Evan fell silent upon seeing Lily’s trailing words.
“Quite a change, huh?”
Was she perhaps talking about those nasty rumors regarding Adele?
Yet the Adele he had seen was not the type to act that way. In fact, she was kinder and more gentle than anyone.
“She seems like a nice person, contrary to the rumors.”
At Evan’s statement, she slightly nodded.
“She’s much better now. But back then, she really was just as the rumors said.”
Lily’s fingertips began to tremble slightly.
At that sight, Evan, who was about to add a comment, closed his mouth again.
After all, he was merely a knight assigned to protect Adele; Lily would know her better. Perhaps there were some circumstances Evan was unaware of.
He could only speculate silently.
“Honestly, I still feel uneasy. I think Adele could change back at any moment…”
Adele had lost her memory due to the carriage accident. She had lost not only the memories of her wicked deeds as a villainess but also most of her childhood memories.
He felt a bit glad when her pure and kind side returned, though he was secretly saddened by the loss of their childhood memories together.
Because Adele, who had lost her memory, approached him first; Lily had been able to trust her again.
She was that kind and gentle.
But if one day all of Adele’s memories were to return…
How would she treat him then?
That thought worried him immensely.
“Lily.”
At Evan’s call, she slightly lifted her head. The usual carefree expression was gone, replaced by a serious look.
With arms crossed, he asked her, “Do you trust Miss Adele?”
“I do. But…”
At the sight of Lily trying to say something more, Evan shook his head.
“Then isn’t that enough?”
Is that really enough?
Her head tilted slightly at his ambiguous words. In response, Evan placed his hand on his chest.
Then he spoke slowly, as if swearing an oath.
“I trust the Duke. And I also trust myself, who is trusted by the Duke.”
“Oh…”
“Isn’t that enough?”
This belief in himself.
At Evan’s steadfast words, Lily couldn’t help but lower her head.
Back when Adele was committing dastardly deeds as the rumors said, Lily had once given her advice.
A simple one: that she wouldn’t win anyone’s heart that way.
However, the result of that advice was being discarded back into the alley.
Luckily, thanks to Count Este, she returned to the mansion, but the trauma from that time still lingered.
The current Adele didn’t even know those memories.
“But…”
The Adele who had lost her memory approached her first, unaware of the past.
Cautiously, slowly.
Even when she had a panic attack due to the trauma, she approached patiently.
Even after all that, how could she not have fully trusted her?
“What a fool I am.”
Even if her memories return, the precious moments shared with Adele won’t simply vanish.
There’s no way the gentle face she had shown him would disappear as if it were a lie just because one memory returns.
Yet, to feel this strange unease just because she had returned to the alley was truly foolish thinking.
“…I see. I was shortsighted.”
“I’m glad it helped.”
Evan smiled, saying so. Lily awkwardly smiled back at his expression.
A brief silence flowed between them, but this time she didn’t feel as frustrated as before.
How much time had passed?
With the sound of clicking footsteps, Adele emerged. The slightly weary expression of hers made both Lily and Evan pause.
“I’ve gathered the information.”
Adele said this as she produced a compass from her bosom. Lily quietly observed her and approached her side.
“Is something wrong?”
“Huh? Oh, no need to worry. I’m fine.”
She didn’t look all that fine, though.
Her face seemed quite troubled. However, she let it go without saying anything.
It wasn’t an issue that had to be discussed right now.
“This artifact is…”
Evan held the compass, quietly pouring mana into it.
With a low hum, the compass began to twinkle slightly.
“Do you understand how it works?”
“It’s a method where you inject mana. It’s rather old-fashioned, but…”
The needle of the compass pointed toward the inn’s door. Just following its direction would lead them to their destination.
However, since the mana consumption was significant, it had become a rare antique nowadays.
“We have plenty of mana.”
“Then we just need to follow it.”
At Adele’s words, Evan nodded.
“That’s right. Lily, can you tell us the direction?”
