“Kah!”

Apparently displeased with this too, Yolly threw a bear paw punch at the jacket from inside. This time he seemed to have used his claws, as there was a scratching sound.

“Yolly!”

Saena quickly opened the jacket to check the lining. The fabric was clearly scratched with loose threads.

“…I’m sorry.”

Constantine took a shallow breath and fastened the jacket again as if it wasn’t a problem, tightening it snugly around her body.

“If we stay longer, he might cause more trouble.”

“…Pardon?”

He stood up and headed toward the terrace.

“I’ll request to have my bachelor party at the palace as well.”

“Oh, that… you don’t have to do that because of what I said.”

Saena responded as she stood up to follow him.

“I plan to have a casual drink with the other dukes, so the palace would be more convenient.”

Ah, since the warp gate is within the imperial city, that might be more convenient.

Constantine stopped while opening the terrace door and turned his face back toward Saena.

“I’ll send the black bird on the night of the party. Make sure to take it with you.”

“What? Why?”

“You can’t bring knight escorts into the inner palace, can you? However, the Prince isn’t bound by such restrictions.”

“……”

“If any dangerous situation arises, the bird can alert me.”

Guardian Spirits really are capable of all sorts of things.

“Even if it’s just my overcautiousness, do this for me.”

“Alright.”

The Prince was someone she wanted to avoid as well, so she shared the same concerns about potential situations.

He seemed satisfied and briefly pressed his lips to her forehead with a smile.

“Sleep well.”

“Yes. You too, Your Grace.”

Then Constantine disappeared into the darkness as if melting into it.

Effortlessly, as if the three-story height meant nothing.

* * *

Time passed relentlessly fast.

Saena was strangely busy. Even though Constantine’s side was handling most things, she couldn’t imagine how hectic it must be for them if she was this busy.

Before she knew it, it was the day of the Blessing Night event.

Since she wasn’t just attending and returning but staying overnight, there was quite a lot to prepare.

While she was checking if anything was missing, there was a tapping sound at the window.

‘Ah, is that the bird?’

Although there hadn’t been any instruction to keep the bird’s existence secret, Saena sent all the maids away before opening the terrace door just in case.

Pyororok. The small black figure that flew in was indeed the black bird.

“Hello.”

When Saena opened her hand, the bird lightly flew over and perched on it. Then it opened its beak wide.

Kkueak.

Despite its cute appearance, the retching motion was still something she couldn’t get used to. She watched it with cold eyes.

‘Why is it throwing up? Did it bring a letter?’

She had only thought about taking the bird itself when told to bring it, not considering it might come as a messenger.

But what the bird produced was unexpected.

A single lily of the valley stem with dainty flower bells attached.

‘Could he have sent this?’

Even while knowing it must have been from him, she found it surprising. Sometimes he showed such unexpected moments of sensitivity that kept catching Saena off guard.

‘Surely… I will become happy.’

Perhaps that was Saena’s greatest goal in this time she returned to.

Did he know the flower’s meaning when he sent it?

Whether it was a coincidence or not, somehow this comforting gift made Saena smile deeply. The kind of deep, rich smile that Constantine would surely have been very disappointed to miss seeing in person.

Saena tucked the black bird into a small pouch. Since it wasn’t actually a living, breathing bird, it was convenient to carry.

Yolly whined wanting to come too, but quieted down when asked ‘Even though it’s a pajama party?’

“Kyuung….”

His dejected figure trudging away looked dispirited.

To give up so easily… Was it because of his experience at the last pajama party?

He became more intriguing the more she got to know him.

* * *

Passing through the castle gates with the Princess’s invitation, Saena was soon guided to the Princess’s palace.

“Welcome, Lady Debov.”

Upon arriving at the Princess’s palace, an attendant showed Saena to her assigned private room.

“Her Highness the Princess has instructed that you should unpack and rest for a while. You’ll be able to meet everyone at the evening banquet.”

“I understand.”

“I’ll come to escort you later.”

There was quite some time until the dinner.

While her maid was unpacking and organizing, Saena briefly considered what to do and decided to take a walk.

‘The Princess’s palace should have… a sculpture garden, right?’

The sculpture garden of the Princess’s palace was quite famous. Though not everyone could view it, all who had seen it were amazed.

