Sophia’s breath appeared white in the cold air. Sleet was blowing into the carriage. Helen and Sol, sitting beside her, clung tightly to their blankets.

Moments earlier, Sophia had seen the sea for the first time in her life. Though the overcast weather rendered the sea a dark blend of gray and charcoal, appearing even darker than the sky, it still seemed beautiful to her.

Pulling her blanket closer, Helen commented,

“The sea here is so dark, probably because it’s so deep. The seas in the south are shallow and look like blue jewels.”

“Really? I’ve never been to the south. I didn’t know seas could be so different,” Sophia replied.

“Let’s go south next year. If we leave in late winter, we could spend spring there. I hear southern springs are warm, and the streets bloom with flowers. It’s supposed to be breathtaking.”

Sophia wished for it to happen, but she knew Oberon’s affairs would extend into winter, regardless of success or failure.

Reluctantly, she closed the carriage window. Only then did Helen breathe a sigh of relief and quip,

“If you hadn’t closed the window, I wouldn’t have spoken to you as soon as we arrived in Oberon.”

“Out of resentment for Oberon?”

“No, because of the cold. Do you think I’d want to talk to someone who’s trying to freeze me to death?”

Pointing ahead, Sophia remarked,

“In this cold, the person insisting on staying outside is even stranger to me. Helen, are you really okay with Gunther? He can barely tolerate being in the same space as you.”

Helen chuckled. “He has his charms in his own way.”

Sophia let out a hollow laugh. Considering Gunther’s height and build, it was a comment no one else would dare to make. Sol, looking queasy, interjected,

“I can’t tell if I’m nauseous from the carriage or from what you just said, sis.”

Helen tried to stomp on Sol’s foot beneath the blanket while he dodged.

Watching the two, Sophia said,

“Stick close to Gunther. If anything dangerous or suspicious happens, tell him right away. Even if something just feels off, stay near him. Got it? You two didn’t have to go through all this trouble.”

“Trouble? This is exciting for me. We’re going to the heart of the action. Oberon is really suspicious, isn’t it? Come to think of it, Lord Oberon stopped contacting me as soon as you returned to Ariel, Sophia.”

Sophia gave her a curious look, prompting Helen to nod and elaborate.

“Does it make sense that he’s hardest to reach when the Academy is at its quietest? He clearly approached me on purpose. The fact that he reconnected with me as soon as I came back to Ariel proves it.”

Sol, looking incredulous, said,

“Did it ever occur to you that he might just not like you?”

Helen wordlessly yanked hard on Sol’s blanket, sparking a tug-of-war.

“We’ll know when we see how he acts after we arrive. The salt mine rumors must’ve reached him, too. If his attitude toward me or Sophia changes, then he’s definitely up to something.”

“Didn’t you once say there’s no man without ulterior motives?”

Both Helen and Sophia nodded in agreement.

“That’s true.”

Sophia had originally planned to come alone. However, neither Mrs. Finega, Helen, nor Gunther supported the idea. If only Sophia and Gunther had gone to Oberon, it would have raised suspicions. Thus, Helen joined the group at Mrs. Finega’s suggestion, though Helen was eager to come along anyway.

“Lord Oberon approached me first, so I should go to Oberon as well. He even came to Ariel to see me,” Helen had insisted.

Then Sol joined in.

“Sending just Sophia and Helen? No way. I want to go too. I’ve never seen a port before, and I’d be great at acting like a curious, unruly kid exploring everything.”

Helen had looked at him skeptically.

“You’re not just using the port as an excuse, are you?”

Sol replied with a grin, “See? Even Helen falls for it.”

With Mrs. Finega and her husband’s approval, the group of four—Sophia, Helen, Sol, and their protector, Gunther—was formed.

Because of Helen and Sol, Sophia gave up any thought of taking dangerous risks. She understood why the Marquis of Ariel had not opposed the inclusion of the two younger companions.

‘He trusts I wouldn’t put them in danger.’

Sophia reviewed her plan. Meeting the deputy Baron of Oberon or even Baron Oberon himself to discuss the salt mine and engagement was the best course of action.

‘What if I casually mention that the salt mine being too close to Saturn is a concern, and if a broken engagement damages Ariel and Umbriel’s alliance, how will Oberon respond?’

The potential problems from provoking Oberon made Sophia increasingly tense. Conflict between Saturn and Ariel would inevitably lead to military clashes. If Oberon turned out to be a Saturnian pawn, there was undeniable proof of treason.

‘The reward for capturing a traitor is land.’

The news Sophia leaked to Oberon might prompt Saturn to send an envoy to Ariel under the guise of an investigation.

‘Would the envoy go straight to the capital first? Then it’d be Wiscombe? Would Wiscombe really betray the Empire? Could they be that foolish? It’d be more entertaining if the envoy crossed the Titania Mountains directly.’

One of Sophia’s and the Marquis of Ariel’s theories was that Cressida had bribed Oberon to undermine Umbriel and Prince Robert.

If Cressida could use Saturn to eliminate Prince Robert, wouldn’t it be worth a try at least once? Such speculation wasn’t far-fetched.

Sophia and the Ariel family struggled to deduce Oberon’s intentions. Even the Marquis of Ariel had remarked,

“Wanting a poor territory like Ariel just to elevate his title? He must be either foolish or insane.”

Sophia was curious about Baron Oberon. She wondered what kind of person would devote decades to a single purpose.

Lost in thought, the carriage arrived at the entrance of Oberon Castle. The lord’s manor was close to the harbor, and from the watchtower, the ships coming and going at Oberon Port would likely be visible.

Sophia reopened the window, drawing a sigh from Helen seated beside her. However, Helen soon opened her own window to take in the view.

