From a distance, he saw Evandria sitting alone. She looked bored — clearly uncomfortable being here.

But he didn’t understand why she had insisted on coming.

“Lady Ivy, where are you going?” someone shouted.

Ivy… he thought.

Ivy was famous for her detective work — and also pretty famous for not talking to anyone. No matter what, she never took requests unless she felt like it. She preferred to work alone and avoided people whenever possible.

That was exactly why she was avoiding everyone at the event.

Elion glanced at Evandria once more.

But instead of going to her, he walked upstairs, looking around as if searching for someone.

Now he reached the third floor and walked through the hallway.

“…Master Elion?”

Someone called his name.

It was Ivy — leaning casually against a windowsill.

The very person he was looking for.

For people, she works as a detective — but in truth, she works for Elion, handling things only he trusts her with. And she was also the one who had obtained the documents sealed with House Bloomward's seal for him.

“What are you doing here? I didn’t know you liked parties,” Ivy asked with wide eyes.

Elion didn’t reply — he just looked at her.

Her short black hair, reaching just to her shoulders, fluttered slightly in the breeze.

“Don't tell me you came here to meet me?” Ivy said playfully, touching her cheek with one finger.

“I’m not in the mood for jokes,” Elion said.

“Oh, come on. Don’t be so serious,” Ivy replied.

“Ivy… about the documents you gave me. I found out that the person who gave them to Rohkan was someone from House Bloomward’s dark party,” Elion said.

“Oh… so that’s why you came here,” Ivy said. “And here I thought…”

“So you want me to find that person?” she asked.

“Yes. No matter what,” Elion said, looking straight at her.

“Alright. I’ll find them.” 

“Oh, by the way, your wife is truly beautiful,” Ivy added casually. “I saw her earlier. She’s sitting alone.”

Then, Ivy leaned slightly closer and, with a teasing smile, she said,

“And here you are, talking to another girl.”

Elion gave her a small glare.

“Don’t talk like that. It doesn’t suit you,” he said.

“Oh, come on. You’re the only one I can talk like this with,” Ivy said, pouting. “Other people just talk nonsense — always trying to get something out of others. That's why I don't talk to anyone.”

“I’m leaving,” Elion said, turning away.

He had already walked a few steps when Ivy called out,

“Okay! Don’t worry about that.”

“Take care. And it looks like you’re finally going back to your beautiful wife; tell her I said hello!” she shouted.

Elion didn’t pay her any attention and kept walking.

He entered the main hall again and began descending the stairs.

Then he saw someone talking to Evandria.

Elion only saw his back and hair color, but he recognized him immediately.

That man had green hair and was shorter than Elion.

He knew him well.

Raphel.

Raphel von Garal Revind. He was Elion’s classmate, always envying him because, no matter what he did, he stayed behind Elion and could never surpass him.

***

I’m bored.

Where did Elion go?

Evandria thought, watching the nobles laugh and chatter among themselves, feeling a little out of place. She remained seated alone, quietly observing the lively crowd.

I understand he didn’t want to come here… but that doesn’t mean he can just leave me alone here like this.

Now what do I do?

It had been a while since Elion left the nobles, and she still hadn’t seen him.

She was thinking about that when someone approached her.

“Aren’t you Elion’s wife?” he asked.

“Yes,” Evandria replied, looking at him with a polite but unfamiliar expression.

“My name is Raphel. I was Elion’s classmate,” he said with a broad smile.

“Oh… my name is Evandria,” she replied.

“Did you come alone?” Raphel asked, even though he had already seen her arriving with Elion as they entered the hall.

“Where’s Elion? Don’t tell me he didn’t come with his wife?” he laughed.

“No, he came with me. He just went to handle some work,” Evandria said.

No matter what, she couldn’t reveal to an outsider that Elion had left her alone.

It didn’t matter how distant or cold he acted around her — after all, they were still husband and wife, and she understood it all too well.