The palace corridor was dimly lit even in the morning light. Magical lamps lined the stone walls, casting a soft orange glow. Selena Verdia walked down the hallway, turning over the summons she'd received from a maid in her mind. （The Six-Winged Council Chamber. What could they want with me today?） The garden from yesterday still lingered in her thoughts. The sensation of Vald sitting beside her at the fountain. His words: "I'm waiting for the day you acknowledge your own feelings." She pushed down the urge to drag those thoughts out and examine them right now, and Selena came to a stop. Before her stood a pair of heavy double doors. The Six-Winged Council Chamber—the place where the six founding families held their deliberations. Normally, a young lady would never be summoned here alone. （Something has happened.） She pushed the doors open. 　＊ The interior was larger than expected, and quieter than expected. A long table sat at the far end, and behind it stood two figures. One was a man with short, neatly trimmed black hair. He appeared to be in his late thirties. His build was lean, but there was an odd pressure in the way he stood. His jet-black eyes had fixed on Selena the moment the door opened—as if he'd had his sights trained on her from the start. The other was a man with deep chestnut-colored short hair. Mid-twenties, perhaps. A long scar ran behind his right ear. His expression was melancholic. His eyes were blue-gray, sharp yet tinged with a certain sadness. （Who are these people...?） The moment Selena stepped into the room, the black-haired man spoke. "[cold]You came. Lady Selena of House Verdia." His voice was low and restrained. Almost devoid of emotion. "[serious]I am Clovis Savorine." —House Savorine. One of the six families that comprised the Six-Winged Council. So this was the person Vald had mentioned yesterday... "[cold]I hold the position of Chief of the Royal Capital's Intelligence Agency." Chief of Intelligence. In other words, the head of the Akatsuki-gan—the kingdom's direct intelligence organization. A figure who officially held the title of court advisor and whose existence was supposed to remain hidden, now stood openly before her. Something hardened in Selena's throat. （The head of the Akatsuki-gan himself...?） The chestnut-haired man gave a quiet bow from just behind Clovis. "[serious]Alan Leclerc. Investigator." A brief introduction. He said nothing unnecessary. Only his blue-gray eyes met Selena's gaze for a moment, then slid away. （...This person bears no hostility.） That much, she could sense somehow. Selena bowed. "[serious]I am Selena Verdia. What business brings me here today?" "[cold]Sit." He didn't offer her a chair—merely commanded. Selena quietly lowered herself into the seat across from him. Clovis placed his hand on the edge of the desk. On his ring finger, she could faintly make out what looked like a pattern. Looking closer, it was a magical rune tattoo. "[cold]There are several interesting points about your recent behavior." （Here it comes.） "[serious]Is that so?" Her face remained unmoved. Her tone unchanged. "[cold]Why have you been avoiding contact with the Crown Prince lately? What reason would the top candidate for betrothal have to distance herself from His Highness?" （...Just as I thought, he's starting there.） "[serious]I thought it best not to waste His Highness's time. Before being a candidate for betrothal, I am merely a young lady of a noble house." "[cold]A textbook answer." Clovis's expression didn't waver. "[cold]Then another question. Has there been any change in policy within House Verdia over the past few weeks?" "[serious]I am not in a position to discuss family matters." "[cold]I see." Clovis stepped forward. "[cold]Then let me ask differently. Do you accurately understand what position you occupy in this palace—no, in this kingdom?" Selena didn't answer. Instead of words, she met Clovis's gaze steadily. The jet-black eyes returned her look directly. Emotionless. Merely observing. （This man is probing to see what I know.） "[cold]What's interesting, Miss Verdia," Clovis continued. "[cold]is that from your very first grand audience, your movements have been... oddly composed. Beyond what experience as a young lady would explain. As if—you knew something from the beginning." Something creaked silently in Selena's chest. （...Is this man suspecting my memories from my past life? Or does he mean something else?） She couldn't judge. But before this man's eyes, a half-hearted answer was the most dangerous thing. "[serious]I think you're overestimating me. I was simply preparing to avoid failure." "[cold]Preparing, I see." Clovis smiled for just an instant. It was a smile devoid of any warmth. "[cold]I'd appreciate it if you'd tell me someday what you were preparing for." He took another step forward—when. "[serious]Director." A quiet voice echoed through the room. Alan had stepped forward. He positioned himself between Clovis and Selena, just slightly in the way. "[serious]I believe that would be overstepping." Brief words. But a clear restraint. Clovis turned slowly to look at Alan. "[sarcastic]Unusual for you to speak up." "[serious]I'm merely offering my thoughts within the scope of my duties." Clovis stared at Alan for several seconds. Then his gaze returned to Selena. （...These two have a relationship. Alan is Clovis's subordinate, but he doesn't back down.） Clovis quietly stepped back. "[cold]Then let's end it here for today." An abrupt conclusion. Anticlimactically so. Clovis looked at Selena directly and spoke flatly. "[cold]Your secret will come to light eventually. When it does, I'm curious which side you'll stand on." He left those cryptic words hanging and turned on his heel. Without a sound, he disappeared beyond the door. 　