“Sister seems to have gotten busy since she started working at the imperial palace.”

During breakfast, Erika grumbled with discontent. Count and Countess Pluret burst into laughter.

“Isn’t that obvious, Erika? Even if Rachel hasn’t been assigned official duties yet, she’s formally employed as a mage. It’s only right that she works during work hours.”

The Countess explained to Erika. However, Erika showed no interest in listening.

“But I want to play with Sister! Mom and Dad don’t know how much I’ve been looking forward to vacation!”

When Erika spoke with a huff, laughter erupted in the dining room.

Only Erika didn’t understand why her family was laughing, blinking her large, dewdrop-like eyes.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. I’m sorry, Erika. I want to spend more time with you too, but I’ll be busy with work for a while.”

Rachel spoke soothingly to Erika. At that, Erika’s protruding lips returned to their original position.

Instead, Erika drooped her shoulders and looked up at Rachel pitifully.

“Then, Sister, can I visit your laboratory today? Please?”

Erika asked with a desperate voice. Rachel looked down at Erika with difficulty before shaking her head.

“Not today.”

“Why?”

To Erika’s follow-up question, Rachel raised her hand and gently patted Erika’s shoulder.

“I’m expecting a guest today.”

“A guest? I promise I’ll be really quiet. Can’t I come with you?”

“Not today.”

At Rachel’s firm tone, Erika finally surrendered.

“Fine, I have plans today too! You’re not the only one with appointments!”

“Really, Erika?”

“Of course it’s true! I have lots of friends. Eileen, Janet, Cecilia…”

Erika began counting on her fingers and reciting her friends’ names one by one, seemingly to prove she had many friends.

These were names Rachel had heard before in Erika’s chatter.

“Then just play with those friends today. Okay?”

“…Okay.”

Erika reluctantly agreed. Only then did Rachel turn her gaze toward the Count and Countess, who had been watching the two with pleasure.

When the three pairs of eyes met, laughter burst out simultaneously without anyone starting first. Only Erika didn’t understand why her family was laughing together.

* * *

After finishing breakfast, Rachel hurriedly boarded the carriage without delay. Only then did the carriage wheels begin to roll along the ground.

[Today’s the day, right? The day you promised to meet Duke Bermund.]

‘That’s right.’

Today marked one week since she had made the appointment with Duke Bermund.

Since Duke Bermund was scheduled to visit from the morning, Rachel felt unusually anxious.

She wanted to verify what information Duke Bermund possessed as soon as possible.

While she regretted parting with Creon, with whom she had shared memories and emotions while traveling backward in time, she felt obligated to help him considering he had been sealed inside a jewel for over a thousand years.

Moreover, since Creon had kept his promise to Rachel first, Rachel also had to fulfill the terms of their contract.

Upon arriving at the imperial palace, Rachel walked quickly toward her laboratory.

She worried that Duke Bermund might have arrived first and was waiting for her.

Fortunately, no one stood in front of her laboratory.

Relieved, Rachel entered the laboratory and composed herself. She instructed Catrin to bring refreshments immediately when Duke Bermund arrived.

With all preparations complete, Rachel waited for Duke Bermund to arrive.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before she heard a knock on the door.

“Duke Morgan Bermund has arrived.”

“Tell him to come in.”

When Rachel gave permission, the door opened with a click.

Rachel slowly rose from her seat as she watched the door open.

Duke Bermund walked into her laboratory with elegant steps. Then he stopped in front of Rachel.

Rachel was the first to bow her head in greeting.

“It’s been a week since we last met, Your Grace.”

As Rachel greeted him, Duke Bermund gave a slight bow in return.

“It’s been a while, Lady Pluret.”

“Please, have a seat over here. We can’t have our conversation standing.”

When Rachel invited him to sit on the sofa, he took the seat of honor. His attitude suggested this was only natural.

Rachel frowned at Duke Bermund’s attitude but quickly restored her expression as she sat on the sofa.

Catrin had timely prepared refreshments between the two, making it comfortable to begin their conversation.

“Is the tea to your liking?”

Duke Bermund calmly lifted his cup and savored the tea.

“As I’ve felt before, the tea is exquisite.”

“I’m glad it suits your taste.”

Rachel also finally picked up her cup and moistened her lips.

“I believe you don’t like dragging things out.”

Duke Bermund, who had been watching Rachel drink her tea, began. Rachel was also eager to get to the main point, so she listened attentively to his words.

“But before we begin our conversation, I’d like to ask you something first, Lady Pluret.”

“Go ahead.”

As Rachel nodded and answered compliantly, Duke Bermund shifted his gaze from Rachel to the necklace around her neck.

“Is that necklace truly the one with the Time Demon Creon sealed inside?”

Duke Bermund already had in mind that Rachel had contracted with Creon. But he questioned Rachel for more definite confirmation.

At this direct question, Rachel set down her cup.

“Do you think it’s not?”

Rachel reflexively raised her hand to touch her necklace. Duke Bermund’s gaze followed her hand to her necklace.

“No, I believe it’s real. And you’re the contractor, aren’t you, Lady Pluret?”

Duke Bermund asked sharply, his eyes gleaming. Rachel shrugged and met his gaze, seeing the strong desire for the necklace reflected in his eyes.  

He looked ready to snatch it from her but held back. If Rachel was Creon’s contractor, she would undoubtedly see through any move he made.

“That’s right. So I’d like to get to the point.”

Rachel briefly affirmed, then spoke as if urging him on.

She judged that denying it to Duke Bermund, who had already noticed the existence of the necklace, would be useless.

Besides, if he knew that Rachel was Creon’s contractor, Duke Bermund wouldn’t be able to threaten her recklessly.

Only then did Duke Bermund take his eyes off the necklace and slowly open his mouth.

“The information I have to offer concerns the Tears of Licorice that Creon is looking for.”

Rachel stared at Duke Bermund with wide eyes, completely surprised by his unexpected words.

She could hardly believe that Duke Bermund could provide a clue about the Tears of Licorice, which had not been found for a thousand years.

“The Tears of Licorice. The only object that can release Creon from the necklace. Isn’t that right?”

“How did you…”

“Weren’t you curious about how I could look at your necklace and immediately be certain it contained the Time Demon Creon?”

“That’s…”

Duke Bermund’s question was right. He had known about the Time Demon Creon from the beginning.

Rachel had been able to contract with Creon thanks to Duke Bermund’s information.

But she had no way of knowing how he knew about Creon.

If that information had been wrong, Rachel would have lost her life in vain.

Fortunately, it matched, so she could contract with Creon.

“I don’t know how Lady Pluret obtained information about Creon and the method of contracting, but I acquired a memoir left by an acquaintance of a former contractor by chance.”

“A memoir?”

It was a deflating feeling to hear it wasn’t from the contractor themselves but from an acquaintance of the contractor, but Rachel decided to listen to what Duke Bermund had to say first.

“Yes. The memoir described the appearance of the necklace containing the Time Demon Creon, the terms of the contract, and why Creon turns back the contractor’s time.”

Duke Bermund leaned his upper body forward.

“I imagine Lady Pluret is in the same situation as the contractor described in the memoir. You’ve agreed to find the Tears of Licorice for Creon in exchange for turning back time.”

Rachel didn’t avoid his intense gaze directed at her.

“I imagine that memoir would be of great help to Lady Pluret.”

“So you’re planning to give me that memoir?”

Rachel asked warily. Duke Bermund smiled deeply in response. He seemed satisfied with Rachel’s reaction.

“Yes, if that’s what you want.”