After a while, Reilly lifted his head and looked at Alicia with eyes full of resentment.

There was certainly a time when Reilly looked down on and ignored Alicia, but that was in the past, and now he had goodwill towards her.

And yet, her lie revealed the story about the demon beasts…

‘If His Majesty finds out, I’m finished. No, will I die by my father’s hand before that? But what scares me the most is the Crown Prince’s reaction…’

Unless something special happens, Adrian will be the next owner of the imperial throne.

If he, who tends to be more overprotective of Alicia than even the Emperor, finds out what happened here today, what will happen?

Though uncertain, it was clear that a very tiring and gloomy future would unfold from the moment Reilly stepped into the political front line.

Heaving a long sigh and shaking his head, Reilly opened his mouth towards Alicia.

“Your Highness, you really must keep what I told you a secret. If this reaches the ears of His Majesty or the Crown Prince, I will die. Really die.”

“How could Father kill the Viscount when he cares for you so much?”

“Even if I survive by His Majesty’s hand, I feel like I’ll die by the Crown Prince’s hand in the near future.”

“…”

“…Why aren’t you refuting this?”

“I’ll keep it a secret, so don’t worry.”

At her repeated promise, Reilly clutched his head again.

Feeling a bit guilty, Alicia watched him sigh and carefully opened her mouth.

“Viscount.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“What you said earlier.”

“Which…?”

“About when the black crystal and mutants were discovered, was it really last winter?”

“That’s the information Duke Diaz shared. The first discovery was in the Demon Beast Forest last winter.”

“Last winter… I see.”

The appearance of mutants was not something that had changed from the past, but something that had never existed in the past.

And there was one more thing Alicia knew that had never existed in the past.

‘I traveled back in time. And it was last winter…’

At the point when Alicia traveled back in time, mutants appeared, and those mutants called her name in human language.

Could this really be unrelated?

No. It couldn’t be.

She felt certain about that.

The mutation of demon beasts and her regression must be related somehow.

‘I don’t know exactly how they’re related… but I’m sure.’

After traveling back in time, she thought she had a chance to be happy by correcting her foolish mistakes.

With that thought, Alicia had willingly expressed her regression as a gift from God.

Was that why? Alicia had never thought that her regression would bring calamity to the empire.

‘If Eregron becomes endangered because of me… what should I do this time?’

It’s not something that can be solved by swallowing poison and dying alone.

Moreover, didn’t she fail in her attempt to escape through death and open her eyes again?

‘Not only did I fail, but I brought calamity.’

Unable to shake off such thoughts, Alicia closed her eyes tightly in distress.

Reilly was worried about Alicia as he saw her complexion darkening in real-time after she suddenly fell silent.

What could be the problem with the timing of the mutants’ discovery that made her make such a face?

From some point on, she no longer showed her bright smile of the past, but she had been quietly smiling with a more mature appearance than before.

But now even that smile was gone.

Somehow bothered by that fact and not knowing what to do, Reilly bit his lower lip and carefully called her name.

“Princess Alicia. Are you alright?”

“…Yes, I’m fine.”

Ah, the question was wrong. At times like this, you shouldn’t ask if they’re alright… what should I have asked?

The moment her sky-blue eyes turned to him, Reilly’s mind went blank as if he had suddenly become an idiot.

Jay, who was observing his friend’s stupid face from the closest distance, bit his lip tightly to hold back the laughter that was about to burst out.

Although he couldn’t show it as the atmosphere had become serious while talking about the mutants, if he could, he wanted to slap Reilly’s back and mock him.

But he shouldn’t do that.

It wasn’t out of consideration for Reilly or Alicia.

It seemed that Reilly wasn’t even aware of what his own feelings were, and Alicia didn’t seem to have the slightest interest in such a Reilly.

In other words, it meant that something interesting was happening that was just right for Jay to watch.

‘There was a rumor that Princess Alicia had given up on her feelings for Duke Diaz.’

Right after that rumor spread, there was also a rumor that the Duke and the Princess would hold an engagement ceremony, but neither of them had been confirmed, so they were just on people’s lips.

‘If the first rumor is true, then I’ll cheer for Reilly and the Princess to get together from the sidelines, and if the second rumor is true, I’ll be able to watch Reilly writhing in the pain of unrequited love.’

Either way, there was nothing disadvantageous for Jay.

Well, if anything, it would be better if Reilly’s love was fulfilled.

After all, seeing a friend’s happiness and congratulating them on it is also a very enjoyable thing.

“Jay.”

