HTWBB Chapter 10

"Welcome, my love!"

Grace, who'd spread both arms to their limit, rushed over in one bound. Rietta blocked her immediate attempt at an embrace and sat carelessly on the centrally placed sofa.

Grace's arms, having lost their purpose, turned toward Melian this time. He bent at the waist with a disgusted expression to dodge, then scurried to claim the seat beside Rietta.

Despite the successive cold treatment, Grace seemed purely pleased, wearing a smile across her entire face as she fetched tea from a corner of the office. It was imported goods she'd been saving and rationing, calling them expensive.

"You're a bit later than planned, honey. Did something happen?"

"Nothing major."

"Hmm. Seeing your limbs intact, looks like you resolved it well."

While exchanging brief greetings, freshly brewed tea was placed before Rietta. She didn't decline and lifted the teacup.

"How is it?"

"Delicious."

Grace smiled with satisfaction, saying she knew Rietta would like it.

"So, the troublesome item? Does it live up to its reputation?"

"See for yourself."

Melian quickly embraced the backpack. When he rummaged inside and pulled out a soft-textured pouch, Grace received it with trembling hands.

After making a fuss about her heart pounding, she pulled out her hand and made a suspicious expression. Though it was as gorgeous as its reputation, it was unavoidable given her profession.

"Is it genuine? It looks unspeakably expensive, but seems like a large jeweler could make it too."

"The magic power inside isn't common."

"I wouldn't know, but if you say it's right, it must be right, well..."

She squinted, turning the necklace this way and that, then soon put it in the pouch and pulled the opening tight.

"Appraisal isn't our responsibility. We found what they asked us to find, so they'll manage on their own."

Whatever it was, it was a precious thing that would bring a full three times the gold. Having secured the necklace safely in her bosom, Grace finally leaned back comfortably.

Humming came naturally. She lightly tapped her foot, pleasantly waiting for Rietta to savor her tea.

That ruthless hunter wasn't particularly picky, but especially loved fragrant things. Not just fruit and tea, but even bread or cookies—she frequently reached for ones with herbs.

Even now she was picking up a cookie with raspberry in it from those laid out. Yet the person herself didn't seem particularly aware of her own preferences.

"Here. Drink more."

Grace, who smiled at her unrefusing manner, gestured to Melian.

"You can rest now. Good work assisting."

Melian's gaze naturally turned toward Rietta. Grace laughed hollowly as if dumbfounded. Rietta placed the backpack she'd set in the sofa corner into Melian's arms.

"Wait in my room."

The boy, who'd been gauging the mood, smiled brightly and jumped up. Then without even a greeting, he swiftly slipped out of the office.

Shaking her head, Grace placed the teapot with remaining tea near Rietta and approached the desk.

"I feel somewhat betrayed."

"Why."

"Like a beloved son ignoring his parents and getting married."

"I don't think you played the parent role."

"It's just a figure of speech."

Rather than warm relationships like parent and child, it was closer to the relationship between a wicked employer and an exploited worker, but she ignored such facts.

While constantly grumbling, she quickly composed a letter and handed it to the secretary waiting outside. A true wicked employer with tremendous power and wealth was waiting eagerly only for her news.

"Anyway, this necklace isn't what you were looking for either?"

Having confirmed the secretary left the guild, Grace asked while gauging the remaining time. The rigid and impatient knight would move the instant he received the letter, so at most two hours or so of leisure remained.

Rietta nodded. There was no need to explain the detailed circumstances as they were, and since it conclusively wasn't what she was looking for, there was no reason to explain at length.

"I see... What a shame."

Grace muttered. When contracting with her, Rietta had demanded just one thing. To let her examine any treasures that came in first without fail.

Grace readily accepted after hearing the reason. There were those who simply wanted to do infamous thievery, but treasure hunters usually had one or two unspeakable stories.

Rietta, who'd been only drinking tea, opened her mouth in passing.

"Melian was saying something strange."

"Mm?"

"That he's permanently my gift."

Grace let out an ah of admiration, then soon laughed heartily.

"Miss Rietta, should I put this here?"

"Yes."

Melian hummed verses of popular songs while bustling about. Sounds of opening and closing drawers and quick steps with narrow strides continued.

Rietta watched him looking happy for a moment, then cast her gaze out the window. At this early hour when everyone was still asleep, the space devoid of human traces felt rather desolate.

Parting the thin fog, a man wrapped in faint dawn light was crossing that silent street. She gazed at the familiar back. A man with deep golden hair faintly mixed with red, about two finger-widths shorter than the knight who always guarded from behind. As expected, her guess was correct.

If he turned around, she'd meet ruby-bright red eyes. About nine out of ten imperial family members were born that way.

'So it was you. Alcaide's betrothed.'

A fairly old memory seeped through small cracks. His impression of folding his gentle eyes and socially requesting a handshake was memorable. Though royals were generally disgusting, his manner of setting aside arrogance was tolerable.

In fact, the 2nd Prince was close to the throne by birth order, so many followed him. However, until she'd last seen him, he maintained an attitude of stepping back from imperial succession competition. Rather than weakness, it gave a strong sense of deliberately lowering himself and staying back.

She hadn't known he'd participate in the crown prince competition. Much less that he'd come all the way to information guild 'N.'

