After leaving money on the table, I stepped outside and headed to the highest nearby point.

Scanning the area, I spotted the Red Caterpillar walking a few blocks from the tavern I just left.

The brief recording wasn’t enough.

To avoid alerting the quick-witted Red Caterpillar that I had ‘changed,’ I couldn’t ask much.

Observing silently was better than inquiring.

Where was he going? To report to Medea about our meeting? What would he report about me? Or was he meeting someone else for another task?

Moving silently from roof to roof, I kept him in sight.

He was cautious, heading somewhere purposefully.

‘He has more to do.’

My intuition told me.

He headed towards a secluded hillside far from Nouvelle Avenue. I watched him from atop a tall tree.

What was he planning to do…

Soon, someone appeared. A small figure, draped in a black cloak from head to toe, a woman.

Who was she?

It was too dark to see her face under the cloak.

I silently descended the tree, staying hidden with a clear view of them.

The Caterpillar took out a pendant attached to a long silver chain and began to slowly swing it in front of the cloaked woman.

I couldn’t help but watch.

“You are the Emperor’s blood granddaughter. No one can deny that truth. Believe it.”

“!'”

“Yes, I believe. I am the only kin of Emperor Dimitus. My father is Michael Delfast. My mother, Agnes Fleur, the saint of the fallen kingdom of Ventus.”

…Hypnosis.

I clenched my teeth.

The Caterpillar asked the woman.

“Who am I?”

“You brought me to this place, Jedha. The unseen benefactor who supports me from the shadows, the North Duke.”

‘!!!’

My breath caught.

This was it, Medea’s plan.
“Good. You’re doing well, Cecilia.”

The Red Caterpillar stroked Cecilia’s head.

Once, when we were young, a hypnotist was brought in to teach us, the assassin trainees, about hypnosis. Back then, the Red Caterpillar was the only one among us who showed any talent for it.

‘So, it was you who hypnotized her. That’s why she was so convinced, believing herself to be the Emperor’s granddaughter.’

Shortly after, the Red Caterpillar disappeared from sight. Right after that, two loud whistles sounded nearby.

Cecilia seemed to wake from her trance, looking around bewilderedly. Then, like a frightened squirrel, she quickly fled the place.

‘She’s being controlled. Was she brought here under a prior suggestion?’

I placed my hand on my chest.

Everything that just happened has been recorded by this memory stone.

‘I must show this to His Grace immediately. I need to hurry.’

I raced back to where I belonged, the Northern Duke’s estate.

However, as I was about to enter, my heart felt heavy.

I couldn’t use the main entrance. Since I left secretly, I had to enter the same way.

Fortunately, a soldier at the first gate of the estate’s perimeter recognized me and let me in. As I walked the long path, I soon headed towards the garden, looking up at the window of my fourth-floor room.

I exhaled deeply and climbed up the wall to my window, entering my room. I didn’t change out of my clothes but replaced my mask with a new one.

Stepping out into the corridor silently, I froze at an unexpected voice.

“Estelle.”

I was startled by the sudden call. Looking up, I saw the Duke standing under the grand chandelier, his room and office directly above mine.

How long had he been there, watching me?

His gaze was filled with sorrow and… an incomprehensible turmoil.

“Your Grace.”

“Why are you out and about dressed like that?”

His voice was frighteningly calm.

“I have something to report, Your Grace.”

“……”

“May I speak with you now?”

“Come up.”

He turned and headed towards his office.

His demeanor felt chilly, unsettling. A sinking feeling in my heart.

Like a guilty puppy, I slowly climbed the stairs to his office.

Inside, the Duke was alone. The only solace seemed to be the quietly burning pechka in the corner of the room.

He stood facing the pechka, showing me his side profile.

Why did he look angry? Sad?

Did he know about my secret outing?

I had to clear any misunderstandings. I decided to speak first.

“Your Grace, I had to go out alone for caution’s sake… I had someone important to meet.”

He didn’t respond, just stared into the pechka’s flames.

“……I’m sorry. Next time, I’ll inform you.”

“I was afraid you wouldn’t come back.”

The Duke spoke.

What? Afraid I wouldn’t come back?

“Why would that be? There’s no way I wouldn’t return.”

“Is that so.”

“……”

“Estelle, did you go to meet Medea?”

“……Yes. But she didn’t come herself.”

“……Didn’t you think it might be dangerous?”

His voice was different from usual, deeper and trembling slightly.

“I am… Yes, I might be stronger than you think, Your Grace. Skilled with a sword too.”

“That’s not what I meant!”

I was startled by the sudden rise in his voice.

“Sorry, sorry.”

He ran his large hand over his face.

“Your Grace?”
“Why… do you keep throwing yourself into danger alone? Have you entrusted yourself to me but still don’t trust me? Or do you think it doesn’t matter if you get hurt or even die? Is your life… so trivial to you?”

The Duke was angry.

Was it because I didn’t tell him beforehand? And then went off alone into danger?

“I wouldn’t say it doesn’t matter if I die, Your Grace. I intend to live.”

“Medea is more terrifying than you think. So is the Southern Duke.”

His deep blue eyes gazed at me intently.

I was taken aback.

Your Grace, I have brought significant evidence recorded on the memory stone, more important than you may realize. But why… are you angry?

I took a step towards the Duke, intending to show him the memory stone I had brought.

But then I stumbled over a rug on the floor. I wouldn’t normally, but in my flustered state, I lost my balance and leaned forward.

That’s when it happened.

The Duke caught me as I fell. I ended up burying my face in his chest.

Was it the heat from the pechka?

I should have stepped back, but why did I feel so dizzy? Maybe the encounter with the Red Caterpillar was more exhausting than I thought.

But then the Duke’s large hand wrapped around my shoulder.

…Your Grace? Why aren’t you letting go?