As expected, Elise had never seen a moving magic circle before. She assumed it was because the carriage was entering a large, circular arena, but she had no idea it was actually a magic circle.
Dozens of knights from Frozen, including Blake, the carriage carrying Elise and her maids, and dozens of other wagons and horses. All of them could be contained within the magic circle at once.
Blake didn't tell Elise how the teleportation circle worked or how to use it. He assumed she knew, since she'd used it before, when she traveled from Clanton to Frozen.
Feigning composure but deeply tense inside, Elise watched the magic circle in action. The dome-shaped walls surrounding the magic circle began to glow with a shimmering blue light. As if in resonance, the space they stood in vibrated with a hum.
Pot!
Elise instinctively closed her eyes and opened them again, as if a flash had suddenly burst out in a flash of intense light. Aside from feeling slightly dizzy, she felt otherwise fine.
Before they knew it, the light had completely disappeared, and they exited the magic circle through a different exit than before.
"Wow..."
Elise couldn't help but exclaim in admiration at the scenery unfolding outside the window. She'd thought the castle was enormous, but it pales in comparison to the scale of the capital.
The walls stretched so wide that one couldn't see from end to end, their height seeming to pierce the sky. A wide and deep moat surrounded the walls, and behind them, a rugged mountain range stretched out, imposing and majestic.
As if they'd received advance notice, a group of people was waiting outside the magic circle. Leading the pack was someone Elise knew well.
'Lucas. You were there to pick me up.'
With his radiant blond hair, handsome face, and white uniform, Lucas looked like a Prince straight out of a fairy tale. And what a surprise, his horse was a white one.
'Is that the protagonist's correction?'
The space surrounding Lucas felt particularly sparkling. If he had been accompanied by a dazzling smile as scripted, any woman would have been captivated.
Unfortunately, the upper world agent had no talent for smiling and appeared expressionless, even gloomy.
As he approached, Blake dismounted as well. While it wasn't necessary due to his position, he did so out of consideration for Lucas, Elise's older brother.
“Welcome to the capital.”
Blake also returned Lucas' greeting.
“I didn’t know we would meet again so soon.”
“I am the same. Your Highness...”
Lucas's gaze shifted to the carriage behind his shoulder, the most ornate and sturdy-looking of all. Blake, though glaring at him with a cold expression, couldn't stop the siblings from reuniting.
“Please wait a moment. I’m sure my wife would like to see you, too.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Blake's expression as he turned to face Elise's carriage was a sight to behold. Elise, watching through the window, resolved to keep her excitement to herself. If Blake were already becoming wary, their future plans would inevitably be disrupted.
Blake finally calmed down and opened the carriage door.
"Ma'am."
Elise smiled brightly at him.
“Have we arrived already?”
"We haven't entered the capital yet, but Sir Clanton is among the knights who have come out to greet us. If you'd like, you may disembark and say hello."
"Ah..."
Elise nodded with a not-so-bright expression.
“Yes, I will.”
Blake blinked slowly at her somewhat cold reaction. Her reaction was so different from what he'd expected.
Elise, who had gotten out of the carriage under his escort, didn't rush to Lucas and hug him, unlike the day after their first night together. She simply walked slowly with Blake, stood before him, and bowed politely.
“It’s nice to see you here again, Brother.”
“How have you been?”
“Of course.”
She spoke with a smile, linking arms with Blake, who was standing next to her.
“Because His Highness has been so kind to me, I have been happier than ever, without any need.”
“...That’s fortunate.”
Lucas answered with a trembling expression, as if wondering, "What kind of trick is that?" Blake's face lit up. He didn't even bother to hide the smile that spread across his face.
'Yes.'
Elise was secretly relieved by Blake's reaction.
“I hope you’ve been well, brother.”
“I’m always the same.”
“I’ll be staying in the capital for a while, so I’ll have a lot of opportunities to see you.”
“I will come and see you anytime you invite me.”
After finishing the story, Lucas naturally reached out and gave her hand a light squeeze before letting go.
“Confirmation complete, Vice-Captain.”
