Before Lynen discovered Calliphe and Dietrich’s “actions.”

Creak―

The broken wooden floor screamed with each step Lynen took.

Furniture was overturned or broken, and traces of someone’s blood were splattered on the walls.

Until just a few hours ago, this had been a place where illegal magical tools were produced.

The ones who hadn’t expected them to raid this place were completely cleaned out by House Offensa’s soldiers and the mages led by Marcel.

Lynen had also contributed to the effort.

After the organization members were taken away, Lynen returned to the scene alone and thoroughly examined the traces.

But he couldn’t find what he had hoped for.

He pulled out a communication stone from his chest.

“It’s not here. They either disposed of it already or are using a different location.”

―That’s unfortunate, my lord. I thought we would finally find traces of ‘that’ being used this time.

The voice of Heron, the administrative officer and aide who was managing the duke’s castle in Lynen’s place, came from the communication stone.

―Perhaps the dark magic used in the illegal magical tools isn’t from Lumen’s heart but from a different dark magic source?

“If that were the case, multiple people would have been involved… that’s unlikely.”

Dozens of illegal magical tools had been produced in a short period.

If multiple dark mages had been involved, suspicious traces would have been inevitable.

After all, dark magic was a cruel magic that required blood and life as payment.

However, if they had ‘Lumen’s heart’, that would be a different story.

Heron sighed.

―Since we’ve cleaned them out, the magic tower will also discover that dark magic was used in the illegal magical tools.

“It’s only a matter of time.”

―It’s also only a matter of time before it becomes known that we failed to protect Lumen’s heart. Ugh, just thinking about how people everywhere will try to take advantage of this gives me a headache.

‘Lumen’. There wouldn’t be anyone on the continent who didn’t know that name.

Lumen was the name of a dark mage who sacrificed countless lives for his own achievements about a hundred years ago.

A knight and a mage defeated him, but they couldn’t destroy his heart, which was concentrated with corrupted magical power.

So the knight sealed the heart in a forest within his territory and swore to protect it for generations.

That family was the Ortegas.

However, before Lynen became duke, someone broke the seal and Lumen’s heart disappeared.

―My lord, given the situation, shouldn’t we ask House Offensa for help? After all, the magic that sealed Lumen’s heart was Offensa magic.

“…No.”

Thinking of the Young Marquis, Lynen shook his head.

“There might be someone involved within the ducal house. If that’s true, recovering the heart will become even more difficult. They could use cooperation as an excuse to tie our hands.”

―Oh dear.

Heron groaned in dismay.

Even after its disappearance, Lumen’s heart hadn’t shown itself for a long time.

The illegal magical tool organization was the only lead they had finally found.

But now even that lead was gone…

―We can’t move the entire duchy to the territory… it’s too hard for you alone, my lord. You’re only one person.

“That’s why I brought the special unit.”

―That’s not enough. Oh! What about asking Lady Offensa for cooperation?

Lynen, who had been leaving the scene, stopped in his tracks.

―It should be fine now since you’re helping with Offensa’s investigation. But once this is over, you’ll have to disguise yourself with silver hair every time you investigate Lumen’s heart.

“……”

―If you get Lady Offensa’s cooperation, things will be much easier. She can provide excuses, and just being with her serves as a disguise.

“This is outside the scope of my contract with Calliphe.”

―Come on, you’re in the same boat now. At least until the contract ends.

How far to cooperate with Calliphe was something Lynen had been pondering as well.

But he made his decision.

“No. This isn’t something an outsider should get involved in. The same goes for Calliphe.”

―But still.

“Enough.”

A firm order was given.

“Lumen’s heart is a dangerous object. Getting involved would naturally put her in danger. Moreover, if she helps me hide the fact that the heart was stolen, she could incur the imperial family’s wrath. Do you mean to tell her to bear all of this?”

―I-I’m sorry.

Heron said dejectedly.

―I thought since neither you nor the lady took this contract lightly, you were in the same boat. A team, you know. But my thinking was shallow.

“…I’m ending the communication.”

Lynen terminated the connection.

