Rose looked up at Ian and spoke.
“Can I learn swordsmanship from Sister Hamil? I like Sister Hamil.”
“Of course. If you want to learn, you should.”
“Really?”
“Yes. But if it gets too hard, you have to tell me. I don’t want you to struggle.”
Rose nodded before wrapping her arms around Ian’s neck.
As she looked up at him with half-closed eyes, Ian noticed that her arms had lost strength. Gently rocking back and forth, he patted Rose’s back soothingly.
“Uuung.”
She rubbed her face against his shoulder, reluctant to let go. Before long, her breathing steadied.
“Is she asleep?”
“Yes. She cried a lot earlier, so she must be exhausted.”
Ian gently brushed Rose’s flushed eyelids.
He had thought she wouldn’t cry like that anymore after escaping her nightmares.
But earlier, his heart had ached—because Rose had sobbed uncontrollably.
A child who should only be laughing had cried because of him. That realization hurt.
To help her sleep comfortably, he adjusted her position and continued patting her back. Just then, Hamil peeked through the slightly open door.
“May I come in?”
“Please do.”
Even with Edelmar’s permission, Hamil hesitated at the doorway.
Ian whispered, lowering his voice.
“Come in, but speak quietly. Rose is asleep.”
Taking the request seriously, Hamil entered with exaggerated caution, even softening her footsteps. She sat carefully beside Edelmar and then bowed her head to Ian in apology.
“I’m truly sorry. I never imagined Rose would cry. I’m really sorry.”
Seeing the sincerity in her apology, Ian shook his head.
“It’s fine. I didn’t expect Rose to react like this either.”
And he meant it.
Hamil wasn’t someone who reminded Rose of her mother, like Lachik. Their time together hadn’t been long either.
Ian had thought it would be a simple farewell, just as it had been with May. He had assumed Hamil would leave without much trouble.
“I think Rose is looking for an adult woman she can rely on.”
“A female figure to rely on?”
Ian asked again, and Edelmar nodded.
“Yes. Humans naturally try to fill the gaps in their lives. Rose doesn’t have parents. She has replaced her father with you, the Duke, but she still lacks a mother.”
“May…”
“How could she rely on someone who treats her so formally—calling her ‘Lady’ and maintaining strict etiquette?”
Ian looked down at Rose.
‘Does she really need a female figure she can rely on? Did Yoori need someone like that too?’
“I’m not telling you to get married. That would only backfire—she’d feel like someone was taking you away from her. She just needs an adult woman who treats her as an equal, like you do.”
As Edelmar finished speaking, Hamil suddenly raised her hand and waved excitedly.
Both Ian and Edelmar turned to look at her. Hamil, with the determination of a general heading into battle, whispered with conviction.
“I will take on that role!”
“……”
“I know you don’t know me well yet, so you might be worried. But I’m confident I can be like an older sister—a motherly figure—to Rose! I can help her with baths, train her in swordsmanship, and, well… I’m not great at math, but I can still help her study. Since we’ll be attending the academy together anyway, I think I’m the perfect fit. Trust me with this! I won’t betray your faith in me!”
Edelmar chuckled, while Ian let out a deep sigh.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Yes! If you entrust her to me, I’ll make sure she becomes the happiest child in the world! I swear it on my life!”
“Alright. For now, go get some rest. Rose is asleep.”
“Understood.”
Hamil bowed and started to leave but then turned back.
“Please trust me. I’ve never taken care of a child before, but I have a feeling I’d be amazing at it. Just give me a chance!”
“Alright, I understand.”
Hamil took two more steps before stopping again.
Then, placing her fists on her hips, she bent and straightened her knees, chanting:
“Happy child. Happy child. Leave it to Hamil!”
Edelmar’s shoulders shook as he tried to suppress his laughter.
Ian clenched his jaw and gave a small nod.
Hamil grinned brightly, took two more steps, then turned to Ian once more.
“If you say one more word, I’ll take back my decision.”
“I’m going now!”
With that, Hamil quickly exited, carefully closing the door.
Just before it shut, she winked.
Ian squeezed his eyes shut.
“Do we really have to keep that person around?”
“Isn’t it nice to have someone so cheerful and lively?”
“Are you enjoying this?”
Edelmar, still smiling, nodded.
“Since you like interesting people, take her to the Grand Duchy.”
Edelmar let out a small laugh.
“Though, what I find amusing isn’t Hamil, but your reactions to her.”
Ian shook his head and stood up.
“I’ll put Rose to bed now. Do you have anything else to discuss, Grand Duke?”
“Yes, I’ll wait.”
“Understood.”
Ian carefully walked to the room, ensuring he didn’t wake Rose.
“Hmm…”
As he laid her on the bed, Rose whimpered softly. He patted her chest soothingly while using his other hand to untie the ribbon in her hair.
Even for a short nap, he didn’t want her to be uncomfortable.