As expected of a territory that had accumulated wealth over the years, the main streets and roads were well-maintained. The castle stood tall and well-preserved, with grand mansions lining the area, rivaling the main estate of a marquis she had seen during her travels in the central region.

Helen exclaimed in awe,

“Wow! Oberon really looks wealthy. I should be extra polite to Lord Oberon.”

From his seat beside the coachman, Gunther visibly flinched. Sophia imagined she could hear him sigh.

‘No matter how much trust the emperor places in him, the gap between an auditor and a lord’s wealth must be enormous,’ she mused.

Though Helen wasn’t particularly interested in wealth, she seemed to take great pleasure in teasing Gunther, repeatedly marveling at Oberon’s affluence. Gunther, in turn, kept flinching at her words, much to her amusement.

****

The carriage finally stopped at the entrance of Oberon Castle. Lord Oberon came out to greet them.

His attire was dazzling, as always—a wardrobe seemingly crafted to flaunt his wealth. He wore a coat adorned with gleaming gold buttons and lined with lustrous fur, and his shoes shone so brightly they could blind onlookers.

Sophia, aware of the creases her dress had accumulated during the journey due to her fidgeting, felt embarrassed. She hastily smoothed the fabric with her hands before stepping out of the carriage.

Lord Oberon greeted them with a radiant smile. Even Sophia had to admit,

‘He’s handsome.’

She glanced at Helen, who was smiling while casting sideways glances at Gunther. Gunther, on the other hand, scowled as he looked at Lord Oberon.

Sophia shook her head. Helen had a peculiar habit of enjoying Gunther’s discomfort, despite her clear fondness for him.

Standing behind Lord Oberon was a man older, heavier, and more lethargic-looking than him—Baron Oberon’s eldest son and deputy baron.

The deputy baron’s clothing was simpler than Lord Oberon’s, but his fingers were adorned with rings boasting gemstones larger than his nails.

Sophia thought to herself, If I were to marry into Oberon, I’d never run out of money to spend.

Aside from these two, no other family members came to greet them.

No wife, no children… Is the baron ill? Why is it so empty?

Lord Oberon introduced his brother.

“This is my elder brother, the acting baron of Oberon. Just call him the deputy baron. Around here, I’m only addressed as ‘young master,’ but you all may call me Lord Oberon. After all, I don’t even hear ‘lord’ within my own domain, so I’d appreciate it if at least you would indulge me.”

His light-hearted words seemed to carry a hint of truth.

The overshadowed younger brother… But does that mean he lacks ambition? Or is he seething with it instead?

Sophia responded politely,

“Thank you for inviting us, Lord Oberon. I hope we’re not imposing on you.”

The deputy baron stepped forward. His voice was as commanding as his frame.

“Not at all. I trust the Marquis of Ariel is well? My father, due to his age, can no longer engage in outdoor activities, and I am merely a deputy baron, unfit to visit or interact with other lords. As a result, our relationships with neighboring domains have grown distant. Please convey my apologies to the marquis.”

Sophia thought his excuse for neglecting Umbriel and Ariel over the years was quite fitting.

Looking around, she asked,

“Are the other family members inside?”

The deputy baron made a regretful expression.

“My wife took the children on a trip to the south, leaving us in this sparse state to receive you. I hope you understand. Every winter, my brother and I remain here to guard the castle, as the baron has been bedridden for some time.”

“I wish Baron Oberon a swift recovery,” Sophia replied.

After expressing his gratitude, the deputy baron led the group inside.

Each was shown to their rooms, followed by a brief rest and a welcome dinner in the evening. The deputy baron attended the dinner, his expression devoid of any cheer. The atmosphere, from his demeanor to the dining table itself, was undeniably cold.

Lord Oberon, seemingly compensating for his brother’s stiffness, maintained a constant smile as he interacted with Helen, Sol, and Sophia.

Gunther, however, skipped the dinner, citing the custom that auditors traditionally refrained from attending such events.

Later that night, after the welcome dinner, Sophia sat by the fireplace, exhausted. Helen joined her, collapsing beside her as if equally drained.

Helen spoke,

“Before dinner started, Lord Oberon asked me if Ariel really had a salt mine. I told him yes and that production had already begun.”

“That’s unexpected. I thought he’d ask me that question instead. I was planning to quietly bring it up when meeting either the deputy baron or the baron. But judging by the deputy baron’s attitude, it seems like he has no intention of dealing with me. He’s only going along with the engagement out of formality and doesn’t seem particularly interested.”

Helen cautiously began to speak.

“I heard something… well, my friend couldn’t guarantee it’s true, so just take it with a grain of salt.”

When Helen started a conversation this way, it usually meant she was sharing gossip she’d heard from her friends. Sophia leaned in slightly, and Helen mirrored her, lowering her voice to a near whisper.

“My friend said she’d look into it after I told her about dancing with Lord Oberon. Apparently, before approaching me, Lord Oberon only sought out young ladies from count or marquis families. So, I asked her to dig deeper—who he approached and why none of those relationships led to an engagement or marriage.”

“Was this the friend whose family runs a publishing house? Can a publisher find out something like that?”

“You know how there was a flood of gossip novels and scandal stories about nobles a while back? Ever since then, magazines have been collecting information on aristocratic families. They’ve got what you might call a scandal encyclopedia alongside their noble directories.”

“Really? That’s impressive. So Lord Oberon has been targeting families with titles higher than a baron’s?”

Helen nodded.

“Since he’s the second son and won’t inherit a title, he seems to have focused on ladies from families where he could gain one through marriage. And why not? Lord Oberon isn’t a bad prospect—wealthy, noble. He aimed for families with titles higher than a baron’s to secure a better standing.”

“Then why hasn’t he managed to get engaged yet?”

“Well… it seems Lord Oberon likes men. There’s even a rumor that he used to date Philip Wiscombe.”