ATPL 50

At Anais’s cold words, Judy’s hand, which had reached for the hem of her skirt, froze mid-air.

She opened her mouth again, but Anais would hear no more hollow pleas.

“If you say one more word,” Anais said softly, “I might not want to see your family in this mansion at all.”

“…”

“At the very least, I don’t want to see you. So please don’t come around again until I leave.”

“…Yes, miss…”

Judy swallowed her humiliation, got to her feet, and staggered out of the room.

Anais let out a long, quiet sigh as she watched her retreat.

It was Abelard who picked up the cornflower-shaped key from the floor and handed it to her.

“Hey, didn’t you say all your money was supposed to be in there? What are you going to do?”

“Don’t tease me. I’m already upset.”

“Oh…”

Normally, she would’ve thrown a jab back at Abelard’s sarcasm. But today, she didn’t have the energy.

Abelard glanced at her, raised an eyebrow, and shrugged. Then he left.

Anais sank into the sofa as if collapsing and stared at the key in her hand.

She had truly believed all her assets were hidden in the jewelry box.

But all it contained… was a key.

Who was the joke on now?

Anais felt as if someone had mocked her—subtly, cruelly.

Whether it was Judy or herself, they had both been played.

By someone who no longer existed in this world.

Number 33.

* * *

It wasn’t until dinner that Elliot finally heard about the earlier commotion.

He rubbed his temple, a headache forming.

“So… just three days after leaving the capital, you’ve already messed around with a Fleur family servant?”

“I didn’t mean to. I just thought she was being backstabbed and wanted to help.”

“You weren’t just enjoying the drama?”

Anais aimed a jab at Abelard, but he only shrugged. When he caught Elliot’s pointed glare, he quickly finished his meal and left the table.

Elliot let out a deep sigh.

“I feel ashamed before Her Majesty.”

“Well, Her Majesty is probably just as ashamed before the Resaloniki family. Let’s call it even.”

“…Miss Fleur.”

At her careless quip, Elliot looked exasperated then unexpectedly let out a soft laugh. She had a point.

Still, Anais’s dark expression concerned him.

“Why do you look like that?”

“It’s nothing. Anais just doesn’t have much to smile about these days.”

That was true enough.

Elliot, embarrassed by Anais’s reply, fiddled with his fork in silence. Then Anais spoke.

“Anais has a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“Have you met all of the possessed people before Number 33? All thirty-two of them?”

“I’ve… seen them all. Why?”

“I’m curious about their tendencies.”

Anais placed the key on the table and looked at him.

“Do they all… hide away their valuables? Or is that just a Number 33 thing? This feels like some elaborate prank.”

“…It varies.”

Elliot stared at her.

Even through her mask, he could see the anxiety in her green eyes.

Was it the debt weighing on her?

The violation of having her life hijacked?

The betrayal of someone she trusted?

Perhaps all of the above.

“I guaranteed your debt, didn’t I? Since I’ve made the promise, you don’t need to worry. Focus on the Dragon Prince’s orders for now.”

“…But Anais can’t help but worry. Apparently, Anais swindled your family out of a hundred million sing.”

“That wasn’t you. It was Number 33.”

As he said it, Elliot thought of his sister, Kie. Kira Resaloniki. A perpetual source of trouble.

“My sister spent our family’s money like it was pocket change. She probably has no intention of demanding repayment anytime soon.”

“Even so…”

“This key probably wasn’t meant to mean anything.”

“…”

“She might’ve moved her fortune elsewhere. Or just changed her mind. Don’t overthink it.”

Silence settled between them.

“I’ve spread the word in Langs. That we’re looking for someone.”

“How?”

“Just said we’re searching for a young lady who was in this area ten years ago. That someone she helped by chance wants to repay her.”

“And who’s telling this story?”

Elliot hesitated, holding his fork, then spoke.

“I had Count Rezaie’s guild and the merchant guild spread it.”

“Ah.”

Anais’s face soured at the name Cesar Rezaie.

She hadn’t heard anything from him since his strange invitation the day before.

‘But it’s even more suspicious that there’s no special word after being so persistent!’

Anais shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts of Cesar, and attempted to change the subject.

But there wasn’t any particular topic she could divert to.

It naturally looped back to Kira Resaloniki.

“What’s your sister like?”

“…Kie?”

“Yes. I’ve been curious. She invested in the Fleur family, so she must have known Number 33. But I have no memory of her at all.”

Anais paused, then glanced at Elliot.

When her eyes met his, those pale, autumn-grass colored eyes, she spoke without thinking:

“She must be very beautiful.”

Elliot’s face instantly soured.

“…Well…”

Had she said something wrong?

Anais flinched.

“I only meant… since you’re siblings, maybe she looks like you—”

“She takes after our mother.”

“Oh. Then she must be truly beautiful.”

Anais’s eyes widened.

Princess Lidens was legendary. Her beauty was said to have shaken the continent.

Even counterfeit prints of her portraits had once sold like wildfire.

Her wheat-colored hair and those distinctive autumn eyes—Anais had seen a copy of the portrait hanging in her favorite dressmaker’s shop.

Even at that dress shop, they had hung the portrait of Princess Ridens on the wall like a decoration to receive customers, as it was so beautiful.

“For me, having my mother’s face plastered on shop walls everywhere doesn’t feel particularly glamorous…”

“Oh—sorry. That must be unpleasant.”

“Well… not exactly unpleasant…”

He trailed off.

Anais glanced at him, unsure whether to press further. The mood had dulled again.

Well, no matter how famous she was, it was his mother’s face after all. Perhaps it was uncomfortable to have a noblewoman’s face hanging so casually in a dress shop in the commercial district…

The rest of the meal passed quietly.

When Elliot left, still in a subdued mood, Anais clicked her tongue and muttered into the empty room.

* * *

Meanwhile, the Baldwin household was tense.

Judy had been curled up in a corner since early evening, sniffling into her blanket.

She hadn’t eaten, hadn’t spoken.

Mrs. Baldwin paced in frustration.

“Oh, my child! It’s not like the lady’s staying here forever. Why did you fall for such a useless man!”

“I didn’t fall for him!”

“Then why are you crying? I called you to eat, but you won’t even touch your food! You’ve been acting strange lately!”

“Leave me alone!”

Judy snapped and turned her back.

Mrs. Baldwin threw up her hands. “Why did I ever think keeping this pretty girl around just because she’s mine was a good idea…”

Mr. Baldwin tried to calm her down.

“She’ll grow up soon. Once she’s married, we won’t have to keep her anymore.”

“I wish she’d grow up now.”

“She will.”

“Oh, please. I heard she borrowed money from her friends and hasn’t paid it back. Can you believe it?”

The voices of her parents echoed faintly from behind the door.

Judy clutched the blanket tighter.

Her eyes were bloodshot. Her chest burned.

And in that moment, she made a decision.

To burn that house to the ground.

That house where someone like her could never belong.

Where no one respected her. Where everyone dismissed her.

She would block the doors so no one could escape.

Then…