After seating her on the lowest step and draping his clothes over her shoulders, Cassel finally calmed down.

“I apologize. I overreacted.”

“It’s alright. You were just worried about me. As you said, I could have slipped.”

Riena responded casually. However, she couldn’t shake off an inexplicable feeling of unease.

It was because of Cassel’s words that suddenly came to mind.

Those were Cassel’s words on the day she first came to the Winkler mansion. She thought it was somewhat meaningful then, but now with today’s incident, it really seemed strange.

‘Did someone fall to their death there?’

If that was the case, it would explain such an oversensitive reaction.

“Is this the west side of the capital?”

“No, it’s the south. But it’s connected to the western forest.”

“I see.”

So this wasn’t the western bell tower Cassel had mentioned.

Yet he still overreacted.

She wanted to ask why he had said such a thing that day, but Cassel’s state seemed unstable, so she couldn’t bring herself to ask. She was afraid of agitating him when he had just barely calmed down.

In the end, Riena only talked about things completely unrelated to the tower, hunting grounds, or western forest. Perhaps thanks to that, Cassel seemed to gradually calm his excitement.

His breathing returned completely to its normal pace, and his expression regained composure as if he had never been startled.

Riena felt relieved as she saw Cassel looking at her face and listening attentively to her story.

When the rain stopped, they rode back to the mansion together.

“I really didn’t know it would rain so suddenly! I was so worried that you or the Duke might have had an accident! But thankfully you’re not too wet!”

“Yes. We happened to be near the entrance of the hunting grounds. We took shelter in the watchtower for a while.”

“That’s fortunate. Still, just in case, you should wash up quickly and rest while having a warm cup of tea.”

Riena quickly stopped Amy, who was hurrying to draw a warm bath.

“Amy.”

“Yes, miss?”

“I heard there’s a bell tower in the western forest.”

“That’s right! It’s not used normally, but they ring that bell every Founding Day. But why are you suddenly asking about the bell tower?”

“Has there ever been an accident there?”

Amy tilted her head, seemingly finding Riena’s question out of the blue.

“An accident? What kind of accident do you mean?”

“Well, like someone falling…”

Amy waved her hand.

“Not that I know of.”

“Then, has anyone close to the Duke passed away in an accident…”

Amy now looked truly puzzled.

“No. All of the Duke’s family members passed away from illness. If I had to find something…”

Amy trailed off, but Riena understood immediately. She probably wanted to mention that Cassel’s mentor, Count Dyke, died in a riding accident.

‘A riding accident is indeed an accident from falling off a horse. But that’s not the same as falling from a high place, is it?’

Moreover, if Cassel was really conscious of Count Dyke’s death, he wouldn’t have enjoyed horseback riding with Riena in the first place.

“But why are you suddenly asking about this? Did something happen?”

“No, nothing in particular.”

“If you need, shall I look into it?”

“No, that’s not necessary. Could you just forget that I asked this question?”

Although it was another puzzling request, Amy nodded immediately without saying anything.

“Yes, I understand.”

Riena looked out the window where rain had started falling again and thought.

‘There are people who are particularly sensitive about safety.’

Even she would probably panic and try to stop them if Aaron or Noah were to press themselves against a window to look down from a high tower.

Riena found it a bit strange that she was an adult who could be careful about such things without anyone warning her, or that Cassel had specifically mentioned the western bell tower, but in a way, it also seemed like it wasn’t an unreasonable thing to say.

So Riena decided to stop worrying about this matter.

The Founding Day was just around the corner. The entire capital was in a buzz.

Thanks to the excited maids, even Riena, who had been staying only in the mansion, could feel the festival mood.

“Amy, don’t you want to go see the festival?”

Amy, who was brushing Riena’s hair, let out a deep sigh.

“I’d need someone to go with.”

“Can’t you go with the other girls?”

“They’re all going with their lovers. Since we can’t take much time off even for Founding Day, everyone goes with the person they really want to go with.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. So I’m all alone.”

Well, is that really the case?

Riena recalled Ryan, who had been strangely excited for the past few days. When Riena asked if something good had happened, he replied, ‘I don’t know yet if something good will happen or not.’

