I’m not trying to say that he’s jealous of Aaron.

I wasn’t sure what Nocton thinks of me, but it’s not a warm feeling like love or dearness.

However, Nocton didn’t seem to be happy that I had done something for the first time without seeking his opinion.

I’ve never chosen Nocton on his stupid test.

If he wanted to brainwash me with the intention of using me, Aaron must have been the one who’s keeping him from doing that.

As I thought about Nocton, my gaze naturally turned to him.

And later, I realized that he had already been dressed up. I was too worried.

Nocton has already completed his preparation to return and Aaron will be waiting outside the house. If you tell Carissa to lead Aaron to another drawing room, the two will never run into each other.

In fact, even if they meet, nothing will happen.

So far, there have been several times when the two have encountered each other.

I remember Alice said that I should never go to his tea party, and I did a little shoot, but it was too hasty to call this situation the worst because I still didn’t know the reason for the remark.

I felt embarrassed for a moment, but after a few deep breaths my mind calmed down.

I turned my head to Carissa, who’s still waiting for an answer with a troubled expression.

“Yes, then can you show Aaron to the other drawing room first? His Grace is just about to go, so soon—”

“I’m sorry, Valrose, but I changed my mind.”

“What?”

“I want to talk to you a little more. Yeah, if you don’t want your fiancé to wait, you can bring him here. It’s a shame Lady Alice Limorand isn’t present, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to think of it as a different type of tea party.”

As soon as I rationalized that I would be fine at best, Nocton ruined my calm mind.

No, don’t get caught up in it.

My cheeks trembled for a moment, but I soon hardened my face and said in a strong tone.

“Carissa, I’m the owner of this mansion. Do as I say.”

“My lady, it’s—”

“What’s the matter?”

“As soon as Sir Claymore came, it started raining, so I thought it was difficult to stay outside. So, first of all … I decided it was urgent to inform the lady.”

What does that mean?

It rained as soon as Aaron came, so she could not leave the guest outside.

That means…..

Carissa is now starting to sweat.

But I couldn’t worry about her feelings because my back was cold.

“I think it’s too late for another drawing room, Roa.”

When I saw Aaron walking in from behind Carissa, I realized that the ominous premonition was not wrong.

Whether or not he knew my inner self, Aaron walked slowly and stopped right in front of me.

“Pleased to meet you, Lord Edgar.”

***

“His Grace, Duke Limorand, said he has placed the knights in the middle point. You can use the teleport scroll in Elfort.”

“It’s the same as when I came.”

“I’ll tell you as soon as we’re ready to leave, so take a rest, my lady.”

‘Thank you, Sir Mevie.”

The door closed, Alice sat on the bed and sighed.

It has been more than ten days since she fled to Ernhardt.

She was good at hiding her innermost thoughts, so she didn’t reveal them to others, but by the time she came, Alice was in terror.

As she felt full of wanting to run away, she naturally remembered a person she missed, that’s why she headed to Ernhardt.

A hell where she had to beg for sympathy from others until she met Roa, and a paradise filled with dreamy and hypocritical people after meeting Roa.

For Alice, Ernhardt was such a place, but when she came, she didn’t appreciate it.

Perhaps after only half a year, Alice Momont and Alice Limorand have become completely different people.

Arriving in Ernhart, Alice cried with horror, trembled with fear, tormented by countless nightmares and buried herself under blankets.

Looking at the places where Ed often appeared from a distance seemed to improve her condition a little, but at some times, longing was harsher than fear, so she stopped depending on people she would never meet again.

Fear grew more and more rampant.

She felt like Nocton Edgar would show up at any time and drag her to the tea party.

Right, the tea party.

That’s what Alice has been up to lately.

Precognitive dreams were originally clearer than other dreams, but the dreams of that day were even clearer because she was reminded by her nightmares many times.

In her dreams, Alice accepts Nocton’s invitation and head to Duke, even though she is afraid.

Roa Valrose and Aaron Claymore were also invited to the mansion.

Although the shape of Roa was covered like a mist and could not be seen directly, it was certain that Aaron Claymore called her name.

However, there were only four people. Due to the nature of the tea party, it was true that many guests could not be invited, but inviting such a small number of people like this was only happen when they had considerable acquaintances or had a purpose.

And in this case, whoever sees it, the aim of the Duke Edgar was the latter.

The only one who’s close to him is Roa Valrose.

Excessive fear makes people run, but fear that cannot be pushed beyond its limits binds them.

