The Snow Tiger Emperor asked how Noah was doing in the Academy City.
Sion recalled the time they had met and gave an honest answer. Noah had simply seemed healthy and happy.
For a parent, that was the best answer they could hear, and the Snow Tiger Emperor looked satisfied.
Then, he provided straightforward answers to a few of the questions Sion had been curious about.
“I’ve already put in the request, so your status should be restored within thirty minutes.”
“Thank you.”
Under Yuho’s guidance, Sion was led to the location where the Testarossa family’s inheritance was kept.
As she walked down a deep underground corridor, she passed hundreds of doors.
Eventually, Yuho stopped in front of a door that looked no different from any of the others.
“This is the place.”
“……”
The hallway had been lined with identical doors. With no numbers and no distinguishing features.
So how did Yuho find the right one? Did she memorize this entire space?
While Sion silently pondered these questions, Yuho gave the entrance a light tap with her fan.
With just that, the tightly shut door had slid open smoothly as if it was freshly oiled.
“Shall we go in?”
“Yes.”
Following confidently behind Yuho, Sion stepped inside—
And she found herself facing a vast space filled with an overwhelming amount of wealth and treasures.
Yuho who was wagging her tail in admiration at the sight of the impressive collection remarked,
“With this much fortune, even reckless spending wouldn’t make a dent. You could live a life of leisure without ever having to work. It’s the kind of future most people dream of.”
Yuho called it a dream for most, but to Sion, it was a future that didn’t feel appealing.
Sion even feared that if she remained still, Rohan and Clara would become so distant that she could never catch up to them.
“Still, there are things I want to do, so I don’t think I’ll just stay put. I can keenly feel how much I lack in experience…”
“I see! That’s a great mindset. In that case, you might as well think of it as having earned the privilege to undo a few failures.”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
Yuho found herself growing fond of Sion.
Perhaps it was because she had held a good impression of Testarossa, whom she had encountered in the past.
“If there’s anything you’re curious about or need an explanation for, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Thank you.”
As soon as their conversation ended, Sion took a step forward and began looking around.
Rather than the dazzling jewels and ornaments neatly arranged in antique chests, something else caught her eye first.
“…….”
A portrait of her parents hanging on the wall.
It was a painting she had seen when she was young. One that had undoubtedly once adorned the halls of Testarossa’s palace.
The moment she laid eyes on it, a wave of emotion surged through her, and tears welled up.
And beneath it, carefully maintained, was a collection of books.
Her mother’s childcare journal and a photo album filled with memories of Sion’s childhood. Items that, under normal circumstances, would have been filled to the last page, leaving no empty space.
A lump rose in her throat, and her nose stung from the overwhelming emotions, but Sion took slow, steady breaths to calm herself.
She had no intention of turning this place into a sea of tears.
I’ve already shed… more than enough.
The treasures she had reclaimed under the name of inheritance were more than just relics of the past. They were the driving force behind her growth, the pillars of her spirit that had helped her endure hardships.
After spending a long time looking at the photos and collecting herself, Sion finally lifted her head.
Yuho who was still treating Sion with the utmost courtesy as an esteemed guest of Tigrova spoke to her with respect.
“There’s no need to feel pressured to take everything. This room can remain as it is, or if you tell me where you’d like them, I can have the items moved for you.”
There was no need to sort through what to keep and what to discard today.
Yuho had assured her that there was no need to make a hasty decision, but Sion was in no position to take her time.
“Still… I’d like to at least secure some living expenses. I’ve already received too much help from those around me.”
At the moment, she was so penniless that even making it to Tigrova required Rohan’s assistance.
Once she returned, she would need to find a place to stay in the academy city and prepare supplies to handle any unexpected situations.
As she explained her situation, Sion continued to agonize over the jewelry and ornaments before her, items she had no knowledge of whatsoever.
Yuho watched the troubled girl with a faintly pained expression.
That’s an incredibly rare gemstone… She’d probably sell it for next to nothing and still think it was a good deal.
Unlike Noah Frozenheart, the youngest daughter of the Snow Tiger Emperor, Sion was worrisome in an entirely different way.
The treasures here were all artifacts of immense historical value and rarity.
The thought of these remarkable items being undervalued by silver-tongued merchants? It was a scene so detestable that even Yuho, a collector herself, had to suppress her rising anger.
That must be why His Majesty assigned me to this task.
As a loyal subject, it was her duty to follow the king’s will.
Yuho pulled out the smartphone she had tucked into the sleeve of her robe and approached Sion.
“In that case, may I offer my recommendations on which items would be best to sell?”
***
Perhaps it was because Sion and Clara had slept there.
Lately, the bed had been radiating an overwhelmingly sweet scent, as if it had exceeded its limit.
Rohan lay on that very bed and kept speaking with Sion over speakerphone.
