The next day, Emond and Paulo regained consciousness.

The cause was identified as a mild hallucinatory spell. According to the mage summoned from the lord’s castle, the spell wasn’t especially complex, but the fact that it had been cast over every stolen item suggested that the culprit was extraordinary.

Fortunately, her brothers hadn’t been injured. Aside from a lingering sense of dullness, there were no lasting aftereffects. Nevertheless, as a precaution, they decided to spend the entire day resting. Claren, the third son, was included as well.

The estate’s servants and the butler, Damon, moved in and out of the brothers’ bedrooms, carefully monitoring their condition. Their mother, father and Breni couldn’t hide their concern, repeatedly casting anxious glances towards the rooms. Even when the servants reassured them that everything was fine, it did little to put their minds at ease.

As for Ailie—

“Ric, were you here?”

She had just finished searching the estate for her childhood friend, Ricciardo, when she finally found him wandering through the garden. He stood looking up at a tree, his face looking faintly tired.

Had he not got enough sleep after searching for her brothers all night?

Before Ailie could voice her concern, she heard his name being called and his expression brightened completely. He quickly turned his head, his jet-black eyes sparkling as he found her — just as they had when they were children.

“Oh, Ailie!”

“Why were you out here alone? There’s nothing to see.”

Though it was slightly warmer than the capital, Erdei was still deep in winter. The garden held little more than bare trees stripped of their leaves. The tree Ricciardo had been staring at was no exception.

It was far too desolate for him to be sightseeing.

“I felt kind of bad staying inside the estate.”

“Bad? Why?”

“When your brothers went out to get your gift… I keep thinking that if I’d gone with them, this wouldn’t have happened.”

As he spoke, Ricciardo ruffled his bright red hair with one hand, looking thoroughly embarrassed.

He’d come outside because of thoughts like that.

Ailie frowned slightly, a pointless sting of irritation rising in her chest.

How could Ricciardo, who had just returned from studying abroad, have known anything about what was going on in Erdei? Neither Ailie nor even the Count of Erdei himself had been aware of the thieves’ recent movements.

“You shouldn’t be thinking like that, not when you’re a guest of honor.”

She hesitated over what words might comfort him, and what slipped out made Ricciardo let out a short laugh.

“You’re right. You’re absolutely right, Ailie.”

“And besides, we’re going to catch them anyway.”

“Exactly.”

At her smiling certainty, Ricciardo nodded readily. Just as she’d told Claren, she had no intention of letting the thieves run rampant through Erdei. Before returning to the imperial capital, she would make sure they were caught.

“Actually, I came looking for you because I wanted to consult you about the thieves.”

Ailie gestured towards the glass greenhouse set further back in the garden.

The two of them went inside and sat down on a bench. A maid who had been tidying up offered to bring them tea and headed back towards the manor.

Ailie began to carefully lay out the thoughts she had been mulling over since the previous night.

“So this is what I’m thinking. Since we entered their hideout and rescued my brothers, the thieves are bound to take some kind of countermeasure—for a while, at least.”

“For a while, huh….”

In order to avoid drawing attention, they would most likely remain in their hideout, with one or two people constantly on watch. They might even relocate entirely, but that seemed unlikely. According to the mage, the magic woven over the hideout was extremely complex, and suitable locations were rare. They wouldn’t abandon a place they’d found with such difficulty.

“So for now, they won’t be able to move. At least for two weeks. We need time for them to lower their guard.”

Ricciardo nodded repeatedly, his expression serious.

“True. If they stay on high alert for two whole weeks, cracks are bound to show eventually.”

“Right. That timing should be perfect.”

“Then I guess I’ll have to stay in Erdei until at least that day.”

“…Huh?”

Thinking she’d misheard, Ailie widened her eyes and looked at him. Ricciardo winked playfully with one eye.

Two whole weeks? He’d said he was only stopping by for a short visit.

“Ric, aren’t you going to Alvaro?”

“I am. But after we deal with the thieves first.”

“Sorry… I feel like I’m the one keeping you here.”

“No need. I just want to enjoy Erdei’s hospitality a little longer.”

Being treated as a valued guest isn’t so bad, he added lightly.

A smile spread across Ailie’s lips before she realized it.

“…Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Soon after, the maid returned and set teacups down on the table. As Ailie took a sip of the warm tea, she felt the heat seep through her entire body.

After a brief pause, the conversation resumed.

“So, in two weeks, we’ll raid the hideout. But that doesn’t mean we’ll just sit around and wait until then.”

“Then what?”

“I’m going to commission a piece. Something that’ll be finished in two weeks, something so valuable the thieves won’t be able to resist stealing it.”

They needed bait. They needed something reliable enough to keep the thieves in place, rather than waiting for someone else’s commissioned work to be completed by chance.

If she were planning to stay in Erdei for longer, she could afford to wait more patiently. But her leave was short. She had to root out the thieves before returning to the imperial capital.

“We already know where the hideout is. And we know how to interfere with the magic laid over it.”

“You’re planning to go with that knight who carries the magical device, right?”

“Yes. Whether I want to or not, I have to be accompanied whenever I leave the estate, so there’s no helping it.”

It was the emperor’s order, after all.

