Daphne smiled with satisfaction and said.

“Let’s meet like this for now. Leonhardt will probably be frequenting the guild.”

“I feel more comfortable coming here like this than having you visit. If something were to happen to you while entering that pawnshop alley, it would be disastrous.”

He spoke without the slightest concern about being caught by the marquis’s guards himself.

“But that Leonhardt fellow has run out of money.”

“He’ll find a way. I bet he’ll go extract it from Barbara who’s confined in the annex.”

From what Daphne knew, Leonhardt was more than capable of doing that.

“So sell him useless information and charge as much as possible.”

Gabriel was so excited by the mere thought that he rubbed his palms together. Then he approached with a smile-filled face.

As he tried to kiss her hand in farewell, Daphne swiftly pulled away and opened the window for him herself.

“Let’s skip the formalities for now.”

Gabriel’s eyebrows drooped like a rejected puppy, but Daphne shook her head.

“I’ll be satisfied with you calling me Gabi today. When I’ve had my fun playing with Leonhardt, what reward will you give me then……”

As Gabriel asked this unnecessary question while climbing through the window, Daphne quickly sent him out, closed the window, and even drew the curtains.

She’d been having an uneasy feeling for a while now. A sense of being watched.

If she were truly being monitored, Gabriel would have noticed before her. But he hadn’t seemed to notice anything.

“Maybe I’m just being too sensitive these days……”

But it wasn’t an overreaction.

The next day, Kartun visited her home. After exchanging brief greetings with Werner and Christine, he suggested a walk to Daphne.

She had no right to refuse anyway. So she decided to enjoy it and went out with him.

“The Marquis must be quite busy…… I’m surprised he’s home at this hour.”

As he said, Werner was so busy he could have used ten bodies.

Regarding the recent trade issue, he had punished all the nobles involved in insurance fraud and the insurance companies that sold those policies.

However, those who had collaborated with pirates lacked sufficient evidence. They had arrested weapon merchants who supplied arms to the pirates, but they stubbornly refused to reveal their backers.

“Insurance fraud is clear because there are documents, but pirates don’t leave such evidence…… The problem is that those who work with pirates are far more dangerous.”

“It must be frustrating that you can’t just deal with them indiscriminately.”

“Exactly, because it could escalate into political issues.”

Therefore, Werner needed to work more diligently than ever, yet he was handling all those tasks from home.

Kartun smiled mischievously and said.

“Just now, too. He was looking at you standing beside me with tender eyes, but when he turned to me, his gaze immediately sharpened. Is he trying to be a parent now, albeit belatedly?”

“Of all times……”

Daphne’s voice carried a hint of exasperation.

They headed to the same place where they had talked before. The silk blossoms, having been drenched by two days of continuous rain, had fallen and were scattered everywhere.

Kartun’s expression became somewhat regretful.

“If you don’t like the scenery here, would you prefer to go somewhere else?”

When Daphne asked carefully, Kartun shook his head.

“The lingering scent of flowers remains.”

He then took out a handkerchief from his pocket and spread it on a spot where Daphne could sit. He lightly patted the handkerchief, inviting her to sit down.

After Daphne sat, he joined her and enjoyed the breeze. As he said, the silk blossoms continued to emit fragrance even after falling to the ground.

“It smells slightly like grass, but the lingering scent is still pleasant.”

When she smiled slightly and spoke, Kartun replied softly.

“You’re right. It’s changed a bit, but not much different from when it was in full bloom. But you seem different.”

“Are you saying I’ve changed greatly?”

He nodded.

“You showed no reaction when I mentioned the Marquis belatedly acting like a father. You weren’t like that before.”

“How was I before?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“No, I’m curious about Your Highness’s perspective.”

“You cherished your family terribly.”

To the point where you would do anything to save Christine and your brother Fabian……

Unaware of the words Kartun had swallowed, Daphne gave an unexpected response.

“A flower in full bloom must be different from one that withered before it could even blossom, right?”

She smiled enigmatically. She appeared detached yet somehow tinged with sadness.

“Are you the latter?”

“I could never say I was in full bloom.”

Kartun silently agreed.

“So in this life, I want to bloom fully.”

“What’s your specific plan of action?”

Just like a soldier.

Daphne felt slightly embarrassed after making such a romantic expression, but Kartun watched her intently, urging an answer.

“First, let go of what needs to be let go.”

“Is that your family?”

“More precisely, people who don’t love me. My brother Fabian and I love each other.”

Kartun silently gazed at her. Then Daphne asked.

“You’re not criticizing me, are you? You said it yourself. How long would I continue living here being treated poorly……”

“Did you accept reality because of those words? Then it was useful advice.”

Kartun drew a simple conclusion.

Daphne had been that way long before his advice, but she found it too tiresome to explain and simply nodded.

Then Kartun lightly held her chin with his fingertips.

“Some things haven’t changed.”

“…Like what?”

“Your habit of just nodding when you find something bothersome.”

That’s right, I did that.

When he pointed out something she had completely forgotten about herself, laughter bubbled up without resistance.

In that moment, she felt his fingers holding her chin stiffen.

Daphne carefully leaned backward to escape his hand. Then she quickly spoke to break the awkwardness.

“After returning to the past, my mind is completely filled with information. All things necessary for revenge. So I had no room to store such trivial habits.”

She looked into the distance, slowly appreciating the scenery.

“When I’m with Your Highness, at least I get to enjoy the view.”

“Does that mean you’re quite satisfied with this moment?”

Daphne slowly nodded and added.

“This time, it’s not because I find it bothersome.”

Hearing that, Kartun laughed too.

It wasn’t the guarded appearance he had shown since her return to the past. It was a smile reminiscent of his purity from her previous life, when his outside and inside were exactly the same.

It was truly magnificent.

Not simply because he was handsome. In terms of looks, Leonhardt was equally attractive.

But Kartun possessed something that Leonhardt couldn’t imitate even if he died and came back to life.

Though he’s clearly a grown man…… and a warrior who tears monsters apart and kills them, somehow, traces of a boy remained in him.

She failed to notice that Kartun was also silently thinking the same thoughts.

The two nearly lost themselves admiring each other’s smiles. Until an intruder appeared.

“Ahem.”

A strange woman’s throat-clearing came from behind them.

When Daphne jumped up in surprise, Kartun gently grabbed her arm.

“It’s alright.”

He pulled her arm softly and guided her back to her seat.

Daphne looked back and forth between the woman, whose features were vague but now somewhat familiar, and Kartun, then asked.

“Surely not…… right?”

But if there was one consistent thing through her two lifetimes, it was the word “surely not.”

Why did premonitions accompanied by this word never fail?

“That’s right.”

Kartun nodded with satisfaction. The boyish impression from earlier had completely vanished.

“Lara. Introduce yourself.”

The woman who had appeared without making any sound bowed to Daphne.

“Gabi was worried yesterday.”

Gabi?

Daphne was so dumbfounded that her voice naturally rose.

“You were monitoring me again?”

“I never said I wouldn’t.”

“Your Highness!”

Daphne protested strongly, but Kartun ignored her.

“Unfortunately, I agree with Gabi. Whether it’s guards from the guild, surveillance from your ex-fiancé, or whatever else. Whoever follows you, Lara will handle them all.”

He emphasized the name “Gabi” particularly, causing Daphne to frown.

“And your reliable Lara will report every detail of my daily life to Your Highness.”

“It’s natural to be curious about the daily life of someone who has agreed to cooperate with me.”

“But it would be problematic if my father found out.”

“Don’t worry. Lara has already been hired as a maid.”

When Kartun looked at her, Lara nodded with precision.