‘…What timing.’

Kana felt dizzy. It was bad enough to be pickpocketed while relaxing, but the people she encountered were also quite remarkable.

Letie, breathing heavily, asked with difficulty in a broken voice.

“What… happened… here?”

“Well, actually, Miss Evie and I were pickpocketed…”

“Ah, me too!”

Letie empathized vehemently in a shrill voice. Meanwhile, Kiriel alternated his gaze between the boy caught by another mage and the one held by Kana, then lightly flicked his finger.

Tough vines sprouted from the ground and tightly wrapped around the two pickpockets. While everyone was blinking in bewilderment, he gently stroked Kana’s tense hand and said softly.

“Miss Kana, you can let go of him now.”

“Yes. Thank you for your help.”

Kana bowed her head politely. Kiriel’s gaze turned to the bound boys.

“I just restrained them, that’s all. Are these boys pickpockets?”

“…Yes.”

Kana affirmed weakly and carefully helped Evie, who was still sitting and catching her breath, to stand up.

Evie struggled to thank Kana and Kiriel for their help, while Letie expressed her gratitude to the mage who caught the pickpocket for her and to Kiriel.

Unlike how he treated Kana, Kiriel only nodded haughtily to the two’s thanks. While this behavior was entirely in character considering his setting, she found it a bit strange.

‘What’s this, he’s treating the female lead the same way?’

It wasn’t surprising that main characters treated supporting characters harshly, as it had been a long-standing tradition, but she didn’t expect the sub male lead to treat the female protagonist similarly to a supporting character even in this situation.

While Kana was inwardly concerned, he raised his hand to summon his personal subordinate.

“Kanto, call the guards immediately.”

“Yes, Tower Master!”

Kanto, who responded with a proper attitude, quickly moved away. Kana gently caressed the pure pearl on her necklace.

‘[Alderaan, I caught the pickpocket. We’re about to hand him over to the guards.]’

‘[I’m glad it’s resolved. I was on standby in case things got complicated, thinking I might have to intervene.]’

He had been anxious after his industry friend only mentioned being pickpocketed before cutting off contact. Alderaan finally let out a sigh of relief. Kana responded calmly.

‘[Thanks for waiting. If you had come too, things would have gotten more complicated. The situation is already a bit awkward as it is…]’

‘[Why, did you happen to run into some main characters at the same time?]’

‘[Correct. I’m near the clock tower right now.]’

Kana’s voice carried a half-resigned tone. It was immediately understandable without further explanation. Alderaan clicked his tongue at his industry friend’s eventful situation.

‘[Geez, what timing…]’

‘[Tell me about it. I’m not in a position to talk for long right now, so I’ll contact you again if there’s anything to say.]’

Kana ended the conversation, conscious of the eyes around her. Although she had used spirit magic discreetly, she couldn’t avoid Kiriel’s gaze, which had been fixed on her the whole time. He casually blurted out.

“Miss Kana, what were you doing?”

“Ah, I was just having a brief chat with spirits. I was worried that using spirit magic while chasing the pickpocket might be an issue…”

Kana made up an excuse on the spot and trailed off. With her eyebrows drooping, she looked like someone genuinely worried to anyone who saw her.

Kiriel gently patted her shoulder, assuming she must be very upset.

“You didn’t use it on an innocent person. Besides, you didn’t recklessly swing an attack skill, so no one will find fault with it.”

“Do you think so?”

“Of course. If we’re going by that logic, wouldn’t I be in trouble for using magic too?”

“I guess you’re right.”

She nodded in agreement. While they were having this brief conversation facing each other, Letie and Evie, who had caught their breath, were in much better condition than when they first met.

The two figures stood side by side on either side of Kana. Letie, with a somewhat tired expression, brushed her hair back and began to speak.

“It’s really strange. How is it possible for us all to be pickpocketed at the same time?”

“I know. We’re lucky we caught them without incident. We also received help from Lord Kiriel.”

Kana responded casually while subtly praising Kiriel. He pretended not to hear but slightly raised the corners of his mouth. Evie, who had been quietly nodding, suddenly clapped her hands as if she had just remembered something.

“Oh right, Lady Letie. Earlier, near the central square, I saw only the Serade family’s carriage entering through the controlled entrance… Was everything alright?”

“That’s right. We were worried that something might have happened to you, Lady.”

Kana, although already knowing the reason, carefully added to Evie’s words. Letie responded awkwardly with a complicated expression.

“Due to personal circumstances, we siblings ended up going around together, but in the middle of it, Cordelia suddenly collapsed.”

“…Ah.”

While Kana and Evie’s lips quivered, her golden eyes flashed coldly for a moment. Letie calmly added an explanation.

