* * *

“I need to get to Cadel.”

As Lydon walked to the door with a solemn expression, Van, who was blocking his path, snorted.

“What would a guy whom Commander doesn’t want to see do here? If you want to leave the Knight Order on your own terms, I’m all for it. I’ll support you.”

Even Van, who had been with him the longest, had never seen Cadel so angry, and what a relief it was to realize it wasn’t directed at him. Van knew that Lydon punk would do something big someday.

Lydon had no response to Van’s sarcasm. Normally, he would have smiled and accepted it without a problem, but right now, he didn’t have the luxury of doing so.

“Judging by the fact that Leader hasn’t returned, I’d say they’re not done talking yet. I’d advise you to stay put before you’re really kicked out.”

“……Lumen, how should I apologize so that Cadel will forgive me? What makes humans happy when you do something for them?”

If there was a person here who was the worst at expressing emotions, it would be Lumen. Unsurprisingly, he didn’t have a good answer.

“Hang around until he’s calmed down. You do your job in silence until he talks to you first.”

“No way! What if I die of frustration?”

“Leader might be pleased.”

Lydon was annoyed by Lumen’s insolence and waved him off. Realizing that neither Van nor Lumen had any intention of helping him, Lydon decided to resume his original plan.

“Move, Van. I’m getting out.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to get in trouble with Commander. If you’re gonna leave, sneak out the window. You would have an excuse that I didn’t see……. Ouch, you crazy bastard!”

Van, who was speaking, frowned at the chill coming from his back leaning against the door. He didn’t know when Lydon had cast the spell, but when he turned around, the door was completely frozen. He quickly pulled himself away, and as if waiting for him, Lydon crashed through the door and stepped outside.

Lydon ignored the loud swearing from Van and set out to find Cadel. Since he still had the Ring of Fate in his hand, he planned to follow the thread.

* * *

“Cadel.”

It was an unusually dejected voice. Cadel let out a low sigh when he found Lydon standing at the entrance to the alley.

“……Should I step aside for a moment?”

“No. You don’t have to.”

Cadel grabbed Garuel’s wrist, who looked troubled, and walked up to Lydon. And before Lydon could say anything else, he opened his mouth first.

“I want you to take charge and get Sir Garuel back to where he belongs. And make sure the illusion is back on track.”

“Cadel, I—”

“I don’t want to hear it, Lydon. I’m not quite done being angry yet.”

Cadel cut off Lydon without hesitation. A look of confusion and sadness appeared in his eyes, but Cadel’s attitude did not change.

In fact, Cadel was greatly disappointed by Lydon’s actions. He felt like he should immediately point out Lydon’s mistakes and put a stop to them, but if his mind was in a state of disarray, he would find fault with even unnecessary things. Cadel didn’t want to vent his anger like that. If he did talk to him, it would be after he regained his composure.

Lydon, on the other hand, was stunned by Cadel’s refusal to talk to him. He remained frozen in place until Cadel walked away, leaving him alone with Garuel. There was no cajoling, no brazen clinging as usual.

Only Garuel, who was suddenly left in Lydon’s care, looked on.

“Well, I think we both paid the price for our sins. Let’s go back before something worse happens, Sir Lydon.”

Lydon stood for a long moment, staring down into the nothingness of the floor, and then turned to walk away into the darkness. Garuel spoke words of comfort, but none of them reached his ears.

* * *

Cadel thought he would have left long ago. Modeleine was still in the room where Garuel and Cadel had left him. Perhaps he did not have the strength to leave. Cadel, who was about to return to his subordinates, noticed Modeleine’s appearance and went inside as if led.

Modeleine didn’t say much when he saw Cadel. He would have gladly accepted it if Modeleine had been angry, but the fact that he hadn’t said a word of resentment made it all the more uncomfortable.

“……I’m sorry. For fooling everyone.”

Modeleine swiped at his dry face and swallowed a sigh as Cadel carefully handed him an apology. A wounded gaze, wet with melancholy and futility, met Cadel’s bowed head.

“It must have been that person’s will. Sir Cadel must have been in trouble because he would have been clamoring to get away. No need for an apology.”

“I wasn’t acting purely to help, either. In the future, Sir Garuel will be acting as a member of the Scarlet Scales Knight Order.”

“……Is that so?”

Instead of laughing or mocking, Modeleine acted like a man who had given up on everything.

“You’re going to have a hard time hiding that person’s identity.”

“…….”

“It doesn’t matter, now. He’s dead to me, so wherever he goes, whatever he does, I have to pretend I didn’t see it.”

He rubbed the corners of his eyes helplessly, then pushed himself up.

“I’ll leave now. The funeral will proceed as scheduled. I don’t intend to reveal any secrets about that person, so you don’t have to worry.”

Cadel watched Modeleine’s back as he left the room. Even without him, Garuel would have left the Twilight Knight Order someday, but it seemed that Cadel had hastened that time and given Modeleine a great trial. Cadel felt sorry for him, and also felt bitter.

“Sir Modeleine.”

A cautious voice stopped Modeleine in his tracks. Cadel spoke even though Modeleine did not look back at him.

“The Garuel Monzasi you’ve been seeing is the real deal, not an act. Please…… believe that much.”

Cadel had neither the right nor the qualification to tell the truth. But he wanted to lighten Modeleine’s wounded heart, even if a little. That was why he tried to convey Garuel’s true feelings, even if it was difficult.

After a moment of silence, Modeleine left the room completely.