While it was common for nobles to invest in art, the Princess particularly preferred sculptures over paintings. She had collected so many sculptures that she created a garden to display them, or so Saena had heard.

‘This is a privilege of being invited to the Princess’s palace.’

Thinking she might not get another chance to see it, Saena quickly headed outside.

Sir Rupert had only accompanied her to the imperial city entrance before returning. He would probably come back tomorrow for her departure. Knight escorts couldn’t carry weapons in the palace anyway, and since this was a women-only event, they couldn’t enter in the first place.

The imperial city, especially the inner courts where the direct imperial family’s palaces were located, was arguably the safest place in the world, as entry was impossible without an invitation and the Imperial Knights maintained constant vigilance.

Of course, it could become the most dangerous place if the imperial family itself became a threat…

‘…It should be fine if I don’t leave the Princess’s palace.’

Even among the imperial family, each palace had its own authority that others couldn’t infringe upon.

Besides, Saena wasn’t the only invitee — ladies from even more powerful families had been invited, so even the Prince couldn’t just take her away without consequences.

“Oh my…”

And she didn’t regret her decision to view the sculpture garden at all.

“This is… this is amazing!”

It exceeded her expectations.

She had heard about it briefly before but wasn’t sure, but now she knew for certain. The Princess wasn’t just a fan—she must be as much of a Guardian Spirit maniac as Saena!

While other sculptures were mixed in here and there, the most prominent and best viewing positions were occupied by Guardian Spirit-themed sculptures.

‘Wow, wow…’

No other exclamations would come out.

Halcon, Morev, Canis, Achelion. Another Achelion, here’s a set of the four ducal Guardian Spirits… Halcon, Morev, Halcon…

‘Her Highness is definitely a Halcon fan.’

While Achelion, being the imperial family’s Guardian Spirit, naturally had more pieces, Halcon had the second most numerous representations.

That’s Canis, Halcon, another Halcon, and…

‘Erenhorn!’

Seeing a sculpture themed after Erenhorn, Saena hurriedly approached it.

The piece was titled <Flight>.

As if capturing Erenhorn just before taking flight, its two wings were spread wide, and its front legs were raised in the air.

Though she didn’t know the sculptor, it was a work that excellently captured Erenhorn’s characteristic elegance and pure white essence.

‘Ah, it’s not just Erenhorn alone.’

She now noticed Morev behind it, spreading its wings in a different direction.

The contrast of black and white, with their flight directions at opposing points, seemed to be the focal point of the work.

‘Morev is… excellently portrayed too.’

But having seen Morev in person, she felt some disconnect between the artwork and reality. It was more about the atmosphere it conveyed rather than the form itself.

Well, since such artworks reflect the creator’s individual interpretation, one couldn’t say it was wrong just because it was different…

‘It’s not bad.’

It was certainly an excellent piece. But she felt more interested in finding more Erenhorn pieces.

As she ventured deeper into the garden, looking around…

“Oh!”

She saw it. Beyond the scattered shrubs, a white mane gleaming!

Saena walked straight toward her target, not even glancing at the other sculptures along the way.

It was a sculpture of Erenhorn with closed eyes, its nose buried among the shrub leaves.

Was it depicting it smelling the fragrance?

The delicate arrangement was impressive, deliberately positioned that way. The shrub would need frequent maintenance to maintain its height at Erenhorn’s nose level.

‘I wonder if Erenhorn has characteristics like enjoying the smell of grass or something?’

The work was incredibly detailed. It looked so lifelike that she wondered if the sculptor had carved it while observing Erenhorn directly.

This made her curious about the work’s title. Saena looked for the marker stone where the title would be engraved.

‘Where is it?’

She checked the front, sides, and all likely places but saw nothing but grass. Finding it strange, she looked up and was startled.

“Huh?!”

The sculpture that had its eyes closed just moments ago not only had its eyes open but had also lifted its nose from the shrub and was looking down at her.

“……”

Slowly tilting its head, the sculpture’s head returned to its original position, then began approaching her.

The fine hair-like details on the bridge of its nose as it gradually approached were so delicate. They seemed so precise she wanted to stroke them.

What was happening? Was she dreaming?

In this dreamy, strange atmosphere, Saena unconsciously began raising her hand toward the bridge of Erenhorn’s nose.

Flutter–

But just before her hand could stroke Erenhorn’s nose, she froze momentarily due to a large tremor in her chest.