“Anyway.”

The Duke of Sorpel tore his gaze from King and turned it back to the Duke of Sephra.

“I’ve been hearing something amusing lately.”

“I’m glad you find it amusing.”

“Tell me the truth. Where on earth did you get the mana stone?”

Following the Duke of Sorpel, the Duke of Jevillan also showed his interest at once.

The bigger reason he’d prodded him in the ribs to come together today was to talk about this—where that precious mana stone had suddenly dropped from.

“And it has a separate owner?”

“You, of all people, are doing someone else’s dirty work?”

The Duke of Sephra said nothing to either man’s questions. Nor did he cast a tactless glance at Camilla, who sat to one side as if she weren’t there.

“I’ll take my leave...”

Camilla quickly rose. If she stayed any longer, she wasn’t sure she could keep her face straight.

The Guardians all tried to follow her, but with a warning look—come after me and you’ll be scolded—she hurried out of the room.

****

Quiet.

The three of them were walking in the garden, and it was too silent. No one opened his mouth.

Even their footfalls were so faint compared to other people’s that it felt as if no one at all were strolling the paths.

“Shall we rest a bit over there?”

In the end it was Petro who broke the long silence.

Wearing his usual affable smile, he pointed to a bench set at one side of the garden.

“No.”

The refusal flew back at once. It was awkward enough just walking like this—sit down and keep up the silence?

“Ha... is that so?”

Letting out a short laugh, Petro looked at Arsian, who kept clicking his tongue as if he didn’t know why he was here.

“I’m curious about something.”

Annoyance filled Arsian’s eyes as he looked at Petro. If they’d been at school or anywhere else, a curse would have come out on the spot.

But stirring up a scene here made Arsian uncomfortable too.

‘...I don’t know.’

He just couldn’t help minding. Because this was her house.

Because her older brother was present here now—kept stealing the words from his mouth.

“Seems like you’ve been spending a lot of time with Lady Camilla lately.”

“None of your business.”

“I was just curious.”

‘This bastard.’ 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

That smiling face was even more obnoxious today.

“With Camilla?”

The voice of Ludville, who had kept silent, came just then.

“Yes, the two look very close lately. Isn’t it a fine thing for classmates to build a friendship? Ha ha.”

The gaze that had been indifferent sharpened and fixed on Arsian. Arsian glared at Petro like he meant to kill him, and Petro kept laughing as if he found the situation delightful.

‘Excuse me...’

At that moment someone came up to the three—it was Camilla.

Having escaped the receiving room, Camilla heard from Butler Rube that the three had headed to the garden.

Unable to suppress her curiosity at such an unexpected trio, she came looking—and then took a small step back.

‘What is this atmosphere?’

Camilla was a touch nonplussed.

****

“Um... young lady.”

“What?”

“They keep following us.”

She went shopping as planned that morning. She’d met all the guests she had to meet, so there was no need to stay in the mansion. She didn’t want to cancel plans she’d made for a rare day off.

So she went out to the streets with Dorman acting as her page.

Annoying as he was, it was still easiest to move with Dorman, who knew her situation better than anyone. There was no need to act or hide anything.

But—

‘Why are those men tailing me.’

Three men walking the street, sightseeing just like her: Arsian, Ludville, and Petro. Her brows drew together.

“I happened to want to look around the market as well.”

Catching Camilla’s look, Petro smiled gently.

“It’s dangerous alone.”

Ludville was particularly attentive to safety after the incident with Juid last time.

‘Father knew about it too, as I recall...’

Had Ludville told him?

In any case, at his words Camilla turned her eyes to Dorman. Just looking at his dopey grin made her sigh.

You were just treated like you don’t exist.

“I was bored.”

What?

Camilla stared in disbelief at Arsian, who averted his eyes. Since when did he like places like this? If he was bored, he could go home and sleep.

Tsk. Clicking her tongue, Camilla set off again. She could feel the three trailing along behind her, but she ignored them.

‘There’s plenty to see here.’

It wasn’t as bustling as the big shopping district she always used, but there was plenty worth a look.

“Are you going to buy that?”

“Yeah.”

“Mm... however I look at it, that seems like a man’s item...”

“I know.”

Something on a street stall caught her eye: a small silver fox brooch.

There was even a tiny jewel set where the eye should be—surprisingly delicate work. It didn’t look cheap, and it would suit a black suit nicely.

“Are you going to give it to His Grace?”

“No.”

As she paid for the brooch, Dorman asked again.

“For Brother Ravi.”

“Oh, you’re going to give it to the young master?”

“Yeah.”

