Fortunately, the last time Sylvia and I called each other by name was when we were sitting alone by the pond.
If we had to call each other by name after that, I would have been rendered mute.
On one hand, I thought it was a relief, but on the other hand, my lips, which had called her by name, kept tingling, and I couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh, wondering if I had done something unnecessary.
Anyway, after sitting by the pond for a while, we began to walk toward the town to see the city.
“By the way, did you have a good conversation with your mother? It seemed like you left the room quite early.”
As we neared the annex, Sylvia casually asked, and I couldn’t shake off the uncomfortable feeling that arose.
She probably wasn’t asking with prior knowledge, but the nature of the conversation we had made me feel like a thief caught in the act.
“Yes, we shared some small talk.”
“Heh, your mother can be quite talkative, right?”
“It seemed so. It was somewhat unexpected.”
Since I had noticed her talkative nature when we were with Sylvia and the others, I replied flatly.
It was clear that, compared to her composed and calm demeanor, Lady Eleonore was quite the chatterbox.
Like mother, like daughter, Sylvia had inherited that trait perfectly.
Speaking of which, with this topic coming up, memories from earlier came flooding back.
Specifically, the memories of Sylvia trying to attack me openly, thinking that she had someone on her side.
“By the way, earlier, your wife tried to trick me because she thought you were in front.”
“Are you, are you angry?”
“I’m not narrow-minded enough to get angry over something like that. I just didn’t realize the princess was such a tough person.”
“That means you’re angry…!”
Does it really?
Anyway, thinking back, I felt a bit annoyed, so I couldn’t help but snap back at her.
Sylvia, perhaps feeling a little guilty, started fidgeting with her hands and glancing at me, as if she were trying to gauge my mood.
“Actually… I exaggerated a bit on purpose to strengthen my closeness with Lord Lyard.”
“I didn’t know pointing out someone’s mistakes was a way to build closeness.”
“You don’t have to mock me like that…”
“Heh.”
Somehow, this felt a little satisfying.
Although there were so many times Sylvia tricked me that I couldn’t count them on my fingers, I had very few experiences of tricking her in return.
Unable to suppress a smile that slipped out, I snorted, and Sylvia, with a sharp “Ah!” pointed at me and raised her voice.
“You just laughed, didn’t you?”
“You must have seen it wrong.”
“There’s no way! I saw it clearly!”
“You seem very tired, so why don’t you go back to your room and rest? I’ll wander around here alone.”
So, as we continued to bicker, it was quite a pleasant and comfortable time, so much so that I wished this moment would last forever.
“Sylvia!”
“Oh, Bell. What’s the matter? Why are you in such a rush?”
A woman, seemingly a servant, came running toward us, out of breath.
She probably didn’t come rushing just to tell us it was evening time.
As Sylvia and I exchanged puzzled looks, the woman continued.
“Master has returned! He wants to see both of you…”
“Huh? Father…?”
The moment the woman’s lips parted, I immediately sensed that what I had been anticipating had finally come.
I hadn’t expected to face him so soon.
A short while ago, Creed, who had briefly left for urgent business, returned to the Kaintreche castle, only to be met with news from a servant.
“Lady Sylvia and Lord Lyard have arrived.”
Hearing this, Creed scowled in irritation.
It wasn’t because he didn’t want to see them, nor because he had already erased them from his mind as his daughter.
“Why didn’t they return a little earlier? Anyway, they’re no help at all.”
Had they just come a little sooner, he could have expedited the agreement he had made with them, but the failure to bring it to fruition frustrated him.
Given that it was a long-term project requiring years of planning, it was only natural for him to feel anxious.
At least there was one thing he could take solace in: he stood to gain a lot from his daughter’s presence.
When her eyes fully opened someday, he had been promised a significant position in the realm of dawn’s first snow as a condition for handing them over.
Moreover, he had secured a hefty reward from the heir to the Lyard family, who was essentially being auctioned off as the next family head in exchange for his daughter.
Thus, he could accept this inconvenience with a certain amount of grace.
A man’s generosity could surely tolerate a little discomfort for the greater good.
“My dear, you’re back.”
“So it’s you. You could have rested in your room.”
“How could I do that when my husband has returned?”
As his wife entered the reception room, Creed quickly averted his gaze, surprised for a moment.
In the past, he would have embraced his beloved wife to soothe his weary body, but lately, even expressing affection like that had become difficult.
