“There’s no way something like that exists!”
“A small Black Forest?”
“I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
The corner of Ceres’s lips quirked upward.
Well, the reactions were about what she’d expected. If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she would’ve laughed and dismissed it as nonsense herself.
But what can I do? It’s true.
If this had only happened once, she would’ve stayed quiet and watched a little longer.
But these incidents were already occurring throughout the Empire. There was no point keeping it hidden anymore. They needed to face the problem head-on and figure out a solution.
“Do the alarms malfunction that often?”
Ever since the Magic Tower distributed its new short-range alarm devices, there had been frequent reports of alarms sounding even when no Black Forest appeared nearby.
Every single time, the body of someone killed by a monster was found afterward.
“Are you calling that a simple malfunction?”
Wouldn’t even a child find that suspicious? Why was everyone so determined to pretend monsters weren’t involved? Were they afraid? Or was it just easier not to deal with it?
Are they serious?
How much longer were they going to keep this up?
“I’m only saying it’s a possibility.”
Viscount Bryson, who had called Ceres the likes of you earlier, still looked very displeased. Why should he discuss such matters with that woman?
“If it isn’t a malfunction, why would the alarm keep going off so often...?”
“Are you suggesting Tower Master Cheion built the alarms incorrectly?”
“T-That’s...! No, no, that’s not what I meant...”
“Hm, what a shame. Lord Cheion would be hurt to hear that.”
“—!”
Viscount Bryson hurriedly turned toward the seat of honor. Emperor Devrica hadn’t spoken a word, yet the look in his eyes had sharpened. Every noble in the hall knew how fond he was of Prince Cheion.
“Your Majesty, that’s not what I meant!”
Click.
“Are you saying there’s something wrong with my alarms?”
At that moment, the doors to the council hall opened and someone stepped inside.
As soon as Viscount Bryson and the other nobles recognized him, their eyes widened.
“Cheion?”
Emperor Devrica and Crown Prince Aseraian were no less surprised. It was rare enough for Cheion to appear at an Imperial Council meeting uninvited.
However, what stunned them more was something else.
“Your hair...”
The beautiful hair that had once fallen past his waist was cut short, stopping neatly just below his ears. Perhaps that was why the atmosphere around him felt so different.
Snap.
At a casual flick of Cheion’s finger, something burst from empty space and unfurled across the table in front of Viscount Bryson.
It was a map.
“Do you see the areas marked with red and blue circles?”
Still flinching from the sudden use of magic, Viscount Bryson cautiously lowered his gaze.
“The red circles mark the locations where bodies killed by monsters were found, and the blue circles mark the places where the alarms were triggered.”
Not only Viscount Bryson, but everyone around him studied the map Cheion had laid out. It took only a glance to understand what he was trying to show them.
“Does anyone still want to insist it’s a malfunction?”
“......”
Various red and blue circles overlapped across the map in a clear pattern. Faced with evidence that obvious, no one could think of a single rebuttal.
***
“Ceres.”
She was about to leave the council hall when she heard the sound of her name. Cheion approached with a faint smile, his gaze sweeping over her face.
“How are you feeling? Better now?”
“Yeah. As you can see.”
Come to think of it, this was the first time she’d seen Cheion since that day. The realization made her rub her cheek awkwardly.
Thinking back on how she’d acted in the carriage was a little embarrassing. Only two people had ever seen her like that before.
Kai and Arti.
Now, there were three.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
Cheion’s smile softened. After watching him for a moment, Ceres’s gaze drifted to his short hair.
“Why did you cut your hair all of a sudden?”
His long hair had suited him.
“No reason. Why? You don’t like it?”
“Not really.”
With a face like his, what hairstyle wouldn’t suit him?
It’s just...
His long hair had always reminded her of someone. She supposed that was why she’d liked it.
“Should I grow it out again?”
The question was so earnest that she couldn’t help smiling. Reaching out, she brushed aside a strand of black hair that had fallen across his face.
“You still look pretty.”
“...That’s a problem.”
“Huh?”
“I cut it because I didn’t want to look pretty.”
“What?”
Before she could make sense of that answer, Cheion reached over and lightly ruffled her hair. Her eyes widened in surprise. A soft smile spread across his lips again.
“Ceres.”
At that moment, Kainel’s voice called out. He stood at the entrance, watching her intently. The look on his face practically screamed for her to come over.
There he goes again.
Why are you making that face now?
The infuriating meeting was finally over, yet the corner of Kainel’s mouth was still set crookedly.
It seemed wise to get him out of there before he found something else to be annoyed about.
As she was about to approach him—
Thud.
Cheion caught her hand.
“Cheion?”
“.....”
“.....”
...What are you two doing?
Cheion’s eyes met Kainel’s. Since when did this turn into a staring contest?
“Don’t go.
“Huh?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“Right now?”
“Yeah.”
“Hm.”
Well, she did owe him some explanation for what had happened that day. He must have been shocked by what he’d seen in the carriage.
“You go on ahead.”
“...Are you telling me to leave by myself?”
Kainel’s brow twitched.
“Are you really going to leave me behind and go with him?”
“Yep.”
“It isn’t even time to leave wor—”
“I know. Then dock my pay.”
Lately, he brought up work hours every chance he got. As if she didn’t know how to read a clock.
“I’ll come find you as soon as we’re done talking, so go on ahead.”
“.....”
Kainel’s eyes narrowed further when his usual work-hours argument failed to persuade Ceres.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you leaving? Your aide is waiting outside.”
But Ceres just waved him away, telling him to hurry up and go already.
In the end, Kainel had no choice but to turn around. Of course, not before sending Cheion one last icy look that warned him not to try anything funny.
“Let’s go too.”
Cheion responded with a bright smile. Then, as if making sure Kainel saw it, he took Ceres by the hand and led her out.
Ceres tilted her head.
“...Did something good happen?”
Just moments ago, when he’d entered the council hall, he’d seemed oddly subdued.
“Maybe.”
“What happened?”
“Just... everything.”
Cheion’s gaze fell to their joined hands. His fingers tightened around hers unconsciously.
The memory of her pulling away from him and walking toward Grand Duke Persia flashed through his mind. Suddenly, he found himself unwilling to let go.
“Come on.”
After pausing briefly, Cheion quickly led her out of the hall.
“...My son.”
“Yes?”
Meanwhile, two pairs of eyes had been observing the entire exchange with great interest from the side of the room.
“Do you have any idea what that was about?”
“Hard to say.”
The two in question were none other than the Emperor and Crown Prince Aseraian. They watched with keen interest as Cheion and Grand Duke Persia engaged in a subtle battle of wills over Ceres.
“Still.”
“...?”
“Looks like your brother came out on top, wouldn’t you say?”
The Emperor smiled, clearly pleased as he watched Cheion leave.
...I feel like that’s not the important part.
Who exactly was the woman Cheion had taken with him? And what if this ended up putting him at odds with Grand Duke Persia?
Are those concerns not even crossing your mind?
Aseraian shook his head as he looked at his father. For some reason, whenever Cheion was involved, the Emperor’s priorities became a little questionable.
***
“...What is all this?”
“Teleportation scrolls.”
“No, I know that, but...”
Why are there so many?
Following Cheion, who had promised to take her somewhere warm, Ceres arrived at a greenhouse overflowing with flowers despite the season.
As soon as she stepped inside and spotted the mountain of teleportation scrolls stacked in one corner, she was left speechless.
“I got them ready for you.”
“All of these?”
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