“…Shouldn’t I be the one asking that?”

The stranger remained silent. For a brief moment, neither moved. Only the distant music from the banquet and the rustling leaves disturbed the quiet garden.

Then—

The hand gripping Aries’ collar released him.

The blade swept toward his neck.

Aries reacted on instinct. He twisted just enough to avoid a fatal strike, though the dagger still grazed his skin. A sharp sting followed as blood trickled down his neck.

The stranger attacked again.

Aries caught his wrist before the blade could reach him and drove his elbow into the man’s side. The impact forced him back several steps.

Aries immediately widened the distance between them, one hand covering his wound.

Warm blood seeped through his fingers.

Fortunately, the cut wasn’t deep.

The stranger straightened as though the blow had barely affected him.

“You fight well.”

“I prefer not to.”

The stranger seemed amused.

“Then answer my question.”

“I don’t recall you asking one.”

“…Who are you?”

Aries stared through the darkness.

“I could ask you the same.”

The stranger slowly raised his dagger again.

“So you won’t answer.”

“Not to someone who introduces himself with a blade.”

A pause.

“You know quite a bit for an ordinary noble.”

“Do I?”

“You stayed calm.”

“You observed the weapon.”

“You struck my ribs instead of my arm.”

Aries shrugged.

“I prefer efficiency.”

The stranger narrowed his eyes.

“…Interesting.”

He stepped forward.

“So tell me. Who sent you?”

“No one.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

Aries sighed.

“Most who handle spies would also avoid slitting the throat of the person they’re trying to interrogate.”

The stranger stared at him.

“…So you are a spy?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why do you know that?”

“Because it’s common sense.”

The stranger clicked his tongue.

“You’re either lying…”

“…or strangely composed.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

Before either could move again—

“Ash!”

A familiar voice echoed through the garden.

Both men turned.

Footsteps approached before a young man emerged between the rose hedges.

“Kai?”

The stranger lowered his dagger slightly.

“What are you doing here?”

Kai stopped when he noticed the blood on Aries’ shirt.

“Ash.”

His voice was calm but firm.

“Stand down.”

Ash frowned.

“He entered a restricted area.”

“He’s my brother.”

“…Your brother?”

“Yes.”

Ash looked back at Aries.

“…You’re serious.”

Kai nodded.

“He is.”

An awkward silence followed.

Aries lowered the hand covering his neck.

Blood coated his palm.

Wonderful.

This body really does enjoy making my life difficult.

Then—

A strange warmth spread across his neck.

His brows furrowed.

The bleeding slowed.

Then stopped.

“…?”

Aries touched the wound.

The pain was gone.

He looked at his bloodstained fingers before touching his neck again.

Smooth.

The cut was gone.

All three stared in silence.

Ash stepped closer.

“There isn’t even a scar…”

Kai’s eyes widened slightly.

“…You used healing magic.”

Aries looked at him.

“I didn’t.”

“You expect us to believe that?”

“I don’t remember casting any magic.”

Ash studied him carefully.

Then their eyes met.

Recognition flashed across both their faces.

“…You.”

“…You.”

“The workshop.”

“So you finally remembered,” Aries said.

Ash scoffed.

“Hah.”

“Are you perhaps following me?”

“I have neither the time nor the interest to follow someone who nearly mistook me for a criminal.”

“You could be another spy.”

“You attacked first and questioned later.”

“It seemed efficient.”

“It was also ineffective.”

Ash folded his arms.

“And why is that?”

“Because if I truly were a spy…”

Aries glanced at the dagger.

“…I would already be dead.”

Ash opened his mouth but found no answer.

Kai pinched the bridge of his nose.

“…Must the two of you argue the moment you meet?”

Neither answered.

They simply looked away from each other.

Kai sighed.

“This is going to be troublesome.”

Ash broke the silence first.

“I wasn’t the one wandering around restricted areas.”

“I wasn’t aware taking a walk warranted an attempted execution.”

“You looked suspicious.”

“And your first conclusion was that I was a spy?”

“It wasn’t an unreasonable assumption.”

Aries raised an eyebrow.

“I beg to differ.”

Kai quickly stepped between them.

“Enough.”

This time, neither argued.

Kai turned toward Aries.

“Does your neck still hurt?”

