“If the investigation is over, I’ll take my leave.”

Liese stood up and bowed her head.

Seeing Liese, who seemed ready to leave, Evan felt anxious.

If he let her go like this, he wouldn’t have an excuse to meet her again.

As Liese prepared to leave, Evan caught her wrist.

“Um… Liese. I’d like to treat you to a meal.”

Evan’s ears turned red. He felt strange offering such words to a woman.

“What?”

Thinking she misheard, Liese asked with a surprised look.

She had been grabbed by force before, but this was the first time she had been grabbed with such a proposal.

Liese looked at Evan’s face and then at her own wrist held by his large and rough hand for a while.

“If I made you uncomfortable, I apologize.”

“Oh… no.”

From the beginning until now, he had been sincere and warm. He saw his own nothingness reflected in her sparkling green eyes.

‘Is he doing this out of pity? Or maybe sympathy?’

But from deep within, a baseless and strange thought crept in. The thought that he might have feelings for her.

She bit her lip.

‘Snap out of it. Do you really think an imperial knight from a noble family, who has grown up without lacking anything, would like you? You’re tarnishing his sincere gesture of hospitality with your gratitude, you.’

Liese was aware of her pitiful appearance—wearing a tattered priest’s robe and worn-out black shoes.

“Then please treat me to something delicious. The best in the capital.”

Liese said, hiding her sadness. By sharing a meal together, she hoped Evan would unburden himself.

“Of course. Please write to me when you have time.”

“Yes. Then, goodbye.”

Evan escorted her to the gate. He looked forward to the day they would meet again, unaware of Liese’s feelings as she returned.

Finally, spring had come for him.

***

A few days later, Ariel prepared to enter the palace.

Despite Leopold’s assertion that everything had been prepared at the palace and that she could enter empty-handed, there were things Ariel needed to bring along.

When she retrieved the new hunting attire she had put on just before leaving Kolnman and the sword that Hyle had given her, memories of her last moments in Kolnman came flooding back.

‘I promised my master I would write to him.’

She intended to write a letter after she composed herself, but meeting Leopold unexpectedly had thrown her into a whirlwind of events.

She had completely forgotten her promise to write to Hyle until now.

She needed to write the letter before entering the palace. Although Leopold promised her, she was sure that there would be restrictions on all her activities once she entered the palace.

“May, please take care of these.”

“Yes, miss. But what’s the matter?”

“I’ve forgotten to write a letter to my master until now. I want to inform him of the current situation before entering the palace.”

“Oh, miss, it seems like you’ve forgotten, I did contact him.”

“Really? That’s a relief. May, bring me a pen and paper.”

May took out a pen and paper from the drawer. Ariel, seated at the dressing table, received them and began to write the letter with a peaceful mind.

Although it is a contractual marriage, to everyone except her and Leopold, it is an imperial marriage, a momentous event where an empress is established for the empire.

If Hyle were to hear this news belatedly through the newspaper, he would definitely be disappointed.

Ariel inquired about his well-being first. Then she wrote that she would soon enter the palace and marry the Emperor in about a month. She added a note expressing her hope that her master would attend, that she would consider it an honor.

As she continued writing, the pen paused briefly in mid-air.

After her mana had been taken away, she fled from Kolnman as if she were escaping, without even considering pursuing the black mages.

‘Since my master said he would look into it… I should ask if he found out anything.’

The paused pen moved again over the paper like a dance.

「Master, have you tracked the black mages?

I still haven’t found out anything.

Once I enter the palace, I plan to visit the library.

If you find out anything, please write to me.

And master, forgive me for being presumptuous, but please don’t worry.

I’m not such a weakling.

After all, I am Swordmaster Hyle’s disciple.

I will contact you again with the wedding invitation.

Stay strong until then.

— Your only disciple, Ariel Clark」

Upon reflection, entering the palace might not be all bad. Perhaps the imperial library would have many books related to magic, and she could obtain important information there.

Ariel nodded as she carefully folded the letter into an envelope.

Ariel sealed the envelope with sealing wax prepared by May and stamped it with her seal.

“May, please send this to my master.”

Ariel handed the envelope to May. As May reached for the doorknob to leave the room…

Knock, knock.

Just as May was about to open the door, a knock echoed through the room.

Ariel and May exchanged puzzled looks.

“Miss, you should come down.”

It was butler Henry’s voice.

Ariel got up from her chair and approached the door. May understood Ariel’s intention and opened the door.

“What’s going on?”

“Duke Noah Diaz has come to see you.”

Noah Diaz? Did I hear that correctly? Duke Noah Diaz has come to see me without any prior notice?

Ariel couldn’t believe it and asked,

“Who came to see me?”

“Duke Noah Diaz wishes to meet you.”

Henry calmly replied.

Confused, Ariel fixed her gaze on his face without giving any response.

‘Is he expecting some kind of reward for helping me?’

Ariel thought to herself as she chuckled bitterly. She was surprised that he had come to her house without any prior arrangement. Was it because he’s from the imperial family? With her forehead deeply furrowed, Ariel remained silent.

Henry observed Ariel’s reaction, sensing her discomfort.

“Your father was also quite surprised, but he requested your presence.”

When they went to the door after hearing the doorbell, Duke Noah Diaz was standing on the other side of the front door.

Henry hurried back inside to report this to the master of the house.

Marquis Louis Clark nodded with a stern expression, indicating that he should be received.

Despite his rudeness in coming without any notice, Noah was the benefactor who had saved his daughter.

“Understood. Please inform him that I will prepare and come down.”

Ariel said, and as soon as she finished speaking, May closed the door.

With a rather flustered expression, May gently took Ariel by the shoulders and led her to the dressing table.

After moving the chair and seating Ariel, she untied her hair and combed it out.

“I heard that he saved you, miss…”

“Is the Duke expecting some form of repayment?”

Considering the financial situation of the territories in the north, Ariel briefly wondered if he might be seeking financial compensation for this incident. However, in this world, it was not acceptable for a member of the imperial family to demand money from a mere marquis’ daughter.

They would starve to death, but there was no need to bend their pride.

“Of course, miss, let’s get ready so you can come downstairs.”

After finishing combing Ariel’s hair, May braided her side hair and quickly tied it into one at the back.

After applying makeup to her face, tidying her eyebrows, and applying red lip balm, May brought a simple dress as per Ariel’s request and brought a robe made of pink silk.

Ariel changed into the dress after removing her indoor clothes.

“Where is the corset?”

“I deliberately chose a design that doesn’t require it for your comfort.”

May always seemed to understand Ariel’s needs well.

Ariel swallowed her gratitude and allowed herself to be attended to.

The thin silk was gathered to create a soft silhouette. As a result, her graceful beauty was hidden within the dress.

May adorned the ample gathers at the waist with a golden ribbon.

The frill hanging on the neckline softened the atmosphere that Ariel exuded.

Ariel scrutinized her reflection in the mirror from top to bottom.

“May.”

She was about to ask May to take care of delivering a letter to Hyle.

However, May seemed to know what she was going to say and smiled widely, saying,

“Yes, miss. I will deliver the letter for you. Please don’t worry.”

Finally, a smile appeared on Ariel’s lips.

May seemed to understand even without Ariel saying anything—that her mistress was very grateful.