Guardian’s Sword didn’t simply “hide itself.”

It was stolen in the middle of something enormous—an attack by an unknown group, and the ducal house being burned down.

Meaning it all happens while the Duke of Jevillan is away for a short time.

They had clearly aimed for the opening on purpose—when the master of the ducal house, the Duke of Jevillan, and the Guardian Jeti weren’t there.

A ducal house with Jeti—who could control fire—going up in roaring flames and taking massive damage? That made no sense.

So of course it would only happen when the Guardian wasn’t there.

The Duke of Sorpel and the Duke of Sephra would hear the news late and rush over to help immediately, but by then Guardian’s Sword would already be gone.

For a while, the entire empire was in an uproar over that incident.

It was shocking enough that a ducal house had been attacked directly, but the fact that Guardian’s Sword had disappeared dealt an even greater blow.

The symbolic meaning Guardian’s Sword carried was enormous.

The blade that had protected the empire for countless years being gone—everyone feared something bad was going to happen to the nation.

“When, exactly, is the duke leaving?”

“Hm... would it be alright if I asked why you’re asking?”

“That...”

How was she supposed to answer?

Camilla’s eyes spun. Wasn’t there some excuse she could use? Ah!

“Elisha!”

“Elisha?”

“When the duke isn’t here, I told her I’d come over to hang out.”

“...Pardon?”

“I made a promise with Elisha before. That I’d stay together with her for a few days, while the duke is away.”

She decided to use Elisha—Petro’s younger sister.

“Why do you have to come when Father isn’t here...”

“Because it’s more comfortable that way.”

That part was sincere. When you go hang out at a friend’s house, the best time is when the parents aren’t home.

Of course, she’d never actually been to a friend’s house to hang out, but still.

“I’d welcome that.”

Petro smiled slightly, but the smile felt oddly inscrutable. He didn’t catch on to something, did he?

“I’m truly relieved to hear you’ve grown close with my younger sister again.”

“H... haha. Yeah, well.”

Close, my ass. After she’d nailed Elisha once, things were still awkward.

Ever since she’d forced an apology out of her at the hunting grounds, they hadn’t faced each other again.

They’d run into each other a few times at the Academy, but Elisha always glared with fire in her eyes.

Still, what choice do I have?

It was the only excuse she could come up with right now.

And it isn’t certain, either.

Unlike other incidents, there was no “sign” she could sense ahead of time, so it was hard to predict exactly when it would happen.

She knew they would aim for the opening while the Duke of Jevillan was absent, but how was she supposed to know whether it would be this time or the next?

Especially when a bunch of things are already happening that didn’t happen in my previous lives.

She couldn’t be sure.

So I can’t even warn them with some fake fortune-telling, either.

If she said something would happen, and then nothing happened? It would only take a moment for people to think she was ridiculous.

“I’ll let Elisha know in advance.”

“No!”

Camilla shook her head quickly. Petro looked at her like, What now? and Camilla hurriedly continued.

“Wouldn’t she be happier if I showed up suddenly? Please keep it a secret from Elisha and everyone else.”

If she told Elisha ahead of time, her lie would be exposed immediately.

“Understood.”

“Hey.”

Right then, Arsian cut into their conversation.

“Rio wants to play with you too.”

“Ah, really?”

It’s been a while since she’d seen Rio. Had the kid grown a lot?

“I’ll make sure the old man at my place won’t be home soon either.”

“What are you talking about?”

Not “he won’t be home”... but “I’ll make sure he won’t be home”?

“My place has plenty of empty rooms too.”

So what?

Camilla stared at him with a dumbfounded expression, and Petro couldn’t hide the look of exasperation in his eyes either.

*****

“Long time no see.”

“......”

“You’ve been doing well, right?”

“What is this?”

“I’m going to impose on you for a few days.”

“What did you say?”

“I can use that room, right?”

“W-wait a second!”

Elisha—Petro’s younger sister—couldn’t hide her disbelief as she stared at the person standing in front of her.

Camilla had shown up at her house out of nowhere first thing in the morning.

With a huge luggage bag at her side. And not for any reason other than to “hang out” with her.

“What the hell are you thinking?”

“Thinking about having fun.”

“I’m saying—why do I have to have fun with you?!”

“Don’t worry. You can have fun your way, and I’ll have fun my way.”

“...What?”

Elisha barely managed to swallow the urge to scream What the hell are you saying? Because it’s not like she’d ever beaten that woman in an argument lately.

Even now, just seeing her made her teeth grind.

Because everything—getting scolded by her father in front of so many people, and even having to spit out an apology—had all been because of that woman.

And now what?

She came here to “hang out with me”?

“This time, what are you planning to do—!”

“Here. A gift.”

Elisha, who’d been glaring with all her might, froze when something was placed in her hand. A gift? All of a sudden?

“What is this?”

It was a small box. Jewelry, at a glance?

“Open it.”

“My gift?”

“Yeah.”

