Being together in a confined space made me feel tense for no reason. After a while, the Grand Duke muttered.

“Will the window open?”

He put his hand on the window. But the window creaked and didn’t open well.

“Let me try!”

I put my hand on the window on my side. Unlike the Grand Duke’s family’s carriage, the windows of this carriage were very opaque and didn’t open well.

The Grand Duke reached out his arm as if to help me. At that moment, the carriage jerked. The Grand Duke’s hand reaching for the window touched my hand.

‘!’

The Grand Duke quickly took his hand off me.

Perhaps because his hand was large, my heart pounded for a moment.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“Why won’t this open properly?”

The Grand Duke, looking slightly angry, opened the window again. At that moment, the window shattered with a loud noise.

The carriage stopped.

The coachman who came to check the window got angry.

“Oh no! How can you break the window like this! It was made so that the inside can’t be seen from the outside on purpose. Today’s business is ruined, ruined!”

“On purpose, you say?”

The Grand Duke asked.

“Ah, this style of window is the trend these days. It’s a so-called carriage room! I heard it’s popular with young people these days, so I changed the windows after paying a high price! Looks like I won’t even make my money back!”

‘Carriage room?’

Seeing my puzzled expression, the coachman said.

“Are you two foreigners? I thought you stopped my carriage because you wanted to be alone together.”

“!”

I looked at the Grand Duke. But the Grand Duke was also looking at me. As our eyes met, we avoided each other’s gaze, not knowing who did it first.

‘Alone together. So that’s the kind of carriage it was.’

My cheeks flushed hotly with embarrassment. I was the one who stopped this carriage.

‘What if the Grand Duke misunderstands?’

“I, I didn’t know. Really!”

“I didn’t know either. I will compensate you double for the repair costs.”

Only after receiving money from the Grand Duke, the coachman started to drive the carriage again with a smile on his face.

The wind came in through the broken window, but it wasn’t refreshing at all.

“Esther, I was curious anyway, is the North a good place to live?”

Suddenly, the Grand Duke asked in a loud voice.

“Yes! It’s wonderful!”

I answered in a loud voice too. And then again, silence.

To avoid the awkwardness, I turned my gaze here and there, and my eyes fell on a corner of the carriage.

I didn’t know before the wind came in, but there was some tissue hanging there, along with some oil. The wind rushing in through the narrow window shook the tissue wildly.

‘It can’t be.’

But the Grand Duke’s gaze was also on that tissue. Our eyes met again.

Without knowing who did it first, we turned our eyes out the window.

[This is the timeline separator]

After riding for over an hour, we got out of the carriage. For some reason, I felt tired. The Grand Duke seemed the same way.

The store Hans told us about was a large pub located at the very back of the fortune-teller’s alley.

As we entered, everyone’s eyes in the store turned to us.

I went to the bartender standing in front of an old wooden table.

“Can I get an eyeball?”

“Excuse me? This is not that kind of place.”

“I came with an introduction from Mr. Cupid.”

Then the bartender looked up and stared at the Grand Duke standing behind me. A tremendous force of intimidation and killing intent was emanating from the Grand Duke. It was enough to make my back shiver with a chill even though I was standing in front.

“You, you seem to be in a great hurry. Follow me.”

The place we were led to was the back of the bar. After passing through a narrow and long dark corridor, a small room appeared.

There sat an old man with white hair, wearing old plain clothes. The old man, seemingly unable to see, opened his mouth with his eyes covered with a white cloth.

“This morning, I had a different dream than usual, and as expected… Unusual guests have come.”

“I heard this is the place to get the best crystal ball in the empire.”

I said. Then the old man replied.

“There is no such thing as the best crystal ball. It becomes the best crystal ball when the energy of the crystal ball and its owner match. Is the person who will use it the young lady?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s take a look at the young lady’s energy.”

The old man took off the white cloth covering his eyes and looked up at me. His pupils were cloudy white as if they had always been that way. But after a moment, he lowered his head and began to tremble.

