Hello, Readers! I am celebrating my birthday with extra chapter updates, so please enjoy this special chapter release of 4 bonus chapters! 🥳

(Lurelia’s Birthday Bonus – Update 1/4 🎉)

♡ To all readers who purchased these chapters before my Birthday: I can’t express this enough – Thank you for your support. (*ˊᗜˋ*)/ᵗᑋᵃᐢᵏ ᵞᵒᵘ*

“Why was Mr. Lemon here at this hour… no, why were you stuck there?”

In response to my question, Lemon answered with a voice tinged with amusement.

“This was the only way to approach you, Miss Livia. The security is also more lax at this time compared to daytime.”

“Just…”

I let out a low sigh.

After regaining my composure, I said.

“I heard from the butler. You were disciplined with a leave of absence for tampering with His Grace’s documents.”

“Ah, that.”

Lemon nodded slightly.

Then, after looking me up and down, he said.

“Shall we go inside first?”

“Huh? Oh…”

Only then did I realize that I was in my pajamas.

Although the thick winter pajamas didn’t reveal my silhouette, it was inappropriate to stay out in the cold for long.

I nodded, realizing that Lemon was being considerate of me.

Returning to the room and closing the window, it quickly became warm inside.

‘Does it usually warm up this fast?’

I remember that at the Pellington viscounty, once it got cold, it took a long time to warm up again.

That’s why I remember being careful not to open the windows as much as possible.

As expected of Mercedes.

Inwardly impressed once again, I looked at Lemon.

Now that I looked closely, he was wearing a black mask, black turtleneck, tight black pants, and black gloves.

Except for his platinum blonde hair and the slightly exposed eye area, he was entirely in black.

Moreover, both his top and bottom clung tightly to his body, revealing his slim yet toned physique.

‘He looks like an assassin.’

Well, being a guild master, it’s probably not that different.

The problem is that it’s not an appropriate outfit for visiting someone’s room.

Especially at this late hour.

Anyone who saw him might think he was an assassin coming to kill me.

I asked again.

“Now tell me. What exactly happened?”

“Ah.”

Lemon then said with a regretful expression.

“It’s as you heard, Miss Livia. I’ve been put on leave for a month, so I can’t enter the Mercedes ducal residence. That’s why I was climbing the tree in this state at this hour to meet you.”

“…I heard you tampered with His Grace’s documents, is that true?”

“It is, but it’s unfair.”

Lemon said, lowering the corners of his eyes as if truly feeling wronged.

“I had been viewing those documents before. It was tacitly allowed, but suddenly they used that as an excuse to discipline me.”

“No, but why…”

After hearing Lemon’s story, it certainly seemed unfair.

Seeing my confused reaction, Lemon stared at me for a moment, then shrugged and said.

“It’s probably a case of ‘falling out of favor’. I understand. Actually, I somewhat expected this to happen.”

“You expected it?”

No, more importantly, what does ‘falling out of favor’ mean?

“Probably everyone except Miss Livia expected this outcome.”

“….”

I couldn’t understand what he was talking about at all.

Feeling that asking more about this wouldn’t change anything, I changed the question.

“But is there a need to sneak in like that in the middle of the night? I was actually planning to visit the guild tomorrow.”

“That’s why. I didn’t want Miss Livia to make a wasted trip.”

“A wasted trip?”

As I asked with a puzzled face, Lemon leaned his upper body forward.

He spoke in a whisper.

“It’s about attending the baptism ceremony.”

“Ah…”

I flinched.

Then, with an apologetic face, I said.

“Actually, I’m going with His Grace… I asked him first, so I’m sorry for changing it on my own.”

“No, you did well. Even if Miss Livia hadn’t changed partners, I wouldn’t have been able to attend the baptism ceremony as your partner anyway.”

“Huh? Why?”

As I blinked and asked, Lemon let out a deep sigh and answered.

“I couldn’t get an invitation.”

Saying this, Lemon covered his face with both hands.

As if he was ashamed.

