"But how did you come to be here?" Asella's eyes widened with genuine surprise.
When they'd entered, the third floor had been entirely empty. And now, most unexpectedly, this gentleman stood before their table.
Mariel, still disappointed that her wish couldn't be fulfilled immediately, raised her head and regarded the man with curiosity.
"I believe you require this." He extended an exquisite wicker basket brimming with the very cakes the girl had been longing for.
---
Mariel devoured her strawberry mille-feuille with an expression of absolute bliss.
"How did you know what we wanted? Were you following us?" Asella tore her affectionate gaze from her younger sister's cream-smudged cheeks and studied the man more carefully.
"No, of course not. It's hardly difficult to deduce. One need only observe what young ladies favor most at this particular establishment." The man's smile radiated innocence.
"I believe you introduced yourself as Mr. Roshan?" Asella inquired with welcoming warmth.
"Yes. Were you startled by the name? It matches that elderly priest's, doesn't it?"
"But how did you know that?" Asella's surprise deepened.
"Well, it's quite simple, Your Highness. We share the same name—because we're the same person."
Asella's breath caught.
"I won't deceive you any longer." Roshan gestured carefully, creating a protective sphere before the windows.
After ensuring no one outside could observe them, he cast a deft spell and removed his enchanted disguise.
And before them materialized the familiar gray-haired Father Roshan.
Asella's mouth fell open slightly at the unexpected transformation.
"The difficulty lies in this: a priest cannot afford certain freedoms, as our lives are bound by countless restrictions. So I occasionally must resort to such subterfuge when circumstances require."
"I never imagined such a thing was possible."
"Well, you understand—years of dedicated training leave their mark. And truthfully, this particular ability has proven invaluable to your humble servant on numerous occasions." Roshan's eyes gleamed with mischief as he cast the transformation spell once more.
Within seconds, a pleasant-looking young gentleman was adjusting the window curtains.
When the room had grown noticeably brighter, he returned to their table.
"You know, I'm genuinely pleased to encounter both Lady Charts here." Roshan's gaze lingered meaningfully on Asella.
_Did he say Charts?_
A faint shadow of bitter melancholy flickered across Asella's features. She glanced away.
When the man invoked her family name—the one she was now supposed to forget entirely—her heart clenched with cruel, aching sorrow.
"Even though the eldest among you is already wed." The man added this with evident regret. "I was quite surprised the engagement proved so brief. And even more astonished that your chosen husband was Calix Benvito."
Asella nearly responded, _I was too._ But she caught herself in time and remained silent.
"Indeed, such a precipitous marriage. Yet I never heard that you'd even met beforehand." Roshan spoke thoughtfully. "Although, forgive me—I'm tactlessly intruding where it's none of my concern." He offered an apologetic smile, apparently recognizing he'd overstepped.
Asella responded with a soft, carefully measured smile.
"It's quite all right. Just a typical noble arrangement." Her voice emerged quiet, deliberately neutral.
It was an indirect method of clarifying that the marriage had been one of pure convenience.
Roshan fell suddenly silent for an extended moment, and Asella felt distinctly uncomfortable.
Among aristocrats, marriages of convenience were hardly uncommon. Each family entering such unions carefully calculated all potential political and financial advantages.
But for some inexplicable reason, she suddenly sensed that Calix Benvito would be profoundly displeased if he overheard what she'd just stated.
_Perhaps the prince simply needs to maintain me in a state of fear?_
A private excursion—just the two sisters, without any visible escorts. Asella couldn't quite believe in the Archduke's sudden generosity.
_They're probably being watched this entire time._
Naturally, Father Roshan served the Temple. But he'd originally been summoned by the Archduke himself. Even though he'd maintained silence regarding Mariel's awakening, she couldn't afford to trust this priest completely.
_What if he reports their conversation directly to her husband? What if someone is eavesdropping at this very moment?_
Asella nervously clenched her hands beneath the table, wrestling with whether to voice the question that had been troubling her for so long. Was it worth the risk—or would it merely invite additional trouble upon herself?
