Chapter 28

In that instant, Sierd looked down and met Elodia’s eyes, tightened his grip around her shoulder, and turned his body without hesitation.

She followed him in a daze, glancing back at Isaac. His confident attitude—as if he had done nothing wrong—made her frown.

“I hope I never have to see that person again.”

Isaac, with his arms crossed and gaze lowered, seemed somewhat aggrieved.

As she walked, Elodia looked up at Sierd.

“Even though we trade with the Mage Tower, the one I trust and do business with is Sir Thierry. Not the Tower Master.”

In fact, because the Tower Master had stepped back from the frontline, she could trust the business. But now, with him suddenly showing interest in Mage Tower matters, it was inevitably uncomfortable.

“And… the artifacts attached to the toys sold by Everdeen Merchant Guild are only manufactured by the Mage Tower. We commission safety inspections separately from private institutions…”

She found herself mumbling defensively, but the most important part was her last statement.

“Above all, the artifact blueprints handled by our guild are made by a trustworthy mage.”

It was a secret, but that trustworthy mage was actually herself.

Sierd quietly listened as he seated Cesar in the child’s chair.

“There are circumstances for that mage, so I can’t reveal their identity… but since these are items used by children, I want you to know how much care goes into them.”

At that moment, a song began to play from Cesar’s wrist. Cesar sang along, holding a child’s fork and spoon in both hands.

“Let’s defeat the villains! Dugu-dugu-dugu! Justice always wins!”

Even though it was a high-class restaurant, there was a lively atmosphere since it was a day for children’s events, so neither Elodia nor Sierd stopped Cesar.

“Cesar, are you looking forward to the chocolate fountain?”

“Yes!”

“I’m glad I made a reservation. Let’s enjoy dinner and then go eat chocolate!”

“I want to eat chocolate first…”

“If you do, the crab salad you like won’t taste good. Chocolate is too sweet.”

“Then I’ll eat it after dinner!”

To make sure Cesar didn’t eat too much chocolate, Elodia shared the espresso cup she had brought in advance with him.

Sierd watched the two bond and let out a faint laugh. His gaze lingered for a moment on the watch around Cesar’s wrist. Then, Sierd spread a napkin on his lap and spoke as if it were obvious.

“I know. I know how much you care about the children’s safety.”

“….”

Flushed like a child receiving unexpected praise, Elodia gulped down her water.

“…That espresso cup is a bit small for you to use as a water cup, isn’t it?”

“I thought I was gulping down water, but it turns out it wasn’t…”

She wiped her mouth awkwardly and smiled shyly.

Soon, the food they had ordered in advance arrived, and the group began their meal while chatting about everyday things.

“This is really delicious. Would you like to try it? Let’s move the squid ink dish over there.”

“Are you suggesting we share food?”

“If you don’t mind, Sierd.”

“…It’s tasty.”

Despite the uncomfortable situation earlier, they were able to share a joyful time and quickly forget about it.

* * *

After Duke Fernande and Duchess Fernande, along with Cesar, left, Isaac’s expression hardened, as if he had never smiled.

“Looks like I’ll never reconcile with Duke Fernande’s family before I die.”

“That’s only natural, gyu. Start with an apology, gyu.”

Thierry sighed and sat down.

Kelvin stared at the backs of Duke Fernande and Duchess Fernande until they disappeared from sight, then belatedly took his seat.

Thierry spoke.

“Let’s try to think positively, gyu. Getting along might be hard, but at least we can avoid war, gyu. The Guild Leader is Duchess Fernande, and the Everdeen Guild Leader works with us, gyu. I heard the Duke even brought artifacts made by the Mage Tower into the estate, gyu?”

Isaac listened to Thierry’s words absentmindedly, tapping his fingers on the table as he spoke quietly.

“The person responsible for leaking faulty artifacts was dismissed and is still being punished. We paid massive compensation. I even promised not to attend any events representing the Mage Tower in the future. What he wants is the Mage Tower’s downfall, but do you want that too?”

“Isaac, sometimes sincerity is necessary, gyu.”

“Stop reading comic books. Do you want to act like that at your age?”

“I have a childlike heart too, gyu.”

“Besides, that incident from the start…”

Isaac closed his mouth. He gulped down cold water and let out a long sigh.

“So you’re bothered by it too, gyu! There were plenty of suspicious things about that incident, gyu. If you’d been sober like now! If you’d investigated properly! Something might have come out, gyu.”

“……”

“The Mage Tower isn’t careless enough to distribute faulty artifacts with explosion risks, gyu… No matter how much I think about it, it’s strange, gyu. All the evidence is gone now, but…”

“Haha. You’re right. It’s an old story.”

When Kelvin chimed in with Thierry’s last words, both Isaac and Thierry turned their attention to him.

Just then, the food arrived. The table was filled with a feast so grand that the legs nearly buckled.

Isaac set down his utensils with a clatter and looked at Kelvin. With a light nod, he signaled Kelvin to leave.

Kelvin, about to eat a neatly sliced steak, froze in place.

“Just one bite…”

“Go.”

“……”

He didn’t even grumble as he disappeared.

As soon as Kelvin left, Isaac spoke.

“Elodia Fernande, she’s the Everdeen Guild Leader, right?”

“That’s right, gyu. She’s a good person, gyu. I haven’t met her many times, but I like her, gyu.”

“The contract terms you brought back aren’t to my liking.”

“That’s because your heart is twisted, gyu.”

“……”

Thierry pulled Kelvin’s steak plate in front of himself and stuffed meat into his mouth. He chewed while staring blankly at Isaac.

