After we finished our desserts, we followed Christina Fenelvia to a tavern called Skoda. Mira had been sent off by Christina to take care of another task.
"Every step leaves a trace. I've already confirmed that their headquarters is here. The police searched the place before, but they found nothing, so I suspect there's a hidden room inside the tavern. That's why, now that Miss Alice is here, I'd like to search it again. While the police question the people inside, I'd like you to tell us if anyone is lying."
"I'll do my best!"
Alice was full of enthusiasm.
Good.
I wanted to help too, but I was only a merchant. I didn't have Alice's uncanny ability to read people, nor did I possess Grace's or Ethefelis's combat skills. Passion alone wasn't enough.
So I racked my brain—one that couldn't even compare to Christina Fenelvia's—and wondered what Karen would do in my position.
Eventually, an idea struck me.
I leaned over and whispered into Ethefelis's ear.
"Ethefelis, could you put on the invisibility cloak and sneak inside to see what's going on?"
Once you'd experienced invisibility, you realized just how effortless infiltration became. You no longer had to worry about being seen. It was something only we could do.
"Can."
After giving a brief nod, Ethefelis quickly left to find somewhere secluded to put on the cloak.
A few moments later, Mira returned.
"Mira, where are the police?"
"I'm sorry, milady. I asked them, but after their previous failure, they've lost face. They're reluctant to mobilize."
Unbelievable.
How could commoners refuse a noble's request—especially one acting under the king's direct orders? It was outright disrespect.
Christina let out a troubled sigh.
"...Then let's go speak with the chief of police. Hmm? Where did Miss Sugued go?"
"She went to the restroom. I'll stay here and wait for her."
I came up with an excuse for Ethefelis on the spot. Hopefully it sounded natural.
"I'll stay too."
"So will I."
Grace and Alice, please don't stay.
Especially Grace...
I still had no idea how to talk to her or ease the awkwardness between us.
"No. Miss Alice has to come with me. You're the key to this operation."
Christina insisted that Alice accompany her.
Then please take Grace with you too. At this rate, the awkward silence is going to suffocate me.
Grace placed both hands on Alice's shoulders.
"Ms.Alice, go with Miss Fenelbia. We'll wait here."
"...Okay."
"Stay with them. Don't wander off."
"I know."
After Grace reassured her, Alice left together with Christina and Mira.
<>
Alice, Christina, and Mira walked away, leaving only Jacob and Grace standing together.
The two of them leaned against the wall, both staring at the ground, desperately wondering what they should say.
Grace was drowning in regret.
She hated herself for pulling her hand away and for the words she'd spoken. Overwhelmed by embarrassment and happiness, she'd reacted instinctively, only to make Jacob misunderstand everything.
Because of that misunderstanding, she'd ordered the dessert called Black Abyss, a perfect reflection of her heart.
It felt as though she had fallen into a bottomless pit of darkness, one she could never climb out of and where no light could ever reach.
She had deliberately stayed behind because she wanted to be alone with Jacob.
But now that the chance had come, she couldn't think of a single thing to say.
All she could do was blame herself.
(I'm so stupid! I'm so stupid! I'm so stupid! I finally learned how Mr.Jacob really feels about me. It might've been a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Even if it was only for a moment... I was so happy. So why did I do that?! I'm such an idiot. No... I really am an idiot...)
Yes.
Grace truly loved Jacob.
Their feelings were completely mutual.
But Grace had always believed Jacob was experienced in romance.
Compared to him, she'd never been in love before. That alone made her feel painfully inadequate.
Or perhaps more accurately...
She believed his feelings were only temporary—that sooner or later he'd lose interest in her.
That thought terrified her.
She didn't want to get hurt, so she instinctively ran away.
(Even so... I don't want to see Mr. Jacob care about other women. I've already learned how to kill. I'm afraid I won't be able to stop myself from killing them. What can I do to make him look at only me forever? Wait...)
Jacob still kept his head lowered, unable to look at her.
Meanwhile, Grace covered her face with both hands, but beneath them, a disturbingly unhealthy expression slowly emerged.
Her mind was only one final push away from breaking.
That final push...
Was her last desperate attempt.
She decided to cast aside the dignity expected of a duke's daughter and gather every ounce of courage she had to confess for the first time in her life—
And perhaps the last.
"Um... Mr. Jacob."
