Unexpectedly, this kind of joke seemed to work, as Sesenia chuckled.

“Oh. You’re the first one to genuinely laugh at my joke. Everyone else used to fake their laughter.”

“It’s funnier than I expected.”

If Lizbeth or others had seen it, they would have been shocked, wondering what part of it was funny, but Sesenia truly found his joke amusing.

“Heheh. I’m in a very good mood today.”

“I’m glad you’re in a good mood. But what brings you here?”

“The task you asked for is done. So, where is that fellow?”

“You mean Teddy?”

“Yes. That slave.”

The Tower Master looked around the room, eyeing Sesenia.

“He’s at the guild. This place isn’t suitable for keeping Teddy, you see.”

“You’re trying to keep him out of others’ sight, I suppose.”

“That’s one reason. But if you’ve finished the task I requested… Didn’t you come with the culprit?”

“I’ve hidden him in the subspace.”

“In such a place… Is it okay to put a person there?”

Sesenia had heard about the subspace where magicians keep their things.

But it was the first time she’d heard of putting a human in there. However, he didn’t seem to find it strange at all, shrugging his shoulders.

“What’s the problem? As long as they don’t die, it’s fine.”

“…Ah. You must do this often?”

“No, it’s the first time. But it seems they fare better in that space than I expected. Their life doesn’t seem to be in danger either. Hmm. I should research this aspect a bit more.”

As if he had found a new research topic, he stroked his chin with an interested expression.

“I see. Anyway, shall we head to the guild then? Should I go first and you follow like before?”

“Why don’t we just go together using magic?”

“Ordinary people would be startled if we appeared like that. I don’t want to frighten my people.”

“This is why powerless beings are so inconvenient. Can’t be helped then. Since you say so, I’ll specially accompany you in a carriage.”

Sesenia firmly shook her head.

“If someone who didn’t have an appointment suddenly arrives with me in a carriage, wouldn’t that be surprising too?”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

“Yes. So please move separately.”

“It’s troublesome. Very troublesome.”

Sesenia awkwardly nodded her cheeks, seeing his expression of annoyance.

“But I’m a perfect Tower Master who diligently completes what I’ve taken on, so I’ll do as you say.”

“Yes, then I’ll…”

“But you know, Sesenia Bestel.”

“Yes?”

As Sesenia was about to leave, hastily draping her shawl, the Tower Master blocked her way.

“This place is full of strange power.”

“Strange power?”

No sooner had those words ended than the Tower Master began examining various parts of the room.

“The strongest power is felt in two places. Besides that… It’s as if this place is filled with a strange power, like incense has been lit.”

“What do you mean…”

As Sesenia showed an expression of complete incomprehension, he moved directly.

The first place he arrived at was the bookshelf.

Having been busy recently, Sesenia, who had only been reading the books she was currently on instead of those on the shelf, just tilted her head in confusion.

“This one.”

The Tower Master stopped in front of one book. His long finger pointed to a book with a pure white cover.

“That’s…”

When Sesenia faced that book, she felt as if her heart had dropped. A problem that couldn’t exist in the current time.

No, it was a book that shouldn’t be here.

“You seem to know this book?”

“Ah…”

She couldn’t bring herself to tell the Tower Master. That book was from the past, containing the secret of the family she had discovered.

When Sesenia became the head of the family in place of the Marquis. When she entered the secret library behind the Marquis’s room, she found that book.

And it was here.

“This… shouldn’t be here…”

Therefore, it was impossible. As if its original place was there, the book was naturally shelved there.

Sesenia quickly pulled it out. From the spine to the cover, and even the contents inside, everything was perfectly the same as in the past.

“Hah…”

“I can’t see the contents inside, though.”

“You can’t see it?”

“Right. It’s… protected by some power, magic or whatever. I’m not even allowed to touch it. To think there’s a power that even I, the Tower Master, can’t touch…”

He looked at the book with interest for a while, then moved again.

His steps led him to Sesenia’s bedroom. More precisely, to the flower on the bedside table next to the bed.

“This has the same power.”

“This is…”

It was the flower Teddy had gifted her a few days ago.

A flower Teddy bought, falling for the ridiculous sales pitch that the petals would fall if danger approached. But to think it was the same flower.

“Really… this?”

“Yes? Well, it’s a power that’s favorable to you, so there’s nothing to worry about… but for me, it’s a very annoying power. To think there’s a power even I can’t do anything about.”

