“Rosalind was right after all...”
Imeve gently touched Ain's forehead, seemingly locking eyes with him at such a close distance for the very first time.
“You've always been like this, constantly shouldering everything alone...”
“Back at the academy, you used the name Sevis to save more than half the students.”
“You were also the one who went alone to Echo Forest that night and saved the witch who was supposed to die.”
Ain looked at the girl in front of him with some surprise.
“Sevis told you everything?”
Imeve placed her hands behind her back and let out a soft chuckle.
“That doesn't matter.”
“All you need to know is...”
“...there is still someone by your side now.”
Imeve held Ain's right hand with both of hers, looking at him gently.
Ever since the events of that night, Imeve had often wondered how Ain had managed to accomplish it all.
In a single day.
Alone, he had turned public opinion around for her.
Alone, he had uncovered the underlying truth.
Alone, he had saved Lillian, who had been abandoned by the academy.
Even the antidote developed by Persephone was connected to Ain.
In the end, Imeve still couldn't figure it out.
But she knew one thing for certain.
If Ain had been walking alone for all this time, how exhausted he must be.
“Don't walk alone anymore, okay?”
“Now...”
“...you still have me.”
Imeve looked at Ain with doting affection.
“You also have the identity named Imeve that you saved that night.”
Seeing that Ain still hadn't quite processed her words, Imeve said gently, “I never had the chance to tell you before...”
“Ain, do you know why I came looking for you?”
“Is it... because of the engagement?”
Ain was somewhat bewildered. Just as she said, he had never had the chance to ask these questions.
With a serious look, Imeve replied, “It's not just the engagement...”
“Though I know this brought you trouble...”
“The truth is, both the engagement and my coming here serve a single purpose...”
“And that is to protect you.”
With that, Imeve leaned in close to Ain's ear and whispered a statement he could hardly believe.
“In this mission, the academy's situation is extremely dangerous.”
“Furthermore, the people in the rescue team this time...”
“...are all going to die.”
Hearing this, Ain's pupils dilated instantly.
Imeve met Ain's gaze, her expression solemn.
“This is the only information I have so far. As for the specific reasons, I don't know either...”
Imeve's gaze was resolute.
“However, that is precisely why I am here.”
...
Ain felt that Imeve was right.
Overthinking was useless.
He had too little information at the moment; only by executing this mission could he uncover the underlying truth.
As they walked toward the city gate, the two exchanged information.
“You're Tier 4? When did the Xavier family's pool of talent become so impressive that someone as gifted as Sevis appeared?”
“Well, this...”
Imeve averted her eyes.
“Anyway, anyway, Sevis sent me to help you! That's all you need to know!”
Seeing her blushing face, Ain didn't press the matter.
Immediately after, Imeve mumbled softly under her breath.
“Rosalind helped you last time, so now it's my turn...”
Ain asked, puzzled, “Rosalind helped me? When...”
Soon, Ain seemed to remember something, speaking at the same time as Imeve.
Imeve: “She said she cleared away unnecessary troubles for you.”
Ain: “Oh, I remember now. Are you talking about that special spell of hers?”
Imeve was dumbfounded.
“W-What special spell?”
Ain frowned, resting his chin on his hand as he asked.
“Hmm? Isn't that what you were referring to?”
Realizing something, Imeve's expression turned flustered, and her tone grew rushed.
“Y-You wait! Tell me everything that happened that day from start to finish!”
The girl said earnestly, adding, “Not a single detail left out! Tell me everything, from beginning to end!”
...
After listening to Ain's explanation, Imeve's face first flushed with bashfulness, then turned pale with fury, and finally settled into absolute rage.
Using a special spell to help Ain absorb unnecessary negative emotions?
And the condition to activate it was... k-k-k-kissing on the lips?!
The girl clenched her small fists and bit her lower lip.
That girl Rosalind actually dared to lie to me!
Imeve glanced at Ain and asked, “And then? What were your thoughts on it?”
“If you ask me what I thought... uh, I didn't really think much of it.”
Ain spread his hands.
“After all, Rosalind said it was just a necessary method to calm my mind. She wanted me to keep searching for the truth that could help Sevis break out of his predicament, rather than being held back by these emotions.”
Imeve's complexion was awful.
“That's what she said? She claimed it was for me... bah! For Sevis?”
“Yeah.”
Immediately after, Ain added casually.
“She even said she didn't mind at all and promised to do it again with me next time.”
“What? There's... a next time?!”
“She wants to do it again?!”
Imeve lightly covered her mouth.
Remembering what Rosalind had said, Ain let out a bitter laugh.
“Since she put it that way, I figured she must be joking... Hmm? What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Imeve waved her hand.
“I'm fine, I'm fine...”
Imeve looked at Ain and forced a tight smile, though her expression was filled with rage she couldn't hide.
Good...
Oh, good job, Rosalind!
You actually dared to deceive even me!
Before, she claimed that she had done something important for Ain that day on my behalf...
I thought she meant handling official business or something, but it turned out to be THIS!
Rosalind, lying to me is fun, isn't it...
On my behalf, huh...
And promising a next time, too!
You love seeking thrills, don't you?!
Imeve's eyes burned with rage.
Just wait until I get back—I'll make sure you get an even bigger thrill!
I might as well strip you naked, tie you up with ropes, and hang you from the ceiling in Ain's room to air out for three days and three nights!
...
Inside a magnificent bedroom with a soaring vaulted ceiling, dark gold and deep red velvet drapes cascaded like a waterfall, their edges embroidered in intricate silver thread with the ancient crest of the thorny rose.
The air was thick with a heavy fragrance—a mixture of aged parchment, dried lavender, and a faint hint of burning incense.
In the center of the room, a broad ebony desk rested quietly upon a woven carpet. Its surface was polished smooth as a mirror, its edges inlaid with delicate brass gears and reliefs of dark silver vines.
Seated in the high-backed velvet chair that symbolized supreme authority was not some majestic monarch, but a young girl clad in a blue-and-white lace maid outfit.
An attire meant to represent humility and servitude had instead become the most suffocating symbol of supreme authority in this grand hall.
Men and women in noble attire stepped through the door one after another, respectfully handing over reports and documents to place them on the desk.
“The supply of materials for the surrounding shops has been arranged.”
“Half of the invited guests declined.”
“There are movements from the royal family as well, seemingly connected to the crash of the chamber of commerce's transport ship.”
“I understand. Keep observing.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
Rosalind, dressed in her maid outfit, took the documents handed over by several members of the family.
Right now, rather than a maid, she was more like a second-in-command handling the family's affairs in Imeve's stead.
Rosalind's ability to manage official business was in a league of its own within the Xavier family.
Soon, the girl set down a quill dipped in dark gold ink, leaning it against the carved pen rack with wet ink still clinging to its tip.
Seeing that everyone had departed, Rosalind finally let her exhaustion show and sighed.
“Lady Imeve, if you keep dumping this much work on me, I might actually resign...”
“Besides eating, I've barely slept at all these past few days.”
“I'd be better off going to work as someone else's maid...”
In the end, it was merely her venting in frustration.
Suddenly, Ain's figure drifted into Rosalind's mind.
Hm...
It seems...
...that might not be so bad after all?
Recalling the scene from that day, the girl immediately shook her head, banishing those strange thoughts from her mind.
I only feel fond of him because he helped Lady Imeve...
Rosalind, you are bound to serve Lady Imeve for the rest of your life! How could you harbor such thoughts?!
As if realizing something, a gentle smile curved the girl's lips. She picked up her pen once more and returned to the business at hand.
“Still, Ain...”
“Not even Lady Imeve knows about my magic~”
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