Through the carriage window, the figure of a woman with a thick black veil came into view. Her face was almost completely hidden, making it hard for anyone to recognize her as Arne unless she took off her hat.

She couldn’t afford to start negotiations with the prejudice of being known as the mad villainess of the empire. So initially, she planned to hide her identity and start the conversation.

Lastly, she transferred the ledger from the cookie box to the chrysanthemum box. The reason she hadn’t been caught by the headmaster was because she had cut the fixed old string and brought the hard cover of the ledger separately.

It was only a matter of time before this was discovered, but it would suffice for today’s transaction.

“Lady Ronia has arrived. As you requested, I parked the carriage a bit farther away.”

At the coachman’s announcement, a smile spread across Arne’s lips.

“Wait here.”

Arne got off the carriage and naturally blended into the crowd. Having visited the day before, she didn’t get lost and the gatekeeper, who had seen her yesterday, let her in quietly without making a fuss.

Everything was going according to plan. The timing was perfect, as she saw the Grand Duke of Renigrad and Cedric conversing with the elders after the memorial service.

‘Duke Xenon has just gotten off his carriage too. Fortunately, no one recognizes me.’

Once Cedric and the Grand Duke of Renigrad boarded their carriage, Duke Xenon would come to Lady Judith’s tombstone.

‘May my first transaction with Duke Xenon go smoothly.’

The Grand Duke of Renigrad passed by Arne while talking to the elder. His massive physique exuded a heavy presence.

Following him, Cedric, dressed in a black uniform, and the elder’s daughter chatted away. It seemed natural for him to offer his arm for escort.

‘Well, they must have met every year.’

The young lady’s face remained blushing and smiling, indicating she was probably one of those who’s secretly harboring feelings for Cedric.

Arne discreetly observed Duke Xenon’s movements and moved forward. Cedric’s voice grew closer. She had heard it during the day, but his low, resonant voice captivated her ears.

“The elder must cherish the young lady a lot. He always brings you along like this.”

“No, it’s not that. Cedric, you seem taller than last year. Still as handsome….”

The young lady, unable to meet Cedric’s eyes, lowered her head and clung tightly to his arm.

Arne walked past the elder’s daughter. She had applied so much perfume that it overshadowed Cedric’s unique scent. Cedric’s black cloak brushed against the hem of Arne’s dress.

It was when she had completely passed Cedric.

Cedric’s steps halted.

“…Arne.”

Following Cedric’s gaze, the elder’s daughter also looked at Arne.

At that moment, Arne’s gaze turned. Under the veil, her eyes met Cedric’s for a fleeting moment. Arne’s red lips curled gracefully.

But Arne did not stop walking. She continued her steps without breaking her gaze.

At that moment, Cedric’s pupils dilated. Unconsciously, his hand reached out toward Arne, but his fingers only brushed the frills of her dress.

It was because the elder’s daughter pulled Cedric’s arm.

“Cedric, what’s wrong? It seems like you don’t know her. Could you have mistaken her for someone else?”

Her voice carried a hint of caution. It was the first time Cedric had mentioned a woman’s name.

“Cedric, what are you doing?”

Hearing the Grand Duke of Renigrad’s voice, Cedric eventually turned his body. As he resumed walking, Arne exhaled the breath she had been holding.

‘No one else recognized me, so how did he know?’

She felt sorry, but now was not the time to acknowledge him. She had no intention of revealing her identity until she met Duke Xenon.

Arne continued to walk. The entire Renigrad family boarded the carriage. Duke Xenon, dressed in black formalwear, came into view.

“It’s been a while, Lady Judith.”

Hearing Duke Xenon’s voice for the first time, it left a clean and refreshing impression. He had a handsome appearance, different from Cedric but quite strikingly handsome.

“Greetings, Duke Geoffrey Kianel de Xenon.”

“Did you also come to visit Lady Judith?”

“Yes. Her grace and kindness always live on in my heart. Is it the same for you, Duke?”

“She was a good person. She told me I could find my daughter, who was lost during the war, when everyone else told me to give up.”

“I remember seeing the portrait you circulated, Duke. Her childhood name was Mercedes, a girl with platinum blonde hair and blue eyes. She must be a young lady by now.”

“It seems our efforts were not entirely in vain, if you know this much.”

Duke Xenon smiled kindly. Seeing the layers of loss and regret in his eyes, Arne felt strange.

Just moments ago, she had been thinking about how to gain Duke Xenon’s favor and strike a deal, but now something stirred in her heart.

