I swallowed hard at Aaron’s words.

“Oh, come to think of it, I think I’ve heard that there’s sometimes an entrance to the Temple of Fate around here.”

Aaron clapped his hands and raised mine.

“Aha! Then the barrier you were sucked into must have been the Temple of Fate!”

The corners of Aaron’s mouth curled up.

“Rose, did you see someone’s fate in there?”

Aaron asked excitedly, stomping his feet, and I just stared at his excited face.

“Whose was it? Mine? Milla’s? Or…”

Aaron’s gaze shifted to the handle of the dagger that I hadn’t properly put back in my bag.

“The Crown Prince’s?”

My eyes widened involuntarily.

Aaron casually snatched the dagger, seemingly unconcerned about my surprise, and said, “Wow, this is really nice. Did His Highness the Crown Prince give this to you, Rose?”

“What are you doing? Give it back.”

“Oh? It’s Hanafell!”

Aaron opened his eyes wide and showed me the signature engraved on the dagger’s sheath.

“Look, Hanafell! Don’t tell me you don’t know who Hanafell is, Rose?”

Who’s Hanafell? I frowned, having no idea.

“He’s the most famous weapon artisan in the Empire! Wow, it even has a magic stone embedded!”

Aaron pointed to the jewel attached to the decorative part of the sword handle.

“It’s a magic-absorbing stone that absorbs the enemy’s magical power. It must be incredibly expensive.”

So that’s why Calix glared at me every time I used that dagger carelessly.

‘It, it was expensive…’

I think I cut all sorts of things with it, not knowing.

There was even a time when I used it to cut cheese because we didn’t have a cheese cutter while drinking wine.

Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever used it for self-defense, mostly as a kitchen knife…

“Wow, Rose. So the rumors about you being favored by His Highness the Crown Prince are true?”

“It’s not favor, it’s trust, Aaron.”

“Milla said it was a favor, though.”

My eyebrow twitched involuntarily at Aaron’s words.

“Be honest, Rose. Are you really not involved with His Highness?”

I’m already troubled enough, I don’t understand why Milla and Aaron are acting like this.

“No, I’m not.”

“Didn’t you just decide to return to the capital after seeing His Highness the Crown Prince’s fate in the Temple of Fate?”

I stopped walking and looked at Aaron.

“Hmm. I can see why the Crown Prince might fall for Rose. Those types usually like peculiar things.”

“What are you talking about?”

When I asked, flustered and serious, Aaron smiled brightly with his characteristic innocent face and said.

“You were singing about vacation this and vacation that, but there’s only one reason you’d throw away even that vacation and change your mind so suddenly. Am I wrong?”

Aaron grinned, showing his teeth.

Really, I’ve felt this since I first met him, but sometimes he’s a bit scary.

“You saw the Crown Prince’s fate, didn’t you?”

“Call him His Highness, Aaron.”

“See, Rose? Your expression hardened. It’s all written on your face. You always work hard when it comes to the Crown Prince’s matters.”

I sighed.

“If you’re thinking of changing the Crown Prince’s fate, include me too, Rose.”

Aaron grabbed both my shoulders and leaned in close as he spoke.

“I know everything, Rose. How could you just get sucked into a barrier here? As far as I know, there’s only the Temple of Fate.”

It was too accurate to deny.

I cautiously asked.

“Is it normal for an information broker’s grandson to know all this?”

“Well, I did that work too until I ran away from my grandfather.”

Aaron said, scratching his chin.

“Then did you learn combat skills under your grandfather too? You know, those undead.”

Aaron smiled broadly at my words.

“That’s my bone-stripping skill honed under Teiron! I must have butchered at least a thousand chickens! I’m good with pigs too! Humans are a piece of cake~!”

Then he winked at me.

I turned away from Aaron with a sour expression.

He was truly an unpredictable person.

To be honest, I’ve never met anyone like Aaron before.

“Anyway, I need to return to the capital.”

“Already?”

“And Aaron, I appreciate your help, but I’m going to handle this on my own.”