“Why are you suddenly interested in the Guild Leader when you never cared before, gyu?”

“She seems like a mage.”

“Cough, cough! Are you spouting nonsense again? How long has it been since the Everdeen Guild Leader made a name for herself in the Capital? If she were a mage, then what am I? And is that why you couldn’t sense any mana at all?”

A faint crease appeared between Isaac’s brows. He stood up, leaving his untouched food behind.

“Hey, hey! Where are you going? At least explain, gyu!”

With an annoyed expression, Isaac glanced back and captured the sun sinking below the horizon. The sky was gradually turning purple.

His wife’s eyes always had that shade. Those transparent violet eyes that looked at him. Cherry-like lips that whispered the unborn child was a girl. Now those memories were blurred.

“Enough explanation. Find out who the foreign mage is—the one who drew those artifact designs for Everdeen.”

“Foreign mage… you said?”

“Thierry, do you know that Duke Fernande is a mana block user?”

“…I think I remember something.”

“That guy who lives locked up in the Mage Tower never participated in the war, so he wouldn’t know military secrets. The moment she grabbed the Duke’s hand, her energy changed. She must be wearing an artifact that hides mana. That woman is either a tracking mage, or there’s another tracking mage nearby. It means it’s one of those two.”

“What? Are you allowed to tell me military secrets?”

“Who would I even tell?”

“You lunatic!”

Isaac didn’t explain any further and started walking. Thin strands of mana extended from his fingertips, heading forward.

‘I hate troublesome things, but… an unregistered mage might be connected to my daughter’s disappearance. I’ll have to dig into this.’

* * *

They were guided to another table, far away from the Tower Master.

Cesar was playing, sprinkling marble chocolates onto a plate piled high with chocolate.

Elodia held Cesar’s plate steady so it wouldn’t slip, and looked at Sierd as she spoke.

“Are you alright after what happened earlier? I never imagined we’d end up on the same ship as the Tower Master. I should have been more careful.”

“It’s fine. I have no reason to avoid him.”

“…I wonder why the Tower Master boarded a ship to the Kingdom of Hillis. I heard he never leaves the Mage Tower. Ah, I’m meeting him for the first time too, Sierd. Really.”

“I know. He wasn’t very friendly toward you either. The Tower Master… I’ve heard he’ll do anything to find his daughter. That must be why he boarded this ship.”

Cesar, listening to their conversation, looked up. With chocolate smeared around his mouth, he asked,

“That mister is a mage?”

“Yes. He seems to be a mage.”

“Ohhh. I see.”

Before Cesar could get more interested in Isaac, Elodia changed the subject.

“Cesar, what should we do after you finish eating? Have you ever tried dart throwing? Want to go play darts?”

“I want to see fireworks!”

“Fireworks are late at night.”

“I’m going to see them!”

“Not sleeping?”

“No!”

Even though he’d surely sleep…

She answered that she understood, then wiped Cesar’s hands with a wet towel.

“Should we let him nap in the cabin until then?”

“No nap! I want to play darts!”

“…He says so.”

“……”

Sierd and Elodia, with an unusually excited Cesar, left the restaurant.

“I want to eat this!”

“Dad! Let’s do that together!”

“That! I want to buy that!”

Dragged around by Cesar for a while, they ended up in the souvenir shop. Elodia wore a cute goat headband that Cesar picked out. Sierd looked down at the headband with lifeless eyes.

“Put it on. It’s a family trip, after all. Cesar chose it for you.”

“Cesar doesn’t easily like things…”

Cesar, nestled in Elodia’s arms, snatched the headband from Sierd’s hand and put it on Sierd’s head. The reaction was immediate.

Clap clap clap!

“Wow! Dad, you’re so cute!”

Sierd couldn’t bring himself to say anything to the child who was clapping happily, and simply pulled up the corners of his mouth. His facial muscles seemed to twitch, but Elodia pretended not to notice.

“…Really? Thanks for picking it out for me, son.”

“Hehe!”

When Sierd tousled Cesar’s hair, Cesar beamed brightly. Surprisingly, Cesar really seemed intent on watching the fireworks, his eyes sparkling with energy, with not a hint of sleepiness. Sierd flinched as he met those lively eyes.

After setting Cesar down, Elodia linked her arm through Sierd’s and whispered quietly.

“What should we do? I think I let him eat too much chocolate. He seems completely wide awake now.”

Sierd glanced lightly at Elodia’s hand holding his arm and replied in a calm tone.

“It was inevitable from the moment we brought him to the chocolate fountain. We’ll watch the fireworks and then go back to the cabin.”

“Do you think so? Well, it’s a memory, after all.”

She nodded, secretly wanting to create memories.

“Mom, mom, are fireworks colorful? Or are they red?”

“The fireworks we’ll see today are colorful.”

“Dad, what kind of flower is a firework?”

“Well… fireworks are fireworks.”

“So, how do you play with fireworks?”

“It’s a game where you just quietly watch.”

“……”

Why is he killing our child’s excitement?

She quickly led Sierd to the fireworks line. They stood in line to get good seats, hoping to eat dessert while watching the fireworks.

She had purposely reserved a balcony room, but now they would see the fireworks outdoors.

Suddenly, Cesar tugged at her clothes.

“Mom! Cotton candy!”

“Hm? Where?”

“There!”

“Cesar, you said you wanted to eat strawberry cake while watching the fireworks. Do you want cotton candy too?”

“Uh-huh.”

Cesar seemed to really want cotton candy, sending her a desperate look.