Rachel discreetly sighed.

“I don’t quite understand. You came without notice today to apologize for yesterday?”

“It must be confusing. I thought you might feel that way.”

“You seem to understand well.”

Just as Duke Bermund was about to speak, there was a knock at the door. It was followed by the voice of the maid who had gone to prepare tea.

Rachel and Duke Bermund maintained silence while the maid prepared the tea.

Only after the maid had bowed and left did Duke Bermund pick up his teacup and speak.

“This way, I’ll have a reason to come apologize again tomorrow, won’t I?”

Duke Bermund elegantly tilted his teacup, took a sip, and set it down.

“You’re planning to visit again tomorrow?”

Duke Bermund simply smiled in response to Rachel’s question.

“I find that quite rude.”

“But if it means seeing you more often, what’s the problem?”

Rachel stared intently into Duke Bermund’s eyes, trying to discern his true intentions.

His gaze briefly shifted to her neck before returning to normal.

Rachel nodded with sudden understanding.

“I see clearly why you’re doing this.”

“What do you mean?”

“The reason you’re so eager to meet me.”

At Rachel’s words, Duke Bermund gestured for her to continue.

Rachel carefully picked up her teacup.

“It’s because of the necklace I’m wearing.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Duke Bermund pretended not to understand Rachel’s statement.

However, Rachel clearly noticed the momentary flicker in Duke Bermund’s eyes.

“You don’t need to pretend. I know that you know.”

“……”

The bitter taste of Bellin tea lingered on her tongue. Rachel looked up again to observe Duke Bermund’s expression.

“The Time Demon, Creon.”

When Rachel mentioned Creon, a subtle crack appeared in his composure.

Seemingly satisfied with this reaction, Rachel smiled leisurely and spoke.

“Would you like me to give it to you?”

Duke Bermund realized that Rachel had deliberately revealed Creon to him.

It meant that Rachel was fully aware of why Duke Bermund had approached her yesterday and today.

Duke Bermund observed Rachel for a moment, contemplating how to respond.

Meanwhile, Rachel was trying hard not to cover her ears, almost losing her composed smile.

[Rachel! How could you do this to me? Am I an object? ‘Would you like me to give it to you?’]

Creon was expressing his hurt feelings to Rachel in an angry voice.

[You seem to have forgotten that you and I are firmly bound by a soul contract. I’m not something you can casually hand over to others!]

‘I know. As long as our contract isn’t broken, we’re bound to each other.’

Rachel inwardly broke into a sweat as she tried to appease Creon.

[You knew that and still said it? Just to hurt my feelings?]

‘No. I wasn’t really going to hand you over. It’s obvious he wants you, but I can’t just let him manipulate me knowing that. Do you really think I’d give you away?’

Creon responded to Rachel’s explanation with a dismissive snort. He seemed genuinely upset.

“The Time Demon… Creon, you said?”

Duke Bermund asked Rachel, pretending to know nothing.

Rachel finally ended her conversation with Creon and nodded in response to Duke Bermund.

“Oh my, you didn’t know?”

To Rachel, who already knew that he had identified the form of the seal containing Creon, Duke Bermund’s act seemed laughable.

“Then I seem to have spoken out of turn.”

Rachel deliberately raised her hand to touch her necklace.

Duke Bermund’s Adam’s apple moved in a dry swallow. Then he spoke.

“No, it was an interesting conversation. But may I ask why you were willing to hand it over to me?”

“It’s nothing. It could become dangerous in the hands of someone who doesn’t understand its value. I misspoke. I apologize. Please forget what I said.”

Duke Bermund’s eyebrows twitched at Rachel’s words. For Rachel, who had been finding everything tedious, his reaction was a rare source of amusement.

Unfortunately, their conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door.

Rachel and Duke Bermund reflexively turned to look at the door.

“Miss, it’s Catrin. Excuse me, but may I come in for a moment?”

Rachel looked at Duke Bermund, checking if it was alright to let Catrin in.

“Please do.”

Duke Bermund readily answered toward Rachel.

“Come in.”

