The carriage Eileen was riding in was also approaching the inn.

“But Bella, I’m worried about the innkeeper being uncooperative.”

Eileen pointed to the word “uncooperative” as she spoke.

“Don’t worry! Eileen, if necessary, I’ll beat the information out of him!”

“Hmm….. Wouldn’t that make him clam up even more out of anger?”

“Well then, I’ll use my specialty—intimidation.”

Bella burst into hearty laughter.

Somehow she looked reliable, so Eileen laughed along with her.

Meanwhile, the carriage reached its destination.

When they heard the coachman announce their arrival, the two women immediately stopped laughing. Because the inn was in a secluded forest location, the two got out of the carriage and walked a bit.

While walking, they spotted a building made of red bricks.

Bella paused briefly and pointed at the building.

“Eileen, that looks like it!”

“Let’s hurry, Bella!”

As their destination came into view, Eileen quickened her pace.

In hope of finding clues, her steps felt lighter than ever.

“Bella, there are people there.”

As they got closer to the inn, people who weren’t visible before came into Eileen’s view.

“Really? Guests?”

“I suppose so?”

Eileen thought nothing of it and continued walking with her.

“Huh…?”

But as the guests’ appearances became clearer, Eileen was seized by a strange feeling.

Surely, they must be strangers, but the tall man with silver hair seemed oddly familiar.

As they got closer, a faint but familiar voice drifted to her ears.

“……hadn’t been so stubborn, you wouldn’t have……”

At that moment, Eileen could be certain who that person was.

Aaron de Monston.

Her fiancé and the person she loved most.

“Eileen, what’s wrong?”

When Eileen’s footsteps suddenly stopped, Bella asked in a worried voice.

“That……”

Why was Aaron here? Why on earth?

No matter how much she thought about it, there was no reason for Aaron to be at an inn two hours away from Renet.

‘No, if the reason Liam urgently sought out Aaron this morning was related to this inn……’

It seemed plausible even to herself.

If that was the case, then from Aaron’s perspective, there was no reason for her to be here.

“B-Bella, let’s go back for now!”

If they encountered each other like this, given Aaron’s personality, he would surely question her thoroughly.

And she had no suitable excuse to give him.

Also, she had kept it secret from Aaron and set out alone to find the culprit, so she couldn’t get caught now.

Eileen pushed Bella’s back in panic.

“Huh? But the clue is right in front of us?”

Bella asked in bewilderment.

“Yes, hurry!”

“Why so suddenly?!”

“There’s a reason! I’ll tell you in the carriage…!”

When Eileen pleaded, Bella sighed as if she had no choice.

“Fine. Let’s go back……”

But before Bella could finish her sentence, a man’s voice cut through her words.

“Bella!”

* * *

“Hmm?”

Jackson heard a rustling sound.

A wild animal perhaps.

He turned his head toward the sound.

“……Huh?”

There stood someone with very familiar bright red hair, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

Bella Morgan.

The guild master of the Phantom Guild and once, his tea time friend.

Jackson called out to her loudly before he realized it.

“Bella!”

“Who’s interrupting my… Huh?”

Turning her head with annoyance, Bella’s gaze fell on a very familiar person.

“It really is you, Bella!”

His former tea time friend who was older than him yet always spoke formally.

“Jackson!”

Too happy to see him, she forgot she was with Eileen and ran toward Jackson.

“Jackson, how have you been? What brings you here?”

“My master is looking for someone who’s here.”

“Oh right. Your guild actually has a separate master!”

Bella clapped her hands loudly and laughed heartily.

“What brings you here, Bella?”

“Me? I’m here because the young lady……”

Sh*t, oh sh*t! I forgot about Eileen!

Bella barely managed to hold back the curse that was about to escape.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing at all!”

How embarrassing to run over excitedly, forgetting her duty!

Bella waved her hands and let out an awkward laugh.

“I-I should get going now…!”

She needed to return as quickly as possible.

The Eileen she knew wasn’t someone who would nag.

But if she had insisted on returning so strongly, there must have been a reason she didn’t know about.

“You’re leaving already?”

“Y-yes, I have an urgent matter.”

Bella tried to slowly back away to escape from this place.

However.

“Jackson, is this someone you know?”

“Ah, Master!”

The voice from above and the word “Master” firmly stopped her in her tracks.

“Master, this is my friend, Bella Morgan.”

At Jackson’s introduction, Aaron slowly lowered his gaze.

The rose-filled bright red hair seemed familiar somehow.

“Bella, let me introduce you. This is my master, Duke Aaron de Monston.”

It was such a familiar name. No, it was a name she definitely knew.

How could she not know Duke Aaron, Eileen’s lover!

