***

‘All right, then.’

After parting ways with Cervel, Amel returned to her room.

Her head felt foggy.

This always happened whenever she met Cervel.

Her mind would grow hazy and her heart would become unsettled.

Because of that, she sometimes found herself acting irrationally.

Like now.

There were dozens of reasons why she shouldn’t be doing this. If her mother found out, she would be horrified.

She would probably scold Amel and ask if breaking off her engagement meant that she had decided to throw all reason out of the window.

Even now, Amel was still cautious, wondering if what she was doing was really right. But it was already too late to turn back.

Amel tousled her hair.

She didn’t want to think too deeply about it for the time being.

“I should go to sleep.”

It was still early in the morning, so she needed to get some more sleep.

Just as Amel was about to open her door, she heard a door opening in the room next to hers.

“Lilline?”

The door to Lilline’s room opened.

“My lady?”

“Yes? Why are you out?”

“Ah, I woke up for a moment because I heard someone moving around. Have you been somewhere?”

“Yeah. I felt restless, so I stepped out for a moment……”

“At this hour?”

“Did you just wake up?”

Lilline nodded weakly.

“Yes, just now. I guess the cold medicine is pretty strong. I slept like I’d been knocked unconscious. I woke up because of the creaking sound from the hallway.”

“Oh, dear. I woke you up.”

Amel quietly studied Lilline.

Does she know? No…… It seems she doesn’t.

Lilline yawned sleepily. Covering her mouth, she blinked several times.

“Go back to sleep. It’s still early.”

“Yes, my lady. You should get some more sleep, too. I’ll go back in after I see you enter your room.”

Amel closed the door and went inside.

The moment she locked it, she slowly sank to the floor. All the strength had drained from her legs.

Her head felt foggy.

Her thoughts were a tangled mess.

She didn’t want to think about anything right now.

Amel rose to her feet, went to the bed, and lay facedown. Resting her cheek against the pillow, she closed her eyes.

She slept until dawn.

A light drizzle was falling outside.

The rain and overcast sky weighed heavily on her mood. Amel slept through the morning and didn’t wake up until late.

It was 10:20 a.m. – time for a late breakfast.

She slowly opened her eyes, then made her way down to the dining hall alone.

“My lady?”

When she reached the first floor, the madam happened to be coming out of the kitchen.

“You’re up now?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you sleep well?”

The madam asked as she boiled water in a large pot.

“Would you like something to eat?”

“Then just a glass of water, please.”

“I’ll bring it right away.”

Amel drank the water the madam brought her and was about to leave when the dining hall door opened.

A soldier from the marquis’s household entered, wearing a raincoat.

“Are you going somewhere, my lady?”

“Yeah. I thought I’d take a walk.”

“In this rain?”

Amel held up her umbrella.

“I feel stifled staying in my room. I’m just going out for a walk.”

“Are you going alone, my lady?”

“Yes. Lilline’s cold is pretty bad.”

“Shall I accompany you?”

“No. I want to walk alone.”

“Please don’t go too far.”

“I’ll stay nearby.”

Amel gave him a small smile before leaving the inn alone.

Under the eaves, she opened her umbrella and stepped out into the rain.

‘My head feels foggy.’

She stood there for a moment, staring blankly.

‘I can’t think of anything.’

‘What am I doing here?’

Amel lifted her head and looked up at the sky.

‘Ah, it’s cold.’

Rain fell onto her head. She shook her hair briskly, then suddenly turned her gaze to the side.

It was Cervel Madillert.

‘That man.’

Cervel was outside, his hands tucked into the pockets of his raincoat.

But he wasn’t alone.

‘Who are they?’

Several people had gathered in front of the storage building. They were members of the Grand Ducal House—the crest of the Grand Ducal family was clearly visible on their clothing.

Amel was about to move away when Cervel turned and looked at her from across the way.

“Ah.”

Their eyes met.

They had already seen each other. At this point, pretending not to notice and walking past would be impossible.

Reluctantly, Amel approached, and Cervel acknowledged her.

“Miss Amel.”

“Hel-lo.”

Amel awkwardly lowered her head in greeting. Cervel gave a slight nod and let out a small laugh.

“Hello.”

“There seem to be quite a lot of people……”

“Ah. The others suddenly showed up.”

Cervel paused for a moment, choosing his words.

“My party has returned.”

