The date for Veronia’s execution has been set. On the absurd charge of plotting treason.

Meanwhile, Durion has returned to the Duke’s residence, and Jeremi has also come back.

Perhaps due to the circumstances, seeing Durion after such a long time felt especially comforting. Upon hearing the news of Veronia’s execution, Durion spoke with a sorrowful expression.

“Our young master… how pitiful… what shall we do…”

Then he abruptly stood up, declaring he must go comfort Kian, only to be stopped by Vika.

“Are you insane? The young master doesn’t know anything yet. Get a hold of yourself!”

“Ah, right, yes.”

“Don’t even breathe a word about Veronia in front of the young master! Don’t let it show!”

“Got it. I said I got it.”

Durion replied as if annoyed, but he promptly forgot Vika’s warning.

The moment Kian came downstairs with Sikar, Durion ignored Sikar entirely and swept Kian into a tight embrace.

“Young masteeeeer! You’ll be alright! This knight, Durion, will absolutely protect youoooo!”

As Durion pulled Kian into a sudden bear hug, Kian’s small frame was practically buried in Durion’s broad chest.

Sikar grabbed Durion by the back of his neck and pulled him away from Kian.

“Enough.”

Kian exhaled deeply, as if finally able to breathe freely again, and hid behind Sikar.

His expression seemed quietly grateful toward Sikar.

Right. This time, Durion’s display of affection had gone too far.

Fortunately, because of that, Kian seemed to have only half-listened to Durion’s words.

After the intense reunion greetings, once dinner ended, Durion reached into his pocket as if to pull something out, glanced at Kian, then smiled awkwardly.

Noticing Durion hesitating to take something out, Vika asked with uncanny perceptiveness.

“What were you about to pull out?”

“Ah. I bought a gift, but I think I lost it.”

Seeming to sense the tense atmosphere even during the quiet meal, Kian stood up before dessert was even served.

“I have some studying to do, so I’ll excuse myself early. I can eat dessert while studying, right, Mother?”

“Oh? Sure. Of course.”

Kian politely bowed and left the dining room. Though he claimed to have studying to do, it was clearly an excuse—he must have noticed we couldn’t properly converse and tactfully made himself scarce.

Once Kian left, Durion assessed the mood, then pulled the item from his pocket and placed it on the table.

“Take a look at this.”

What Durion placed on the table appeared to be a cloth embroidered with a spider-like symbol. Sikar frowned, as if he’d never seen it before, and asked,

“What is this?”

“When I found Finder, he was already dead.”

Finder was the person Sikar had hired to locate Veronia.

Durion, unable to contact Finder suddenly, searched for him and eventually found his body in a warehouse.

Remembering Finder had once told him, “If anything happens to me, go to Santrea’s pawnshop,” Durion went there and discovered this item.

“That’s all? No details about where you found it or anything?”

To Vika’s question, Durion drooped his eyes regretfully.

“No.”

“I see.”

Sikar took the cloth and began examining it slowly.

“I have no idea what this is. No noble house bears such a symbol, and it doesn’t resemble any known organization.”

There must have been a reason Finder carried this, but no one knew what the spider-shaped emblem signified.

Everyone was curious about the cloth, yet no one could offer an answer.

Vika, with sharp ears, sipped his tea and casually remarked,

“Jeremi’s coming. That wizard is still as noisy as ever.”

At that moment, after a very long time, they heard a tapping at the window. A bird clung to the glass, pecking insistently with its beak as if demanding the window be opened.

Jeremi, entering through the window Durion opened, stood beside Sikar, dispelled his transformation, and greeted everyone with a bright smile.

“It’s truly been a long time, Duke. Duchess. And everyone else. Have you all been well?”

“Nice to see you, Jeremi.”

Jeremi’s appearance had barely changed. It felt as if time had rewound three years—he remained as cheerful and radiant as ever.

Durion bared his teeth at Jeremi with a growl.

“Can’t you use the front door for once?”

Hmm. Durion must have confused the window with the front door.

Jeremi asked as if baffled by such a random remark,

“I did come through the window. Durion?”

Durion’s eyes widened in realization, while Vika pursed his lips in embarrassment.

“Ugh. That idiot.”

“No, I mean next time, use the front door! Why use the window when there’s a perfectly good front door?!”

“If it’s urgent, a wizard might even use a tunnel.”

Sikar, showing no interest whatsoever in this petty exchange, simply stared indifferently at Jeremi.

“Explain the urgent matter first.”

Jeremi smiled brightly, as if he’d been waiting for that question.

“As expected, Your Grace always cuts to the heart of the matter. Then I’ll get straight to the point. I’ve heard you’ve planned to switch the carriage transporting Princess Veronia.”

“So?”

“We’d like to adjust the plan so that switching the carriage is handled by Yukanadar.”

“I understand the intent, but the moment you smuggle Veronia out, you become traitors. Immediately, Yukanadar’s very existence will be threatened.”

“We’re fully aware.”

“Yet you’re still willing to take such a risk?”