He knew how much his wife cherished their daughter, and a small part of him felt guilty for disregarding her wishes.
However, that guilt was not enough for him to feel remorseful or reconsider his actions.
After all, there was no room for such emotions in a man who had made a pact to use his daughter as a bargaining chip for two major rewards.
“By the way, the eldest has returned?”
“Yes, I just met them on the way. Lord Lyard is with them.”
“They’ve already met? How is he in your eyes?”
“He seems like a reliable man. I don’t think there would be any problem leaving Sylvia in his care.”
At his wife’s response, Creed barely held back a scoff.
It wasn’t directed at her, but at the man, Kyle Lyard, whom he had met earlier.
Most likely, he was just another power-hungry, common scoundrel.
How impressively must he have displayed his social skills in front of his wife, for someone as perceptive as her to give such high praise?
‘Perhaps this is for the better.’
Even for Creed, it was something he could consider fortunate.
If Kyle had left a bad impression on Marianne and she had refused to keep him near Sylvia while voicing her complaints, it would have put Creed in quite a difficult position.
If things had gotten complicated and, by any chance, Kyle decided to dismiss the contract as if it never existed, it would have been a disaster for Creed, who was supposed to receive his reward after Kyle became the head of the family.
‘He’s turned out to be quite useful.’
Knock, knock.
As Creed nodded in satisfaction, he heard someone knocking on the door.
“Who is it?”
— “Mother, it’s me, Sylvia. May I come in?”
“Yes, come in, Sylvia.”
When Marianne asked, the response soon followed, and she granted permission for entry.
The door to the parlor opened, and a man and woman appeared together. Creed approached them in an exaggerated manner and greeted them.
“Oh, who do we have here? If it isn’t Lord Lyard! It’s been a while. How have you been?”
“Yes, I have been well. I wonder if Sir Eleonore has also been in good health.”
“Hmm, thanks to you, I’ve been fine. If I had known you were coming, I would have returned a little earlier. My mistake.”
Without even glancing at his daughter standing beside him, Creed greeted only Kyle warmly—the man who had made him such a sweet offer. His favoritism was blatantly obvious.
However, Sylvia, as if used to such situations, simply gave a bitter smile and stepped aside to stand next to her mother, subtly removing herself from the interaction.
Creed failed to notice Kyle’s eyes narrowing slightly at the sight.
“But what brings you here with my daughter? I heard you had a busy schedule, traveling all the way to the duchy.”
“I came to speak with Sir Eleonore for a moment. I also happened to bring some fine liquor, so how about a drink?”
“Oh, liquor! That sounds excellent. I was planning to drink heavily tonight to unwind after my travels. You know me well!”
As Creed burst into hearty laughter, Kyle smirked coldly.
At the very least, Creed Eleanor seemed to trust him completely—that much, Kyle was certain.
No, perhaps “trust” wasn’t the right word.
More accurately, Creed likely saw him as his pawn, which explained his casual, uninhibited attitude.
‘But let’s see if he can maintain that attitude after what I’m about to show him.’
Determined to wipe the smile off Creed’s face, Kyle glanced at Marianne.
When their eyes met, she gave a small nod and gently wrapped her arm around Sylvia’s shoulders, whispering softly.
“Sylvia, since your father seems to have something to discuss with Lord Lyard, let’s step out for a bit.”
“Yes, Mother.”
To Sylvia, it seemed like a natural suggestion from her mother, so she followed without resistance.
Even the servants were subtly signaled to leave with them, so before long, only Kyle and Creed remained in the parlor.
‘No eavesdroppers. This is the moment.’
At that instant, Kyle spread his aura, sensing the surroundings to check for any remnants of the Eyes of Dawn or spies who might have been hired to monitor them.
Fortunately, he detected no such presence.
Realizing this was his chance, Kyle took a seat across from Creed.
“By the way, why are you wearing gloves? Did you injure your hand?”
“No. As I mentioned, I have something to show you, so I simply kept it hidden.”
“Hmm? What do you mean by that?”
What does revealing something have to do with keeping his hand hidden?
Creed, puzzled, widened his eyes in confusion.
Kyle, deliberately taking his time, began to slowly remove his white glove from the fingertips.
As Kyle’s right hand was gradually revealed, Creed, who had been watching indifferently at first, widened his eyes in shock.
“Wh-What… that is—?”
There, embedded prominently between the second and third metacarpal bones, was a thin, black piercing.