“B-but why? This is too sudden. Can we talk to her at least?”

“You may not. Give her time... Do your best in the competition.”

“...Yes, sir. Please convey our best regards to Miss Valentine.”

As the duke left, Viers saw the guilt in the Duke’s eyes as he looked at him and Croix. The duke’s bodyguards followed. The duke spoke to Crown Prince Patrick who seemed to receive good news and the two groups left together.

Among them, only Tinade remained. The maid of Valentine House, Ciel’s mentor, and Team Croix’s Round 3 observer. The three people of Croix’s group seemed like leftover parts.

In the carriage, the return trip was silent. No one was speaking for a long while. Croix had asked Tinade about what happened with Ciel but Tinade apologetically said her mouth was sealed. Sensing the complicated undertone, he didn't press further. There was also the matter of his aunt, Countess Grace Weiss.

His eyes turned to Viers.

“Your Aunt is fine, Highness,” Viers said.

“How do you know?”

“She had prepared years or even decades for this. She knew what she was going into.”

“...You knew. Is this what you helped her for?”

“I’m but a lowly maid and thus I did not hear any words spoken,” said Tinade as she watched the night road outside.

“After the Chancellor threatened you about your mother, I suspected it. The reason she stayed in the capital after Round 2 should be for this. A daring woman indeed, breaching a royal palace.”

Viers never sneaked into one but he wanted to one day.

“Mom... Aunt...”

Boram gave Croix a look of sympathy before resuming his mental training.

“I believe this is good news for you, Highness. I suspect your reunion with your mother will come soon. Well, as soon as circumstances allow. You’re still in the Prix and the two ladies are out there.”

Croix’s heart wasn't settled.

“You’re awfully calm, Avel. You don't worry about Miss Ciel?” Croix sighed. “Miss Tinade, the Duke had taken Ciel home, didn't he?”

“I’m but a lowly maid and thus I am not at liberty discussing things way above my paygrade,” said Tinade as she sat in perfect posture. Her facial expression changed slightly when Ciel’s name was spoken though.

Sensing the disturbance of her soul, Viers suspected whatever it was, Tinade was not involved or disapproved of it.

“Not at all. Ciel will be fine.”

Viers confessed he didn't foresee this development. He thought he had defused the situation between the duke and his daughter earlier. The most likely scenario would be the duke grudgingly made concessions to his lovely daughter and then tested Viers’ worthiness. Probability finishing the Grand Prix as the number one winner or giving him a borderline impossible task.

That is what usually happens in the other novels. But no~. The strict daddy archetype didn't budge an inch and -forcefully, more likely than not- took the daughter home. Which is unusual. Unless... Is there a deeper layer behind all of this? Dada seems too fixed on marrying Ciel with another noble as if there’s some urgency.

Despite it all, Viers wasn't worried. Not one bit.

Well, whatever. This works too. The next development is...

No sooner than he thought of that, a beam of light shot to the sky. It was relatively close, although it came from the opposite direction to where the carriage was going. Everyone felt the great power that was characteristic of the Divine.

Ciel used her Divine Weapon. A pity, I’d prefer to watch when she pulled the sword out of her chest and the expression of the oblivious masses. Well, I used Raiden Shogun’s burst almost every day back in the day but this is this and that is that.

“And that’s the signal,” Viers stood up. “Sooner than expected. Excuse me for a minute, Highness. I need to go to Ciel’s side.”

“R-right. Go to her,” Croix said.

“Did you plan this, Young Avel?” Tinade asked suspiciously. Viers looked like someone who knew what was going to happen.

“No, ma’am. I weave no intrigue but I predicted this would happen. Boram, stay with Croix. And of course, the dutiful maid of House Valentine will stay here too. As the team’s observer, she has to stay with the team leader who possesses the proof of the Viscount's misdeeds. We are all doing our tournament assignment dutifully after all. I’m only going to fetch our separated companion.”

“Hmph. Bold. Then again only a bold person would dare to date the young miss. If something happens to her, I’ll make you regret it.”