Jeremi grinned as if the question were obvious.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Why do you want to handle this yourselves?”

Jeremi’s eyes sparkled brilliantly as he continued grinning.

“If Your Grace is discovered smuggling out Princess Veronia—or if it’s a trap—you’ll be unable to avoid charges of treason. It’ll escalate into all-out war. In that case, the King will certainly implicate Reidox—his thorn in the side—as a co-conspirator in treason. No, he’ll seize this opportunity to implicate everyone he’s been waiting to eliminate, charging them all with treason.”

Jeremi wasn’t wrong. That’s exactly what would happen.

“But if Your Grace remains uninvolved in this matter, the King will struggle to implicate you. During my pilgrimage, I observed that Your Grace has punished the director of the poorhouse, exposed illegal slave auctions, and eradicated the deposed king’s remnants—your popularity among the people is very high.”

Jeremi was correct. Even if Reidox is caught switching the carriage, since it’s unrelated to Blake, they couldn’t push blame onto Blake without evidence.

Still, that wouldn’t stop Gillian from targeting Blake. Yet Reidox must have felt this approach was safer—he intended to take full responsibility himself.

“Reidox, not only your life but your children’s lives will be in danger. Why make such a judgment?”

Just as Sikar posed this question, Reidox and Roen arrived at the Duke’s residence.

Reidox stepped forward, palm outstretched toward Jeremi as if to say he’d answer himself.

“Either way, if Your Grace falls, I’ll be the next target.”

Roen, whom we hadn’t seen in a long while, looked just as unchanged as Jeremi. She entered smiling brightly at me.

“Oh! Duchess! Hello!”

“It’s been a while, Roen. Come, sit here.”

“Pleased to see you, Duchess.”

Roen seemed eager to chat further, but sensing the gravity of the ongoing conversation, she fell silent.

Once our greetings concluded, Sikar and Reidox resumed their discussion.

“Continue.”

“So, I ask that Your Grace look after Seo Yeon and my children.”

“Given the current situation, it’s difficult to shelter them here. Take your children and Seo Yeon to a safe house in advance.”

“No. Please shelter them here at the Duke’s residence.”

“They’ll be watching both the Marquis’s and Duke’s residences. If you bring the children in, we may be unable to prevent a search of the Duke’s estate.”

“There’s a way to bring my children and Seo Yeon into the Duke’s residence without revealing their identities.”

“Oh?”

“When firewood is delivered to the Duke’s residence, I’ll hide my children within the woodpile. Seo Yeon as well, of course.”

Sikar, who had been eyeing Reidox skeptically, finally nodded.

“Not a bad idea.”

“The firewood-laden cart will arrive on the day of Lady Veronia’s execution. I entrust my children to you.”

“Fine. We’ll do it that way.”

Sikar replied calmly, but I was too worried to respond so indifferently.

“Marquis. Are you truly certain this is safe?”

“Absolutely, Duchess. If Your Grace is discovered rescuing Princess Veronia, I’ll inevitably be implicated in treason as well. The King will seize this chance to eliminate Yukanadar, his thorn in the side. Thus, this is the best possible plan.”

As if to give Sikar firm reassurance, Roen added to Reidox’s words.

“Jeremi and I will assist the Marquis. We’ll rescue Princess Veronia no matter what—but even if things go wrong, we’ll escape safely and contact Your Grace.”

They say a priest’s words carry more conviction and trust than any other. Seeing Roen’s certainty, Sikar nodded firmly, as if solidifying his decision.

“If you’ve resolved to proceed this way, I have no reason to object.”

Perhaps because in the original story Roen met her death, my heart felt uneasy watching her volunteer for such a dangerous mission.

Since the crucial matters seemed fully conveyed, I gently spoke to Roen.

“Roen. Please take care of yourself.”

“Of course. I’ll proceed with utmost caution, so Duchess, please set your mind at ease.”

Roen grinned playfully, then, catching Sikar’s gaze, quickly closed her mouth, approached me, and whispered,

“Goodness. How could you have fooled me so completely? I never imagined you were the Duchess. I was utterly shocked when Jeremi told me later.”

“Back then, revealing my identity was rather… inconvenient.”

“I see. I was so surprised—I kept saying, ‘The person I met was the Duchess?!’”

Roen winked slightly at me and continued,

“And I was pleasantly surprised, so it was quite fun.”

“I’m truly glad you felt good about it.”

Roen’s smile quickly faded into a wistful expression as she lowered her eyes.

“I’m truly happy to see you again, Duchess. It’s just a pity it’s under such circumstances.”

I took Roen’s hand as she sighed.

“But everything will work out fine. We’ll meet again under happier circumstances.”

Roen smiled brightly, as if genuinely delighted.

“Strange. When you say that, Duchess, I really feel like everything will turn out alright.”

“I believe in the Duke.”

“I always feel you rely on and deeply trust the Duke. Just like back then.”

I knew it. I relied on him greatly and found him deeply reassuring.

Glancing sideways at Sikar, he seemed to be giving instructions to Reidox.

Somehow, he looked especially dependable and handsome today.