Chapter 12
“Who told you that?”
“……”
“Obviously Zelos. That brat spreads rumors fast. It even reached your ears.”
It was sarcasm.
Less than an hour after Edmon’s guardianship contract arrived at the government office, every information broker had heard about it.
If that was the case, a telegram must have reached the Imperial Palace within two hours.
“They wouldn’t shut up about it at the Hebe family’s party that evening.”
They truly had nothing better to do.
A clean guardianship contract? No one believed it.
Rumors were already spreading that Baron Oliver was scheming for social advancement—that the relationship between guardian and ward wasn’t purely formal.
Two weeks had passed, and only now was Nathan asking about it. That was very Capernik of him.
“So what did Zelos say?”
Nathan flinched slightly before offering a half-hearted defense.
“…It wasn’t only His Third Highness who said such things.”
“Given your extremely narrow social circle, the other must have been Lumière?”
“…Yes.”
Herawin burst into hearty laughter.
“My grandson has exactly two human relationships—one is the Third Prince, and the other is the rising star of high society.”
“……”
“How luxurious.”
She gazed at him fondly.
‘My grandson is quite fine—except for that slightly loose screw in his social skills.’
Nathan was beginning to look like a grown man. In the Empire, eighteen-year-old boys were treated as adults.
His black hair, like the night sky, and blue eyes were identical to his late parents’. His build was sturdy, likely from wielding a sword. As for looks—there was nothing more to say.
If anything was lacking… brightness?
Herawin had always disliked noble society.
More than issues of rights and duty, she despised how mediocre people treated the weak cruelly.
Winner takes all. If the strong deserved everything, then it ought to be Capernik.
In her youth, she could not understand those who saw beauty in such a savage world. She thought their heads were filled with flowers, ignorant of war. She didn’t even want them near her.
And yet…
‘I hope there’s someone bright beside this child.’
He had lost his parents and suffered much. She felt she could rest easier if someone warm-hearted stayed by his side.
If anyone heard her thoughts, they would be shocked.
‘Someone like Lumière would be perfect…’
Capernik and Edmon.
It would draw scrutiny—two powerful families joining—but Lumière was from a collateral line, not direct.
‘Even if she’s a bit naively optimistic, perhaps it would work out.’
With the Capernik and Edmon names, and her grandson added in, surely they could overcome any obstacle.
Herawin’s thoughts ended when Nathan spoke.
“Is it truly alright? That the Baron has become guardian?”
At his rare question, she smiled.
“Of course it’s fine. He’ll handle it.”
“……”
“And if you’re not fine with it, what would you do?”
“I heard the Baron’s reputation with women isn’t very good…”
“Where did you hear that?”
If women flocking to him counted as womanizing, perhaps. Though that wasn’t what Nathan meant, she didn’t bother correcting him.
“Zelos must have been running his mouth again.”
“……”
“What else did he say?”
“That the Baron used his good looks and eloquence to charm the Edmon young lady… and is attempting to elevate his status through her body.”
“Madman.”
Anyone else would have been horrified, but Nathan didn’t blink.
The Third Prince occasionally behaved madly by his standards too.
“So after hearing that, you’re worried about the Edmon young lady?”
“Not only because of that…”
Not only that.
Recently, Nathan had encountered Lumière entering the Imperial Palace while he was leaving after meeting the Third Prince.
They were merely acquaintances as royal attendants, but Lumière looked unusually pale that day, so he asked politely after her.
“Colin has become Arachné’s guardian, and I’m worried.”
It was the second time he had heard it that day, but seeing her troubled expression, he pretended it was news.
“I wonder if they’ll get along… Colin can be subtly strict.”
Nathan had heard about Baron Oliver.
Most of it unfavorable.
‘But Miss Lumière wouldn’t spread baseless rumors.’
Lumière Edmon was known for her gentle nature.
It was equally known that another Edmon young lady treated her cruelly.
Considering the scorn Lumière endured for being from a collateral line, it was admirable she still worried for her cousin.
‘Was her name Arachné Edmon…?’
Neigh.
The horse’s cry signaled their arrival at the shopping district. The carriage door opened before he could finish his thoughts.
Escorting Herawin down, Nathan saw her smiling brightly.
“Today I’ll finally taste desserts from Watery Gift again.”
“Not too much.”
“Yes, yes.”
It was the Dowager Lady’s once-a-month dessert day.
She adored sweets, but due to her age, her intake had to be limited.
If she must restrict herself, she would have only the best. So once a month, the Capernik family visited Watery Gift.
‘Though I’m not fond of her being too close to the Baron…’
Nathan respected and loved his grandmother as both warrior and hero.
Though she seemed healthy, he wanted no regrets.
That was why he accompanied her whenever she went out, regardless of his feelings about the Baron.
‘Still… nothing will happen today.’
The sky was clear. Perfect for afternoon tea.
Suppressing a faint unease, Nathan followed her.
Magic Tool Shop, Heliope.
Fresh from shopping, Ara now wore a gold-chain necklace set with a transparent moonstone.
Her neck felt strangely ticklish; she kept touching the chain.
“So it changes color when it detects magic…”
According to the clerk, the moonstone would change color if magical waves were detected within a ten-meter radius.
Ten meters felt narrow—but sufficient for checking magical presence.
Even if someone merely possessed magic, the necklace would react.
“It’s temporary anyway!”
Hands on hips, Ara grinned.
“Alright. Let’s look around.”
Flower shops with budding tulips, musty-smelling bookstores, bakeries fragrant with fresh bread, stationery shops filled with trinkets—
Excited by the sights, she wandered until she saw a crowd gathered ahead.
With her maid, she approached.
At the center stood a well-dressed middle-aged noble and a poorly dressed man arguing.
“This isn’t what we agreed!”
“Why follow me all the way here?!”
“You’ve been avoiding me!”
“I paid you, didn’t I? Why so much talk?!”
“We agreed on two gold! How can you cut my wages in half?”
“You think earning one gold a day is easy? Others would call you greedy!”
The so-called viscount kicked the man down the steps.
“Ah, dear…”
“Shouldn’t have crossed a viscount…”
‘Looks like a noble cheated him out of pay…’
As the man sobbed, onlookers quietly dispersed.
Ara felt nauseous.
“Young lady, are you alright?”
“…I feel a bit sick.”
“I’ll fetch medicine!”
The maid hurried off.
The man’s sobbing turned to fury. Soon only he and Ara remained.
“…Huh?”
The necklace hummed, red haze swirling.
Boom!
An explosion erupted.
“Aaah!”
Debris grazed her cheek. She raised her arm in time but fell backward.
A small blast, like a bomb.
Flames flickered around the kneeling man.
“Careful! It’s magical backlash!”
“Run!”
People fled.
“…Magical backlash?”
Her necklace still glowed red, faintly.
‘That was magic?’
Before she could process—
The necklace flared again, red deepening.
‘M-my legs won’t move!’
A red ring formed around the man, trembling.
‘It’s going to explode!’
So this is how I die without confirming whether Colin’s the villain…!
She squeezed her eyes shut.
Boom!
But no pain followed.
“…Huh?”
Between her arms, she saw only red.
“Is this hell…?”
She checked the necklace—now glowing deep navy, like stars in dark paint.
Then the red silk before her slowly lowered.
Someone sat to her left.
A black cloak with red lining shielded her like a tent.
“Are you alright, my lady?”
Looking up, she saw a boy with pitch-black hair and wave-like eyes.
