“Hah…!”

Derek quickly drew the sword from his waist and pointed it at Bellia as he asked.

“You’re playing a dangerous game. Do you think I’d let someone who knows this fact live?”

Derek placed the sword against Bellia’s neck. The feeling of cold metal touching her neck was very unpleasant.

A cool and chilling cold sensation.

But Bellia had something she believed in.

“Surely you don’t think you can escape from here unscathed?”

“You can’t kill me.”

“Why do you think that?”

To his question, Bellia calmly replied as if stating the obvious.

“Because your curiosity won’t let you kill me. How do I know this fact? How does the princess know something that no one else knows? What other information might I have besides this…?”

Then she met Derek’s gaze.

“You can’t kill me because you’re curious about that.”

It was accurate.

Derek was someone with the attitude of an information broker to his bones.

If he killed her now, he wouldn’t be able to hear all the intriguing stories.

In the end, Derek let out a hollow laugh and removed the sword from Bellia’s neck.

“…A troublesome client has come.”

Derek sat down with a thud as he sheathed his sword.

He wasn’t different from how Bellia knew him in her previous life.

Then persuading him from now on shouldn’t be too difficult.

It was a gamble-like adventure, but luckily it worked out easier than expected.

‘Well, in any case, he didn’t end up killing me.’

Although he did threaten asking if I thought I could escape unscathed, just knowing that I’m aware of him being the illegitimate child of the Selon viscounty was too much for them to handle if they killed me.

He’s a calculated person, so he must have realized that when weighing the pros and cons, it would be more disadvantageous for them.

“Very well. Then may I ask what information you have that I couldn’t predict?”

Derek’s attitude changed.

His gaze, which seemed to doubt and explore Bellia, grew more intense.

“I thought I’d already paid the full commission fee?”

“I’ll keep it as a down payment. It seems we’ll have many dealings with the princess in the future.”

Bellia had the same thought.

Surely, they would continue to deal for a very long time to come.

Bellia crossed her arms and stalled for a moment.

“Hmm. Actually, even if I tell you this, it won’t be information that helps Lunes.”

Moreover, if he hears this, it was clear that her customer rating within the information guild would rise to the very top. Information hidden not only from people inside the guild but also unknown to the emperor of the empire.

Bellia grinned.

“You. You’re not just the branch manager of the information guild.”

“What do you mean?”

Derek asked with an expression that showed no sign of wavering, as if he didn’t understand.

Seeing him like that, Bellia found it quite amusing inside.

The information she had was all based on things she had already experienced, so it was certain. This story she was about to bring up was also something she had already received confirmation about from his own mouth.

How would he react now when he hears these words?

“Derek Selon, the master of the information guild Lunes. How do you feel about meeting me?”

It would be unfair if only you knew my identity, wouldn’t it?

Bellia left the room with a stern expression. Ben loosened his grip on the sword after examining her face. They slowly descended the stairs and quietly left the tavern.

“Did everything go well?”

“Yes. Things worked out well.”

“I see.”

Seeing Ben looking depressed, Bellia said,

“I’m sorry I couldn’t explain anything. But you were the only one who could come with me like this. Thank you so much for always accommodating my unreasonable requests.”

Ben’s hardened face softened a bit at Bellia’s kind words.

“Come to think of it, we’ve received some very delicious fruit this time. It’s a tropical fruit that only grows in the southern continent. I’ll send some to Sir Ben’s house. I think your wife and child will like it.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“No, it’s just because I want to give you a gift, so please accept it comfortably.”

Since Ben had been by her side as a guard since she was young, Bellia felt a bit more affectionate towards him.

“Then, I’ll gratefully accept.”

Knowing Bellia’s feelings, Ben didn’t refuse to the end and conveyed his thanks with a smile.

“When we return to the castle, please pretend not to know if Closet asks about this and that.”

“Of course.”

The sharp-witted Closet might have noticed that she slipped out this time too.

Knowing that she wouldn’t tell even if asked, it was obvious that she would bother Ben.

“Then let’s hurry back.”

“Yes.”

When Bellia arrived at the castle, the atmosphere was somehow unsettled.

‘What’s going on?’

It seemed bustling yet somewhat subdued, a strange atmosphere.

“Did something happen?”

When she called and asked a passing maid, the maid answered in surprise.

“Ah, Princess! Yes, yes! The imperial princes have just returned!”

“You mean Prince Callid and Prince Raul came together?”

“Yes! That’s right.”

Callid and Raul?

Things must have worked out as she had thought.

With a light heart, she returned to her room to find her maid waiting for her, stomping her feet.

“Princess! Where have you been! Did you fall asleep in the garden again?! The Second Prince has returned now.”

“I heard on my way here. Where is he?”

“He’s talking with the prince in the plaza near the main gate.”

