‘Aslan, you’re such a jerk. Do you really have to do this today, at a time like this?’
I glared at Aslan with a mixture of frustration and resentment. I gave him a look that was, in retrospect, a bit of a sneer.
In response, he finally showed a slightly guilty expression.
Aslan cleared his throat.
“…Come to think of it, Eila, didn’t you mention that you had plans for lunch?”
‘Finally!’
“Yes, that’s right. I almost forgot. I was so preoccupied with preparing to greet His Highness that I didn’t even realize…”
In plain words, it meant, ‘Because you suddenly showed up, I hadn’t been able to get ready for the original appointment.’
Whether the message got through or not, Raphir let out a small, wry smile.
“I was being rude. We shouldn’t disrupt your precious day off. Get ready and go, Eila.”
“But Your Highness is here, how could I dare to…?”
“I’m fine. Just being able to taste the dish you made is enough for me.”
“Since Your Highness has said so, then…”
Having once conveyed humble words and fulfilled proper etiquette, I quickly stood up. Although Raphir seemed to be holding back a complaint, I pretended not to notice.
“See you later, Eila.”
After bowing deeply to Raphir, I made my way to my room.
* * * * * * * * *
Right after Eila went out, Raphir left the mansion as if his business here was done.
Nita also left with Raphir. About an hour later, he returned to the mansion alone.
“Where did Eila go when she went out? Who did she meet? Why did you send her out alone?”
Watching Nita start questioning the moment he entered, Aslan muttered under his breath with an expressionless face.
“How did you hold back from asking that question earlier?”
“Answer me quickly. Who did she go to meet?”
“Sapphire, Eila’s friend.”
“A friend? Eila has a friend?”
“Turns out she does.”
Aslan began to explain. He started with how Eila knew Sapphire and went on to talk about how she asked for Viscount Doanne’s help to lift the curse from Sapphire. After that, Eila had been meeting Sapphire on her holidays regularly.
“Eila seems to really like that girl. Since her identity is uncertain, I expressed concern a few times, and she got angry instead. So I’m trying not to interfere if possible.”
“…Hmm.”
Clearly, Eila hadn’t had many opportunities to make friends like her until now.
Among her colleagues at the Magic Department, she seemed fairly close to the researcher Cecil Ohene, but Cecil appeared more focused on her studies and had no interest in humans. A bit like their father, Julion or Aslan himself.
In contrast, Eila had inherited her mother and Nita’s affectionate and people-loving nature.
If she had truly found a friend with whom she resonated, falling head over heels into that relationship wouldn’t have been odd at all.
Well, Aslan, who lacked both emotions and tears, might find it hard to understand, though.
“Isn’t it a bit risky to let her go out alone, no matter what?”
Actually, he was more worried about that than Eila’s friend. Eila, who had barely ever left the mansion grounds her entire life, wandering alone in an unfamiliar place was concerning.
“No need to worry about that. Father hired bodyguards who watch Eila around the clock.”
“What? Really?”
“Yeah. They seem to be members dispatched by the organization Twilight Moon, so you can trust them.”
Twilight Moon was a secret operative organization that only took on missions from a very limited number of high-ranking nobles within the Palma Empire.
Though its existence was unknown to the public, Nita and Aslan were exceptions as members of Rojasis. Of course, only the master of the house, Julion, had the authority to commission them.
“More importantly, what happened to what I asked you before?”
Though vague, the question was understood immediately. He knew what he was referring to.
It was clear that Aslan was asking about the whereabouts of the investigator that he had assigned to watch Haylan Peridot.
“In the end, I couldn’t find him. After the reports stopped coming in, he didn’t return to his family, and we couldn’t locate him anywhere. We investigated all the unidentified bodies that turned up during that period, but none of them was him.”
“…And Peridot?”
“He managed to completely cover his tracks as well. It seems like nobody in social circles has heard from him either. There were no mentions of him returning to his hometown either.”
“The most natural assumption would be that the investigator was dealt with by Peridot. So, the important question is where Peridot has disappeared to.”
“Has he been spotted around here, or, if not him, at least a mysterious figure hanging around?”
“No, nothing of that sort happened.”