Aries touched the place where the blade had cut him.

“…No.”

“Any dizziness?”

“A little.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie. Although the wound had disappeared, he had still lost blood before the strange phenomenon healed him.

Kai looked at the dried blood around Aries’ collar.

“We should get you home.”

“I was planning to leave anyway.”

Kai nodded before turning toward Ash.

“What happened?”

Ash remained silent for a moment.

“I found him wandering near the restricted garden.”

“And?”

“I questioned him.”

Kai glanced at Aries’ bloodstained shirt.

“…Your definition of questioning is rather extreme.”

“I had my reasons.”

“I’m sure you did.”

Kai sighed.

“But next time, confirm someone’s identity before trying to slit their throat.”

Ash clicked his tongue.

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

There was little remorse in his voice.

Aries wasn’t surprised.

The man didn’t seem like someone who apologized easily.

The three began walking through the moonlit garden.

The cool breeze carried the scent of roses while the music from the banquet slowly faded behind them.

Kai eventually broke the silence.

“So… how did the banquet go?”

Aries answered without hesitation.

“I greeted Their Majesties.”

The lie came naturally.

Kai nodded.

“As expected.”

“The Second Prince also spoke with me.”

“The Second Prince?”

“It was only a brief conversation.”

“He seemed…”

Aries paused.

“…Reasonable.”

Kai looked mildly surprised.

“It didn’t last long,” Aries continued.

“Count Verin’s son interrupted us.”

“I see.”

“The other nobles appeared occupied with their own conversations, so I decided to leave.”

Ash gave a short laugh.

“You skipped the banquet because you found it troublesome?”

“I attended because etiquette demanded it.”

“And left because?”

“My obligation had already been fulfilled.”

Ash shook his head.

“I’ve never met a noble quite like you.”

“I could say the same.”

“Oh?”

“I’ve never met someone who mistakes every unfamiliar face for a spy.”

Ash gave a thoughtful look.

“…Not every unfamiliar face.”

He glanced at Aries.

“Only the suspicious ones.”

Kai looked between them.

Although neither was smiling, the hostility from earlier had noticeably lessened.

At least they had stopped reaching for their weapons.

As they approached the palace gates, several carriages came into view.

Aries slowed.

“I’ll take my leave here.”

Kai nodded.

“I’ll walk you the rest of the way.”

Before Aries could respond, Ash suddenly stopped.

“…Wait.”

Both brothers turned.

Without a word, Ash unclasped the dark coat from his shoulders and placed it over Aries’ shoulders, concealing the bloodstains on his shirt.

Aries looked down at it.

“…What is this?”

“Compensation.”

Ash answered simply.

“You’ll attract unnecessary attention if you leave looking like that.”

Aries glanced at the blood around his collar.

He couldn’t deny it.

“…I see.”

He adjusted the coat.

“Then I’ll borrow it.”

Ash nodded.

“Return it next time we meet.”

Aries looked at him.

“So confident we’ll meet again?”

A faint smirk appeared on Ash’s lips.

“The capital isn’t that large.”

“…Fair enough.”

For once, neither argued.

Kai quietly watched the exchange.

A small smile almost appeared on his face.

Perhaps their first meeting had not been as disastrous as it seemed.

The palace gates stood only a few steps ahead. Beyond them waited several noble carriages beneath rows of lanterns.

Among them was the carriage bearing the crest of House Lelouche.

Beside it stood a familiar young maid, anxiously looking around.

The moment she spotted Aries, her face brightened.

“My Lord!”

Charlotte hurried toward them.

“You finally came back!”

“I’m sorry for making you wait.”

“I wasn’t waiting for very long.”

Her eyes wandered over him before stopping at the oversized black coat.

“My Lord…”

She tilted her head.

“Isn’t that coat a little too big for you?”

Before Aries could answer, Ash spoke.

“It’s mine.”

Charlotte blinked.

“…Oh.”

Her gaze moved between the two men.

Kai immediately stepped forward.

“I’ll explain another time.”

Charlotte obediently nodded.

“Yes, Lord Kaius.”

Aries turned toward his brother.

“I’ll be leaving now.”

Kai gave him a gentle nod.

“Get some rest.”

“I will.”

For a moment, neither brother spoke.

