Despite Adrian’s slight opposition, after being handled at Sienna’s level, preparations began for Alicia’s journey to the Sage’s Tower.

Amy was spending her days busy packing travel luggage, as they needed to leave the imperial capital at least a week later to match the desired date at the Sage’s Tower.

Of course, Alicia was preparing as well.

The difference from Amy was that her preparation mainly involved learning the rules that only applied in the Sage’s Tower, memorizing the name of the sage who invited her, and being introduced to the knight in charge of her close protection during the journey to the Sage’s Tower.

“Are you sure it’s alright if I don’t accompany you?”

Amy, who sighed while organizing travel clothes, asked Alicia.

The number of people was limited for this journey.

It was unavoidable as the tower could not accommodate many people.

Alicia, sitting on the sofa watching Amy and the maids pack, shook her head.

“The journey is too rough for Amy to come along. You need to think about your age now.”

Having Amy, who was worth a hundred men, accompany the journey would certainly make Alicia comfortable.

However, she couldn’t head towards the Friska mountain range, notorious for its rough terrain, with Amy who had been experiencing frequent knee pain recently.

“There’s Sir White and Marisa.”

Alicia looked at Marisa who was packing bags with Mina, then turned her gaze to the female knight with short purple hair standing behind her.

Casa White.

She was said to be one of the top five talents in terms of strength among the imperial guard knights.

This was information Mina had rushed to obtain from her fiancé in the imperial guard when she heard the news that she would be in charge of Alicia’s close protection.

‘A calm personality that doesn’t get excited easily, with skills superior to her peers, right?’

Wasn’t it said that she likes sweet and cute things?

Alicia shook her head, recalling Mina’s excited face as she said she had quite a few fans due to her contrasting charm.

At seventeen, it was time to grow up.

Well, that’s Mina’s charm after all.

Alicia put down the teacup she was holding and stretched widely.

Even after her confinement ended, Alicia had shut herself in her room, refusing even to take walks in the nearby garden.

But today she had to go out for a garden walk.

Because this morning, she had heard the news that Reilly had entered the imperial palace to meet the emperor.

Alicia, who had barely persuaded Sir White to stay in her room after he tried to follow her to escort her to the garden, arrived at her favorite rose garden.

Various species of roses in full bloom for spring filled Alicia’s garden.

Heading towards the gazebo in the center of the garden to see her favorite climbing rose – Fairy – Alicia was able to meet the person she needed to see today.

“I greet Your Highness.”

“It’s been a while, Viscount.”

It was Reilly.

He was sitting comfortably on a bench inside the gazebo, having loosened his neatly tied tie, perhaps on his way out after meeting the emperor. After greeting Alicia, he straightened his posture.

The half-loosened tie was a bit distracting, but it seemed to suit Reilly well.

“I heard your escort knight is Casa?”

“Do you know Sir White?”

“We were academy classmates. Casa was in the knight department, I was in administration. We became acquainted during general education group projects.”

“You’re calling her by name, so I guess you’re friends?”

“Friends? With Casa? No, we’re not.”

“…Didn’t you say you were academy classmates? You even did group projects together?”

“We became mortal enemies while doing those group projects. Since then, she grinds her teeth just hearing my name.”

…Both Jay and Casa, why does Reilly have bad relationships with people others would normally call friends?

“I can guess what you’re thinking right now. Originally, the structure of academy group projects is inevitably designed to create enemies.”

Alicia shook her head at Reilly, who was making statements that would have greatly angered the academy professors if they had heard, and took a seat opposite him.

The strong scent of Fairy roses lingered at the tip of her nose.

“Did you receive the service fee well?”

“He said he’d give it after I finish the errand. But he probably won’t. He’s a miser and a con man.”

Reilly, who finished speaking while slightly raising his shoulders, handed Alicia a document he had placed beside him.

“Read this here and pass it back to me right away.”

“Is it top secret material?”

“Not quite top secret, but it’s not information that should be known by many people.”

“I understand.”

Alicia, nodding to Reilly, slowly began to take in the contents of the document.

The contents of the document were not much different from what Alicia knew.

A few minor pieces of information were added, but they were not of great significance.

Alicia, who had been flipping through the document back and forth repeatedly examining the contents, slightly furrowed her brow and pointed to one part of the document.

“This name keeps appearing? Is this the nobleman collecting information about the demonic beasts that Jay mentioned before?”

