Hael, who had been staring intently at Yuriel, suddenly spoke in a bright voice as if nothing had happened, relaying his recent circumstances.

The best parts of the past three years, when condensed, didn’t even amount to three lines.

Fortunately, amid misfortune, he had passed the exam.

Fortunately, amid misfortune, the work here suited him well.

And fortunately, amid misfortune, he had met her again… Such was his story.

Throughout his account, Hael’s breath trembled, but he tried hard to conceal it.

“But why did you come here?”

Yuriel, with a face identical to long ago, recounted past events in a calm voice.

Hael felt indignant while listening about the lord’s affairs, surprised at the story of passing the administrative exam with top marks, and pleased about the fulfilled dreams, but he didn’t show any of these emotions.

Humans learn through past experiences.

He knew well that if he approached carelessly, it would only hurt Yuriel.

“Anyway, it’s really… been a long time, hasn’t it?”

“Yes. I was worried, but I’m glad to see you. Please take care of me from now on.”

Unlike long ago, Yuriel’s eyes were like a night without a single ray of light.

Hael deliberately averted his gaze from Yuriel.

Because he knew he couldn’t offer any comfort today anyway.

Behind Hael’s steady footsteps, Yuriel’s light steps followed.

Stopping in front of a room, Hael guided Yuriel inside.

“He will be here soon.”

“He?”

“All project approvals must go through Officer Robert Matap.”

He was quite a difficult person, and instances of outsiders receiving approval could be counted on one hand.

It usually required at least an imperial title or an order from the highest nobility to receive approval.

In other words, it would be difficult for Yuriel to get approval for this matter.

Hael stepped outside, cheering for Yuriel with all his heart.

‘I hope she receives approval so we can occasionally run into each other at the tower.’

The time Yuriel waited for Officer Robert was quite long.

The reason was that the tower was currently busy with the test period.

Meanwhile, inside the room located in the corridor where magicians passed, their conversations could be heard.

Contrary to how outsiders described all magicians as mad people burning with academic fervor, the topics floating around here were inevitably the same.

Some duke brought his second daughter to a social gathering, some young noble confessed to her, some lady from Cavaliero favored some young noble…

Familiar with these stories of people she only saw in documents, Yuriel closed her eyes tightly and then opened them.

Hael briefly came to mind, but then the letter that arrived for her early this morning overlapped that thought.

It was the first reply received out of a total of thirty-six letters.

When she first received the answer, she was quite taken aback.

Although she had asked how he was doing, she hadn’t expected an answer at all.

She had assumed it would just pass by like the previous thirty-five letters.

But to receive a reply. And… what did it mean that he wasn’t doing well?

Did it mean he was in pain?

Was he really never coming back?

She thought everything would end if only there was a cure.

Perhaps the worst outcome might occur.

‘If young master doesn’t return…’

Just then, a familiar name brushed past her ear.

“Hey, did you hear? They say the young lord Blanchet is returning!”

“Where did you hear that?”

“It was in an extra edition of the Pantheon Daily just now!”

“If it’s that newspaper, it must be reliable. Look.”

“There were many rumors about his poor health and whatnot, but I guess it was all lies.”

He’s… returning to the capital?

It was unbelievable. Just yesterday, in his reply, he said he wasn’t doing well, so how suddenly…

It was then that Officer Robert appeared before Yuriel, who had turned pale.

Not knowing what state of mind she was in, Yuriel rattled off her prepared words, and as soon as the business was finished, she hurriedly stepped outside.

Indeed, there were Pantheon Daily newspapers scattered everywhere, proclaimed as extra editions.

The white hand that picked up a newspaper trembled slightly.

He’s coming. Cassian di Blanchet, he is.

He really is coming.

Cassian, who had disembarked at the central dock of Pantheon, briefly fixed his gaze on the scenery of the capital he had arrived at after three years.

From the distant, shimmering Pantheon statues to the towering towers and the imperial palace, everything was visible from the high-ground dock.

“Shall we go?”

The head butler, who had come personally from Blanchet to escort him, had brought quite a large procession.

It was a large-scale procession of a different dimension compared to when heading to Ephrose Island.

Knowing full well what the intention was, Cassian nodded and moved his feet.

Throughout the journey along the road stretching from the dock, the procession of that size followed him.

Everyone’s attention naturally turned to him.

“It looks like it will be a perfect welcoming ceremony, my lord.”

Listening to Tiobe’s excited chatter, Cassian mounted the high saddle.

A faint sneer settled on his face.

What welcoming ceremony.

All of this would become a perfect show to be featured in tomorrow’s newspapers.

