Magic Miss hadn't expected to acquire the Heart of the Ocean from this eting, so she was unprepared to offer Jenkins adequate compensation on the spot. For now, she had only shared the information regarding the Bestowal, intending to pay the remainder of her debt with her extensive knowledge.
The two eventually ca to an agreent. Magic Miss would provide Jenkins with the learning rituals for fifteen rare abilities. Furthermore, over the next ten years, she would assist him with three tasks, free of charge, provided they violated no national laws or local morals. Jenkins, however, would be responsible for any expenses incurred during these tasks.
Among the abilities Magic Miss offered was one called Angel's Halo, which was the only unique ability of the lot. When she ntioned it, she also brought up its connection to a chain of abilities—Our God is Here, Angel's Halo, and Energy Shell—which imdiately piqued Jenkins's interest.
Having obtained the Heart of the Ocean, Magic Miss's dejected mood vanished completely. She took Jenkins's advice, forgoing the beer and ordering juice and a proper breakfast just as he had. She even insisted on covering all their expenses at the bar that morning.
They continued to discuss the previous day's events. Magic Miss explained that she and Hathaway had parted ways after discovering they couldn't get back into the Dock Area. She didn't know where Hathaway had gone, but she herself had returned to the city to wait near the villa where Miss Windsor was staying.
"So, this Miss Windsor you ntioned is here in Nolan?" Jenkins asked, surprised. "I know of Jessica Windsor, of course, but I thought she was in Bel Diran, preoccupied with royal matters. I've heard the rumors about the succession."
Jenkins inquired with a look of astonishnt.
"Transportation is quite advanced now," Magic Miss replied. "With the royal train line, the journey from Bel Diran to Nolan only takes two or three days. She can deal with her business here and be back in the capital, having been away for only a week or so."
"And did you see her?"
"I did," she confird. "I intended to confront her, to demand why she'd deceived and ask if she had just been using . To my surprise, she admitted everything and even paid a hefty sum in gold pounds."
"Don't tell you actually took the money,"
Jenkins said, lifting his glass.
"Of course I took it! It was what I was owed!"
Magic Miss declared proudly. Seeing the look on Candle Mr's face, she quickly added an explanation:
"But I haven't forgiven her for the deception, not that easily. Miss Windsor offered to continue my employnt, tasking with investigating and protecting a prominent individual here in Nolan. I accepted her offer."
"And then you told soone else about it?"
Jenkins asked with a knowing smile.
"Yes. Since she hired to investigate and protect one Jenkins Williams, I told Miss Skylark all about it. I happen to rember that when we played that ga with Corpse Gentleman, her character card was a Williams. It hardly counts as leaking a client's secret. After all, she never forbade from telling anyone. Besides, Miss Skylark is our friend; I have to consider her feelings... Candle Mr, what's with that expression?"
Not long ago in Ruen, the Fidektri Kingdom's envoy to the Hamparvo Kingdom had explicitly told Jenkins of the Queen's intention to arrange a match between him and Miss Windsor. Given this, Jenkins didn't read anything suspicious into Miss Windsor's current actions.
With a swirl of complicated emotions, Jenkins bade farewell to Magic Miss, and they agreed on a ti for their next eting. He then traversed half the city to the Hersha estate, where he painstakingly avoided the servants in the courtyard and slipped in through Hathaway's window.
Since Jenkins hadn't announced his visit, Hathaway wasn't in her room waiting for him. He had already confird with his own eyes that she was sowhere in the house, however. With Earl Hersha having just returned, it was unlikely the family would venture out.
And so, when Hathaway pushed open her door to find Jenkins standing there observing the plants on her windowsill, she froze for a mont. Then, she quickly stepped inside and shut the door with a swift click.
"Oh, Hathaway, you're back," Jenkins began casually. "Your flower was just telling you haven't watered it in ages. It's feeling quite..."
Before he could finish, the red-haired young woman rushed forward, throwing her arms around his neck in a tight embrace. The sudden movent forced the cat perched on his shoulder to leap onto a nearby flowerpot, from where it watched the two of them with a sullen glare.
In the matter of Femishue, Hathaway had none of Magic Miss's lofty ambitions, nor did she share Jenkins's anxieties about the city's future. All she had wanted was for her family to be reunited. Thus, seeing Jenkins again after a pleasant lunch with her family filled her with pure, unadulterated joy.
She took his hand and recounted the cheerful bustle that had filled the house since her father's return the day before. She described how Lady Hersha had wept with joy and how her younger brother had gone pale upon realizing he'd forgotten to do his howork.
With her entire family at ho, they couldn't indulge in anything more. After a few monts of quiet affection, Hathaway began to speak of the previous day's events. Unaware that Jenkins had also been present, she recounted everything from the start of the festival to the final appearance of the glacier. At one point, for reasons he couldn't grasp, she brought up Candle Mr's cat, but Jenkins failed to understand the underlying aning of her words.
Finally, the conversation turned to Miss Windsor and the news she had received from Magic Miss.
"I rember you know Jessica Windsor, too," Hathaway said, her tone serious. "You ntioned her when you returned from Bel Diran with your award. You must be careful around her. She may be our age, but she's no ordinary woman."
Hathaway warned him.
"Speaking of Miss Windsor," Jenkins began, "I actually t our kingdom's envoy while I was in Ruen not long ago..."
Jenkins recounted the details of that eting, including what the envoy had said about the Queen's intentions. Hathaway, as it turned out, was already aware of the situation. The short woman had paid her a visit with Chocolate not long ago, and the two of them had discussed the potential consequences.
The Queen's wish for Jenkins to travel to Bel Diran again was an unmistakable signal. It ant she had made her choice—a choice with which both Hathaway and Alexia were profoundly satisfied.
"Do you have feelings for Jessica Windsor?"
Hathaway asked once Jenkins had finished. It was a question he couldn't possibly answer incorrectly; all he had to do was be honest.
"I've t her fewer than five tis," he replied. "If that's all it took to fall in love, then love itself would be rather cheap, don't you think?"
It was an answer that left Hathaway perfectly satisfied.
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