“What’s wrong? Are you alright?”

Worried, I reached out my hand slightly towards the old man. Then the old man pulled his body back to avoid my touch. Then he politely said.

“I’m fine, living so long, I get to meet guests like you.”

Someone like me.

What on earth did this old man see in me?

The Grand Duke opened his mouth.

“Did you see something in this young lady?”

I looked at the Grand Duke.

Is it okay to hear this in the presence of the Grand Duke of Belfast?

In the moment of tension, the old man answered.

“You are someone who has had a great power prevent three deaths. I can’t see everything, but one thing is clear. Someone tried to kill the young lady but failed, and the young lady lost a part of her memory.”

“!”

“Don’t worry, it will come back someday.”

“Who are you, owner?”

The Grand Duke asked in place of me, frozen. His voice had sunk coldly as if tense.

“I’m just an ordinary fortune teller. I was very successful once, but every human has a time of prosperity and a time of downfall.”

The old man hurriedly got up from his seat as if to cut off our words.

“I will bring a stone that seems to suit the young lady.”

The old man disappeared behind the curtain at the back of the room.

The Grand Duke and I, left alone in the small room, looked at each other.

“It seems that when the eyes can’t see, they can see things that others can’t.”

The Grand Duke stared at me indifferently. Feeling an inexplicable flush from that gaze, I turned my head away.

The Grand Duke’s scent, resembling the fragrance of the dawn forest, was felt closer in the confined space.

‘Someone tried to kill me but failed… And as a result, my memory was erased?’

“Could it be that someone tried to kill you before you turned five?”

At the Grand Duke’s question that sounded like a monologue, I shook my head.

“We can’t fully believe the words of a fortune teller we’re meeting for the first time. But I’m curious. What exactly did he see?”

After a while, the old man came out with something preciously wrapped, holding it on the palm of his hand.

“It is a crystal ball made from the magic stone of the now fallen Ventus Kingdom. It’s almost 100 years old since it was made, but it’s more special because it’s old.”

“Ventus?”

My mother’s kingdom?

The old man carefully removed the paper wrapping the stone. Inside was a small, translucent green stone.

“Yes. If this crystal ball accepts the young lady as its owner, it will shine transparently. It will record everything your heart commands as an image.”

The old man carefully placed the stone on the palm of my hand.

An unknown warmth spread from my fingertips. At the same time, the stone began to shine brightly in a transparent green.

‘Ah…’

I heard the Grand Duke hold his breath.

“It has finally found its owner. For the first time since it was made.”

“How much is the price?”

The Grand Duke asked, and the old man replied.

“The stone has become so precious that it is priceless, just now. But please give as much as you wish to give, dear guest.”

“…I will give one hundred thousand luna. Is that alright?”

The Grand Duke said.

One hundred thousand luna. It is enough money to buy three mansions of a high noble in the empire.

The old man bowed deeply.

“It is more than enough, but I will accept it. Instead, I have a word to give to the young lady as much as the extra money you gave, so could you please give us a moment. Your Highness.”

“…Do so.”

The Grand Duke hesitated and went out. But I could see that he left the door of the room slightly open.

Is it a mistake, or is it intentional?

The sound of the Grand Duke’s footsteps faded away.

Is he really going far away, or is he listening nearby?

While I was thinking that, the old man showed a faint smile.

“The young lady will live because of that person who came with you and die because of that person. But fate changes depending on what choice the young lady makes. I hope… that you will be safe.”

“…What is your name?”

“I don’t have one. A name is not necessary for someone who doesn’t have many days left to live.”

“Who are you?”

“Just an ordinary fortune teller. A little brave, that’s all.”

“…Thank you.”

I wanted to ask more, but I couldn’t because I was worried about the Grand Duke who might be outside.

I already know how my fate will turn out.

I bet my life on Sion Belfast in this life, so my fate will be with him. Even if I die, every human dies once. Even if I’m not safe, it can’t be helped, I’m already prepared for that too.

