“Lise.”

“…….”

“Lise.”

Startled by the voice of Baron Keto calling me, I regained my composure. Looking ahead, I saw Baron Keto organizing the chessboard and Yurik sitting across from him, his gaze filled with concern.

“You don’t look well. Are you feeling sick?”

“I’m fine. Just a little nervous.”

I forced a smile in response to Baron Keto’s question.

It was a precious time learning chess from Baron Keto after a long time apart. Although it was important to me, my mind was preoccupied with thoughts other than chess.

“There’s no need to be nervous. Would you like to review the kifu while I reset the board? It’s the recording of our first game.”

“You mean Bullet Chess?”

“Yes.”

I carefully examined the kifu Baron Keto had given me. Whether due to playing too quickly or not, I saw blunders right from the opening moves. I knew I had often made mistakes, but seeing them recorded made me blush with embarrassment.

I had been so confident playing such a messy game of chess. At least it cleared my mind of distractions.

“…I shouldn’t be arrogant anymore.”

“Haha, don’t think too negatively. It means your skill is gradually improving. So, have you played chess while I was gone?”

“A little. But are you really sure it’s okay? The finals are coming soon.”

“I also learn from you. You give me energy.”

Baron Keto slightly smiled and then turned his chair around. At first, I wondered what he was up to.

“Lise, would you like to turn your chair around too?”

“What?”

“Today, we’ll do something different. Since Yurik is here too.”

Unlike me, Yurik seemed to have an idea and was standing in front of the chessboard, closely observing the pieces. I stood up abruptly and turned my chair around to face away from the chessboard, just like the baron. Neither Baron Keto nor I could see the chess pieces.

“We’ll play blindfold chess. That means we’ll play without looking at the board. For instance, e4.”

As Baron Keto spoke, I felt Yurik in the middle move a pawn. Only then did I understand the purpose of the game and envisioned a chessboard in my mind. Despite being intimidated by this new form of gameplay, I was intrigued.

I stated the position of the pawn.

The opening was relatively easy. I was able to clearly visualize the movement and positioning of the pieces in my mind.

Baron Keto, perhaps being considerate of my first experience with blindfold chess, didn’t go on the offensive right from the start. Yet he was careful with each move. With the board out of sight, I had to rely solely on my memory. There was no choice but to concentrate.

“Knight to e3.”

“b3.”

“Qd3.”

From behind, I heard Baron Keto’s voice saying, “Well done,” and my confidence grew.

I was completely engrossed in the chess game.

The sky was red. I was warming up with the tea Baron Keto had served. Evidence of hours of intense study littered the space in front of me—disordered chess pieces, kifu, and unrecognizable scribbles and doodles.

Yurik, seemingly tireless, had remained by my side all this time. He silently watched over Baron Keto’s and my fervent discussions. At one point, I had even suggested that he return to the mansion first, but he flatly refused.

“Was something really not going on?”

While Baron Keto was preparing dessert for us, Yurik, who had been drinking tea with me, asked the question. He was recalling the events of the day. The dark alley at the corner of the marketplace and the suspicious man who had been with me.

The perceptive Yurik had sensed that something was off.

“Nothing happened. Look, I’m fine.”

As I spread my arms, Yurik’s eyes narrowed. Though I would have liked to tell him the truth, I didn’t want to worry him. That alley was no ordinary place. And neither was the strange man who had been there.

“Next time you come here, let me know in advance, Lise. Don’t just leave like you did today.”
“I meant to ask, but how did you find out?”

“I heard from my mother.”

Yurik suddenly placed his hand on the back of my hand.

“Yurik?”

“Lise, from now on, I’ll be the one to meet you in front of the Marsen mansion. No, that could get us caught by your father, so let’s meet in the winter garden instead.”

“I’m fine…”

“I’m not fine at all.”

“But waiting like this every day will get boring.”

“If you feel awkward with me around, I can just take you to the mansion and leave.”

That’s even more troublesome.

“Sigh, alright. I’ll wait for you in the winter garden from now on.”

Faced with Yurik’s determined expression and unwavering stance, I ultimately agreed. It was then that Yurik’s face relaxed.

“Did you guys wait long?”

Just then, Baron Kito, who had been in the kitchen, came out carrying freshly made desserts.

Homemade bread, baked cookies, and chocolate muffins were included. Baron Kito, who also freshly squeezed orange juice, smiled as he saw me and Yurik enjoying the food without any hesitance.