Ding.
The gold coin flipped high into the air.
Klein raised both hands and caught it midair, then slowly lifted one palm to show Edward.
"Tails."
Edward chuckled. "Looks like we'll be travelling together a bit longer."
Just then, a group of well-dressed won—clearly upper-class ladies—erged onto the deck, accompanied by laughter and lively chatter. So hurried to the railings to gaze out at the open sea, others found seats to rest, and a few, having spotted the adorably curious Lilith, flocked around her at once.
Aldrich and his fellow bodyguards fanned out, keeping a vigilant watch on every passerby. When Aldrich caught sight of Klein, he gave a slight nod in greeting.
Klein furrowed his brows slightly. "That's odd."
"What is?" Edward asked.
"Well, as I understand it, people usually hire bodyguards for protection against pirates when sailing, but these bodyguards seem suspicious of everyone on board." He cast a glance at two nearby n seated together with drinks. "Those two are bodyguards too, but they're clearly much more relaxed."
"Maybe it's because their employers are all won?" Edward mused. "You know, lots of people on board, and won tend to be more cautious."
"Hmm…yeah, that's not impossible."
Just as he said this, Klein's brow twitched.
"Hmm? Soone's watching us."
"Who?"
"Those two noblewon sitting over there. I think they've been glancing this way since they got on deck."
Edward grinned. "Heh, maybe it's that ridiculously handso face you conjured up—it's made their hearts flutter."
"…I don't know about fluttering," Klein muttered, "but I think they're actually looking at you."
"???"
Edward turned his head—and locked eyes with the two won.
Though they were dressed like noble ladies, they couldn't have been older than their mid-twenties. Their elegant attire and refined deanour lent them an air of aristocracy.
The two young won held his gaze for a mont, then leaned toward each other and whispered, bursting into laughter. One of them even waved at Edward.
Klein imdiately shot him a look: You rascal! Isn't having a stunning girlfriend at ho enough for you? Now you're out here flirting, too?
Edward looked deeply wronged: I don't even know them!
To his surprise, the two won began walking over. The one who had waved smiled brightly.
"Hey there, it's been a while!"
Edward blinked. "…Have we t before?"
They both burst into laughter.
"You don't rember? It was at Lady Akasha's private hot spring. When she brought you in, the two of us were already there relaxing!"
"Ah?"
The other girl teased, "What, you didn't recognise us just because we're wearing clothes this ti?"
Klein: "???" Miss Justice, I'm filing a complaint.
It suddenly clicked for Edward—he had t them briefly before. If not for the enhanced mory that ca with becoming a Beyonder, he might never have recalled it.
"Oh…so it was you two."
Afraid Klein might let his imagination run wild, Edward quickly explained the situation to him. But that only raised a new question: What was a man like you doing in a won-only hot spring in the first place?
"Are you two on vacation?" Edward asked, changing the subject.
They giggled. "Yup! Backlund's getting colder by the day, so we're heading to the Desi Bay for a holiday."
"It's not just a vacation," one of them added with a sly grin. "If we like it there, we might not return to Backlund at all."
Edward glanced toward the other won scattered across the deck.
"Why are you all travelling together? And…without any male companions?"
"We're modern won," one of them said proudly. "It's just a vacation—why would we need n tagging along?"
"…Fair point."
"So, where are you headed?" she asked.
Edward shrugged. "Nowhere in particular. Just wandering."
"Why not co with us to the Desi Bay, then?"
"…We'll see."
Suddenly, Edward frowned in confusion. "Wait, isn't the White Agate headed to Bayam? Why are you taking this ship to get to the Desi Bay?"
"Oh, the direct tickets were all sold out," one explained. "We're stopping at Damir Harbour first, then transferring to another liner that'll take us the rest of the way."
Just then, Aldrich, who'd been standing a short distance away, walked over.
"Ladies, it's ti to return for lunch."
"Got it. Hey, would you two care to join us?" one of them asked Edward. "We're sitting with a whole table of beautiful won~"
Edward was about to respond when he noticed soone approaching from near the ship's railing—Bernadette.
She was strolling leisurely, dressed just as she had been the day they first t: a modest, drab dress, an old leather hat on her head. She looked for all the world like she was simply admiring the scenery.
Seriously? If I hadn't felt your gaze just now, I might've actually believed that…Do you trust your dear old dad so little?
Edward sighed inwardly, then smiled politely at the two girls. "We've just had lunch, so we'll have to pass."
"Aw, alright. But you have to join us for dinner, okay~?"
As they turned to leave, one of the girls—the brunette—looked back over her shoulder.
"By the way, I'm Olivia, and she's Sophia."
Edward cleared his throat. "Klein."
Klein: "???"
Once the won had rejoined the rest of their party and returned to the cabin, Aldrich stepped forward again.
"Mr. Klein…do you know those ladies?"
Klein: "..."