Unable to raise her head, Bella bit her lip nervously.

‘So this is why Eileen tried to run away…!’

She felt belated regret, but it was already too late.

“Bella, is something wrong?”

When Bella kept her head down, Jackson asked in a concerned voice.

“Ah, no?!”

As she suddenly raised her head, her eyes met Aaron’s.

“You’re definitely that person from back then……”

Aaron’s brow began to furrow. Bella rolled her eyes slightly to look at Eileen.

She was crossing her hands, desperately signaling that they shouldn’t be discovered.

“I-I’m Dana’s older sister who receives the Duke’s patronage!”

Before Aaron could recall who she was, Bella quickly provided an answer.

“Haha. Our Dana has been receiving so much help!”

Her exaggerated loud laughter and mechanical, word-by-word speech sounded extremely awkward.

Eileen, who was watching the three from a distance, held her forehead.

Somehow, she felt like she had aged 10 years.

“W-well then, I’ll be on my way!”

Moreover, Bella seemed to be weak in acting, as she kept glancing in her direction.

Just as the thought ‘She’s likely to arouse suspicion this way’ crossed Eileen’s mind, Aaron, having finished his deliberation, opened his mouth.

“I remember now. You were the informant for Eileen and Eden.”

“Yes, I wa-what?!”

As the strange response echoed throughout the forest, Eileen sensed it.

We’re doomed…… she thought.

‘What should I do!’

The emerald eyes looking at her were filled with pleas for help.

‘Right, even if he knows about the informant, we can get away with it if only Jackson stays quiet.’

Eileen pointed at Jackson. Then she raised her index finger to her lips.

Just keep that person quiet and we’ll be fine!

Got it!

Bella, who responded by just moving her mouth, nodded her head with a determined resolve.

“Is someone over there?”

When Bella’s gaze turned toward the forest, Aaron asked in a suspicious voice.

“N-no?!”

Her rolling eyeballs looked suspicious.

Normally he would have let it go, but today he didn’t feel like letting it pass.

“Wait here.”

“J-just a moment!”

Bella exclaimed in shock and grabbed Aaron’s sleeve.

“Let go.”

Purple eyes pierced her fiercely.

To think such a tyrannical person was Eileen’s lover…!

Having no choice, Bella released the sleeve she was holding and cast a sad look beyond the bushes.

‘What should I do……?’

Step by step. As Aaron drew closer, Eileen’s heart began to pound.

What excuse should she give if he asked why she was here? Eileen racked her brain.

But she still couldn’t think of a suitable answer.

Just as she was considering running away, the most unwanted word came from above her head.

“……Eileen?”

Eileen swallowed hard. There was no way to avoid it anymore.

So she raised the corners of her mouth as naturally as possible and met Aaron’s eyes.

“Haha, Aaron. Hello?”

But her terribly shaky voice was too awkward.

“Why are you here?”

“A-a walk?”

“A walk all the way out here?”

Aaron caught the end of her words and persistently questioned.

“And why, of all people, are you with that informant?”

“W-well…!”

She thought about telling the truth, but if she did, given Aaron’s personality, he would surely get angry.

“Lady Eileen, are you perhaps doing something dangerous behind my back?”

Meanwhile, Aaron’s interrogation became more persistent.

Cornered, Eileen finally blurted out whatever came to mind.

“I heard rare flowers grow in this forest…!”

Even to herself, it was an excuse that wouldn’t hold water. Eileen looked up in resignation.

“Rare flowers?”

Contrary to expectations, Aaron’s eyes had softened considerably from before.

Feeling as if he might actually believe this implausible excuse, Eileen continued.

“Yes! It’s a flower I’ve always wanted to see, and Bella told me it was here!”

“I see.”

As Aaron nodded in understanding, Eileen inwardly rejoiced.

“Still, the forest is dangerous, so find what you’re looking for and return soon.”

“Yes. I’m sorry. Bella, let’s go now!”

“Alright, Eileen!”

As the atmosphere improved, Bella quickly approached her.

“Um……”

Just as they were about to leave with relief, a low voice stopped the two in their tracks.

“I’m very sorry, but may I ask Bella one thing?”

At the sudden question, Bella looked at Jackson with a perplexed face.

His face bore something akin to determination.

“Is the Phantom Guild in trouble? Looking for rare flowers… you’re doing something you wouldn’t normally do……”

Jackson trailed off.

“Phantom Guild?”

Aaron tilted his head askew and asked.

“Ah, Bella is the guild master of the Phantom Guild.”

As Jackson finished speaking, the smile that had spread across Aaron’s face disappeared in an instant.

In its place settled a chilling coldness that was frightening.

“I believe you said she was an informant.”