Suddenly facing the crisis of having to walk around the entire neighborhood with a face that was difficult to forget once seen, Sion racked his extraordinary brain. In times of crisis, his wit shone brightest.

“The chief’s position must be honorary. How else could you be so idle?”

While Adollo didn’t miss the chance to throw another barb, he seemed to think touring the town wasn’t a bad idea. He approached Agate and whispered in her ear.

“Miss, how about riding in a carriage around town? It’s been three years since you came to Ponten. I’d like to show you this small but charming and warm neighborhood.”

The end of Adollo’s voice trembled subtly. He had never imagined the day would come when he could show Ponten to the lady.

“……”

At this moment, all eyes turned to Agate. Even Sion, whose vigilance had reached its peak, looked down at her hat, which protruded roundly from a position where he couldn’t see her face.

He sensed it implicitly. He seemed to know in advance what answer would come from the lady whose intentions had been unpredictable.

Soon, the apricot-colored brim that seemed unlikely to move tilted up and down like a small boat, once, twice. As expected, the lady had agreed to Adollo’s proposal.

‘Yes, a carriage would be better… That’s the best option in many ways.’

A carriage’s capacity was two people. The key was to secure the seat with Agate, the only one available. If he lost that seat, he would undoubtedly end up on an intimate carriage date with Chief Müller.

Riding in the carriage with Agate would also allow him to escape the chief’s surveillance—killing two birds with one stone.

* * *

Securing the seat opposite Agate wasn’t difficult. The process of escorting her into the carriage and following her in flowed as naturally as water.

Neither Agate nor Adollo interfered with this sequence of events. Only Chief Müller, who had been bickering with Adollo like sworn enemies, belatedly seemed to realize his mistake, slapping his forehead as seen through the carriage window.

‘Judging by his behavior, he may have good instincts, but he’s not particularly skilled.’

He had vaguely heard rumors that the chief was originally from the capital’s police force before being demoted, and it seemed to be true. After being unnecessarily tense, Sion felt deflated as Müller quickly revealed his weakness.

With his worries momentarily eased, Sion’s attention returned to his primary target of concern.

‘This is the first time we’ve been alone in such a confined space.’

Amusingly, they had already seen everything there was to see of each other. Nevertheless, there was no progress whatsoever in their relationship. After all, the other person was none other than the ghost lady.

As always, Agate couldn’t take her eyes off the scenery outside, even in the carriage. Like the carriage that rattled slightly along the bumpy road, Agate’s body swayed a little from side to side.

Looking closely, it seemed Kanna and Molly had applied light powder to her before leaving the villa. Her lips had been given a lively red tint, and her cheeks had a peach-like flush.

Indeed, going into town with her usual appearance, even with a hat covering her, would be like asking to become the subject of gossip.

With her fist-sized face wrapped in a large hat and red ribbon, sitting motionless with an expressionless face, Agate looked exactly like a doll.

A doll that would never appear to move on its own.

They were alone in an enclosed space where no one could see them. This was an optimal opportunity for Sion, whose goal was to win her favor, but he felt no desire to scheme anything.

Was it because he truly felt like he was sitting across from a doll, not a person?

‘Why are you doing things you’ve never done before, today of all days?’

Of course, if she gradually came out into the world like this, everything would become easier, but everything was so sudden that he couldn’t be entirely optimistic. Sion always viewed unexpected good fortune with suspicion. After all, the world had never been kind to him.

Carrying this unresolved question, Sion also shifted his gaze to follow Agate’s, looking out the window.

The route the carriage was taking was likely being directed by Chief Müller, who was leading ahead. From what he could see, they seemed to be starting from the relatively quiet outskirts and heading toward the bustling area, with Jerry’s Bakery as the final destination.

Since he rarely had reason to go outside, it was important to use this opportunity to familiarize himself with the city’s geography. After all, knowing the terrain would make it much easier when he eventually needed to leave Ponten.

While taking in each building one by one, something moved abruptly at the periphery of his vision.

Confirming it with a sidelong glance, Sion reflexively opened the small window and spoke to the coachman.

“Stop for a moment.”

It was Agate who had stopped the carriage. She had suddenly raised her hand, signaling for the carriage to halt.

This was the typical aristocratic manner of giving instructions to servants without needing to speak. He had completely forgotten that she was a noble lady, but a single hand gesture reminded him of this overlooked fact.

“What is it, Miss?”

He was genuinely curious. Each of her actions, gazes, and movements carried far more meaning than those of others, making it impossible not to focus on them.

Tap tap

Again, words were unnecessary. Agate simply tapped the window with her thin index finger and looked at him. Sion’s gaze followed her fingertip outside.

The carriage had stopped in front of an old two-story wooden building that was clearly a bookstore selling antiquarian books. After a moment of choosing his words, Sion relaxed his mouth and began.

“Would you like… to visit the bookstore?”

Agate nodded. Though there was no verbal response, what passed between them was clearly communication and exchange.

The lady was increasingly expressing what she wanted. Whether this unexpected change would continue tomorrow or end today remained unknown.

However, the fact that she was showing aspects of herself she had never revealed before was intriguing.

What other unusual actions would she take next? What else would she want and express? Would he perhaps get to see expressions he had never seen before?

If so, he intended to draw her out further. Half out of simple curiosity, half thinking it would make his plan easier.

It seemed a small amusement was developing in what could have been a tedious and boring butler’s life.

Sion put joy on his lips as he opened the carriage door. The carriage that had gone ahead would only realize they weren’t following after quite some time. Even Sion had only grasped after two meetings that Müller and Adollo bickered like natural enemies whenever they met.

By now, they were probably exchanging their dislike for each other, forgetting their duties.

Imagining this comical scene, Sion entered the old bookstore with Agate. True to its nature as a place dealing with books, the moment they stepped into the shabby store, the smell of paper and ink wafted strongly.

An elderly man with abundant white hair, presumably the bookstore owner, blinked his eyes a couple of times before finally greeting them, apparently unaccustomed to customers.

“Welcome. Please take your time looking around.”

As the owner suggested, the bookstore showed clear traces of time not only in its exterior but also inside. Dust floated in the sunlight, a thin layer of dust had settled on the densely packed books, and individual sheets of paper had turned yellow with age.

Sion wanted to turn around, not wanting to spend even a moment in such a dilapidated place, let alone browse slowly. However, the noble lady boldly proceeded deep into the bookstore.

Sion glanced at the owner, who had thrown out a conscienceless greeting before returning to his newspaper, disregarding his customers, then followed Agate.

The bookstore was so quiet that even the sound of Agate’s dress hem dragging on the floor could be heard. Sion briefly considered whether he should stay close to her and hold up her skirt hem, but decided against it.

She was a woman who wouldn’t care if dust stuck to the hem of her dress, and for some reason, he hesitated to make unnecessary physical contact with her.

For whatever reason, Agate seemed pleased with this place. Stopping abruptly in front of the longest bookshelf, she selected a book at her eye level. Glancing at it, it appeared to be another poetry collection.

Despite the desk right behind her, she deliberately stood while flipping through the book. He could see her small, delicate lips tightening slightly in concentration. The yellowed pages would be whispering romantic and insubstantial songs to her as they turned one by one.

The sight of Agate reading a book wasn’t unfamiliar at all. After all, in the villa, all she ever did was stare blankly outside or read poetry collections.

‘I wondered what she was going to do, having come all the way here, but she’s just doing exactly what she does at the villa.’