Escalion frowned and brushed back the hair that had fallen over his forehead.

He hesitantly licked his lower lip, then slowly opened his mouth.

“Bella, something urgent has come up, so it looks like we’ll have to end our festival sightseeing here. I’ll call for a knight to escort you back to the castle first.”

Ah… can’t be helped.

Belladonna nodded with a disappointed expression.

After looking down at her for a moment, Escalion turned his head back and signaled somewhere, and a knight who had been hiding in the crowd like the man who had taken the painting earlier walked out.

He was large in build, but had a gentle impression opposite to Escalion.

What, where did this person pop out from…

“Escort Bella back to the castle.”

“Understood, Captain.”

As the knight bowed his head to Escalion, he moved without hesitation.

Whatever urgent matter it was, he left without even properly saying goodbye to her.

“…”

Belladonna stood still, watching Escalion’s retreating back as he strode away.

She could see knights popping out from here and there, following behind him.

They were all hiding secretly.

“My lady, I am Hazel, and I will escort you back to the castle.”

At that moment, the knight who had remained by her side approached and greeted her.

Belladonna reflexively smiled and gazed at him.

Brown hair and a gentle-looking face.

At first glance, he didn’t seem like someone who belonged to the fearsome knighthood with his kind impression.

‘He doesn’t seem to be one who came from Astana…’

She thought she had seen him in passing during a recent visit to the Griblata Knights’ training grounds.

“I’ve been with you since Astana, my lady. Do you remember?”

Ah, I guess not, haha.

Belladonna nodded, raising the corners of her mouth even more in embarrassment.

At her response, Hazel’s face brightened considerably.

“I’m so grateful that you remember! I’ll guide you to where the carriage is. Please follow me.”

Hazel said, pointing to a wide road.

It was disappointing, but she supposed she should be satisfied with this much.

Belladonna took one last look at the bustling New Year’s festival street.

‘I probably won’t have a chance to come again…’

I ate a lot of delicious snacks and even got an unexpected portrait, so this should be enough, right?

Belladonna slowly began to walk.

Hazel, who had been staring down at her, hesitantly opened his mouth.

“Um… Do you perhaps feel it’s a shame to return like this?”

Huh?

Belladonna looked up.

Hazel was looking back and forth between her and the street she had been gazing at with a serious expression.

It is a bit of a shame, but I’m starting to feel tired too…

“Sigh… It can’t be helped. I’ll explain it well to the Captain. I’m quite trusted, you know!”

What…? What are you going to explain well?

Hazel flashed a dazzling smile at Belladonna, who still looked puzzled.

“Why don’t we enjoy the festival a bit more before heading back!”

Ah, no…! We can go back now…!

Belladonna waved both hands with a flustered expression. It’s okay! I’m fine!

I want to go back to the castle now!

“Well, I can at least do this much, my lady! And the Captain isn’t such a rigid person either.”

No, what? What on earth?

“Then shall we start over there?”

Hazel grinned and went ahead. Belladonna stared blankly at his enthusiastic back.

I said no, you fool…

“So…! *hic*! At the young age of not even sixteen… I joined… the Griblata Knights…! *hic*! That’s how it happened…!”

“…”

“At first… it was hard for me too, why wouldn’t it be? *hiccup*!”

“…”

Belladonna looked at the giant man in front of her with lowered, sunken eyes.

“But our Captain…? He’s a warm-hearted man…! *hic*! I know it…!”

“…”

Hazel, who had suggested enjoying the festival a bit more, excitedly went from tent to tent, buying and eating delicious snacks with her.

‘He was definitely fine at the beginning.’

Hazel was a kind-hearted knight.

Unlike Escalion, who somehow made her constantly feel the need to be cautious, Hazel smiled and laughed easily, making Belladonna laugh with his comfortable jokes.

With his friendly personality, he even engaged in small, pleasant conversations with merchants, which momentarily made her forget her desire to return to the castle…

‘…Why did you get so drunk?!’

Belladonna looked at Hazel, who had turned bright red from his face to his neck, with an incredulous expression.

Hazel was sitting in front of the table, swaying his head, completely intoxicated and barely conscious.

“Hehe… But still…? My lady…”

Ugh, I don’t want to hear it.

The most annoying thing in the world was the drunken ramblings of a drunkard.

Belladonna crossed her arms and averted her gaze from him, who was muttering incomprehensible words.

I should have insisted more firmly on returning to the castle right away!

“My lady…! Is there anywhere else you’d like to visit? *hic*! I’ll go with you!”

If it were you, would you want to go anywhere else with a completely drunk knight…?

Belladonna shook her head, trying to manage her expression.

She quietly stood up, intending to suggest they return to the castle.