The Nephrus knight, who had scanned the ranks on Lucas' behalf, confirmed the authorization and returned the document to him. The formalities concluded with Lucas and Blake signing side by side at the end of the document.
"Then shall we depart now? I think the headcount check is complete."
“Yes, that’s right.”
After a brief greeting with Lucas, Elise returned to the carriage. Alone, Elise closed the window curtains and opened the note Lucas had secretly given her.
'I'll be right there, so leave the terrace door open.'
Elise tucked the note deep inside her clothes, just in case. Then, with a tap of her ring, she opened the map.
As expected, countless dots covered the map, most of them black.
'Probably extras.'
She could guess that the extras whose names weren't even mentioned in the script for "Fallen Lovers" were marked with black dots. And the next most common were blue dots.
'Considering that Kate was a blue dot, wouldn't the name be used to indicate a supporting character who appears?'
With that in mind, Elise carefully examined the map. There were so many black dots that it was difficult to see the other colors.
'There are two gray dots, I'm not sure, but I think there are two... There are two yellow dots and one green dot.'
The yellow dots represent Elise and Mary, investigators from the middle zone, and the newly appeared green dot represents Lucas, an agent from the upper world.
'Then what are the gray dots?'
As far as she could tell, the gray dot represented Blake. The other, by its location, was among the knights of Frozen. Even if she could figure out who it was, she'd need more clues to figure out what it meant.
'Anyway, to properly utilize the ring, the most urgent task is to rescue the investigator possessed by Clanton's groom.'
While she was lost in thought, the carriage began to move again. Elise opened the curtains and looked out the window. The towering, impenetrable walls were slowly approaching. Elise felt her heart pounding again.
At a time when the sun had not yet set, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Frozen and the Knights, escorted by the Knights of Nephrus, entered the city.
Even for the most prestigious families, townhouses built within the capital are built with a certain degree of practicality in mind. This was understandable, considering the difficulty of securing land, as well as the high cost of land and maintenance.
But as is the case everywhere, there were exceptions. The townhouse of the Grand Duke of Frozen was one such example.
Just five minutes from the palace, there was a mansion with a small garden, covering an area four or five times larger than the townhouses of other noble families that lined the area.
The manager of the Frozen Grand Duke's townhouse was Melik Gale, the older brother of Chamberlain Bernard.
“It is an honor to serve Your Highness.”
He was the head of the Baron Gale family and a brilliant young man who graduated second in the Academy's administrative department. He also served as an aide, representing Frozen on behalf of Blake, who resided primarily on the estate.
Blake, who had been watching Melik greet Elise, spoke to her with an apologetic face.
“I think I should go to the palace first before the sun sets.”
“Ah... You said you had some urgent business, right? Don’t worry about me and just go.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll try to get back as soon as possible.”
He held Elise's hand and apologized profusely, saying he was in a hurry, and then looked at Melik and gave him a request.
"Melik, you must treat Madam as you would treat me. Do you understand what I mean?"
“Yes, my lord. I will do my best.”
Only after hearing his answer did Blake feel relieved and mount his horse.
Elise, who had been quietly watching him as he walked toward the palace with a couple of knights, glanced at Melik. The middle-aged man, with his calm demeanor and monocle, reminded her of a butler often seen in medieval settings.
Melik noticed her gaze and bowed his head politely.
“Please come in. I have prepared a place for Your Highness to stay.”
“You must have been pressed for time, but you did a good job.”
Elise followed him into the mansion. Kate and Mary, who were unloading luggage from the carriage, quickly gathered their bags and followed her.
Mary, carrying two large bags in each hand, tried to put another one in her mouth but was stopped by Kate. Elise pretended not to notice her obvious disappointment.
'I don't know anyone like that.'
Fortunately, Melik skillfully ignored the commotion from behind.
As they walked towards the central staircase, Melik spoke to Elise.
“The mistress has been away for a long time, so the interior decoration of the mansion will be quite lacking in Your Highness’s eyes.”
“I understand. I’ll take care of it from now on.”
Her words brought a sudden flush to his normally calm face. It seemed he'd been under a lot of strain, juggling various tasks both at home and abroad.