As if sensing the gaze, the man suddenly looked back. Rietta stepped back sharply from the window. Whatever had happened, it wasn't her concern.

"The guild master will be in a good mood for a while."

The prince, having discovered nothing, fixed his gaze forward again. When he'd moved far enough to disappear, Melian, gripping the window frame and looking outside, whispered.

Grace had sent Rietta out just before the prince's party arrived. Negotiations she'd thought would end quickly dragged on longer than expected. Signs of people coming and going several times, and vibrations booming as if moving luggage.

And just when everything seemed to have quieted, urgent footsteps racing up the stairs approached through the corridor to Rietta's room. Grace, who'd rushed over breathlessly, opened the door without knocking with a flushed face, then shouted 'Four times! It's insane!' before disappearing like wind.

"How about sleeping now."

"Yes, I will. Sweet dreams!"

Melian, who'd greeted her warmly, waved and disappeared. Though one person left, everywhere instantly quieted as if ten people had been there.

Sweet dreams. Left alone, instead of lying down, Rietta slowly circulated her recovered magic power. Though she still couldn't use it as desired without proper channels, she inevitably felt fullness.

'I hope it turns out as he said.'

When she fell asleep, nine times out of ten she wandered in nightmares. Though beginnings differed, they eventually concluded with either her own death, someone related dying, or desolate scenery with nothing remaining.

At the center of that fertile land turned barren, that sea filled with blood-red water, he was always there. Jeff. Jeffrey Byantor.

'I heard you saved my escort.'

It was a meeting with the first button fastened wrong from the start. Though she'd considered it an opportunity that wouldn't come again then, in the end it became a terrible ill-fated connection.

Rietta had never forgotten the cliff incident for even a moment. The sharp wind wrapping her entire body and the cruel resistance of the familiar sea. That sensation of endlessly sinking was vivid as if graspable.

Rietta lowered her gaze. The hands placed on her knees were trembling like a lie. By now, she didn't clearly know whether this was fear or rage. Such intense emotions lost their destination and floated around carelessly, accumulating years.

What should she call that worn thing, shaved down and dried brittle? Clasping her restless hands, she gazed at the thickening fog outside the window, then rose. Sleep wouldn't come at all.

"Miss Rietta? Where are you going?"

When she'd descended about two floors, a haggard-faced man spoke to her. Grace's chief secretary. Was it Franz—the man with a name like that wasn't getting off work on time today either.

"Couldn't sleep."

"Ah, going to the training ground again? It's empty, so feel free to use it."

"Right. Good work, Franz."

"Thank you. And I'm Francis."

Rietta roughly nodded and left that place. The training ground was behind the building.

Covered by tall trees and overgrown grass, it looked like an ordinary backyard, but parting the thick undergrowth revealed a place equipped with better practice weapons and sparring equipment than expected.

She stopped near the tree with the thickest trunk. Having waited who knows how long, a man embracing the dawn air gazed at her with those characteristically impassive eyes.

"I thought I'd seen wrong."

As Rietta momentarily hesitated, he continued.

"Why are you here, Lady Lebleu?"

"...Sir Hoffen."

A damp wind swept past their ankles once. Rietta recalled the prince's back figure she had seen from the window. She had overlooked that he was alone. The fact that there was no escort always guarding one step behind.

Lowering her gaze, she checked her attire. Though not a dress, it was decent enough to fabricate a story appropriately.

"I'll ask again. What brings you here?"

"What other reason would there be to come to an information guild."

"You came for a commission."

Rietta nodded. He was silent as if lost in thought. To the knight's eyes, she was merely a noble from a countryside estate, so lack of credibility was understandable.

Coming from a place easily more than ten days' journey to the capital meant it was no ordinary matter. Either the family or estate had problems. Perhaps reaching a similar conclusion, he opened his mouth again.

"Has something happened to the viscount house?"

"It's a personal matter. Thank you for your concern."

"...Does the 15th Prince know?"

Rietta readily affirmed.

"He knows."

"Do you need any separate assistance?"

"No. My business is finished. Since it's late, I'm thinking of leaving here tomorrow."

He seemed somewhat relieved. This old-fashioned knight was certainly concerned about the chivalric code that had been trampled like trash in the old days.

The nominal position of the prince's betrothed might weigh on his mind. If she'd hesitated even slightly or answered differently, he would have tried to help somehow. Rietta asked him in return.

"What about you, Sir?"

"I also have personal business. Please pretend you didn't see me."

"I'll have to ask the same favor."

"Yes. Then I'll see you later."

He silently bowed his head. His mouth was so tight-lipped it was practically crushed, so even if today's events eventually leaked to the 2nd Prince, it wouldn't be right now.

Rietta started to bow with him but slightly bent her knees instead and immediately turned around. Meeting Jerome Hoffen was fortunate in misfortune.

If it hadn't been him but the prince she had faced, the situation would have become terribly complicated by now. He was someone who became a crown prince candidate just by rising from a supine position. He wasn't a fool who would miss an opportunity that came his way.

"Hm? Back already?"

"The weather isn't good."

Francis nodded with a dark face. Returning to her room, she finally let out a sigh of relief and lay directly on the bed.

Sleep poured down as if her previous alertness had been a lie. Rietta fell into a deep sleep without dreams for the first time in a very long while.