“If I have a chance, I will come find you again. Alone, then.”

The old man simply bowed his head quietly in front of me.

I quietly turned around.

The Grand Duke was already outside after paying the money, standing outside the pub.

His blue eyes looking back at me were unusually dark and sunk.

‘Did he perhaps hear what the old man said?’

Suddenly, my heart ached. For a reason I don’t know.

On the way back, we took a carriage with transparent windows.

The Grand Duke didn’t ask me anything.

[This is the timeline separator]

I decided to attend the ball as a squire and Arcadia’s deputy. This time, I decided to go with Emils and Bran as well. Because of that, he has been unusually friendly to me these past few days.

And today, the day before the ball, Hans came to my room.

With the completed Northern uniform for me.

“Mr. Butler… It’s really beautiful. Is this really mine?”

I exclaimed sincerely. A corner of my heart swelled up.

The light pink-tinged, body-hugging white pants. A white top. Long-necked, thin and light navy boots. The black cloak symbolizing the Northern Knights. And the ‘Shield of the Empire’ pattern embroidered with green sapphires on the chest.

Transparent and small sapphire beads were embedded not only in the shield pattern but also in the collar and cuffs of the uniform, adding to its beauty.

I was going to wear the uniform of the Northern Knights, not the white cloak of an assassin.

Hans said.

“This is the first female knight’s uniform of the Northern Knights, specially ordered for Miss Esther. I paid special attention to the material and fit compared to the male knights’ uniforms.”

“I’m really, really happy.”

Hans asked again.

“Are you sure you’re really happy? Why do you look like you’re about to cry… Or would you like Madam Lumiere’s spring season new dress now.”

“No. I’m really happy, Mr. Butler. I’ve been waiting only for this uniform.”

“Is that so?”

Hans smiled quietly like a benevolent grandfather.

Then, Ergo came to me with the finally completed half-mask.

“It fits well. Miss Esther, it’s done, so try it on. I made it very sturdy so that it can’t be taken off by hands or swords now. Oh, of course it’s very light.”

Ergo winked.

A mask that wouldn’t break or shatter no matter how hard Medeia tried to cut the seams.

It was a silver mask resembling the soft moonlight.

On the edges, very small silver bell flower-shaped patterns carved from transparent diamonds were beautifully embossed.

My voice cracked a little without me realizing it.

“Thank you, Mr. Ergo. Can I really receive such a precious thing?”

Ergo replied.

“Of course. It also means to cheer up more.”

“Yes, I will cheer up. All weapons are ready now.”

I smiled, feeling like I was about to cry.

At my words, both Hans and Ergo showed proud smiles.

[This is the timeline separator]

The Grand Duke boarded the grand carriage of Belfast. Arcadia, Bran, and I each rode horses and escorted the carriage to the Imperial Palace.

Finally, we arrived in front of the ‘Silver Lucella Hall’ where the three-day banquet would be held. The hall, revealed as the door opened, was so wide and huge that the end was out of sight.

“His Highness, Sion Belfast, the Grand Duke of the North, the shield protecting the empire, has arrived!”

The shout of the attendant guarding the door resounded through the hall.

Hundreds of nobles gathered in groups of three or five all looked at us at once.

“Oh my, it’s His Highness the Grand Duke of the North.”

“To see him at a ball, not on the battlefield! Such a day has come!”

“It’s the envoy from the North!”

Murmurs of surprise and curiosity spread lowly, striking my ears.

The Grand Duke in a black cloak and navy uniform, with the Belfast crest on his chest, entered the hall.

A tremendous force of intimidation that couldn’t be seen in the mansion was overflowing from the Grand Duke. If his back looks like this, how would the nobles seeing his front be?

Everyone couldn’t even make eye contact and paid their respects to the Grand Duke.

I followed the Grand Duke, standing at the very back of the procession. While doing so, I searched the hall without turning my head.

I saw Medeia standing under the platform where the Emperor’s seat was, far away.

She was also looking at me.