The carriage arrived at the square at a decent speed.
They still had a little further to go to Florent Café, but Idel got out of the carriage first to meet Sigmund.
Naturally, the knight, Kairon, assigned by the duke, and Diane followed closely behind her.
“Miss Idel, is this really the place you’re meeting your friend?”
“Yes.”
“Um, Miss Idel. But this is…”
“Right? Do I need to say it twice?”
Kairon and Diane’s expressions became subtle as the scenery did not seem like a place where a noble’s friend would be.
They appeared to be debating whether it was appropriate to stay silent or not.
Regardless of their thoughts, Idel walked toward the Raven’s Nest and carefully scanned her surroundings.
Although she had clearly seen the ring change color when she rubbed it, she couldn’t be sure if Sigmund was really there.
As she moved her head around to observe the people, her eyes suddenly sparkled.
“There he is!”
She distinctly saw a familiar boy with black hair leaning against a wall marked with the Raven symbol.
Idel smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners, as she saw Sigmund’s scowling face.
“Both of you wait here. I’ll be back soon.”
“What? That’s absurd! This area is crowded and dangerous… Miss Idel!”
“Sigmund!”
Calling his name as if she were delighted, Idel dashed down the street before Kairon could stop her.
As soon as she reached the wall, she threw her arms around Sigmund.
“Damn, what the hell…!”
“Sigmund! It’s me, Del! I’ve missed you so much!”
“You…! Hey, what is this?!”
Idel instinctively hugged Sigmund tighter as he tried to push her away, giving him a warm smile.
With her hands trembling from the strength she exerted, she whispered softly while still wearing a smile.
“Hey, pick up on the cues and act like we’re close. Can’t you see the people coming up behind me? They think we’re inseparable friends, you know?”
“What? Are you crazy? Why would I…?”
“Come on. You were the one who recommended this. Don’t you remember? As an excuse to meet up. By the way, you seem to have forgotten that I am a client of your master.”
“Ugh…! I, this, damn… sigh.”
Sigmund’s face turned red with anger, and he glared at Idel, but then he clamped his mouth shut.
He had no way to refute her. If the knight behind them found out about their real relationship and their contract was terminated, that would be a problem in itself.
‘It would be good if the contract was terminated, but in the worst-case scenario…’
He didn’t know the exact reason, but Sigmund was aware that his master, Vilred, was living under a hidden identity.
He just pretended not to know, thinking that there couldn’t be anyone without a story in the Raven’s Nest.
‘Damn it, how annoying. Of all things, getting caught up with this pesky guy… what a ridiculous situation.’
Suppressing the irritation rising in his throat, he gritted his teeth and gently embraced Idel.
Then, with a slight smile, he spoke sweetly, just as she had done.
“I missed you too, Del.”
“…Yeah, you must have waited a lot because I didn’t come.”
The two exchanged silent glances, observing each other’s smiles up close.
‘What did she eat to come up with such a ridiculous lie?’
‘Is he trying to make me vomit with his nonsense?’
Idel and Sigmund didn’t need to hear each other’s words to know what the other was thinking. They both knew it was something foul.
After counting to ten in her mind, Idel quickly released her arms from around his neck.
She felt like if she hugged Sigmund a moment longer, she would get goosebumps all over.
‘Or I’d feel nauseous and end up showing something embarrassing.’
Even while thinking that, Idel immediately took Sigmund’s hand.
She felt that this would allow them to share energy a little faster.
Sigmund, who was just as perceptive, didn’t pull his hand away either. Instead, he intertwined their fingers to maximize the area of contact.
‘Let’s finish this quickly.’
‘Damn, if I had known this would happen, I should have learned how to draw out energy from my master.’
The two who held hands in unison looked at each other and smiled again.
It was a cute smile that would make passersby feel warm inside.
“…Del!”
“You all don’t even listen to me, do you?”
The two, feeling the weight of her words, paused for a moment, but soon Kairon spoke up solemnly.
“We cannot accommodate any requests that might jeopardize the lady’s safety. Is this… the friend you mentioned?”
Turning his eyes toward Sigmund, he furrowed his brow for a moment.
The place they agreed to meet was concerning; the child seemed too rough for someone of noble lineage to associate with.
He heightened his vigilance in case of any unforeseen circumstances and spoke to Idel again.
“I apologize, but we need to confirm if this friend is…”
“Don’t apologize.”
“But we need to confirm all potential risks.”
“Then just go back and report it.”
Idel cut off Kairon’s words without hiding her displeasure and glanced down at her hand, which was still clasped with Sigmund’s.
As she felt the warmth and energy flowing between them, she seemed to relax a bit.
Just as Idel was about to speak again, a thin voice broke the tense atmosphere beside them.
It was Diane, who had been watching Kairon and Idel anxiously.
“Um… How about we move to the café first? It’s not good to keep the young lady standing here for too long.”
“Yeah, I wasn’t planning to stay here for long either. You can come or not; I don’t care.”
Idel shot back with a grumpy expression and naturally pulled Sigmund’s hand. But he didn’t budge.
‘He should follow along; why is he acting up again?’
Pretending not to notice, Sigmund pressed his body close to Idel and let out a low growl.
“Hey, what’s with the cafe? I didn’t tell you to come here to hang out.”
“Oh, come on! I promised you I’d treat you to a delicious cake, didn’t I? I’m just a little late keeping my promise.”
Sigmund gritted his teeth at Idel’s irritating expression.
The way her eyes narrowed and her hands rested on her chest was completely different from how she interacted when it’s just the two of them.
‘Is she dreaming of being an actor or something? No, what does any of this have to do with me?’
…Damn it. It does have something to do with him. It’s related to his master’s affairs.
If his master had any conscience, he should pay him separately for this.
This wasn’t part of the original deal, and it has nothing to do with the curse.
Suppressing his rising frustration, Sigmund forced a smile on his face.
Honestly, at this point, he felt a sense of defiance growing.
‘Fine. Let’s see how long this nauseating act can continue.’
Not long ago, it looked like he was getting goosebumps himself and didn’t know what to do.
From that moment on, Sigmund, who had unknowingly started a personal bet, changed his attitude toward Idel.
He was someone who wouldn’t avoid a challenge.
Not only did he stick close to her, but he even offered his hand to help her into the carriage, causing Idel to raise an eyebrow slightly.
She realized he was intentionally more proactive.
Just as she was about to tighten her grip on his hand to indicate she was fed up with his irritating behavior, Diane, who had been sitting opposite them, cautiously spoke up.
“Um, excuse me, but is there a reason you two aren’t letting go of each other’s hands? I mean, it’s not that I want to interfere or anything, but, um, I’m just worried that maybe the carriage is shaking too much, so you’re holding hands for that reason.”
“Oh, this?”
Sigmund, who answered before Idel, lightly shook the hand he was holding and flashed a soft smile.
It was a smile that took ten times more effort than when Idel urged him to smile.
“I just wanted to hold her hand.”
“Oh…”
“We’re the best of friends, the kind that can’t live without each other. Right, Del?”
“…Yeah, that’s right.”
Idel smiled a little more deeply, putting strength into the corners of her trembling lips.
The eyes of the two smiling individuals met again in the air.
‘Stop it?’
‘You stop it.’
The patience of both, unwilling to back down, was now reaching its limit.
If either of them exchanged just one more word, the events of their first meeting would happen again.
Fortunately, just before that, the carriage reached Florent Café, interrupting their quiet struggle.
– Splash!
“Who do you think you are, you thieving cat?”
The confrontation ended abruptly with a splash of water from the café.