Riena timidly speculated that he might be planning to ask Amy out on a date during the Founding Day.

‘Ryan and Amy do seem like they would be a good match.’

Ryan and Amy were both so gentle and kind that it was hard to believe people could be that nice. She hoped they would both find good partners. Just so they wouldn’t get hurt by someone who treated them harshly.

‘Of course, it’s not my place to interfere.’

Riena was the type of person who thought it was better not to meddle in other people’s romances. Romance was a matter for the parties involved to resolve. Unnecessary meddling could make the situation worse.

For instance, forcing a meeting when one side dislikes the other.

However, after observing the two of them while spending time together, Riena noticed something unexpected.

She already knew that Ryan definitely liked Amy. She just didn’t know how Amy felt, so she just watched.

But after observing carefully for the past few days, it seemed that Amy, despite her aloof attitude, didn’t dislike Ryan either.

Rather, it was the opposite.

‘Maybe these two actually like each other.’

Riena carefully probed Amy.

“Come to think of it, Ryan also said he wants to go sightseeing but doesn’t have anyone suitable to go with.”

“Ryan?”

“Yes. If you’re looking for someone to go with, how about Ryan?”

At that moment, Amy’s face turned as red as a carrot, just like her name. Amy turned her head and fanned herself.

“Oh, miss. How could I go with Ryan? What would we do at the festival? We’d just end up fighting.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Elder brother would just keep teasing me, calling me carrot.”

“But Ryan seems to care for you quite a bit.”

“R-really?”

Amy’s ears were now red too. To exaggerate a bit, it was hard to tell which was her ear and which was her crimson hair.

‘Maybe I should stop here.’

Instead of teasing Amy further, Riena changed the subject.

“I’d like to go see the festival too.”

Amy’s eyes lit up.

“Then would you like to go with me? Technically, I’d be accompanying you, but it would be fun to go together. If we tell the Duke, he’ll assign a knight to escort us. Maybe even my brother could come along.”

“No, you should go with Ryan… Wait, Amy’s brother?”

“Yes!”

Come to think of it, Amy’s brother was working as a knight for the Winkler duchy, but she had never seen him. She felt sorry for Ryan, but she wanted to take this opportunity to get acquainted with Amy’s brother as well.

If possible, the four of them could go together.

“I hate to admit it, but Max’s skills are quite good.”

“Really?”

“Yes. He even spars with the Duke occasionally. The Duke goes easy on him, of course, but still, there aren’t many people who can exchange more than ten blows with the Duke.”

“Amy seems very proud of her brother.”

“Of course. Max is an oddball from the Carrot family. Our parents are still amazed at how our family produced a knight.”

Amy smiled brightly and suggested.

“Speaking of which, would you like to go meet Max? He should be at the training grounds right now.”

“Shall we?”

Thinking that they were Amy and Sandra’s family, she really wanted to see them.

Riena immediately followed Amy to the training grounds. The training grounds were a bit far from the main building, and many knights were training there.

“Ah, there he is!”

Amy pointed to where the knights were gathered. Although there were many people, Riena could quickly find Max Carrot, Amy’s brother.

There was a knight with the same carrot-colored hair as Amy.

“Elder brother! Max!”

Max, who was talking with a colleague, turned towards them and waved.

“Amy! What brings you here?”

Max, who ran over quickly, pinched Amy’s nose.

“Did you come because you missed your elder brother?”

“No, no!”

Amy protested in a nasal voice. Riena observed Max closely as he burst into laughter.

He resembled Amy not only in hair color but in many other aspects as well. He had the same green eyes and friendly eye shape, and even the freckles on the bridge of his nose were identical.

Above all, he seemed just as likable as Amy. Although one shouldn’t judge character by appearance alone, Riena felt she could trust Max and go into town with him.

“If you didn’t come because you missed me, then why did you come?”

“Well…”

Amy pointed behind her. Max, who had been grinning continuously, stopped smiling when he saw Riena.

After pondering for a moment who she might be, he bowed at the waist.

“It’s an honor to meet you, my lady.”

Then murmurs could be heard from around them.

“What? My lady?”

“The lord’s lady?”

The three were instantly surrounded by knights who rushed over.