The Pluret estate bustled from early morning. It was the day Erika would return to the academy.

“Can’t I just stay home?”

Erika complained to Rachel.

Rachel felt sorry for Erika who had to return to the academy and wouldn’t be back for a while, but she couldn’t let her skip school, so she smiled bitterly while comforting her.

“You still have to go. That way you can see your friends too.”

“That’s true, but… I prefer being with you, sister.”

Erika whined while burrowing into Rachel’s embrace.

“After you graduate from the academy, then we can be together all the time. Let’s be patient for a little while.”

As Rachel soothed her, Erika finally seemed to give up and let out a deep sigh.

“Alright. Then sister, you need to take care of yourself while I’m gone. Understood?”

“It’ll be lonely, but I’ll manage. You take care too, Erika.”

“Yes!”

Erika finally got up and boarded the carriage heading to the academy.

Then she opened the window wide and waved both hands at Rachel and the Count and Countess Pluret.

“Mom, Dad, even if you miss me, be patient for a bit. Okay?”

“Yes. Travel safely.”

“We’ll always be waiting for you.”

Erika seemed overcome with emotion at the Pluret couple’s words and pressed her lips tightly together.

“Young miss, we’re about to depart. Please sit properly, it’s dangerous.”

The voice of Erika’s maid could be heard from inside the carriage.

Only then did Erika retreat into the carriage.

When the coachman cracked his whip, the carriage slowly began to move forward.

Rachel and the Pluret couple stood still until the carriage disappeared from view.

“Well, let’s go back inside now.”

Count Pluret suggested to Rachel.

It was exactly the third day since she had returned from the hunting competition and begun recuperating.

“I’m planning to go to the imperial palace today.”

“Already? Isn’t it still too early? You could rest a bit more.”

Countess Pluret expressed concern when Rachel said she was going to the palace.

“No. As I told you, I wasn’t seriously injured and I’ve already rested for two days. I should go at least once.”

When Rachel answered with a resolute tone, Countess Pluret finally sighed and agreed.

“Then don’t push yourself too hard and take it easy.”

“Yes, I will.”

After Rachel finished her response, she called for a carriage through Catrin.

Without waiting long, a carriage appeared before her.

Rachel boarded the carriage and immediately instructed it to head to the imperial palace. Then she closed her eyes as she confirmed the carriage was moving.

In truth, Rachel didn’t have any specific role to perform at the imperial palace.

But since she had been officially declared an imperial mage, she couldn’t just stay at the estate after the hunting competition incident, so she decided to head to the palace first.

While there, she planned to examine more books in the imperial archives.

The carriage entered the palace grounds and dropped her off in front of the Rose Palace.

Rachel was about to head straight to her research room but suddenly stopped. She turned around and began walking toward the main palace.

When Rachel arrived at the main palace, she went to Ryan’s office.

Knock knock, an attendant knocked on the office door.

“Come in.”

Ryan’s tired voice came from inside.

“You may enter now.”

The attendant opened the door and made way for Rachel to enter comfortably.

Rachel slowly walked through the open door.

“I am here to see His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Rachel politely greeted Ryan, who was deeply absorbed in his work. His hand froze mid-motion as he attended to his duties. Slowly, he raised his head to confirm it was indeed Rachel standing before him, then simply blinked, his expression momentarily frozen.

As Rachel tilted her head in confusion, Ryan finally spoke.

“I must be seeing things from exhaustion.”

Ryan muttered quietly while massaging his eyes with his hands.

Apparently, he couldn’t believe Rachel was standing before him.

“Ryan, it’s me.”

When Rachel finally addressed Ryan, he looked up at her.

“Rachel?”

“Yes.”

When Rachel answered, Ryan abruptly stood up. Then his expression brightened.

“Rachel! What brings you here? Ah, please come over and sit down.”

Ryan guided Rachel to a sofa set up on one side of his office.

