The carriage running along the beach of Marcel came to a stop. As the carriage door opened, the hotel doorman extended his hand to Sidney.

Slightly flustered, Sidney realized she was wearing a dress and accepted his help.

Armand Hotel.

Visiting as a guest at this famous hotel chain with branches across the continent. Sidney recalled coming here to investigate a murder case.

“Sidney, what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. But why are we here?”

“Why? Just to welcome the new year in style.”

Sidney looked around the hotel lobby and asked again.

“What exactly do you mean by ‘in style’?”

“Well, first we’ll have dinner at the hotel restaurant, then drinks at the bar…”

Victoria trailed off, her gaze fixed on empty space. Then, as soon as a hotel employee opened the elevator’s iron gate, she quickly stepped inside.

“Sidney, hurry and get in.”

Sidney followed Victoria’s beckoning gesture and entered the elevator. As it began to move, Sidney continued the conversation.

“But… we could do those things at home.”

“You might meet new people in an unfamiliar place.”

The young women in the elevator covered their mouths and laughed at Victoria’s airy words.

How can she be so careless? Sidney looked around at the women and said,

“Usually… the chances of being killed by such a person are much higher.”

A moment of silence fell in the elevator. Victoria shook Sidney’s arm with an awkward expression and whispered.

“Sidney, why are you saying such brutal things…”

“That’s reality.”

Ding, the needle pointed to the 7th floor and the elevator stopped.

Sidney gave a slight nod to the petrified people and exited the elevator.

The black marble floor was covered with a teal carpet. The walls were molded with dark mahogany wood, and antique candle holders with glass coverings provided soft lighting.

Sidney checked the bar where alcohol could be drunk and the emergency stairs before entering the restaurant. Even as she was guided by the staff, Sidney’s eyes moved busily.

“You’re on vacation right now.”

“Ah.”

Sidney’s behavior only stopped after Victoria’s scolding. The staff guided the two to a window seat.

After sitting down and placing their orders, Victoria muttered to herself.

“The sea is really beautiful.”

The moon’s shadow floating in the night sky illuminated the dark sea. Silver scales danced with each ripple of the waves.

The night sea…

How long had it been since she had enjoyed such leisure and luxury? Sidney smiled bitterly and murmured.

“…It is.”

“Has it been 6 years? Since we’ve sat face to face for a meal like this.”

Sidney corrected Victoria’s mistaken memory.

“We saw each other often when I was at the military academy. So having a meal together like this… it’s been 4 years.”

“It’s different. I wanted to eat like this… sitting together in dresses.”

Victoria pouted, her voice filled with complaint. Even the habit of lightly shaking her fork… just like when she was young.

Sidney gestured to the carrots and parsley piled on one side of her plate.

“Victoria Owello, eat your vegetables too.”

“Vegetables don’t like me.”

Is that how you’re going to play it? Sidney tilted her water glass to wet her throat. Then, setting down the glass, she issued a warning.

“Then… alcohol probably won’t like you either.”

It was a warning not to even think about going to the bar for drinks if she didn’t eat her vegetables. Glaring at Sidney with eyes full of discontent was useless.

Sidney was not one to speak carelessly, and always kept her word once spoken.

“That’s unfair.”

Victoria grumbled, poking at the vegetables with her fork. Then, as if to prove a point, she shoved all the carrots and parsley into her mouth.

The meal ended like that and tea was served.

Victoria didn’t take her eyes off Sidney even while drinking her tea.

“Vicky, why are you looking at me like that?”

“It’s strange. When I don’t see you for a while… and then see you again like this… it’s like seeing a new face.”

Victoria threw her gaze out the window and then looked back at Sidney. Sidney tapped her earrings lightly and explained.

“That’s the secret of this artifact. It’s called ‘face recognition disorder’… it makes people unable to remember my face.”

“So that’s why. What an amazing function.”

Victoria kept exclaiming in admiration and then pulled out a key from her handbag.

“I reserved the penthouse of this hotel for today.”

Victoria was the daughter of Duke Owello. It was natural for her to use a penthouse. But not here in Marcel, at least.

Because the Owello ducal family owned townhouses, luxury apartments, and many real estate properties in Marcel.

“Vicky, why do you need a penthouse?”

“I wanted to spend quality time with the most precious person… That’s more valuable than money, isn’t it?”

“If that’s the case… you did well.”

Victoria’s eyes widened in surprise and her mouth gaped open.

“I thought you’d scold me for wasting money. You… you’re really different today. It’s like you’re not the Sidney Warden I know.”

“So… do you dislike it?”

“Dislike it? I like it so much I could cry.”

Victoria shook her head vigorously and then burst into laughter. Sidney also chuckled along with her friend.

The moon had hidden behind clouds, only stars were faintly visible, and the sea had become one with the darkness, indistinguishable.

But it was nice. Being together with an old friend.

“Hey, Sidney. I have a really nice older cousin brother.”

“Oh?”

Thinking Sidney’s reaction wasn’t too bad, Victoria clapped her hands once and raised her voice.

“As it happens! That brother… Oh my, he doesn’t even have a girlfriend.”

“Hmm, and?”

