine who looked surprised and whispered to Cardel.