“Was your pilgrimage with Jeremi Iker uneventful?”

Roen, as if she had been waiting for my question, clapped her hands together with a bright smile and answered.

“Didn’t the Duchess once tell me I was a singing healer? Now people call me that. I thought it was so strange, but after hearing Jeremi’s words, I understood. You can see the future, right, Duchess?”

“Oh. That’s…”

That was something I had made up on the spot since I couldn’t say this place was inside a novel; now, remembering it again, I felt even more embarrassed and could only give an awkward smile.

“Then, perhaps you can also predict the outcome of our current mission? I was wondering if you might have already foreseen whether we’ll succeed or fail.”

I didn’t know the future beyond what was written in the novel, but I believed in them. And since I felt this was the way I could be of help, I wanted to give a positive answer.

“Of course. You will definitely succeed.”

Perhaps because I clenched my fists tightly, Roen let out a soft sigh, as if reassured.

“Phew. Thanks to what you just said, I’m truly relieved. Honestly, I was a bit anxious.”

Seemingly just as anxious deep down, Jeremi chimed in beside her and thanked me.

“Knowing that the Duchess foresaw it makes me feel even more at ease.”

Then, Roen suddenly remembered something and turned to me with a question.

“Um, Duchess, I have something I’m curious about.”

But even without her saying it, I felt I could guess what her question was—what Roen was truly curious to ask me.

“I think I know what it is.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You wanted to ask if I saw your future with Jeremi Iker, didn’t you?”

“How did you know? Did you foresee I’d ask this too?”

Ah. I suppose she could think that way.

“It’s not that.”

I know because Seo Yeon told me.

“I just thought about what you might be curious to ask me, and that question came to mind.”

“Then please tell me. Did you see that I’ll meet Jeremi Iker in the future? Jeremi said Seo Yeon knew he would come to like me.”

Caught off guard, Jeremi blushed shyly but couldn’t avoid our gazes, turning his head slightly as he spoke.

“Actually, that’s why when I first saw you, Roen, I wondered if you might be the fated one Seo Yeon mentioned.”

Finding it amusing, Roen grinned mischievously at Jeremi.

“So now, do you think that person is me?”

“Well… honestly, I’m still not quite…”

As Jeremi stammered, still seeming unsure, Roen looked at me eagerly.

“Duchess, please say something. Am I truly the future partner Seo Yeon spoke of?”

“What did Seo Yeon say?”

“She told me to ask you, Duchess.”

Hmm. So that’s how it is.

“I’ll tell you once you return safely and successfully.”

Roen, who had been expecting my answer, wore a stunned expression as if doused with cold water.

“You’re not serious, right?”

Sorry, but I am serious.

I smiled brightly at Roen.

“Isn’t that fair?”

Jeremi chuckled and nodded in agreement with my words.

“That seems like a wise decision.”

He seemed a bit anxious, perhaps worried that Roen might not be the one after all.

Though I felt a little sorry seeing Roen’s slightly disappointed face for not getting an answer,

I chose not to tell her now because I wanted to meet them again and enjoy more pleasant conversations together.

Just then, Reidox, who had been talking with Sikar Blake, pushed his chair back and stood up—at a perfectly timed moment. Judging by his expression, the conversation had gone well.

“Then, we should be off now. We shouldn’t stay too long.”

Roen and Jeremi also stood up, their faces bright.

“Next time we meet, it’ll be with Princess Veronia.”

I truly hoped that would be possible.

As I finished my reluctant hug with departing Roen, I said,

“When we meet again, I want to hear both your stories.”

In response, Roen winked one eye at me and said,

“I want to hear too—the secret of how you made the Duke lower the sword from his waist.”

“Ah…”

Seeing my flustered expression, Roen laughed playfully and left.

I waved at her, hoping that when we meet again, Roen would show me that same mischievous, smiling face.

Meanwhile, I had become fairly proficient in using the wand.

Since it was designed for wizards whose physical abilities were dull aside from casting magic, its performance was excellent—even someone like me, with similarly dull physical abilities, could master it quickly and wield it freely.

“With repetitive training, your skill can’t help but improve.”

True to his words, repeating the same thing daily had made hitting my targets much easier now.

Before I knew it, Veronia’s execution was just one day away.

Kian Blake, who used to visit the Marquis’s residence daily, hadn’t stepped outside the Duke’s mansion even once during this time—but strangely, he hadn’t even asked why.

Tomorrow’s operation might fail, but whether it succeeded or failed, the twins would definitely come to the Duke’s mansion.

If we found Veronia, Sikar would strike the King immediately; if not, we’d search for her again—so for safety’s sake, we’d have to stay put in the mansion for now.

Since these events would begin tomorrow, I needed to explain things to Kian in advance.