“Healing abilities didn’t work, so my brother took her back first. I was left alone, wandering around, and got pickpocketed in a secluded place.”

“You’ve been through a lot. Miss Evie and I were also pickpocketed in a secluded area of the marketplace.”

“It’s just as Miss Kana said. It was a bit away from the handicraft shops.”

Evie added, shivering slightly. It was understandable to be shaken, having been caught up in an incident just as they were about to return to their respective mansions. Letie gave them a sympathetic look.

“We’ve all had difficult experiences during the Founding Festival period.”

“Haha, indeed.”

A deep sense of empathy formed among the women who had suffered the same ordeal. Kiriel quietly watched them comforting each other before turning his gaze to the pickpockets.

The boys who had stolen the wallets had roughly grasped the identities and status of those present from the conversations they overheard and turned pale. Although they were already tied up, they didn’t even dare to think about escaping.

Shortly after, Kanto, who had returned with several people in tow, reported to Kiriel.

“Tower Master, I’ve brought the guards.”

“Good work, Kanto.”

As he nodded, Kanto bowed and returned to his position. Kiriel spoke indifferently to the guards who were visibly tense upon seeing the gathered people.

“You’re the guards, right? Those kids sprawled over there are the pickpockets we reported. This one targeted Miss Kana Round and Miss Evie Reas, and that one targeted Lady Letie Serade.”

“Huh.”

The guards inhaled sharply in surprise. It was not a matter to be taken lightly, as the pickpockets had not only targeted three nobles during the heavily guarded Founding Festival period but had also incurred the displeasure of the Tower Master.

Kiriel lowered his voice and subtly emphasized.

“You’ll handle this properly, won’t you?”

“O-Of course!”

The guards, responding respectfully, quickly and firmly apprehended the pickpockets. While observing the situation, Kana smoothly interjected.

“First, we’d like to retrieve our stolen wallets.”

“Yes, my lady!”

A couple of guards took the wallets from the boys and returned them to their respective owners. Thus, they safely recovered their wallets.

Kana spoke gently to the guard.

“You must be very busy during the Founding Festival period. Thank you for your hard work. You can take them away now.”

“Yes!”

Just as the guards were about to drag away the pickpockets, the boy who had stolen Kana and Evie’s wallets pleaded with tears in his eyes.

“Noble ladies, I’m truly sorry. Life was so hard that I… Please show mercy.”

“What, this kid?”

The guards glared, but the boy stood his ground firmly. He thought Kana and Evie looked gentle enough that they might easily give in if he tried.

Evie, being soft-hearted, hesitated for a moment, but Kana, who immediately saw through the other’s intentions, felt her heart grow cold.

Both in her original world and in her various roles as a supporting character, she had often been looked down upon due to her gentle appearance, regardless of the role she played.

She spoke softly with an expressionless face.

“Boy, let me ask you one thing.”

“Yes?”

“If our group had appeared to be strong men or people with powerful force like the guards, the Tower Master, or knights, would you have stolen our wallets?”

“Th-That’s…”

Faced with this sharp question that hit the mark, the boy couldn’t refute. His hesitation to answer was enough to reveal the truth.

In the end, he had stolen and made an emotional appeal because the targets seemed easy. Having made her judgment, she conveyed her decision to the guard in a cool voice.

“I have no intention of showing leniency, so please handle this properly.”

“Yes!”

The guards left, taking the pickpockets with them. Letie, looking back and forth between Kana and Evie’s contrasting expressions, began to speak.

“I thought Miss Kana and Miss Evie would show mercy.”

“Given their difference in attitude depending on the target, and the fact that they’re the type to commit crimes again if let go, I deliberately didn’t let them off. Besides, the skillful way they stole and tried to run away wasn’t the work of first-timers.”

“…I see.”

Evie, who had been inwardly shaken, quietly lowered her eyes at Kana’s matter-of-fact explanation. She gently patted Evie’s back as if to say don’t be discouraged.

Kiriel naturally intervened to support Kana.

“Miss Kana made a good judgment and decision.”

“Yes, thank you for taking my side.”

Kana responded with a gentle smile. Kiriel awkwardly stumbled over his words before clearing his throat politely.

“Ahem, Miss Kana. The situation has been resolved well, and I’m done with my work too… Would you like to go have some fun together?”

“Ah, I already have company, and I’m tired from today’s events, so I was just planning to rest.”

Kana made a troubled expression while subtly pulling Evie in. Although it wasn’t a prearranged meeting, Evie nodded in agreement, trying to help her companion who had spent time with her.

He asked again with a visibly dejected look.

“…Oh. Then how about tomorrow? Is that not possible either?”

“Are you free tomorrow?”