“Ah…”

“That power is like… protecting you, guarding you. Filling this entire room. Probably the power continuously flowing from that necklace is protecting you.”

When the Tower Master accurately pointed to the necklace on her neck, Sesenia’s eyes widened.

“You can see this too?”

“Of course I can see it. It’s a necklace, isn’t it?”

And that necklace had a somewhat special story. The secret book that Sesenia could see because she became the head of the family, because she inherited the family.

It was deep in the secret storage that only the head of the family could enter.

The story of the Bestel family being cursed long ago. That their ability to turn back time was not a blessing but a curse.

And when she returned through time, a necklace appeared on Sesenia’s neck. The strange thing was that only she could see it.

But he could see it.

“The power contained in it has grown stronger than before.”

“It’s grown stronger? No, wait, you saw it before? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“…Huh? You didn’t ask, so I didn’t say anything. Is that a problem?”

“Ah…”

Sesenia smiled awkwardly.

“I guess you’re right…”

“Now that I look at it, that strengthened power is quite similar to the one contained in this book and flower.”

“When you say similar… does that mean the one who created them, who placed them around me, is the same person?”

“That’s right.”

Faced with unexpected events, Sesenia felt her legs going weak.

What could it be? What on earth was around her? Returning through time, regressing, wasn’t it just the family’s secret technique?

It would be comfortable to think that way, but why did strange things keep happening around her?

Sesenia fidgeted with her necklace, mumbling.

“Anyway, let’s get going now.”

“Ah…”

“I want to hear various things from the guy I brought. I’m curious too.”

“Ah… Alright. I’ll go first then.”

Even if she stood here blankly, she couldn’t know the cause of the strange things happening around her.

For now, confronting the culprit who changed the color of Teddy’s hair in the past was the priority.

“Okay. I’ll see you in a bit.”

He didn’t specifically say where he was going. After all, she already knew through Silian that the Tower Master was tracking her.

**

Sesenia immediately took a carriage to the Iaar Guild. Rohan, who greeted her on the first floor, looked quite tired today as well.

“It seems you have many appointments with guests today, Rohan.”

“Well, I suppose so…?”

“Then would it be difficult for me to use the second floor?”

“Not at all. We conduct business appointments on the first floor. The second floor isn’t being used much because Teddy is there.”

“You’ve been considerate.”

“We’re family, after all.”

Rohan smiled brightly, but perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed by his own words, he cleared his throat.

“Then I’ll use the second floor today. Don’t mind if there’s any loud noise.”

“Understood. I’ll pretend there’s no one on the second floor.”

“Yes. Lizbeth, could you stay on the first floor today too?”

“What? Why…?”

This had never happened before. Lizbeth had always been with Sesenia in all her steps.

Perhaps that’s why Lizbeth wore a shocked expression.

“Please.”

But Sesenia didn’t say anything else. This was Teddy’s personal matter.

If it was about herself, she wouldn’t mind if Lizbeth or anyone else knew, but not for Teddy.

“Alright. Then I’ll stay on the first floor.”

“Thank you.”

When Sesenia asked, a mere maid like her couldn’t cling on.

Moreover, since this had never happened before, Lizbeth didn’t insist on accompanying her any further.

With those words, Sesenia slowly went upstairs.

The second floor of the Iaar Guild consisted of a large living room and four rooms.

The living room had stairs leading up, and each of the four rooms had its own bathroom attached, making it a quite usable structure, better than expected.

As if knowing Sesenia was coming, Teddy quickly opened the door and came out.

“Teddy.”

“You’re here?”

“Yes. Did you wait long?”

“Not at all. I waited patiently like a good boy. I practiced swordsmanship diligently and read books hard.”

Teddy smiled brightly like a child who had just stepped into the world.

“Well done.”

The Tower Master hadn’t arrived yet. After watching Teddy for a moment, Sesenia opened her mouth after much deliberation.

“By the way, Teddy.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“About the flower you gave me…”

“Was there a problem? Did the petals fall?!”

As if worried that the petals might fall, Teddy hastily raised his voice.

“Are you sick somewhere? Or was there an attack? Is that why you fled here?”

For a moment, as if worried that danger might befall her, he looked around here and there.

And Sesenia could feel it. That threatening power flowing from Teddy’s body.

‘I can’t breathe…’

Having heard that royalty possessed power but never experiencing this before, Sesenia quickly wrapped her hand around her neck.

At that moment.

“The kid’s about to die.”

A figure that suddenly appeared grabbed Teddy’s shoulder.