“Did the Princess remove that stone tower? Or was it the gardeners working here?”

“Why does that matter?”

The man didn’t answer Stella’s question this time either. After staring at Stella with an unreadable gaze for a while, he seemed to make up his mind and slowly approached.

Although he didn’t seem likely to harm her, his presence alone was threatening. Instinctively stepping back hesitantly, Stella stopped as she felt something blocking her back, then turned around.

“Darun.”
The person who woke up according to Stella’s wish seemed to be Darun. The sense of relief felt upon seeing Darun made a smile appear on Stella’s lips.

“Princess, are you okay?”

After cautiously examining Stella’s condition, Darun raised his head and asked the man standing on the opposite side. Darun naturally blocked the way and asked.

“Who are you? How dare you enter here so recklessly?”

Although it was too dark to see clearly, the silhouette vaguely visible did not seem like a servant or an ordinary soldier. Darun focused on the emblem on his shoulder. That was the moment.

“Darun, is it you?”

An unidentified man spoke to Darun. Darun, who had been staring ahead with a serious expression, had a slightly softened look when the man called his name. From his expression, it seemed like he was trying hard to remember the owner of the voice.

“Who are you?”

Hesitation was evident in Darun’s voice.

“Forgetting me already. Isn’t that disappointing? By the way, I didn’t expect to find you here.”

As the man’s words continued, Darun’s eyes widened gradually. Darun, without realizing it, was approaching the place where the man stood, leaving Stella behind.

“Darun, be careful!”

Stella had no choice but to watch. She was worried that Darun might get hurt because of the man of unknown identity. Now she was contemplating whether to go to the room and bring a pickaxe or something.

“Your Grace?”
Darun, who had stopped midway, cautiously asked the man. The man he faced smiled brazenly.

“Do you recognize me now? No, even though I’ve become an old man, should I thank you for recognizing me?”

The sound of Darun taking a deep breath reached Stella. Worried if Darun was afraid of some past ill-fated connection, she observed, but it seemed not to be the case. Darun’s expression was as if he was meeting someone from his hometown, filled with joy.

“Your Grace!”

Darun ran toward the man like a child and stood in front of him. Although Darun was much taller, strangely, the man appeared larger.

Bowing deeply, Darun, overcome with emotion, wiped away tears with the back of his hand. A hearty laughter resonated once again.

The moon, obscured by clouds, lifted the shadow that had covered the man’s face.

From the silhouette visible in the darkness, Stella had thought he was a young knight similar in age to Lois. However, in reality, it was not so. A tall and sturdy veteran, his hair turned white, and wrinkles marked his eyes.

“I greet Your Highness.”

Will, who had been patting Darun’s shoulders, turned to Stella and greeted her politely.

Stella nodded with a bewildered expression, receiving the greeting. Mila, who had come out due to the noise in the garden, also recognized the unfamiliar man, greeted him in surprise, and followed etiquette.

It was an unexpected sight, but a hurried refreshment table was quickly prepared for Will.
Brin and Ryan, who came out to work in the middle of their sleep, seemed not to know the man. However, watching how Darun and Mila treated him with utmost respect, they guessed he must be an important person.

“Thank you for such a reception.”

Stella responded appropriately to Will’s polite greeting.

Without any prior arrangement, and even as a guest who had unexpectedly arrived late at night, Stella couldn’t just let Will leave like this.

He clearly knew something about the stone tower in the garden. If so, there was a possibility he knew about the earth fairies and pickaxes as well.

“I wonder if he can see the earth fairies too.”

Stella wondered as she looked down at the earth fairies sitting next to her, guarding her.

However, the earth fairies showed no signs of being cautious even with the arrival of a stranger. They were just looking at the laid-out refreshments, their eyes shining.

Even Ark was now on the table, picking at a cookie.

Although he probably wanted to eat the entire cookie at once, he seemed to be cautious, perhaps because if he did, the cookie might be left floating in the air, visible to humans.

Stella picked up a cookie, took a bite, and placed it on the empty chair. The nearby earth fairies climbed onto the chair.

“I like chocolate cookies.”

“It’s sweet and delicious.”

“Eat quietly.”

Otton reproached the earth fairies who were constantly expressing admiration while eating.
Stella waited for the other person to bring up the conversation first and took a sip of tea. Despite trying to appear relaxed, she couldn’t help but feel anxious.

Stella tried to calm her mind by sipping the hot tea. The fragrant and refreshing aroma of the tea filled her mouth.

“Could it be that the person who cleared the stone tower is Princess?”

Breaking the brief silence, Will repeated the question he had asked in the garden. At this point, it would be appropriate for her to answer.

“I had to plant something else.”

Stella’s response seemed unsatisfactory to Will, who leaned forward more than before and asked again.

“Did you personally clear the stone tower, or was it done by a gardener or a servant?”