After Rachel sat down, Ryan instructed a maid to bring refreshments. Only then did Ryan sit across from her and look directly at her.

“I never thought you would visit my office. I understood you were still recuperating—is it alright for you to be out like this?”

“I’m not injured at all. I’m not a patient, and lying in bed constantly was becoming unbearable.”

“Still, you could have rested a bit more.”

Ryan looked at Rachel with concern as he spoke.

“No, I came out because I was curious about something, so please don’t worry.”

“I understand. But what were you curious about…”

As Ryan’s voice trailed off, Rachel spoke up.

“I was curious about the recent attack.”

“Ah, that’s what you mean.”

“Yes. I heard the attackers were hunters—is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Ryan leaned back against the sofa and smiled bitterly.

“I’m curious about how hunters ended up there and why they attacked, so I came to ask.”

“That hasn’t been properly determined yet.”

“It hasn’t been determined?”

“No.”

Ryan answered briefly.

“How is that possible?”

“I don’t know. Their memories appear completely erased by magic—we couldn’t learn anything even through interrogation.”

“That’s…”

“For now, we’re considering Duke Bermund as the mastermind, but I question whether even Duke Bermund could erase memories so perfectly.”

Rachel recalled the conversation she had with Duke Bermund just two days ago.

Duke Bermund knew he would be suspected.

Would he have a reason to orchestrate such a clumsy attack knowing he would be the most suspicious person?

Even Rachel thought he wouldn’t have directed an attack in this manner.

That would mean there was another mastermind.

But who would target Ryan?

If Rachel’s memory was correct, there were no forces plotting treason besides Duke Bermund.

Rachel had witnessed several confrontations between Ryan’s side and Duke Bermund’s side, and had repeatedly seen one of the two claim victory.

Never once had anyone else intervened between them.

“Is it really… Duke Bermund’s doing?”

Rachel voiced the doubt she had been harboring to share it with Ryan.

Naturally, Ryan couldn’t confirm it.

“It’s just speculation. He’s the most likely person who would target me at present. That said, I do find it strange. I wonder if Duke Bermund is really this careless.”

Ryan shared the same doubts as Rachel.

“For now, I’m investigating that aspect, so please don’t worry too much. If anything comes to light during the investigation, I’ll share it with Rachel without delay.”

Ryan whispered in a gentle voice. Rachel smiled gratefully for his kindness.

“Thank you. I’ll leave it to you then.”

“May I ask you something?”

Ryan suddenly asked Rachel.

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Perhaps…”

Ryan began to speak with difficulty but then shook his head.

He looked at Rachel with complicated eyes and then let out a short sigh.

“Never mind. Please forget I asked.”

“…Alright.”

Though Rachel was curious about what Ryan had been about to say, she nodded, thinking there must be a reason he had refrained from speaking.

Rachel only rose from her seat after exchanging light conversation with Ryan afterward.

The entire way to her research room, Rachel’s mind was filled with questions about who this third party might be.

The fact that the attackers’ memories had completely vanished meant they had been deliberately erased. That suggested magic had been used to wipe their memories.

She slowly tried to identify who might target Ryan while using magic.

But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t think of anyone.

[Why not try changing your perspective?]

Suddenly, Creon asked Rachel.

‘Change my perspective? How?’

Rachel asked back, unable to grasp his meaning.

[It might not have been Ryan.]

‘What?’

Rachel’s eyes widened at Creon’s words.

[I’m saying you might have been the target, not Ryan.]

‘Me? Why?’

It wasn’t that she had no idea. If someone knew she possessed Creon, the Time Demon, it wouldn’t be strange for them to target her.

[I think you should investigate separately.]

‘I should.’

If someone was targeting Rachel, the opponent probably didn’t know that Rachel was Creon’s contractor.

Otherwise, there would be no reason to target her.

They couldn’t obtain Creon by killing her.

That’s because Rachel’s death would mean time regression.