Bellia nodded and hurriedly changed her clothes.

She felt that her current attire was a bit lacking to show him after going out.

“Princess. How about this?”

“Hmm. Is there anything in a slightly darker color? Too bright colors seem like I dressed up on purpose.”

“Hmm. You’d look dressed up no matter what you wear…”

Ignoring the maid’s words, Bellia chose a dress in a slightly darker blue. It was an appropriate choice that wasn’t flashy but didn’t look plain either.

With a satisfied expression, Bellia tidied her clothes and hurriedly headed towards the main gate.

There, as the maid had said, Herald and Callid were conversing. And behind them, the carcass of a magical beast loaded onto a very large carriage could be seen.

“Hahaha. As expected, you’re amazing!”

“No, I was just lucky. I only followed because I was worried about my elder brother Raul…”

Callid spoke words of modesty.

Herald liked Callid for that.

When rumors spread that he was Bellia’s lover, Herald had disliked him so much he wanted to trip him. But now, looking at him, he’s manly, has a friendly personality, and is even excellent in ability.

Thinking carefully, it seems he might have thought from the beginning that he was better than Prince Raul.

“Thanks to you, Prince Raul was able to return safely, wasn’t he?”

“I’m really glad my elder brother is safe.”

Callid bluntly spoke words he didn’t mean.

Herald, not knowing this, was moved, thinking he was even warm-hearted.

Herald was truly a good person. But he’s so good it’s worrying.

Bellia, who had been watching this, quietly approached them.

“Elder brother. Callid.”

“Bellia! Where have you been? Prince Callid has not only subjugated Alarag but also saved Prince Raul and returned!”

“Oh my! When the First Prince said he was worried then! It’s fortunate that Callid followed the First Prince. We were really lucky!”

Bellia also shamelessly joined in the deception. This much is necessary to be called his lover, isn’t it?

Callid burst into laughter as if he was very pleased looking at Bellia. Then he naturally reached out his hand towards Bellia.

Bellia also prepared herself mentally, thinking he would embrace her as usual.

‘…Huh?’

But even after waiting, there was no contact from him.

Puzzled, she looked at him to see Callid withdrawing the hand he had extended towards her.

“Callid?”

Bellia tilted her head and approached Callid.

Then Callid, startled, took a step back.

‘Huh?!’

She had approached with a welcoming heart, but seeing him avoid her, somehow an extremely disappointed feeling rushed in.

“…What is it?”

After always trying to touch me somehow!

It was bewildering that he who had been like that was suddenly rejecting her.

But even though he noticed Bellia’s mood, Callid couldn’t reach out his hand.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

Callid clenched his fist.

Having just returned from the subjugation, he hadn’t washed for days. Moreover, his clothes were stained with the blood and fluids of magical beasts, and it seemed to smell a bit stale.

He couldn’t embrace Bellia in this state. But Bellia was standing right in front of him, reaching out her hand and looking at him! Turning away from this was harder than dealing with magical beasts.

Callid’s pupils shook rapidly.

“Bellia. My clothes are dirty so I can’t approach you right now.”

“Why?”

“I haven’t washed for days…”

You’re pushing me away because of that!?

Bellia somehow got angry at Callid’s words.

She couldn’t express exactly why she was angry, but she was upset anyway.

It was unpleasant that he rejected when she reached out her hand, disappointing that Callid didn’t rush to her as soon as he saw her, and irritating that he couldn’t approach because his clothes were dirty and he hadn’t washed.

‘What is this, really…’

She was also bewildered by how complicated her feelings were over such a trivial matter.

What’s the point of feeling disappointed that he didn’t approach as soon as he saw her when she thought it was just a contractual relationship?

When Bellia looked at Callid after hastily organizing her confused feelings.

‘Ah, really!’

Her heart softened infinitely again at Callid’s face, which looked even more upset than herself with a dejected expression. In the end, Bellia let out a small sigh and approached Callid closely.

“Bellia!”

Callid called out to Bellia in surprise, but Bellia pretended not to hear and hugged Callid tightly.

“Your clothes will get dirty, so this…”

Callid tried to push Bellia’s hands away, but Bellia was immovable.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“But…”

“You worked hard. I’m glad you returned safely.”

Callid’s heart pounded loudly at Bellia’s words.

It was already at the limit just that she approached him first.

“I’m back.”

Callid hesitantly reached out his hand and embraced Bellia tightly.

Then he buried his face in her neck and took a deep breath.

It felt like his airways were clearing.

“I missed you, Bellia.”

There was no reply saying “Me too,” but it didn’t matter.

The fact that she approached him first.

The sight of her saying it doesn’t matter while looking at his dirty self.

That was enough of an answer.

Somehow, Callid felt a vague feeling that he couldn’t do without Bellia.

“I really, really missed you.”