Nita and Aslan simultaneously fell silent, lost in thought as if they had prearranged it.
“Actually, regardless of that person’s identity and motives, if it’s unrelated to Eila, it might not matter much.”
“What are you talking about? A perfectly normal person has gone missing. If what you say is true and Peridot really killed him, we can’t just let him go.”
Aslan didn’t argue with Nita’s stern words. In this aspect, he had long known that he and his brother would forever run parallel lines.
“Anyway, I’m bothered by the fact that Peridot’s disappearance coincides with the day Eila left Trachen. With the twilight moon in the picture, nothing should happen to Eila immediately, but until things are clear, it’s best not to let our guard down.”
Nita nodded at Aslan’s words.
“Speaking of that, that friend of Eila’s you mentioned earlier, where does she live?”
* * * * * * * * *
On the way to Clyde’s mansion, I kept looking around to make sure no one was following me.
While Raphir was Raphir, I was more concerned about Nita. His approach might be different from our father and Aslan’s, but Nita was just as overprotective.
When I mentioned going out earlier, it was clear that he wanted to ask where I was going and what I was up to.
‘…I think it’s best to be careful for the time being.’
“Clyde. It might be a good idea for you to transform into Sapphire today.”
I said as soon as I met Clyde.
“…Why all of a sudden?”
“Well, it turns out that this morning, my second older brother suddenly showed up. Apparently, he came to Andela as part of Prince’s escort. Since he noticed that I’m meeting a friend today, he might be a bit suspicious… I don’t think he’ll barge in all of a sudden, but just in case.”
“…….”
I carefully observed Clyde’s reaction before continuing.
“I know you’re not fond of transforming into Sapphire, but please listen to me this time. If we’re going to keep being together like this in the future, avoiding suspicion is the most important thing.”
“I understand. It’s not like I don’t want to transform.”
“Really?”
“Didn’t you say the crown prince was supposed to arrive on the 11th?”
“Oh…. The schedule got pushed back for some reason, but it’s okay. It seems Prince is planning to rest today as well. I don’t have to return to the investigation site right away. I can still celebrate your birthday as planned.”
“…….”
Clyde remained expressionless.
“What’s wrong? Is something else bothering you?”
“…No. It’s nothing.”
“Then let me cast the transformation spell.”
I transformed Clyde into Sapphire just like before and also cast a detection-blocking spell.
Seeing Sapphire again after a long time, his beauty was still enough to make me involuntarily admire him.
“You still look beautiful, Sapphire. Well, too beautiful. You know, can I comb your hair?”
“…do whatever you want.”
Clyde replied, somewhat flustered. He didn’t say no, so I guided Clyde down in a chair and took out a comb.
“You used to say you preferred handsome and fit men, but it seems you actually like pretty women more.”
“Uh… Is that so? It’s not exactly like that…”
“But you like Sapphire more than me.”
I looked at Clyde with round eyes for a moment before bursting into laughter.
“Come on, are you jealous of yourself right now? That’s just ridiculous.”
“It’s not like that. Still, it’s true that I receive more compliments about my appearance when I’m in my female form than when I’m in my male form.”
“That’s because….”
“That’s?”
“Of course, it’s embarrassing.”
“Embarrassing? Why?”
Telling a pretty girl she’s pretty is not the same as telling a handsome man he’s handsome. The latter requires much more courage and boldness.
In fact, in the past, I might have easily complimented his handsomeness without a second thought. But nowadays, even looking Clyde directly in the eyes isn’t so simple.
There were times when I felt slightly relieved that Clyde’s vision hadn’t fully returned yet. Enough said.
“Why are you not answering?”
“I don’t know. Just assume it’s like that.”
I muttered as I continued combing Clyde’s hair.
“Why is your hair texture so nice again? It’s pissing me off.”
“Why are you getting angry? Weren’t you just saying a while ago that you liked it because it’s pretty?”
Clyde asked in a bewildered tone.
“A woman’s heart is naturally complicated. Since you’re a woman now, try your best to understand.”
“…….”
Clyde closed his mouth with a highly dissatisfied expression, finding it extremely unreasonable.
𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑲𝒐-𝒇𝒊
Thanks for the chapter ♡ I’m hooked!!