009

“That’s a good idea! My lady, what do you think? There’s still some time before tea, so I’ll have the pergola prepared.”

Adollo pulled out a gold-chained watch from his chest to check the time, then glanced at Agate. It was unreasonable to expect a response from her as she stared endlessly at the gate without even pretending to listen.

Sion seemed to think the same, volunteering again as her spokesperson.

“I believe she would like that.”

The lady was clear about expressing her dislikes despite never pretending to listen. If she found the prospect of having tea in the garden utterly repulsive, she would have stood up and returned to the villa.

Having gained a fair understanding of the lady, Sion made this assumption.

“Since today is special, I should go into town again. We’ll need mille-feuille.”

Hearing Adollo’s muttering, Sion’s brows furrowed fiercely.

‘Town? Going out again?’

Finding the very idea of leaving the villa burdensome, Sion carefully composed his expression to hide his dismay.

“I’ll go to Jerry’s Bakery to get the mille-feuille. You stay and attend to the young lady. Also, please oversee the servants preparing the pergola.”

Fortunately, he was entrusted with the important duty of assisting the young lady. Sion transformed his sigh of relief into a gentle smile.

“Of course, leave everything to me and go with ease.”

Adollo already knew that Sion’s work was impeccable. He answered with a few throat clearings before turning to make preparations.

“…Miss?”

Today the sun must truly have risen in the west. Adollo hiccupped as he saw Agate tugging at his collar.

Though he didn’t understand the meaning behind the young lady’s action, the very fact that she was expressing her will in this way was astonishing. After a moment of being moved, Adollo, not forgetting his duty as a butler, widened his eyes to read her intentions.

Agate, still not releasing Adollo’s sleeve, slowly rose from the bench. Then, with her expressionless face, she looked back at the gate.

Sion was also observing her every small movement.

“Perhaps… do you want to go out together?”

‘What nonsense.’

Sion snorted softly at Adollo’s far-fetched inference. There were limits to wishful interpretation—just because she grabbed his sleeve?

If anything, it probably meant she didn’t want mille-feuille, Sion thought, standing a step away from them with a different conclusion.

But his composure was short-lived as a spasm ran through one corner of his smoothly curved lips.

“Ah… Miss, I’ll prepare for an outing right away.”

The lady nodded her head just once, cleanly and without excess. That stiff neck moving was something neither Sion nor Adollo had seen in a very long time.

Adollo’s expression, flushed with joy, contrasted starkly with Sion’s ashen face. If Agate went out, Sion, who had to attend her, would undoubtedly accompany her to town.

‘Did that lady eat something wrong?’

He had already found it strange that she had docilely agreed to come out for a walk, but now she wanted to go on an outing without even being asked. It couldn’t be that she had suddenly decided to live like a normal person after three years.

Her gaunt and disheveled appearance, unimpressively thin body, and lifeless eyes remained unchanged—she looked like a ghost as always. The only difference was that she was doing things she normally wouldn’t do.

Whether Sion stood frozen like plaster or not, the excited Adollo left Agate in his care and rushed to the villa to find Kanna and Molly.

As soon as Adollo entered the villa, Sion mercilessly crumpled his face behind his hands.

‘…Outmaneuvered again. By this troublesome lady.’

Glaring at Agate through his slightly parted fingers, Sion lowered his hands and fixed his gaze on her.

“……”

Normally, he wouldn’t have left this silence hanging and would have addressed the unresponsive lady warmly, but he only slightly parted his lips, unable to say anything.

Gaunt and disheveled appearance, unimpressively thin body, lifeless eyes. A ghost-like woman.

He could have confidently claimed that this description had no exaggeration just moments ago.

But just now—no, even now—there was a brilliant light in Agate Irone’s brown eyes. Facing her first outing in three long years, she seemed somewhat excited about it.

Excitement—a noun that seemed absurdly incompatible with the woman he had observed for mere months. Though her half-ruined face showed no dramatic smile or flush, the faint light sprouting in her eyes was undeniably vitality.

Even Sion, who cared little for others, couldn’t look away from her expectant eyes, which shimmered like colorful beads.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind like lightning.