"Y-Yes! What is it?!"
Jacob never expected Grace to speak first.
The surprise made him raise his voice so suddenly that it cracked.
Grace didn't even notice.
All she wanted was to clear up the misunderstanding.
"I didn't... mean it... like that..."
Even after deciding to cast aside her pride, it wasn't something she could do so easily.
Grace had only made two female friends this year.
Other than her mother, she'd never shared her feelings or private thoughts with anyone.
Opening her heart was far harder for her than it was for most people.
Jacob knew what she was trying to say.
But he believed she was only trying to ease the awkward atmosphere and meant nothing more.
After all, he'd already said they should pretend none of it had happened.
He looked away and forced a smile.
"I-I don't really know what you're talking about. If it's something that's hard for you to say... then you don't have to."
To Grace, those words sounded like Jacob had already decided to let go of his feelings for her.
Sadness.
Regret.
Despair.
Helplessness.
All of it flooded her heart at once.
Large tears streamed down her cheeks as she sobbed,
"...P-please don't... Please don't... us..."
She wanted to tell him not to give up on her.
Not to look at other women.
That they loved each other.
But the words refused to leave her throat.
Between the lump in her throat and her broken sobs, nothing she said came out clearly.
Jacob couldn't understand a single word.
Unable to bear seeing her cry, he silently took out a handkerchief and offered it to her.
"Wipe your tears. Calm down first."
"...Thank you."
Grace accepted the handkerchief.
It carried the same scent as her own clothes.
She loved little acts of kindness like this.
They reminded her of the male leads in the romance novels she adored.
After drying her tears, she inhaled the familiar scent from the handkerchief.
Then she gathered her courage one last time, determined to say everything in one breath.
"Mr. Jacob... I wasn't rejecting you. I was just so happy... and so embarrassed. I love you too. I really, really love you."
She couldn't bring herself to look at him.
Though she'd finally found her courage, her voice was so soft that this was all Jacob heard:
"Mr. Jacob... I... don't... love... you."
Jacob never imagined she'd say something like that.
For a brief moment, he'd dared to hope he'd misunderstood her.
That there was still a chance.
Instead...
He received an answer even crueler than before.
The last of his resolve shattered.
It felt as though lightning had struck him beneath a clear sky, sending him tumbling into a bottomless abyss he'd never escape.
He wanted to cry.
But he forced himself to answer first.
"I see... So admitting that you dislike me was so difficult it made you cry... You're really kind..."
With those sorrowful words, Jacob turned away, presenting only his back to her.
Grace had expected him to smile after hearing her confession.
She hurriedly looked up—
Only to see the grief on his face.
And hear words she'd never said.
She had no idea what had happened.
But she knew he'd misunderstood her again.
Panicking, she grabbed his hand.
"No...!"
Jacob shook her hand off.
He pressed a hand against his chest.
His heart couldn't endure another wound.
So he spoke before she could.
"You don't have to say anything else. I understand. I really do. We should just be strangers."
"I didn't—!"
"Enough!" Jacob shouted. "Please, don't say another word. I'll give up. You don't have to worry about me bothering you anymore! Once Karen defeats the Demon King, our paths will never cross again!"
Jacob cut her off impatiently.
He believed Grace didn't love him.
Worse...
He thought she kept trying to make him suffer even more.
It was unbearably cruel.
Throughout all of it, he never once looked back.
He never saw Grace's face collapse into utter despair.
The tears she'd finally managed to stop burst forth again, pouring down like a waterfall.
To Grace...
Her one and only confession had ended before it had even begun.
And somehow, it had been mistaken for a rejection.
She sank into overwhelming self-loathing.
Her already fragile mental state finally crossed into dangerous territory.
(Mr. Jacob... what did I do wrong? We finally became close. Why do you want us to become strangers again? Why are you speaking to me so formally? Have you completely given up on me? Won't you even give me one chance to make things right? I love you so much... I've loved you ever since the first moment we met. Mother told me that chances at love are rare, and that when one comes, I have to hold onto it with everything I have. I missed my chance once... but I won't lose it again. So, Mr. Jacob... you can't... you can't let go of me. You can't look at anyone else. You can't choose them. You can only belong to me.)
With an unsettling gaze, Grace stared silently at Jacob's back.
Then...
She slowly drew her sword.