I wasn’t mistaken.

Feeling slightly burdened by Winston’s intense gaze, I nodded.

“Yes, I’ll be attending the baptism ceremony with His Grace. So I think he’s going to take care of it for me.”

There’s a bit of a contradiction in saying he’s ‘taking care of it’, but anyway.

“Ah…!”

At that, Winston’s eyes widened as if he was trembling with excitement.

He nodded repeatedly.

“I see, that’s wonderful news.”

Winston spoke with an expression that seemed genuinely delighted.

Seeing him so happy made me feel a bit strange.

Although I’m concerned about Lemon who disappeared without a trace, being on leave shouldn’t be a big blow to him as the master of the Rune Information Guild.

‘Still, I should pass on the message.’

Lemon probably doesn’t know that I’m going to the baptism ceremony with Cardien.

Thinking this, I continued my conversation with Winston.

“Then, as per the master’s words, we’ll prepare your dress and accessories, so you don’t need to worry about anything at all.”

“Yes, thank you. Oh, and for the dress, please make it as simple as possi…”

“Well then, I’ll go prepare for the baptism ceremony!”

I was about to ask for the dress to be prepared as simply as possible, but Winston had already dashed inside.

I thought I heard words like “the best…” “perfect…” but I tried to erase them from my mind as I started walking.

‘I should go see Lemon tomorrow.’

He usually leaves the guild headquarters empty to work as the librarian at the Mercedes Ducal residence, but since he’s on leave, I should be able to meet him if I go there.

Anyway, I’m tired today, so I’ll just go in and rest.

‘Somehow, I feel like my stamina is getting weaker.’

Could it be because of the Magic Disease?

I sighed and glanced at Chelsea, who was walking beside me.

Chelsea was always reassuring, but today she seemed especially formidable.

It must be because of what happened at the dress shop, and how she immediately understood Cardien’s words.

“Um, Chelsea.”

When I called out to her, Chelsea turned to look at me.

Her eyes, like black pearls, seemed especially dark today.

“Yes, Tutor.”

“Well, it’s nothing much. What did you do before becoming a maid, Chelsea?”

I had heard briefly from Winston that Chelsea hadn’t been a maid of Mercedes for very long.

So what did she do before that?

I looked at her curiously, then quickly added,

“Ah, if it’s difficult to talk about, you don’t have to tell me.”

Everyone might have a past they don’t want to talk about.

Chelsea chewed on her lips for a moment, then slightly bowed her head and answered.

“I… don’t want to tell you, Tutor. I’m sorry.”

Her expression looked so gloomy as she said this that I quickly shook my head, thinking I had asked an unnecessary question.

“No, Chelsea. You don’t need to apologize. I asked an unnecessary question. Don’t worry about it.”

Chelsea stared at me blankly for a moment, then nodded slightly.

“…I’ll tell you someday.”

“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”

I smiled brightly at her, then looked out the window.

We had left in the morning, but the sun was already setting.

‘The day really felt long.’

Today felt incredibly long.

But…

‘Thanks to that, I feel relieved.’

Levian and Grace.

The main culprits who slandered me during my academy days and left me with nightmarish memories, mocking me even at the graduation party.

No matter how great my abilities were, those two in my memories were opponents difficult to confront.

They cornered me using Anna as their front, and I hid in corners to avoid them.

‘Although I borrowed Cardien’s power.’

Recalling how they trembled and didn’t know what to do, I felt refreshed.

At least I don’t think I’ll be trapped in feelings of helplessness when recalling the past anymore.

And…

“Um, Chelsea.”

As we approached the door, Chelsea turned her head at my call.

The sunset light settled on her dark complexion.

I bowed my head towards her and said,

“Thank you for today. For helping me.”

As I raised my head slightly, Chelsea was looking at me with a surprised expression.

Eventually, she regained her composure and spoke.

“It’s my mission to protect you, Tutor, so there’s no need to thank me.”

It had already become her mission to protect me.

I let out a small laugh at her consistently solemn appearance.

Come to think of it…

‘I don’t think I properly thanked Cardien either.’

I should thank him properly when I see him later.

Thinking this, I entered my room.

The day was passing by quickly.

***

Clatter.

“Mmm…”

As I tossed and turned, I slowly opened my eyes.