Kai’s gaze drifted toward the blood beneath Aries’ collar.

His brows furrowed.

“…Take care of yourself.”

“I always do.”

It wasn’t particularly convincing.

Still, Kai chose not to press the matter.

Aries turned toward the carriage.

Just as he was about to step inside—

“Cain.”

Aries paused.

Ash stood a short distance away.

“…Don’t lose the coat.”

Aries looked down at the garment.

“I’ll have it returned.”

“Good.”

Ash turned away and walked back toward the palace.

Within moments, he disappeared beyond the gates.

Aries watched him briefly before entering the carriage.

Charlotte followed and settled across from him.

With a gentle flick of the reins, the carriage began moving.

The palace gradually disappeared behind them.

For several minutes, only the sound of horses’ hooves filled the carriage.

Then Charlotte spoke.

“My Lord…”

“Hm?”

“I had a wonderful evening.”

A faint smile appeared on Aries’ face.

“I’m glad.”

Her eyes brightened.

“The palace was beautiful. I’ve never seen so many flowers before.”

“The gardeners were kind too. They even showed me a small garden behind the greenhouse.”

“There were flowers that only bloom at night.”

“They looked like tiny moons.”

Aries listened quietly.

“I wanted to pick one, but the gardener said they bloom only once every year.”

“So I just admired them.”

“That was the right decision.”

Charlotte smiled.

“I thought so too.”

She then reached into a small cloth pouch.

“And… I saved these for you.”

She held out several honey biscuits wrapped in paper.

“The palace maids gave them to me.”

“They said they were freshly baked.”

Aries accepted them.

“…Thank you.”

“I thought you might be hungry.”

He looked at the biscuits before quietly chuckling.

“I suppose I am.”

Charlotte beamed.

For the rest of the journey, she happily recounted everything she had seen—the enormous chandeliers, the musicians, the nobles’ elaborate clothes, and even a tiny white rabbit she had spotted beneath a rose bush.

Aries rarely interrupted.

He simply listened, occasionally asking a question.

Compared to the exhausting events of the evening, Charlotte’s innocent stories were strangely comforting.

Before long, the carriage entered the grounds of the ducal estate.

The mansion stood quietly beneath the pale moonlight. Most of the servants had already retired, leaving only a handful of lanterns burning near the entrance.

After helping Aries out of the carriage, Charlotte followed him inside.

The manor was unusually silent.

Only their footsteps echoed through the corridors.

When they finally reached Aries’ bedroom, Charlotte turned toward him.

“My Lord…”

“May I take your coat?”

Aries nodded.

She carefully lifted the coat from his shoulders.

Her eyes widened when she saw the crimson stains covering his white shirt.

“My Lord!”

“W-What happened?”

Aries looked down.

“…Ah.”

“I spilled ketchup.”

Charlotte blinked.

“…Ketchup?”

Aries paused.

Right.

There was no such thing in this world.

“I mean…”

“Tomato sauce.”

Charlotte sighed in relief.

“Oh…”

“I thought it was blood.”

Aries silently looked away.

*It was blood.*

*Mine, to be precise.*

“I’ll have this washed first thing tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

Charlotte folded Ash’s coat over her arm.

“What about this one?”

“It belongs to someone else.”

“I’ll return it soon.”

“I understand.”

After wishing him good night, Charlotte left.

The door clicked shut.

Silence returned.

Aries stood alone for several moments before sitting on the edge of his bed.

His fingers slowly reached toward his neck.

Smooth.

No wound.

No scar.

As though the blade had never touched him.

“…Healing magic…”

He whispered.

Members of House Lelouche were not known for possessing an affinity for healing magic.

He had never learned it.

Nor had he attempted to cast it.

Yet the wound had disappeared before his eyes.

Aries lowered his hand.

“…Just what happened tonight?”

No answer came.

Only silence.

He leaned back against the bed and closed his eyes.

The events replayed through his mind.

The cold steel.

The impossible healing.

The mysterious man called Ash.

“…What a troublesome day.”

A quiet sigh escaped his lips.

Sleep claimed him before he could think any further.

Outside, the moon continued to illuminate the silent ducal estate.

And somewhere within the Imperial Palace…

Another sleepless night had only just begun.

TO BE CONTINUED…