Chapter 67
Chapter 67
Despite Kyle’s considerate answer, Everett couldn’t shake off the muddled, uneasy feeling lingering in her chest.
At that moment, something suddenly struck Kyle.
“…I think I saw a blueprint.”
“A blueprint? Do you mean of the secret passage?”
“It looked like a design drawing. I’m not sure if it’s the right one since I saw it when I was young.”
“Where did you see it?”
“There’s a sealed room beneath the Imperial Library where they dump discarded documents, old books, and records.”
“There’s a place like that? But how do you know about it, Kyle?”
“When I was a kid, I needed a hiding spot. Somewhere the Emperor wouldn’t be able to find me. While searching, I ended up going down to the library’s basement.”
Kyle’s voice was calm, but Everett felt a sharp pang in her chest.
He sounded as though he were recalling a fond childhood memory, his voice turning faintly wistful.
“When I went down there, there was a dark hallway with several rooms. But all the entrances were blocked.”
“Don’t tell me you broke one open?”
Kyle let out a short laugh.
“Of course not. But there was one room at the very back with its lower door frame broken.”
“You went inside?”
“I was small enough back then to crawl in.”
“And that’s where you saw the blueprint?”
“At the time, I didn’t know what it was. But looking back, I think it was a building plan.”
“Can we still get there now?”
Kyle rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“It’s the Imperial Library, so we can go. But whether the entrance to the basement is still there… we’d have to check.”
“Isn’t it dangerous?”
At Everett’s worried gaze, Kyle’s lips curved deeply.
“Yeah… it might be a little dangerous.”
“Then wouldn’t it be better to send a knight instead of going yourself?”
“I’d like to, but it’s hard to explain exactly how to find the entrance.”
Everett pursed her small, red lips, lost in thought. Kyle watched her with a warm smile, as though he found her endearing.
“The dust could be a health risk, but if I cover up well with a handkerchief, it should be fine.”
“Kyle…”
Once again fooled by his playful teasing, Everett cast a slight glare at him.
“I think it’s about time we got up now.”
As Everett made to rise with a prim expression, Kyle gently took her wrist.
“Wait, Everett.”
Startled, she swallowed nervously.
“Do you… have more to say?”
Kyle pulled out an envelope from his coat, sealed with the red crest of Bartman, and held it out to her.
“What’s this?”
“An invitation.”
“To tomorrow’s banquet?”
“Yeah. It’s for me, but getting even one extra invitation was really difficult.”
“Why are you… giving it to me?”
Everett blinked her dark eyes wide.
“Officially, it’s a banquet to celebrate the subjugation of monsters. Unofficially, it’s about choosing a marriage partner… Everett, I’d like you to come.”
Kyle exhaled softly, as though nervous.
But unlike his hope, Everett had no intention of attending. She was only pleased that the banquet meant she’d been earning more money than usual lately.
“Well, Kyle…”
“Wait, Everett!”
Kyle hurriedly cut her off.
“I’m not asking for an answer right now. Just… think about it until tomorrow.”
“Kyle, the banquet is tomorrow evening.”
“Exactly. So just let me know by tomorrow afternoon. I’ll send a carriage. If you don’t want to come, you can just send it back empty.”
With that, Kyle jumped to his feet. His voice cracked unusually, betraying his nerves.
“I need to talk to Alph about checking the Imperial Library basement.”
“Don’t go alone—it could be dangerous.”
As Everett also stood, her gaze fell on Kyle’s flushed face.
“Young Lady, you have a visitor.”
As soon as Everett entered her mansion, Daisy rushed over to her side.
“A visitor?”
“Yes, over there…”
Following Daisy’s gesture, Everett saw Yankeller, dressed in a white robe, waiting.
Why would Yan come all the way to my house?
Yankeller approached her with a bright smile.
“Yankeller.”
“Sorry for dropping by unannounced, Everett. I figured you’d be home since it’s your day off.”
“I just stepped out for a bit. Did you wait long?”
“No, I just got here.”
Everett led Yankeller into a small sitting room.
“Is this about magic lessons? I should’ve contacted you first, but with the banquet, I’ve been so busy. I’m sorry.”