“Your Grace. All fifteen knights have returned.”

One of the knights gave a salute and reported their return.

“……They’re your knights?”

“Yeah.”

“Did everyone go somewhere?”

“Yeah. Into the mountains.”

“……Even though it’s raining? Why did they go there?”

“Hmm. My younger cousin got himself into trouble, so I had to take care of it. It’s an embarrassing family matter, so I’d rather not talk about it.”

His cousin? If he’s related to Cervel, does that mean someone from the Imperial Family? The only people he would go out of his way to help if they were his cousins would be members of the Imperial Family.

Amel listened absentmindedly, then suddenly hesitated.

“So, let’s leave that matter there.”

Cervel looked down at Amel for a moment before glancing away. Amel smoothly continued the conversation.

“Then, will your companions be staying here with us now?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s quite a lot of people.”

“So I think they’ll probably stay in the storage building.”

“Ah…… Are there no vacant rooms?”

The inn didn’t have many rooms to begin with. It wasn’t particularly large, either.

“Even if there were rooms available, there wouldn’t be enough. Besides, I thought it would be better for them to stay separately.”

Cervel extended his arm as though offering to escort her. Amel naturally rested her arm on his.

As he led her along, Cervel asked,

“What were you doing?”

“I was taking a walk.”

“In the rain?”

“I’d been staying in my room all day because of the rain, and I started feeling stifled. So I came out for a walk.”

“Even with an umbrella.”

“Yes. Isn’t it rather romantic?”

“I don’t know about romantic, but the ground is slippery.”

Cervel firmly supported her by the arm. He was more than a head taller than her, and his black raincoat reached down to his shins. He took the umbrella from her and held it himself as he escorted her.

“A grown lady like you came out alone without an escort?”

“They tried to come with me, but I told them I wanted to go alone.”

“What about your maid?”

“She’s sleeping. Because of her cold.”

“Lazy attendants.”

“They simply know how to respect their mistress’s wish to rest alone.”

Cervel gently held her arm and adjusted his pace to hers as they walked.

“Miss Amel.”

“Yes?”

“Puddle ahead.”

There was a puddle directly in front of them. Amel lightly stepped around it.

Fortunately, she didn’t step into the water. Cervel matched her pace and waited for her.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Cervel treated Amel naturally. He neither acted awkward nor seemed uncomfortable.

Because of that, Amel couldn’t bring herself to act awkward, either.

If she did, she would only become more conscious of the situation.

Cervel offered his arm again and called her.

“Miss Amel?”

“Yes?”

“The clouds look rather ominous.”

He pointed toward the mountains in the distance.

“Would you like to walk a little farther?”

“No. I should head back. It looks like we’re in for another downpour.”

Rain clouds were rolling in from beyond the mountains, bringing rain with them.

‘I should go back now.’

“Ah!”

Amel cried out and stumbled. Her foot slipped on the wet path.

Fortunately, Cervel gripped her arm firmly, keeping her from falling. She lifted the hem of her dress and looked down at the ground.

“You need to be careful.”

“Th-thank you.”

Amel brushed off her dress. Fallen leaves lay thickly across the ground. Perhaps because of them, the path had become slippery.

“The wind and rain have stripped all the leaves from the trees.”

“Can you walk?”

“Yes.”

Cervel offered his arm again. Amel didn’t refuse and allowed him to escort her.

She only let go of his arm once they arrived.

“We’re here.”

They took shelter from the rain beneath the eaves.

Cervel folded the umbrella and handed it to her. Amel took it back and cleared her throat. Cervel pointed toward the door.

“Go in first.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Amel brushed off her dress and entered first. The madam spotted them and greeted them warmly.

“Oh my, how did the two of you end up coming back together?”

“We ran into each other out front. I’ll head upstairs first, Your Grace.”

Cervel nodded, signaling that she could go ahead.

Amel gave him a small bow and lightly made her way up the stairs.

‘Come to think of it, my legs are itchy.’

The itching wouldn’t go away.

Her skin sometimes became itchy when the weather turned dry, but this felt different.

As she brushed off her dress, a prickling sensation ran along her legs.

“Ah?”

Prick.

Prick, prick.

‘Did something poke me?’

‘Is my underskirt rubbing against my skin?’

She carefully lifted the hem of her dress.

As she raised it slightly, something dark and shadowy wriggled beneath the fabric.