“Oh…! Are we going back now? Alright, alright! I! I will safely! Escort you…!”

Hazel tried to stand up from his chair following Belladonna, but his legs seemed to give out and he stumbled greatly.

Belladonna, startled, reached out to support him.

“Oh my! I’m fine, I’m fine. How could a delicate lady like you support me…”

Hazel quickly waved his hand and tried to stand straight.

“The carriage isn’t far from here… *hic*! My lady… This is our secret, okay? Understood? Understood? Se! Cret!”

Hazel held out his pinky finger towards Belladonna, wearing a sloppy smile.

Belladonna looked down at his reddened finger, forcing a smile.

I guess I have to link my finger with his to end this…? Belladonna carefully hooked her finger with his and shook it.

“Hehe! I have a secret with my lady…!”

Alright, I get it, let’s just go back already…

Belladonna turned her head with an extremely tired and disgusted look.

“Thank you for your patronage…!”

Once out of the tavern, Hazel began to walk in earnest, swaying.

Belladonna followed him quickly, debating whether she should support him or take care of herself to avoid being crushed by him.

At that moment, the noisy sounds coming from across the street began to grow louder.

“Hey, looks like you won some money, huh?”

“Come on, let’s go! Let’s drink more! It’s on me tonight!”

“Let’s go!”

They all had reddened faces, seeming to be a group of heavily intoxicated revelers.

What, the sun hasn’t even set yet, why is everyone so drunk?

Belladonna quietly tried to move away from their path.

“Oops!”

“…!”

But it seemed her movement was a bit too late.

One of them, staggering forward, collided hard with Belladonna’s shoulder.

Ow, that hurts! Belladonna instinctively stepped back, clutching her shoulder where they had collided.

“Ah, I’m sorr… Aaargh!”

Hazel’s arm shot out towards the man even more suddenly.

Hazel, who had been walking ahead, spun around in an instant, wrapping his thick arm around the man’s neck while simultaneously extending his leg to kick the man’s shin hard.

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, the man’s body toppled over.

As he fell backwards looking at the sky, a loud thud resonated when he hit the ground.

“Urghh…”

“Hey, hey, are you okay…?”

Surprised by the sudden turn of events, the man’s companions opened their eyes wide.

Belladonna also stared at Hazel in shock.

What just happened?

“How dare you obstruct the path of this esteemed person?”

It was a face one couldn’t imagine belonging to the man who had been laughing drunkenly just moments ago.

As he glared at them with a terrifying gaze, their faces turned deathly pale as they reached out towards the man sprawled on the ground.

“We, we’re sorry. My companion is very drunk…”

“We apologize on his behalf!”

“We’re so sorry!”

They quickly helped the fallen man to his feet and kept bowing their heads to Belladonna before fleeing in the opposite direction as fast as they could.

Um… What… just happened?

Belladonna stared wide-eyed at the path where they had disappeared.

“My lady, are you hurt anywhere? I should have been more attentive, I’m truly sorry.”

Hazel turned to look at her with a frown, his face now that of a perfectly sober knight.

You, weren’t you completely drunk just now?

Belladonna gaped at him for a moment before managing to nod.

After confirming that Belladonna didn’t seem to be seriously injured, he relaxed his expression.

A few seconds later, his face completely softened again as he pulled up the corners of his mouth.

“That’s a relief. Let’s go, my lady… Hehe…”

What’s this, a split personality?

Belladonna followed behind him as he started walking again, swaying from side to side.

‘So he manages to protect even while drunk, is that it…’

Belladonna shook her head, feeling a little guilty for doubting the Griblata Knights for a brief moment.

‘Well, I suppose a knighthood that achieved great feats in war would be skilled…’

“Oh? My lady! I know this road!”

You’re the one who brought us here! If you don’t know it, who would!

Belladonna suppressed her rising irritation once again and turned her head to where he was pointing.

“It’s a place the Captain and I visit occasionally, ah… So the back alley of the taverns connects like this! I didn’t know that! New route exploration complete!”

Hazel exclaimed like a child.

The place he pointed to was a narrow alley between buildings, at the end of which the commercial district ended and residential areas began.

Belladonna turned her head to read the sign attached to the brick wall.

Euphrang Street…

Belladonna tilted her head at the familiar-sounding address.

Huh? What is it? Where have I seen this street name before?

There was no reason for an address to be familiar in Griblata, a place she had never visited before.

“Well then, shall we go? The carriage is just around that building. It gets colder after sunset! Let’s hurry back before then!”

Hazel said as he started walking again.

Belladonna, about to follow him, slowly came to a stop.

‘Wait a minute…’

76 Euphrang Street.

It was that woman’s address.