Ren blinked in astonishment at the casual way the offer was made. He looked Ulysses straight in the eye as he spoke.
"Are you sure? Won't giving me permission cause trouble for you, Lord Ulysses?"
"Cause me trouble? Why would it?"
"I thought the Old City required special authorization to enter. I’m grateful that you’re looking out for me, but I have no desire to see you inconvenienced on my account."
"Rest easy on that front. It’s not as if the Old City is completely sealed off to everyone except officials. Normally, there are conditions, but—"
As an important cultural heritage site, there were many who wished to see the ruins up close. Consequently, the city provided periodic opportunities for public tours.
Although it was not currently the season for such visits, Ulysses continued.
"We’ll just say I’m having you take a look around while you’re at it."
Specifically, regarding the security concerns they had just discussed. It could be framed as a personal favor from the Marquis, or as Ren performing a requested task.
"I heard you handled similar work back in Clausel. I’m certain you’ll be fine in the Old City, so there's no issue. Consider it a tour that’s half-duty. I’ll fill you in on the details of the security job I want you to do later."
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
As Ren walked through the Marquis Ignat Manor, he signaled to a nearby attendant.
His meeting with Ulysses had concluded, and they had gone their separate ways. Ren intended to find out what Licia and Fiona were doing with their free time.
"How may I assist you?" the attendant asked.
"I’d like to join Lady Fiona and the others. Could you guide me to them?"
"Certainly. Please, follow me. The two of them are currently in the young lady’s private chambers."
"I see... In Lady Fiona’s room..."
Ren murmured the words "private chambers" and came to a halt. The attendant stopped immediately and looked back.
"Master Ashton, is something the matter?"
"I’m sorry. You did say Lady Fiona’s room, right?"
"Yes. It seems Lady Licia is with her, and they are enjoying a conversation together. I was planning to fetch them when it is time for dinner, but..."
It wasn't the timing of dinner that bothered him; it was the location.
It was perfectly fine for Licia to visit the room of the Marquis's daughter. She was the daughter of a nobleman herself. As for Ren, however, he was the son of a knight. That fact hadn't changed since the day he was born. He felt it was highly inappropriate for someone of his station to set foot in the private bedroom of a Marquis's daughter.
"On second thought, I think I’ll just head to the guest room you’ve prepared for me."
"Oh? May I ask why?"
"Well, it's just... a young man visiting a lady’s private room is a bit..."
"Please, do not worry. I assure you there is no issue."
"......I see."
If she said it was no issue, then perhaps it wasn't. He had heard many times that they wished to treat him as a guest of honor because he was a benefactor. If Licia was already there, perhaps it wouldn't be strange for him to be present as well, acting in a capacity similar to an escort.
Ren considered several angles before reaching a conclusion.
"No, that still doesn't feel right."
But the attendant was insistent, ushering him along with a "Come now, this way," until they finally arrived at the door to Fiona’s room.
Walking down corridors lined with the magnificent furnishings he had seen many times usually made him feel a little tense. Reaching the door to Fiona’s personal space brought its own set of nerves.
"Well then," the attendant said.
She bowed and departed immediately. She was being considerate of Fiona’s privacy, but Ren had no way of knowing that. Left alone in this unexpected situation, Ren figured he had come too far to turn back and knocked on the door.
"Ah, Ren!"
The door flew open almost instantly, and Fiona peeked out. As he entered at her invitation, he noted how well-organized everything was, a perfect reflection of her meticulous nature. With every step he took, a sweet, floral scent wafted from Fiona’s hair—a fragrance that felt incredibly soothing.
"Oh? Is Licia not here?"
He still couldn't bring himself to suddenly stop using "Lady" with her name, even after she had asked him to be more informal. Fiona felt a pang of sadness at being one step behind Licia in intimacy, but she steeled herself, knowing that her future relationship with him depended on her own efforts from here on.
"Lady Licia went back to her own room for a moment. Her luggage arrived from the inn, so she went to check on her belongings."
That explained it. Which meant they were now alone together.
The realization hit Ren like a physical weight. "Wait," he thought, stunned. Was this even allowed?
However, since Fiona didn't seem to mind in the slightest, he scratched his cheek, wondering if he was simply overthinking noble etiquette. In truth, Fiona was merely hiding her state of mind; her heart was pounding so violently she feared it might burst. As Ren took a seat by the window, Fiona sat beside him, pressing a hand against her chest to steady herself. She couldn't afford to be nothing more than a nervous, blushing girl forever.
"R-Ren!"
"Yes? What is it?"
Ren tried to keep his voice as calm as possible in response to Fiona, whose tone was more intense than usual.
"The reward I promised you... before we escaped the Baldur Mountains. May I give it to you now...?"
Her words were earnest, her voice trembling slightly, and her eyes—clearer than any gemstone—were shimmering with tears. Ren was taken aback by her intensity as he recalled that night they had spent together in the mountains.
A tea set was already prepared on the table. When Ren nodded, Fiona began to move, her hands shaking slightly as she brewed the tea.
She had practiced tirelessly for this day. Whether in the Imperial Capital or at the academy, she could have served him tea a dozen times over, but she had saved this for a special occasion. She had struggled and persevered, refusing to give up. The aroma of the steam rising from the pot now was incomparable to the tea she had made back in the Baldur Mountains.
...It smells wonderful.
Ren watched her in silence, waiting patiently. The soft sound of pouring water filled the room. The liquid in the cup was a vivid, clear amber, somewhere between brown and orange. Fiona placed the cup gently on its saucer and slid it toward him.
"If it doesn't taste good... please don't force yourself to drink it!"
Ren smiled at her words. Surprise flickered across Fiona’s anxious face.
"You’re saying the exact same thing you did that night, Lady Fiona."
