Crackle, the paper held in my hand was miserably crumpled. I asked back stupidly.

“……What?”

“Elbas and Elros strangely have the same spoken language. There’s only a slight difference in accent. But their writing systems are different. It’s common sense that it’s impossible for you, who came from Elbas, to read complex texts written in Elros script fluently in just a month……”

Aspeiran scrutinized me, who was frozen stiff, with a meaningful gaze. I could feel my hands and feet getting cold.

Pointing at the report I had just submitted with his finger, Aspeiran continued.

“Moreover, the report you submitted is written in Elros script. The spelling is perfect too. This doesn’t make sense unless you knew Elros script from the beginning. What do you think about this?”

It felt like a cool wind was blowing in the room. Despite all the windows being tightly shut and indoor temperature control magic being in place.

Three pairs of eyes flew and pierced my forehead. I could feel cold sweat trickling down the back of my neck. The writing systems of Elros and Elbas are different?

……Now that I think about it, it really was. I didn’t realize it because I could naturally read and write when I saw the letters. What a fool I am.

‘Damn it, damn it.’

All three people in this room are suspecting my identity. How…… should I handle this?

My brain stopped. Complete panic state. In the end, I started blabbering whatever came to mind while pretending to be nonchalant.

“I…… I wonder how I know the Elros script? I’m not sure about the reason myself.”

“You don’t know?”

“Perhaps the clue lies in my lost memories…… So I’ve formed a hypothesis. Could I perhaps have been the daughter of a scholar family?”

“……”

“As you know, just as there are cases like me who came from Elbas to Elros, there are also people who came from Elros to Elbas. I wonder if my family was engaged in obtaining and researching information about Elros from those people……”

I stopped mid-sentence and closed my mouth. Even to my ears, it all sounded like nonsense.

But I can’t just confess, ‘Actually, I’m a transmigrator. I’ve mastered all languages as a transmigrator’s perk.’

The only thing I can honestly say right now is…… just one thing.

I squeezed my eyes shut. And I threw away the nonchalant act I had been preparing far away.

As I took off the mask I had been struggling to wear, my shoulders sagged down powerlessly. I kneaded my tightly clasped hands and opened my mouth with difficulty.

“I know…… I must look suspicious. But, my lord. Right now, the sole goal of my life is to be of even the smallest help to you.”

“……”

“You saved my life, gave me a place to belong, gave me a name. From that moment, I decided to live for you. I will never harm you, my lord, or Roakin.”

While reading , I always wished for Aspeiran’s happiness. It’s the same even now.

The reason I’m silently carrying out the order to get him married is because I hope Aspeiran meets someone he loves and becomes happy.

If the mission given to me was something harmful to him, like killing Aspeiran or pulling him down from the throne, I would never have obeyed even if threatened with death.

Will you understand my sincere desire for your happiness more than anyone else?

Aspeiran gazed at me intently with eyes the color of the deep sea, unreadable. I met his gaze straight on, though hesitantly.

A moment of silence.

Soon, Aspeiran let out a small sigh. He beckoned with his finger as if telling me to come closer. I approached him timidly.

When I came within arm’s reach, Aspeiran reached out and lightly pinched the tip of my nose before letting go.

I opened my eyes wide.

“My lord?”

“I know.”

“What?”

At my bewildered question, he pulled up the corner of his mouth in a smirk.

“That you would never harm me, that you truly wish to follow me, I know it all. I didn’t interrogate you out of suspicion, I just asked out of curiosity. You say you don’t know, so that’s fine.”

“Then.”

“You may go now. Feel free to use the library.”

Before I could ask anything, Aspeiran issued the order to leave. I was politely ushered out of the office, led by the hand of an attendant.

“Wait……!”

Thud. The huge white door closed with a heavy sound.

I looked up at the door dazedly and scratched my head.

“Is this really resolved……?”

“Do you trust her?”

Kiara, who had been quietly looking at the firmly closed door, asked. Aspeiran picked up the report Shuria had submitted and left, and answered.

“I think she’s a woman with many suspicious points in various ways.”

Aspeiran’s finger lightly flicked the report. A faint crease formed on the paper filled with small, neat handwriting.

He gazed at the distorted letters, lost in thought for a moment, then finished his words.

“But I trust her.”

Anyone would feel the same way if they looked into her eyes.

Those sparkling brown eyes that seem like they could find something beautiful anywhere in the world.

Looking into those eyes full of self-confidence made one feel like everything would turn out well.

Receiving that gaze ready to share love generously with others, one felt completely accepted.

Her eyes, emitting a light like the dawn, were so gentle and kind. This was something no one could carelessly fake.

Someone with such eyes couldn’t possibly harm others.

So Aspeiran decided to trust Shuria.

Putting down the report, Aspeiran asked his closest aides.