“I can’t tell you how happy everyone was to hear that His Majesty was visiting.”
“Really? Why?”
"The lord didn't particularly like staying in the capital, so he'd head straight to his fiefdom after finishing his duties. So, this place has been practically an uninhabited mansion ever since."
"Ah..."
“Since His Highness is with you, you will be staying for a long time this time, right?”
“Even if I can’t do it, I plan to stay for a month.”
This time too, he looked very happy.
“I knew this day would come.”
He was so moved that he even muttered to himself.
The third floor of the mansion was laid out much like the main house. Blake's office was at the end of the hallway, and between his and Elise's bedrooms was the master bedroom. However, unlike the main house, where the bedrooms were accessible via a hallway, each room here had a door, allowing direct access.
'This is a bit dangerous. Can't I lock it?'
Elise slowly looked around her room and the master bedroom. Contrary to her predictions of a meager interior, the furniture inside was elegant and luxurious. The curtains, bedding, and carpets also seemed more refined than those in her home.
“Excellent. Good work, Melik.”
"I'm glad you like it. If you need anything, please let me know. I've placed the catalogs I received on the table for now."
“Understood. Oh, and dinner will be served together when His Highness returns home, so please prepare it together then.”
"All right."
After Melik left, Elise went into Blake's room. Melik said he rarely stayed there, and it was even more bare than her own newly renovated room.
While she was looking around the room, Mary and Kate were organizing Elise's immediate wardrobe in the dressing room. After emptying three bags, they were almost fully stocked with what they needed.
“I’ll finish packing the rest of my stuff later. I’m a little tired.”
Introducing Mary to Lucas was postponed for now. Today, she had to discuss important matters related to her future plans with him.
“Ah... yes, Your Highness. Then get some rest.”
"Yes."
After Kate and Mary left the room, Elise, as she had promised Lucas, left the terrace door open. A cool breeze, as if waiting for it, blew into the room, causing the white curtains to flutter and dance.
A shadow fell before Elise, who had taken a few steps back and was sitting on the edge of the bed. Unlike before, Elise greeted him with a bright smile.
“Welcome, Lucas.”
Dozens of knights from Frozen, including Blake, the carriage carrying Elise and her maids, and dozens of other wagons and horses. All of them could be contained within the magic circle at once.
Blake didn't tell Elise how the teleportation circle worked or how to use it. He assumed she knew, since she'd used it before, when she traveled from Clanton to Frozen.
Feigning composure but deeply tense inside, Elise watched the magic circle in action. The dome-shaped walls surrounding the magic circle began to glow with a shimmering blue light. As if in resonance, the space they stood in vibrated with a hum.
Pot!
Elise instinctively closed her eyes and opened them again, as if a flash had suddenly burst out in a flash of intense light. Aside from feeling slightly dizzy, she felt otherwise fine.
Before they knew it, the light had completely disappeared, and they exited the magic circle through a different exit than before.
"Wow..."
Elise couldn't help but exclaim in admiration at the scenery unfolding outside the window. She'd thought the castle was enormous, but it pales in comparison to the scale of the capital.
The walls stretched so wide that one couldn't see from end to end, their height seeming to pierce the sky. A wide and deep moat surrounded the walls, and behind them, a rugged mountain range stretched out, imposing and majestic.
As if they'd received advance notice, a group of people was waiting outside the magic circle. Leading the pack was someone Elise knew well.
'Lucas. You were there to pick me up.'
With his radiant blond hair, handsome face, and white uniform, Lucas looked like a Prince straight out of a fairy tale. And what a surprise, his horse was a white one.
'Is that the protagonist's correction?'
The space surrounding Lucas felt particularly sparkling. If he had been accompanied by a dazzling smile as scripted, any woman would have been captivated.
Unfortunately, the upper world agent had no talent for smiling and appeared expressionless, even gloomy.
As he approached, Blake dismounted as well. While it wasn't necessary due to his position, he did so out of consideration for Lucas, Elise's older brother.
“Welcome to the capital.”
Blake also returned Lucas' greeting.
“I didn’t know we would meet again so soon.”