“You must love your daughter very much.”

At Arne’s slightly trembling voice, the Duke slowly turned his head. Arne pressed her trembling lips together.

“I’ve always wondered how you could search so desperately for your lost daughter.”

“Is there a reason needed? She is my daughter.”

“Is that so….”

Arne desperately bit her lips. Although her eyes were hidden by the thick veil, the Duke, staring at her tightly pressed lips, spoke again. Somehow, he couldn’t look away.

“Your parents would feel the same.”

“I hope so. I’ve never met them.”

The Duke, who had been facing Judith’s grave, fully turned toward Arne.

“I’m an orphan.”

“…….”

“When I was young, I thought about it dozens of times a day. Why did they abandon me? Was I useless? Was I a nuisance? Was I not pretty enough? No matter how much I thought, I couldn’t find the answer. I don’t remember much from my childhood.”

Arne placed a white flower on Judith’s grave.

“I thought there must have been a reason. But every time I saw the old portrait you circulated, I wanted to ask just once. Why didn’t they ever try to find me?”

“Maybe they couldn’t find you. They might not know where you are.”

“In my case, it’s because they didn’t try. I have an unusual appearance, and I’m quite famous. I tried to become famous, though not in this direction.”

“Maybe you’re in a place they can’t reach.”

“Like the Freya Orphanage?”

Duke Xenon’s pupils widened in surprise.

“It’s well-known that you’ve been searching orphanages across the empire. The only one left is the Freya Orphanage, which restricts access to outsiders.”

Duke Xenon looked at the young lady who seemed quite youthful. Despite the thick veiled hat, her petite frame and still youthful voice couldn’t be hidden.

Today was a day only high-ranking nobles could enter. In his memory, there were no noblewomen or young widows of orphan origin.

“Are you still looking for your daughter? Shall I get you the register from the Freya Orphanage?”

At her continued words, Duke Xenon stopped thinking. He asked Duke Ronia several times, but Duke Ronia always refused. It was something he desperately wanted but thought impossible.

“If you can get it, I’ll reward you with anything. But how can you?”

“I’m from the Freya Orphanage.”

At that moment, a hypothesis crossed Duke Xenon’s mind. The young lady, known for her unusual appearance and called the ‘snow rabbit,’ infamous as the empire’s mad villainess, and the orphan lady who succeeded the title of Archmage after him.

“Raniarne Freya de Ronia, at your service.”

When Arne removed the long veil hat, her red eyes were revealed.

“I was worried about how to bring this up because of the rumors about me. But after talking to you, Duke Xenon, I changed my mind. If I knew someone who could help me meet my parents even once, I wouldn’t care who that person was. I thought you might feel the same.”

Arne opened her handbag and took out the index of the register she had prepared.

“I visited the Freya Orphanage today.”

Seeing the index of the register, Duke Xenon’s eyes changed.

“Why are you doing this for me?”

“I need the waterway rights you hold, Duke Xenon.”

“That’s not difficult. As long as what you brought is genuine and undamaged.”

Arne’s red lips curved into a smooth smile. She handed over the box of chrysanthemums she was holding. Feeling the weight of the box, which was quite heavy for flowers, Duke Xenon met Arne’s gaze.

“It’s genuine and well-preserved.”

“…….”

“Check it thoroughly, and if you want to continue the deal with me, send an invitation to the banquet to Raniarne Freya de Ronia, the Master of the Mercedes Trading Company sponsored by Cedric.”

“Have you considered that I might just take the register?”

“You won’t do that. When you see the register, there will be children you want to conduct paternity tests on. I’m the only one who can get their hair or bodily fluids.”

“…Can you really get them?”

“It’s very difficult, but if I’m lucky, I might even arrange a meeting. However, you must respond quickly because if Duke Ronia finds out I secretly took the register, it will be impossible. As you know, the Freya Orphanage is a thoroughly private facility.”

Arne glanced around. Soon, other high-ranking nobles would arrive.

“You should make a copy. To avoid getting caught, I need to return the original. If you delay or play tricks on me, you will lose your last hope of finding the missing Lady Xenon.”

Seeing the momentary despair in Duke Xenon’s eyes, Arne was convinced. He would send her a banquet invitation.

“This is not a conversation that we must continue here. Let’s meet at the banquet.”

Arne slowly put the veil hat back on. As she elegantly turned to leave, she heard the urgent sound of Duke Xenon opening the box.

A graceful smile spread across Arne’s lips again. She walked away without hesitation.

* * *