But soon, she touched the pendant around her neck and opened her mouth.

“Then… I guess it wouldn’t matter. I’m not looking for Zigrid’s heart because I want to make a wish…”

Charlotte raised her head and looked at Nellia.

“May I ask why you’re asking such a question, Nellia…?”

Nellia hesitated for a moment.

Facing Charlotte’s clear eyes, she couldn’t lie. It didn’t take long for her to speak.

“In truth, I’m also looking for Zigrid’s heart.”

“You too…?”
Looking at Charlotte’s round eyes, Nellia gave a bitter smile.

“Yes… Someone precious is suffering from an unknown illness.”

Nellia couldn’t reveal the reason for wanting to lift the curse of the duke, so she vaguely explained.

‘Someone precious.’

Even saying it made Nellia feel a tingling sensation. The word seemed to scratch at something, and Nellia felt strange.

Charlotte didn’t seem to doubt the reason.

“If that’s the case, Nellia, you must be desperate too…”

“I am. Since Charlotte openly declared that she’s looking for the heart first, I didn’t want to hide it either.”

“Thank you, Nellia…”

Turning her gaze away, Charlotte looked at the pendant necklace around her neck and spoke in a quiet voice.

“The departed priest asked me to find Zigrid’s heart first to ensure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands…”

Though the voice was soft, it reached Nellia’s ears distinctly.

“If someone like Nellia is looking for Zigrid’s heart, it should be fine even if I find it.”

It felt like a burden had been lifted from her heart.

Nellia smiled with a lighter heart.

“Thank you for saying that, Charlotte. I promise, if I find the heart, I won’t make any bad wishes.”

Charlotte also followed Nellia, smiling faintly.

“In truth… I hope to find someone who can use Zigrid’s heart for a good cause soon. I feel sorry for the priest who trusted me, but finding Zigrid’s heart is too daunting, and I’m not sure if I can do it…”

Nellia could somewhat empathize with Charlotte’s frustration. Even though she knew some methods from reading the original story, finding Zigrid’s heart alone wouldn’t be an easy task for Charlotte.

‘How will Charlotte find Zigrid’s heart in the original story…’

Since she couldn’t read the latter part, Nellia didn’t know how Charlotte would find the heart. Most likely, it would involve meeting Carlos by chance, forming a relationship, visiting the palace, and coincidentally witnessing Elena’s tears, awakening Reunion, right?

Thinking quietly, Nellia realized that this route was exactly the same as what she had experienced.

But what mattered now was the next part.

How to retrieve Reunion trapped in Elena’s tears.

In other words, where to obtain the ‘sacred dew.’

Here, it seemed like a solid wall was blocking the way.

Nellia stared at Charlotte.

‘Where will Charlotte obtain the sacred dew?’

While pondering, the carriage stopped, and the door opened.

“We have arrived. Lady Nellia, Lady Charlotte.”

The tone that had acted as the coachman announced the arrival in a polite voice.

The destination was the city center of the capital. Nellia asked Charlotte, who was looking around.

“Charlotte, have you been to the city center before?”
“Yes… I’ve come a few times to run errands for the priest, but it’s the first time I’ve come for personal reasons.”

Charlotte’s eyes scanned the surroundings absentmindedly.

“I haven’t had the chance to look properly before, but the streets are quite beautiful…”

“It’s well-maintained. However, you shouldn’t be absent-minded while walking. There are quite a few pickpockets on the streets.”

Although Nellia had rarely been to the capital alone and had never experienced pickpocketing, she had heard about it from the duke.

“Nellia, be cautious in the city, especially since there are many pickpockets. Even if you become a victim, never follow them. It can lead to other troubles.”

The duke’s emphasized warning had its reasons.

Behind the glamorous city, there were impoverished areas, resulting in a higher crime rate.

The targets were usually ladies who seemed wealthy or noble daughters.

Although Charlotte, dressed in her cleric attire, didn’t seem like a target at first glance, the pendant hanging around her neck was worrisome.

The silver pendant on the white garment shone too brightly.

Although Nellia, pretending not to know, suggested, for Charlotte, it was a memento of the deceased priest, almost equivalent to her mother. Losing it would be devastating.

“Yes… that seems like a good idea.”

Charlotte quietly took off the necklace and put it in her pocket.

After finishing their conversation, the tone that had been there asked politely.

“Where would you like to go first?”

Nellia looked at Charlotte.

“Do you have a place you want to go, Charlotte?”

“I’d like to visit the park. I heard there’s a very large park nearby…”

Tone nodded.

“As you mentioned, the park is not far from here. Shall we go there?”

“Yes, please.”

At Nellia’s request, Tone led the way. Nellia, feeling grateful, said to Tone.

“Thank you, Tone, for coming out even though you must be busy.”

Tone stopped briefly, then turned his head back.

“No, it’s not like that. If Lady Nellia goes out alone and something happens, it would be more troublesome. Besides, the Duke won’t stay silent.”

With Tone’s firm words, Nellia could finally let go of any lingering guilt.

‘Right… he’s the kind of person who fusses over even the slightest injury.’

Once, she had pricked her finger on a protruding wooden thorn from furniture, and at that time, the duke had wanted to replace all the furniture in the house, claiming that it seemed too old.

Another time, she had twisted her ankle while walking, and the duke had insisted on redoing the garden path, claiming that it seemed uneven.

With a tired expression, Nellia shook her head.

While reminiscing for a moment, the carriage arrived at the park, filled with lush greenery. The refreshing scent of grass brushed against their noses.
“The park is a place where many ladies visit, so it shouldn’t be dangerous, but still, you shouldn’t let your guard down.”

“I understand, Tone.”

Nellia responded to Tone like a well-behaved daughter to an overprotective mother.

At that moment, Charlotte tugged at the hem of Nellia’s sleeve.