“Ayan Findley. Yes, that’s correct.”

“It seems he’s gotten in deeper than expected… Is it okay to leave him be like this?”

“I’ve attached a few of Jay’s subordinates. They’ll subdue him immediately if any problems arise.”

“And for now, you’re leaving him alone?”

“According to Jay, his skill in digging into information, whether it’s persistence or concentration, is extraordinary. He said they’ll just watch for now as they can obtain high-quality information just by observing from the side. By the way, His Majesty is also aware of this.”

Ayan Findley.

It was a name she hadn’t paid much attention to in the past.

Although he was connected to Killian through bad karma, he had so little that there was nothing he could do.

Hadn’t news come one day that he had died of acute alcohol poisoning?

That forgotten figure was moving unusually actively in this life.

“Is his goal to take revenge on Duke Diaz?”

“Probably. Are you concerned?”

“…It does worry me that he’s digging into information about mutants and black crystals.”

It wasn’t a lie.

It couldn’t help but be concerning that someone with a grudge was interested in mutants.

Of course, if asked whether it was an honest answer, it wasn’t that either.

It was because the target of Count Findley’s grudge was Killian.

Although it didn’t seem like Killian would easily fall victim to such a person… unless one had the ability to know in advance when and what would happen, there was no harm in being cautious and paying attention beforehand.

“He won’t be able to do anything significant.”

Reilly noticed Alicia’s lie but pretended not to as he took back the document she returned.

“Well, that aside, are the preparations going well?”

“Amy is preparing more diligently than I am.”

“The personnel who will escort Your Highness will be announced in a few days, right?”

“He said he plans to fill the limit set by the Sage’s Tower.”

“Even so, it’s only about fifteen, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“Your Highness and Casa, one maid, me, and two guard knights. That already fills six spots.”

“Wait a moment. Is the Viscount coming along too?”

“Yes. His Majesty said so.”

In fact, after hearing the news that Alicia was heading to the Sage’s Tower, Reilly had personally visited the emperor and requested to be sent along.

For some reason, he felt he absolutely had to go with Alicia, so he took action without even asking for his father’s permission.

The Marquis later learned of this and looked at him as if he was looking at the world’s greatest idiot, but since the emperor’s permission had been granted, it wasn’t a major blow.

“It’s not often one gets a chance to go to the Sage’s Tower, so it’s an honor for me.”

Unaware of such circumstances, Alicia felt her head becoming complicated as she watched Reilly joke about going with a glad heart since he was going anyway.

“Aren’t you worried?”

“Why should I be? I quite like traveling. I enjoy hiking too. No matter how rough the terrain, it’s still just a mountain.”

“No, not that.”

“Pardon?”

“You said you’re enemies with Sir White, didn’t you?”

“…Huh?”

“Didn’t you say she grinds her teeth just hearing your name?”

“…That’s right?”

“Are you really okay? I heard from Mina that one of Sir White’s specialties is dagger throwing, and she never misses.”

She throws daggers at people she dislikes when drunk, they say.

Even then, she never misses, Mina had said with a bright smile.

Alicia looked worriedly at Reilly, whose face had turned pale as she recalled this.

Seeing that reaction, it seemed their relationship wasn’t just ending with teeth grinding.

Surely she wouldn’t throw daggers at people when sober?

Alicia, determined to prevent any blade-wielding incidents on the journey, ignored Reilly who had started muttering something and took in the beautiful rose garden with her eyes.

And as time passed, the list of those who would accompany Alicia on her journey was announced.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

And Alicia, who had confirmed that list, couldn’t give any answer to Mina, who asked with a worried face if she was okay, just as she had done to Reilly a few days ago.

“Why is this person’s name on the list?”

“I, I, *cough*, don’t, know. *ack*, Please, this, hand… *gak*.”

While Amy was grabbing the attendant’s collar and shaking him, Alicia briefly raised her head to check the ceiling pattern, confirmed that her eyesight was normal, and turned her eyes back to the list.

The name is still there even when I look again.

“Your Highness, are you really going to be okay?”

Mina’s voice full of worry brushes past her ears.

She couldn’t hear or see anything.

‘Is this a dream?’

I wish it were a dream.

No. Why, how?

Why is this name here?

Have I had this many points of contact with this man?

Then why did I make every effort in the past to see this man’s face even one more time?

Alicia became genuinely aggrieved.