– Anyway, that’s how my missing person status was revoked. It felt strange to have come back from the dead, so to speak… but at least my identity is settled now.
“That’s a relief.”
– On another note… I want to at least show some basic courtesy to Yuho for all the help he’s given. He even invited me to a meal first, and rejecting that just wouldn’t feel right.
“Go ahead. It’s a good opportunity.”
Rohan also knew exactly who Yuho was.
Since she had briefly appeared in the Abyss City worldbuilding video.
And since she was a well-known figure in Tigrova, searching her name on a phone would bring up a flood of information.
“Then you’re staying an extra day, right?”
– No, I’ll return as soon as the meal is over. I won’t be staying past midnight.
“So just a few hours, then. If the timing works out, Clara and I will meet you at the station.”
– If you have time to spare. I won’t turn down the gesture.
Rohan naturally smiled.
Sion must have had a good outcome in Tigrova, judging by how much more talkative she was than usual.
Rohan was certain that he had made all that effort just to see this side of Sion.
A comfortable silence followed.
For a moment, the call went quiet.
Then, Sion let out a faint chuckle.
– Fufu…
“Something good happen?”
– I’ll show you when I get back. You can look forward to it.
Excitement was evident in Sion’s voice.
There was definitely something going on.
A bit more small talk followed.
Then Rohan realized there was some news he had yet to share. It was something that had just been finalized. He planned to tell Clara at the bookstore tomorrow.
“Oh, and just in case, I made plenty of side dishes.”
– Hmm?
“The academy’s practical exam schedule changed. I’ll be on a deserted island from Monday to Friday.”
– …
Before Rohan could even tell Sion to eat well with Clara since there was more than enough food, Sion said in a low firm voice,
– I’m returning to the Academy City immediately.
“…Huh?”
– If I explain that something urgent came up, Lady Yuho will understand.
“What are you even talking about all of a sudden?”
Sion’s voice was serious; this wasn’t a joke.
Rohan abruptly sat up in bed.
“It’s not like I’m leaving without seeing you again. And it’s not like I’ll be gone for years.”
– That’s true, but…!
“Just do what you need to do properly. Saying a proper goodbye is important too, isn’t it?”
– …Alright.
She always did what she was told. Yet, her response and tone carried a hint of sulkiness to it.
Rohan could barely hold back a smile.
“Sion.”
– …Mhmm?
“I have something to show you when I get back too. Look forward to it.”
– !
Rohan’s gaze shifted to the shopping bag on the table.
Inside were two plush toys he had bought based on the advice and recommendations of Ichinose, the expert on Droplet Friends.
One was a teary-eyed pink dragon, the other a somewhat foolish-looking shark.
They were classic versions of the characters Woolool and Bluebee.
Of course, Rohan knew that Sion had a subtle interest in these characters. Even back when they first met, the notes in her memo pad had made it pretty obvious.
And separately—
For Clara, instead of a plush toy, he had prepared a hairpin as a gift.
At first, he had considered surprising her with clothes or shoes. But the biggest problem was that he didn’t know her size.
Including a receipt so she could exchange it was an option, but for Clara, even that might be a hassle.
Not like I just bought it on a whim, anyway.
Judging by the price, it might as well have been sprinkled with gold dust. The hairpin had cost more than the plush toys.
Still, how could he skimp on something like this?
The black sheen of the hairpin seemed like it would blend perfectly with Clara’s purple hair. It drew Rohan’s hand toward it almost instinctively.
This is what you call a truly reasonable expense.
Thinking back to Abyss City, which never released character skins, the answer was obvious.
For Rohan, this was an irresistible desire.
– …I’ll look forward to it.
“Don’t expect too much. Just keep your expectations at a reasonable level.”
The faint sulkiness lingering in the air seemed to evaporate.
Their casual conversation flowed smoothly, and the topics shifted quickly.
– Rohan. I have a question.
“What is it?”
– Tell me the name of the perfume you use.
“Perfume? What perfume?”
– The one you usually wear.
“I don’t use perfume.”
After all the effort he had put into saving money lately, there was no way he would spend it on such a luxury.
Even now that his finances had improved, it wasn’t something he cared much about.
He had always believed that a person’s natural scent was the best.
– You don’t use perfume?
“Yeah. Not once. I don’t even own any.”
– …That can’t be right.
A rustling sound came through the phone.
Rohan wasn’t sure what Sion was doing, but it felt like her attention had drifted away from the call, so he spoke up.
“Sion.”
– Ah!
“Call Clara too and let her know what’s going on. She’ll be waiting.”
– O-Okay… I undestand.
Sion who sounded flustered stammered as she ended the call.
Rohan was puzzled by her reaction. He scratched his head, and then started preparing for the next day.
After all, life on a deserted island was now just around the corner.
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