On a rather chilly morning.

The front page of newspapers distributed throughout the Empire featured a breaking news story that caught people’s attention.

[The culprit behind the demonic beast riot: a heretic, Parthenos?!]

Rumors were openly circulating that the Esper family had been negligent in managing the demonic beasts, and that Kalos, as the head of the family, should take full responsibility.

However, with the unexpected emergence of a different suspect who was said to be a follower of a heretical religion, people of all ages were shocked.

“This is absurd!”

Albard, the representative of the investigation team dispatched from the temple, was equally surprised.

The temple’s investigation team had come to the Esper territory after various difficulties, including losing a valuable colleague in an accident, but far from receiving a warm welcome, they weren’t even given proper hospitality.

Instead, they were met with suspicion that they might be trying to pull some strange trick on Kalos, along with terrifying threats that made their legs tremble.

When he saw Sergio’s corpse, he was consumed by the horrifying fear that he might end up the same way.

Albard wanted to leave immediately, but he couldn’t because he had been given a crucial mission.

“You must find evidence that the demonic beast riot was caused by the Esper family’s mistake, no matter what,”

And report it directly to the Pope.

He had firmly resolved to successfully complete the mission despite any adversity or hardship.

But now a prime suspect had appeared.

‘What happens to the mission now?’

Is it going to fail like this?

His superior had emphatically insisted that he must succeed no matter what.

“……”

Albard’s face twisted unsightly.

He glared at the headline on the front page of the newspaper with a terrifying expression, then immediately rushed out of the room.

*

Albard wanted to meet Kalos, but he knew he would certainly be turned away if he went without warning.

He probably wouldn’t even be able to pass through the gates of Esper Castle.

So Albard proposed to Count Aliore that they go to meet Kalos together.

Count Aliore, having also read the morning newspaper, had something he wanted to say to Kalos, so he readily accepted Albard’s proposal.

Thanks to Count Aliore, Albard safely passed through the gates of Esper Castle.

‘So this is Esper Castle.’

Just like Kalos’s personality, Esper Castle felt bleak and lonely.

The weather turning cold and the leaves falling seemed to make the atmosphere even more desolate.

It seems even castles take after their masters. Albard shook his head.

Following the knight for quite a while, they finally arrived at the main castle.

“Welcome to Esper Castle.”

At the entrance of the main castle stood a handsome man wearing a silver monocle.

“I am Dewey, the butler of Esper Castle.”

Dewey politely greeted the two and asked,

“What brings you here so early without an appointment?”

Even in a place where people of high status reside, it was customary to guide guests to a reception room and inquire about their business when they visit.

If circumstances were not favorable, one would politely explain the reason and ask for the guests’ understanding.

But this kind of poor treatment? Albard’s eyebrows rose.

“Is it the custom here to receive guests outside?”

“Guests?”

As if asking who the guests were, the questioning tone made Albard clench his fist tightly.

He was in no mood to be disrespected by a mere butler.

Yet he couldn’t say anything because Dewey was an employee of the Grand Duke of Esper.

He had already fallen out of Kalos’s favor, and not knowing what kind of trouble he might incur if he provoked them further, Albard forcibly swallowed his anger.

Count Aliore, who was equally displeased but managed to maintain his composure better, spoke up.

“I know it’s rude to come like this, but we have an urgent matter to discuss with His Grace the Duke. Please understand.”

Dewey’s gaze shifted to Count Aliore.

The Count flinched at the sight of his blood-red eyes.

Why did both the master and servant have such strange eye colors?

The saying “like master, like servant” wasn’t for nothing.

While inwardly clicking his tongue, Count Aliore outwardly smiled kindly and said,

“So please inform His Grace the Duke that we are here.”

Dewey smiled brightly as if about to comply.

“I’m afraid I cannot do that.”

Though his answer was not at all bright.

Count Aliore frowned, displeased that Dewey was refusing on his own without even asking Kalos for his opinion.

Dewey continued with a smile.

“His Grace the Duke is currently engaged in a very important task. He instructed that no one should disturb him during this time, so I cannot relay any message to His Grace at the moment.”

Albard interjected into the conversation.

“We said it was urgent! Shouldn’t exceptions be made in such situations?”

“There are no exceptions.”

The blood-red eyes tinged with a cold chill turned to Albard.

“Even if there were exceptions, it would be His Grace the Duke who decides that. Not you two who have come unannounced without an appointment, insisting on seeing His Grace.”

Struck at his weak point, Albard could only close his mouth.

The terrifying pressure weighing down on his shoulders was also one of the reasons that sealed his lips.

Dewey twisted his lips as if finding such an Albard amusing.

“Therefore, please leave now.”

Count Aliore, unable to give up even in this situation, asked urgently.

“Perhaps this very important task has something to do with the capture of a prime suspect in the demonic beast riot?”

“No. It has absolutely nothing to do with that.”

After all, the important ‘task’ Kalos was currently engaged in was having breakfast with Irene.

It couldn’t possibly have anything to do with such a thing.

*

“……”

Irene sipped her milk tea, stealing glances at Kalos sitting across from her drinking coffee.

