But the reason she had a serious expression now wasn’t because of that.

‘Today…… is the Commander in a bad mood?’

Alkaid had never once forgotten to greet Spica.

He’s a kind superior who saw her every day and met her several times a day, but never failed to say even a word to her each time.

But just now he seemed like someone who didn’t know she was there.

If it had been someone else, she would have let it pass thinking it could happen, but since it was Alkaid acting like this, she felt uncomfortable somewhere in her heart was pricked by a small thorn.

Then, something was visible through the closing door gap.

‘Huh……?’

A helmet being placed on the desk. It was the one Alkaid had been wearing.

“Dame Tania.”

“Senior Knight Talitha Tania……!”

The door closed completely and both people’s voices and the sight of the helmet disappeared completely.

Spica, who had been frozen while looking only in that direction, finally sat down blankly.

‘Could it be that he only wears the helmet in front of me?’

Why? She couldn’t understand the reason.

* * *

Fortunately, she was able to find new lodgings quickly.

It was thanks to a maid who had worked at Viscount Atrain’s residence from before.

“Miss!”

“Who…… Pony?”

Spica, who was leaving the knight order after work hours, looked at the other person in surprise.

The maid smiled saying she had been waiting for her eagerly, but soon her eyebrows drooped.

“I was worried. You didn’t even tell us where you were staying, and suddenly sent only a message to pack your belongings……”

“I didn’t want to meet Lepus again, so I received some help. I’m thinking of finding a new house soon.”

Ah, maybe she doesn’t know the situation?

Spica belatedly examined the maid’s expression, but seeing no disturbance, it seemed she had somehow heard everything.

“I see. I fully understand Miss’s feelings too. But it’s your house, Miss, so we don’t understand at all why you have to avoid it like that.”

“Father trusted Lepus too much. No…… we all did.”

“Who would have known he would do such a thing? Miss, we really want to follow and serve you and young master Heze……”

“Yes, I know all your feelings.”

Spica wasn’t unaware of the servants’ situation, who were no different from being tied to the house.

It was a matter of livelihood for them. She had no intention of forcing them to quit because of her emotions. She only resolved once again that she would reclaim everything someday.

‘Even if they followed me now, I wouldn’t have enough work to employ that many people for the time being.’

From any perspective, it was better for the servants to remain in that house.

The maid quietly observed Spica, who was smiling, then said.

“If you’re looking for a place to stay…… would it be alright if I introduced a place I know?”

“You?”

“Yes. Of, of course it’s different from where people like us live.”

“I didn’t think that. I just thought it was a good proposal.”

Really, her luck was quite good.

Spica smiled brightly and led the maid. She even called a hired carriage in consideration of her who had been standing until now.

The maid told the coachman the location. The wheels began to roll with a rattling sound.

The imperial capital quickly receded behind them and soon the view of the plaza was visible. The street where the sun was gradually setting, a place where people always busily came and went, but somehow seemed quieter than usual.

“Miss, we’ve arrived now.”

The carriage stopped not even a few minutes after passing the plaza.

Spica was surprised to see the exterior wall of a building that clearly looked newly built. Pretty ivory-colored bricks, flowers decorating the flower beds and entrance walls, and large windows.

She was even more surprised after going inside and exchanging a few words with the landlord.

‘I thought the monthly rent would be extremely expensive…… it’s almost the same as the budget I set.’

A newly built house, and moreover close to the imperial capital.

Even so, she couldn’t help but be surprised by such a price.

‘I’ll have to pass by the viscountcy, but it should be fine. I’ll walk around, and Lepus uses a carriage.’

Right, he had openly ridden around in that carriage saying his boss had provided it for convenience.

Turns out the boss was nothing, it was provided by someone he was secretly meeting.

Her fist clenched tight when the memory of being deceived again came to mind, but her mood smoothly relaxed the moment she discovered the small but open-looking garden behind the building.

‘It’s pretty…… It would be fine to train under that tree over there.’

It was a house where there wasn’t a single place she didn’t like in every corner.

Mrs. Hudson, the landlord who came up to the second floor together, added in a slow tone.

