Being able to have such a passionate love for over a decade was in some ways remarkable, and in some ways incomprehensible.

However, if one considered that person to be a mother, Yuriel could understand everything.

To Vincent, that person must be incredibly precious.

To think he would ask her to participate in such a project.

She thought she had done a good job as his assistant all this time, but this was tantamount to full recognition.

Vincent explained the share and percentage that would fall to her if this work was properly accomplished, and the items that would be reflected in the performance record.

But such things did not register in Yuriel’s ears.

She had not entered this place hoping for a major position in the imperial court or a path to advancement.

She only needed the comfortable lodging currently provided and the minimal expenses to be with her mother.

But it was Vincent who had put in a lot of effort in various ways to keep her in this position.

In the past, whenever people looked at her unfavorably for being a commoner woman in an administrative position, he would throw tasks at her so she could prove her skills.

He was a demanding superior, but a good person. At least to her.

Yuriel gladly nodded.

“If you entrust it to me, I’ll do my best.”

However, there was one thing she was curious about.

“There’s one thing I’m curious about.”

“What is it?”

“Why did you choose me?”

Vincent had many other options besides her.

Those facing promotion next quarter would surely come running with their eyes blazing.

Yet why choose her? Even though just having a commoner female administrative assistant participate in the project would lower its credibility.

Vincent laughed lightly as if he had heard something ridiculous.

“Because you do well. Is there anyone here with a performance record as good as yours?”

“Ah…”

As Vincent said, Yuriel’s performance so far had been unparalleled.

Although her name didn’t appear anywhere because she was just an assistant, everyone here knew how excellent her proposals were and how high their pass rate was.

Yuriel nodded in agreement with his words and turned around.

In that moment, Vincent’s voice echoed through the space once more.

“I also thought our goals might be the same.”

“…Pardon?”

“You want to know who your father is too, right?”

As Vincent said, Yuriel’s thoughts had changed a lot over the past 3 years.

Seeing him searching so desperately for his wife by her side, she sometimes had such delusions.

That perhaps, just perhaps, the father she had never seen might be looking for her too.

Of course, she knew the chances were very low, but still she wanted to find him.

If he was dead as her mother said, at least there would be no resentment left.

And if not, she could at least know why he abandoned his family.

Furthermore, if he turned out to be someone with at least a conscience and vast wealth as she expected, she might no longer have to beg for her mother’s medicine.

Her heart, which had not wanted to open Pandora’s box and be stained with wounds, was now set on seeing a conclusion even if it meant opening it.

Even if she got hurt, once a conclusion was reached, this tangled thread would eventually unravel.

So she too wanted to confirm the face of her bloodline at least once.

Though certainly not with as much desperation as Vincent.

“Yes. There are things I want to ask.”

Vincent was momentarily speechless at the sight of Yuriel speaking bitterly.

The resigned face that showed when she said such things was still something he couldn’t get used to no matter how many times he saw it.

To think that even his belief that he had the most tragic story in the world would be dulled when he saw this child.

It was laughably absurd.

He sometimes wondered what kind of person that father was to have abandoned his child like this.

In that sense, the tracking device would bring a conclusion one way or another.

For him, and for that child.

Vincent handed over a business card with the department in charge at the magic tower written on it.

“If you go here, there will be the department and staff member in charge of this matter.”

“I understand.”

Yuriel bowed her head and hurriedly left the administrative office.

After passing dozens of golden roofs, the tall central magic tower finally greeted her.

Although she had seen it often while working as an administrative assistant, the exterior of the towering magic tower always exuded an overwhelming atmosphere.

Stepping inside, a dark space different from the outside world revealed itself.

Inside the tower-structured building with a closed ceiling, majestic high staircases were coiled like snakes.

The faces of those walking above were full of fatigue.

It was natural, as it was currently the quarterly test period when they were most sensitive.

The magicians produced through rigorous testing were those with such great academic enthusiasm that they would research spells day and night.

However, the current reality of the magic tower was that they were not receiving as much support.

Long ago, they used to summon spirits or divine beasts to use truly magical magic, but at one point the imperial court called real magicians devils and burned them all at the stake.

It was due to the cruel rule of an emperor who feared the growing power of magicians.

Only in the current imperial court has that policy been reversed, officially recognizing them.

However, that doesn’t mean the souls of the dead can return.

Those with strong auras were completely wiped out from this land, and only ordinary people remained to learn and master the remaining magical techniques.