“I am the same. Your Highness...”
Lucas's gaze shifted to the carriage behind his shoulder, the most ornate and sturdy-looking of all. Blake, though glaring at him with a cold expression, couldn't stop the siblings from reuniting.
“Please wait a moment. I’m sure my wife would like to see you, too.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Blake's expression as he turned to face Elise's carriage was a sight to behold. Elise, watching through the window, resolved to keep her excitement to herself. If Blake were already becoming wary, their future plans would inevitably be disrupted.
Blake finally calmed down and opened the carriage door.
"Ma'am."
Elise smiled brightly at him.
“Have we arrived already?”
"We haven't entered the capital yet, but Sir Clanton is among the knights who have come out to greet us. If you'd like, you may disembark and say hello."
"Ah..."
Elise nodded with a not-so-bright expression.
“Yes, I will.”
Blake blinked slowly at her somewhat cold reaction. Her reaction was so different from what he'd expected.
Elise, who had gotten out of the carriage under his escort, didn't rush to Lucas and hug him, unlike the day after their first night together. She simply walked slowly with Blake, stood before him, and bowed politely.
“It’s nice to see you here again, Brother.”
“How have you been?”
“Of course.”
She spoke with a smile, linking arms with Blake, who was standing next to her.
“Because His Highness has been so kind to me, I have been happier than ever, without any need.”
“...That’s fortunate.”
Lucas answered with a trembling expression, as if wondering, "What kind of trick is that?" Blake's face lit up. He didn't even bother to hide the smile that spread across his face.
'Yes.'
Elise was secretly relieved by Blake's reaction.
“I hope you’ve been well, brother.”
“I’m always the same.”
“I’ll be staying in the capital for a while, so I’ll have a lot of opportunities to see you.”
“I will come and see you anytime you invite me.”
After finishing the story, Lucas naturally reached out and gave her hand a light squeeze before letting go.
“Confirmation complete, Vice-Captain.”
The Nephrus knight, who had scanned the ranks on Lucas' behalf, confirmed the authorization and returned the document to him. The formalities concluded with Lucas and Blake signing side by side at the end of the document.
"Then shall we depart now? I think the headcount check is complete."
“Yes, that’s right.”
After a brief greeting with Lucas, Elise returned to the carriage. Alone, Elise closed the window curtains and opened the note Lucas had secretly given her.
'I'll be right there, so leave the terrace door open.'
Elise tucked the note deep inside her clothes, just in case. Then, with a tap of her ring, she opened the map.
As expected, countless dots covered the map, most of them black.
'Probably extras.'
She could guess that the extras whose names weren't even mentioned in the script for "Fallen Lovers" were marked with black dots. And the next most common were blue dots.
'Considering that Kate was a blue dot, wouldn't the name be used to indicate a supporting character who appears?'
With that in mind, Elise carefully examined the map. There were so many black dots that it was difficult to see the other colors.
'There are two gray dots, I'm not sure, but I think there are two... There are two yellow dots and one green dot.'
The yellow dots represent Elise and Mary, investigators from the middle zone, and the newly appeared green dot represents Lucas, an agent from the upper world.
'Then what are the gray dots?'
As far as she could tell, the gray dot represented Blake. The other, by its location, was among the knights of Frozen. Even if she could figure out who it was, she'd need more clues to figure out what it meant.
'Anyway, to properly utilize the ring, the most urgent task is to rescue the investigator possessed by Clanton's groom.'
While she was lost in thought, the carriage began to move again. Elise opened the curtains and looked out the window. The towering, impenetrable walls were slowly approaching. Elise felt her heart pounding again.
At a time when the sun had not yet set, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Frozen and the Knights, escorted by the Knights of Nephrus, entered the city.
***
Even for the most prestigious families, townhouses built within the capital are built with a certain degree of practicality in mind. This was understandable, considering the difficulty of securing land, as well as the high cost of land and maintenance.
But as is the case everywhere, there were exceptions. The townhouse of the Grand Duke of Frozen was one such example.
Just five minutes from the palace, there was a mansion with a small garden, covering an area four or five times larger than the townhouses of other noble families that lined the area.