On the other hand, I blinked and asked again.

“You couldn’t get an invitation?”

Nod, nod.

Lemon slowly lowered his hands and said in a self-deprecating voice.

“This has never happened before, but this year the temple managed the invitations so strictly that there was no one willing to transfer an invitation. Of course, it was impossible to steal one secretly too.”

“Ah…”

I nodded.

Indeed, even for the empire’s best information guild, it wouldn’t be easy to obtain something strictly managed by the temple.

Especially if it’s a baptism ceremony invitation distributed to only a select few people.

“Then Mr. Lemon won’t be able to attend the baptism ceremony.”

“Officially, that’s correct.”

“Officially… you say.”

“Haha.”

Lemon let out a small laugh.

“So I plan to be away from the guild starting tomorrow. I’ll be absent until the baptism ceremony is over.”

“That’s why you came to my room in that state at this hour.”

“That’s right, but that’s not all I came for.”

“You have more business?”

At my question, Lemon smiled broadly.

In the darkness, his lemon-colored eyes glinted with a sharp light.

“Your request, Miss Livia.”

I stiffened and looked at Lemon.

If it’s about the request I made to him…

“The identity of those claiming to be Jeffrey Cuspert’s family, the newly appointed priest, and the person who caused the fire.”

“…Did you find out anything?”

Lemon slowly nodded.

He moved to sit cross-legged in the chair in front of the table.

I quietly waited for him to speak.

Finally, Lemon’s characteristically soft voice cut through the darkness.

“First, about those who submitted the resignation letter claiming to be Jeffrey’s family. It turns out they really were Jeffrey Cuspert’s family.”

“What?”

I looked at him in disbelief.

Jeffrey was definitely an orphan, so how could he have a family?

“They were the Rodil family, minor nobles from a rural borderland. Though nobles, they were a family in name only, without land or a castle or anything. Jeffrey Cuspert was adopted into the Rodil family 10 years ago.”

“Adopted… you say?”

“Yes, um… I found out an interesting fact.”

Lemon moved his fingers in the air as if conducting.

His lemon-colored eyes gleamed with amusement.

“After the Cuspert family massacre, Jeffrey Cuspert was missing for a while before entering a certain institution.”

“Institution…?”

“Yes, affiliated with the temple, or more precisely, an unregistered orphanage privately run by a certain priest.”

“An unregistered orphanage privately run by the temple, is that even possible?”

Running an orphanage not only requires a lot of funds, but an unregistered orphanage is clearly illegal.

Orphanages, in particular, are one of the most strictly managed facilities.

Even nobles can’t run them carelessly, so how could an individual, not even the temple itself, run one?

I looked at Lemon with incomprehension, but Lemon maintained his relaxed attitude.

He tilted his head and said:

“There exists someone who can make it possible.”

“…No way…”

“Yes, that ‘no way.'”

“…Are you talking about High Priest Kalbinur?”

“Correct.”

Lemon smiled brightly.

But I couldn’t smile at all.

Why the High Priest?

High Priest Kalbinur.

Of commoner origin, he rose from an ordinary priest to the position of High Priest at a young age, truly a historical figure.

Although his divine power wasn’t particularly impressive, he was respected by many citizens for his benevolent inclusivity and insight.

‘Such a person is running an illegal orphanage?’

Moreover, Jeffrey had belonged there and was later adopted by a poor noble family.

‘This is strange.’

Even if he were running such an orphanage, normally there’s a strict verification process for adoption.

Whether the environment and conditions are suitable for raising a child comfortably.

Only after passing this rigorous process is an adoption approved.

Furthermore, 10 years ago, Jeffrey would have been quite grown.

Usually, at that age, one would be becoming independent, but he was adopted by minor provincial nobles?

I carefully asked.

“Does the Rodil family meet the conditions to pass the adoption process?”

Lemon answered with a gentle smile.

“Quite the opposite. The Rodil family was struggling with enormous debt and financial difficulties.”

…A very bad feeling crept over me.