Even during times when I was not in my right mind, I never touched such dangerous herbs.

That was because it served as a last resort. A petty consolation that my mind, though wavering, had not completely lost its personality to that extent.

So Selene touched her ears, wondering if she had heard correctly, and asked again.

“So you’re saying I’ve been exposed to a dangerous scent?”

“The probability is high.”

“How did I, no, I had no idea. Specifically, when did this scent start? Tell me more details.”

The words tumbled out incoherently, so confused by the news she was hearing for the first time.

Leon nodded as if sympathizing with her feelings and spoke even more firmly.

“Yes. Actually, I’m only telling you now because I needed time to be certain. I checked and compared several times, and I’m sure. It was the scent of castro.”

Castro has quite diverse characteristics, one of which is that most people can’t smell it. Even the person inhaling it. Unless you have an exceptionally keen sense of smell like me.

Leon added an explanation afterwards, but Selene couldn’t hear anything. She blinked several times, feeling as if her vision was darkening. Each time her eyes closed, her eyelids trembled helplessly.

“Why would I… I’ve never even seen castro or whatever it’s called.”

“That’s what I want to ask. You’re not the type to touch such things no matter how hard things get. Where on earth did you pick up that scent?”

“…I’ll have to look into it first. There’s a lot to do. Thanks for letting me know, Leon. I’m newly glad I didn’t stop you when you insisted on studying herbology, trusting only that excellent nose of yours. If it weren’t for you, we could have been in big trouble.”

“If there’s anything I can help with, just tell me. I’ll definitely do it, whatever it is.”

Selene, who had no room left to respond, nodded slightly to promise the next time.

* * *

Dong, dong.

The signal announcing the hour rang out across the wide square. At that, the eyes of those chatting in the cafe opposite the old Prifalga city hall turned towards the clock tower as if by agreement.

The cleanly falling hour was suitable for deciding appointment times. Some widened their stride, and acceleration was added to the carriages rolling along.

The carriage the two would ride back in was also scheduled to arrive at the entrance of the square at that appointed time. Recalling the appointment, Boreas took a step towards the square’s entrance.

Even though it was 6 PM, when everyone should be heading home from work, the square was bustling with people no different from midday. Perhaps because of the huge festival of the Crown Prince’s birthday celebration ahead, the atmosphere was unsettled in every shop they passed.

In the center of Prifalga stood a fountain with statues of winged angels. Near the fountain, about ten steps from the square’s entrance, a blue skirt fluttered gently.

“…”

The woman standing in front of the Trevi Fountain tucked her wind-tossed hair behind her ear. With her gaze lowered, she seemed to be deeply lost in thought.

The woman was his wife, Selene Adrian.

The fact that this woman standing alone so nobly was his wife suddenly felt new. Though there was no reason it should, perhaps this impression came because it had been a while since he’d seen her so calm.

As he hesitated in his steps at the unexpected feeling given by this obvious fact, it felt as if time was flowing only in that space where the woman existed.

But it was only for a moment.

As he skillfully erased any sign of hesitation, the feeling that only that woman was moving naturally disappeared.

Afterwards, the man’s steps never paused again. He simply continued to put strength into his toes and walk at a constant speed.

With each step closer, the woman’s face became just that one step clearer. The steps that seemed like they would continue stopped after twelve paces.

She, who had been thinking so deeply she wouldn’t have noticed if someone carried her off, suddenly lifted her head as if waking from a dream. That wasn’t all. Shortly after, she began striding purposefully somewhere.

Boreas also turned his head to follow her movement. The woman walked briskly on those small legs of hers, then stopped where some children were gathered.

Boreas folded his arms and observed her next unpredictable action.

The woman who had reached where the children were gathered, or more precisely in front of a fallen girl, stretched out her hand to the girl and helped her up. Then she spoke to the children who had pushed the girl.

Somehow intrigued by that sight, Boreas leaned casually against a lamppost and watched the situation, becoming a perfect spectator.

* * *

The girl’s scream was heard while she was absentmindedly counting the number of pebbles rolling on the ground.

“I’m, I’m not a st-st-stutter!”

When she lifted her head, she saw children who looked about elementary school age not far away. Selene pricked up her ears and listened intently.

“Not a stu-stu-stutter~ What else do you call that stuttering then?”

