“Elina, anyway, don’t worry.”

Cedric, with a soothing voice like a caress, curved a gentle smile on his lips.

“Yeah, but I’m scared, Cedric.”

Although she wanted to say that he was scarier, she held it back.

“It’s just in case. I hope you haven’t told this story to anyone.”

“Of course. I’ve been suffering alone all this time. Don’t worry.”

Cedric nodded gently.

“And I have one request.”

“A request? What request?”

Cedric blinked slowly, opening his mouth at a measured pace.

“To ensure Lamain doesn’t catch on, I need your help.”

“My help?”

“My trust in you isn’t perfect yet. Probably because of what happened before.”

Elina slowly raised her eyebrows.

“What do I need to do?”

“It’s not difficult. Just act to match her mood so that LaMain doesn’t suspect anything.”

“Match her mood? What?”

“Simple. Just make sure to please LaMain in every way.”

From Elina’s neck to her face, a red flush started, realizing that she had been treated like a princess all this time.

‘Having to please someone like this, who has lived receiving royal treatment, must be unbearable.’

Wearing an embarrassed expression, she slowly opened her mouth.

“Do I really have to go that far?”

“You said you were scared. Didn’t you think it would all be over if LaMain had different thoughts?”

“Uh, yes, but… Okay, I understand.”

With an uneasy voice, she reluctantly nodded.

“And Elina, you don’t have to do anything.”

Cedric, who had given her the mission she hated the most, stood up from his seat.

“I will handle it quietly, so just relax.”

With a gaze as gentle as his voice.

“Yeah, got it.”

A smile hovered on Elina’s face.

‘Yes, keep smiling like that now.’

Cedric, who was silently savoring the smile that would soon disappear from the world, slowly turned around.

Exiting Elina’s room, Cedric headed straight to the rear garden.

“Have you arrived?”

Silvia, who had been waiting, revealed herself in the darkness.

Cedric, whose head only slightly nodded, held a profound gaze as if lost in thought.

At that moment, when he stood by her side, keeping silent for quite some time.

“Silvia.”

At the subdued call, Silvia straightened her gaze.

“I’ll have to endure not going out and killing them, right?”

For the first time, the owner’s eyes revealed a vivid vitality in his blunt confession.

“Who are you talking about?”

“I want to kill Heter first.”
“Shall I go and kill them all?”

At Sylvia’s words, Cedric chuckled silently.

It was risky to touch those with the king’s trust.

A situation might arise where even Lamain could be in danger.

“I’ll be quite busy for a while.”

Cedric’s eyes moved as if he were thinking, even though his lips were moving.

“I’d like to always stay by Lamain’s side if I could, but it seems difficult.”

“Yes, I understand what you mean.”

It was the same advice as before, to keep guarding Lamain well.

“Elina will stay quiet for a while. Still, if she shows any strange behavior, report it immediately.”

“Yes.”

Sylvia’s eyes sparkled as if to say not to worry.

“And for now, I think I need to go into the royal palace tomorrow. There are some things I need to find out.”

Cedric spoke about his schedule.

“Lamain said she would meet Mrs. Porter Spencer tomorrow.”

“Ah, the lady you met last time.”

“Yeah, she lost her healing ability and eyesight…”

Cedric’s voice trailed off abruptly, and he furrowed his brows slowly.

“Count. Why are you like this?”

With a puzzled look, Sylvia looked at him, and their eyes met slowly.

“Did that old man who ran the carpentry shop come back by any chance?”

He suddenly remembered someone he had forgotten.

“It was closed until a few days ago.”

“Check it again.”

“Yes.”

Sylvia’s gaze cautiously wandered over Cedric’s face, which looked somewhat uncomfortable.

“Count, is there something concerning that old man?”

“Well, it’s nothing important.”

Cedric replied a beat late, furrowing his brows.

“There was something he said that bothered me a bit.”

“I’ll check it tomorrow.”

“It’s not urgent. First, focus on Lamain.”

“Of course.”

With Sylvia’s clear response, Cedric, wiping away the discomfort from his face, moved on.

“Lamain, come in.”

Mrs. Porter opened the door wide, arms spread wide.

“You came quickly as promised.”

Lamain, embraced warmly in her arms, smiled warmly.

“I wish I had come faster.”

“From now on, come more often.”

“Let’s get inside.”

The wide-open door closed.

“Zelda. I was already waiting, receiving your letter.”

Holding hands tightly, Mrs. Porter whispered in a small voice.

“What do others say?”

“They worry, but they don’t object.”

“Thank goodness.”

After talking with Marquis Haribo, Cedric sent a letter seeking opinions on developing medicine.

He believed that the guild’s intentions were more important than his own.

“There was a concern that you might be taken advantage of. I spoke well of you, saying you are a trustworthy person.”

“Thank you.”
“Even if others don’t know, I trust you, Zelda.”

At the warm voice, a gentle smile spread across Lamain’s lips.