Chapter 108
***
“Is that true? He told you to come again tomorrow?”
“Yeah! The Marquis told Dana, ‘You little brat! If you don’t come tomorrow to taste the Marquessate’s cake, you’ll be in big trouble!'”
While having tea with the Duchess after dinner, the Duke joined us after returning from work.
As Diana recounted her visit to the Marquessate, she mimicked the Marquis with an exaggerated air of authority, making the Duke chuckle.
“He still speaks the same way, even at his age.”
The Duke was lost in nostalgia for a moment, then turned to me and asked,
“So, are you going to the Marquessate again tomorrow?”
“Yes… He said he injured his leg because of me and ordered me to stay by his side while he receives treatment.”
“He’s being ridiculously stubborn.”
Hearing my hesitant response, the Duke clicked his tongue and frowned. But despite his irritation, he added as if resigning himself to the situation,
“Once the graduation ceremony is over, he’ll return to his territory, so just endure it for a little while. He grumbles a lot, but in the end, he gives in to everything. You should take this chance to get something you’ve always wanted.”
His teasing remark made me smile without realizing it.
I was also surprised at how well the Duke understood the Marquis.
According to Lope, a former executive of Terencium, the Marquis of Diapel was just a ‘pushover’ with a fierce-looking face.
I recalled how he had once mocked my shabby clothing at length, only to show up a few days later with a pile of clothes, saying,
⟨I just happened to pick these up. Do whatever you want with them.⟩
The designs were simple dresses, blouses, and trousers, clothes commoners would wear, but the fabric was far too fine to be found in the marketplace.
It was clear he had them specially made at a high-end boutique.
Then there was the time he scolded me, saying I looked frail and useless, as if I hadn’t eaten properly for days.
Like a fool, I blurted out in surprise,
⟨How did you know I used to be a beggar?⟩
The moment I said that, the Marquis’s face turned red, and he bolted away as if his tail were on fire.
The next day, I found myself holding five three-tiered lunchboxes, clearly made by the Marquessate’s head chef, and meal vouchers for a famous restaurant.
Time and time again, he would give me rare and valuable things, always claiming he ‘just happened to pick them up.’ It was as if he was desperate to do something for me.
All I did was chat with him a few times as a café worker where he frequently stopped by.
…Of course, that wasn’t the whole story.
The Marquis must have known. How could a café housing the headquarters of the empire’s largest and most secretive information guild be just an ordinary café?
And since I worked at the counter, it was only natural for him to assume I was a guild member.
Though he probably never guessed I was a top-tier informant…
Yes, my connection with the Marquis of Diapel began when he first visited the café to commission a request from Terencium.
One day, an elderly man, dressed in commoner’s clothes, entered the café, leaning on a cane as if to hide his discomfort while walking.
Since I had memorized portraits of all the empire’s nobles, I recognized him immediately, he was the previous Marquis of Diapel, who had recently returned to the capital.
Just as I suspected, the Marquis requested a search from our guild master. However, the result that came back was not what he had hoped for.
Perhaps disheartened, he faltered while descending the stairs after hearing the report, his leg giving out beneath him.
⟨Sir, are you alright?⟩
For some reason, I had felt uneasy ever since he submitted the request. Fortunately, I managed to catch him before he could fall.
Contrary to his usual gruff and stubborn reputation, he simply looked at me in a daze and muttered,
⟨I’m fine. Thank you.⟩
That vulnerable moment stirred something in me. I quickly led him to a table by the window and served him warm tea and my favorite sweet cake.
⟨This is quite good. I should visit more often.⟩
The way he closed his eyes and savored the taste made it seem like an offhand remark.
Since his request had already been concluded with unfavorable results, I doubted he had any reason to return to the information guild.
But after that, the Marquis continued visiting the café regularly, eventually becoming a frequent customer.
⟨Sir! Isn’t that too much sugar? If you keep eating sweets like this, it’ll be bad for your health!⟩
⟨I’ve waited my whole life to eat as much as I want! What else do I have to look forward to at my age?⟩
We both hid our true identities and deeper emotions.
Yet, as we spent time together, I couldn’t help but feel, however absurd it might be, that we were like a real grandfather and granddaughter.
It was a different kind of bond than the one I shared with the guild executives who had raised me.
I had called him ‘Grandpa’ so often back then that even now, I nearly slipped up several times today.
Though he never pointed it out, every time I almost said it, the Marquis looked at me with an expression full of unspoken words.
