The orphan who didn’t even know who her parents were had created a family, and naturally, the first thing that came to mind was marriage.

Of course, adoption was also an option, but since Leticia was already twenty years old, Luka first thought of marriage.

Moreover, in Luka’s eyes, the man holding Leticia seemed completely smitten with her.

Setting aside the fact that he was suspiciously hiding his face under a deeply pulled-down cloak, and that he was the kind of ill-mannered person who didn’t even apologize after throwing him to the ground.

Feeling dismayed that some thief was clinging to the sister he had lost, Luka opened his mouth.

“How, how did you end up getting married in the Grand Duchy…?”

He had heard that she was taken as a hostage in place of Prince Sion and was living while pretending to be a fake prince.

After all, the first thing he had investigated while working as an imperial spy was news about Leticia.

Just last month, he had received news that she was still acting as the fake prince in the Grand Duchy, so questions flooded Luka’s mind: how was she here now, who was this guy, when did they get married, and if it was recent, whether it could be annulled.

“We’re not married.”

At Chamuka’s firm reply, Luka felt relief but was again filled with questions.

Then what were they? Like adoptive siblings? Or family-like friends…? Or.

“Are you… like lovers who are going to get married, Leti?”

With someone like him? Well, if they were lovers, at least they could break up, which would be fortunate.

“I would like to be her lover, but…”

At Chamuka’s continued response, Leticia hastily denied it.

“No! No! Cha, Chamu… No. This person is not my lover, and when I said family, I meant…”

Leticia didn’t know if she could mention Chamuka’s identity.

From the conversation at the mansion earlier, it seemed that Luka had been raised as an imperial spy under Sir Borba’s hand and was still working as a spy.

‘But wait, since Luka has a grudge against the Emperor, does it matter? It probably wouldn’t harm Lord Chamuka if his identity were revealed, right?’

Though reuniting with her brother after ten years was precious, Basilinte was more important to Leticia.

While Leticia was confused about what to say, Chamuka answered for her.

“Leti will never marry anyone for the rest of her life.”

From Chamuka’s perspective, he was making an objective statement since two men couldn’t marry, so she couldn’t marry him either.

And he had no intention of letting Leticia marry anyone else.

However, from Luka’s perspective, this sounded like a garbage statement.

So he wants to be lovers with my sister, but he won’t marry her? Is he saying he just wants to play around with my sister?

And he’s saying this in front of her brother? What’s his intention?

Does he want to get stabbed?

“You piece of trash.”

At Luka’s condemnation, Leticia guessed what Luka might be thinking and quickly shouted before things escalated.

“Let’s move somewhere else to talk! Not here on the street!”

***

Unlike Chamuka, who immediately followed Leticia, Tan was left at the inn with Kalia.

Of course, it wasn’t by his choice; he had dropped off Kalia and was about to follow them when Astrid caught him.

“I thought you’d still be held up by Father.”

Astrid, who looked haggard from whatever she had been doing with Ferik, staggered as she spoke.

“I almost was, but I remembered something urgent.”

“Leti is probably with Chamuka now.”

Astrid nodded at Tan’s words, who would never refer to Chamuka as his brother even if it killed him, and grabbed the doorknob of the room at the end of the corridor.

“Not about Leti. Well, it is about Leti. This matters too.”

“What is it?”

“Nothing much, just that by now…”

Astrid opened the door.

Through the smoothly opened door, they caught the emaciated man who should have been lying quietly on the bed, trying to climb out through the window.

“…Master would have woken up.”

His startled expression was less like a grand magician and more like a slave caught escaping by his owner.

Astrid, with her haggard face from being tormented by Ferik, smiled brightly.

“Master. Where are you going?”

“Ah, ah, Astrid. My child…”

“How could you leave without seeing your beloved disciple? Come down, now.”

“I, I need to return to the magic tower…”

“When I need you so much like this?”

Eckle hesitated, but eventually gave in to Astrid’s face with her pitifully drooping eyes.

Watching Eckle return to his gallows of his own accord, Tan wondered if all magicians were pushovers.

How could someone with such power be so unable to use it properly?

Being infinitely weak towards those they cared for was exactly what made them pushovers.

“Now, Master. Let’s rest a bit, eat some bread, and work. Together.”

Astrid firmly placed the bread that Tan had carelessly thrown into Eckle’s room earlier into his hands, and her eyes sparkled.

Eckle trembled.

“Wh-what work? Child, you need to find your disciple and go back now.”

“I’ve found my cute little water droplet. But finding isn’t everything, Master. What if our baby disappears again like this? What would I do?”

Well. She would probably evolve into a witch who causes a great flood while demanding that her lovely baby water droplet be brought back as a sacrifice.

One thing was certain: she wouldn’t just sit there crying.

“We need to find out what teleported our baby all the way here. It would be a good research topic. An investigation into the magic that enabled spatial movement from Basilinte to the capital.”

Astrid held Eckle’s trembling shoulders and whispered.

“And while we’re at it, we can also investigate why Basilinte’s curse was lifted… Aren’t you excited, Master?”

The grand magician, now about to be flayed by Astrid, swallowed and shook his head.

How could he be excited? At his age, he was about to be run ragged.

“You’re not excited about researching with me after so long? Could it be that your love for this disciple has cooled?”

“That’s, that’s not it…!”

Love truly is painful, Tan realized anew as he watched the scene.

***

Luka guided Leticia’s group to a store. It wasn’t far from the mansion where Sir Borba had been.

The clerk at what appeared to be a tailor shop, with various fabrics and unfinished clothes piled around, greeted Luka.

“Hello. Do you have a reservation?”

“No, I’m here to see the tailor on the third floor. Miss Ellie.”

“Ah, I see. Please go up.”

They followed Luka, who walked without hesitation, to the third floor.

It seemed to be a break area for the tailors, and no one was there.

Luka pulled out a chair, placed it in front of Chamuka with a thud, and said, “Why don’t you put Leti down now?”

Chamuka set Leticia down on the chair with a displeased expression.

It was remarkable how such displeasure could be so evident even though his face wasn’t visible at all.

“Um, young master, may I take my leave now…?”

As Chamuka and Luka took seats near Leticia, Aina cautiously asked.

But Luka’s refusal was quicker.

“No. You’re connected to Nathan. I called that guy, so stay here.”

“That child?”

At Aina’s reflexive retort, Luka raised an eyebrow.

“He’s hardly someone to be called a ‘child.’ What’s your relationship with him?”

“….”

“Leti. I don’t know how you ended up with that woman, but if she’s involved with Nathan, she could be our enemy. Nathan is truly loyal to the imperial family.”

To this, Chamuka mocked Luka’s words.

“You speak as if you aren’t. This also looks like a safe house used by imperial spies. Don’t you work for the imperial family too?”

Ignoring Chamuka, Luka spoke to Leticia.

“It might be better to send that man away and keep that woman here. Is that man really necessary for our conversation? We should throw him… I mean, send him away.”