Ria entered the sitting room carrying a tray with teacups and sweet cakes, only to freeze for a moment at the sight before her. Estella and Ciel were sitting side by side, engaged in warm conversation, looking so close that it felt inappropriate to call them just a noblewoman and her hired mercenary.

Estella, chatting with a soft smile as if she’d known Ciel for years, maybe even as a lover, looked as relaxed as someone who had finally laid down all their burdens.

“If Sir Ciel can make Lady Estella happy, I’d be glad. Of course, I still think she’s far too good for him.”

Seeing Estella so cheerful made Ciel seem all the more reliable in Ria’s eyes.

“I brought some tea and cake.”

Too focused on each other, Estella and Ciel hadn’t even noticed Ria’s entrance. Embarrassed, they quickly shifted apart. Though the awkward air between them was obvious, Ria pretended not to notice and began calmly setting up the tea.

The sound of tea pouring into cups was soft and pleasant. The corners of Ria’s lips quirked upward, almost imperceptibly. Estella’s good mood felt contagious.

The sitting room quickly filled with the fresh scent of lavender and the crisp, clean aroma of Miraclelium. Ria placed plates of cake, each topped with large strawberries specially procured by Jean, in front of the two of them.

“My lady, I’ll go check on the dried gallweed.”

The gallweed had already been harvested and stored the night before. She just needed a polite excuse to leave them alone for conversation.

Even though Miraclelium production and distribution had been handed off to the Silver Bear Guild, Ria still insisted on personally making the amount Estella would drink. Estella had told her not to bother, but Ria had stood her ground. It was the only way she felt she could repay the grace Estella had shown her.

Estella smiled at her, and Ciel, too busy gazing at Estella, didn’t even notice Ria leaving the room. He only had two eyes—how frustrating.

Ria looked at Ciel with satisfaction, offered a slight bow, and quietly exited the sitting room.

Their conversation, momentarily paused, resumed naturally.

“I’m not going to give you any special treatment just because you’re a prince.”

“That’s fine. Nobody’s giving me special treatment now, either.”

“Did the other mercenaries know you were a prince from the start?”

“No, not exactly… There was this one time we captured an assassin sent by Aslan. Har tortured him pretty badly, and he spilled everything.”

“Har did?”

It was hard to believe someone as quiet and reserved as Har would torture anyone—let alone do it harshly.

“Didn’t I tell you Har’s specialty is making jerky?”

At Ciel’s cryptic question, Estella’s eyes widened in horror.

“You don’t mean… with people?”

When Estella recoiled and asked, Ciel burst into laughter, clutching his stomach, then shook his head. Somewhere, it felt like he could hear Har sighing in exasperation.

“No, he’s just really good at slicing. Beasts or monsters. You get what I’m saying?”

Estella nodded slowly, trying hard not to imagine Har’s sweet-looking face slicing up people with precision.

“Anyway, that’s how they found out. But they didn’t really care.”

“Really?”

It was surprising, but not entirely out of character for the Squirrels.

“Har did say one thing, though.”

“What was it?”

“He asked if the palace would give him a bed if he went.”

Somehow, it felt like exactly the kind of thing Har would say, and Estella couldn’t help but burst into laughter again.

Unlike other noblewomen who daintily covered their mouths with fans, Estella laughed openly, head thrown back, her throat visible. Ciel felt a rush of satisfaction. This charming squirrel, full of surprises, kept stealing his soul.

By the time he came to his senses, he was already cupping Estella’s face in his hands like a precious treasure. Just like when he’d once poked her chubby cheeks without thinking—his hands had moved on their own.

“What are you doing?”

Startled, Estella glared at him, her lips puckered like a goldfish from the pressure on her cheeks. But her expression was so adorable that Ciel couldn’t resist and gently kissed her lips—red and round like two cherries.

“What… what was that?”

Flustered, Estella hurriedly pushed his hands away and demanded in a confused voice. But Ciel, having gone this far, decided to be shameless about it. He steeled himself with the mental armor of Nevrion steel.

“Take responsibility.”

“For what!”

He was the one who kissed her—what on earth was she supposed to take responsibility for? Estella was so dumbfounded her scalp prickled. The heat from where his lips had touched spread up her neck and down to her heart.

“That was my first kiss. So obviously, you have to take responsibility.”

“Who asked you to?”

“Exactly why I need to do it again. I don’t like odd numbers.”

Ciel said it with complete composure, no logic or coherence required.

“What now!”

“I’ve always had this weird thing—when I do something in odd numbers, bad stuff happens. Even when I kill monsters, I make sure it’s an even number. It’s a pain, really.”

He lied through his teeth with a perfectly straight face, looking dead serious.

“Everything in even numbers?”

“Yeah. Everything.”

His brown eyes sparkled with hope.

“This is ridiculous…”

“Are you thinking it makes no sense?”

When Estella nodded, Ciel once again cupped her face and said,

“That’s why you have to take responsibility. You’ve turned me into a complete mess. This is all your fault.”

Looking at him constantly repeating “take responsibility,” Estella let out a half-sigh, half-laugh. Ridiculous as it was, it was also… kind of cute.