“She’s crying. Crybaby, crybaby.”

Originally, she had planned to ignore it unless the victim child asked for help first. Because help could turn into unwanted meddling.

But that was before she saw the little ones grab the girl’s hair as she tried to run away, and push her shoulder to knock her down.

“Eek! St-stop it! If you keep do-doing this…!”

“What? Are you going to call Stutter 2? Hehe. No one’s going to help you. Look. Stutter 2, where are you?”

“Here.”

For the record, Selene Adrian was a righteous woman who knew how to speak up in the face of violence.

“Who are you?!”

Of course, that sense of justice didn’t always lead to a beneficial outcome. She rubbed her ear, which seemed to be bleeding, and responded lightly.

“What do you mean, who? I’m Stutter 2, aren’t I?”

“Liar. Then are you Stutter 2, no, Stutter’s sister?”

Selene knew how to shut their mouths in an instant. Currently, she was dressed no differently from a commoner. So all she had to do was change clothes and show them the carriage stamped with the ducal family’s crest.

But it wasn’t a fundamental solution, and she didn’t want to deal with children in such a way as to crush them.

“I am indeed Stutter 2.”

“Do you have proof? Do you?”

Selene shrugged her shoulders and said plainly.

“Proof? Of course not.”

She said it so plainly that if someone only heard the intonation, they might understand it as saying she had proof. The children, who were dumbfounded, soon put their hands on their hips and showed a triumphant attitude.

“What? Then are you lying?”

“We almost fell for it. An adult lying to children?! Apologize to us!”

Submission obtained through the use of power is not valuable. Instead, skills honed at the center of power can be quite useful in planting valuable lessons in those small heads.

“Do I have to show you proof? Why?”

The clear voice, like crystal beads rolling, created a chilly atmosphere when lowered. Hiccup. Suddenly, the sound of hiccupping erupted here and there.

“Stuttering is not wrong. But teasing others is wrong. So who should apologize?”

As the children covered their mouths in embarrassment, the corners of Selene’s eyes curved gently.

“Since you gave me the nickname Stutter 2, I should reciprocate accordingly. You’re always quick to tease, so Teaser would be good, wouldn’t it?”

“What? We don’t like it!”

“Why~ Teaser. It sounds good and suits you well.”

“We don’t like it! Don’t call us that!”

“How is it? It’s uncomfortable for you to hear too, right? You don’t want to be called that?”

The children covered their ears and nodded vigorously. Selene’s lips, which had been waiting for a reaction, opened again.

“The word ‘stutter’ is the same. Don’t call her that anymore.”

“But we were just joking!”

“If the other person didn’t feel it was a joke, then it’s not a joke. It’s violence. So shouldn’t you apologize?”

When she firmly stated the facts, the children began to move their mouths one by one.

“S-sorry.”

“I’m sorry too.”

“Sorry for teasing you.”

Bit by bit, the sounds of apology came out. The girl who had been teased accepted the apologies, telling them not to do it again.

This was a fairly good outcome. Looking at it this way, they seemed quite cute. Of course, their behavior wasn’t cute.

With one child offering an apology with fidgeting hands, the situation was peacefully resolved. Selene, who had been calmly observing, finally turned and walked towards where the carriage was waiting.

Reaching the carriage, Selene opened the door and looked inside. The white leather sofa was empty, with only a cool breeze felt. Selene, seated on the plush sofa, waited for Boreas, who had said he was going to take care of some business.

It was quite fortunate for her. The distance from the square fountain to where the carriage was waiting wasn’t far, and although it was an immoral situation, an adult intervening in children’s fights was an embarrassing sight for someone to see.

Fortunately, there was no one in the carriage, and the door only opened after 10 minutes had passed.

Boreas, who opened the door, hesitated for a moment as he put his foot on the carriage step. Selene, who had been quietly staring straight ahead, turned her head at the suddenly interrupted presence.

As their eyes met, Boreas nodded his head towards Selene’s opposite side. When she just tilted her head, not understanding the meaning, he pointed in the direction with his hand this time.

Ah.

Selene, belatedly understanding, moved to the opposite seat.

Why is he doing that?

The brief question that had arisen was already gone by the time he tapped the wall behind him as a signal to depart.