Winter had passed and spring was approaching.

It was the season of social gatherings.

“…Soon, the royal palace party will begin.”

Naturally, the first party announcing the start of the social season was held at the royal palace.

Only after that did the nobles prepare their parties for the year according to their respective status and authority.

Originally, there was a desire to avoid the complicated social world this year.

However, social activities were essential for gathering more information.

And for free activities, it was necessary to avoid Ioan’s possible suspicion.

With that intention, she casually dropped a hint, but he unexpectedly asked with a serious face, closely observing Delphine.

“I remember you didn’t enjoy parties much… lady.”

“That’s right.”

Pretending not to notice that he had unconsciously mentioned the past, Delphine answered.

Her father’s greedy expectations for her and the social world’s unique fake conversation style had always been somewhat uncomfortable.

But there was no need to confess such facts to him now.

Instead, Delphine smiled slightly at him and added, pretending to be a virtuous wife and wise mother.

“…Still, it’s the duty of a marchioness to manage her husband and family’s social reputation.”

Then he too smiles back like any affectionate and domestic husband.

“I’m deeply moved that you stay so virtuously at the mansion and pay attention to household affairs.”

Skillfully hiding their true thoughts, they exchanged perfect smiles like masks towards each other.

After finishing breakfast, he said, “Then, have a… safe day,” kissed her cheek lightly, and left the mansion.

After not being caught by Ioan during the last outing, she became a bit bolder for mission-related trips.

“Is the person we’re meeting this time also a survivor?”

At Netherfield Street in Zone 3, where she came out after receiving a radio call.

Pressing down her cloak, she asked, and Lin beside her calmly answered.

“No. It’s one of our operatives we contacted to investigate the recent serial disappearance cases.”

Another operative… I wonder what kind of person they are?

Swallowing her curiosity, Delphine soon arrived at a shabby building located inside the red-light district.

“We go up to this floor.”

The old wooden stairs were so narrow that the large-bodied Lin had to turn sideways and climb up uncomfortably.

Opening the door revealed a small, one-room space.

It was an extremely poor room without even proper furniture.

“…”

Delphine tried not to show her surprise at the room’s appearance, which was more squalid than she had expected.

The gap in living conditions between herself, who had lived in Zone 1, and those in Zone 3 was always greater than she had thought.

“Ah, Lin! You’re here?”

The woman in the room greeted them with a bright smile.

She was an extremely thin woman, her cheeks so sunken they seemed hollow.

Lin introduced her as ‘Cookie’.

Apparently, due to her role, she seemed to be operating under a nickname while hiding her real name.

“So you’re ‘the’ Lady Delphine? Nice to meet you!”

Delphine nervously clutched her cloak to hide the gray silk dress she wore underneath as she greeted back.

Fortunately, Cookie didn’t seem to pay much attention to her attire.

She plopped down on a pile of straw covered with cloth that seemed to serve as a bed and said.

“I’d like to offer you a seat, but there are no chairs.”

“It’s fine, we’ll be leaving soon. More importantly, has there been any new information?”

“No. It’s been quiet for a while. Maybe that crazy criminal is laying low.”

Cookie reported in a rather rough tone to Lin’s question.

“There were no new crimes?”

“Of course, there are always crimes. In this red-light district.”

She answered in a cynical tone with a contemptuous look.

“Even last night, a woman was beaten to death by a customer. But in this place, no one cares even if people die.”

“…”

“That’s why that bastard criminal only commits such acts around here.”

After saying this, Cookie glanced at the stiffened Delphine and concluded her report.

“I mean, there were no suspicious kidnapping or disappearance cases.”

Lin stroked his chin for a moment and then asked simply.

“Cookie. You know about Duke Purcell, right?”

“Of course. I was the one who reported that he had visited this place.”

“Then have you ever seen a younger silver-haired man who looks similar to him?”

She must be talking about the young Duke Purcell.

Delphine guessed inwardly as she listened to their conversation.

La Rouge had already reported about the duel incident between Duke Purcell and Marquis Humphreys.

“A young man? Hmm… There were no silver-haired men who looked like nobles.”

Cookie pondered, wiggling her feet.