“I want her safe and happy, and I, similarly, safe and happy. I’m off.”

After jumping out of the moving carriage, with a movement Arte, Viers went towards the beam of light that was already gone. He moved like a shinobi in the dark, he even did a Naruto-style run for a stretch.

After arriving in the area, he saw other people, the duke’s men. They must be searching for Ciel too. By using the new stealth Arte and keeping his distance, Viers moved undetected.

The beam of light must be where Ciel broke free of whatever circumstances she was in. She wouldn't stay there anymore. Viers' senses didn't pick up any ongoing battle so Ciel must have gotten away.

Now he must find her faster than the others.

Viers pulled out a white card from his pocket. In his hand, the card transformed into the Fool. Clasping it between the index and middle finger in front of his face, Viers closed his eyes.

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...There.

Viers went towards Ciel’s arcana card. It was made from a tiny sliver of Viers’ soul. He programmed it to be easily detected by him and him only.

But, damn... So this is how’s it gonna be, huh?

As he ran, Viers imagined the stern face of Ciel’s dad, whose face seemed to be incapable of smiling.

Dude, I know you don't want Ciel to hook up with a shady person like me and that’s normal. But boy, the way you’re doing it is so bad you only push her harder into my arms. Seriously, do you want me to call you Father-in-law that much?

Viers didn't know what he would find but the duke did something drastic and Ciel rejected it. He felt this was a major event and so there was only one thing for him to do.

It wasn't as if Viers was specifically aiming for the Ciel route. He’d just make sure he was there when he was needed and let the chips fall where they may.

At the end of Ciel’s story arc, he had an unshakeable conviction that Ciel would fall in love with him. He didn't think of what he would do next, securing Ciel’s affection came first.

All in all, Viers was like a teenage boy with a fluttering heart going to a promised meeting spot after getting a love letter from a girl after school.

Fine then, Duke Valentine, since you insist, I’ll accept your daughter with open arms. She’s in safe hands. I’ll not corrupt her to the dark side or teach her bad things, no siree.

With the power of foresight of future events cultivated from reading too many novels, Viers arrived at the location of a woman with a wounded heart.

It was a pretty place.

Big purple trees and softly glimmering crystals. The nighttime enhanced the enchanted woods feel of this Power Spot. These places of power varied from place to place. Some were oppressing and bleak, others could be mystical and breathtaking. This case was the latter.

Viers used a mirror where he stored miscellaneous info from his soul search and he found out the name of this place and other related information in less than five seconds.

Telia Woods... This place resembles that place...

Viers encountered no monsters as he walked deeper, guided by his soul. It was quite dangerous thanks to a famous Rank 4 crystalline tiger that made this place its home so locals stayed clear of this place. His path took him to a lake.

And there she was.

Unexpectedly, swimming. Still in her blue and white dress from the party, she was swimming in a body of water. The lake had a mysterious luminesce below the water. From the outside, it looked like there were pretty stars under the lake.

“Oh, it’s you. Heyya.”

Ciel looked at him and didn't react much. Her facial expression looked normal, the same as her voice. She dived down the lake and swam until Viers could no longer see the edge of her long skirt.

Viers waited until she resurfaced as he observed the situation. Close to four minutes later in his count, Ciel’s head splashed out of the water.

“Are you here to take me back?” Ciel asked with her wet hair stuck on her cheek and neck. The crystal on her chest could be clearly seen.

“If you wish,” Viers said with an emotionless voice.

“Hmm.”

Ciel dived again for several minutes. Viers waited patiently. He didn't rush anything.

“Pwah...”

As Ciel gasped to recover her breath, Viers spoke. “It’s quiet. Did you kill the alpha monster of this place?”

“No. It’s afraid of Bright Sky’s aura. It’s this thing’s name, by the way,” Ciel pointed at her chest gem. “It kept asking for one after it left you and came to me. I never told you, didn't I?”

“The sword spirit really doesn't like me, hm?” Viers chuckled. He gave the Divine Weapon the name Solarion. Since Viers was someone it didn't acknowledge, it didn't want it.

