Chapter 64
Lucilea instinctively curled up even smaller.
Still holding her plate, she crouched behind a pillar and carefully peeked down through the railing.
A man in a cloak stood hidden in the deepest shadows where the light of the banquet hall did not reach.
His presence was so faint and still that Lucilea had nearly overlooked him entirely.
For a long while, he simply stood there gazing up at the sky. Then, from inside his cloak, he pulled something out.
What is that…?
[Birdieee!]
A bird?
[Yes! I smell it! A bird smell!]
Coo, coo, coo! A pigeon! It’s a pigeon!
Cookie bobbed his head up and down furiously with excitement.
…A pigeon?
Lucilea narrowed her eyes and strained to see through the darkness.
It really was a bird. A black pigeon, like a piece of the night sky itself.
Normally those are used as carrier pigeons…
Sure enough, a small scroll was already firmly tied to the bird’s slender leg.
Why would someone be sending that at this hour?
As Lucilea watched in puzzlement, the man gently stroked the pigeon’s head. Then he bent close, whispering something softly into the bird’s ear.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t hear the words.
Then, with a light toss, the man sent the pigeon soaring into the air.
Flap, flap, flap—!
The black pigeon shot upward into the night sky.
The man lifted his head, watching it until it disappeared among the stars, dwindling into a mere dot.
Only after it had vanished completely did he glance around once more and quietly slip away.
It all happened in an instant.
Lucilea stared at the spot where the man had stood, then at the direction the pigeon had flown, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. She whispered to Cookie:
Cookie.
[Yes, ma’am!]
Cookie answered energetically.
Lucilea smirked as she looked toward the pigeon’s flight path.
Go fetch it.
[Aye aye!]
Cookie gave a dramatic salute by spreading one wing to his head, then shot into the sky in pursuit.
Lucilea watched him until he too disappeared from view, then quietly turned back.
It’ll take him some time. I’ll go back to the banquet meanwhile.
She gathered her half-finished plate and started to slip away from the balcony. But then—
Something blocked the doorway.
“…So you’re the young lady from the Grand Duke’s household.”
A low, rough voice. She had never heard it before, but Lucilea didn’t need to look up to know who stood before her.
That cloak…
It was the very same suspicious man who had been standing below the balcony moments ago.
Slowly, Lucilea lifted her head.
As expected—it was him.
When did he get up here?
Her mind grew frantic.
No, more importantly—how much did he see?
Had he noticed Cookie flying after the pigeon?
But how does he even know who I am?
Ah… maybe he had seen her earlier when she greeted the Empress.
Lucilea swallowed hard, her throat dry.
Whatever the case, one thing was certain—if he realized she had been spying on him, she’d be as good as dead.
Can’t let that happen.
Quickly composing her face and thoughts, she widened her eyes innocently and asked:
“Do you know me?”
She deliberately lisped a little, acting like a naïve, clueless child.
“…”
The man’s sharp eyes narrowed, as if testing whether she spoke truth or lies.
Then, bowing his head slightly, he spoke.
“I am a magician of the imperial palace.”
“Wow! You’re a magician?!”
Lucilea gasped dramatically, eyes sparkling wide as she chattered on.
“I’m learning magic too! But to be a palace magician—you must be super duper strong, right?! Amazing! I’ve never met a real palace magician before!”
“…”
So he was indeed a magician.
Up close, she could see his unfocused eyes, like someone drugged, and the dark circles shadowing them.
Noa might have been handsome, but most magicians looked like this.
With that hazy gaze, the man asked:
“What were you doing out here?”
His tone was polite, but the question carried the sharp edge of a hidden blade.
Lucilea thrust out her plate.
“Eating.”
“Out here…?”
“Am I not supposed to eat here? Is it against imperial law or something?”
“…Not exactly.”
She tilted her head and jerked her chin toward the banquet hall.
“Whenever I eat in there, the uncles and aunties keep staring at me. It’s uncomfortable. But here, I can eat in peace, hiding away! Perfect spot, right?”
She flashed a carefree grin.
