"It's Yubis."
Julia's expression flickered with confusion. She glanced quickly at Marin, who simply smiled.
"Come in."
Yubis entered, his thigh wrapped in thick bandages. Julia's eyes narrowed, fixing him with a piercing stare.
"Don't look at me like that." He shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. "I already said it was my fault. Lady Marin—I'm sorry. I was wrong."
"It wasn't your fault." Marin's voice was gentle but firm. "I just happened to be standing in the path you came running down. I got caught up in it. If I hadn't been there, you would have made it back safely on your own."
"Julia." Yubis turned to his sister. "Leave us for a moment."
"Why?"
"I want to speak with the lady alone."
"All right." Marin nodded. "Julia, step outside for a bit. I'll finish my breakfast at leisure."
She'd already guessed what this was about.
"Apologize to the lady *properly*." Julia shot her brother one last sharp look before departing.
"Understood."
The moment the door clicked shut, Yubis bowed his head low.
"I'm truly sorry, my lady."
"I told you—everything is fine."
"And Miss El..." He straightened slightly, eyes scanning the seemingly empty room. "Thank you. I've kept your secret."
He bowed toward the void.
"El heard everything," Marin answered on behalf of the silent Shadow.
"Yes." Yubis lifted his head, and his gaze burned with determination. "I'll work harder from now on. Last night, I realized something—everyone kept saying I was talented, and I got arrogant. I grew complacent. Next time, I *will* protect you, my lady. I swear it."
It was a good look—the look of someone who'd learned something painful and emerged stronger.
Marin nodded and smiled softly.
"I believe you. And carry a compass from now on."
"Yes..."
Her final words deflated him slightly.
"Go rest. Make sure you receive proper treatment."
"I will. Please rest too, my lady."
---
After seeing Yubis out and finishing her meal, Marin was just rising from the table when another knock sounded.
"Come in."
The door opened quietly.
The Duke stepped inside.
Marin's eyes widened. "Ah—I thought it was Julia."
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine. Everything is fine."
"Then come out for a while." His tone was dry, matter-of-fact.
"All right."
After yesterday's exhausting sprint through the forest, a gentle walk to stretch her legs sounded appealing.
The Duke extended his large palm.
Marin assumed he wanted to check her pulse—as he always did—and placed her wrist against his hand.
He chuckled softly.
And then simply intertwined his fingers with hers.
*Not my wrist?*
Heat flooded her cheeks. She stared down at their clasped hands.
"There's no one here now."
"From now on—except in dreams—stay within ten steps of me."
"What does that—"
"It means no more danger."
*The events of last night shook him too.*
Marin studied her own hand, small and nearly swallowed by his larger one. Against his palm, her fingers looked impossibly tiny.
Looking at their intertwined hands, she couldn't help but smile.
---
## — The Mine —
They left the mansion through the rear gate.
Marin had been following the Duke without much thought—until she recognized her surroundings.
"Wait..."
"I found out."
"I thought last night would have been avoided entirely if I'd just gone *around* this area." Her voice came out absurdly casual.
"Would you like to see the mine?"
*Back to where the chaos happened? Have the monster corpses been cleared?*
Curiosity and lingering fear warred within her.
"Don't worry." The Duke's voice was steady. "I'm here with you today."
She glanced at his profile. He probably had no idea how reassuring those words sounded.
"Yes."
They passed through the back gate and followed a dirt path that soon wound into the forest.
The Duke walked with absolute confidence—anyone watching would never believe he was blind.
"Welcome, Your Grace. Lady Shuvents."
Two knights stood guard at the mine entrance. Not a trace of monster corpses remained.
*Where were you* yesterday*?* Marin thought with involuntary bitterness—but she only nodded in acknowledgment.
"Let's go."
They entered the cave-like passage. Torches burned at intervals along the walls, casting flickering orange light.
As they descended deeper, memories of the previous night surged back—the squealing, the running, the terror.
Marin wrapped her free hand around their intertwined fingers, gripping tighter.
The Duke squeezed back, as though trying to calm her.
---
Further in, the passage opened into a grotto suffused with a soft bluish-green glow. Miners worked along one wall, breaking stone with pickaxes.
"We've got one!"
A miner's cry brought the others running.
"Black this time. Black ones are rare."
"Get it to the overseer immediately."
Even here, a knight stood watch. Spotting the Duke, he bowed quickly.
"Greetings, Your Grace. Lady Shuvents."
The miners froze mid-swing, bending in hasty half-bows.
"Greetings, Your Grace."
"Continue."
At the Duke's word, pickaxes resumed their rhythm.
The miner who'd found the black opal approached and presented the stone.
"Black-tinted opals are the rarest yield from this mine."
The Duke accepted the stone and spoke quietly:
"Thank you for your work."
"Oh—yes! Thank you, Your Grace!"
The old miner beamed as though the brief exchange had been a waking dream.
*Black opal was rare and precious even in my previous life*, Marin thought. *It seems just as valuable here.*
"Do you like it?"
"What?"
"This place."
"Of course." She couldn't contain her enthusiasm. "I named it 'opal' myself. I like it *very* much."
*This spirit of money—no, of jewelry.* It was terrifying to imagine what all this would eventually be worth.
"Then take it."
"*What?*"
Marin blinked in shock.
"You said you liked it."
"Are you saying—because I *like* it—you're just *giving* me this mine?"
"A bonus." The Duke leaned closer and whispered the word.
"This is far too generous a gift."
Seeing her confusion, he chuckled.
"So you won't accept gifts without a reason? Fine—then consider this repayment for a debt."
"Debt?"
"Yes. I promised to protect you, but instead I put you in danger. I owe you." His voice turned firm. "Now the debt is cleared. No refusal will be accepted."
"In that case..." Marin drew a steadying breath. "I accept with gratitude."
*When I first read the report about this mine, I thought: if only I could have just one stone, how wonderful that would be.*
She had to physically suppress the urge to scream with joy.
The Duke, unnoticed by anyone, opened his eyes slightly.
In the pitch-black darkness, something a shade lighter was barely visible—moving.
*So it wasn't my imagination.*
---
## — The Journey Continues —
After a warm farewell to Lord Nyron and his wife, they departed his domain.
The journey ahead proved uneventful. They left the western territories and entered the central lands—where the Emperor resided.
Daya had grown increasingly fond of the diamond carriage. It barely shook, making it comfortable to embroider during travel.
After departing Nyron's estate, Julia also moved into the diamond carriage. She'd decided—no matter what—to stay close to her lady.
The three of them chatted in low voices and enjoyed the passing scenery.
*Tang. Tang. Tang.*
"What is that sound?"
Daya looked up from her embroidery, startled.
Marin's gaze snapped to the carriage wall. Arrows were striking from somewhere outside—bouncing harmlessly off the diamond surface, but *striking* nonetheless.
"*Ah—!*"
Julia looked as well, screamed, and immediately clamped both hands over her mouth. If the two young ladies remained calm, she couldn't be the only one to lose composure.
Face expressionless, Marin reached for the interior bolt and slid it into place. According to Zeromian's instruction scroll, locking it from inside made the carriage impossible to open from outside.
Simultaneously, she withdrew the dagger from its leather roll and placed it within easy reach.
"It appears we're under attack."
"A-attack?"
Julia's red-rimmed eyes went wide with fear, but she fought to control herself.
"The moment we left the Duke of Vines's territory, this happens." Daya's voice was steady, though her fingers clutched the embroidery frame white-knuckled. "How convenient."
She watched the arrows strike and fall away, her gaze cold.