Elisha came up with a bright smile, like she’d never gotten mad at Camilla’s one word.

Petro, too, seemed fascinated by that side of his sister, and kept exclaiming in admiration.

“Big Sis, please stay at our house for a looong, looong time.”

Elisha looped her arm through Camilla’s and gently leaned her face in. She even rubbed her cheek against hers, smiling with her eyes—like a kitten acting cute.

This is a lot.

Elisha’s gaze, fixed on her, felt extremely familiar. That was exactly how the fans who used to trail after her looked.

Did I act too hard?

Maybe it was because she’d been on a stage again for the first time in a while. She’d enjoyed acting too, without really thinking.

A proper performance after so long had been pretty fun.

“Big Sis, you’re hot, right? Want me to fan you?”

Elisha was already holding a fan, eyes sparkling. In the end, Camilla couldn’t help laughing.

*****

[What have you been doing this whole time?]

Zeno asked, unable to hide how puzzled he looked.

For a while now, Camilla had been sneaking things into hidden spots all over the house.

[What is that?]

“Something Ravi gave me.”

[Protective Mana Stones? Why are you putting those there?]

“They said they block fire.”

Even as she answered, Camilla picked out only defensive items with fire resistance and started placing them here and there, out of sight.

[Fire? What fire, all of a sudden?]

“There’s a reason.”

In the end, Camilla gave up on telling the others about this—about the Guardian’s Sword being stolen.

Because when she thought about it, something didn’t add up.

This is the Ducal House of Jevillan, not some random place.

And yet the defenses were breached too easily, and fire rose inside the estate.

Even if the Duke of Jevillan is away, this place is supposed to have rock-solid baseline defenses. How is that even possible?

It was strange. So she thought about it carefully, and...

You never know.

There might be an enemy inside. Hadn’t the Duke of Sorpel been poisoned before, too?

The culprit had been someone who’d worked at the ducal house for a long time. Who would’ve ever guessed the deputy chef would be bought off?

It could be the same here.

Once she reached that conclusion, she couldn’t bring herself to tell anyone else.

What if the enemy inside heard what she said? It could make things worse.

“I only trust you, Zeno.”

[What are you talking about all of a sudden?]

“This place might get attacked soon.”

[Attacked? What—! Wait!]

Only then did Zeno seem to recall something, his expression hardening.

[You said something before about what happens if the Guardian’s Sword disappears—don’t tell me this is related to that!]

“Yes. Soon, the Guardian’s Sword will be stol—”

“What are you talking about?”

Someone cut into their conversation.

“Stolen?”

It was Arsian. He completely ignored Zeno, the ghost that looked like a black silhouette, and strode straight up to Camilla.

“Is something going to happen to this house?”

“Well...”

“Speak properly.”

“Yes!”

Gasp—was he mad right now? The moment she saw him frown, she nodded hurriedly without thinking.

Well.

At this point, even Arsian was better off knowing.

“I’m not sure, but I had a weird dream.”

“A dream?”

“A dream where this estate goes up in flames, and the Guardian’s Sword is gone.”

A short sigh slipped from Arsian’s mouth.

“You’re here because of that?”

Camilla nodded, avoiding his eyes, and Arsian’s brow furrowed even deeper.

“I knew it...”

Something had felt off. Her words and actions—saying she’d come stay at the Jevillans to hang out with Elisha, someone she wasn’t even close to—had made no sense at all.

He’d figured there was some reason, but he never imagined it would be this.

He grabbed Camilla’s hand and started walking quickly toward somewhere.

“Where are you going all of a sudden?”

“Pack. Right now.”

“What?”

“You knew that, and you still came here? Go home. I’ll stay here.”

The grip on her hand was no joke, like he genuinely meant to send her back immediately.

“Wait.”

Camilla stopped him in a hurry.

“There’s something I have to do here.”

“I’ll do it.”

Camilla stared at him blankly. He didn’t even know what it was, yet he was saying he’d do it instead.

Then, slowly, a smile spread across her lips.

“You’re smiling right now? Pack. Now.”

“Arsian.”

He’d been truly angry at her recklessness, but he paused at her calling him.

Arsian.

He’d hated being called that name since he was little.

A name that man gave him. Just hearing it made him sick. Like a shackle. A shackle he could never take off for the rest of his life.

But why was it that when his name came from her mouth, an inexplicable satisfaction rose up?

He liked that his name was contained, whole, in her voice.

