At that moment, Hazen was sprinting through the estate’s garden, having escaped from the mansion.
If he couldn’t find the key, his priority was to get outside and report to his master.
Once his master discovered the artifact clinging to his neck, he would find a way to deal with it.
Hazen ran endlessly through the ridiculously vast garden for tens of minutes.
Finally, he spotted the wall he climbed over to get inside.
“Meowww!”
Without hesitation, Hazen leaped toward the wall.
But with a loud crash, he fell to the ground and tumbled over.
The moment he tried to cross the wall, a jolt of pain coursed through him, and his body was flung back.
“Meow?”
Dazed, Hazen lifted his dusty, dirt-covered face and glared at the wall.
This hadn’t happened when he entered the estate.
Had he miscalculated his jump?
Hazen crouched again, preparing for another leap to climb over the wall.
Thud.
His small, fluffy body fell back down to the ground again.
‘What is going on?’
Hazen quickly scrambled to his feet and stared at the wall with his mismatched eyes filled with confusion.
He couldn’t get over it.
It felt like there was an invisible barrier preventing him from crossing.
In disbelief, Hazen tried again and again to leap over the wall.
But each time, his small body crashed to the ground with a thud.
His once-pristine white fur was now filthy and covered in dirt.
‘Damn it, what’s happening…!’
Hazen stared at the wall with his fur standing on end.
It was as if a barrier had been set up and he couldn’t get past it.
Had someone set up a barrier while he was inside?
Or was it because of the artifact…?
Frustrated, he rolled on the dirt floor, clawing at the artifact in an attempt to remove it.
But, as always, it was futile.
Exhausted, Hazen flopped onto the cold dirt, panting heavily.
His round belly rose and fell as he struggled to catch his breath.
“Meowww!”
Hazen swore, but only the meowing sounds of a pouting cat left his cute mouth.
He couldn’t leave the estate or return to his original form. This place was literally a prison.
In other words, without the key, he would be stuck in the duke’s cage and would have to live like a cat.
“Meow! Meow! Meow!”
Shit, shit, shit.
After venting his frustration, Hazen trudged back toward the mansion with tired steps.
“Kitty!”
As usual, he ended up in Raphel’s arms, the child eagerly waiting for him.
“Oh my, what happened to you? Why are you so dirty?”
Tia sighed at the sight of the muddy cat, its once-soft fur now matted like clay.
And that evening—
“Meowww!”
“Nooo!”
Hazen and Raphel both wailed as they were forced to take a bath together.
* * *
After bidding farewell to the baron and his wife, Chase and Lizelle waited for his carriage together.
The sun had long since set, and darkness surrounded them thanks to the nap Chase had taken after drinking earlier.
Confirming with his eyes that the carriage was approaching, Chase casually asked Lizelle.
“What are your plans for tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow? I’m planning to visit the Smactor shopping district.”
Smactor shopping district was the center of trade for all magical items produced and distributed across the empire.
From rare, valuable artifacts to the most trivial items.
It was a place where one could find anything and everything.
Lizelle had only one reason for going there.
She needed to purchase a magic poison detector in case Raphel faced any poison-related threats.
Once Raphel was officially adopted into the Halos family, he would undoubtedly become a target of endless assassination attempts.
To prevent this, Lizelle intended to test all of Raphel’s food with the magical device to detect any trace of poison.
She tried to use the magic pouch Casey gave her just in case, but it wouldn’t produce the magic tool.
It was a very narrow-minded bag that wouldn’t produce anything that was financially beneficial.
‘By the way, I should tell probably tell Chase that there will be serious death treats too…’
She didn’t know how to explain that there would be attempted assassinations, attempted poisonings, and attempted kidnappings.
For now, she decided to do what she could on her own and bring it up when she needed his help.
“Do you need a magic tool?”
“I have some things to buy, but I also thought I’d also look around while I’m there.”
Lizelle handed Chase the jacket and handkerchief she borrowed previously.
Both had been meticulously cleaned and washed.
“Thank you for lending these to me. I made good use of them.”
Chase took the jacket and handkerchief, his lips twitching slightly. There was a hint of disappointment in his gaze.
After leaving the baron’s estate, he wouldn’t see Lizelle again for another week.
“The carriage is here.”
The elegant duke’s carriage glided to a stop in front of the estate gates.
Lizelle stepped back, making way for Chase.
As if he had been waiting, the attendant who accompanied him personally opened the carriage door.
The attendants were still holding the jewel cases they brought.
Due to her parents’ repeated rejections, the gift was eventually returned to Chase.
“Are you not getting in?”
Lizelle asked, seeing Chase standing still.
He didn’t move, his feet rooted to the ground having no intention of leaving yet.
After a long pause, Chase clenched the jacket he was holding tightly in his hand.
“May I join you tomorrow?”
He lifted his gaze to look directly at Lizelle.
“…Tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
Lizelle’s eyes met his, and suddenly the scene of him mumbling drunkenly came to mind.
‘As long as I have you, I…’
Why did he say that?
What had he meant?
The problem was the person involved had no recollection.
Why did he have to say things like that and leave her feeling so unsettled?
She glared at him and muttered something under her breath.
“Aren’t you busy?”
“I’m not.”
Chase answered quickly.
His eyes were unusually serious, as if he already cleared his entire schedule for tomorrow.
Lizelle couldn’t help but laugh.
“Alright, if you’re free, you can come along.”
She laughed softly, finding his determination amusing.
It wasn’t as though she had any reason to refuse someone who wasn’t busy and wanted to visit the Smactor shopping district.
Chase was visibly pleased by her acceptance.
His face lit up with a faint smile.
But then Lizelle’s next words caused his expression to harden again.
“Oh! I think we should bring Raphel along too. He must be bored staying in the estate all the time.”
Smiling brightly, Lizelle seemed pleased with her suggestion.
“Raphel as well?”
Chase’s tone turned cold.
His expression tightened with displeasure.
‘It was supposed to be our first outing together…’
With Raphel present, Lizelle’s attention would undoubtedly turn away from him.
“Yes. Raphel will love it! How about meeting at the Smactor shopping district entrance at 1 o’clock?”
Lost in her excitement about spending time with Raphel, Lizelle failed to notice Chase’s dissatisfaction.
“All right.”
Chase reluctantly agreed. After all, Raphel was his nephew. Being jealous of his nephew was petty and unbecoming.
Even if it was exactly how he was feeling.
“You’ve worked hard today.”
Lizelle said, gently urging him toward the carriage.
Chase began to climb in but hesitated, turning back to her.
“My lady.”
“Yes?”
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a soft murmur.
“See you tomorrow.”
His voice carried a faint trace of laughter, echoing in her ears.
“It’s cold, you should go inside.”
Chase stepped into the carriage.
Soon after, the carriage he was riding in slowly left the Baron’s estate.
Lizelle touched the corner of her ear where his breath touched with a blank expression.
Her ear felt warmer than usual, and she couldn’t explain why.
Today had been full of mysteries.