Yankeller waved his hands quickly.
“No, no. That’s not it. I came to give you something… so I thought I’d drop by.”
He pulled an envelope from his robe and placed it on the table.
She immediately recognized the color and crest.
Isn’t that a banquet invitation?
Yankeller carefully pushed it toward her.
“What is this?”
“An invitation to the banquet at the Imperial Palace tomorrow.”
Everett didn’t know how to react.
“Everett?”
Yankeller called again when she only stared at the invitation.
“Hm? Oh, sorry.”
“Everett, I’d like to go to the banquet with you.”
It was a grand party, the likes of which hadn’t been held at the Imperial Palace in some time.
Some attended with the lofty goal of becoming Kyle’s fiancée. But not everyone had the same motive—
for some, it was a place to find a well-matched partner;
for others, the perfect moment to reveal their destined one.
When the Chancellor handed him the invitation, Yankeller had thought of Everett. All the way to her mansion, he imagined walking into the banquet hall with her—and how Kyle might react upon seeing them.
“Yankeller… I already received an invitation.”
Everett pulled out the one Kyle had given her. Yankeller stiffened in surprise.
“Who gave you that? Don’t tell me…”
“Have you heard of Lady Charlotte? She’s quite well-known in high society.”
Yankeller nodded.
“Yes, I’ve heard of her. Debutantes often go to her when entering society.”
“That’s right. She’s a regular at our tarot shop, and she gave me this invitation. That’s why I had gone out earlier.”
The lie came out smoothly.
Somehow, Everett felt she mustn’t say Kyle had given it to her.
Relieved yet disappointed, Yankeller sighed.
“I should’ve come earlier then. So… how will you get to the palace tomorrow?”
“Lady Charlotte said she’d send a carriage. I’m sorry, Yankeller, you came all this way…”
His voice trembled slightly as he looked at her apologetic expression.
“It’s fine. I guess… I’ll only see you at the banquet then.”
His carefully laid plan—to escort her, to go together—was ruined. His gentle face hardened.
There was no reason to linger at her mansion any longer.
“I… should go now.”
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow at the banquet.”
Though she had no intention of going, she saw no reason to say so outright.
As she moved to escort him out, Yankeller gently caught her wrist, stopping her.
He stepped closer, casting a shadow over her as he leaned down.
“Everett, when you step down from the carriage tomorrow… may I be the one waiting for you?”
“…What?”
It was a hard question to grasp immediately.
When she looked up, his eyes were more resolute than ever before.
“What do you mean?”
Taking a step back, Yankeller pulled something from his pocket and showed it to her.
“I want to enter the banquet hall with you.”
It was a square white cloth embroidered with the crest of the Fenayo family.
Everett recalled what Lady Charlotte once told her—
“If you enter the banquet hall hand in hand with a young lord, with his family crest embroidered on a cloth wrapped around your joined hands… it declares that you share a special bond.”
Everett’s eyes widened as she looked between Yankeller and the cloth.
What does he mean by showing me this?
She was confused.
His actions, his gaze, and that cloth—
how was she supposed to take them?
Since when has Yan… looked at me like this?
Her bewilderment showed clearly on her face. Yankeller, noticing, quietly put the cloth away.
Had he rushed things too much?
It was too late to regret spilled water.
To break the awkward mood, Everett forced a bright tone.
“Oh dear… but since I’m going with Lady Charlotte, I think I have to enter with her.”
She pretended not to notice the cloth, not to understand its meaning.
“I-I see… You must be very close if she’s even escorting you in. Do you know her face?”
“No. Tomorrow I plan to attend under the name Naz.”
Everett let out a playful laugh. Yet again, the lie had gone too far.
“What about meeting inside the banquet hall then?”
Everett lightly placed a hand on his arm, soothing him gently.
His left hand clenched inside his pocket. If it had come to this, he might as well say it plainly.
“Everett, about that cloth I just showed you—”
“Oh! The handkerchief? Ah, right. I still have yours from the café, don’t I? Wait here.”
Before Yankeller could explain, Everett quickly ran upstairs.
“A handkerchief? …Does Everett not know the meaning of that cloth?”