After having a bizarre conversation with Nocton, Alice tried to avoid him, but when she encountered him, she couldn’t refuse his offer and only nodded her head.

It was in that context that she headed for the tea party.

However, when Alice entered the Duke’s house with tension, her first feeling was skepticism and alienation rather than fear or dread.

Nocton Edgar invited three people, but he only spoke to Roa.

At the time of this dream, she had never spoken to Ria about her foresight dream or about Nocton Edgar’s true identity.

But, recently, Roa did not seem to enjoy his company, perhaps because she wanted to keep her distance from Nocton.

Had the conversation been active, a teacup without its owner in her dream would not have tilted so often.

Roa’s fiance, Aaron Claymore, interrupted the Duke once in a while as if he was trying to help her.

When the three people were busy teasing talking and Alice was drinking her tea, the maid standing by the side made a mistake.

As she tripped over the chair, she threw Claymore and Alice’s cups aside.

Fortunately, the tea in the cup was cold, but the two became like rats in the rain.

The maid bows and apologizes, and the two in trouble leave for a while, following the butler who said he would prepare other clothes for them to wear.

If the precognitive dream was a story that only goes on at Alice’s point of view, she wouldn’t have known what would have happened next.

However, because it was not so, Alice could see the two people in her dreams, although she only saw one person in her sight.

Perhaps someone was waiting for the moment when only two were left, the atmosphere changed.

And perhaps that someone is Roa.

The Duke’s face looked a little embarrassed.

She didn’t even know what Roa was thinking because she didn’t know what Roa said.

Did she think it was frustrating to see Claymore protect her and has her back?

Or perhaps she thinks that she would have to cut off Nocton Edgar from her company.

Alice couldn’t tell, but from then on a strange thing happened.

The blurry and crushed spaces, where Roa is supposed to be, started breaking.

It caused a sensation in her back as if rain had fallen on the water’s edge.

And she began to hear a voice that she had never heard before.

[ … married … and … yeah … he is … call me … I think it’s better.]

[ Valrose, ]

The voice of Roa Valrose, a familiar sound to Alice.

It was blurred in some places like wet paper, but the voice became clearer and the disconnection disappeared.

[ Of course, Al— cut off contact … It’s not like that. But … friends of same-sex and opposite sex … it feels different. Me too … I’m sick of being caught in the controversy. ]

A few more words followed, and a little time later, Alice could hear Roa’s voices clearly.

She meant to distance herself.

The Duke said that he could not understand her in an euphemistic tone, but Roa’s intention was not broken.

In the end, the atmosphere of Nocton Edgar changed.

His darkly distorted eyes contained obvious anger.

He was so angry that he suddenly lost his temper.

Duke Edgar asked back in a low voice as if to suppress his feelings.

[ You want to cut me off? ]

[ That’s good. For both of us. ]

[ It’s not up to you to decide whether it’s good for me. ]

[ Then what’s the point for you to keep in touch with me, Nocton. Isn’t it too easy not to contact me? You think I’m important? Do you want me to cherish you? It’s not all of them. ]

She answered the questions before he can, but Edgar didn’t correct it, for he only stared at her in silence.

It must have been a vain idea.

There was a hollow laugh.

[ Nocton, before this. You asked me if Aaron Claymore is important to me. ]

[ Don’t tell me because I don’t want to hear it. ]

[ Just like you said, Nocton. Aaron is more important to me than you are. No, beyond that, my relationship with you is not important for me anymore. ]

Finally, in Roa’s mouth, a word for ending their relationship took place.

I don’t need you anymore, just like you.

[ So let’s stop playing friends. ]

All the expressions disappeared from Nocton Edgar’s face.

It was such a good timing that Aaron and Alice, who had changed into different clothes, returned to the tea party.

[ Ah, I understand. He’s so important, ]

When he saw two people coming in, the Duke’s mouth twisted.

And the next moment, Aaron Claymore, whose eyes were blurred, drew his sword.

The blue blade pierced Alice’s chest before anyone can realize it.

The blade, which is reddened by Alice Limorand’s blood, is pulled out with a twist, headed towards Aaron Claymore’s own neck without a scream.

[ Then you don’t even have to put up with him anymore. Unfortunately. ]

A shocking situation, the dream is over with Roa’s screams/

It was a very, very vivid dream.

Her hands were still shaking when she thought about it, so Alice took a deep breath, holding her hands together.

Only after the dream did Alice realize.

Once fear is dragged through, tragedy will happen.