The World Has Become Kinder to Her

**Chapter 6: In Search of the Fragments of Truth**

The moment I thought my lips might touch Rikheus’, a barrier appeared before my eyes.  

No, to be precise, a thin book slid between Lotus and Rikheus.  

“Good evening, Lady Estelle, Lord Hycen.”  

The one who interrupted them with the book was Theodore, who smiled seductively as he spoke. His polite tone made it sound like a greeting exchanged casually at a party.  

Theodore’s voice was clear, sharp, and resonant, much like the ringing of a temple bell.  

Lotus blinked, feeling as if she had just woken up from a hazy dream.  

Because of the sudden intrusion of the book, the distance between Lotus and Rikheus increased by two steps.  

Green eyes met purple ones. Theodore’s piercing purple gaze, which seemed to see through everything, brought an unexpected sense of calm to Lotus in that moment.  

“…It was a good night until this interloper showed up,” Rikheus muttered. His smile had faded, which was rare, and the emotion in his green eyes, similar to Lotus’, was clear: annoyance.  

“That’s unfortunate. I, on the other hand, am glad to have met you in time, Lord Hycen,” Theodore replied, his smile unwavering.  

Theodore then stepped toward Lotus and gently removed the jacket Rikheus had draped over her shoulders.  

“I’ll return this to you, my lord. The night is cool, and I wouldn’t want you catching a cold.”  

“I think Lady Estelle needs it more than I do,” Rikheus countered.  

“It’s quite alright,” Theodore responded smoothly, pulling something from inside his coat.  

It was a talisman marked with the symbol of fire. Lotus’ eyes widened.  

‘Why is he showing that in front of Rikheus?’  

In the past, Theodore had hidden the fact that he could use magic until he earned the title of Sage at the age of twenty-three, the youngest ever. Even after revealing it, he had kept much of his true ability concealed.  

‘He’s changed from the past! Could it be that Theodore has also returned from the past like me?’  

As these thoughts flooded her mind, Lotus bit her lip, struggling to regain control over her chaotic thoughts. A gentle warmth spread over her shoulders, and she realized Theodore had used the fire talisman to cast a warming spell.  

“There, now neither Lady Estelle nor Lord Hycen will catch a cold. Though my skills are meager, I’m glad they came in handy,” Theodore said with a smile.  

“…I appreciate that you’ve solved the problem of keeping warm, but I can’t overlook the rudeness of someone like you barging into my conversation with Lady Estelle,” Rikheus remarked.  

“My eyesight must be failing me, as it seemed like you were attempting to engage Lady Estelle in some… physical conversation. Perhaps the darkness misled me. Even in a quiet street, there are always watching eyes, and I may have overstepped to protect the lady’s honor. While you might not care, her honor must be preserved.”  

The idea of Theodore, not Kenneth, speaking of preserving a lady’s honor was amusing, but Lotus remained silent as she always did.  

She was still struggling to shake off the lingering haze and focus her thoughts.  

“I must have overlooked how insolent and insufferable this brat truly is,” Rikheus muttered through clenched teeth.  

“If that’s the case, I’d recommend a pair of glasses,” Theodore quipped, causing Rikheus’ lips to twitch in frustration.  

Lotus saw the tension in Rikheus and sympathized with him. Arguing with Theodore would only leave the other party fuming with frustration.  

Realizing that a war of words would get him nowhere, Rikheus turned to Lotus.  

“Lady Lotus, what Lord William said was merely a misunderstanding. I only meant to remove a thread from your hair. I apologize if I caused any confusion.”  

He bowed his head slightly in apology.  

“…I see,” Lotus replied, opting for a neutral response rather than saying she was alright. Theodore smiled at her choice of words.  

“May I ask what brings the two of you to meet at this hour?” 

“…I couldn’t sleep.”  

It might have sounded like an absurd excuse, but it wasn’t entirely untrue. Lotus, still with a somewhat dazed expression, answered without hesitation.  

“I happened to run into Lady Estelle during a night walk myself,” Rikheus added.  

“I see. It must be an exceptionally good night for a walk, given how fortunate I am to run into both of you,” Theodore responded with a smile.  

Two men smiling, one woman looking dazed—it was clear to everyone that an awkward tension was in the air. The cold wind felt sharper.  

“The wind is picking up. I think it would be wise to end the walk here. Lady Lotus, if you’ll allow me, I’d like to escort you home,” Rikheus offered, trying to take the initiative. However, Theodore, unperturbed, replied smoothly.  

“Ah, that’s unfortunate. I was just about to make the same offer. I’ve been feeling guilty about not properly escorting her at the last ball.”  

“You didn’t manage it then, so are you sure you can handle it now?” Rikheus’s words carried an unmistakable tone of mockery, something even a fool would notice.  

“Even if Lady Estelle were to collapse again, this time I’m confident I could catch her. It’s certainly better than risking the misunderstanding of appearing to harass a lady,” Theodore replied with a soft laugh. Compared to the fiery Rikheus, Theodore stood firm like unshakable ground.  

Seeing Rikheus’s face twist with frustration, Theodore added, “It seems we’ll have to leave it to the lady’s preference.”  

Lotus wanted to shoot a sharp look at Theodore for shifting the decision to her, but she maintained her dazed act. There were things she needed to confirm.  