The surroundings were completely engulfed in pitch-black darkness. Only the moonlight dimly illuminated the room.

‘When did I fall asleep?’

I remember that as soon as I arrived in the room, fatigue washed over me like a wave, and I jumped into bed right after washing up.

‘I must have passed out right then.’

What time is it now?

As I turned my head to look for the clock.

Tap…

Once again, I heard a small noise.

Come to think of it, I think I woke up because this sound was bothering me.

Could it be Cardien again?

With that thought, I looked around, but Cardien was nowhere to be seen.

‘Then what is it?’

I suddenly realized that the sound was coming from the direction of the terrace.

Tap…

Just as I turned to look that way, as if announcing its presence, the strange sound occurred again.

I flinched and carefully got out of bed.

‘Could it be a thief?’

But can thieves even enter the Mercedes ducal residence?

If so, wouldn’t that thief be incredibly skilled?

Actually, I didn’t think much of the sound.

Of course, there’s no way a thief could have entered.

I thought it might be a small animal like a squirrel or a bird hitting something on the tree or terrace.

If it was stuck somewhere and couldn’t move, I should help it.

With that thought, I opened the firmly locked terrace door.

Whoosh-

The early winter night wind rushed in.

I didn’t realize because the door was tightly closed, but the wind was stronger than I thought.

‘Was it the sound of the wind knocking on the door?’

With this much wind, I thought it could be possible.

Still, just in case, I stepped onto the terrace.

I was wearing shoes, but my exposed ankles felt cold.

The lingering drowsiness completely disappeared.

‘It seems colder than when I encountered Cardien in the greenhouse.’

“It’s really winter now…”

I muttered softly.

To be precise, it’s still early winter, but.

Since sleep had left me anyway, I leaned my arms on the railing to get some fresh air.

The night view of the Mercedes ducal residence came into sight.

Seeing it like this, I suddenly felt the time I had spent at the Mercedes ducal residence.

A time that feels long if you think it’s long, and short if you think it’s short.

‘I first met Vincent on that hill over there.’

I looked at the tall tree standing prominently between the forests.

“I had a sincere conversation with Vincent there.”

I looked at the garden with the fountain.

“Had lunch there.”

I turned my head to look at the wildflower garden where I always had lunch with Vincent.

And then…

“…I had a happy dream in that greenhouse.”

Borrowing Cardien’s dream.

My gaze lingered especially long on the greenhouse.

‘There really are memories everywhere.’

“…I’ll miss it a lot when I leave later.”

I muttered quietly.

That’s when.

“You’re leaving?”

Startled by the sudden voice, I stepped back.

“Wh-what.”

“I’m here.”

The voice sounded somewhat familiar.

Could it be?

I slowly approached the railing again.

Finally, I discovered a figure buried between large tree branches pressed against the railing.

A flash of lemon color shone in the moonlight.

“…Could it be, Mr. Lemon?”

“Haha… Could you help me? I’m completely stuck.”

He reached out his hand towards me from between the branches.

I stared in disbelief at the large hand wearing half gloves with only the fingers exposed.

No, what is this person doing here at this hour?

I thought it was a small animal like a squirrel or a bird, but it turns out to be an unexpected person stuck there.

“Phew… Here. Take my hand.”

Anyway, I couldn’t just leave Lemon like that, so I leaned my stomach against the railing and firmly grasped Lemon’s hand with both of mine.

And then.

“Nngh!”

As I pulled with all my might, Lemon extracted himself from between the branches.

“Ugh!”

As Lemon’s body rose upwards, I, who had been exerting all my strength, stumbled backward.

“Oops.”

Lemon, who had landed lightly on the terrace, gently wrapped his arm around my waist.

My brown hair fluttered and settled, and the face of a man with platinum blonde hair came into view.

As I stared at him blankly, Lemon narrowed his eyes and whispered in a soft voice.

“You should be careful, you’re already weak enough.”

“…That…”

“Yes. Go on, Miss Livia.”

“…Is that something someone who was just stuck in a tree outside someone else’s window in the dead of night and barely managed to get out should say?”

“Haha.”

Lemon let out his characteristic light laugh at my words.

Slipping out of his embrace, I looked at him with confused eyes and parted my lips.