As expected, his quick-handed mother had already filled nearby newspapers with news of his return.

The occasional paparazzi following was also likely her work.

However, he didn’t offer any particular rebuttal and pulled on the reins.

The horse, letting out a long neigh, moved slowly through the streets according to Cassian’s slight force.

The past three years, which might have been short for some, were like hell for him.

The scenery of the capital had changed a lot.

Buildings that were once low had raised their heights, and the combination of walls unified with solid colors and accents created a feeling of a new city.

There were even people throwing fireworks on this return journey after three years.

Those who would be recorded as followers of Blanchet were likely also the work of his quick-moving mother.

Throughout the journey through the long road towards the center, gazes followed behind him.

The sight of him riding a horse on the same path he had once traveled by carriage.

However, there was no better way to show his well-being.

The strength required to ride a horse was no ordinary matter.

Cassian, who had been observing all these scenes as if they weren’t his own affair, quietly examined the faces of the spectators.

His gaze as he examined their faces was quite persistent.

“Are you looking for someone?”

Looking for someone… Only then did Cassian recall the person he had been instinctively searching for until just now.

Yuriel.

In fact, what he was most curious about during the past three years was how she had changed.

His servant, who seemed to always report her circumstances to him yet arbitrarily omitted some important matters at times, was impudently absent from this procession.

Cassian swallowed a bitter smile at the fact that she wasn’t present in this long procession that seemed to embrace all the empire’s citizens.

Didn’t she say she liked him before?

If one is going to pull a con, shouldn’t it be done properly to the end?

“That can’t be.”

Even as he muttered softly, Cassian’s gaze didn’t leave the spectators.

Not until they reached the Blanchet mansion.

Yuriel moved hurriedly, leaving behind the noisy crowd excited by the news of young master Blanchet’s return.

At first, she was shocked by the fact that he was coming, but now… she decided not to pay attention to it.

No, in reality, it was more ridiculous for her to be concerned about it.

She just needed to write letters consistently according to the schedule, so what did his return have to do with her?

Occasionally, she was curious about how that young master had changed, but she decided to set it aside as mere curiosity.

The words “not doing well” lingered like indigestion around her chest, but that too wasn’t a matter for her to be involved in.

Above all, she had more important things to do today than that.

Assessing her mother’s condition.

Yuriel, holding her mother’s hand tightly, quickly pushed through the crowd.

Jane, unaware of everything, smiled as she looked at the noisy procession and people.

“It seems a good person is coming to the capital. Look at how many people have come to welcome them.”

“…”

“Don’t you think so, daughter?”

Yuriel looked at Jane’s carefree, bright face with an expression that seemed on the verge of tears.

Her mother, Jane… had been gradually losing her memories since taking that medicine.

The medicine provided by the young master certainly did its job and cured her mother’s illness, but it also took away her mother’s memories bit by bit.

After taking that medicine for three years now, Jane had lost a considerable portion of her memories due to its side effects.

She no longer remembered that the young master had been in Alphonse long ago, or that he had given them the mansion and many other things, or even the fact that her daughter had been involved with him…

If only that were all.

She occasionally wandered around looking for a father who didn’t exist.

Of course, even so, if only her mother could extend her life, the medicine was fulfilling its function sufficiently.

But…

What if even that was problematic?

Whenever such a chilling thought occurred to her, Yuriel’s heart sank.

Today, Yuriel was heading to a private medical clinic recommended by Mr. Vincent, which was said to be famous in many ways.

It took months for everything from reservations, and the cost was also considerable, but it was said to be a place with extraordinary skills.

On the way to the clinic she had made a big decision to book, Yuriel’s steps were heavy.

“Mom, Dr. Bitenrior, whom we’re meeting today, will do a simple health checkup. It’s being provided by my workplace, so don’t worry and just relax.”

It was easy to deceive Jane by saying it was something like that, given the excellent public position that even provided lodging and meals.

Amidst her lack of memories, her mother vehemently refused anything that involved spending her own money.

Fortunately, this time Jane accepted her words without suspicion.

The two entered the modest but clean building and were soon called by name and directed to the doctor.

With white hair but an unusual aura, he had a face that made it difficult to guess his age.

He asked various questions about memory, instructed the completion of test papers, finished a complex examination, and then sent the two out.

Shortly after, Yuriel was instructed to enter alone.

Leaving Jane behind, Yuriel stepped inside with nervous steps.

The demeanor of Lord Bitenrior, who frowned with a serious expression as if about to discuss something important, seemed ominous.

Feeling her throat burning up, Yuriel swallowed hard.

“Is there… a problem?”