“Yes, Princess.”

Jay, who had decided to watch the two for a while, answered Alicia’s call in a cheerful voice.

He didn’t know why his mood had suddenly improved, but it probably wasn’t a bad thing.

Thinking so, Alicia held out a pouch filled with gold coins to him.

“What is this?”

“An advance payment.”

“For what?”

“I’d like you to let me know if any new information about demon beasts, mutants, and black crystals comes in from now on.”

“Your Highness! That’s…!”

Raising her hand to stop Reilly’s words, Alicia looked at Jay.

Jay, who whistled lightly after looking inside the pouch Alicia had held out, nodded his head at the silent pressure to answer.

“I’ll serve you with premium service, customer.”

“Jay, you!”

“This is a deal between the Princess and the Information Guild. You, an outsider, can’t interfere.”

Jay, who was singing while throwing and catching the pouch, feeling its weight in his hand, continued speaking.

“Since it will be difficult for Your Highness to come out every time, I’ll send someone when new information comes in.”

“Are you saying you’ll sneak into the imperial palace?”

“I can’t do such a scary thing. My life is precious to me. So I’m going to use the friend card.”

At Jay’s bold words, Alicia and Reilly tilted their heads.

Suddenly, the friend card? What does this mean?

“Reilly, you’ll have to enter the imperial palace anyway when there’s new news about demon beasts.”

“Don’t tell me you… are planning to use me as an errand boy?”

“I’ll pay you well for your trouble. What do you think, Your Highness? Since it’s not strange for Viscount Anderson to enter the imperial palace, if we can just adjust the meeting place well, you’ll be able to receive information without arousing anyone’s suspicion.”

Alicia nodded after pondering his words for a moment.

“I’m thinking of opening my palace’s rose garden to those visiting the imperial palace from this year.”

“…I’ve heard rumors that Your Highness’s rose garden is very beautiful.”

“I plan to open it only until summer comes, so if you like roses, you should drop by.”

“I’ll make sure to visit and take in Your Highness’s rose garden with my eyes.”

Is this how high-ranking people talk?

They could just simply say they’re setting the Princess’s rose garden as the meeting place, why waste words like this?

Jay shook his head at the conversation style he couldn’t understand at all.

“Then it seems we’ve achieved all the purposes of today’s outing.”

“Do you wish to return?”

“I should.”

“Do you know the way?”

“…I’d appreciate it if you could guide me to the main road, Viscount.”

“I’ll escort you.”

“Aren’t you going to say goodbye to me?”

Jay, who had followed them to the door to see them off, felt strangely left out.

He knew Reilly was distracted by Alicia, but he didn’t expect Alicia to act as if she had completely forgotten his existence too.

Although he lives suppressing his presence due to being the owner of the Information Guild, as can be seen from his flashy workshop, Jay was the type of person who craved people’s attention.

Reilly, who first noticed that his voice was tinged with disappointment, frowned.

“What are you complaining about now?”

“I’m just asking for a goodbye.”

“I’m leaving. Take care. See you again. Happy now?”

“Not you.”

“Are you talking to me?”

“Come on, there should be warmth between people, it’s good to exchange greetings.”

At Jay’s nonchalant words, Alicia shook her head as if she had no choice and waved her hand briefly instead of a farewell greeting.

Although her face couldn’t be seen because she was wearing a hood, the farewell greeting conveyed by a beautiful woman’s delicate hand was quite a pleasant thing.

“Then, I hope to see you again if the opportunity arises.”

Jay, who bowed politely, continued to watch their backs until the two figures disappeared beyond the alley.

“Guild Master. How should we attach a shadow?”

That’s when it happened.

A voice was heard from inside the building, which was thought to be empty.

It was one of the guild members hiding in Jay’s shadow to protect him.

Jay shook his head at the voice asking if they should attach eyes to monitor him as usual for special guests visiting the workshop.

“Stop it. If you attach one, you’ll die.”

“But it’s a good opportunity to expand our territory into the imperial palace…”

“The inside of the imperial palace is an area that only His Majesty the Emperor can survey. If you rush in thinking it’s a good opportunity, your head will fly off immediately.”

“Is it that serious?”

“Remember. The imperial family are not humans. Among them, the Emperor is closer to a god in human form. Don’t even think you can deceive his eyes. You must distinguish between courage and recklessness.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Jay, who had strongly warned the voice coming from behind, turned around.

Curious, but no further approach should be made.

Jay, who had accurately grasped the line he could cross, disappeared into the flashy building with a cold smile.