Ailie shook her head slightly, trying to chase away the pale blue eyes that had slipped into her thoughts unbidden.

“It won’t be just Sir Liton. I’ll request aid from the regional lord’s castles and call in mages as well. Then we’ll be able to counter the magic that was cast on Brother Claren, too.”

“Thorough. The thieves won’t be able to read your moves at all.”

“I don’t know when I’ll be able to come back to Erdei again.”

Once this leave was over, would she ever return here? How long would Benate’s cloying kindness last? To begin with, why had Benate even suggested this vacation to her?

“I hope you recover as quickly as possible, Ailie.”
“Yes—take this time to rest and recuperate.”

At first, she dismissed it as a convenient excuse for her flawless performance. She’d reached that obvious conclusion without hesitation. Perhaps she might have fallen for it in the past, but now she was determined not to be deceived by the same trick again.

However, upon careful consideration, she could no longer fathom his reasons at all. Was everything truly an act? Where did the performance begin and end, and what, if anything, was genuine?

The fleeting worry she’d glimpsed in his blue eyes had terrified her.

‘What if I’m being fooled again?’

“Ailie?”

As if startled awake, her pale rose-colored eyes widened.

Ricciardo’s face darkened with concern.

“What’s wrong? Are you tired?”

“…No. I just got lost in thought.”

“Lost in thought?”

“Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that. What were you saying?”

Ricciardo was still uneasy. He narrowed his eyes and studied her. No matter how prestigious the academy he’d attended, he hadn’t learned to read minds. But Ailie was suddenly afraid that those jet-black eyes might reflect her thoughts back at her. She turned her gaze away.

After a moment, Ricciardo shifted his attention to his teacup and spoke.

“I was just thinking… shouldn’t we inform His Majesty the Emperor?”

“Ah….”

The moment the words left his mouth, Ailie was lost for words.

Although she was officially on leave, the Empress’s involvement in the incident was still a cause for concern. The imperial court would need to be informed. Even if she didn’t speak up herself, Liton was with her, so everything would eventually reach the palace anyway.

So it wasn’t really a surprising suggestion. It was just that the mention of the Emperor had stolen her voice reflexively.

Ailie cleared her throat, careful not to show her agitation.

“…I’ll send a letter to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. His Majesty is currently abroad.”

Ricciardo gave a small nod. He tilted his teacup as if thinking something over, then lifted his head and nodded more briskly, his expression brightening.

“So then, this should be enough to catch the thieves. You’ve got a way to lure them, a way to capture them, and you know where they are.”

“Is that enough?”

“Definitely. I’ll stake my reputation as a probationary instructor at the Brice Swordsmanship Academy.”

The way he said it, with a casual shrug, made her let out a soft, foolish laugh. Feeling lighter, she leaned back against the chair and let her gaze wander around the greenhouse.

Further in, a small flowerbed was in full bloom with clusters of vivid red flowers, the color of which was strikingly similar to Ricciardo’s hair. As she stared at them, a memory surfaced. A memory tied to this very greenhouse. A memory of Ricciardo.

When had that been? She must have been very young at the time, when Ricciardo — mischievous as ever — ran away from the Duke of Alvaro’s castle as a prank and travelled all the way to the Erdei estate.

At the time, he had hidden in the greenhouse, trying to stay out of his family’s sight. It was just harmless mischief from a pampered duke’s son; he would have gone home as soon as he was hungry — if not for one unexpected obstacle.

Ailie herself.

Unaware of the situation, she felt sorry for her friend and kept sneaking him biscuits. Thanks to her, the little troublemaker managed to stay hidden for two whole days.

Ultimately, the Duke of Alvaro himself came to Erdei, searching the estate with a haggard expression. He found Ricciardo fast asleep in a corner of the greenhouse, utterly at ease.

‘That little rascal has grown up so much he’s now a probationary instructor at a prestigious academy.’

So much time had passed. A sense of loneliness mingled with something indescribable as her pale rose eyes sank into memory.

Ricciardo, who had grown beyond recognition—and Ailie, who had done nothing but retreat until she fell.

What had changed the ending for the two of them so completely?

“Erdei seems the same as ever. Everything’s just as it was.”

“And am I the same too?”

…To respond like that when she was lost in quiet reflection.

Ailie let out a small laugh as she looked at her childhood friend, who still felt like a rascal at heart.

“Yeah. You’re the same. Your face has changed a lot, but the fact that you’re my friend hasn’t.”

“Really? Our Empress seems to have changed quite a bit.”

“In what way?”

“How should I put it… the last time I saw Lady Ailie, you looked excited.”

“Excited? Me?”

“Well, you were about to be engaged to His Majesty the Emperor.”

“……”

It was unexpected. At Ailie’s silence, Ricciardo’s expression—so lighthearted just moments ago—slowly stiffened.

“But you’re not like that anymore. You’re calm. Quiet…”

His voice trailed off.

Those jet-black eyes were fixed squarely on Ailie. She kept avoiding his gaze, lowering her head.

“You look tired.”

The moment Ricciardo said it, Ailie lifted her head as if drawn by a spell and met his dark eyes.

Reflected clearly within them was a thin, exhausted woman, wrapped in beauty far grander than she deserved.

“…Ailie. Did something happen?”