seira couldn’t believe what she heard. it was remarkable for a man like baron, who didn’t even flinch or bat an eye even when lightning bolts struck at his feet.

    “that’s a relief. anyway, at least nothing big happened.”

    “but i think it would be better to be careful for a while.”

    “well, it would be fine if i just stay in askan.”

    “that’s…” trouble flashed on louis’ face as seira expressed her plan to stay hidden again, “would it be too late for you to rethink and make a decision?”

    “why? is there any reason for me to stay here in the ecliptic?” seira shot back at his words that seemed to mean something else.

    “well…”

    his eyes lowered gently, looking down at her and choosing the right words to say, “what if it’s because of our promise? if you don’t mind, i’d like you to make time for me tomorrow as well.”

    “don’t tell me…”

    “let’s go to the dews estate together.”

    seira’s heart, which was beating steadily for a while now suddenly began to pound. everything that happened tonight seemed to immediately vanish from her mind.

    “i don’t know if you’ll be satisfied, but i think there’s some progress,” louis spoke softly.

    ‘oh…’

    seira managed to suppress her desire to brush him off. if not, she would have told him to turn the carriage around and hurry over to askan right away.

    ‘not yet… not yet.’

    she still hasn’t confirmed what level of achievement louis was bragging about. there was nothing good about showing a hasty joy.

    “alright. then i’ll be ready.”

    however, even as she pretended to be calm, there was nothing she could do about the excitement and expectation in her voice. wasn’t it the matter of reviving their devastated territory, after all?

    “should i visit the mansion around lunch time?”

    “…why don’t you come early?”

    “yes, of course,” he readily replied to seira’s subtle urging, “let’s start early in the morning.”

    considering the smile that hung around the corners of his lifted lips was getting wider, it seemed like louis did intend it in the first place.

    ‘this man…’

    seira turned her attention toward the window. punishment for this cunning man would have to wait until they finished checking the dews estate tomorrow.

    * * *

    shortly after calrad accepted the high priest’s request of his presence and left the hall, baron immediately tried to find seira. if it wasn’t for zion, who stood in his way at that moment, he would have crossed the terrace railing already.

    “zion, i’m not in the mood to mess around with you right now.”

    “if you don’t listen to me now, you’ll regret it,” zion replied coldly.

    baron had no choice but to pause at zion’s unusually serious expression.

    “it’s about her excellency.”

    his following words were enough to draw baron’s attention. the only person zion called “her excellency” was seira askan.

    “what is it?” baron asked with a tinge of agitation.

    “let’s get out of here for now,” zion suggested.

    there were many reasons to say that talking about important things on a noisy terrace was a bad idea.

    “yes, alright follow me.”

    baron and zion left the terrace together. numerous eyes followed him across the hall, but he got out quickly without even giving time to pause and return the stares that came his way.

    soon they arrived in a private lounge for the immediate family of jeff.

    “now tell me. what’s going on?”

    even though the setting was right to talk, zion clearly was hesitating with the way he couldn’t open his mouth easily. after staring at baron for a long time, he wiped his face dry and heaved a heavy sigh.

    “i’m telling you this because i don’t think the commander-in-chief is such a bad person.”

    then the words i brought up were really baseless.

    “promise me you won’t use her excellency and protect those who try to kill her,” zion continued.

    “what?!” baron couldn’t believe his ears, and quickly added with a fierce look on his face, “who? who planned to kill seira?”

    zion once again looked carefully at baron.

    “i don’t think you’re pretending you don’t know…”

    “i don’t know how you got hold of that information, but just tell me. it’s not something we should be delaying!”

    zion nodded at baron’s pressing uneasiness, “all right, then.”

    he took a round bead from the inner pocket of his jacket and placed it on his palm.

    [why don’t you help the duchess make a wise choice? the conditions are good, and the price for giving birth to a child is great.]

    [just one child you say…]

    [yes… for askan. for you, too.]

    baron’s brow slowly scrunched in the middle by the conversation between a man and woman flowing out of the bead.

    [why is that a ridiculous deal for me and askan? tell me everything… the things that you want to get.]

    of the two, the man’s voice belonged to someone baron knew very well.

    “aven helford…”

    olivia tellon was obviously trying to appease him. speaking of a ridiculous offer, which he had rejected in anger. the problem was what followed after.