”What’s wrong?”

“Why?”

Carlon Delphine, who had been sounding like he was about to cry, took a slow, deep breath and tried to regain his composure.

“Valletta, you really…..”

Valletta opened her eyes softly as she saw Carlon with his hand on his forehead in front of her. It seemed only a day had passed since she had given him the word, but to visit her before it was even noon the next day?

‘No, noon is fine with me.’

Now noon was perfect. The first knock on the door was Milord, who came in the morning. She sent him away, and once again she was engrossed in her books, but she didn’t expect Duke and Carlon to visit her this time.

Valletta’s expression held a hint of suspicion.

“Kien.”

“Oh, yes. He told me your words… ..”

“Explain.”

At Valletta’s words, Carlon folded his amrs and looked strangely breathless. He hesitated for a moment before answering honestly.

“It’s just as I heard. It’s dangerous, and you don’t want me to involve in the matter.”

“You’ll fix it?”

“…… Yes, I think so.”

“Here?”

“No.”

Valletta shook her head.

“I’m going to the village.”

“Any help?”

“Probably, I don’t think there’s anything in particular.”

The only thing left to do was to get out of here, now that she had some idea of what alchemy was. The only thing that she needed was on Milord’s neck. And what Elise asked for…….

“Oh …..”

Valletta’s eyes went wide.

“Do you know someone named Lagris by any chance?”

Carlon Delphine tilted his head at Valletta’s question.

“I know? Why?”

It was Duke who answered. Valletta opened her mouth happily. It had saved her a lot of trouble, she thought.

“How is he doing now?”

“I think he’s in the imperial castle’s underground laboratory.”

Carlon replied with a light tilt of his head.

“Underground laboratory? What kind of research is he doing?”

“Oh, what kind of researcher is he?

“He’s a representative of the imperial wizards.”

“He’s a wizard?”

Duke nodded lightly as Valletta’s asked back, a little perplexed by his reply. Valletta’s expression changed strangely.

‘…Elise was locked up and her lover was appointed as the representative of the imperial wizard? And the Emperor raises her child as the Crown Prince?’

Valletta’s mind spinned slowly. She couldn’t understand. What on earth was the emperor thinking and doing?

“Right, but why are you curious about that?”

“I wondered how he was because there are people asking about his safety.”

“I don’t suppose there’s anyone who doesn’t know.”

At Duke’s brief words, Valletta involuntarily turned her head away. Duke’s brows furrowed again and he leaned back with a low sigh. Carlon looked at Duke once, then opened his mouth.

“He doesn’t show himself very often. He only appears when the Emperor calls him, and he spends most of his time locked away in his underground laboratory, not talking to people. He always wears a robe and doesn’t want to talk to people.”

“I see. Where can I find him?”

“It’s unspecified.”

“If I wait in front of the basement, will I be able to see him?”

Valletta whispered. But to do that, she had to pass a few people. If she waits in front of the basement, people will notice it, and the Emperor will be notified.

“Valletta.”

“Huh?”

Why don’t you take advantage of the adults in front of you?”

“Oh……”

Valletta touched her collar, as if she had realized a step too late. She wasn’t used to asking someone for help, so of course it wouldn’t be an option. Valletta’s lips quivered as she wrinkled her brow.

“Of course….”

Valletta took a deep breath.

“Valletta, if you ask someone to do something for you, you have to pay for it. There’s nothing free in this world.”

Her heart began to beat faster as a voice rang in her ears. She smiled at the memory of the ghost that hadn’t come to mind after a long time.

“There’s not much I can do while being locked up. I don’t want to stand out, but can I ask you to be quiet…….”

“Of course.”

“Okay”

Carlon Delphine and Duke Leon’s voices overlapped. The two men’s brows narrowed simultaneously as they answered lightly and without hesitation.

“I am Valletta’s guardian. Duke, why do you answer?”

“Drinker….”

Carlon’s mouth dropped open at Duke’s short reply. He didn’t even respond properly. Valletta’s eyes became round at the sight of Carlon Delphine and Duke Leon avoiding her gaze. Before the questioning was over, his reply was that he had already decided what he wanted to say, so just ask.