“No matter how hard they try to hide it, those people stand out. They claim to dress plainly, but their clothes are all silk with expensive buttons.”

Delphine nervously clutched her cloak once again.

“I see.”

Lin, who had answered simply again, seemed lost in thought for a moment before speaking.

“…I think I need to go inspect the surroundings for a bit.”

Pulling his cloak hood over his head, he added in a gruff tone.

“Delphine. Please stay here for a moment.”

Then he quickly left through the door before she could stop him.

Left alone with Cookie in this small room, Delphine nervously rolled her eyes, searching for words to say to her.

“…”

When visiting someone’s mansion for the first time, it was customary to start a conversation by complimenting the interior.

But this house didn’t even have a chair to sit on.

“He’s handsome, isn’t he?”

In the end, it was Cookie who spoke first.

“…Pardon?”

“I mean Lin. I’ve never seen such a handsome man in my life.”

She chuckled lightly.

Is this also similar to starting a conversation by complimenting the interior, so to speak?

Thinking this, Delphine smiled gently.

“…I thought he was handsome when I first saw him too.”

As the atmosphere seemed to lighten a bit, Delphine casually asked the question she had been curious about.

“The name, it’s not your real name, right?”

“Of course not. Everyone uses nicknames here.”

“Why did you choose Cookie?”

“Oh, that… A long time ago, I once tasted cookies sold at a bakery in Zone 2.”

Cookie answered cheerfully with her sunken-cheeked face.

“When I cried for days saying I wanted to eat it just once, my mom saved two weeks’ worth of allowance to buy me one tiny, nameless dessert.”

Cookie smiled with a very affectionate and nostalgic expression.

“It was really delicious… Unforgettable, even after my mom passed away.”

Delphine suddenly thought of her own mother.

“Del. You must always go in the direction your heart tells you. And remember. Happiness lies not in the end, but in the process.”

How happy she was when her wise and loving mother called her ‘Del’.

And how lonely and desolate she felt when there was no one left to call her Del.

“What, you’re not feeling sorry for me, are you?”

Noticing Delphine’s expression, Cookie asked with a hurt look on her face.

After hesitating, Delphine spoke honestly.

“I’m sorry. I actually thought it was a sad thing.”

Immediately, wariness entered the woman’s face.

“…Why? Because you think all people in Zone 3 live so miserably?”

“No. Because you lost your name.”

Delphine answered calmly without getting flustered.

“Having no one in the world to call you affectionately is a very lonely thing.”

“…”

At those words, Cookie awkwardly fidgeted for a moment.

Then she sheepishly scratched her dry blonde hair and muttered.

“…Oh my. It seems I was the one with prejudice against nobles. I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright.”

As Delphine smiled gently, Cookie smiled back at her.

Bam.

Just then, the rotting wooden door burst open.

Lin, who entered the room with his usual stoic face, paused when he saw Delphine’s expression.

“…What happened in such a short time?”

“Well…”

“Don’t ask, Lin. It’s a secret between women.”

Cookie answered playfully, winking at Delphine.

Surprised for a moment at this friendly gesture she had never experienced before.

Delphine soon smiled comfortably.

Today’s inspection ended here.

As they were about to tidy up and leave the room, Cookie spoke with her back straight.

“What I want is freedom.”

“Freedom…”

As Delphine murmured that strange yet familiar word softly, Cookie added in a resolute tone.

“The freedom to drink clean water, and if I want, to cross that wall and go to a cookie shop.”

As she said this, Cookie had the look in her eyes of someone going in the direction their heart tells them, just as her mother had said.

“We will achieve that.”

Lin answered in a firm tone.

“We’re almost at the end now… Thanks to Delphine here.”

Then Cookie smiled brightly with her sickly face.

Why was it?

Even though they were in such a shabby and squalid room, their appearance seemed dazzling.

They looked more dignified and noble than any aristocrat’s bearing.

And strangely enough, Ioan’s face came to mind beyond them.

Ioan, who would have been born and raised right here on Netherfield Street.

Dignity and nobility.

No matter how much he adorned himself with the Imperial Guard uniform and medals, and possessed impeccable, elegant manners, those were precisely what Ioan lacked the most.