In other words, those who exist in the magic tower now were closer to engineering students than magicians.

They only moved for requests that made money.

It was natural for those who came up through such difficult exams to demand appropriate compensation.

In any case, that would be quite a difficult task for her and for Vincent.

No one would put effort into making a tracking device without funding.

In other words, obtaining funding from the main administrative office was the biggest task she had to accomplish.

However, there wouldn’t be much to do today.

It would just be the routine work of explaining the project and asking how much funding they would need to take it on.

Yuriel took a long breath and headed to the reception desk past the stone stairs.

The system of the magic tower, which only allowed entry after thorough screening and seeing a sealed nameplate, was truly as impressive as rumored.

“A department staff member will come out soon to guide you. Please wait.”

After waiting a moment at those formal words.

The creaking sound of someone coming down the stairs echoed through the space.

A familiar figure came into Yuriel’s view as she turned her head.

‘Hael…?’

Though his silver hair had grown a bit longer than before, it was definitely Hael.

It’s been… 3 years?

The nightmares of that day vividly rushed into her mind.

As if it were yesterday.

Those terrible days of being called a thief and those stinging gazes.

Hael, who left abruptly for the capital after the real culprit was finally revealed.

Hael’s family who ended up leaving for somewhere other than Alfonse…

Hael’s news that was cut off after that.

Though she didn’t steal, she was no different from a thief who stole something important from them.

At least in this child’s life, that’s what she would be.

She made him decide to sell Brit, whom he had cherished and raised, and as a result, made him lose many things.

The sound of Mrs. Catherine yelling at her as she left Alfonse for the last time was still vivid.

Saying that none of this would have happened if it weren’t for her.

That she was entirely responsible for ruining her son’s life.

A feeling of bewilderment washed over her at this encounter with someone she thought she would never meet again in her life.

How could this child who loved horses be in this magic tower?

Did he really ruin his life because of her and end up far from horses?

Hael, looking at her, had an expression no different from hers.

Those eyes filled with guilt reminded her of herself waiting for Hael in prison long ago.

Of the day she finally gave up and ended up waiting for that young master.

The day she chose to subordinate herself to that young master of her own will.

The silence stretched on for quite a while as neither of us could easily continue speaking.

It was Hael who broke it first.

“I’m sorry.”

She felt breathless and couldn’t say anything.

Yes. Hael’s gaze after meeting again after a long time made her settle everything she had put off until now.

That Hael and she had become people who looked at each other with guilt.

“Me too…”

Before she could finish speaking, Hael cut her off.

“What do you have to be sorry for?”

As if he didn’t want to define such a relationship between her and himself.

“I’m the one who ran away.”

A face that looked like it would burst into tears at any moment gazed at her sadly.

She had hoped to never run into him again. But things in life always seem to go opposite to her wishes.

She couldn’t bear to keep looking at that face stained with guilt.

“Let’s stop talking about that.”

Only silence remained, swimming in the empty space above.

The fortunate thing in the midst of misfortune was that her heart no longer raced at the sight of Hael.

It seems her heart that knows its place has finally found its proper orbit.

Hael’s gaze looking at her trembled. That gaze probably isn’t excitement, but guilt too.

If that’s the case.

If it’s like that.

Couldn’t we go back to being the friends we were long ago?

If we want to avoid feeling uncomfortable seeing each other as we continue working at the magic tower, we should make that much effort.

She struggles to squeeze out words with effort.

“Have you… been well?”

Hael, now fully grown out of boyhood into an adult, was wearing a well-pressed suit.

Compared to the wrinkled clothes he often wore when managing horses, he looks much better now.

At least on the outside.

“…Yeah.”

“I’m glad.”

That foolish smile is unmistakably Hael.

“You?”

“I’ve been well.”

She had heard he went to the capital, but after that, no one in Alfonse knew anything about Hael.

She vaguely thought he would be at the Blanchet ranch…

“Have you been here all this time?”

“Yeah. Somehow it turned out that way.”

Yuriel felt a wave of guilt at the sight of Hael smiling awkwardly.

It bothered her that this boy who loved horses was doing something else.

Especially knowing it was because of her.

“I thought you were at the Blanchet ranch.”

“I don’t want to manage horses anymore. Working in the magic tower management department suits me quite well. I sent Brit to another ranch for the last time too.”

He’ll have to carry that burden he gained by being entangled with her for the rest of his life.

I too will have to carry those memories for the rest of my life, just as Hael said.

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s already been a long time.”