Viers recalled he cooked meat on top of the sword’s flat side for its cheekiness once.

“Maybe you should treat it better then.”

“Maybe.”

Ciel dived into the lake that resembled a starry sky once again. It seemed Ciel was searching for something. There were no ripples on the water except for the ones Ciel caused. It was a very pretty lake. Viers had a mind to bring it to Viridis if possible but abandoned the idea.

After confirming there was no threat in the area, Viers walked around the lake while he waited for Ciel. He made preparations for the future.

“Pwah... Fuh... Fuh... Still nothing.”

“Weird Young Lady who swims alone in the middle of night, what are you searching for?” Viers asked with a lighthearted tone.

“Hehe. In this lake there are things called Star Pearls. The source of glow that you see. It’s closer to rock than actual pearl but no one gives it another name,” Ciel explained as she spat out the water that entered her mouth. The drenched dress hugged her shapely body without letting go.

Lust was the farthest thing in Viers’ mind.

“There must be thousands of those down there,” Viers said while looking at the Milky Way-like pattern that the glowing pearls created on the water’s surface.

“Yes, but what I seek is the special kind, with a star shape. The usual Star Pearls are round.”

“And what’s special about this star-shaped Star Pearl?”

“They say if you find it and make a wish, your wish will come true,” Ciel said with an innocent face.

“Is that right?” Viers sneered and removed his coat and boots. “Don't mind if I do.”

Viers entered the lake waterbomb-style, landing ass first after a jump, just like a little kid at a swimming pool. “Huh. The water is not as cold as I thought.”

“Oho? It’s a race then. The wish-granting pearl is mine.”

“The law of the Wilds says finders keepers.”

The two dived together this time. The pearls made visual not an issue, even on a moonless night like this. There were indeed a lot of Star Pearls in the lake but finding a star-shaped one was like finding a needle in a haystack. It didn't stop Viers and Ciel from trying though.

At first glance, Viers knew the pearls could be used as a cultivation resource but the mana inside them was only suitable for Level 2 or lower Pathseekers.

If the star-shaped Star Pearl could truly grant wishes, this place would have been secured by an organization headed by a Level 5 a long time ago. Therefore it was the same as a four-leaf clover.

Knowing full well of the fact, Viers accompanied Ciel searching for the lucky item. They returned to the surface when their breath ran out, exchanged some light banter, and swam down again. Both didn't use Victa-strengthening or Arte. It would risk the attention of the duke’s men.

Failure after failure but Viers didn't say a word of complaint. He was just... there. A company. An hour passed, then two.

“I’ve got it! I found it! Yes!”

Ciel proudly showed the special-shaped Star Pearl in her hand as water dropped from her face.

“Gah! I found none,” Viers slapped the water’s surface. “It is not my lucky day.”

“Hm-hm~ Too bad,” Ciel was elated and the two made their way to the shallows. The water reached only the height of their chest.

“Time to make a wish. O magical pearl, hear me and grant my wish. I wish–”

Ciel clasped the pearl with both hands as Viers watched.

“I wish I... I wish...”

With each word, she sounded more and more unsure.

“Eheheh, what do I want again? I don't know anymore.”

Her hands went down as if all her strength was gone. She said that with a smile, a sad smile with tears. The mask of normalcy that she put up all this time had finally begun to crack. With that one crack, the sadness she held at bay was no longer stoppable.

Ciel began to weep. Her teardrops fell into the lake. Her inner anguish was clear from her voice.

Viers brought his arms around her shoulders and lent her his chest. There was a light twitch on Ciel’s part on first contact, but she didn't resist. She leaned forward on Viers like a finding supporting pillar as she cried.

“I got your back,” Viers whispered to her ear. “No matter what happens... Always.”

Ciel took a step back, to see Viers’ face. Her vision was blurry from the tears but it didn't matter. Her heart knew.

With a tiptoe, she pressed her lips to his.

And so what was foreseen became a reality.