The door leading to Chloe's room stood slightly ajar.
At first, Callius had no intention of eavesdropping on whatever conversation might be taking place within.
But something felt... off. Curiosity drew him closer to the door.
'Who is she talking to?'
It was strange. He could hear Chloe's voice clearly, but there was no second voice responding.
'Is she muttering to herself?'
There was variation in her tone—high and low pitches, as though she were engaged in actual conversation—and she spoke for quite some time. Yet Callius convinced himself it meant nothing.
After all, some people organized their thoughts by talking aloud to themselves.
'Perhaps it's some sort of game she's playing.'
Chloe continued her one-sided conversation in her room for a considerable while longer.
Some time later, Chloe finally entered their shared bedroom.
She always looked tired due to chronic lack of sleep, but tonight she appeared even more exhausted than usual.
Callius understood all too well why she was fatigued, so instead of directly commenting on her appearance, he expressed his concern more obliquely.
"You seem unwell. Is something troubling you?"
"Oh, do I look that way?"
Chloe quickly manufactured a faint smile.
"No, nothing's wrong."
Chloe's voice as she spoke sounded subtly different from usual.
Callius felt an uncomfortable sensation—as though she were deliberately drawing a line between them, establishing distance where none had existed before.
The atmosphere reminded him unpleasantly of their first day of marriage, when he'd accidentally left her alone and she'd withdrawn into herself.
But he'd been mistaken then about the cause of her distress. Surely he was mistaken now as well.
'I must be imagining things.'
Callius decided to assume she was simply tired and feeling low.
Chloe circled the bed and lay down much closer to the fireplace than usual—a position considerably further from Callius than she normally chose.
"You're going to fall off the edge. Come closer."
Chloe responded listlessly to his suggestion.
"I'm cold. I prefer it this way."
When she felt down, he seemed to absorb that melancholy as well.
Callius searched his mind for an interesting topic that might lift her spirits, then settled on recounting something that had happened during the day.
"Something amusing occurred during knight training today."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. As a form of cooperative training, we sometimes divide the knights into teams for ball games. Alex was bragging before the match started that he'd been practicing new techniques and that we shouldn't be surprised by his skills."
"..."
"The ball finally reached Alex, and he got incredibly cocky, started spinning around with it..."
Callius paused mid-story, observing Chloe's expression. She wasn't smiling at all.
"Are you not finding this entertaining?"
Chloe smiled awkwardly.
"I don't know much about the ball game you're describing."
"Still, it would have been hilarious if you'd witnessed it in person. Alex's expression was priceless."
"I'm sure."
"Yes..."
"..."
"..."
An awkward silence settled between them like an unwanted guest.
Callius lay there, idly fidgeting with his fingers and staring at the ceiling, desperately searching his memory for something more interesting to discuss.
Finally, he remembered an anecdote and opened his mouth to speak.
"A few days ago—"
But the moment he began, Chloe cut him off.
"I'm especially exhausted tonight. I had quite a lot of work today."
"Ah, I see."
"I'll sleep first."
"Of course. Good night, Chloe."
"...You too, Callius."
Callius sighed quietly and glanced toward Chloe.
She had already closed her eyes, clearly attempting to fall asleep.
He'd come to the bedroom early specifically because he'd wanted to spend more time talking with her. But he kept his disappointment hidden, allowing Chloe to rest without showing any sign of his feelings.
'She must be utterly exhausted.'
Anyone who lost sleep night after night would find even small interactions burdensome.
Callius renewed his determination to quickly find a solution to break Chloe's curse.
The following day, Callius summoned a select group of his most trusted men.
Brentian, Hawick, and several other knights he knew he could rely upon gathered quietly in his office.
Callius distributed pouches containing jewels to each knight except his aide, Brentian.
"What is this?"
The knights who opened their pouches gaped at the sparkling gems within.
"What is this, really?"
Even Brentian looked surprised as he examined the exquisite jewelry, fixing Callius with a questioning stare.
The knights might have assumed these were Callius's personal possessions, but Brentian knew better.
'This isn't Ronheim's craftsmanship.'
If ornaments were fashioned with such delicate and splendid artistry, they undoubtedly originated from Arrental.
Callius issued his orders without explaining the treasures' origins.
"Travel abroad and sell these."
"What? Us?"
The knights exchanged bewildered glances.
"But we don't even know how much these items are worth. We've no experience handling such valuables."
"Which is precisely why I'm asking this of you, so don't worry. Simply get whatever price you can manage."
"Is that truly acceptable?"
"If we're cheated—"
Callius nodded reassuringly.
"It's fine. I'll leave everything to your discretion. You may even keep some for personal use if you wish. However, not a single piece can remain in Ronheim."
The knights spoke almost in unison:
"Are you testing us? Please tell us what kind of test this is!"
"This isn't a test. I plan to convert these into funds for the Knights' budget. It's time everyone received new weapons and armor."
At those words, the knights holding the treasure pouches became considerably more careful with them.
Thinking of these jewels as their future weapons and armor made the pouches feel heavier than if they were merely expensive trinkets.
"I had no idea our lord possessed such wealth..."
Someone muttered in awe.
"You've entrusted us with this...!"
Callius wanted to say the treasures came from Chloe, but he held back.
If he revealed that now, the knights would praise Chloe initially—but as time passed, complications would arise.
Rumors might spread that the jewels originated from her.
'The knights would risk their lives to protect my secrets, since they've sworn allegiance to me. But Chloe's secrets might not receive the same protection.'
'No matter what happens, Chloe must be kept safe.'
If Chloe's plans went awry or something went wrong, he would take responsibility and shield her from all consequences.
Right now, keeping Chloe safe mattered more than earning his knights' complete trust.
"I'll leave most details to your judgment, but there are several critical rules you must observe."
Callius's tone grew grave.
"Four things you must remember. First: scatter to the four corners—north, south, east, and west—and sell these as far from each other as possible. Second: do not let anyone discover your true identities, not even that you're from Ronheim. Watch your habits, speech patterns, and mannerisms carefully. Third: you must return alive."
The unusual gravity of his instructions brought immediate tension to the knights' faces.
They realized this wasn't a simple jewelry-trading mission.
Callius met each knight's eyes in turn, emphasizing his words.
"You don't need to bring back the jewels' full value. You don't need to worry if they're lost or even given away to beggars. Simply return with enough funds to benefit the Knights. But you must, absolutely, follow the rules I've given you."
The knights' postures straightened as one. They answered with disciplined precision, as though speaking with a single voice:
"We obey your orders!"
"I trust you."
Then, as Callius was about to dismiss them, he turned back with one final instruction.
"Oh—and when you travel abroad, spread one particular rumor."
"What rumor would that be?"
"Say that in the coldest lands of the North, Restio blooms all year round."
For a moment, the knights looked puzzled as to why such an obvious fact needed spreading as rumor. But they answered seriously nonetheless.
"Yes, we understand!"
They had faith there was purpose behind whatever Callius ordered.
The knights who'd been suddenly summoned departed from Ronheim.
Though they had to leave again shortly after returning home, not one complained.
Callius watched the backs of his sturdy knights as they rode away into the distance.
Brentian approached and whispered softly:
"Please tell me the truth. Did the Princess ask you to do this?"
She keeps secrets.He knows she's hiding something.Yet he protects her plan anyway—because keeping her safe matters more than knowing why.
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