Perhaps before leaving this rural corner, he might see the lady’s former self with his own eyes. The bright, vibrant young lady that sounded like a lie.

* * *

“My goodness… I’ve lived to see something remarkable.”

“And you’re neglecting your duties again. Can one report a station chief to his own police station?”

“Is this… Lady Agate?”

Whether by coincidence or fate, Police Chief William Müller, who had been munching on a sandwich at Jerry’s Bakery, and Adollo, who had been watching his antics with disdain, were interrupted by Jerry rushing forward. Not just Jerry—all the bakery staff (though only three or four in number) poked their heads out like mice to observe Ponten’s most famous and mysterious lady.

Wearing a large apricot-colored wide-brimmed hat, Agate slowly rolled her eyes, scanning the space where her favorite desserts were made. Her already tiny face was almost completely hidden by the hat, making it difficult to see unless viewed from the front.

“How rude, Jerry. Do you intend to make the young lady a spectacle?”

“A spectacle? Absolutely not! What are you all doing standing around? The young lady has personally graced us with her presence—you should be showing off your skills!”

When Adollo made no effort to hide his displeasure, Jerry finally came to his senses and cleared the situation by shooing the employees back to the kitchen.

“This place is more bustling than the villa. If you’re uncomfortable, you needn’t endure it, Miss. I’ll prepare to return immediately.”

Amid the commotion, Sion whispered softly to Agate, who stood before a display case of cakes too exquisite to eat.

In truth, he was the one desperate to return to the villa. He wanted to leave town by any excuse, especially this bakery.

‘I’m certain. For some reason, he’s watching me, not the lady.’

When the veiled young lady appeared, Sion, whose presence was normally commanding, was naturally pushed to the background. Except by one person.

And Sion did not make the mistake of dismissing this.

‘William Müller… was it?’

Of all people, the police chief—given who he was, Sion couldn’t help but be concerned. Chief Müller, who kept darting his eyes toward Sion even while eating his sandwich with casual white sauce smeared around his mouth, was more than a little irritating.

The man wasn’t watching him out of boredom or homosexual interest. That gaze was clearly the sharp eye of an investigator filled with suspicion and scrutiny.

‘Where could I have slipped up? I’ve only seen this man once, at this shop. He couldn’t possibly know my face.’

Moreover, hadn’t he been distributing that ridiculous wanted poster of Sion himself? Having stared at the poster all day, the terrible portrait would be stuck in his head, making it nearly impossible to connect that image with his appearance.

The only suspicious point Sion had left was being an outsider who had entered Ponten around the same time a nationally wanted criminal appeared. But if one were to be suspected based on such coincidence alone, there would be a sack full of suspects in every region.

‘D*mn, I can’t let my guard down. One wrong move and I might have to resort to fleeing in the night.’

It was still too early to be certain that the chief had marked him as the wanted criminal based solely on his unwavering gaze. It could simply be part of his professional habit to be wary of outsiders.

Making unnatural movements due to self-consciousness would be like voluntarily confessing guilt, so rash actions were out of the question.

‘I can’t leave this place alone anyway. While I’m here, I’ll have to act as naturally as possible to wash away that damned suspicion.’

Sion decided to stick close to Agate and play the role of a devoted butler who lived and died for his lady. All while hoping she would soon tire from her rare outing and ask to return.

“Not just mille-feuille, but give us one of each dessert you have here. Enough to fill a 10-tier tray!”

Ironically, the most excited about the outing with the young lady was Adollo. At his excessive order, Jerry beamed with delight while Sion’s eyes flashed with murderous intent.

“Of course! However, preparing one of each will take some time, so perhaps you could look around town and come back.”

‘I knew it…!’

A low groan escaped from Sion’s lips in disappointment. If his prediction was correct, someone would step forward before he could count to three.

One, two…

“Then allow me to show you around. I know Ponten’s town center like the back of my hand.”

Sure enough, William Müller volunteered as a guide without hesitation. All while not taking his eyes off Sion. In his courtesy, the young lady was merely a convenient excuse—he had undoubtedly placed Sion under investigation. Though what kind of investigation remained uncertain.