The manager of the Frozen Grand Duke's townhouse was Melik Gale, the older brother of Chamberlain Bernard.
“It is an honor to serve Your Highness.”
He was the head of the Baron Gale family and a brilliant young man who graduated second in the Academy's administrative department. He also served as an aide, representing Frozen on behalf of Blake, who resided primarily on the estate.
Blake, who had been watching Melik greet Elise, spoke to her with an apologetic face.
“I think I should go to the palace first before the sun sets.”
“Ah... You said you had some urgent business, right? Don’t worry about me and just go.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll try to get back as soon as possible.”
He held Elise's hand and apologized profusely, saying he was in a hurry, and then looked at Melik and gave him a request.
"Melik, you must treat Madam as you would treat me. Do you understand what I mean?"
“Yes, my lord. I will do my best.”
Only after hearing his answer did Blake feel relieved and mount his horse.
Elise, who had been quietly watching him as he walked toward the palace with a couple of knights, glanced at Melik. The middle-aged man, with his calm demeanor and monocle, reminded her of a butler often seen in medieval settings.
Melik noticed her gaze and bowed his head politely.
“Please come in. I have prepared a place for Your Highness to stay.”
“You must have been pressed for time, but you did a good job.”
Elise followed him into the mansion. Kate and Mary, who were unloading luggage from the carriage, quickly gathered their bags and followed her.
Mary, carrying two large bags in each hand, tried to put another one in her mouth but was stopped by Kate. Elise pretended not to notice her obvious disappointment.
'I don't know anyone like that.'
Fortunately, Melik skillfully ignored the commotion from behind.
As they walked towards the central staircase, Melik spoke to Elise.
“The mistress has been away for a long time, so the interior decoration of the mansion will be quite lacking in Your Highness’s eyes.”
“I understand. I’ll take care of it from now on.”
Her words brought a sudden flush to his normally calm face. It seemed he'd been under a lot of strain, juggling various tasks both at home and abroad.
“I can’t tell you how happy everyone was to hear that His Majesty was visiting.”
“Really? Why?”
"The lord didn't particularly like staying in the capital, so he'd head straight to his fiefdom after finishing his duties. So, this place has been practically an uninhabited mansion ever since."
"Ah..."
“Since His Highness is with you, you will be staying for a long time this time, right?”
“Even if I can’t do it, I plan to stay for a month.”
This time too, he looked very happy.
“I knew this day would come.”
He was so moved that he even muttered to himself.
The third floor of the mansion was laid out much like the main house. Blake's office was at the end of the hallway, and between his and Elise's bedrooms was the master bedroom. However, unlike the main house, where the bedrooms were accessible via a hallway, each room here had a door, allowing direct access.
'This is a bit dangerous. Can't I lock it?'
Elise slowly looked around her room and the master bedroom. Contrary to her predictions of a meager interior, the furniture inside was elegant and luxurious. The curtains, bedding, and carpets also seemed more refined than those in her home.
“Excellent. Good work, Melik.”
"I'm glad you like it. If you need anything, please let me know. I've placed the catalogs I received on the table for now."
“Understood. Oh, and dinner will be served together when His Highness returns home, so please prepare it together then.”
"All right."
After Melik left, Elise went into Blake's room. Melik said he rarely stayed there, and it was even more bare than her own newly renovated room.
While she was looking around the room, Mary and Kate were organizing Elise's immediate wardrobe in the dressing room. After emptying three bags, they were almost fully stocked with what they needed.
With Kate's help, Elise changed into an indoor dress and then dismissed them.
Introducing Mary to Lucas was postponed for now. Today, she had to discuss important matters related to her future plans with him.
“Ah... yes, Your Highness. Then get some rest.”
"Yes."
After Kate and Mary left the room, Elise, as she had promised Lucas, left the terrace door open. A cool breeze, as if waiting for it, blew into the room, causing the white curtains to flutter and dance.
A shadow fell before Elise, who had taken a few steps back and was sitting on the edge of the bed. Unlike before, Elise greeted him with a bright smile.
“Welcome, Lucas.”
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