Receiving the compass from him, Lily nodded. The ease between them wasn’t as awkward as she had expected, which made Adele curious.
“Have you become close with Evan?”
“Ah, yes. Sort of.”
When she turned her head, she saw Evan nodding with a smile. Adele chuckled softly, gently ruffling Lily’s hair.
“Well done. Our Lily.”
“Eh heh.”
Lily could smile genuinely, free of unease. She had come to trust both Adele and herself.
“Then let’s get going.”
At Adele’s words, both Lily and Evan nodded in unison. Evan led the way out of the inn.
When Adele slightly turned her head, she saw a man bowing with his waist bent.
They nodded to each other and exited the Information Guild.
§
A dense fog enveloped the forest.
In a place where visibility was less than a step ahead, Lily clung to Evan like a cicada on a tree.
Come to think of it, Lily was quite a coward, wasn’t she?
“I never thought there would be such thick fog.”
Evan muttered, clearly not pleased with the scene. He waved his hand toward the mist and sighed.
It was true; as he said, the fog in Ark was clear up to about 100 meters away.
But in this thick fog, they could barely see each other when three steps apart.
“Lily, stick close.”
“Yes, Miss Adele.”
Lily fixed her gaze solely on the compass, not looking around at all.
She only pointed out changes in direction with her finger when the compass shifted.
As they followed the compass for a while, a small shadow appeared among the dense trees.
At that sight, Evan instinctively reached for his sword.
As they got closer, they saw a girl wearing a red cloak.
She held a basket in one hand and wooden tongs in the other.
The girl, noticing them, stared back with a mischievous expression.
Upon taking a step forward, Evan raised his hand to stop them.
“Hey, who are you?”
Before the girl could finish her sentence, a blue aura burst forth.
The girl split in half, her figure dispersing like fog.
With a chilling, giggling laugh, her form vanished.
“This is…”
“It’s a fog illusion flower. It deceives people with illusions, then devours them whole.”
A chill ran down Evan’s spine, and he brushed his arms.
If Evan hadn’t stopped her, he would have spoken to that girl without a second thought.
Thinking back, it was strange. There was no way a girl would be in a forest this thick with fog.
“We need to be careful.”
With that resolve, Evan followed Lily closely.
Before long, a silhouette of a man appeared.
As they approached, they saw a gaunt young man. His dark circles and haggard face were quite striking.
Due to that, an ominous and eerie atmosphere surrounded him.
“…Are you outsiders?”
The young man lowered the crossbow in his hand and looked at them. At that sight, Evan lowered his hand, which had been reaching for his sword.
“That’s right. Is there a place to stay for the night?”
“Are you asking about lodging?”
He seemed to ponder for a moment before nodding readily.
“There’s a village nearby. If you have enough money, you’re welcome to stay.”
Hearing that, Evan nodded in agreement. The young man gestured for them to follow him.
Without looking back, he began to walk ahead.
Feeling uneasy, Evan whispered to Lily, “Is it okay to follow him?”
He replied in a quiet voice as well.
“He doesn’t seem hostile. We should be cautious, but it should be fine to follow.”
“I understand.”
Following Evan’s words, they trailed behind the young man.
Through the thick fog, his steps were oddly fearless.
It was as if he instinctively knew the way.
“What brings you into such a forest?”
“I got lost by accident…”
The young man eyed them suspiciously as Evan dodged the question.
He stared for a while and then turned his head back, continuing in a nonchalant tone.
“This area is dangerous. I can’t protect you entirely.”
“I’m here, so it’ll be fine.”
“Are you a knight?”
Upon seeing Evan’s armor, the young man scoffed, laughing as if it were a joke.
Then he resumed walking ahead as if nothing had happened.
‘What a weird guy.’
All along, the young man walked in the same direction as Lily had indicated. Could it be that the village he spoke of was Emperor’s Hometown?
‘..This feels uneasy.’
I hope it’s just my imagination.
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