‘A team, huh.’

He could understand Heron’s intent.

But Lynen had seen how even people who had shared friendship and trust could become weak in an instant when faced with danger.

Even if everything was covered up, a shaken relationship never returned to what it was before.

Calliphe would be no different.

This wasn’t criticism or belittlement, but a judgment based on his experience.

“……”

Yes, as Heron said, there was no need to deliberately break the current ‘team.’

“Ugh.”

Suddenly his vision blurred for a moment.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t received Calliphe’s ability while chasing the illegal organization.’

Fortunately, he could still manage for now.

Shaking off his thoughts, Lynen headed toward Calliphe’s annex.

However, just as he arrived, he stopped in his tracks when he saw two people coming out of the entrance.

He saw Calliphe grabbing Dietrich’s arm.

Then Dietrich’s behavior as they conversed was unlike his usual self.

“…What is this?”

Lynen frowned and strode toward them.

* * *

Dietrich grumbled as I grabbed his arm.

“What?”

“Find out when and where I can meet the High Cardinal.”

“Huh? If you order me around, I’ll be like a dog―”

Growling Dietrich suddenly seemed to realize something and instantly broke into a smile.

“―exactly. Right. Kya, our direct descendant has such a good eye for people, woof woof.”

“…Have you lost your mind?”

“I’m about to lose it. For the direct descendant.”

“…!”

Getting goosebumps, I was about to give Dietrich a good hit.

Anticipating this, Dietrich quickly and gently wrapped his hands around my wrist and slowly lowered it.

“Now, now, you might get hurt.”

“Ha, me?”

“Me.”

This crazy b*stard.

“I can hold my own anywhere else, but somehow when the direct descendant hits, it hurts especially bad. Like you’re targeting weak points, you know?”

“So can you find out the time and place or not?”

The High Cardinal was hard to meet because he was busy searching for the Saint. I needed information to avoid waiting endlessly.

Phu, Dietrich sighed looking up.

“I was going to avoid using my discarded business card until I succeeded since it hurts my pride.”

Dietrich looked down at me.

An expression of having made a big decision.

For once, his serious gaze revealed a glimpse of the former Black Hand successor.

“If it’s the direct descendant’s order, I must.”

“……”

I didn’t have much expectation for Dietrich who was suddenly trying to curry favor with me.

‘If he’s willing to even get the Black Hand’s help… he’s serious.’

Feeling his sincerity about wanting to do things properly, I couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction. My eye corners gently creased.

“Good. I’ll look forward to it.”

“Uh…”

Dietrich suddenly stammered.

“Y-yeah! Just trust in me, Dietrich―”

It was when Dietrich dared to try patting my head.

“What are you doing?”

A firm hand that appeared suddenly grabbed Dietrich’s arm that was reaching toward me.

“I didn’t know the Baron had such poor sense of boundaries.”

“Ah, D-Duke?”

Swish, Lynen’s long leg came between me and Dietrich.

I naturally ended up hidden behind Lynen’s back.

Lynen warned stiffly.

“Calliphe is my fiancée. Not yours.”

“Ow, oww! I wouldn’t take her even if you gave her to me!”

“……”

“Ah, my arm! Arm arm arm! Duke!”

Though Lynen didn’t seem to be using much strength, Dietrich twisted his body like an octopus, the arm in Lynen’s grip painful.

Surprised by his unexpected behavior, I asked.

“Lynen, are you actually taking my side right now?”

Lynen’s unpleasantly crumpled expression paused. There was an inexplicable silence for a few seconds.

“…Taking sides? How amusing. The Baron has insulted me. My reaction is entirely rational and appropriate.”

As expected. The sun almost rose from the west for a moment there.

“He’s not just any Baron. Dietrich is going to be Noah’s Imperial language teacher from now on.”

“Teacher? I was under the impression that you and Baron Rotten didn’t get along.”

“We’ve made up. I’m going to try trusting Dietrich a little from now on.”

At that, Lynen’s expression became strange.

“Trust him? Why? To what extent? Since when?”

Hmm. Was he always this good at asking questions?