Noel’s words hinted at much more than they revealed. At the very least, they implied that there was some magical power associated with the gate. Confronted with such an unknown power, I always felt discouraged. If the same magic that Noel saw so positively was what had kidnapped and effectively imprisoned me, then it was indeed malevolent and ominous, in keeping with what the people of Arkel believed. At that moment, it felt to me like a truly evil force.

“Arkel is slowly falling behind.” Noel continued. “They reject the science of the Ham and despise the magic of the Seyon. Meanwhile, the religious leaders are slaves to greed, amassing wealth, and the politicians are trapped in their decaying bloodlines and hollow formalities. They depend on their pathetic defense forces.”

‘Pathetic defense forces.’ I thought.

No one on the continent would describe Arkel’s military, managed by the Blaine Duke family, as pathetic. Yet here was the Duke of Blaine, a key figure in that army, openly belittling what his own family had built.

“Noel, you and Theo are responsible too.”

Noel responded with a gentle smile, but his silence made me uneasy. I couldn’t read his thoughts, and that uncertainty only deepened my anxiety. Could he truly be acting as a spy for Seyon? I couldn’t understand how someone like me had become entangled with a man like him.

“Look, Yuel.”

We had arrived at the shaded spot where we had placed the picnic basket and sat down side by side. Noel gently grasped my chin for a moment before letting go. His eyes were warm, and a smile played on his lips, but the words he spoke were far from as sweet as his expression suggested.

“You, one of the top doctors in Arkel, have been missing for 30 days, yet no one’s been able to find you”

Noel said, his thumb gently brushing over my lips. I had worn light makeup, so my lipstick had likely smudged onto his finger, though he didn’t seem to care.

I was surprised he remembered the exact date of my disappearance.

“If it were me, I would have found you within three days.” he added.

A chill ran down my spine. I tried to play it off casually, tilting my head.

“Three days? How would that even be possible?”

“If I told you, the mystery would disappear. So it’s a secret.”

What a ridiculous thing to say about mystery.

A surge of anger rose within me as I began to suspect that Noel’s seemingly innocent remarks were actually cunning, filled with hidden meaning. Was he subtly suggesting that escaping was futile, a veiled threat?

“Let’s eat”

I said, sulking.

Noel was insufferable, but he pulled the picnic basket closer and started unpacking the lunch—bread, jam, and drinks. Before I realized it, the sunset had painted the sky in a deep red glow, and the entire garden shimmered in shades of crimson.

Still, I had gathered a lot of useful information today.

First, I discovered that I could freely open and close the mansion’s exit door myself.

Second, I learned that the mansion is located near the Goldrain River in Seyon. Since Goldrain appears to be a well-known river, I should be able to pinpoint its exact location with a bit of geographical research.

Lastly, it seemed the main gate had some magical function, but there had to be a way to exit.

For now, the maid was the key to solving this puzzle. I wanted to know how she procured groceries and household necessities for the mansion. Since the village was quite far from here, she couldn’t possibly be walking back and forth.

I hoped there might be a pony suitable for me to ride, if not a four-wheeled carriage. I wanted to find even the smallest connection to the outside world to feel some sense of relief.

I needed to meet and talk with the maid soon. I had been delaying it, thinking it was too early, but since I was already out for a walk in the garden, I might as well push forward without hesitation.

“Mmm… this is delicious.”

Noel said, after taking a bite of the rice ball from the lunchbox, pausing briefly before offering praise.

“Right? I’ve improved a bit since the old days.”

“It’s definitely better than before.”

“Eat a lot. I don’t have much of an appetite.”

For a moment, I thought Noel’s complexion turned slightly pale, but when I smiled at him, he laughed along with me. I felt a strange sense of pride. After eating the meals Noel had prepared for me every day, this time I was able to cook and serve him, even if it wasn’t much of a meal.

No matter how angry, resentful, or annoyed I felt, it was true that I had developed some affection for Theo, Noel, and Cane, despite everything.