“So! The three of us are going to have a good time together. Realistically, two women alone would be dangerous.”

Victoria shrugged her shoulders as if it couldn’t be helped. After a brief pause, Sidney spoke calmly.

“Are you trying to introduce me to your cousin brother?”

“Would that be a problem?”

“Meeting wouldn’t be difficult, but ‘Sidney Warden’ is known as a man… so it would be troublesome.”

Aristocratic society is very closed. When they meet someone new… it’s natural to ask around about that person.

If my name is mentioned like that… not only Logan but the entire Imperial Army would find out that I was a woman.

“Hmm. In novels, at times like this, the woman gives a fake name. And later explains the circumstances.”

That’s a good method. We won’t see each other again anyway. Sidney said the name that came to mind.

“Marien… Marien would be good.”

“Great! Then from now on I’ll call you Marien.”

Sidney chuckled and picked up her teacup. But before bringing it to her mouth, she asked Victoria a question.

“By the way, why did you reserve a hotel room?”

“Marien, what do you think about unmarried adults having consensual relations?”

From the age of fourteen until twenty, Sidney had lived as a man. So she had heard a lot of the banter men exchange.

Not that she believed it all.

But it was certain that for men, sexual desire and love were separate things. Sidney chose her words carefully, concerned for Victoria.

“If it’s consensual… Still, one should be cautious about such things.”

“To be cautious… shouldn’t you experience it first…”

“Is that really necessary? I don’t think so.”

“What if you get married and then your husband can’t perform properly?”

Sidney thought of Logan who still hadn’t married, perhaps due to such a problem. Though it wasn’t his fault…

“If having children is absolutely necessary… it would be troublesome for both.”

“That’s why they say people check beforehand these days, before marriage.”

“Vicky, you’re not telling me to check your cousin brother, are you?”

Victoria looked at Sidney’s expression and evaded the question.

“Of course not. This is just preparing for a hypothetical situation… Yeah, that’s it.”

Just as Sidney was about to press for her meaning, a restaurant employee approached.

“Are you Lady Owello?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“A telegram has arrived for you.”

He handed the telegram to Victoria and withdrew. Victoria’s cheeks puffed up like a blowfish as she read the telegram.

“What’s the matter?”

“My brother says he’s too busy to come. Let’s just have fun ourselves.”

Victoria tore the telegram to shreds as she stood up. The two women then headed to the hotel bar.

“I reeaally like Marieen!”

“I know. I like Vicky too.”

The same conversation had been going on for an hour.

Whether she was unaware of it, or just didn’t mind. Sidney gave the same answer with a serious face.

Finding it hard to keep her balance, Victoria slumped onto the table and mumbled.

“So sleeeepy.”

“You can sleep.”

As soon as Sidney finished speaking, Victoria smiled broadly and closed her eyes.

We should go home. Sidney glanced at the sleeping Victoria and emptied her last glass of alcohol.

Ding-a-ling.

Sidney looked up at the sound of the bell on the door jingling.

Two men who entered through the door scanned the bar as if looking for someone.

But they weren’t unfamiliar.

Sidney blinked, trying to focus her blurry vision. And she recognized the faces of the men walking towards her.

Logan Redford and Ernest Holden. It was clearly them even on second glance. Her lips moved involuntarily in surprise.

“Why are they coming this way?”

Sidney was startled by her own languid voice. She became aware that she was drunk.

To make matters worse, Logan was walking towards her, staring intently.

His gaze was so intense that it seemed even the artifact might not work.

But.

“I am Ernest Holden, Victoria’s cousin brother.”

Only after hearing Ernest’s introduction did Sidney relax. If it were the usual him…

He would have spouted such nonsense. Then what about Logan? Sidney raised her eyes to look up at Logan.

Why are you glaring? Sidney narrowed her eyes like Logan, then chuckled.

At the absurdity of her own recklessness in daring to imitate her superior’s expression.

Though she felt he wouldn’t stand for that insufferable personality, on the other hand she thought what could he do to a drunk woman.

With an attitude of “whatever happens, happens”, Sidney tilted her chin up slightly. But then that arrogant Logan introduced himself with a charming smile.

“I am Logan Redford. And you are, my lady?”

How amusing.

That great Logan Redford not recognizing her. Even calling her “lady”…

Sidney’s eyes sparkled mischievously like a naughty child as she smiled brightly.

“I’m Marien. I was just wondering… what to do about this friend who’s drunk.”

“Are you Victoria’s friend?”

At Ernest’s question, Sidney lowered her eyes and laughed softly. Victoria’s words from earlier suddenly came to mind, and she could imagine Logan’s reaction to them.

He would probably give a scathing remark like, “Do you have a death wish?” or “Do you not have even the slightest sense of caution?”

Sidney stared straight at Logan and moved her lips.

“Yes, we’re friends. Hoping to meet new people in an unfamiliar place… Oh my, am I drunk?”

“You certainly are drunk.”

“Without even the slightest sense of caution?”

“Yes.”

My goodness, Logan Redford was agreeing with an amused smile.

I wonder how far he’ll play along. Sidney narrowed her eyes and called his name in a whisper.

“Lord Redford…”