Chapter 75
“……?”
Yulia, who felt something strange, also lifted her head.
“Huh?”
Then the girl’s eyes widened as she saw someone walking toward her.
***
“A corpse was found again?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t tell me this time too…”
“It appears to be a body killed by a monster.”
“Sigh.”
Aserian de Devrica let out a long sigh at his subordinate’s report.
The situation surrounding the recently discovered corpse hadn’t been properly figured out yet, and now another corpse killed by a monster had been found right in the middle of the capital.
“But this time, there’s something unusual.”
“Unusual?”
“There was a Black Forest alarm that went off near the store where the body was found.”
“What? Only one place?”
“Yes.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
When the Black Forest manifests, the entire region is engulfed.
But only one alarm went off? Does that mean the alarms in other stores were broken?
“There were no reports of a Black Forest manifesting, right?”
“None. The owner of the shop where the alarm went off said they thought the device was malfunctioning.”
“Hmm… I heard Chaian recently developed and distributed new alarms—was it one of those?”
“Yes. It was a shop equipped with the new model that has an expanded detection range.”
When Aserian first heard that Chaian had begun upgrading the detection range of the Black Forest alarms, he found it more puzzling than admirable.
He had been surprised that someone like Chaian would take initiative for a task that wasn’t even assigned.
Even when asked, Chaian didn’t explain much, so he had just let it go.
Though Chaian hated working, he was meticulous when it came to any task he took on.
Aserian had thought it was best to leave him alone to figure it out himself…
“I need to meet with Chaian.”
Now that things had turned out this way, his curiosity resurfaced.
Could that guy possibly know something?
“Were you able to identify what kind of monster caused it?”
“Not yet.”
“Again?”
“Yes.”
Aserian clicked his tongue.
If a corpse had been attacked by a monster, identifying the monster should be the top priority.
But if it’s always this difficult to identify the monster’s identity…
“What about the Duke of Persia?”
It seemed they would have to rely on his help again this time.
“We’ve already reached out. But…”
“But?”
“He said he can’t make it today. He apparently has something important.”
“Something important? There isn’t even a royal meeting today.”
Aserian was genuinely curious about what could be so important for the Duke of Persia to handle today.
His subordinate gave him an awkward expression.
“He said… he has to attend a school arts festival.”
“…Where?”
For a moment, Aserian thought he had misheard.
The Duke of Persia said he’s going where?
“An arts festival.”
***
Step. Step.
As a man strode leisurely into the classroom, everyone inside was left speechless, staring blankly.
“Isn’t that His Grace, the Duke of Persia?”
“Why would he be here…?”
The appearance of Kainel, who was known for never attending any events or invitations outside of royal meetings, made everyone doubt their eyes.
“Y-Your Grace!”
Count Lukia, father of Christine, was no exception.
Who cared why the Duke of Persia was here!
He had always been looking for an opportunity but had never even had a proper conversation with him at a royal meeting.
Count Lukia considered this encounter to be divine luck and hurried toward Kainel.
The North was literally the golden land.
Its long-term isolation had made each of its unique resources incredibly valuable.
If he could somehow form a connection and gain exclusive rights to just one of those resources?
It would be a gold mine.
“What brings you here—!”
Swoosh.
But Count Lukia couldn’t even finish his sentence. Kainel passed him by without sparing a single glance.
Where he was headed, a small figure stood with a dazed expression.
“Mister?”
Yulia widened her eyes even more upon seeing him stop in front of her.
“Did you come to see me?”
“Maybe.”
“You’re not working at the restaurant today?”
“Nope, not today.”
…Restaurant? What is she talking about?
“…Does the Duke of Persia work at a restaurant?”
The onlookers who had been eavesdropping on the conversation between the two were plunged into even deeper confusion.
What exactly is the relationship between that child and him?
Yulia, casually chatting with the Duke of Persia, left the people around once again shocked.
Did the Duke of Persia really come all the way here just to see that child?
“Yulia.”
“Ah! Sis!”
Just then, another person entered the classroom—none other than Ceres.
“Sis… huh?”
Yulia, who instinctively began to run toward Ceres at the familiar voice, came to an abrupt halt.
She blinked repeatedly.
It was because this wasn’t the Ceres she was used to seeing—one who never bothered with clothes or accessories.
She wasn’t wearing her usual old, faded attire, but rather a neat, new outfit that made her look like a completely different person.
“Sis, you’re so pretty!”
“Am I?”
That’s good to hear.
‘Well.’
This face isn’t exactly considered unpleasant by others, after all.
Originally, she had only planned to dress up just enough to look tidy.
Her philosophy was that as long as a person is clean, it’s enough, so she hadn’t considered adorning herself with anything more…
‘Miss Ceres, a gift for you.’
‘What is it?’
‘I heard you’re attending your younger sister’s school arts festival. His Grace said to wear this there.’
‘…Who? His Grace, the Duke?’
‘Yes. He said to wear something pretty.’
‘How about returning it and reducing my debt instead?’
‘Haha, would that work?’
‘Haha… I guess not.’
She had received a gift.
From whom? From Del, the aide.
He had delivered several large boxes supposedly sent by Kainel, which had left her dumbfounded.
‘Seriously, what next?’
A clothing gift, of all things.
Did that guy even know how to gift clothes? If it were a sword, maybe.
In any case, she couldn’t let the clothes sent by Kainel go to waste, so she decided to wear them.
Then her maid, Jay, insisted on styling her to match the outfit, causing a frenzy since morning.
‘Definitely not something I want to go through again.’
She had nodded off multiple times while getting styled and was only freed from Jay’s hands right before the arts festival began.
“Isn’t that dress the new release from the Elrua shop?”
“Looks like it.”
“It’s hard even to place an order there—how did she…?”
People’s attention naturally shifted from Kainel to Ceres.
‘Wasn’t she from a no-name family? But something about her…’
It wasn’t just the clothes.
There was something about her aura that instinctively drew people’s gazes.
Even when standing still, she kept pulling attention. Was she really a daughter of a fallen, unknown family?
“Sis, Mister came too!”
“…I see.”
Only then did Ceres glance over at Kainel in response to Yulia’s words.
Just moments ago, when she entered the classroom, she had to suppress the absurdity she felt.
‘What’s that guy doing here?’
There had been an odd atmosphere from the hallway.
Unlike other classes, Yulia’s room was unusually quiet, and she had sensed something going on—but to think it was because of Kainel’s appearance.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was bored.”
“You came here because you were bored?”
Ceres gave him a look full of disbelief.
“Why are you becoming more like Chaian?”
“Chaian?”
Wandering around claiming to be bored when there’s work everywhere—exactly like him.
Are you talking about this despite all the paperwork piled up on your desk?
“……”
Kainel silently stared at Ceres, who clicked her tongue lightly.
“Don’t sell that dress.”
“Once it’s given, that’s the end of it.”
Now he’s meddling with the gift he already gave?
“How petty.”
“It looks good on you.”
“……”
At his offhand comment, Ceres stared at him silently for a moment.
Swoosh.
Then she lightly placed her hand on his forehead.
“No fever.”
Gasps were heard from various corners of the classroom.
She actually touched the Duke’s face.
Isn’t the Duke of Persia known for being extremely averse to physical contact?
“……”
But contrary to their expectations, Kainel simply let her examine his face calmly, as if checking whether he was unwell.
“Which family are those young ladies from?”
“I believe it’s the Drow Barony.”
“Drow Barony?”
“You know, the one said to have been founded by the Mercenary King, Tom Drow.”
“Ah…”
People began to show interest in Ceres’ family.
That included Count Lukia as well.
—
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