“Huh? Why!”

“Can you not ask why? And forget about that fate thing, it’s not what you think!”

As I warned him, Aaron’s face fell and his shoulders slumped.

“I was hoping to have some fun after a long time, but you’re too much, Rose!”

***

“Oh! It’s been a long time, Rose. I haven’t seen you since you were little.”

I awkwardly smiled at the man who enthusiastically welcomed me as soon as we arrived in Prongsis.

Who, who are you?

“Well, I guess you wouldn’t recognize my face. I’m Herold Estanya, your uncle.”

“…Ah! Ahaha! Oh, I think I remember, hahaha. It’s been a long time, haha.”

I forced a laugh and pretended to be familiar for now.

From Rose’s memories, I knew that as soon as the plague hit and Rose’s parents died, they sent me to the imperial palace and immediately took over the Estanya family.

As distant relatives, they must have been tempted by the title, even if it was a declining territory.

‘Welcoming me like this as soon as I arrive, as if they’ve been waiting?’

It was a bit strange.

But well, it’s not that important to me, so I didn’t really care.

According to the High Priest of Fate, Rose was just a vessel prepared in advance to summon me.

Besides, I have no connection to that person, right?

“But who is this man next to you…”

Herold asked, looking at Aaron with narrowed eyes.

In response, Aaron boldly stepped in front of me, smiling brightly and answering confidently.

“I’m Rose’s lover.”

Then he linked arms with me and looked at  Herold.

“Haha… Yes. Well, that’s right.”

I wondered what on earth he was doing at the entrance of the territory.

I need to find a carriage right now and head to the capital.

Herold whispered something to the man next to him with a serious face, then quickly put on a bright smile and said,”Let’s go inside for now. You must be feeling unsettled because of your parents’ death anniversary.”

I frowned slightly.

This is not the time to go inside.

I need to go to the capital right now!

“Um, I’ll pay my respects to my parents on my own, but could you possibly arrange a carriage for me? Something urgent has come up at the imperial palace. I think I need to go there quickly, Uncle.”

Herold ‘s expression brightened at my words.

“The imperial palace? I’ve heard about you. They say you’ve become close to His Highness the Crown Prince?”

Somehow, I felt like his eyes were sparkling.

Must be my imagination, right?

“Ah, that’s not true at all. How could someone like me be close to His Highness?”

“No, no. I heard the rumors clearly. About the relationship between you and His Highness the Crown Prince!”

I looked at Herold with a sour expression.

Herold spoke with a voice that seemed beyond excited, almost exaggerated.

“I’ll arrange a carriage for you. But first, you must be tired from your journey, so rest up.”

It was too obvious. I don’t know where he heard the rumor about Calix and me being close, but at this point, he’d rank in the top tier of a shamelessness competition.

He’s the one who drove Rose away, yet he’s so excited upon hearing that I’m close to Calix.

It’s clear they won’t get any scraps from this anyway.

“Um, about the carriage first…”

“Our territory’s situation isn’t that good. So it’ll take some time to arrange a carriage.”

Herold smiled, as if telling me to just shut up and follow. I could see him gritting his teeth.

‘This is bad.’

It was a big problem as it seemed I’d be stuck here for a few days.

Moreover, judging by Herold ‘s expression, it looked like he might not let me leave until I gave him the answer he wanted.

“Rose, why do you look like that?”

Aaron whispered to me.

“Aaron, how long does it take from here to Tehran territory?”

“5 hours by carriage. 10 hours on foot!”

I kept my mouth shut and just smiled faintly.

“Can’t we send a letter from here?”

“Rose’s hometown is by far the best countryside I’ve ever seen!”

Aaron said, giving two thumbs up.

So, that means it’s too rural to send letters, I guess.

“Damn it.”

“Rose, have you picked up swearing from hanging out with the Crown Prince?”

“I told you to call him His Highness, didn’t I?”

“Eeh. You’re so strict, Rose. No one’s watching anyway.”

“I’m watching, Aaron. Say His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Tch.”