Chapter 89

"His name is Maricops. Have you ever heard of it, Count Serenye?"

"I don't think so."

The King of Astrosa, who had given a vague answer, waved a piece of paper in front of me.

"Amazing, amazing. Miss Daisy, do you know what this letter of recommendation means?"

"It's just a letter of recommendation, what else?"

"Ah, you're a lady as cold as ice. That's not what I'm asking. Have you truly crossed the Second Wall?"

Ah, that's what he was asking.

"Yes."

"You've crossed it?"

"Yes."

"Hmm. How old are you this year?"

I naturally lied.

"I'm around twenty to thirty."

"Wow! A lady who's at most thirty, how could she... ."

Just as the king, who had already sighed five times, was about to take a step closer to me, a quiet shadow blocked the way between the King of Astrosa and me.

A chilling moment.

My senses, heightened with caution, sent blood rushing through my body.

My legs, which instinctively tried to step back, regained composure at the sound that followed.

"Lower your guard. I'm not your enemy. And it seems you were telling the truth."

I looked up at the man who had approached without a sound, with a deeply furrowed brow.

'This guy...'

He's Kalepa, the king's sword instructor.

"You were a real woman."

What?

"How is your body?"

Me?

"......Just fine."

"Remarkable. Considering your soul, it shouldn't just be fine. Do you have any lingering illnesses? How much longer do you have to live?"

This is an uncomfortable conversation.

I've never given this Kalepa any information, yet he asks serious questions as if he can see through my soul.

"Ah, I'm sorry. This isn't something to talk about in such a setting. Still, crossing the Second Wall with such a soul is a feat I admire. Congratulations, Miss Daisy Pajer."

I shook his hand, which he extended, without thinking.

'What's with this guy?'

If I'm not mistaken, this white-haired Kalepa is being unusually friendly to me.

Based on the instincts I honed over ten years in the Allied Army, I'm sure of it.

'Is he considering me a friend of Lu?'

Well, a friend of a friend is a friend, after all.

"How long do you plan to hold on?"

The white-haired Kalepa released my hand right after a small murmur.

He looked up at Count Serenye with a slightly awkward expression, then turned his gaze back to me.

"I am Schuld, Miss Daisy. Meeting you in such good health is a great relief."

Look at this.

He's acting as if he knows me.

"When have you seen me?"

"Since you brought the Yete recommendation letter, and I, Kalepa, confirmed your level with my own eyes, you are fully qualified to take the Yete examination. It just so happens that the entrance examination will be held tomorrow morning, which is perfect."

This guy is as much a 'my way' as Lu.

He ignores everything I say and only speaks his mind. Is this typical of Kalepa?

Or did I hit a nerve with my question?

"Your Majesty, it seems improper to let this talented lady go just like that."

Under the subtle pressure from the white-haired Kalepa, the King of Astrosa burst into a hollow laugh.

"I've never seen you praise someone so highly. Well, I'm curious about Miss Daisy's abilities, so there's no reason to refuse. Miss Daisy? Spend a day in the castle with your companions."

At that, I briefly thought of Jin and Andert.

'The entrance examination means they will verify my abilities. Will I be dueling with a skilled swordsman from Rogui?'

Hmm.

"I've heard that the Allied Kingdom has many swordsmen who use a completely different style of swordsmanship from the Empire. I want to broaden my horizons by following in the footsteps of my seniors."

Hmm.

"......There are other friends left in Serenye Castle. Can I bring them along?"

The king readily agreed.

"Not a problem. There are plenty of empty bedrooms in this castle. If you pass the examination tomorrow, I'll send you straight to Rogui. It should take only a day to arrive, so come well-prepared."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

To think I would be sleeping in a foreign castle.

'How come I'm having more rare experiences than when I was Andert Pajer?'

We withdrew from the audience with the king's command.

Then Count Serenye patted my shoulder and spoke in a tender voice.

"What a pity. I have to see Miss Daisy off tomorrow. Good things never last, do they?"

What's he saying, this shameless guy.

He's only thinking about going to Rogui first to tease me!