Elisha hesitated for a moment, but in the end she couldn’t resist the temptation.

CLICK.

“Hngh—!”

“Do you like it?”

“Th-this—don’t tell me...!”

Do I like it? Was that even a question?

Oh my god!

Elisha couldn’t close her mouth. Inside the box was a matching set—a necklace and earrings.

The problem was the gem material used for the necklace and earrings.

“B-blue diamonds?”

“That’s right. You know your stuff.”

Without realizing it, Elisha clapped a hand over her mouth. She felt like she was going to scream.

Facing that radiant blue diamond, Elisha could fully understand why people were so obsessed with this jewel.

The mined quantity was low, and it was sold only as custom commissions to a tiny number of VIPs—so it was extremely hard to obtain.

Most people only knew it as rumor; it was rare even to find someone who’d seen the real thing.

But the moment you fell for its beautiful form, you couldn’t escape—that rumor drove anyone with money to buy up Ghost Trading House goods like mad.

Because you had to become a VIP member just to place an order. And even then, who knew when you’d actually receive it?

“C-can I really accept this?”

Yet now that precious jewel was sitting in her hands. The very jewel even the Empress hadn’t managed to get.

“So you like it.”

At Camilla’s question, Elisha gave a small nod. Who could receive something like this and say they hated it?

“Then I’ll use «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» that room.”

Having cleared Elisha more easily than expected, Camilla headed for the room next to hers.

Even as she did, Elisha still couldn’t tear her eyes away from the jewelry.

*****

[This place has barely changed.]

“You’ve never once come here in the meantime?”

[If I come here, I get filled with pointless thoughts.]

Zeno, who had followed her to the Ducal House of Jevillan, seemed deeply moved to be back home after a long time. He kept turning his head, scanning the surroundings.

[But what’s this all of a sudden?]

“What do you mean?”

[You’re saying you’re going to stay here?]

From what he’d seen earlier, unlike what she’d told Petro, it didn’t look like she’d made any separate plans with Elisha. Elisha hadn’t looked welcoming at all.

“I’ve got something I want to check.”

[Check what? What is it?]

“There’s something.”

Honestly, whether Guardian’s Sword was stolen or not—what did it have to do with her?

It’s not like I gain anything from it.

And yet she’d come all the way here, handed an expensive jewel to someone who clearly didn’t welcome her, and dug in like this. It was overdoing it, and it was sticking her nose where it didn’t belong.

But...

Zeno, what will you do if Guardian’s Sword disappears?

[Why would Guardian’s Sword disappear?]

I’m saying, if it does.

[Why would something like that happen, even “if”?]

Someone could steal it.

[Then I’ll find it.]

Why? It’s a sword with no power anymore.

[It’s the result I got by trading my life. You want me to just watch while someone takes it? I’ll chase it to the ends of the world and take it back.]

...So that’s that.

He said he would take it back, no matter what.

And since there was a very high chance she’d get dragged into that course of action, Camilla decided to stop the theft from happening in the first place. That was far better than wandering around aimlessly in search of the sword.

[Your family also looks like they really don’t like it.]

“Well, it can’t be helped.”

You’re saying you’ll be staying at the Ducal House of Jevillan for a few days?

Yeah.

You—again!

Again? What do you mean?

You’re trying to cling to that man again, aren’t you?!

No, I’m not.

Don’t give me that!

I’m going to hang out with Elisha.

What a joke. Since when have you been close with her? That’s the dumbest excuse I’ve ever heard!

That Ravi bastard...

He knew her too well—that was the problem. Unlike Petro, Ravi didn’t let it go.

He seemed to think she was doing the same stupid thing as before—fixating on Petro and running off to cause trouble—so he was openly displeased.

The Duke of Sorpel and Ludville were the same.

Do you really have to go to that boy’s house?

I’ve never gotten to do it even once.

Do what?

Sleeping over at a friend’s house. I really want to try it at least once.

Even so, why does it have to be that boy’s house?

Hmm... then should I go to the Ducal House of Sephra? Arsian told me to come hang out at his house too. He said there are lots of rooms, so it’d be fine if I slept over—

You’re leaving tomorrow? Have a safe trip.

I expected as much.

Arsian, you really aren’t popular with adults.

The moment she mentioned Arsian, the Duke of Sorpel’s expression hardened, and he immediately approved Camilla’s visit to the Ducal House of Jevillan.

KNOCK KNOCK.

“Camilla, may I come in?”

“Come in.”

It was Petro. As he stepped into the room, he kept looking around. Like he was checking in detail to see if anything was uncomfortable.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“No, the room is very nice.”

“I’m relieved. The guest room we normally use is under renovation, so we hurriedly prepared this one. I was a little worried.”

“Is that so?”

“If there’s anything inconvenient, please tell me at any time.”

“Thank you. But when will the duke return?”

“He left with roughly a fifteen-day journey planned.”

Fifteen days. Then there was a very high chance it would happen within that window.

Zeno is with me, but...