"But... I was so worried..."
"I told you I liked the tea back then, too. I’d really like it if you stopped worrying... Anyway, may I?"
At his question, Fiona seemed to find her resolve.
"Yes!" She pressed her hand to her heart again, nodding as she felt it throb.
A soft clink of porcelain echoed as Ren lifted the cup. It took only a few seconds for him to bring the tea to his lips, but to Fiona, those seconds stretched into minutes, then hours.
"————"
Ren's throat moved as he swallowed. He let out a soft breath and smiled warmly.
"I’ve never had tea this delicious in my life."
He wasn't just being polite; he meant it with every fiber of his being. Whether his sincerity reached her or not, Fiona didn't think to doubt him. She was simply overwhelmed with joy. Her heart, which had been racing with anxiety, was now flooded with a warm, radiant affection for him.
The tension drained from her body all at once. Fiona sank down right where she stood, sitting directly on the carpet.
"Lady Fiona!?"
Alarmed, Ren stood up and crouched down beside her. Her slender legs, peeking from beneath her skirt, were pressed together at the knees.
"...Ahaha." Fiona let out a soft laugh and narrowed her eyes happily. "Um... I was just so relieved that I lost all the strength in my legs."
She spoke with a gentle tilt of her head, her black hair swaying.
Several minutes later, Licia returned, and the three of them gathered around the table. They discussed the Old City, the topic that had come up before Ren arrived at the room. To Ren's surprise, the two girls were even more enthusiastic than he was, crying out in unison that they wanted to go along.
"I’ll ask Lord Ulysses and the others during dinner."
When he brought it up that evening, Ulysses and Lezard gave their consent with their usual casual "Sure."
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
It was a special night for Fiona. The mere fact that Ren was under the same roof until late into the night made her so excited she felt dizzy, yet she was deeply happy. Wanting to confirm that this wasn't all a dream, and wishing to hear his voice one last time before bed, she found herself walking toward the guest wing.
She knew it was late and that Ren likely wanted to rest, but she couldn't stop herself.
Then—
"—Oh."
"—Oh."
Two voices overlapped in the quiet hallway.
Appearing from opposite ends of the corridor leading to Ren's room, Fiona and Licia both let out a small gasp. They stopped in front of his door, staring at each other. They toyed with their hair and let out awkward, dry laughs.
Was this an attempt to steal a march? There was no official pact between them, but the atmosphere grew noticeably stiff. Eventually, a silent compromise formed in both their minds.
"...How about we just say the three of us are going to talk tonight?" Licia suggested, adopting a casual tone.
"...Yes. That seems like the best way to handle this," Fiona agreed.
The truce was called. Fiona was the one to knock on the door, justified by her position as a member of the Ignat family. However, there was no answer. They began to wonder if he had already fallen asleep.
Just then, Ren appeared around the corner of the corridor. He was returning from the large baths, a courtesy provided by Ulysses.
"What are you two doing?" He tilted his head, puzzled to see them both standing outside his door. Fresh from the hot water, he wiped a single bead of sweat from his forehead.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The next morning arrived with a heavy layer of frost. Naturally, their breath came out in white clouds. The girls were already regretting not wearing scarves as the cold wind nipped at their necks.
However, the sun was rising, and it would soon be warm. Edgar had assured them of that before they set out.
"Even so, cold is cold..."
Even Fiona, who had lived in Eupeheim her whole life and was used to the humidity, couldn't help but give a wry smile. Fortunately, the brisk walking gradually warmed their blood. The three of them walked with their backs straight, their spirits high.
Early morning in Eupeheim was just as busy as Erendil.
"There are a lot of monster-drawn carriages here compared to the capital or Erendil," Ren noted as he observed the city.
"There is a lot of heavy cargo arriving at the port, so it’s more efficient to use monsters to pull the wagons," Fiona explained.
"Right, Eupeheim is the largest port city in Leomel, after all."
They moved through the streets of the elegant "City of Water," also known as the "White Crown." The walk to the Old City was quite long, but it felt like a pleasant morning stroll. Fiona acted as their guide, leading them toward the outskirts. Since they had survived the Baldur Mountains Incident together, there was no doubt about their endurance.
"—It seems it's still acting up."
Fiona stopped at a stone bridge and looked down at the waterway. Eupeheim was famous for its ancient network of canals, but the flow had been sluggish since the previous day, and city officials were investigating the cause.
Licia leaned over the railing beside her. "What's wrong?"
"The water pressure is low in several districts. They’ve been investigating since yesterday."
"I think some of the roads in the Noble District were blocked off for repairs yesterday, too," Ren added.
The public works departments, which managed infrastructure like the water supply, were using magic tools to scan the underground channels. The three of them stood at the edge of the canal for a moment, observing the workers. There was nothing they could do to help, so they simply watched the sluggish water.
"Shall we keep going?" Ren asked after a few moments. The girls nodded and began walking again.
Ren, who was a few paces ahead, looked across the canal at a different road. There, he spotted the figures of Sera, Vane, Kaito, Nemu, and Charlotte—the members of the Heroic Archduke Family Group.
Wondering if they were also headed out of the city, Ren recalled their conversation from the day before.
"Licia, are Vane and the others heading to the cape again?"
"Yeah. They mentioned they might be out there for a few days, so probably."
"I see... Well, I'm sure there's something good waiting for them there."
Ren’s mutter didn't reach Licia’s ears.
He said "I'm sure," but in truth, his memories of The Legend of the Seven Heroes were beginning to blur. He was no longer entirely confident in his knowledge of the game's secrets.
Still, he remembered a cave hidden in the shadow of that cape. Deep within its recesses lay a legendary treasure.
It was a special piece of gear known as Hero Equipment.