Completely unaware that Zester was being absurdly overprotective and refusing to let her accompany him, Cassia went to find Drian, intending to send him off before leaving the territory herself. She brought along a few sheets of parchment with a meticulous deciphered transcription of the ancient language that Drian had requested.
Knock knock.
“Ian, it’s me. Can I come in?”
“Oh, Sia! Come on in!”
Cassia raised a brow at his flustered voice and stepped into Drian’s room.
As expected, he looked busy. Though he still had a few days left before his planned departure, he was already packing up, seemingly in a hurry to return.
Cassia had actually come to ask if he could leave a bit earlier for Havelyn anyway, so this worked out.
Maybe Zester already stopped by?
Tilting her head curiously, Cassia approached Drian as he gathered his belongings.
“Sia, listen. I think I need to head back to Havelyn tomorrow. I’m sorry.”
“Hm? No need to apologize to me. But why all of a sudden? Did something happen in the territory?”
She had come to send him away anyway and that would have been difficult to say so she didn’t’ mind this development. At her question, Drian let out a frustrated sigh.
“One of our magic stones has vanished into thin air.”
“What? Where was it stored? How? Is it a high-grade magic stone?”
“Of course it’s high-grade magic stone. Why else would I be in such a rush?”
But low-grade magic stones were more useful in practice. Even if a high-grade magic stone disappeared, it was practically useless rock that no one would know how to use for ten more years…
Cassia swallowed that thought and gave him a sympathetic look.
“That’s troubling. But weren’t all the stones stored together? How could just one disappear?”
“That’s exactly what puzzles me. We store them in the underground vault of Havelyn Castle. We even used sealing magic from low-grade magic stones to secure the vault. Only my elder sister and I can access it.”
“…And?”
“We don’t check it often since there’s no point going in and out for no reason. So my sister and I go down there periodically on set dates to check. This time, my sister went down for the latest check and noticed it.”
“That a magic stone was missing?”
“Yes. And it’s just one that’s disappeared without a trace. I verified that they were all there quite a while ago. When was that again? Ah, right. It was before you left for Greze.”
“Oh dear… who could’ve stolen it?”
“No idea. I’m not even sure it was stolen. No one else could’ve gotten in. And if someone had stolen it, wouldn’t they have taken all of them, not just one?”
“So which one was it?”
“That’s the ancient language you deciphered, right? Let me see.”
“Ah, yeah.”
Cassia handed over the parchment. Drian scanned through the translations she had carefully organized, then pointed to a particular passage and gave it back.
“This one. The magic stone that disappeared has this writing on it.”
〈“Bestow the pitiful one drenched in regret and remorse a chance to repent. The god of opportunity will receive his deserved price, and you shall build a new page of repentance.〉
While deciphering this text, Cassia had tried to interpret its meaning. She even tried to guess what a few words might, but the sentences were so vague that nothing was definitive….
“Could it be a magic stone that disappears once it’s used?”
At Cassia’s question, Drian was stunned for a second then he slowly nodded.
“That could be it. Does that mean someone not only figured out what the magic stone does but used it on the spot? Wait no, that can’t be. No one should be able to enter that vault in the first place…”
Drian clutched his head in confusion. Cassia watched him quietly and her expression turned odd.
“Maybe it was used at a different yimr.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“I’m just speculating here. But the inscription says it offers a chance to repent if you regret something. Well, for example, let’s say you and I had a falling out for some reason. You might feel bad about that and want to reverse things.”
She said it was an example but it was exactly what had happened. Cassia had returned ten years into the past and rekindled her connection with Drian, using the power of that ‘returned time’.
Drian mulled over Cassia’s words, and his face was filled with surprise.
“Are you suggesting that the magic sealed in the missing magic stone was a time reversal spell?”
“It’s only speculation.”
“No, no. You have a point. That underground vault is designed to be completely secure so no one can sneak in. So you’re saying someone in the future used that stone to turn back time to the present? And the moment the magic was triggered, the stone vanished. Which is why it’s now missing. Right? Isn’t that it?”
As he eagerly sought confirmation, Cassia murmured, “I’m not sure though.”
She looked confused even though she said it herself.
After returning back in time, she had endlessly pondered why she came back. So it was easy for her to suspect this high-grade magic stone said to contain ‘great magic’ of being connected to the powers of time.
Of course, it was just suspicion and speculation but with the magic stone now randomly missing… it made sense to wonder.
If that were really the case…
‘After I died, did Father or Drian dive fiercely into magic engineering to try and bring me back…?’
It was possible. She wouldn’t know what happened after her death. If she had returned thanks to a magic stone, perhaps her father, Count Ruberno, or Drian, who had been researching magic engineering had done something in desperation.
‘But I’m the only one who remembers the time before it was reversed. How can you explain that?”
Cassia continued mulling over the possibilities, then quickly realized there was no point. She wouldn’t get an answer.
“For now, go back to Havelyn and figure out what happened. And don’t forget to write to me.”