When Rachel gave permission, Catrin carefully entered the reception room. She approached Rachel quietly and whispered softly in her ear.

“Miss, other guests have arrived.”

“Who?”

“Young Master Sanchez, Young Master Hestein, and Miss Hestein.”

After confirming the identity of these unexpected visitors following Duke Bermund, Rachel exhaled deeply.

Still, they were more welcome than Duke Bermund.

“What should we do, Duke?”

“What’s the matter?”

“My friends who had an appointment with me today have just arrived.”

“Ah, I see.”

Duke Bermund understood Rachel’s words and smiled.

Rachel’s statement was partly a rebuke directed at Duke Bermund. But somehow, Duke Bermund wasn’t offended by her words.

He didn’t believe she actually had an appointment.

If she had, she would have mentioned it when they first met in the reception room.

The people who had just arrived were probably uninvited guests like Duke Bermund himself. But closer to her than he was.

Having reached this conclusion, Duke Bermund nodded compliantly.

“I’ve thoughtlessly taken up too much of your time.”

“Not at all. But I’d prefer if this didn’t happen again in the future. And regarding today, since you went to the trouble of coming, I’ll overlook the lack of notice.”

Duke Bermund checked Rachel’s expression and chuckled softly.

It had been a while since he’d met someone who wouldn’t yield to him at all.

Since inheriting the title of Duke Bermund and growing his trading company, only those of equal or higher status didn’t bow to him.

Even then, no one reprimanded him like this to maintain good relations.

But Rachel?

As a count’s daughter, Rachel couldn’t possibly hold a higher position than Duke Bermund.

Duke Bermund was convinced that her composure must be related to the Time Demon, Creon.

Her suddenly improved magical abilities, her personality that differed from what he had investigated, and her composed attitude even in his presence.

Of course, he couldn’t help but be certain after she directly mentioned the Time Demon, Creon.

She must be doing more than just possessing the Time Demon, Creon.

She must have formed a contract with the Time Demon, Creon.

There was no other way to explain who she was now.

If it was certain that Rachel had contracted with Creon, he too would find it difficult to approach her carelessly.

After all, Rachel could potentially turn back time and try again whenever she wanted.

“I’m honored that you understand. In the future, I’ll make proper appointments before visiting. Now that I’ve finished my tea, I’ll take my leave.”

Duke Bermund rose from his seat.

Rachel also stood up to see him off. The Duke waved his hand toward Rachel.

“I’ll go alone. There’s no need for you to come out.”

“If that’s what you wish, I won’t insist. Take care, Duke.”

Rachel deliberately bowed to Duke Bermund with an exaggerated gesture. Duke Bermund observed her before leaving the reception room.

Rachel stared at the door through which Duke Bermund had left, then sat down on the sofa. She felt completely drained.

‘Creon.’

[……]

‘Are you upset?’

[Yes.]

Rachel smiled slightly at Creon’s curt response.

‘I’m sorry.’

[Hmph. I’m forgiving you only because I’m generous. Remember that.]

Creon finally responded in a somewhat softer voice.

‘Thank you.’

After finishing her conversation, Rachel turned to Catrin.

“Where is everyone?”

“I showed them to the reception room on the second floor. I’ll guide you there.”

Rachel got up and followed Catrin again.

Finally, they arrived at the second-floor reception room. Catrin knocked on the door and announced Rachel’s arrival.

When Rachel entered, she saw familiar faces.

“Rachel!”

Viola rushed over and grabbed Rachel’s hands.

“Sorry. Did we surprise you by coming without notice?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Since Viola and Tervan’s visits were sometimes spontaneous like this, their visit wasn’t uncomfortable like Duke Bermund’s.

“Let’s sit down.”

Viola pulled Rachel’s hand. Rachel allowed herself to be led by Viola and arrived at the sofa.

“It’s been a while, Rachel.”

Edward Hestein, Viola’s brother and a candidate for the next Magic Tower Master, greeted Rachel.

“Ah, I heard you were back. It’s been a long time, Edward.”

Rachel smiled brightly in genuine delight as she greeted him.

After she had resolved to become stronger, Edward had been the one who helped her the most.