We sat side by side, enjoying our meal as the evening breeze swept through. Although it was still early and the sun hadn’t fully set, the lights around the garden fountain had already begun to twinkle.

I spread jam on the bread and took a few bites of the rice balls.

For some reason, the rice balls tasted saltier than when I’d sampled them while cooking, but seeing how well Noel was eating made me hesitate to mention it.

‘It seems to suit Noel’s taste.’

I thought, noticing he focused solely on the rice balls, leaving the bread untouched. The lunchbox was soon emptied.

“You must have been really hungry, Noel…”

“Because you made it for me, Yuel.”

Noel said, his sweet words making my heart race foolishly. Both Noel’s face—and Theo’s, for that matter—were dangerously captivating, like weapons capable of clouding a person’s reason. I quickly turned my gaze to the fountain, focusing on its shimmering water droplets, sparkling in the sunset and garden lights.

“Hmm… Let’s head inside.”

I said, standing up first and shaking off the picnic blanket. Noel began packing up our things. As I quietly watched his broad shoulders at work, I couldn’t help but think that if someone else saw us, they would assume we were just a couple enjoying a picnic together.

“Making the abnormal normal and the irrational rational”—that was what Theo did best. His traps were thick and sturdy.

And because of that, I had to escape. It wasn’t just a matter of wanting to—I needed to. If I stayed in this mansion any longer, it was clear that I would fall deeper under the influence of the three men.

***

For two days, I made a diligent effort to run into the maid, but each attempt failed. I woke up early to brew coffee and sat in the large living room, and I stayed up late reading, hoping to catch sight of her. However, I didn’t even catch a glimpse, not even a strand of her hair. By now, it seemed clear that she was deliberately avoiding me.

How can I meet her?

I wondered, thinking of different ways to make it happen.

I decided to search for her again early the next morning, and if I still didn’t see her, I would have no choice but to ask Theo directly. I’d tell him I needed someone to talk to and request that he let the maid become my conversation partner and friend.

Fortunately, the next morning, as I was contemplating my plan, I unexpectedly ran into the maid!

As I was leaving the kitchen with my coffee, I came face-to-face with a young woman in a maid’s uniform. She froze in place, staring at me blankly as if she were still processing the situation.

“Hello”

I greeted her with a smile in Seyonese. Her face turned bright red, and she quickly bowed before attempting to run away. In a panic, I gently grabbed her wrist.

“Please don’t go.” I pleaded.

The young woman looked frightened, so I gave her a wide smile to reassure her. Unfortunately, it seemed to have the opposite effect—she appeared even more uneasy, clearly unsure of what to do. Perhaps she was afraid of breaking the rules of her contract or worried about facing unwarranted anger.

She seemed quite young, maybe in her early to mid-twenties. Her large eyes and curly black hair were striking, making her the perfect image of Seyon’s beauty.

“Is there something you would like to ask?”

She asked in fluent Seyonese. I scratched my cheek, recognizing some words, but following a full sentence, especially with her native pronunciation, was difficult.

“What’s your name?”

I finally asked, curious.

“I’m Mio.”

“Mio.”

It was a lovely name, and it suited her perfectly—charming and cute.

“I’m Yuel Estin. Nice to meet you.”

I said, stumbling through the greeting in textbook Seyonese. Mio looked startled by my sudden introduction, staring for a moment before offering a hesitant smile.

“I’m not supposed to appear in front of the young lady. I’ll be punished for it. It’s part of my contract. If you need anything, just leave a note on the bedside table, and I’ll take care of it.”

I couldn’t fully understand her words, so I smiled back awkwardly. Mio’s expression went blank again, but I gently took her hand and guided her to sit on the sofa. While I wasn’t particularly tall, Mio was a bit shorter than me. She was petite and charming, and the strength in her hands only added to her endearing nature. It had been a long time since I’d felt such a genuine human connection.