<CHAPTER 45>
Just the Two of Us
It was something he had clearly mentioned at the last Masquerade Ball.
Evelyn wet her dry lips and calmly read the contents written inside.
「The Moon Goddess Diana granted her beloved disciple a divine power.
It was meant to absorb the curse that erodes human minds, but her disciple used that power to slay Diana.」
Well… this is quite a brutal story.
The mythology collection contained all kinds of tales, and many of them were just as fantastical.
But this one felt strangely like it was referring to sorcery.
Even without direct mention, Evelyn wondered if that disciple might have been the very first sorcerer.
I should look into this more closely.
The young ladies were slowly returning to the tea room, so Evelyn closed the book again.
At that moment, a faint sobbing sound came from not far away.
“Hic… sob…”
When she looked up, Dahlia was seen wiping away her tears.
The young ladies nearby exchanged awkward glances.
Evelyn quickly approached her with concern.
“Dahlia, what happened?”
“I… I lost my necklace in the forest.”
“Your necklace?”
“Yes… it was a keepsake from my late mother… hic…”
Tears like beads kept soaking Dahlia’s thick eyelashes.
The young ladies gently spoke on her behalf as she struggled to continue.
“Lady Lorenheim must be devastated.”
“Yes, a keepsake is something truly precious.”
“How about we all help search for it?”
As sympathy spread around Dahlia, Chloe Windebolt approached and closed her fan sharply.
“That doesn’t sound like a good idea. You do realize it’s almost evening, don’t you?”
In about an hour, the sun would fully set and all participants of the hunting festival would return.
Chloe’s firm tone implied it was reckless.
Dahlia bit her lower lip.
“Lady Windebolt is right… please don’t trouble yourselves because of me.”
The other young ladies began to defend Dahlia, feeling sorry for her.
“Lady Windebolt, that was a bit harsh.”
“Yes, there’s no need to go that far.”
Some muttered in dissatisfaction, criticizing Chloe’s cold attitude.
If this continues, Chloe’s reputation will suffer.
Watching the situation, Evelyn finally spoke.
“Then how about we search for just thirty minutes?”
“Evelyn.”
Chloe frowned slightly, clearly unconvinced.
Evelyn gently held her friend’s hand.
“Like you said, it’s getting late, so after that we’ll ask the knights to continue.”
The young ladies in the tea room nodded in agreement.
“Lady Inevassel’s suggestion sounds most efficient.”
“We should check quickly before sunset.”
Evelyn glanced at Chloe, worried she might be upset.
Fortunately, Chloe didn’t seem bothered.
After wiping her tears, Dahlia bowed her head.
“Thank you so much, everyone.”
Her reddened eyes finally softened into a faint smile.
Evelyn thought of how precious a pendant could be to someone.
I really hope we find it.
“Shall we head out before it gets any later?” she said.
The entrance of the forest where the treasure hunt had been held.
Evelyn let out a small sigh as she searched through the bushes.
This is harder than I thought.
Despite bringing escort knights, the tanzanite necklace was nowhere to be seen.
One by one, the young ladies gave up and returned to the resting area.
Chloe leaned in and whispered.
“Let’s go back too.”
She added that if it hadn’t appeared by now, a beast or crow must have taken it.
Evelyn agreed, but her heart felt heavy.
Dahlia’s face had grown darker as time passed.
“Honestly, this is enough already.”
It must be really precious.
Dahlia’s hands, digging through the forest floor, were already ruined.
Evelyn, who had experienced losing her parents, felt sympathy for her.
If it were me, I would have done the same.
After looking at Dahlia for a moment, she shook her head.
“No. I’ll keep looking a little longer.”
Chloe sighed deeply, unable to stop her.
“You know the hunting festival is ending soon, right? Don’t be late.”
“Don’t worry, Chloe. I’ll be back soon.”
Chloe nodded reluctantly as Evelyn smiled brightly.
They searched again, but still found nothing.
There were no other young ladies left in the forest.
We should really head back.
Evelyn decided they should resume the search with knights the next morning.
She turned carefully.
“Dahlia, maybe we should—”
“Just a little longer… please help me.”
Dahlia grabbed her hand tightly, trembling.
Evelyn healed her wounded hands using her healing power.
The cuts faded and her breathing slowly stabilized.
“Do you remember anywhere else you went?”
After a moment, Dahlia spoke hesitantly.
“Evelyn… could you come with me?”
“Where is it?”
Dahlia looked at her seriously.
“It’s not far from here.”
“Then let’s go with the knights.”
“No… Evelyn, just the two of us… please.”
The sun was setting, painting the sky in twilight colors.
Evelyn looked around with a slight frown.
“Dahlia, is it still far?”
They were clearly going deeper into the forest.
This doesn’t feel right.
Evelyn thought they should turn back.
“Maybe we should just return—”
“We’re almost there, Evelyn.”
Dahlia’s expression looked strangely different.
Her eyes were tearful, but her lips were gently curved upward.
