With her robe pulled low over her face, she looked around, but could see nothing that looked familiar. No matter how many steps she took, the scenery remained unfamiliar and endless.

She tried to read the signs, but they were all written in Awenzean, a language she didn’t understand.

Looking around, she hoped to find someone to ask for help. However, the few passers-by she spotted were all in a hurry and too busy to notice her.

Even if she had wanted to ask for directions, she couldn’t speak a word of Awenzean. Sir Solis had taught her a few essential phrases, but she had forgotten them all.

“What do I do now?”

She scolded herself for being careless and felt a sense of guilt tighten in her chest.

Just as she stood there blankly, a voice suddenly called out from behind her.

“Um, excuse me… are you lost?”

It was Azentan.

Startled by the familiar language, she almost jerked her head up, but quickly restrained herself. Tightening her grip on her robe, she cautiously turned towards the voice.

It was anxiety rather than relief that hit her first.

Nobody here knew her, but this man spoke the language of her homeland — there was a chance he might recognise the name ‘Princess Diana’.

The man who had spoken looked just as startled by her reaction. Through the small opening in her robe, she could see that he had deep brown hair and green eyes.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you, I just heard you muttering in Azentan and thought you looked troubled. But if you’re okay, I’ll be on my way…”

His Azentan was fluent. Worried that he might see her face, she clutched the opening of her robe tighter and asked cautiously.

“Are you… from the Azenta Empire?”

If he was, she absolutely couldn’t let him see her face.

But the man shook his head.

“No, I’ve never been there. My parents used to trade with the Empire, though, so they taught me the language when I was young.”

So his parents must have had frequent dealings with the Azenta Empire. Still wary, she didn’t loosen her grip on the robe.

The man continued cheerfully.

“They’re retired now. I was born really late, so they’re just relaxing these days.”

“I see…”

His explanation eased her tension slightly, but she was still not going to take off her robe. He looked puzzled by her answer, through which only her eyes were visible, but he didn’t ask her why.

This time, he tilted his head for a different reason.

“You do need help right now, don’t you?”

“Yes, I’m lost.”

At that, the man smiled brightly.

“Where were you trying to go?”

“The market.”

“Oh? That’s where I’m headed too. Would you like to go together?”

And just like that, I found myself walking alongside a complete stranger.

He seemed to have an easy-going, cheerful personality. Despite how suspicious I must have looked hidden under my robe, he didn’t seem bothered at all; he grinned and chatted away.

“I’m Aiden Lowell, by the way. What about you?”

I stared blankly at the hand he held out to me.

I hadn’t expected to be asked for my name so soon.

Perhaps it would be all right to give my name, even if I couldn’t show my face?

Swallowing hard, I remembered what the Princess of Verche had told me.

“Diana.”

I watched him nervously, my heart pounding, as he heard my name.

But he showed no sign of recognition.

“Nice to meet you, Diana.”

He held out his large hand again, clearly inviting me to shake it. I hesitated, then cautiously reached out — and instantly regretted it!

He grasped my hand firmly and shook it enthusiastically, swinging my arm with such force that it felt as though it might come off!

Completely unaware of my discomfort, Aiden Lowell simply continued chatting and smiling innocently.

“So, what brings you to the market?”

“I just moved here. I need to buy some essentials.”

“You moved here? Seriously? Where to?”

“Um… No. 24, L-Lanne Street.”

“Wait, seriously? That’s near my place! We’re practically neighbors! When did you move in? I had no idea!”

“A week ago.”

“Oh! You must’ve moved into that vacant house, right? That one?”

“Probably…?”

“Wow, then we really are close! That’s just a block away. My place is No. 26!”

Mr Lowell was even more outgoing than I’d expected.

I was still feeling awkward and could only manage to answer his questions with a thin smile. He took this as an invitation to continue talking.

“So, Diana, you said you’re from the Azenta Empire?”

“Um… yes.”

“What brings you all the way to a country this far from home?”

I had no idea how to reply. After an uncomfortable pause, he waved his hands lightly.

“You don’t have to tell me, I was just curious — my parents used to travel there all the time, and I find it fascinating.”

He leaned closer, lowering his voice in mock complaint.

“It’s a bit unnerving when you hide under that robe and don’t say anything, you know.”

His playful tone took me by surprise, and a faint laugh escaped before I could stop it.

He really didn’t seem like a bad person – he had a way of putting people at ease with his words.

Following him, I soon reached the market. Because it was a holiday, the place was packed. Stalls offering all kinds of goods lined the bustling street.

The market was much bigger than I had expected. After standing there in a daze for a moment, I remembered why I was there. I rummaged in my pocket and took out the small piece of paper on which I’d written the items I needed to buy.

“Is that your shopping list?”

When I nodded, he asked if he could take a look and promptly scanned the note.

“I’ve got the route planned out. Stick with me.”

Aiden was clearly well-connected. He greeted almost every vendor by name and haggled so effectively that I ended up spending much less than I’d budgeted. Throughout our tour of the market, he never once asked me to remove my hood and even carried my share of the bags.

Thanks to him, I had finished my errands in no time. Before I knew it, we were standing outside my house.

“Well, if you need anything, just call. We’re neighbours, after all.”

He escorted me safely to my door, gave a hearty wave and strode off down the street.

I couldn’t help smiling. I’d met a very kind neighbour today.

***

Elio arrived at the Duke of Cassel’s mansion in response to an urgent summons.

Hans, the butler, had sent only the briefest of letters, merely asking if he could come at once, but that was enough for Elio to sense that something was terribly wrong with Claude.

“We… we’re here, sir. You can go right in.”

The servant who had escorted him to the bedroom fled down the corridor before Elio could ask a single question.

A heavy sense of dread hung over the house.

Just as Elio reached for the door, it burst open and a maid stumbled out. Her face was drained of colour and she was holding a stack of blood-soaked towels. She held a stack of blood-soaked towels in both arms, her face drained of colour.

Elio grabbed her by the sleeve.

“What happened?”

She looked as if she might faint.

“The Duke…”

Her voice faltered and she could say no more, trembling silently.

Feeling a chill creep up his spine, Elio rushed past her and into the room.

The sharp, metallic scent of blood hit him immediately.

The room was in chaos. Fresh linens had just been laid on the bed on which the Duke lay. He was so pale that he resembled a corpse.

Hans stood frozen to the spot, stunned, while servants hurried to and fro in a panic.

The family physician was bent over Claude, examining him frantically.

Elio moved quickly to Hans’s side.

“Tell me everything.”

Recognising Elio at last, the butler nearly collapsed with relief.

“Thank the stars you’ve come, Master Mage.”

He gasped, begging Elio to save the duke. He tried to gloss over the worst of it, but Elio didn’t need to hear any more.

The blood smeared across the bathroom floor told him all he needed to know.

“Please, sir… save him.”

Hans whispered, his face as white as the sheets. Elio nodded grimly, rolled up his sleeves and moved to the side of the bed. After apologising briefly to the doctor, he began his own examination.

He was determined not to let Claude die, even if it meant exhausting all his mana.

He channelled magic into the duke’s limp body. The man had lost a catastrophic volume of blood. Accelerating blood regeneration with magic was possible, albeit difficult and draining.

He gave Hans curt instructions and asked the physician to prepare the necessary equipment.

It was going to be a very long night.