“It seems I can’t find any more information no matter how much I search.”

Rachel leaned back in her chair after spending a long time examining the documents Edward had lent her. As her back touched the chair, she slumped her shoulders.

She had wanted to gather as much information as possible about the Tears of Licorice before her appointed day with Duke Bermund, but things weren’t going according to plan.

[That’s unfortunate.]

‘Creon, do you really not know anything more?’

Frustrated, Rachel questioned Creon.

Even though he had been imprisoned in the necklace, Creon was a being who had lived for over a thousand years.

She thought he might have gathered information through his contractors during that time.

She guessed he could have collected more information than what humans knew.

[I’m sorry Rachel, but my world cannot extend beyond 5 meters around my contractor. How could I gather information when I can’t even go outside?]

‘…That’s true.’

Rachel had to agree with Creon’s explanation.

Sealed within the necklace, Creon couldn’t come out to investigate the Tears of Licorice.

Moreover, Creon’s contractors, exhausted and wounded by numerous regressions, chose to terminate their contracts.

So Creon’s information was inevitably limited.

‘Where on earth can I get information?’

Even without information, Rachel needed to find the Tears of Licorice for Creon before their contract ended.

[Take it slow. We have plenty of time.]

Creon comforted the frustrated Rachel.

After taking a deep breath, Rachel straightened herself again.

‘Right. We still have plenty of time.’

Just like Creon said, time was something she had in abundance.

If she couldn’t gather enough information in this timeline, she could use the next one.

Though repeating her life again was tiresome, it was both the price and obligation of their contract, so she couldn’t arbitrarily give up.

‘Let’s gather information slowly again.’

Just as Rachel collected her thoughts, there was a knock on the door.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has come to see you.”

Catrin’s voice came from beyond the door.

“Tell him to come in.”

Rachel answered with familiarity. Ryan’s visits to her study now felt like a routine part of her day.

Rachel stood up when she saw Ryan enter. She naturally headed toward the sofa to receive him.

Ryan likewise approached and sat on the sofa according to her lead.

“What brings you here today?”

Rachel asked in a relaxed voice. But strangely, Ryan couldn’t easily speak. He examined Rachel up and down with a serious expression.

More precisely, he alternated between looking at her neck and eyes.

“Ryan?”

Rachel called his name, puzzled.

Belatedly, Ryan ran his hand over his face and sighed.

“I apologize. I came because I was curious about something.”

“What is it?”

“Well…”

Ryan opened his mouth, then closed it. He watched Rachel with a hesitant expression before stuttering again.

“I’ve gathered some information about the Time Demon Creon that Duke Bermund is looking for, just as you told me.”

When Creon was mentioned from Ryan’s lips, Rachel’s eyes lit up with interest.

However, Ryan’s expression showed no signs of relaxing.

“I learned that the Time Demon Creon is sealed in a necklace. And I also discovered what that necklace looks like.”

‘That was faster than I expected.’

[Was it fast? I’m not so sure.]

Rachel privately marveled at how quickly Ryan had found information about Creon.

Though Creon objected, Rachel paid no attention to his words.

Even for a crown prince, investigating the Time Demon Creon, about whom little was known, couldn’t have been easy.

There was virtually no information available to the public.

The only reason Rachel had been able to find Creon was because she knew information from the original story.

Without the original story, she wouldn’t have even known of Creon’s existence.

“Yes, and?”

Rachel questioned Ryan’s statement without revealing what she knew.

Ryan chewed his lower lip thoughtfully for a moment before finally speaking.

“That necklace’s appearance is identical to the one you’re wearing.”

“…My necklace?”

Rachel reflexively touched her necklace pendant. Ryan’s gaze followed her hand, his eyes lingering on the jewelry before he nodded slowly.

He motioned to the attendant who had entered with him, receiving a paper which he placed on the table. The document contained detailed information about the necklace—the very vessel in which Creon was sealed.

“If it’s not too presumptuous, could you explain about that necklace?”

As Rachel looked down at the paper, Ryan requested an explanation in a low voice.

Rachel lowered the hand that was touching the pendant. Then she moved both hands to unfasten the necklace.

Ryan observed her every movement with a stern expression.

“If it’s about this necklace… Here.”

Rachel placed the necklace on top of the paper.

The necklace in the illustration and the one Rachel placed down were almost identical except for some minor details.

“Why are you putting it down there?”

“You’re suspicious, aren’t you? That this necklace is the one with the Time Demon Creon sealed inside. Isn’t that right?”

Rachel’s voice was calm. Ryan frowned, unable to understand her reaction.

“I’m asking why you placed that necklace here.”

“I’m giving it to you for inspection. You can show it to an imperial mage, or even the Magic Tower Master. Show it to anyone who might be able to identify this necklace.”

“…What do you mean?”

“I mean exactly what you see. This necklace isn’t what you think it is.”

“It’s not?”

“No. I’m certain, so feel free to verify it.”

Rachel answered while looking directly into Ryan’s eyes.

Ryan found it difficult to judge whether her words were true or not.

The person who first provided information about the Time Demon Creon was Rachel herself.

She couldn’t know how shocked Ryan was when he discovered she wore a necklace identical to the one described in the documents as containing Creon.

He hadn’t thought she would be directly involved with Creon while pretending to know nothing and deceiving him.

But even though Rachel had placed the necklace down, Ryan hesitated to pick it up.

“May I really examine it?”

Ryan asked Rachel again, his voice gentle but insistent.

Rachel nodded affirmatively and gestured toward the necklace, her fingers hovering near the delicate chain.

Only then did Ryan carefully pick up the piece of jewelry, handling it with reverence.

It was a striking pendant—a brilliant red jewel embedded in an intricate silver setting that caught the light as it moved.

Though not particularly ornate, the silver craftsmanship surrounding the central red jewel appeared elegant.

He had noticed that Rachel wore it consistently, both at the banquet held after returning from the subjugation team and in her daily life, making him wonder if she was particularly fond of it.

Ryan looked at the necklace with troubled eyes before shifting his gaze to Rachel.

The fact that Rachel had handed over the necklace meant she must be confident about something.

Ryan wanted to trust Rachel, but he still needed to verify.

“May I borrow this necklace for just one day, just one?”

“Yes, that’s fine. But would you return it when you’re done checking?”

“I will.”

When Ryan agreed, Rachel smiled brightly.

“So you came today because of the necklace.”

“Yes. I was worried that you might be the contractor of the Time Demon Creon.”

Ryan revealed his honest concerns to Rachel.

Rachel tilted her head, puzzled by a word in his statement.

“Worried?”

“Yes.”

“Why would you be worried about me being the contractor of the Time Demon Creon?”

“How could I not be worried? Don’t you know what it means to have contracted with the Time Demon Creon?”

Rachel found Ryan’s concerned gaze somewhat perplexing.

Contracting with the Time Demon Creon meant having the power to reverse time at will.

It should be a power anyone would desire, yet Ryan was expressing worry rather than envy or jealousy.

“I don’t really understand why you’re acting this way.”

When Rachel showed genuine confusion, Ryan exhaled deeply.

“Do you know what condition must be met to contract with the Time Demon?”

“Well, that’s—”

“Death.”

Ryan revealed the answer while Rachel hesitated.

“I suppose it means that level of desperation is required.”

Instead of interrupting his words, Rachel quietly nodded.

“I’m worried that you might have chosen death in order to turn back time.”