It was an unexpected guest.
"How did you, no, what are you going to do if someone finds out you're here!"
It seemed I was the only one surprised.
Peril was calmly looking around the room.
"I heard you were badly hurt."
"I'm not hurt."
I lowered my voice, worried that Peril's voice might leak outside.
"You could’ve sent a bird like last time, so why did you use such a reckless method?"
"...Reckless?"
This old man!
Is that really the issue right now!
Peril bent down and met my eyes, as if he couldn’t believe me.
"Reckless? To personally visit out of concern?"
"I was flustered, so I misspoke. J-just sit down for now."
I babbled and sat him down on the sofa.
"I can’t serve you tea. You know why, right?"
If I called Emily, who knew what kind of scene would unfold.
For the Tower Master, known to be asleep, to visit the Marquisate.
And in my room...!
Peril, who had been staring at me, let out a relaxed smile.
How can he smile right now?
If you were going to come, at least hide your appearance!
Even with me fuming in front of him, Peril remained calm.
But only for a moment, he reached out to touch my hair.
"...You’ve changed somehow."
"I’m the same."
"You know your eyes tremble when you lie?"
"That’s because I was too surprised."
"My, my."
What’s with the 'my, my'.
My head throbbed.
"I still haven’t found the root of the World Tree. When the time comes, I’ll visit you, so please don’t come in person anymore. There are too many eyes watching."
"I’m sure I told you that wasn’t my business here. You really need to learn to listen properly."
My hair slipped from between Peril’s fingers.
He stared at his now empty hand, then tapped the seat next to him.
"Lie down."
"Huh? I’m not the kind of person who lies down with a guest present."
"No more talking."
"Before that, I want to hear your answer."
At my words, Peril let out a dry chuckle.
Then he tilted his head crookedly.
"Would it be faster if I forced you to lie down? Or will you do it willingly―"
"I’ll lie down."
"Good."
I promptly lay down next to Peril.
When I curled up like a shrimp, I heard a clicking tongue from above.
Now what.
You told me to lie down.
A look of faint disappointment flickered across Peril’s face.
Frustrated, I tried to sit up again.
"...!"
Peril covered my eyes and gently pushed me back down toward him.
At that moment, a warm energy began to spread from his hand.
My body, which had felt as heavy as lead, gradually grew lighter.
"Huh?"
Even my head, heavy like wet cotton, cleared up.
Eventually, the warm energy that had covered my vision disappeared.
Peril’s face, as fresh as a spring day, reflected in my eyes.
"...What did you do?"
"A curse spell."
"..."
"Just kidding."
Peril had a strange talent for making jokes not sound like jokes.
I quietly brushed away his hair tickling my cheek and sat up.
"I definitely told you to take care of Idette, not to drown with her."
...Is he going to be mad?
Surely he’s not going to say this deal is off because he’s petty?
But Peril’s next words were quite unexpected.
"Life is precious. I don’t have the power to bring back the dead, so don’t act rashly. I didn’t mean for you to sacrifice yourself to protect that child."
"..."
"...I asked you something unreasonable."
Peril tapped my forehead with his finger as if asking if I understood.
My heart pounded.
For a moment, I thought he was going to kill me with a flick.
I rubbed my forehead and glanced at Peril.
"...Lady Idette is okay, right?"
"Yes. Thanks to your fiancé."
Peril tilted his head.
"Ha ha."
I turned my head with an awkward laugh.
Seeing I was avoiding the conversation, Peril changed the topic.
"Anyway, you ended up in trouble because of me."
"No. I fell into the water because I was stupid."
Peril frowned slightly, displeased with my words.
He let out a small sigh and spoke to me.
"Is there something you want?"
"...Huh?"
"Like, something you’d like to have."
No way, is he offering me a reward?
I widened my eyes at the unexpected gift.
* * *
〈Can I tell you later?〉
Peril’s gift was on hold.
Since it was from the Tower Master, I needed to think carefully before accepting.
Anyway, thanks to Peril, my body had completely recovered.
I ran into Cedric on my way to Grandfather with a much lighter step.
His lips parted slightly.
This was... a sign that nagging was about to begin.
I hurriedly opened my mouth.
"I'm all better now!"
"..."
"I was getting stuffy from staying in my room the whole time."
"...Alright."
I thought he'd tell me to go back to my room.
I blinked blankly and turned my gaze to Grandfather's room.
"Grandfather is inside, right?"
"He's at the Imperial Palace."
"...What?"
Cedric’s next words were even more surprising.
Grandfather had avoided going out ever since he became ill.
No way.
"...Because of me?"
"Not because of you. He had another engagement."
Cedric let out a small sigh.
"Bianca."
"Yes?"
"...A letter of annulment will reach House Hessen sometime this week."
By now, I didn’t even have the energy to be surprised.
I had somewhat expected this after hearing Grandfather speak last time, but I didn’t think the annulment would proceed this quickly.
"Thank you for everything until now."
Cedric reached out to me but soon hesitated.
He paused briefly, then gently patted my shoulder.
...Annulment.
It was what I had wished for so desperately.
It really was, but maybe because it came so suddenly, I just felt dazed.
"...Do I not have to meet the Duke?"
"Right. It was a matter between families, so there’s no need for you to concern yourself."
So that day was the last.
I opened my lips, then finally spoke.
"I’d like to see the Duke once, if possible."
"Is that really necessary? As I said before, I want your time to be spent on more worthwhile things."
Cedric’s gaze was piercing.
But when I didn’t respond, he closed his eyes tightly.
"Would that bring you peace of mind?"
"...I’m not really sure either. I just think I’ll only know if I see him."
After my words, Cedric remained silent for a long time.
Only after quite a while did he speak.
"...If that’s what will ease your mind, I won’t stop you."
"Thank you."
I gave Cedric a faint smile.
After parting with Cedric, I sank into thought.
...Why did I say that?
Even if we met, there wouldn’t be anything to say.
At that moment, I heard the voices of maids through a crack in the door.
"This is still in good shape. Why is she asking us to burn it?"
"Exactly. At least out of respect, she could’ve read the letter…"
The maids were burning something in the fireplace.
...A letter and a bouquet.
And the chocolates I used to like.
* * *
Cedric kept his word immediately.
He scheduled the meeting with Ricardo for the next day.
I blinked blankly as I put on a simple dress.
Was I excited?
Or still in a daze?
I couldn’t quite grasp what this feeling surrounding me was.
And that continued until I arrived at the garden where I was to meet Ricardo.
From afar, I saw Ricardo.
Perhaps sensing someone, he turned his head toward me.
I approached him, clutching the hem of my dress tightly for no reason.
"…It’s been a while."
At my words, Ricardo clenched his fist tightly.
Blue veins bulged awkwardly across the back of his hand.
He looked somehow haggard.
"…Shall we sit first?"
Again, it was I who spoke first.
Even after Ricardo and I sat down and the maids brought tea.
...No voice came from him.
Ricardo only sat silently, his gaze lowered.
Was time even passing?
There was no trace of the obsessive clock-checking he used to do, so I couldn’t tell how much time had gone by.
Then I noticed his watch.
Frozen in place on his wrist.
The hands of the clock refused to move.
Just as the tea was beginning to cool, Ricardo finally opened his mouth.
"…Is your body alright?"
The end of his voice was rough.
Trying to lighten the mood, I shrugged lightly.
"I’m fine."
"…May I ask why you wanted to see me today?"
"A letter of annulment will be sent this week."
Ricardo flinched at my words.
…Now I think I understand a little.
Why I wanted to see Ricardo.
"I just wanted to bring it to an end now."