Ulik vacated his seat when Eirene entered. Clive, who had been checking stacked documents at his desk, pushed his chair back and stood up.

“Have you come to see me?”

Clive smiled pleasantly, but she didn’t notice.

“This.”

Eirene placed the covenant on the desk.

“I thought of something I want to write in the blank space.”

Disappointed that this wasn’t the answer he wanted, Clive perched on the edge of the desk and asked curtly:

“What is it?”

“There’s someone I’d like you to look into.”

“Who?”

“A mage named Siaran. He assists the Count and Countess Phineas.”

“That might be difficult. I asked you to help precisely because the internal affairs of the Phineas family are hard even for me to uncover.”

The reason Clive was performing this charade with Eirene was because the Phineas family was so secretive.

“Would it still be difficult if Siaran came to the ball today? He came yesterday too. If you could see his face, wouldn’t there be at least some possibility?”

Lost in thought, Clive recalled a man who had been beside Count Phineas last night. He had appeared to be a servant brought by the Count, but there was something different about him. 

Though he followed the Count respectfully, his gaze was sharp as he surveyed his surroundings. It wasn’t uncommon for nobles to bring along servants who were servants in name only but possessed excellent swordsmanship or broad knowledge, so Clive had kept an eye on him. 

Nothing particularly stood out. 

However, the unknown energy emanating from Siaran had bothered him. He had suspected the man might be handling the Count’s behind-the-scenes affairs, but a mage…

“Was he the man standing next to the Count? The one with a rather unpleasant impression.”

“Siaran is like that, yes.”

“It was my first time seeing him.”

“Will it be difficult to identify him just by his face?”

“I’ll tell Ulik about it first.”

Ulik had written and sent the invitations and would remember everyone who entered last night. Since Siaran had caught Clive’s eye, Ulik would have been watching him closely too. Even if it took some time, Ulik was worth placing hope in.

“And there’s one more person.”

“If there’s one more person, does that fill all three spaces?”

Clive crossed his arms and nodded toward the blank spaces on the covenant with his eyes. Following his gaze to look at the document, Eirene tucked her hair behind her ear. It was a reaction showing she hadn’t thought of this. 

He had believed her to be someone who didn’t readily show emotions, but upon close observation, she had her own expressions. Like tucking her hair just now.

“You look disappointed.”

“I’m not disappointed.”

She truly didn’t appear to be. Clive got up and moved to sit right next to Eirene.

“Then there’s nothing to be done. I was willing to bundle them together for you.”

Eirene’s eyes trembled slightly. Cute. A trembling that others might not have noticed. Even Clive might have missed it if he hadn’t been looking closely. It was a bit underhanded of him. But if he hadn’t been underhanded, he wouldn’t have seen this side of her. 

In truth, he could have expanded the list of three items limitlessly if Eirene wanted. Clive picked up a pen and moved it to the blank space on the covenant.

“Whose name should go in the last space? The other person.”

The moment the pen touched the paper, Eirene hurriedly said:

“Please bundle them together.”

“Too late.”

Having said it was too late, Clive added before Eirene could speak:

“I might bundle them if you grant me one wish.”

What a truly underhanded guy. While cursing himself inwardly, he didn’t take back his words. He had no intention to. Eirene’s eyebrows drew together. The moment Clive mentioned a “wish,” irritation was evident from her. Clive found even that reaction cute.

“What’s your wish?”

“I can’t think of anything right now, so I’ll tell you when something comes to mind.”

“So the third space will remain empty?”

“Of course.”

“Please do that then.”

The pen left the paper after making only a tiny dot. Clive inserted the pen back into its holder and smiled. He didn’t know why he kept smiling when it wasn’t a situation to smile about.

“Who is it?”

“It will be more difficult than Siaran. My cousin. I heard that this cousin, who knows everything about my situation, is demanding a ransom from the Count and Countess using that knowledge.”

“What’s the point in finding such a bastard?”

The Count and Countess were no different from Eirene’s cousin. Demanding a ransom instead of finding a way to get her out of the Phineas household wasn’t something a human would do.

“There’s something I want to confirm.”

He didn’t ask what she wanted to confirm. It was obvious, wasn’t it? 

She wanted to know about her dead family. Honestly, it would be much more difficult than investigating Siaran, but he couldn’t bring himself to say how difficult it would be.

“I won’t just rely on you blindly. I’ll try to find out even the smallest detail about Siaran and my cousin.”

Clive felt a bit hurt, thinking Eirene was drawing a line.

“Please help me.”

With those words that followed, he softened again. It was one of the conditions in the covenant, so it was something Clive naturally had to do. Something he should do without being asked. 

Nevertheless, Eirene’s “Please help me” made him feel wanted, putting him at ease.

“I’ll do my best.”

Eirene gave him a faint smile. Clive unconsciously smiled back.

* * *

Lying on the sofa reading a book, Clive ordered Ulik to investigate Siaran and Eirene’s cousin.

“There’s too little information.”

Ulik sighed deeply.

“You’re exaggerating when you could do it.”

“It’s the Phineas family, not just any other family!”

“Anyway, give it a try. Who knows? It might help our side.”

“I saw that Siaran person too, and he looked like a mage from the start.”

“He looked like a mage to you?”

Clive closed the book and placed it on his chest as he asked.

“I’ve dealt with many mages, so. Just…”

Ulik closed his mouth and didn’t continue.

“Why did you stop? Just what?”

“He didn’t seem like an ordinary mage.”

“If not an ordinary mage, then what?”

“A dark mage. Those who practice dark magic always show signs no matter how hard they try to hide it.”

Clive sat up abruptly, causing the book to fall to the side with a thud.

“I see. No wonder.”