What had been difficult so far wa a disappointingly simple answer, and Valletta opened her mouth.

“Ha-ha-ha!”

She started laughing, covering her mouth with her hand. Valletta’s laughter caused Carlon and Duke’s eyes grow wide. The child, who barely knew how to smile, held her stomach and shook her shoulders with her forehead buried on the table.

“Valletta,mare you sick?”

“Doctor’s office …….”

When Duke jump up from his seat, Valletta hurriedly reached out and grabbed his arm. If he really brings a doctor here, she’ll be in trouble.

“I’m fine, I’m fine.”

Valletta chuckled occasionally.

When was the last time she laughed this much?

She couldn’t remember properly.

Duke, who was caught by Valletta, stared down at the child and slowly sat down.

“Because you two were so funny. Oh, and if you know someone named Lagris, do you also know someone named Elise?”

“Lady Elise?”

This time, Carlon asked back in surprise.

Valletta nodded, cooling her face with her fan hand.

“Do you know her?”

“Yes, she used to be the head of the Imperial Alchemists Association. She was also going to be the Empress.”

“That was more than fifteen years ago.”

Carlon replied, and Duke added. Valletta was speechless.

She had no idea that Elise was the head of the Imperial Alchemists Association. Valletta was silent for a moment, seemingly trying to clear her confused head.

“But, why is Gillian now….”

“I heard there was a major accident at the Imperial Palace and she died. I also heard that Lagris was there.”

“…….”

Valletta slowly lowered her eyes in bewilderment. But Elise was alive.

Did Lagris know about it? If he knew, it was likely that the Emperor was using it to blackmail him.

If he didn’t know…….

‘Is it guilt?’

If there was a major accident, he may feel that it was his fault for not preventing it. To lessen his guilt, he may be listening to the Emperor’s words. It didn’t help whether he liked it or not.

“Lady Elise was a good person. She devoted herself to the welfare of the alchemists and even convinced the Emperor to guarantee their freedom and human rights.”

“Did you meet her?”

“Only briefly, but she was a very capable person. She was also a good observer.”

Valletta nodded at Carlon’s words. The pieces of the puzzle seemed to fit together, but still none of the important pieces of the puzzle could be obtained. She still had many questions about the Emperor’s true purpose and thoughts, about Lost and Lesir.

“He doesn’t need to see me. Just give him the letter. And as for me, I have to get out of here.”

She couldn’t learn anything if she was trapped in the castle. She needed Reinhardt, and she needed to jump into the storm herself. She was frustrated by the fact that he had to be a part of all of this, but she had no choice.

“…Can you do it safely?”

“Yes, don’t worry. And….”

Valletta sighed as she realized that their favors were sincere, so it was time for her to reveal what she was hiding too. It would be a while before they would see each other again.

“To be honest, I can make about ten top-notch potions in a day.”

“…… What?”

“Then there’s ……… um, Nerade.”

At her words, a small tornado began to form, and in the blink of an eye, a mermaid the size of the palm of her hand appeared. She was inwardly grateful that she didn’t have to tell her anymore to come out of her little body on her own.

‘My mouth doesn’t hurt too much.’

“There’s no need to be nervous.”

“In fact, you can call it spirit.”

“…….”

“We also went to a hidden space behind the Emperor’s office. I also met someone there named Elise.”

Valletta’s lips quivered as she spoke briefly of what she had been hiding. She tried to say it as plainly as possible, but she wondered how they would see her.

“…….”

There was no response from Carlon and Duke. Valletta, who had her gaze was down a bit, let out a slow breath. She clenched her fists a few times and gently raised her head.

Duke elbowed Carlon, who looked a little dazed. When he nodded toward Valletta, Carlon finally opened his mouth.

“…I’ve been waiting for Valletta to tell me.”

“I’m sorry it took me so long to get to …… to ask you for help.”

She could understand a little bit of what Carlon had said when they first met. Why he said she could only run, why he said he couldn’t let her hold the sword…

“Everyone needs time.”

“After you get out of here.….. Will you come back?” (*come back to them)

“Yes. If I still have a place to go.”

Valletta replied quietly with a faint smile.

***