Taking her smile as permission, Ciel leaned in again, his lips brushing over hers. But this time, the kiss didn’t end in an instant. It lingered.

It was like having eaten a whole strawberry cake without touching it—sweet and full of warmth.

Two days after the banquet, Gerard finally went to see the marquis.

He’d originally intended to visit the next morning, but got lost in Alexis’s research notes and forgot the passage of time. If Lydia hadn’t come knocking and urged him to eat something, he might not have even realized two days had gone by.

He considered going to Estella first, but wanted to give her a bit of peace after such a busy stretch.

He made up excuse after excuse for his delay, but the truth was something Gerard understood all too well: when Ciel had confessed, Gerard had seen the subtle change in Estella’s expression.

She looked surprised—but when she and Luka turned to leave, Gerard had caught her smile.

She hadn’t disliked the confession. No, if anything, she’d been… pleased?

Then why did it bother him so much?

Gerard walked to the office with dark circles so deep it looked like shadows clung to his eyes, clutching his thoroughly analyzed notes.

Even though it wasn’t official visiting hours and Gerard had come without warning, the marquis welcomed him warmly.

After all, this was the man who had saved Estella’s life, exposed Katrin’s murder, and developed Plareon—the core for Invincible No. 1. Cassian’s eyes were filled with goodwill as he looked at Gerard.

“What brings you here at this hour?”

Gerard, notes tucked under his arm and wearing an expression fit for a battlefield, stood in front of the desk. As the marquis caught a glimpse of Alexis’s handwriting peeking out, his brow furrowed.

“You’ve discovered something else, haven’t you.”

The things Alexis had left behind after working so long for the family were more staggering than expected. Like peeling an onion, every layer uncovered new horrors. Cassian had thought he couldn’t be shocked anymore—but he was wrong.

Cassian looked at the notes with tired eyes, then removed his glasses and pressed the back of his hand to his brow. Lately, his headaches had worsened, and during those times, his vision would blur like fog settling in.

He hated to admit it, but every time the pain came, he thought of Katrin’s tea and desserts. Even knowing the truth now, he couldn’t shake the hollow craving. He felt pathetic.

“What is it this time? What did Alexis do to my children?”

If only he had known just how many crimes Alexis had committed, he never would’ve let him die so easily. That man didn’t even deserve the right to choose his own death.

“It wasn’t Estella. It was Katrin and Alexis. And what they did… they did to you.”

“To me?”

Cassian frowned. He couldn’t recall a single instance where Katrin or Alexis had done anything suspicious to him.

Gerard sighed and looked into Cassian’s puzzled eyes before opening the notebook. On top of Alexis’s meticulous handwriting were Gerard’s own messy notes—ink still fresh in some places.

“Do you know what Karna is?”

“A treatment for magic addiction, isn’t it?”

Cassian had heard of it. It was once the subject of great controversy in the Empire. But it had been long ago, and he wasn’t completely sure.

“Correct. Do you know its side effects?”

“Well, obviously...”

He’d been about to say yes, but the sudden realization hit him like a blow to the head.

Gerard frowned. For someone of Cassian’s rank, to be so thoroughly deceived—it was pathetic. Then again, if your trusted physician and the child you considered your daughter were working together, what chance did you have?

Worse, Alexis had mixed Katrin’s Infroomos into the Karna he gave to Cassian. If Cassian hadn’t been so physically strong, he might’ve lost his mind after just a few doses—maybe even turned on Estella and Luka. In the worst case, he could’ve expelled or even killed them.

Gerard forced the horrible thought away.

“Now do you understand? Your failing eyesight—Katrin and that mad doctor were responsible. Alexis mixed it into your tea and cookies. If you’d taken even one or two more doses, you might’ve gone completely blind. Judging by how long it’s been, your vision is probably already badly clouded.”

Cassian nodded grimly as Gerard pointed to the notes. The thought of going permanently blind frightened him—not just for himself, but because he feared he’d become a burden to Estella.

Gerard sighed, then slicked back his greasy, unwashed hair like he was tossing out a favor.

“But don’t worry. I found the cure. I’ll restore your eyesight.”

With a confident smile, he added,

“I owe you that much.”

“Thank you. I won’t forget this.”

Cassian remained calm, composed. Most people would have broken into tears from the relief, but not him.

What the hell? I thought he’d cry or something!

Deflated, Gerard pulled out another card he’d kept ready.

“I’ve also identified the cause of Luka’s bone weakness. I’ll strengthen him, too. His body should start growing properly. Fewer sick days, more strength.”

“Really? Thank you! Truly, thank you!”

Cassian, who had been reserved up until now, leapt up and grabbed Gerard’s hand, eyes shimmering. Unlike before, real tears welled up now.

Watching the scene with a lump in his throat, Raul quietly exited the room. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at his damp eyes as he made his way to his quarters.

Once inside, he locked the door and sat wearily at his old desk. After a moment, he opened the drawer and pulled out a small marble. It looked like it held purple smoke—but as soon as it touched Raul’s hand, it cleared.

Inside was the face of the Mage Tower’s master, Telior Narvan.

Chapter 134

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