I turned around, thinking I had heard wrong, but Ricardo's face was calm.
“If you don’t want Count Owen to be punished.”
“…….”
“I’m willing to listen.”
I was dumbfounded by Ricardo, who brought up the past so calmly.
……Like before?
So many days when Bianca cried and begged him for help. And Ricardo, deceived by her, willingly reached out his hand.
He wanted me to repeat that?
Ricardo seemed to believe that all the apologies I had sent were lies.
“……Why would I?”
Strength gathered in my hand.
“That’s Leon’s business. Not mine.”
“Didn’t you have feelings for Count Owen? You acted like you would do anything for love, but I guess that wasn’t the case.”
It was an obviously sarcastic tone. Yet, there was an unreadable smile on his face.
At a glance, he even looked like he was in a good mood.
……What on earth is making him so happy?
I was dumbfounded by what he said.
More than that, why did that man think I liked Leon?
Because I said I liked someone?
But it didn’t matter if Ricardo misunderstood. Even if I explained to Ricardo, who said he didn’t care about my feelings, it would just be a waste of breath.
Besides, would that guy even care?
He’d probably be glad.
I retorted in a flat voice.
“Love has to be based on trust.”
That was the moment Ricardo’s smile completely froze.
“Who would like being rescued from trouble by their lover?”
I bit my lower lip hard and left the room.
* * *
I stuffed my mouth with chocolate until my cheeks puffed out, but my anger didn’t go away.
What? Try asking for help like before?
What did that jerk even think I was?
What if I actually had asked for help? It’s not like he would’ve really let Leon off the hook.
So infuriating I might just drop dead.
At that moment, something began tapping on the window.
……Was it the wind?
I thought a typhoon might be coming, so I went to close the window.
A snow-white bird tilted its head and stared at me.
“…….”
The bird, glowing in the moonlight, was larger than expected. Judging by its appearance and size, it had to be a hawk, but its feathers were whiter than a swan’s.
Just because it wore white feathers didn’t mean it was a dove…….
As I just rolled my eyes in confusion, the bird tapped the window with its foot, as if telling me to hurry and open it.
Should I open it?
Its cold, piercing eyes made it seem like it saw me as prey.
I was hesitating, wondering if I should call a knight, when I noticed a note tied to the bird’s leg.
No way.
I hurriedly flung the window open. Then the bird promptly held out its leg to me.
“……Thank you.”
When I unwrapped the note with a sour look on my face, the bird flapped its wings violently as if urging me to hurry.
Who else would do something so weird?
It had to be the Tower Master.
I sighed inwardly and began to read the note.
[By midnight on March 21st
To 591―68 Western Street.]
……Western Street?
That was a pretty dangerous place.
You know, the kind of place that often shows up in romance-fantasy novels.
The female lead gets kidnapped in an alley, but by chance rescues a slave who turns out to be the second male lead. Or a mysterious man saves the female lead.
If I were the female lead, a sweet and thrilling event would await, but right now……
Wouldn’t it just be pure suffering?
Still, since Peril told me to go there.
It was probably the location where the Moon’s Shop would open.
A place where whispered rumors and secret dealings took place, with stories too scandalous to speak aloud during the day.
……But seriously, what should I wear?
It’s a secret shop, so would a black mask do?
“No dress code or anything?”
…….
“Should I just show up covered in feathers like you?”
At my words, he visibly started coughing.
Honestly, what was I expecting asking a bird?
Shaking my head, I threw the note into the fireplace.
Tsk, if he’s a mage, he could’ve just sent it on self-burning paper.
* * *
Time passed quickly, and the promised date with Peril came fast.
‘……This is a headache.’
The bed was littered with dresses, proof of my indecision.
No matter which dress I wore, I couldn’t hide the fact that I was Bianca.
The place where the Moon’s Shop would open was Western Street.