“Yes. It’s better to tell him early. If you’re uncomfortable speaking, I’ll do it.”

“No. Let’s do it together.”

“Fine then.”

At least one thing unchanged in Kian’s daily routine was that he was diligently receiving spirit lessons from Vika Lamberst.

Though, something had changed—the spirit lessons were now held in the training room.

That was because Kian had grown so much.

Waiting near the entrance as the lesson ended, I saw Kian enter with Vika, wiping sweat.

Vika merely nodded politely at me and passed by, while Kian spotted me and beamed happily.

“Mother!”

The way he walked in looked so dignified—he appeared more handsome and lovable to me than anything else.

“Kian! Did you have a good lesson today?”

“Yes. Mother.”

“Was it hard?”

“This much is nothing to a Blake.”

Now I realized Kian had fully become a Blake person, brimming with pride.

Vika probably didn’t teach him that. More likely, it was Sikar. I’d occasionally seen Sikar join Kian’s spirit lessons—did he teach him like that then?

“By the way, Mother, why were you waiting for me?”

“Mm. I had something to talk about.”

“Then I’ll go wash up and be right back—please wait a moment.”

“Mm. Wash up slowly.”

“Yes. Mother!”

Kian smiled brightly and went upstairs.

I hoped I could bring him good news tomorrow so he could smile just as brightly.

When I went to the dining room, Sikar tasted the chicken soup Kian loved, nodded, then looked at me and asked,

“Where’s Kian?”

“Mm. He’s washing up and will be out soon.”

“I’ve instructed Vika and Durion to eat separately, so the three of us should dine and talk together.”

“Sikar. You start the conversation.”

“Fine.”

I’d asked him to speak first because I didn’t know how to begin, but his overly calm reply suddenly jolted me awake.

“No. Don’t you start.”

“Alright.”

I’d stopped him because I feared his blunt personality would say something like, “Tomorrow Veronia might die—and she’s your mother.” But when I tried to begin myself, I sighed first.

“Sikar. If you were to start speaking, what would you say?”

“Tomorrow Veronia might die—and she’s your mo—”

“Enough. Stop.”

I’d asked just in case, and sure enough, it was exactly what I’d expected.

His dry, emotionless sensibility really isn’t helpful in situations like this.

I considered asking Vika, but I could somewhat predict her answer—without even asking, she’d say, “Your birth mother may die tomorrow, so brace yourself.”

Durion wouldn’t be much different. I could already picture him saying, “Your biological mother may die tomorrow, but don’t grieve! Everyone dies eventually!”

Truly, there’s not a single person in this Duke’s mansion I can turn to for help in moments like this.

If Grandmother were here, I could ask her advice—but I couldn’t possibly tell her this. Nor could I tell Andrea.

As I spent a long time pondering how to begin speaking, Kian, having washed up and changed into fresh clothes, came and sat beside me.

As soon as Kian sat down, dinner was served immediately.

Even during the meal, I kept hesitating over what to say, and sighed.

Hearing my soft sigh, Kian immediately turned toward me.

“Mother. Do you have something on your mind?”

“Oh. It’s just that…”

Meeting Kian’s clear eyes, I didn’t feel confident enough to tell him everything honestly.

I could talk about Veronia later.

“Kian. Tomorrow, the Yukanadar twins will come to our house.”

Perhaps because twins visiting home was common, Kian simply nodded without much reaction.

“Yes.”

“This time, they’ll stay longer.”

I expected him to look puzzled this time, but Kian again answered calmly.

“Yes. Mother.”

“It’s… not just a day or two. It could be weeks at shortest, or months—even years at longest.”

Again, Kian nodded without expression.

“Yes. Mother.”

I found Kian’s nonchalant responses strange, but Sikar didn’t seem to notice anything odd.

“Kian. Aren’t you curious why the twins will suddenly stay for months?”

“Hmm… yes.”

I looked at Sikar in surprise, but he, as usual, showed no expression.

“Kian. May I ask why you’re not curious?”

“Of course.”

“Why aren’t you curious?”

Setting down his utensils, Kian looked at me with a calm smile.

“Because tomorrow is the day Princess Veronia is to be executed.”

So Kian knew too. But why isn’t he curious about how that relates to Reidox?

Before I could even ask, Kian spoke to me first.

“If my guess is correct, Master will entrust Lucy and Luid to the Duke’s mansion tomorrow to rescue Princess Veronia.”

I was the one truly surprised—he already knew this? I had no idea how Kian could have guessed such things.

Unable to say yes or no, I looked questioningly at Sikar.

This time, Sikar seemed slightly surprised too. Looking at Kian with unexpected curiosity, he asked,

“Why do you think that?”

“Because Princess Veronia is the one who gave birth to me.”