“Of course.”
***
Cassia was dumbfounded. This was because of Zester’s reaction when she said they should go to the Viche Territory together.
He told her the territory was too dangerous, and that she should wait to respond to the Viscount’s invitation after the barbarian subjugation was complete, and the territory was stabilized. He even added that since she seemed eager to visit, he’d make sure to completely wipe out those damned barbarians as soon as possible.
As if she said all that because she wanted to go on a leisurely trip. Cassia let out a deep sigh and started at Zester’s ever-frustrating back.
“Lord Baron, I was personally invited, and it would be impolite to decline.”
“That’s not for you to worry about, If the Viscount takes offense, I’ll handle it. But right now, no matter how I look at it, his territory is far too dangerous for you.”
Zester continued preparing to leave, pretending not to see Cassia as he packed. According to Paul, he planned to head out and gather mercenaries himself.
The contract hadn’t even been signed yet, but Zester was already preparing for battle, on the assumption that he’d personally take part in subjugating the barbarians in Viche.
She didn’t know whether to say he was overflowing with generosity or just being a fool…
Cassia watched Zester act busy and swallowed the words that were rising to her throat. She could already tell that bringing up compensation again would just get her the same answer.
“I heard you’re going to hire mercenaries.”
“Yes. I just need to contact a few I’ve worked with before. It won’t take long. I’ll be back by evening. It’s cold so make sure to dress warmly, and don’t skip dinner…”
It would barely be half a day, but Zester was strangely concerned about leaving the castle for a while, like it was his first time doing so.
The reason was obviously because he was worried about Cassia. Now fully dressed for travel, Zester hesitated as he faced Cassia, visibly restless. He looked like he was debating whether he could get away with giving her a quick hug before he left.
“Um, so…”
“Do you have recruitment funds?”
“Huh?”
“You’re planning to hire mercenaries immediately, right? I’m asking if you have the money.”
Cassia frowned, frustrated that Zester was gathering troops without even a properly drafted contract. Though she hadn’t meant it that way, her expression made it sound like she was asking, ‘What money do you have to hire troops?’ and it made Zester bristle.
“You don’t need to worry about that. These guys are people I’ve worked with for years, they won’t ask for outrageous pay.”
“So what if they did? They’re risking their lives going into battle for you. There are times when you need to be frugal with money, and times when you need to pay people a fair price.”
She was trying to steer the conversation toward the recruitment funds and the reinforcement contract, but Zester, pouting and obstinate, stormed out before she could get another word in.
“Enough. I will handle this matter the way I have always done. And I’m not as broke as you think I am!”
“No, that’s not what I… Baron! Baron!”
Cassia sighed and rubbed her forehead as she watched Zester vanish down the hallway.
***
Fleurette, who had been tasked with Zester’s sex education, visited the territory again as scheduled, seemingly unbothered by what had happened with Vita. She arrived just after Zester left.
Paul, the first to hear of her arrival, was flustered. Zester had firmly declared he no longer needed Fleurette’s services and would not be meeting her again.
Paul felt guilty. He should’ve sent a letter to inform her in advance, but honestly, after that commotion, he didn’t think she would ever return to the castle.
“Ah…so the baron no longer requires education?”
Seated across from Paul in the receiving room, Fleurette took a long drag from her thin cigarette until her cheeks hollowed. Paul frowned at the rising smoke and signaled at the maid, who hurried to open the window and clear the air.
“Well, that can’t be helped.”
“I do apologize. We’ll make sure to compensate you a little more for your time.”
“No need. I received an advance and didn’t do much anyway. I suppose I’ll just drop off the gift I brought and be on my way.”
“A gift?”
Fleurette gestured at the flat, square box she placed on the table. Paul glanced at the elegant packaging and pulled it closer.
“…What is this?”
A gift from Lady Fleurette? Paul immediately asked with suspicion on his face. There was no way this was ordinary gift.
Fleurette gave a sly smile.
“You’ll know once you see it.”
That idiot baron probably wouldn’t get it, but clever Paul surely would. She gestured for him to open it.
Paul, slightly wary, lifted the lid. Inside was a beautifully arranged box of chocolates. The craftsmanship was exquisite, on par with those delivered to the royal palace.
A surprisingly normal gift. Paul smiled brightly and gave a polite nod.
“Thank you. I’ll make sure he receives it.”
“Hehe… of course. I don’t need to explain how to eat it, right?”
Huh? Is there a special way to eat chocolate?
Paul tilted his head, and Fleurette smiled and added.
“It pairs well with a bitter wine. Something from Bardé should do. A glass of wine before bed, a little candlelight for a romantic mood, you know what I mean?”
Ah. A romantic dessert to share with a drink. Paul nodded, now understanding.
Fleurette was smiling with content, but she had no idea. Though, unlike his frustrating master, butler Paul was old enough to know everything there was to know, but he had also been widowed for quite some time and was just as clueless and dense as the Baron Zester himself.
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