Chapter 180 - The Identified Kidnapper

Finally, Azriel looked behind. It was an ordinary afternoon street with people walking up and down.

“You said it was ambiguous. How did it feel, exactly?” she asked.

“I’m not sure. There was neither hostility nor favor… It was like the person was observing you,” he said.

‘What was that?’ Puzzled, Azriel knitted her brow and shook her head. “The person will show up again if they need to, so let’s not think about it for now.”

“Yes, Master,” he replied.

“Let me know immediately if you sense someone’s attention on me like that,” she said.

“Of course.”

Azriel continued walking. The man who had hidden in the shade stuck his head out only after she became distant. Beneath his hooded gaze, he smiled. “She’s really sharp. I should be more careful.”

He briefly watched Azriel disappearing into the crowd. Then, soon, he left, not even making any sound.

Act 8: Truth and Lie

Azriel’s days in the underground tower busily passed by, and she could not feel the absence of Rhema, with whom she had been for the past three years. It was natural as she did not know how much of a grace period was left for Sophinea. While continuing to train Sophinea, Azriel visited the Topaz Guild every day. As she waited to be allowed access to the Aurora Disc, she was also organizing the data she found in the Aurora Society.

Meanwhile, Maylie graduated and became an official member of the Modjanklian. Despite her busy schedule, she persistently visited Azriel, delivering news from Brownie Castle. Maylie said that she had not seen Rhema for several days; since it was a common occurrence, no one questioned his absence. Azriel tried to communicate with him but stopped because she did not want to go back yet. Instead, she wrote a  short letter to thank him for the dress and to mention that she had a good time at the ball.

“Please leave this in Rhema’s room,” Azriel asked.

“Okay…” Maylie hesitated but took the letter without saying much. Despite her silence, it was obvious that she wanted to ask why Azriel wasn’t delivering it herself.

One day, Azriel received a bouquet and a hand-written letter from Charles out of the blue. He wrote that he would visit her when he was done with the job he was working on, so he would appreciate it if she would make time for him next week. Azriel sometimes had some tea with Lexina as well. They met under the pretense of the Topaz Guild, but it was mostly to build a friendship. Before Azriel mentioned it, Lexina already knew what Charles sent her.

“Didn’t His Majesty send you flowers?” Lexina asked.

“…How did you know that?” Azriel asked.

“He asked me what kinds of things he could give a woman without becoming burdensome. I’m the only woman close to him whom he can ask such a thing.” Lexina pouted with a strange look on her face. “Would there be any other person than you, Miss Esthera, to whom he would send something like that?”

The lady was saying it as if it was nothing special, but Azriel felt embarrassed and sorry. Suddenly, she remembered when Lexina said that it was Charles’ flaw that he was kind to everyone.

‘That might be true…’ Thinking this, Azriel said, “Charles must be very busy.”

“There’s a trade dispute with the Torido Kingdom. He’s busy taking care of it. So, he entrusted the missing incidents mostly to us,” Lexina explained.

“He entrusted the work to you because he trusts you, Lady Lexina,” Azriel said.

“What am I that he would think of me that way? He just trusts the investigation quarters disguised as the Topaz Guild.” Lexina had a sour look on her face.

“But you are the owner of the Topaz Guild. Since he trusts you, he left it in your hands,” Azriel reassured.

“I-is that so…?” Lexina covered her mouth with a teacup. She seemed to be trying hard not to show her pride and satisfaction. Azriel could not help but laugh because the lady was acting cute. Ever since they got drunk together, they had been secretly growing closer.

Edith, the duchess of Rudimna, also visited Azriel once in a while. Whenever she came, she would tear up upon witnessing Sophinea’s speech become smoother little by little. Pendelok also visited Azriel whenever he came to the underground tower. He was especially interested in the production of alarm relics that she was teaching. As he did not have the heart to grill Azriel, it seemed that he planned to grill the wizard she was teaching.