If word got out that a Marquis’ daughter was walking around Western Street at midnight, nasty rumors were bound to spread. I could even get caught by some weirdo in that area.
‘It’s already this late…….’
Still troubled, I stuffed whatever I could grab into a bag. Then I threw down the rope I had prepared from the terrace railing.
Calling it a rope was a stretch. It was just a bundle of blankets tied together.
If I boldly walked out of the mansion, the gatekeeper would definitely ask where I was going…….
Just thinking about it gave me a headache.
Grunting, I clung to the makeshift rope.
Exactly ten seconds later.
I thought maybe it would’ve been better to get caught by the gatekeeper.
No, it looked quite doable in novels, but doing it myself felt no different from rock climbing.
What the heck, female leads in romance-fantasy novels must have insane muscles.
I gritted my teeth.
‘If I lose my grip, I’m dead. Seriously dead.’
But my strength was starting to give out.
At that moment.
“……Bianca?”
It was Cedric’s voice.
“B, Brother!”
When I glanced down, Cedric looked like he was completely dumbfounded. Just as he was about to open his mouth, I quickly shouted.
“I’ll listen to your scolding after I come down!”
“…….”
“P-please help me!”
Cedric looked like he had a lot to say, but he soon approached and held out his hand to me.
“……I’ll catch you, so come down carefully.”
Thank you.
I offered a brief word of thanks in my heart and promptly let go of the rope I was holding onto.
A chilling feeling rushed over me as I fell, making my skin crawl.
Thud―!
“…….”
Huh, why does it hurt?
I stared up at Cedric with dazed eyes, feeling the sting of pain all over.
Cedric, who had been awkwardly standing with both arms out in the air, quickly pulled his hands back.
So when he said he’d catch me, he meant he’d help me up if I fell……?
Yeah. What was I expecting from a scholar?
Cedric asked as if nothing had happened.
“Are you hurt?”
“I think I broke a bone……”
Good thing my room was on the second floor.
If not, I’d already be in the afterlife.
“I’ll call the physician―.”
“Ah, no! I’m fine!”
At Cedric’s words, I jumped up and shouted. His eyes narrowed.
“……Didn’t you just say you think you broke a bone?”
“It was a joke. Who breaks a bone from falling from the second floor?”
“Normally, people do break bones when they fall from the second floor.”
I ignored Cedric’s words and gave a small bow.
“Then I’ll go take a walk and come back.”
At that moment, Cedric grabbed my robe’s hood.
“Ghk…….”
“Ah, I didn’t mean to.”
Cedric quickly let go of the robe he’d grabbed.
I rubbed my drowsy neck and glared at Cedric. He awkwardly scratched the back of his neck for a moment, then spoke with a slightly annoyed face.
“You expect me to believe you’re going on a walk dressed like that?”
“It’s cold.”
“Then what’s with the bag?”
“A snack bag……”
“If you’re that confident, you won’t mind showing me.”
Cedric crossed his arms, clearly not planning to let me go until he saw inside the bag.
I couldn’t hide the awkward look on my face and stared at Cedric with pleading eyes. But the more I did, the firmer Cedric’s gaze became.
……It’s not working.
Time to change tactics.
“Can’t you just turn a blind eye for today?”
“Give me a reason.”
“Um, it’s just, I’ve been cooped up in the mansion for so long, I’m feeling really stifled. I’ll just walk around the village and come back.”
“…….”
“I won’t do anything reckless. Really, truly, I just feel suffocated.”
Did he believe me? Cedric let out a deep sigh.
“Then take Allen with you.”
“He’s asleep.”
“Wake him up.”
“I… I don’t want to be that cruel of a master.”
Allen, did you see that? I’m worried about your sleep like this.
After tightly gripping the bag for a moment, I pulled out something I had brought from my room.
“……That’s.”
“No one will know it’s me, and I’ll be safe.”
“…….”
“I’ll be back before one o’clock. I promise.”
Cedric’s eyes wavered at my words.