So the unsettling energy was because he was a dark mage of all things. Though Clive hadn’t met as many mages as Ulik, he had heard plenty about how dark mages lived. 

Dark magic, which borrowed power from immortal beings, led to a miserable end, so one shouldn’t carelessly step into it, but it also granted power strong enough to make even the High Priest fear it. 

Once seduced by that strong power, it was difficult to escape. The Phineas family and a dark mage didn’t match. A Count with connections to the High Priest keeping a dark mage with opposing power? They were polar opposites.

“I wonder what kind of help the Count is receiving from a dark mage.”

“I’m starting to think Your Highness might have to deal with the Phineas family rather than the temple. The more we learn, the most suspicious one is Count Phineas.”

“Indeed.”

The belief that the reason for switching Eirene and Aishe wasn’t simple grew stronger. And somehow, whatever the reason, it seemed unforgivable.

“It will be difficult, but look into Eirene’s family too. They were likely a common carpenter family, so there might not even be records, but the massacre of an entire family is uncommon, so investigating might yield something.”

Clive’s expression darkened as he gave instructions to Ulik.

* * *

“Isn’t this too flashy?”

Eirene said, looking at the dress hanging on the rack. The design and jeweled decorations were similar to the dress she wore yesterday, but this one was dark red. Would she look like she was covered in blood wearing this? 

But Eirene’s concern ended quickly. It wasn’t a place to impress anyone, and this was just part of her role as the Grand Duke’s fiancée.

“Don’t you like the dress? Should I prepare a different one?”

“No. I’ll wear it.”

Not only did she not place much significance on the dress, but she also didn’t want to displease Clive by not wearing it. It was his consideration in its own way, and she didn’t want to disregard it.

“Is the spot where you were pricked by the rose thorn okay?”

While changing into the dress, Matilda worriedly looked at Eirene’s finger.

“Yes. It wasn’t even a real prick.”

“But you were bleeding!”

“I’m really fine. Look.”

Eirene raised her finger and brought it close to Matilda’s eyes.

“Hey. You can’t show me a different finger. It was your left hand.”

“It was my right hand.”

The hand she showed Matilda was correct. How could someone who was pricked not know which hand it was?

“There’s no wound.”

Surprised, Eirene looked at her own finger. There truly was no wound. No matter how small a wound from a rose thorn, it couldn’t disappear in just a day. 

Wondering if it might be the other hand, as Matilda suggested, she checked her left hand too, but no wound was visible.

“I guess the small thorn healed quickly.”

Eirene first reassured the puzzled Matilda and then continued putting on the dress while looking in the mirror, acting like nothing had happened. Though her face remained expressionless as she gazed at herself in the mirror, her mind was entirely focused on her finger.

* * *

Clive’s lips stretched to both sides when he saw Eirene in the red dress. He had known it would suit her well the moment he saw the fabric. The combination of black hair, pale skin, and the red dress made her more mysterious and beautiful than any woman Clive had ever seen. 

Thump. Ulik nudged Clive’s elbow.

“What?”

“Close your mouth.”

“I’ve held you in too high regard. Seeing how your mouth runs wild without knowing its place day by day.”

“That’s not it. You look foolish with your mouth hanging open.”

Clive immediately closed his lips. It seems he wasn’t smiling at Eirene but staring at her absentmindedly.

“Did I really look foolish?”

“Yes.”

“Did she see?”

“I don’t think she saw.”

“That’s a relief.”

“It really is. If she had seen… Phew. Really.”

Ulik, who was about to say more, closed his mouth when he saw Clive glaring at him. Glancing around cautiously, he pretended to look elsewhere and casually dropped a comment.

“So you have fallen for her, right?”

Clive didn’t answer.

“Haven’t you?”

Ulik turned his head to look at Clive and asked again. Still, there was no response.

“Your Highness.”

This time, he moved in front of Clive, brought his face close, and narrowed his eyes. In a lower, quiet tone, he said:

“Is it that you don’t want to admit it, or are you upset that I noticed first?”

“You’re disgusting when you’re this close. Move away.”

Clive pushed Ulik’s forehead away. And to Ulik, who was pushed aside and grumbling in an inaudible voice, he confessed:

“I’ve fallen for her. I have.”

“See that!”

Ulik clenched both fists and cheered. He was so excited that he even started humming. Could he be that happy? 

Outwardly, it might seem like Ulik was teasing, but Clive knew better than anyone that wasn’t the case. Clive’s current feelings were genuinely joyful news to Ulik. Especially since Ulik had been displeased with the engagement to Aishe, even while knowing it was unavoidable.

“Then, when will you get married?”

“Marriage is still far off. I don’t even know if Eirene wants to marry me. And she has a job to do for us.”

“Hmm. Are you going to make her do that job?”

“Yes.”

“So you don’t really like her yet. Well, it makes sense since you and the lady haven’t known each other for long.”

“That has nothing to do with my feelings. She can do what you and I couldn’t figure out despite years of effort.”

They had learned a lot just from Eirene’s appearance.

“What if the lady becomes endangered? Will you still have her continue then?”

“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. It would be good if she completes the task soon and leaves the Phineas household.”

Clive left Ulik and approached Eirene. She was a woman with a body so slender it looked like it would break if squeezed. But she wasn’t as fragile as she appeared. He didn’t know what gave him that belief, but strangely, his trust in her grew with time.

“You look beautiful today too.”

At Clive’s compliment, Eirene quietly nodded. Funny enough, this kind of response might be one reason for his trust. The fact that she didn’t try to impress him actually added to his trust, which was both amusing and slightly disappointing. 

When he extended his arm to her, the feel of her arm brushing against his clothes was different from yesterday.

—

T/N: Clive and Ulik’s relationship is so cute!