＊ Silence remained. Selena sat in her chair and took one deep breath. （...That time felt like I wasn't alive.） "There's something I need to tell you." Alan's voice came from nearby. When Selena looked up, Alan was standing there. Not as close as before, but properly two steps away. Yet his voice was calm. "[serious]To the corridor." 　＊ When they stepped into the palace corridor, the air felt a little easier. Morning light streamed through the windows in long lines across the stone floor. There was no sign of people. Only the distant sound of guards' footsteps. Alan walked beside Selena. They walked in parallel, but kept a proper distance between them. "[serious]Director Clovis is... merciless when it comes to information." His voice was low and measured. "[serious]He's not suspecting you specifically. The Director simply treats everyone with room for doubt the same way. You're not being singled out." Selena glanced at Alan's profile as they walked. （This person is trying to reassure me right now.） "[serious]...Thank you." "[serious]I'm not in a position to be thanked." He said only that, then fell silent. Looking at the stone floor, he paused as if choosing his words carefully. （He's awkward, this person.） Selena thought. Not in a bad way. "[serious]Be careful. The Director is someone who searches for gaps. The more perfect you appear, the more he'll suspect what lies beneath." "[serious]So I shouldn't try to appear perfect?" Alan considered for a moment. "[serious]...Honesty works better with the Director. But you don't need to bare everything either." "[sarcastic]That's a difficult balance." "[serious]It is." Alan smiled faintly for the first time. For just an instant, the area around his scarred right ear moved. Selena turned her gaze forward again. （What position is this person in?） He came as Clovis's subordinate. Yet he stopped Clovis in that room. He said it was his duty, but it felt like more than that. "[serious]May I ask you something?" "[serious]What do you want to know?" "[serious]Did you come today to monitor me? Or..." Alan looked at Selena. His blue-gray eyes became serious for a moment. "[serious]Both. But—" He stopped at the end of the corridor. "[serious]If you're ever in trouble, I want you to tell me." "[surprised]...Why?" "[serious]Pointless conflict should be avoided, but what must be protected should be protected without fail. That's my role." A concise answer. Yet there seemed to be something more beneath those words. Selena looked at Alan. He was gazing out the window. The rooftops of the capital city Fortina spread beneath the blue sky. In Selena's chest, the tension eased just a little. "[gentle]...I understand." "[whispers]You're not alone." His voice was small. Small enough to dissolve into the corridor's silence. Alan said only that, then bowed and turned back down the hallway. His chestnut hair receded into the distance. His footsteps were quiet, and before she knew it, he'd turned the corner and vanished from sight. 　＊ Selena was left alone in the corridor. Outside the window, white clouds drifted across the blue sky. Morning light fell diagonally across the stone floor, casting her feet in a gentle glow. （"Your secret will come to light eventually"—Clovis's words still echoed in her ears.） How much did that man suspect about her memories from her past life? Did he actually have something, or was it merely a probe? She couldn't judge from today's exchange alone. （But...） Selena looked out the window. Clovis Savorine had applied cold pressure. Alan Leclerc had shown quiet protection. They were from the same intelligence agency, yet they approached Selena in completely different ways. （What will these two become to me?） Enemy or ally—or something else entirely. She still didn't know. One thing was clear. Vald's proposition, Clovis's surveillance, Alan's protection—before she knew it, people with various intentions had begun gathering around Selena. Regardless of her own will, the gears of this world were beginning to mesh together. （How am I supposed to survive in this world?） She had no answer to that question yet. But she made one decision. She wouldn't be swept along by either side. She would think with her own mind and stand on her own feet. Selena turned from the corridor and began to walk. —At that moment, she felt the texture of yesterday's secret letter in her jacket pocket. （...Wait, it's in here again?） She must have unconsciously transferred it again. "[whispers]I really am losing it..." She muttered to herself in the empty corridor. Then, resolving to properly put it away this time, Selena set off toward House Verdia.