A mother and daughter’s way back from kindergarten.

Lucia, lost in thought on the swaying carriage, gazed out the window as if in deep contemplation.

‘Isobel is missing.’

After dropping Nia off at the kindergarten and heading to the prison, Lucia unexpectedly chased after the vanished traces of Isobel.

However, despite searching meticulously until the exact time of dismissal, the child, who had disappeared like a ghost, could not be found.

The prison in the imperial palace was a small, windowless cell with no way out except for a tiny crack.

Since even the guards didn’t have the keys, there was no explanation other than magic.

But in the imperial palace, there was a barrier preventing even the highly esteemed magician Leon from using magic recklessly.

In that case, it was clear that either a quite well-known magician or a force that the barrier did not respond to had been used.

‘It could be dark magic. In that case, there’s no time to waste. I must quickly go to the capital and trace those who targeted the saint…’

“……?”

After serious contemplation for a while, Lucia sensed something.

The chatter of Nia, who used to be lively after returning from kindergarten, was not heard.

But there was no chance to ask.

The carriage had stopped even before reaching home.

And the trembling voice of the coachman could be heard.

“Um, guest. Th-there’s something in front of…”

“What’s going on?”

Turning her head at the coachman’s words, Lucia saw a black-clad group standing firmly at the entrance of the imperial palace hill.

Of course, the familiar black group consisted of members.

Lucia sighed a little and got off the carriage, standing in front of them.

But Vernon and Gilly, who stood at the forefront, recognized her right away.

“That expression tells me you’re thinking of taking us along after all.”

“You must have already received orders to report to the commander’s office.”

That’s right.

They had received orders to join the personal knights directly managed by Hélbert.

It was a promotion that not only came with a higher salary than when they were in the Order of the Black Knights but also brought honor and promotions with challenging missions.

However,

“We’ve stopped.”

“…What?”

Even though until recently, she thought they were burning with enthusiasm for a righteous life.

Lucia couldn’t understand why they refused, even though they could achieve what they wanted.

But in Vernon’s eyes, who didn’t know the reason, the corners of his eyes, which had been drooping for years, rose fiercely.

“If you thought promotion meant something to us, that’s disappointing, Commander.”

And next to him, Gilly spoke in a gruff voice.

“The vice-captain is so shocked that he doesn’t even come out of his house. Captain. No, is he the king’s captain now?”

“We’ll give you time until we leave, Commander. If you leave us like this, we’ll return to our original lives. And someday, we might become the most troublesome villains, and you, Commander, may become King Hélbert, the most bothersome king.”

Vernon was straightforward.

It seemed like he had returned to his old self before he knew it.

The gathered group, one by one, passed by Lucia.

And there was only one person left in the empty space.

“…Heath.”

“I don’t have a home.”

“…Ah.”
They, having quit, must have found their own places somehow, but Heath, who had no connection except with Lucia, had nowhere to go.

“Well, it can’t be helped.”

Lucia, who sighed, turned the carriage back for the time being and walked with them.

Her mind was complicated at the moment.

In fact, even if she threatened them like this and left, they were all adults.

Although they might get lost on the new path for a while, she wasn’t worried because they were the ones who could take care of themselves.

“Before going, I just need to tell the Commander not to resign.”

But the person she was concerned about right now was Nia.

The child who had been lifeless throughout the carriage ride.

When Lucia finally glanced at the child, she somehow seemed to be smiling.

“…?”

Before she could ask out of curiosity, the unknowable child occasionally approached Heath with small steps.

“…Groom, our value?”

With an expectant gaze, Nia, with her messy golden curls, asked Heath.

Giving a annoyed look, Heath took a step back and said, “Go away.”

“…Ung.”

Niya’s eager action slowed down as she showed a sulky look at the behavior that told her not to pretend to be close.

Then Lucia, who had stuck to Heath’s side, whispered lowly to the child’s mother.

“It seems like she wants to sleep outside.”

“…Right. Nia, want to see something interesting?”

The boy who quickly changed his attitude went to Niya, who was left behind.

And his hand reached towards Nia’s head.

“Ouch.”

When the child felt pain, Lucia seemed ready to explode again, but Heath quickly showed the pulled hair.

Then, on a piece of paper shaped like a human, the hair was rolled up and he said, “Move.”

When Nia awkwardly shook her hands at his words, the paper on Heath’s hand started to move exactly the same as the child.