Rachel’s carriage slowly began to move away.

She leaned out of the window, waving goodbye to the two men left behind.

Ryan and Edward remained standing in place until the carriage disappeared from view and she could no longer be seen.

Edward finally moved his feet that had been planted firmly on the ground. At that moment:

“Young Lord Hestein. Would you care to have a brief conversation with me?”

Ryan suddenly proposed a discussion with Edward.

Edward stopped walking and turned to look at Ryan.

“A conversation, you say?”

“Yes.”

When Ryan nodded in agreement, Edward glanced briefly in the direction where the carriage had disappeared before fixing his gaze directly on Ryan.

“Very well, then.”

After Edward consented, Ryan looked around to find a suitable place to talk.

“Please follow me for now. This location isn’t appropriate.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Ryan took the lead and began walking.

Throughout their journey, an unbearable silence hung between the two men.

However, neither attempted to break it first.

“This should do.”

The place Ryan entered was a small reception room in the Great Hall.

“Please sit here.”

Ryan offered Edward a seat before sitting down on the sofa himself.

Edward sat on the sofa opposite him and asked, “If I may, what matter did you wish to discuss?”

At his question, Ryan observed Edward for a moment.

Pink hair and teal eyes. Even to Ryan as a man, Edward possessed flawlessly handsome features.

Ryan had initially thought Tervan was his romantic rival.

However, after observing the situation, he quickly realized that he and Tervan weren’t the only ones harboring feelings for her.

After struggling with how to begin, Ryan finally spoke with difficulty.

“What kind of relationship do you have with Rachel?”

At Ryan’s direct question, Edward briefly furrowed his brow.

“I don’t understand the intention behind your question. What do you mean?”

Edward asked in return.

Ryan placed his interlocked hands on his knees.

“This might seem abrupt, but I have feelings for Rachel.”

“…!”

Edward’s eyes widened at Ryan’s unexpected statement.

He understood well that Ryan wasn’t simply referring to platonic affection.

Edward had already suspected Ryan might have feelings for her after seeing them together several times, but he hadn’t expected Ryan to confess so openly.

After opening and closing his mouth several times, Edward finally spoke with a heavy sigh.

“Does Rachel know?”

Ryan nodded slightly in affirmation.

Edward stared at Ryan with a confused expression.

“She knows?”

Edward asked again.

“Yes. She does.”

Ryan answered him in a straightforward manner.

Edward was surprised not only by Ryan’s directness but even more by the fact that Rachel knew about Ryan’s feelings.

“Then, Rachel…”

Edward stammered, unable to complete his sentence.

If Rachel knew everything, it meant their relationship might be deeper than Edward had thought.

Ryan could roughly guess what Edward was thinking by his reaction.

Watching him, Ryan hoped that if Edward shared his feelings, he would give up on Rachel.

Then, belatedly realizing his own pettiness, he let out a small laugh. Edward frowned, not understanding the meaning behind Ryan’s laughter.

Then Ryan spoke, “Unfortunately, that’s all there is to it.”

“By that you mean…”

“I confessed once and was rejected.”

Ryan mentioned what had happened with Rachel in a calm tone. Edward felt secretly relieved to learn that Rachel and Ryan didn’t have a deep relationship.

“I… see.”

But it wasn’t entirely welcome news either.

Just as Rachel had long harbored unrequited feelings for Tervan, Edward had also been secretly in love with Rachel for a long time.

However, not wanting to confuse her, he had kept his feelings hidden.

By the time it became meaningless to gauge when he first fell for her, Rachel had given up her feelings for Tervan.

A faint hope arose that now he might have a chance since Rachel had given up on Tervan, but he quickly dismissed the thought.

He was more concerned about Rachel than about himself.

How painful must it have been for her?

Rachel, who had always bloomed with smiles like late spring flower petals—had her emotional wounds been so great that she had grown cold?

Worried about how much Rachel had changed, Edward had simply remained by her side.

In a position where he could rush to her whenever she needed him.

But somehow, unwelcome individuals had begun to circle around her.

First Tervan, who had continuously ignored Rachel’s feelings despite knowing them, and now Ryan, the small master of the Empire.

“But how did you end up spending time with Rachel?”

Edward recalled how Ryan had consistently stayed close to Rachel.

He thought it would be normal to withdraw after being rejected.

Ryan let out a casual laugh before speaking.

“I told her I would remain as her friend.”

“You’re saying you’re staying friends with Rachel?”

“Yes.”

Edward frowned in disbelief at Ryan’s brief answer.

“Didn’t you consider that it might make Rachel uncomfortable?”

“I did consider that too. But Rachel didn’t completely reject me. So I remained by her side as a friend.”

Ryan’s expression turned bitter as he finished speaking.

“But you don’t seem much different from me.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Because you also seem unable to get closer to Rachel.”

“…”

Ryan’s words hit the mark.

Edward couldn’t find words to refute and kept his mouth firmly shut.

“Well, that’s not the important thing. I called you here because there’s something I wanted to ask.”

“…Please go ahead.”

Edward responded after a slight delay.

Ryan let out a small sigh before looking at him with a serious expression.

“You may not know this, but there’s something that’s been bothering me.”

Ryan hesitated briefly, unsure whether he should bring this up with Edward.

“Do you know about Rachel’s necklace?”

“Necklace…”

Edward raised his head, having his own suspicions.

Rachel had been wearing a necklace with the same design as the sealing stone that contained the Time Demon Creon.

Rachel had simply claimed it was a replica and had proven it as such, but there were still unsettling aspects that couldn’t be dismissed.

Ryan noticed from Edward’s reaction that he too found Rachel’s necklace suspicious.

“All I know is that Rachel suddenly became capable of memorizing three magic spells, but I have no idea what she was like before that.”

“Are you asking out of concern for Rachel? Or do you have other intentions?”

Though Edward had also been puzzled by this, he couldn’t readily share information about her with Ryan.

“Of course it’s out of concern. Didn’t I tell you? I care deeply for Rachel. Don’t you understand why I would reveal even my rejection to ask you about this?”

Ryan questioned Edward with frustration. However, he would have distrusted Edward if he had answered too readily.

“If she hasn’t contracted with the Time Demon Creon yet, that would be fortunate. We could dissuade her and nothing would happen. But my concern is that she might have already made the contract.”

“…”

“Do you have any insights? If she has truly contracted with Creon, regardless of what she wants, we cannot allow her to continue manipulating time.”

Edward stared intently at Ryan, who spoke with determination. He was trying to determine whether Ryan’s words were sincere.

Ryan’s eyes remained calm without the slightest hint of wavering.

After confirming this, Edward spoke with difficulty.

“I too have been puzzled by Rachel’s changes. Moreover, that necklace—it bothers me that she claims it’s just a replica.”