“Umm…….”

The warm morning sunlight and the sounds of birds chirping. Yes, up to this point, everything seemed normal. Delina, who opened her eyes to the pouring sunlight, blinked for a moment while covering her mouth.

“……?”

However, Delina immediately widened her eyes and jumped up from the bed. She realized that she was in bed, wearing pajamas. Recalling the previous night, Delina rolled her eyes.

“What is this, a dream? Is it a dream?”

The sofa and desk were neatly arranged, unlike the night before. While Delina was looking around the room to figure out the situation, Jewel, playing around here and there, came into her sight.

“Jewel!”

“Kik.”

Hurrying out of bed, Delina grabbed Jewel and asked, “Do you remember what I did yesterday?”

“Kik, kik.”

At that, Jewel bounced onto the sofa and then flopped over. It was then that Delina confirmed that everything wasn’t a dream. She grabbed her head, recalling the events of the previous night.

“Wait a minute…, but where’s Noah?”

Delina realized that Noah was nowhere to be seen. She quickly pulled the rope. Soon, Betty appeared, and Delina quickly approached Betty, asking, “Betty!”

“…….”

“Yesterday, I mean yesterday… what happened?”

Asking a lot in a condensed manner, Betty slowly opened her mouth.

“Master and Miss were found sleeping in the room, discovered by Sir Felic.”

“What?”

“And I changed Miss’s clothes, laid her on the bed, and Master…”

Betty paused for a moment before answering.

“He seems to be alive.”

“…….?”

“Probably.”

“Noah!”

At Betty’s ominous words, Delina rushed down the corridor. As if anticipating Delina’s reaction, Betty followed, wrapping a blanket around Delina’s shoulders, who was in her nightwear.

“Where is Noah now?”

“He’s in the indoor training ground.”

Upon hearing Betty’s answer, Delina’s pace quickened. Running with all her might to the place where the training ground was, Felic appeared in the corridor.

“Felic!”

“Oh, Miss. Are you awake?”

Felic greeted her with a smile as usual. Delina, somewhat relieved by his appearance, stopped her feet and asked, “Where’s Noah? He’s inside, right?”

“Yes. That’s right. He’s with the priestess now, but I’m really worried about this.”

“Worried? What’s the worry?”

“I have to write a letter to Duke Diamon, but I’m not sure what to write. How should I phrase it? What would be good when you read it, Miss?”

“Um…, huh?”

Felic’s mouth was smiling, but his eyes were not.

“How about this? Duke Diamon informs you that due to unavoidable circumstances, he cannot return to the duchy on his own two feet. Expressing sincere regrets and…”

“What, what?”

“Oh, no. We should also consider the possibility that he may never be able to return to the duchy. Right?”

At Felic’s ominous words, Delina’s face turned pale.

“Cough…!”
The indoor training ground was a complete mess. Various weapons were scattered around, and broken items were scattered here and there. However, Velion seemed completely indifferent, focusing solely on Noah.

“Get up.”

Noah was already exhausted beyond measure. Groans escaped Noah’s tightly shut mouth, but Velion paid no attention. Noah, who was sitting on the floor, stood up with a twisted expression, raising the corners of his mouth.

“Your skills are still the same even as time passes.”

“Even if I become an old man, I still have the strength to catch you alone.”

While saying so, Velion firmly gripped his sword. Then, glancing at the Noah in disarray, he spoke.

“It seems you have no intention of defending yourself regarding last night’s events. I thought you could eloquently explain it with that clever tongue of yours.”

“I remember what happened yesterday.”

Since Noah opened his eyes again, he had been going through harsh training in the training ground. The events of last night were vivid in his mind.

At that moment, reason seemed to disappear, leaving only instincts. If Delina hadn’t used a sleeping dart, he didn’t know what would have happened afterward. That’s why Noah knew well how furious Velion would be upon discovering that scene.

However, his hands trembling slightly indicated that his body had reached its limit. Noah realized anew who was standing in front of him. At the same time, he felt how massive the mountain he had to overcome was. But Noah didn’t lose his smile.

“So do as you please until you’re satisfied.”

Upon Noah’s words, Velion’s eyebrows twitched. However, without swinging his sword, he opened his mouth.

“Is this a side effect of the clown’s technique?”

“…….?”

Noah neither affirmed nor denied the words “side effect.” In fact, Noah was also thinking the same. The fact that his body suddenly moved on its own was most likely due to Delina’s technique. Velion was aware of that.

“No matter how much you say your liver is rotten, I don’t think you would have dared to do such a trashy thing where I am.”

Observing Noah’s reaction, Velion spoke, and Noah smirked.

“You must have been waiting to roll me over the moment I got up.”