After considerable agonizing doubt, she finally spoke.
"You knew my mother, didn't you?"
Mariel, who had been happily manipulating her fork and knife until that moment, froze abruptly. The room—occupied by only the three of them—fell completely silent.
The girl glanced back and forth between Asella and the man, observing how the priest's expression had tightened slightly.
However, his features soon relaxed again, and he offered his characteristic gentle smile.
"Yes. I knew her quite well, even before she assumed leadership of the family and became the Marchioness of Charts."
"I had no idea. Mother never spoke of you as a close friend."
"You know me—you simply don't remember, I suspect. When you were very small, we saw each other frequently. You adored horses. Whenever Adele suggested going riding, you would abandon all your games and race headlong toward the stables. You also loved parfaits with whipped cream."
Asella's composure wavered visibly.
"But I don't remember any of that. Nothing at all."
"Perhaps because you were still quite young." Roshan's tone remained sympathetic.
But Asella's mind was already flooding with inexplicable questions. _How could I have forgotten something so significant?_
She remembered even the most trivial details concerning her mother. Based on the priest's account, he had been a fairly regular guest in their home.
But strangely... she could recall *nothing*.
Not a single memory.
There seemed to be a black void in her mind where those recollections should exist. _Something is wrong,_ Asella thought with growing unease.
_What if that friendly smile conceals entirely different intentions? Perhaps his supposed friendship with Mother is merely a clever ploy to lower my defenses._
Asella swallowed against a dry throat. She was terrified of making a critical error. Now that she felt nearly certain she'd identified an escape route from Benvito Castle, she had to exercise exceptional caution.
_Don't trust this man too readily, Asella._
However, suddenly, Mariel placed her small hand atop Asella's and whispered quietly:
"Sister, you shouldn't worry so much."
Asella blinked, uncertain what Mariel meant.
But the girl had already pushed a clean plate toward her and extracted a particularly delicious-looking cake from the basket. She transferred it carefully to Asella's plate and declared cheerfully:
"Come on, try it! It's absolutely delicious."
The serious expression that had clouded her features moments ago melted away like morning mist.
"Mariel?"
"Let's just eat and enjoy ourselves. All right? This is incredibly good. I'm certain you'll love it too."
At that moment, a quiet but insistent chiming emanated from nearby. Roshan extracted an elegant pocket watch on a beautiful chain from inside his coat and opened the lid. His face darkened immediately. He snapped the cover shut with evident agitation, then rose swiftly from his seat.
"I beg your pardon, ladies, but I must take my leave." He returned the watch to his pocket with a sharp, nervous movement. "Allow me to depart."
His expression betrayed profound concern. _Has something happened?_ Asella wondered. Despite her lingering doubts, she summoned a cordial smile.
"It was a pleasure to meet you again."
"I sincerely hope we'll see each other very soon." The man clasped her hand politely in farewell.
Then he winked at Mariel.
The girl narrowed one eye in response, a gesture of silent understanding.
"Please don't worry too much about my sister."
Roshan nodded in agreement. For now, he had no alternative but to trust this remarkably perceptive little miss.
_Perhaps remaining under Benvito Castle's protection is the wisest course—at least until she fully awakens._
If the golden aura the girl could perceive through her supernatural abilities was genuine... if Calix Benvito truly harbored feelings for Asella...
Then this man would serve as the perfect shield for both sisters.
---
## — Roshan —
Roshan exited the establishment and attempted to blend seamlessly into the crowd. However, he detected several individuals following him with unmistakable persistence.
_Benvito's men are tracking my every movement._
He quickly turned into a deserted alley and cast an invisibility enchantment. Then he walked several additional blocks and confirmed no one remained on his trail.
The gestures he employed to cast the teleportation spell were unusually nervous and impatient. He bit his lip, acutely aware of approaching danger.
The lines from the urgent message replayed incessantly through his mind:
> *Two high-ranking priests were discovered dead just outside the Hall of Prophecy. I pray you return with all haste.*
>
> *— Judith*