“What about you? Do you think we should drive her away?”

Kiara and Canis looked at each other. Canis answered first.

“Since you have decided to trust Miss Shuria, my lord, I will simply follow. But if you ask for my opinion…… I also trust Miss Shuria.”

“Why?”

At Aspeiran’s question, Canis rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

“Honestly, it’s just a simple feeling…… but Miss Shuria doesn’t seem like someone who would harm others. Besides, no matter how good an actor one is, lies usually show to some extent, but there was none of that with Miss Shuria.”

Kiara nodded and continued the thought.

“Moreover, the circumstances of her being sacrificed to Beltraum and coming to Elros have been clearly proven. It doesn’t seem like she entered your service with some ulterior motive or plan.”

To this, Kiara added one more thing.

“Of course, it is suspicious that even Yulisis’s intelligence department couldn’t find out about her past before she drifted into the village with memory loss.”

After taking Shuria in as a subordinate, Aspeiran asked his cousin Yulisis to investigate Shuria. It was to find out what was in the memories she had lost.

But even Emperor Yulisis, who held all the information of Gransia in the palm of his hand, couldn’t find out anything about Shuria’s past.

It was strange. Was she some angel or fairy that fell from the sky?

It was a ridiculous fantasy, but because of it, Aspeiran was sometimes overwhelmed by the thought that Shuria might disappear without warning one day, just as she had suddenly appeared.

It was like that just now too. Shuria, enveloped in the brilliant sunlight penetrating through the glass window, seemed like she might scatter at any moment, like a daydream.

As if her light-colored wheat-blonde hair would melt and break apart in the sunlight at any moment.

So he felt impatient……

“Looking at that, it’s like Miss Shuria just dropped from the sky one day. Hahaha!”

At Canis’s hearty laughter, Aspeiran belatedly emerged from his reverie. And recalling the thoughts he had just had, he felt bewildered.

Impatient? Why me? Am I crazy?

As if the confusion wasn’t enough already, Canis poured oil on the fire.

“Ah! Is that why you gave Miss Shuria the name ‘Shuria’, my lord?”

“What?”

Aspeiran twitched his right eyebrow. Canis, excited as if he had made a great discovery, continued.

“The name ‘Shuria’, isn’t it the name of the snow fairy in the fairy tale? The one who came to the lonely transcendent Nix, erased his deep solitude and taught him love……”

“……And?”

“Isn’t the current situation similar to that fairy tale? The transcendent Nix is the founder of the Roakin family, and Miss Shuria appeared suddenly like the snow fairy. Moreover, just as Nix named the snow fairy, you also personally gave Miss Shuria her name……”

Hearing Canis’s words, Aspeiran was dumbfounded and flabbergasted.

Doesn’t that sound like he gave her such a name hoping Shuria would become his snow fairy?

Aspeiran glared at Canis, meaning for him to shut up. But because Canis was terribly oblivious, unfortunately, his babbling didn’t stop.

“I think it’s a really fitting name. Miss Shuria has a snow fairy-like appearance, and she’s also helping you like the snow fairy……”

“Shut up.”

“Pardon?”

“Just shut up already. How much more nonsense are you going to spout?”

Aspeiran growled lowly. Only then did Canis realize his lord’s displeasure and closed his mouth with a ‘hmp’.

Aspeiran rubbed his brow a few times and then said.

“Anyway, I intend to keep Shuria close and watch her. Yulisis is also continuing his investigation. And come to think of it, what Shuria said makes some sense too.”

“What do you mean?”

“The story about how she might be from a scholar family.”

For someone claiming to have amnesia, Shuria knew quite a lot. Most of it was unique and strange.

If Shuria was the daughter of an eccentric scholar family researching Beltraum, it somewhat explains why she has such strange knowledge.

“Moreover, her behavior shows signs of having received a high-level education.”

“Ah, that’s right. Miss Shuria gives off the impression of a noble young lady who grew up preciously in a good family.”

Canis, who had already forgotten being scolded, chimed in again. Aspeiran frowned.

“Why do you lose your mind and go wild every time Shuria is mentioned? No, it’s not just you. The guards and the old men in the artisan district all turn to mush around Shuria. What’s the reason?”

Aspeiran grumbled disapprovingly. Kiara and Canis exchanged glances and thought simultaneously.

No, is that something you should say, my lord? You’re the one who went around protecting her, even bestowing a golden badge.

Anyway, they couldn’t speak to their lord like that. Canis scratched his cheek and fumbled to list Shuria’s good points.

“Well, first of all, Miss Shuria works hard in everything and is kind to everyone. She always greets with a bright smiling face. It feels good to be around her. And……”

“Objectively speaking, her appearance is cute too.”

Kiara declared calmly. A quiet stillness descended upon the office.