The man glanced between Lucilea and the garden below, as though gauging the distance from where he had just been to this balcony.
After a pause, he said:
“Still… the balcony is not a wise place at this hour.”
Huh? Lucilea tilted her head in honest confusion.
“Why not?”
“Because it’s dangerous.”
“Ah…”
She didn’t ask what exactly was dangerous. He hadn’t said it out of genuine concern anyway.
She simply looked up at him and said brightly:
“Mister, you seem like a kind person.”
“…Me?”
Lucilea nodded eagerly.
“Yes! You even worried about a little kid you just met.”
“…”
He fell silent.
Then, for the first time, something other than cold indifference flickered in his eyes.
“Perhaps… it reminded me of my younger sister.”
“Your sister?”
“Yes.”
He raised his hand over her head as though measuring her height, then lowered it again.
“She was just about your age when we parted.”
“You parted with your sister?”
“That’s right.”
“Oh no…” Lucilea’s eyes drooped in sympathy.
“So you haven’t seen her since then…?”
But he shook his head.
“No. I met her again—though only once we were adults.”
At that, Lucilea beamed with childlike joy.
“Oh?! That’s wonderful!”
“…Wonderful, you say.”
The man cast his gaze far beyond the garden, muttering quietly to himself.
“I don’t know… I don’t think she saw it that way…”
Huh? Lucilea blinked at the cryptic words.
Then, refocusing on her, he asked:
“Did you happen to see anything… suspicious out here?”
“Suspicious? You mean, like what? Other than the food on my plate disappearing faster than I expected, nope, didn’t see a thing.”
“…If not, then never mind.”
He stepped aside.
“You may return inside.”
“Okaaay.”
Lucilea walked toward the door, hand on the knob, and glanced back.
He was still staring straight at her.
Eek!
Her heart skipped, but she quickly covered it with a cheerful smile.
“Mister, will you be staying here? Then can I bring more food and come back? If you’re here, it won’t feel dangerous anymore.”
He hesitated briefly, then replied coolly:
“…As you wish.”
“Yay!”
Creak. Thud—!
Lucilea reentered the banquet hall, walking casually toward the table piled high with food.
Thump, thump, thump! Her heart hammered wildly.
Did he catch me?
Judging by how he let her go, he probably hadn’t seen Cookie chase the pigeon.
Still, her fingers trembled slightly as she picked food with the tongs.
Ugh, I shouldn’t have asked if I could come back…
But then she shook her head.
No, it was good. Maybe it threw off his suspicion.
Even so, her feet grew heavy at the thought of returning to the balcony.
Ahhh, I don’t wanna go back!
What if he was just waiting to grab her the moment she returned?
—“I saw you scheming with your parrot! Die!”
She pictured the mysterious man strangling her, and shuddered.
No, no… if he meant to kill me, he wouldn’t have let me back inside.
Just then, someone called to her.
“Going back again?”
It was Irenel.
Lucilea turned with a bright smile.
She wanted to say she didn’t want to go, but of course she couldn’t.
If she showed even a hint of unease, Irenel would ask why—and she couldn’t risk dragging her friend into that mess.
No way I’m pulling Irenel into that balcony situation.
So she answered cheerfully:
“Yep! It’s really quiet and nice out there. I’ll just eat this and come back!”
Irenel nodded.
“Alright. Enjoy.”
“Got it!”
Hahaha… Lucilea waved and walked toward the terrace again, forcing a smile.
Creeeeak—
The balcony door opened with an eerie sound.
Putting on her brightest voice, she stepped inside.
“I’m back—!”
But then…
“…Huh?”
No one was there.
“Huh? Mister…?”
Lucilea looked left, right, up, down, but the man was gone.
He… left?
“Phew…”
She collapsed weakly against the railing, her legs giving out beneath her.
Staring up at the night sky, she let out a long sigh.
Ahh… I just want to go back to the Grand Duke’s estate already…
For some reason, this capital just didn’t suit her.
And then—
[Luuucyyyyyy!]
A familiar, comforting voice echoed through the night sky, easing her tension.