Gently loosening her hair, Ian pressed a light kiss to her forehead. Then, he pulled the servant’s bell rope before stepping outside.
He instructed a hurriedly approaching servant to have Claude wait at the front before returning to the study.
“I apologize for the wait. What’s the matter?”
Edelmar handed him a document that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
Ian accepted it with curiosity, scanning its contents before looking up at Edelmar in disbelief.
“Are you saying Yekhaterina is active in high society?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t she five years old?”
Edelmar nodded.
“That’s right.”
“Since when has the noble social scene allowed five-year-olds to participate?”
From what Ian had read in the <Flow>, high society was a place where people smiled while metaphorically stabbing each other with words.
A place where one misstep could leave you riddled with invisible wounds.
And Yekhaterina was attending such gatherings? At five?
Edelmar smirked.
“Well. It seems the rules of high society changed without my knowledge.”
Ian looked over the document again.
It wasn’t an official report—just a summary of key points.
Yekhaterina entered the Silver Bell social circle.
She has been invited to all noble parties in the capital.
Jewelry business: Yekhaterina’s management.
Frequent interactions with the Crown Prince.
Yekhaterina’s resurgence.
“Hah…”
After reading through the document, Ian let out a hollow laugh.
He had thought recovering the ring would be enough to eliminate Yekhaterina.
But instead of being removed, she hadn’t even been pushed out of noble society.
Revival?
“At the summer banquet, after meeting Lady Julie and Lady Pipi—both of whom hold firm positions in high society—Yekhaterina’s reputation changed completely.”
“What connection does she have with those two?”
“None at all. They spoke for a short while, then suddenly burst into tears and decided to form a sisterhood.”
“She didn’t use dark magic again, did she?”
Edelmar shook his head.
“No. Knights have been keeping a close eye on her since she reappeared. And in this case, Lady Julie was the one who initiated the contact—crying and clinging to her.”
“…That’s suspicious.”
“It is. But there’s nothing suspicious to be found.”
“She’s going to make her move again.”
Ever since Yekhaterina had been captured, the Duchy had been peaceful. Neither Ian nor Rose had experienced any incidents.
But now that Yekhaterina had returned, she was bound to stir up trouble again.
“They might summon you to the capital.”
“Haa…”
Ian hated the idea of going to the capital.
The sacred relic in the North still hadn’t been retrieved, the academy was reopening in a few days, and the bank expansion was underway.
If he left now, everything would come to a halt.
Ian looked at Edelmar and spoke.
“Stop it from happening.”
“What?”
“If I get summoned, it’ll be 100% because of the Emperor. So, please, Grand Duke, block it for me.”
Edelmar let out a disbelieving chuckle.
“You think that’s possible?”
“Yes. You are the Emperor’s most beloved younger brother, aren’t you? And you’re highly capable, so I believe you can do it.”
Ian flashed a bright smile.
Edelmar was taken aback—both by Ian’s blatant flattery and the absurdity of the request.
“I have full faith in you, Grand Duke. But if I absolutely must go, please delay it by four months. Just until the bank expansion is complete. I’m counting on you, great and mighty Grand Duke!”
Listening to such obvious flattery made Edelmar feel a strange chill, as if his skin was crawling. He waved a hand dismissively.
“Enough. Stop it.”
Despite his protests, Ian continued to smile brightly. Ignoring the unsettling feeling creeping up his spine, Edelmar changed the topic.
“You were looking for an artifact craftsman, weren’t you?”
“Yes. Did you find one?”
“The artisans in the Grand Duchy said they couldn’t create what you wanted.”
Ian frowned in disappointment.
He wasn’t asking for anything overly complex.
All he needed were four simple artifacts: a camera to take pictures, a recording device, a video camera to store footage, and a projector to replay the videos.
Basic items. Yet no one could make them?
‘Should I just request this from the Magic Tower?’
Mages could perform higher-level magic than artifact craftsmen. Perhaps they could create these devices instead.
As Ian debated how much to offer them, Edelmar spoke.
“So, I put in a separate request. And I found someone who can make them. Surprisingly, they’re close by.”
“Close by?”
Edelmar pointed downward with his index finger.
“You mean somewhere in the southern region of the North?”
“No. She lives on the second floor here.”
“The second… floor? Don’t tell me—it’s Lachik?”
Edelmar nodded.
“That’s right. Why don’t you go meet her?”
***
For the first time since their one-sided confrontation, Ian was about to meet Lachik.
If this were about any other artifact, he would’ve simply asked Fred or Sebastian to relay the request.
But this concerned Rose.
Ian had to handle it personally, even if it meant dealing with the awkwardness.
He hesitated in front of Lachik’s door for a moment.
Hearing Edelmar chuckle behind him, Ian thought, He’s been laughing a lot lately.
Resisting the urge to glare at Edelmar, Ian knocked.
Just like before, there was a long pause before a barely audible voice answered.
“Come in.”
Carefully pushing the door open, Ian saw Lachik sitting with her head bowed.
