Even after coming to the capital, she found out that the value of the jewelry was lower than she had thought. But what’s done is done. What can be done?

“I have no choice but to gather money quickly.”

Perhaps because she had become unaccustomed to working after being treated as a precious young lady for a few days, work felt even more difficult.

Once again, Lina sighed and approached a puddle nearby, then scrutinized her reflection in the water.

“I thought it would be okay since I was often told I looked like a boy when I was living as Lina.”

Lina looked around to make sure no one was watching, then quickly took off her brown wig.

“Phew, now I can breathe.”

Though the weather had turned quite chilly, wearing a thick wig all day while sweating from work was quite uncomfortable.

Lina, who sat down for a moment to catch her breath, gathered her knees and rested her face on them.

“I wonder if everyone is doing well?”

She was worried that Mei would cry all day, or that unnecessary trouble would arise for the coachman who had driven the carriage and the knights who had been with her.

‘Is the Duke sleeping well? Is he having nightmares or headaches?’

Various worries flooded in. However, she soon found her own worries ridiculous and clicked her tongue briefly.

“Sigh.”

Anyway, she could not go back to comfort them or be by their side. Worrying about people she would never see again.

“If I go to the south, completely unrelated to Permanence. I won’t think about them or the Duke anymore.”

She must distance herself as far from where the Duke is. So she wouldn’t think about that man anymore.

Lina shook her head as if trying to shake off the thoughts swirling in her head, then readjusted her wig, picked up the basket of laundry, and headed towards the inn.

As soon as she entered the inn, the innkeeper, as if waiting, called Lina over.

“Teo. Go to Parier’s bakery and pick up the bread we ordered.”

“Parier’s bakery?”

“Yes, the bakery next to Tarin’s council. It’s on the alley across from the square.”

Lina, who briefly pictured a map in her head and pondered, answered.

“Ah, I think I know where it is.”

“The reserved guests will be here soon, so you must go quickly.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll be back soon.”

(This is a time separator.)

“Duke, we have arrived.”

Three men dismounted from their horses, centering around the Duke. The square was already bustling with many people, perhaps because Festius’s biggest festival was approaching.

“Since it’s the Seiga festival period, it seems people from all over the country have flocked to the capital.”
The Seiga Festival was a traditional autumn festival in Festius, honoring the god Helios, and it was the largest religious event.

Because of that, not only the people of Festius but also those from other countries came to enjoy the Seiga Festival.

Valige, who was indifferently watching the bustling people around, answered.

“It turned out well. Having more people is better for discreetly carrying out our mission.”

They had planned to meet the princess of Festius, but before that, they intended to investigate the sudden attack that occurred in the forest that day.

After investigating the forest for a few days, they discovered black stones emitting a strange aura all over the place.

And they were thinking of meeting the wizards in the capital to find out what they were.

Festius was quite a liberal country regarding wizards, so they could undoubtedly obtain information about the stones here.

Just as Valige thought so and started to move.

“Ugh.”

Valige suddenly stopped, clutching his head.

Then, Lawrence and Philip rushed to his side.

“Again, does your head hurt?”

“……I’m fine…… Ugh.”

“It won’t do. Before we look for a wizard, let’s see a doctor.”

Lawrence and Philip had noticed earlier that the Duke’s physical condition was not as usual.

They had intended to have him examined by a doctor in a small village near the Scots forest, but there were no suitable doctors in the small village.

Unable to postpone the treatment any longer, the two took the Duke to the nearest doctor.

“Hmm.”

The doctor who had been examining Valige for a while tilted his head.

“This is strange.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s no problem.”

“Does that make sense?”

Just as Philip was about to accuse the doctor of being a quack, Valige opened his mouth with a resigned face, as if he had expected it.

“Can I at least get some painkillers? Something very strong.”

The Valige asking for painkillers looked very dejected.

Seeing this, the doctor hesitated for a moment before going to the storeroom and brought back a small medicine bottle.

“It’s called Alkinto, a painkiller. It’s highly effective but can induce hallucinations and delusions if taken excessively.”

“Hallucinations and delusions?”

“Yes, so never take more than three pills a day.”

“I’ll remember.”

Valige quickly took a pill.

The doctor’s words about its effectiveness were not false, as the Duke’s expression gradually relaxed.

“It seems effective.”

“Yes, never overdose. Make sure to remember that.”

“Okay.”

After paying the doctor, they went outside, and Philip asked quietly.

“What should we do about the lodging? His Highness the 1st Prince had prepared a place, but….”

There was a villa specially arranged by the crown prince for the newly engaged lovers in the capital, but Lawrence couldn’t bring himself to say they should go there.

“Since Eugenie Empress might have already reached there, let’s stay in the busiest inn in the city center.”

“Yes. Understood. Then, please wait here for a moment. I’ll go check it out quickly.”

Valige, who nodded instead of answering, looked around the square.

The square was crowded with many people, as befitted Festius’s most significant event. People dressed up to the nines and happylooking couples.

‘Lina would have surely liked it.’

A bitter smile appeared on Valige’s lips when he remembered the lantern festival in Denver that had become a memory.

“Sir, I came to pick up the bread I ordered.”

In the middle of the noisy square.

A familiar voice reached his ears.