“There is someone living in the room next to yours, Miss Atrain, but they always come in late at night and leave at dawn, so there shouldn’t be anything to worry about.”

Mrs. Hudson was an elderly woman with a kind impression like a grandmother from a fairy tale. Listening to her voice that made tension ease, a smile naturally appeared.

Spica nodded. Living in the same building with other people wasn’t an unfamiliar environment since she had lived in dormitories at the academy.

But

‘Everything is so much to my liking that it’s rather…… strange.’

Even if it was no different from sharing since there was someone in the next room, it was natural to become suspicious with this level of monthly rent for these conditions. Spica had thought she might have to go in and out of the outer walls of the imperial capital every day while setting her budget.

In such a situation, Pony happened to visit.

Spica looked back at her and lowered her voice.

“This place has absolutely no connection to Lepus, right?”

“Absolutely not. I could stake my younger siblings on it.”

Pony answered immediately.

Come to think of it, Pony had said she used all her salary to take care of her younger siblings.

“Sorry. I wasn’t trying to suspect you, but I’m worried about Lepus’s obsession.”

“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”

“Actually, I’m looking for a way to nullify Father’s transfer of the house.”

Father had given the house because Lepus had promised to marry Spica. Since he broke that, there might be room to reverse the gift too.

Pony was delighted to hear that story. Servants who serve old families have their own pride. The original owners were all driven out and they had to serve some rolling stone, so they couldn’t help but feel dissatisfied.

“I really hope it turns out that way!”

“Only you know about this, Pony. I don’t think it would happen, but just in case Lepus asks where I went, please pretend you don’t know.”

“Of course, Miss. I’ll be waiting for you to return.”

Pony spoke sincerely.

However, while Spica looked around the room once more, it was also true that some inexplicable guilt crossed Pony’s face.

Spica thought while leaving her behind.

‘It’s not like ghosts will appear. They said it was newly built.’

Mrs. Hudson said she built this kind of house because she felt lonely after retirement.

She said she hated the feeling of being left alone in the house since she had lived in a house with many people.

Spica could fully understand. Before joining the knight order, she often felt that way too.

‘Right, let’s just believe it’s good fortune. Like how the Commander helped me that day.’

Once she decided, there was no need to hesitate further.

Spica immediately signed the contract and even finished moving the next day. It was truly swift and decisive.

“Phew.”

The ceiling she looked up at while flopping down on the bed was clean without a single spider web. Pretty curtains had been installed by the window that had been empty in just one day.

“Really nice. I’m glad I made the contract.”

A small but beautiful house that made her feel good just by seeing it from afar. Like Mrs. Hudson, it seemed to come from a fairy tale book illustration, or rather it was a house that made her feel like she was entering a book herself.

The bedding was fluffy, the food was delicious. The maids showed quiet but flawless neat work just like servants of high noble households would.

‘Really, I was lucky.’

Various thoughts crossed her mind.

Pony who helped her find a good house, and Alkaid who let her stay at the hotel for several days. She should show gratitude to both of them.

Ah, now that she found lodgings, she should gradually write a letter to inform Heze of the situation too.

She should do that…… was it because tension was released? She absolutely couldn’t raise her body.

Her sky-blue eyes gradually closed with drowsiness.

How much time had passed?

What woke Spica was some sound.

“……”

Spica was in a half-awake state with one foot in reality.

The place where the sound came from seemed to be beyond the wall. Simultaneously, a faint good smell flowed in from somewhere.

The room was pitch dark. The night seemed deep, and moonlight seeped through the window where she hadn’t managed to close the curtains.

Spica looked at the dreamlike white moonlight and thought blankly.

‘Did the person next door come in?’

They said they return home late, and it was really true.

While her mind was slowly awakening, a slightly clearer sound than before was heard.

“Ngh, huu……”

A low, cracked breathing sound. No, was it a moan?

Spica curled up while covering her mouth with the blanket. It was a reflexive action that popped out without knowing the identity of the sound.

‘What, what is it?’

It was a strange sound. Somehow it seemed to carry heat.