“What are you worried about? You’re right next to me.”

“You...”

“If I’m with you, there’s no way I’ll be in danger.”

Camilla soothed him gently.

If she went home like this, she’d only be more on edge.

When would the attack start? Would the Guardian’s Sword vanish in the meantime? She wouldn’t sleep properly, worrying about that.

And Zeno, too.

Now that he knew the enemy would come for the Guardian’s Sword, he wouldn’t be able to sit still either.

He’d nag her every single day, demanding she find out what was going on. If that was how it would be, it was better to stay here.

“You’re saying you’re going to keep staying here?”

“Yeah.”

“......”

“I won’t get hurt. I swear.”

Camilla didn’t avert her eyes even a little, as if there wasn’t a single lie in her. In the end, a sigh escaped Arsian.

“How am I supposed to win against you?”

His hand brushed lightly near her face.

Each time it did, the protective tools Camilla wore gave off a faint glow.

On top of Ravi’s protective spell, he’d added another layer of protection.

If other mages saw it, they’d freak out. Imbuing an existing item with new magic was ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) never simple.

Arsian was doing it right now like it was nothing.

“If I raise your fire resistance, that’s enough?”

Then Arsian went around and overlaid his magic onto every single enchanted item Camilla had hidden—without missing one.

“That’s true, but...”

Camilla looked at him, a little amazed.

“You believe me? What I said?”

Even though her story sounded absurd—about the estate burning and being attacked—Arsian didn’t show the slightest doubt.

“It’s your word.”

At that short answer, her eyes widened a little, and a smile bloomed on her lips again.

“But do we really have to go this far?”

“What?”

“Why not just let it burn a little? It’s a rich family.”

It seemed like the fact that he was protecting Petro’s house itself didn’t sit right with him. He kept grumbling.

“Uh... what are you two doing right now?”

Elisha spotted them from far away and came running.

Did she hear what we were say—

“Get away from her! Right now!”

...Nope.

Elisha shoved herself between Arsian and Camilla and forced them apart.

“I told you not to get close to my big sister. You little punk.”

“You want to get in trouble, for real?”

“What are you even saying? The freeloader is threatening the homeowner? I swear I won’t feed you—!”

“Elisha, stop.”

“Yeees!”

As if she’d never been sharp-tongued a moment ago, Elisha shut her mouth instantly and went right back to Camilla’s side.

“Big Sis, I bought coffee from your café—want to drink it together?”

At the sheer whiplash, Arsian made a dumbfounded face, and Camilla gently shook her head.

*****

[Camilla!]

“Uh... huh?”

[I think you need to get up.]

Late at night, Camilla—who’d fallen asleep like everyone else—was jolted awake by Zeno. His voice, urgent unlike usual, made her open her eyes fast.

“What is it?”

[There’s suspicious movement.]

“......!”

At those words, Camilla got up without asking anything else.

SLAM!

Camilla opened the bedroom door and stepped out—then froze. The floor was soaked, slick with something.

“Oil?”

[Yes.]

So there really was someone helping from inside. Seeing oil poured into every corner, Camilla furrowed her brow.

“Did you see them?”

[That way.]

Camilla moved carefully, so no sound would carry.

Not stepping on the oil while walking through the dark was harder than she expected.

[There.]

It’s not just one.

There were three people pouring oil. Two who looked like attendants, and one who looked like a maid.

After they finished pouring, they gathered in one spot and whispered rapidly about something.

But soon they scattered again.

The maid ran outside, and the other two started putting fire to the oil with embers they’d brought.

So that’s why it was breached so easily.

It had been strange that the Ducal House of Jevillan, of all places, could be attacked so easily—but of course. There’d been an enemy inside.

WHACK!

As she watched the fire catch, Camilla slowly stepped out from where she’d been hiding and took a step toward them.

*****

“This way! Hurry! There’s a huge fire inside the house!”

The maid who’d run out moments ago gathered as many soldiers and knights as she could from the guards on watch.

At the shout that a major fire had broken out deeper inside the estate, everyone rushed over, no one bothering to hold back.

What? Did it not catch yet?

But the closer she got to the estate, the more the woman kept frowning.

By now, smoke should’ve been rising, flames roaring—there should’ve been chaos. But from the outside, there was no sign of anything burning.

What’s going on?

Even so, she carried out her assigned task, leading everyone straight into the estate in a hurry.

With total certainty that inside, the building would be burning.