After making love with Cane, I woke up late in the afternoon. After washing up and resting, I felt relaxed and in a good mood. It seemed Cane had left the room, likely to spend time with Noel.

After getting dressed, I headed to the kitchen, and sure enough, Noel was there, setting up lunch. As I sat at the table, I casually said, “How about taking a walk in the garden today?”

“You want to go for a walk?”

“I’ve been inside for almost a week since moving to the first floor. I want to see the fountain and walk along the path.”

I was a bit anxious Noel might refuse, but to my relief, he agreed without hesitation.

“Alright then.”

“We’ll walk in the afternoon and have dinner in the shade along the path.”

“One of us, either Theo or I, will be able to join you. Luckily, we don’t have any pressing work today.”

I nodded, spooning up the cream soup. “I’ll pack the lunch.”

Noel laughed awkwardly. “Is that a good idea, Yuel?”

“I’ve really improved my cooking.”

“…If you really want to, go ahead.”

Noel replied with a laugh as if he couldn’t stop me. Despite my confidence, we both knew I had no real talent for cooking. I loved eating beautifully presented, delicious meals and often visited renowned restaurants. I’d even tried recreating my favorite dishes at home, but I never quite succeeded.

Theo and Noel were always the ones to taste and critique my cooking. Theo was usually cold and blunt in his assessments, while Noel awkwardly tried to soften his feedback. Neither of them ever suggested that my cooking was good.

“Yuel, you really shouldn’t cook. If the scrambled eggs are this hard and salty… isn’t that just not scrambled?”

Theo’s critique suddenly came to mind. While he loved everything about me, he often said he couldn’t lie about bad food being good.

Since I had mentioned packing the lunch, Theo might leave the garden walk to Noel instead.

After finishing lunch and taking a short break while listening to music, I mentally rehearsed my next steps, preparing for what I would do next.

I planned to gather some simple items from the kitchen: soft bread, jam, and drinks, then make some rice balls to pack neatly into the picnic basket. After that, I would change clothes and urge Noel to hurry while I made my way to the exit door to test if it would open.

It was a simple plan. To others, it might seem excessive to go through so much effort just to try opening a door. But for me, even confirming something so seemingly trivial required the utmost caution.

As the symphony came to an end, I stood up from the sofa and headed to the kitchen. On the shelf, I found soft grain bread, and the refrigerator was stocked with apple and strawberry jam. All I had to do was gather everything together.

The challenge was with the rice balls. I scooped out some rice and chopped up whatever vegetables I could find in the fridge—cucumbers and bell peppers—then mixed them into the rice. Since there was tuna, I opened a can and added that as well. I searched for seaweed flakes to season it, but when I couldn’t find any, I used salt and sesame seeds instead, mixing everything.

I tasted it midway through. It was a little off—too rich from the excess tuna oil.

“Maybe I should add some pepper…”

I muttered, rummaging through the cabinet and adding a spice mix with pepper and basil. After tasting it again, it was a bit salty but still edible.

“This isn’t what’s important.” I reminded myself.

I was a woman of strong resolve, determined not to lose sight of my purpose.

“This is good enough!”

I told myself as I shaped the rice balls and packed them neatly into the lunchbox. Once I finished, it seemed a bit plain, so I sprinkled some sesame seeds on top for a final touch.

I carefully packed the bread, jam, knife, and lunchbox into the picnic basket I had prepared the day before, along with a drink. It was perfect.

I then returned to my room and opened the wardrobe. At home, I typically wore long, simple dresses because they were the most practical and comfortable.

Today, I wanted to try something different from my usual style. I pulled out a bright orange dress with a vibrant floral pattern. It wasn’t a formal Arkel traditional dress, but a stylish and cheerful design, perfect for everyday wear.

Since it was sleeveless, my arms felt bare, so I took out a platinum ring bracelet from my jewelry box and slipped it on. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, I quickly removed it—I didn’t want to add anything to my wrist. I switched out of my slippers, put on a pair of high-heeled shoes, and stepped into the small living room.

As the decisive moment approached, my heart raced faster and faster.

“Noel, I’m heading out first. Hurry up and join me.”

I said, knocking lightly on Noel’s door.

I then walked through the glass hallway and entered the large living room. Holding the picnic basket, I stood in front of the exit door, ready.

The basket was heavier than I expected, and my grip began to hurt, so I switched it to my other hand. This was the first time I stood directly in front of the door leading to the garden.

Beyond this door was the outside world. The mansion was so spacious that I never felt confined, yet the difference between being inside and stepping outside felt significant like I was one step closer to freedom.

With a trembling heart, I grasped the doorknob. Suddenly, a wave of fear washed over me. What if the door didn’t open? That would make my escape much more complicated. I’d have to come up with another plan, but the repeated disappointments would surely drain my resolve.

I steadied my mind, repeating to myself, ‘Don’t be disappointed, don’t be disappointed,’ even if the door didn’t open.

I applied pressure and twisted the doorknob. Click. With the heavy sound of metal turning, the door opened easily. It was surprisingly smooth and simple. There was no fingerprint recognition or high-tech security—just an ordinary exit door.

***

“You look happy, Yuel.”

“I feel great! The garden is as beautiful as the mansion.”

“You look beautiful today too, Yuel.”

Noel had a way of making even the most embarrassing comments sound sweet. Why did those overly sentimental words seem so romantic when they came from him? Every time I saw Noel and Theo, it reminded me how much a person’s aura and appearance can shape how we perceive them.

We walked around the fountain and placed the picnic basket at the entrance of the flower-lined path. Noel spread out a green blanket, creating a comfortable spot for us to sit.

“We’ll walk along the path too.”

“The flowering trees here are very old; they bloom with white flowers every spring.”

“That sounds wonderful.”

“In the spring, you’ll be able to see it, Yu-el.”

The sight of the entire path covered in white flowers would surely be beautiful, but the thought of staying in this mansion until spring felt rather bleak.

Though it seemed like a paradise, it was unstable and full of contradictions, as if built on top of something darker. The beauty of this place felt deceptive.

Sunlight filtered through the branches of the flowering trees, and whenever the wind blew, the leaves rustled softly, like a gentle whisper. It reminded me of waves rolling in and then receding—a sound that felt refreshing to my ears.

The long, winding path was wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side, and at the end, I could just make out the solid steel gate, firmly closed. A stone wall ran along the gate, and on top of it sat a majestic eagle, carved in stone.

Beyond the steel gate, a wide road stretched out into an open field, so vast it was a feast for the eyes. The buildings I had glimpsed from the mansion’s windows were indeed far off in the distance.

As I approached the steel gate, I could observe the surrounding landscape in more detail. About halfway down the wide road, I spotted a large bridge, and I could easily imagine a gentle river flowing beneath it.

“Do you think there’s a river nearby?”

“Yes, it’s called Goldrain, which means ‘golden stream.’ The locals love and cherish this place. The scenery is considered some of the most beautiful in the world.”

“I’d love to see it.”

I replied, hoping my response sounded casual.

“You’ll get the chance to visit.” Noel said kindly.

I studied the main gate closely, but I couldn’t figure out how it worked or what mechanism controlled it.

“There doesn’t seem to be anyone managing the gate. For such a large mansion, there are surprisingly few people working here.”

At this point, the nameless maid working in the mansion seemed truly impressive.

“Magic solves more than you think. The people of Arkel gossip that magic is ominous and dismiss it, but Seyon’s magic has been advancing for a long time – much like the science of Ham.”