I didn't miss the chance to confront Count Serenye while Dscherro was asking Mont various questions.

"How do you plan to handle the marriage? You even used the king's name. Surely you don't mean to actually hold a wedding?"

Count Serenye slowly buttoned up his loosely undone shirt as he answered.

"Ah, that was obviously a temporary measure. How could I make such a mistake as to marry Miss Daisy to a married man with children?"

It was a relief to hear that.

"I will soon leave Astrosa again. I plan to roam the world until the old viscount dies. What's the point of verifying the truth when the person involved is hiding?"

It was a typical lie from him.

I was relieved that the unexpected marriage was canceled, but I felt a subtle annoyance.

And that mixed emotion was a damn uncomfortable feeling, even to me.

Why did it have to be... a marriage to pull off a scam?

"Why? Are you disappointed?"

I was startled, thinking it was a question from my own heart.

Fortunately, the questioner was not me but Count Serenye. But is this fortunate? Why should it be fortunate?

He looked into my confused eyes and suddenly asked.

"Then, would you like to marry me?"

At this absurd suggestion, I screamed.

"Are you crazy?"

A somewhat suspicious smile appeared at the corner of Count Serenye's mouth.

"Right, Miss Daisy would think a man with children is no good. Be careful. You shouldn't fall for a face like this. Smooth-talking guys are all foxes."

"There's no man as fox-like as you among the men I know."

At this, Count Serenye grinned and whispered playfully.

"That's a relief in its own way."

I didn't respond.

We used the golden key, which only those with Kalepa's seal can hold, to return to Serenye Castle.

Mont went ahead to the main castle to collect our luggage and bring Jin and Andert.

Dscherro, who was about to follow Mont naturally, slowly stopped.

He pointed to a pearl-colored dome-shaped roof beyond the bushes to the east of the stable and asked Count Serenye.

"What is that building?"

Count Serenye, who clearly knew what he was pointing at, kept his eyes on Dscherro's face and asked back.

"Curious? It's a separate hall where I display my cherished treasures."

"The shape of the bell hanging under the roof is familiar."

At this, he looked at the roof again.

Dscherro was right.

A large black bell was hanging just below the dome.

"Familiar? Ah, now that you mention it, didn't Viscount Dscherro belong to the Allied Army four years ago? Even considering that, your keen eye is impressive."

"Then, as you say, the bell is indeed from the Mephisto Temple?"

The Mephisto Temple.

We usually referred to the temple built by Mephisto's army as such.

'You hung the bell from that temple there?'

Do Kalepas have such unique thought processes? Hanging an object that is essentially a statue of a traitor in your house.

"One of my collections. Is it uncomfortable?"

Dscherro nodded sincerely.

"To be honest, yes."

"Hmm. I understand. But it wasn't meant as a tribute. ...Fine, since a hero of that era has come, I should give proper treatment. Let's go see my precious treasures. They are rare items that you won't easily find anywhere else."

Count Serenye's steps turned towards the annex.

Dscherro observed his back as if studying it, then slowly followed.

The annex was quiet.

Even though it was a place to store treasures, there were no guards or caretakers to be heard besides us.

'What are Count Serenye's treasures?'

Jewels? Or magical artifacts?

Or, since it's called a gallery, perhaps paintings or sculptures, like works of art?

One person playing both the role of Kalepa and the role of Serenye's daughter is confusing.

Still, since Lu seems to be quite immersed in the role he's playing, the treasures here should be considered Count Serenye's, not Kalepa's.

Boom.

We passed through three heavy doors and arrived at a massive exhibition hall.

The ceiling of the exhibition hall was very high.

The interior of the exhibition hall, which was revealed next, was very simple.

Frames.

Frames.

Frames.

The only noticeable items were the frames.

'Lu must have liked paintings.'

It somehow seems fitting.

I approached the nearest painting. However, the paper inside the frame was not a painting but a photograph.

'...It's not just this frame.'

All the frames displayed in the exhibition hall contained photographs.

And the person in the center of each photograph was.

"......"

It's me.

Andert Pajer, the me from that time.