The fox shape brought Ravi to mind at once. He’d given her a bracelet last time; this felt the right level to return a gift.

‘Hm?’

Turning with the brooch tucked away, Camilla felt a prickle and looked back. A little ways off, the three men were staring at her.

Among them, Ludville’s gaze was the most intense. He stared as if he had something to say, and to be honest it rattled her a bit.

‘What is with him?’

When she sent him a puzzled look, Ludville turned his head away at once.

“You’re very close with your brother.”

Petro beamed as he spoke. She barely held back the urge to bark what nonsense is that. Buy one gift and that makes us close?

“Why would you give a present to family?”

“......”

Let’s not talk.

Ignoring Arsian’s earnest question—he’d asked it in genuine curiosity—Camilla briskly left the spot again.

****

“Pretty accessories here! Come have a look! Pretty lady over there! Take a look at this!”

She’d already gotten a good read last time—on the girl’s nature. It wasn’t surprising anymore.

“What are you doing here?”

“Lady Camilla!”

Spotting Laila working a street stall, Camilla felt it again.

“I said, what are you doing?”

“My grandmother looked so tired. I’m helping her.”

Behind the stall, an old woman with white hair was sitting to rest.

“Do you know her?”

“No.”

“......”

In all her days, she’d never seen such a pushover.

‘And never seen someone so bright while being used.’

Radiant.

“Would you like to have a look too, Lady Camilla? There are so many pretty things!”

So radiant it drove you mad.

“Having fun?”

“Yes!”

“Good.”

Sell a lot. If she’s having fun, what more do I have to say.

Camilla turned at once. Even if she’d planned to cozy up for insurance, this still didn’t feel right.

‘It’s tiring.’

Have someone like that around and you get tired too.

“Oh? You’re leaving right away?”

“Yeah.”

Leaving Laila wearing a very disappointed face, Camilla quickened her pace.

“That young lady...”

Just then Dorman spoke up. Laila was a figure who showed up without fail in Camilla’s repeated lives.

He couldn’t help but be very aware of her presence.

“So you’ve become acquainted already.”

“From now on I plan not to be.”

“Will that be possible? Every time...”

“Don’t look back. Don’t look back.”

She stopped Dorman as he tried to glance at Laila. The best course was to cut ties now and pretend not to know her.

Boom!

“Kyaah!”

“...?”

But then a sound reached them.

When they looked back, the most hackneyed scene was playing out.

Five men who fairly reeked of thug were kicking over Laila’s stall. The other vendors nearby were already scuttling away.

“Who told you to trade ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) without paying the spot fee!”

“You’re two months behind already!”

“Hey, old woman! You know you’re late on protection too, right?”

Having all but smashed the stall, they looked ready to lay hands on the old woman.

“Stop it!”

Of course.

Laila planted herself in front of the men moving toward the old woman. Seeing it, Camilla let out a small sigh.

She had expected it to unfold like this, but it was still exhausting.

‘Come to think of it...’

Ludville and Laila’s first meeting had been at a market.

It was probably something like this—Laila helping others, getting caught up in an incident, and Ludville helping by chance, leading to a connection.

“Spot fee? The people trading here already pay money to the state! What spot fee are you demanding on top of that?”

“That’s none of our business.”

“There are laws here that fit here!”

“And what are you, screeching in from earlier?”

The rough voices that had been aimed at the old woman turned on Laila. It felt like something was about to happen any second.

‘Hmm.’

But Camilla wasn’t worried at all. Look who was here. Men counted among the strongest in the Empire.

Even setting aside Arsian, who hated meddling in others’ affairs, Ludville and Petro wouldn’t sit still.

Step.

‘There we go.’

As expected, someone stepped forward. The one striding toward the men—the man who was kind to all and could not tolerate injustice—was, of course, Petro—

Slish! Roll—

Something rolled at their feet in an instant. A head—its owner hadn’t even had time to understand what happened or close his eyes.

“U... uwaaah!”

“W-what the!”

A scream rang out. The men who had been threatening Laila and the old woman a second ago were the ones screaming.

But the noise didn’t last long.

“Uwaaah! R—run...!”

Slish.

“As expected, villains are terribly noisy.”

With only a few movements, the men’s corpses lay strewn on the ground.

“Oh dear, did any blood splash on you? Are you all right?”

Sliding his bloodied sword away, Petro looked to Camilla in a hurry.

Confirming that nothing had touched her, he wore that same affable smile as ever.

“Thank goodness. We’d hate to stain a fine dress with something filthy.”

Camilla could only watch him, speechless.

“He even smiles when he kills people.”

Arsian’s voice came from beside her, but Camilla still couldn’t muster any reaction.