Even Ascart, standing nearby, flinched at those moments, making me even more self-conscious.
I’ll have to be more careful tomorrow.
Whether I could actually manage it was another matter, but I resolved to be vigilant.
Just then—
“Why so quiet? Something on your mind?”
The Duke’s voice called my attention back. He had been watching as the Duchess absently fiddled with her teacup.
She gave a faint smile and said,
“The snowfall looks ominous. If it’s this bad in the capital, I can’t imagine how things are in the duchy. Lucio is leaving at dawn, and I can’t help but worry.”
Hearing that, I turned toward the sitting room window.
Outside, small, harmless-looking white snowflakes were swirling in the cold wind.
***
“Haa…”
For some reason, I felt restless and couldn’t fall asleep.
It must have been hours since I lay down.
Eventually, I gave up, sitting up in bed as I turned on the lamp beside me. I let out a deep sigh.
Is there no way I can help the Marquis and Ascart?
Lately, as I frequented the Marquessate, an unease settled in my heart.
Before, I hadn’t noticed because the Marquis of Diapel rarely showed his emotions. But Ascart, even when he seemed fine, would suddenly reveal his pain over losing his younger sibling.
Seeing him like that left me feeling both flustered and concerned.
Yet, there was nothing I could do.
Suddenly, an old memory surfaced.
***
⟨Master. The guest who came today… he was the former Marquis of Diapel, wasn’t he?⟩
Master didn’t reply. He continued reading his documents.
Used to being ignored, I didn’t mind. I simply circled his desk, chattering away.
⟨He hasn’t been in the capital for long, yet he came straight to the information guild. He must be looking for that lost Grand Princess…⟩
⟨Lia, did you eavesdrop while hiding your presence?⟩
⟨Huh? No way!⟩
I jumped in shock.
Sure, I sometimes had to put my guildmates in their place with a good fistfight, but I rarely used my skills within the guild.
Besides, I would never be so dishonorable as to secretly listen in on Master’s dealings.
Seeing my offended expression, Master let out a faint sigh.
⟨It was just a question.⟩
As I had guessed, the Marquis had indeed commissioned a request to find the lost Grand Princess of Belus.
For about a week, I sulked and refused to speak to Master. But despite my lingering annoyance, I couldn’t bring myself to leave just yet.
⟨Who’s handling the mission?⟩
⟨A professional.⟩
Master’s curt response left me silent.
My expertise lay in gathering information while hidden, not in finding missing people.
Still, I mumbled absentmindedly as I stared at my feet.
⟨I hope there’s good news.⟩
⟨There won’t be.⟩
I snapped my head up at his cold reply.
Master looked at me with a chilling gaze and explained,
⟨I told the Marquis this as well—there’s almost zero chance of finding the Grand Princess. But he insisted, so I took the request out of obligation.⟩
A newborn had vanished like dust nearly twenty years ago. There wasn’t even the slightest trace left behind.
Master scoffed, saying it was ridiculous to believe she was still alive. That level of blind optimism was nothing more than delusion.
I had no words to argue against him.
***
“Even if I’ve returned to the past, nothing will change.”
Unless I already knew where the Grand Princess was, that is.
But with no information to depend on, I was useless… just a regular nine-year-old child.
I felt helpless. I wanted to be of some use to the Marquis and Ascart, who had been so kind to me. But I couldn’t do anything.
That bitter thought weighed on me when…
“…?”
A faint sound outside caught my attention.
I slipped out of bed, carefully pulling back the curtain to peek out the window.
“They’re already leaving.”
The wizards, the Rexion Knights, and carriages loaded with winter supplies were all ready to depart for the duchy.
At the front of the group stood Lucio, his usual indifferent expression firmly in place as he checked the final preparations.
I watched for a moment before tilting my head up toward the sky.
The snow, which had started falling silently in the evening, was still coming down. But for now, it was just a gentle flurry.
It didn’t seem like it would turn into a full-blown storm anytime soon.
Still, the capital had failed to prepare for the snowfall, temporarily shutting down the teleportation zones.
Not that it would matter to Lucio as by the time he finished his estate inspections, the issue would be resolved.
So the Duchess’s worries were just needless concern…
Swoosh.
I gasped, quickly yanking the curtain shut and stepping away from the window.
It felt like my heart had dropped to my feet, only to bounce right back up.
Just now… Lucio and I had made eye contact.