“I….”  

It wasn’t difficult. Simply trailing off like a thoughtless doll would suffice.  

Theodore, seemingly having anticipated her reaction, pulled another talisman from his coat.  

It was a simple piece of paper, already bearing the basic framework of a spell, though its center was blank, with no symbols or words inscribed.  

Lotus’s expression stiffened slightly. She recognized what kind of talisman it was.  

“Lord Hycen, this is a Talisman of Covenant,” Theodore explained in his typically gentle voice.  

“It’s an amusing tool that can bind promises with blood and will, and if the oath is broken, it can claim the very life of the oath-breaker.”  

If Lotus hadn’t spent so much time with Theodore in the past, she would have undoubtedly chosen Rikheus over him, thinking of Theodore as a demon. She would bet her entire fortune on it.  

With what seemed like casual indifference, Theodore pricked his finger using a sharp pen tip conveniently hidden in his jacket. Blood trickled from the wound, and he used it to stain the talisman red. The paper began to glow faintly.  

“I vow, upon my life, that I will escort Lady Estelle to the Marquis of Estelle’s estate without causing her any physical harm, mental distress, or even the slightest hint of temptation,” Theodore declared.  

Lotus’s expression, hidden behind the mask of feigned ignorance, began to crack slightly. She had never expected Theodore to make such a vow.  

Theodore then turned toward Rikheus with a smile.  

“Can you do the same, Lord Hycen?”  

It was a challenge, clear as day. If Rikheus couldn’t make the same vow, he was to leave Lotus and walk away. It was an audacious move, but an undeniably effective one.  

This was not a vow anyone could make lightly, even if their intentions were pure.  

There was also the possibility that Theodore had tampered with the talisman in some way, and in this unpredictable world, anything could happen.  

For instance, if, on the way to escort Lotus back to her estate, Rikheus were to encounter someone like Frederick or Kenneth—formidable figures—and a confrontation ensued, there was a minuscule chance that Lotus could be harmed. If that were to happen, as per the vow bound by the talisman, Rikheus could very well lose his life.  

“Lord William, contrary to the rumors, you’re far more ruthless and terrifying than I imagined,” Rikheus remarked with a strained smile.  

“I don’t pay much attention to rumors. But thank you for your gracious concession today,” Theodore replied, his ever-irritating smile never faltering as he led Lotus away from the scene.

As Theodore led Lotus away, Rikheus glared at his retreating figure, his gaze as sharp as if he could kill a man with just a look.  

It was strange. He had always thought of Theodore as excessively calculating and cold, someone who couldn’t be relied on. And yet, the path that had felt frightening and treacherous when she walked it alone seemed manageable now that she was walking with him.  

Theodore’s posture as he escorted Lotus was perfectly upright. Almost too upright, to the point that Lotus glanced at his face. A drop of sweat rolled down his clean-cut features.  

‘That’s odd.’  

It was autumn, and the night was cool. Unless one exerted themselves physically, there was no reason to be sweating.  

‘Is it because of the spell?’  

But even that didn’t seem right—Lotus had seen Theodore use much more powerful spells before without breaking a sweat.  

‘He’s clearly pushing himself too hard.’  

She didn’t know what it was, but it bothered her. This man, far too smart and annoyingly clever, was always busy hiding things, never showing his true feelings. And yet, now…  

“Are you alright, my lady?”  

His voice, filled with genuine concern, and his purple eyes, softer than usual, were unfair.  

Lotus wasn’t sure how much of it was real concern and how much was carefully crafted performance. She wasn’t as clever as him, and she couldn’t tell the difference.  

So, she acted. Matching his performance with one of her own, Lotus, who had been walking in a dazed manner, suddenly stopped.  

“My body…”  

She let out a small moan, her voice trembling ever so slightly.  

“Cold and then hot… it feels strange.”  

Their eyes met again, and this time, his gaze seemed to trap her within its depths.  

“…Kiss me,” she whispered.  

Was it the mesmerizing glow of his violet eyes that had her entranced? Lotus, appearing half out of her mind, uttered the words softly.  

Her voice, paired with the delicate woman in her thin nightgown, was undeniably seductive.  

From the shadows, Salia, who had been quietly observing, noticed that Theodore’s always-calm eyes wavered for the first time. His face inched closer to Lotus’s.  

Her eyelashes fluttered ever so slightly.  

Thud—his forehead gently bumped against hers.  

“This is why I’m so fond of you, Lotus. You always manage to find just the right words to make things difficult for me,” Theodore said with a wry smile.  

“Is it difficult?” Lotus asked again, her face innocent, as if she truly didn’t understand.  

With a peculiar smile, Theodore replied, “I thought my heart only softened when you cried, but I was wrong. It seems this expression of yours is quite dangerous, too.”  

“…”  

“And that’s why I won’t kiss you. Because I can’t promise to stop at just a kiss.”  

“W-what?” Lotus stammered, her voice trembling slightly.  

Theodore’s white fingers gently twirled a strand of her red hair.  

“If you’d like me to explain further, I’d be happy to. Though I might end up holding you until tears well up in those pretty green eyes of yours. Out here. And then, wouldn’t that be quite troublesome for us both?”