Chapter 79 – Can You Tell Me Now?

She hadn’t noticed when he’d approached, but Felix was already there, gazing at her with a curious expression. It had been some time since she last saw him ever since the student council meeting, and now, catching sight of him again, she offered a warm, genuine smile.

“I came along with my mother. As you can see, I’m just taking a short break right now.”

He nodded, then glanced briefly toward the garden.

“How about we head over that way?”

The tall evergreens promised shade from the sun, and Evelyn’s interest was piqued.

“Oh? That sounds nice.”

As her clear eyes lit up with anticipation, Felix added in a serious tone.

“There’s something I need to tell you, actually.”

Sensing what he might be referring to, she posed her question carefully.

“Is it about… that incident?”

The affair on the balcony during the last banquet had initially been handled by House Valentino. However, traces of sorcery had been discovered during the interrogation of the suspect, and the matter had since been turned over to the investigation department for a formal investigation.

And so, she had asked Felix for a favor to keep her updated on the investigation’s progress.

Since his uncle held a high-ranking position within the investigation department, if anyone could access detailed information, it was him. When Evelyn explained everything, Felix agreed to help after some deliberation. After all, she had been a direct victim in the incident.

‘Besides, Axion wouldn’t tell me much anyway.’

He had likely kept things from her in hopes that his fiancée wouldn’t get dragged into anything dangerous. Even so, that didn’t sit entirely well with her. Whenever events diverged from the original story, her fear of the unknown only grew stronger. That was why, at the very least, she wanted to prepare herself just a little for what might lie ahead.

While she was lost in thought, Felix seemed to glance around, lowering his voice as if wary of eavesdroppers.

“It’s true, but this isn’t the place to talk about it.”

They moved to a quieter corner of the garden, where the tall evergreens stood like sentinels. Their thick foliage whispered in the breeze, shielding the two of them in both shade and secrecy.

“Felix, can you tell me now?”

When Evelyn asked, unable to hide the urgency in her voice, he gave a small nod.

“To tell you the truth, my uncle has been tracking the origins of this sorcery for quite some time.”

“…What?”

Her green eyes widened slightly, but Felix remained composed as he continued. It hadn’t yet reached public ears, but in recent years, traces of forbidden magic had begun to surface, particularly in the slums.

“How can they be sure it’s sorcery? Couldn’t it just be a tattoo?”

“I heard the sigils match the ones recorded in the banned tomes.”

Those ancient books, filled with knowledge of forbidden abilities, were sealed away deep within the imperial archives. Given his position as head of the investigation department, his uncle likely had the authority to access the forbidden texts.

“The real issue is that those same traces of sorcery have recently been found on the children of noble families.”

“…So this might be more serious than we thought.”

A hush fell over her as the weight of it all sank in. Then, she looked to Felix with quiet gratitude.

“Thank you so much, Felix.”

“My uncle said your testimony was a great help.”

She had previously relayed the conversation she’d overheard with the young nobleman that night through her fiancé. Whether the Moon Goddess was a real being or merely a figment of myth, that was something they would have to uncover in time.

Evelyn offered a modest smile, as if it were nothing at all, but Felix only glanced down at his pocket watch with his usual impassive expression.

“I should go. Mother will be looking for me.”

As the hour for the charity gathering drew near, Evelyn sighed softly and gave a small nod.

“Right. I’d better head back, too.”

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

The room was filled with the refined chatter of nobles well-versed in the arts.

Evelyn, on the verge of stifling a yawn, quickly raised a hand to her lips. She had never paid much attention to the world of fine art, and so, unsurprisingly, it held little appeal for her. Sipping her tea, she let the gentle sweetness linger on her tongue, a quiet smile curling at the corners of her lips.

‘I finally feel awake now.’

Setting her teacup down with a soft clink, she cast a disinterested glance around the hall. She had made the effort to attend today’s charity event, but the person she’d come to see was far too busy. Dahlia was busy trailing behind the Countess of Lorenheim, charming every noble in sight and making her social debut.

Evelyn sighed.

Maybe today just isn’t the day.