She stared so persistently that it was impossible to pretend not to notice.

Kalos set down his coffee cup and asked,

“Do you have something to say to me?”

“Ah.”

Irene flinched and pulled her chin in, then smiled sheepishly.

“It’s not that… I was just curious.”

“About what?”

“The coffee.”

Irene nodded towards Kalos’s coffee cup.

“I was curious about what it tastes like… That’s why I was looking.”

Kalos laughed as if finding it silly, then held out his coffee cup.

“If you’re curious, try it.”

“…Is that okay?”

“You’re an adult too, there’s nothing wrong with it.”

Irene silently looked at the coffee cup Kalos offered.

In truth, being curious about the taste of coffee was just an excuse.

She was happy to be having a meal with him after so long.

She had suddenly realized how much she liked him.

Even though she knew she shouldn’t, she kept wanting to see his face, and for various other reasons, she had been stealing glances at Kalos.

Unable to speak those reasons, she had made the excuse about the coffee.

She knew well that coffee tasted bitter, so she wasn’t really curious or wanting to drink it.

“Are you not going to drink it?”

“Ah, no! I’ll drink it!”

Since Kalos said it like that, Irene wanted to try it once, so she took the coffee cup.

“……”

She took it, but when it came time to actually drink it, she couldn’t muster the courage.

The memory of coffee’s unique bitterness remained strongly in her mind.

But since she had taken it, she should try drinking it.

This coffee might not be as bitter as the ones I’ve had before.

Irene shut her eyes tightly and drank the coffee.

“Ugh.”

As the intense bitterness stimulated her tongue, she involuntarily gagged. Nausea welled up.

Feeling like she might throw up everything she had eaten for breakfast if she stayed like this, Irene hurriedly put down the coffee cup and covered her mouth with both hands.

Tears welled up in her golden eyes.

Somewhat flustered by her unexpected intense reaction, Kalos held out a handkerchief.

“If you can’t drink it, spit it out.”

“……”

Irene shook her head.

Though she desperately wanted to spit out the coffee, her desire not to show an unsightly appearance to Kalos was even greater.

With great difficulty, Irene swallowed the coffee and immediately drank her milk tea.

The bitterness was so intense that even drinking the sweet milk tea couldn’t completely erase it.

“I’m never drinking coffee again……”

As Irene grumbled to herself, Kalos laughed silently.

*

The deep wrinkles that formed on Kalos’s previously smooth brow appeared when breakfast was almost over.

It was because he had noticed through the shadows that Albard and Count Aliore had entered Esper Castle.

He already knew why they had come.

It must be because of the breaking news published in newspapers throughout the Empire this morning.

Kalos had anticipated that they would come looking for him and had instructed Dewey to unconditionally refuse their visit.

But he didn’t expect them to come this early in the morning.

He certainly didn’t expect them to come together hand in hand.

After confirming that Dewey was faithfully carrying out his orders, Kalos wiped his hands with a napkin.

‘I’ll have to call Count Aliore back.’

He had something to say to him, and he needed to receive a magic communication ring from the Count to secretly contact the Emperor.

‘But first, I should deal with those pigeons.’

Kalos found the presence of those pigeons in his territory extremely unpleasant and irritating.

He had left them alone for now because there was no justification to send them away immediately, but now that he had a reason, there was no need to tolerate them anymore.

I should deal with them first, then meet Count Aliore.

I also need to check the schedule for going to the capital and finish some work in advance.

So many tasks came to mind that he wondered if he could finish them all today.

This was no time to be leisurely eating breakfast.

Kalos was about to leave after saying he would go first, but…

“Um… You said you would let me see Yomi.”

Irene spoke up first.

Kalos, who had half-risen, sat back down and looked at her.

Irene carefully continued, watching Kalos’s expression.

“I’d like to go see him today… is that possible?”

“……”

I have a lot to do today, so it’s not possible.

And it will be difficult for the time being, I should say.

“…Alright.”

For some reason, his mouth didn’t follow his will and accepted Irene’s request.

*

Clank, the tightly closed iron cage door opened.

Irene had firmly resolved not to cry no matter what when she saw Yomi, but…

“Yomi……”

Seeing Yomi with chains tightly wrapped around his neck and legs, she simply couldn’t hold back her tears.

Irene hugged Yomi tightly, shedding large tears.

“Yomi, no, Kara… I’m sorry.”

Calling him by the name she had given him, rather than his species name.

“I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you……”

She apologized repeatedly with her tear-stained face.

Whine, whine—

Then Yomi licked her wet cheeks.

It seemed like he was trying to comfort her, telling her not to cry.

But it only stimulated her tear glands more.

“Hic……”

Tears poured out like a broken faucet.

Irene hugged Yomi’s neck even tighter and buried her face in his rough fur.

The quiet, dark underground prison was filled with the sound of Irene’s crying.

“……”

Kalos, who had been watching this scene from the entrance of the prison, his expression clouded.

…I suppose that’s the right thing to do after all.

He had been pondering for a while, but seeing Irene’s state, he made up his mind.

Kalos gazed at Irene for a moment, then quietly left the prison.