The shadow that was hiding against the wall opposite the small drawing room, watching Liria, perked up its ears.

“Huh, I feel like someone just saw me.”

When Liria turned her head sharply, the presence and observing gaze of someone immediately disappeared.

The Duke’s office.

Emmett found it curious but not unpleasant that his main duty these days seemed to be reporting on Liria’s daily activities.

Today, he had to retreat more quickly because he was almost discovered by Liria.

She was a perceptive child.

The Duke, who had been looking at documents the whole time, raised his head when Emmett entered.

“What brings you here at such an early hour?”

“Ah, Lady Liria mentioned that she needs help from an adult of the direct line.”

“…She needs help from a direct line adult? Whatever for?”

The Duke rubbed the beard on his chin as he leaned back deeply in his chair.

Emmett answered his question.

“It seems she went to the heir administrator in the east wing to inquire about going out to the temple. But as you know, Lady Liria doesn’t have a guardian who can give permission, so she was refused.”

The old Duke couldn’t believe his ears at the mention of a temple visit.

There was no temple in the vast Roberg domain.

The reason was simple.

The Duke did not trust those temple people.

A group with exceptional power to siphon gold by creating all sorts of excuses relying on divine power, and to frame troublesome authority figures.

That was how the Duke defined the temple.

Most high nobles within the Arkas Empire had temples in their domains, but Duke Roberg absolutely forbade it.

“My only god is the heart that uses magic, and my bible will be the magic book.”

He had even left such words recorded in Roberg’s history books.

Therefore, it was difficult to allow a child of Roberg to go to a temple.

Besides, the temple was very far away in terms of distance.

It was not a journey suitable for a young child.

“…A temple, huh? That won’t do. What business would a six-year-old have at a temple?”

“She said she wanted to go pray to the gods for her bedridden father.”

“Hmm…”

He was momentarily speechless.

The tiny little thing was a filial daughter.

Classid, you’re better than me, you bastard.

***

Tap tap tap.

Having finished her desserts, Liria walked down the long corridor of the main castle, tugging at Marit’s skirt.

“Marit, can’t we take a carriage back to the annex?”

In Marit’s hands was a snack basket filled with cookies and madeleines packed by the chef.

“Shall we? But young lady, you already ate your fill and you’re still taking all these cookies? How adorable.”

“Hehe, yes! It’s emergency food!”

In truth, she had packed them to give to Noah.

Somehow, since meeting Noah, Liria had been constantly worried about how he was doing, whether he was being mistreated by his mountain lodge keeper uncle.

‘His eyes looked painful too… I should go check if he’s doing well today.’

While Liria waited briefly, Marit seemed to have sent another servant to call for a carriage.

As luck would have it, the coachman was Ralph.

She thought to herself that this was fortunate.

However, Marit would never take her to the north gate, which was known to be dangerous.

She would have to slip away alone like last time…

Unaware of Liria’s scheme, Marit loaded the cookie basket onto the carriage and extended her hand to Liria.

“Young lady, it’s time to return to the palace for your afternoon nap. Come, get in quickly.”

Liria detached the teddy bear that had been hanging from her bag, hid it, and then brazenly continued her act.

“Oh, Marit. What should I do… I think I lost my teddy bear in the main castle.”

“Oh my, now that you mention it, the doll really is gone.”

“Mmm. Where did it go?”

“Don’t worry, you go back to the annex first. I’ll find it for you.”

“Mm, thank you…”

Watching Marit walk away, Liria said in her heart.

‘Sniff, I’m sorry, Marit!’

Quickly boarding the carriage, Liria said to the coachman.

“Mr. Coachman! Please drop me off at the east gate today, like last time.”

After passing the north gate with some difficulty, she waited for the boy Noah under the shade of a tree.

It had already been 20 minutes.

Liria, who had been circling around the nearby stream, returned to the shade of the tree.

Of course, since they hadn’t set a specific date for their meeting, it was natural that they wouldn’t meet when she came without notice.

“Let’s leave the cookie basket under the tree.”

“Peet!”

She barely stopped Kiki, who was sniffing and trying to approach the basket.

Although it was disappointing not to meet him, she still wanted to give him something delicious.

‘He’ll know I came by, right?’

Liria placed the basket down and scurried back.

She had been lucky when leaving, distracting the guards by throwing stones, but it would be difficult to deceive the soldiers guarding the north gate every time.

“I do need a place to sneak in and out. Like a small passage or a cave…”

Naturally, Liria looked at Kiki.

A ferret’s elongated body could navigate through tight spaces well.

“Kiki, please help me. Find a small hole that goes in and out of here.”

Kiki turned his head sharply. She thought he might refuse, but this time he extended his tiny hand.

“…What? You want beef jerky?”

“Peet!”

“Okay, ten pieces! No, twenty! I’m now acquainted with the chef! Oh my, I wonder what the master chef’s homemade jerky tastes like?”

As Liria coaxed him like that, the creature seemed to be won over, his eyes sparkling.

“Peet! Chup!”

From that day on, Kiki began to act independently.

***

A few hours later.

The shadow of a boy crossing the hill stretched long.

A swollen face from being beaten, split lips, and a limping leg.

There wasn’t a single part of him that wasn’t injured.

Uncle Humbletine was particularly irritable today.

“I told you not to open those cursed eyes under any circumstances!”

For the mistake of removing his eye patch and opening his eyes, the fragile boy was subjected to brutal violence.

But such things didn’t matter.

It wasn’t a frequent occurrence, and one could get used to being hit and endure it quite well.

However, what bothered him was Humbletine’s next threatening words.

“If you don’t listen next time, I’ll put this on your ankle, you understand!”

It was a heavy iron restraint that was put on the ankles of slaves or criminals.

Hating that more than death itself, Noah decided to keep quiet as a mouse for the time being.

Noah, who came to rest in the shade of the tree as usual, was startled.

Something unusual came into view when he completely removed his eye patch.

A basket with ribbons and lace.

Instinctively, he recalled the girl he had encountered then.

Although he had desperately tried not to show his eyes, he had definitely taken in the sight of that small child with pink hair and green eyes.

Noah, who was looking down at the basket with eyes full of wariness, used his wooden sword to slightly open the lid.

A savory aroma wafted out, involuntarily stimulating his appetite.

He recalled the snack that the child had given him last time.

It was merely something baked with flour, yet it had a flavor he had never experienced before.

Instinctively reaching out and taking a bite, the crispy and savory taste was enhanced with sweetness.

Noah blinked stupidly.

‘How can this be even more delicious than last time?’

After devouring all the snacks that had filled the basket in an instant, he stared quietly at the empty basket before disappearing somewhere.