Edward said, "I wouldn't say I know them. We've only t once before."
Aldrich seed a little disappointed. "I see. Apologies for disturbing you."
The mont he left, Klein lunged forward and grabbed Edward by the neck, shaking him furiously.
"Speak! You brat—how often have you been using my na to get up to this kind of thing?!"
"I haven't~ I only did it now, just ssing with you since you were right there!"
"My lifelong reputation—ruined!"
"No, you never had one to begin with."
Just then, Lilith's voice chid in. "Edward, what are you two doing?"
Klein let go of Edward. "Just joking around."
He turned toward Lilith—and froze.
"What happened to you?"
Lilith's little face was covered in lipstick marks, scrunched into a miserable frown. She huffed, clearly indignant.
"A bunch of won suddenly ran over! They kept hugging and kissing , but Miss Lilith can't just hit them, you know? It was so annoying!"
Edward pulled her closer and began wiping the lipstick off her cheeks.
"Next ti sothing like that happens, call for . I'll co rescue you."
"Okay~"
Klein muttered dryly, "You just want an excuse to be the one they hug."
———
Backlund, at the luxurious estate of the Hall family.
Audrey hadn't gone to see Edward off this ti.
He was travelling with Mr. World, after all. If she had stood at the docks bidding him a sentintal farewell, it would have felt overly dramatic. Besides, in Mr. World's eyes, Edward was a traveler—he could return to Backlund in an instant if he wanted to.
Audrey sat in the dining room, holding a steaming cup of coffee. She took a gentle sip, letting the aroma bloom between her teeth.
It was a rare day off for Earl Hall. He ate lunch while flipping through the newspaper, though lately the papers had been dull—mostly noble gossip and petty trivialities.
The "Great Smog Incident" had only occurred days ago, yet coverage of it was already spreading through every channel—clearly a result of intentional pressure from higher up.
As for what had happened outside Backlund's city limits?
Not a single report. It was as if it had never happened at all.
Earl Hall finally put the paper down.
"The ship Edward boarded should have set sail by now."
Audrey glanced at the clock. "Yes, it left a while ago."
Then she asked, "Father, the king has been calling on you frequently these days. Is sothing going on?"
"Stability," he replied plainly. "All he wants now is stability—to stabilise the court, the military, and foreign relations with Feysac and the other powers."
Audrey nodded in understanding. "And how do you see things?"
"Loen is a great vessel," Earl Hall said slowly, "but it's riddled with leaks—more than one."
He paused thoughtfully.
"And it's the king himself who allowed those holes to form in the first place. He seed to have a plan back then. Now that the ship's starting to sink, now he's panicking."
"As for what I think? That no longer matters. When Alfred returns in a few days, we'll decide whether the Hall family stays on this ship—or jumps."
Then he looked at Audrey.
"Has Edward said anything to you?"
"Him?" Audrey couldn't help but smile faintly. "He doesn't understand politics at all. His only advice to was…to cling tightly to the Church of Evernight's thigh—in other words, maintain a close relationship with them."
Earl Hall nodded, contemplative.
——
After lunch, Audrey took a walk in the garden with her mother. When her mother grew tired, Audrey returned to her bedroom.
A mont later, her maid Annie ca in, holding out an invitation.
"Miss, soone just delivered this for you."
"Who?"
"Viscount Glaint."
Audrey opened the envelope.
Inside was a formal, politely worded invitation:
Miss Audrey Hall,
You are cordially invited to attend a salon the day after tomorrow at 13 Anmien Street, Hillston Borough.
Audrey set the card down with an amused expression. "Looks like Glaint hasn't been affected at all by the recent string of incidents."
Susie stepped out from the corner. "Are you going?"
"Mm. It's a normal social function—I should attend. And I might pick up so insight into the current state of Backlund from the noble children there."
Life aboard the ship was long, dull, and exceedingly uneventful.
Klein discovered this for himself on the second day at sea. After the initial excitent and novelty wore off, the voyage beca little more than an endless stretch of boredom.
The White Agate was a large passenger ship backed by the military. It was equipped with powerful artillery and trained soldiers. Pirates with actual strength wouldn't bother picking a fight, and the weak wouldn't dare try.
The sound of water splashing echoed against the hull—at once both loud and strangely silent. The sea seed simultaneously vast and empty.
Klein wandered the ship, sotis pacing the corridors, sotis stepping out onto the deck to gaze at the horizon. Other tis, he would return to his cabin to revise his plans.
It was the first ti he truly felt ti crawl. Eventually, he simply lay down on his bed, deciding to nap straight through to dinner.
When he awoke, it was nearly 6 p.m.
Feeling the emptiness in his stomach, he got up and stepped out into the corridor, heading for Edward's room.
Flicking a coin to check, he confird that Edward wasn't inside.
"Tch. Don't tell that guy actually did go have dinner with those noble ladies…"
———
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