"..."

Elun had been born in the depths of the Void and had lived knowing only the sensation of cool aether. To her, the cold sweetness and tart fruit bursting across her tongue were nothing short of shocking.

The stimulation was so intense that it felt as though her brain’s neural pathways were being forcibly rebuilt. Her wide-open eyes looked easily twice their usual size.

"How is it?"

Yuto asked, but instead of answering, Elun moved her spoon again. This time, she took a slightly larger scoop, including some of the crisp biscuit.

"T-terrible. To unleash such intense gustatory information... Can humans truly remain sane while eating this?"

Elun spoke haltingly as she put the heaping spoonful of parfait into her mouth and chewed.

"This is a poison more lethal than any other. Once addicted to this flavor, would one not lose the ability to taste any other food for the rest of one’s life? This... This cannot possibly benefit the human body, either. It is hardly nutritious, and it increases unnecessary fat..."

Despite her words, the spoon in Elun’s hand never stopped. Each time she swallowed the cold ice cream, the faintest pink flush brought life to her pale cheeks.

Watching her, Yuto felt inwardly relieved. The inexplicable tension that had kept her on edge since the clothing shop was gradually softening amid all that sweetness.

Before long, the bottom of the parfait dish lay exposed. Elun stared blankly at it, then set down her spoon. A small dab of white whipped cream remained at the corner of her mouth, but she sank deep into thought without even noticing.

"Want me to order more? They have plenty of other desserts here."

Startled by Yuto’s question, Elun shook her head.

"I decline. If I frequently consume something so violent, my brain’s circuits will become saturated with the stimulation of sugar and break down. The Void’s agent must never allow mere sugar to take control of her thought processes."

Having delivered that firm declaration, Elun noticed the whipped cream on her mouth and immediately wiped it away with a napkin. She looked as stubborn as ever, but her earlier sharpness had vanished.

"Then how about this? Instead of ordering more, let’s try the candy you won earlier. I’m curious what it tastes like, too."

"I-I’m... I’m curious, too."

Flokiro, who had been licking his parfait dish clean, gave Elun a pleading look. She hesitated under his gaze, then took out the glass jar, once again wearing an expression that said she had no choice.

When she opened the lid, sparkling light spilled out, followed by a sweet fragrance. It tickled their noses, far richer than the scent of the parfait.

"H-help yourselves."

Elun gently pushed the jar toward them. Yuto reached in and took out three candies.

He gave one to Flokiro and offered another to Elun. Rather than accept it, she shook her head vigorously.

"I have no need of it. As I said, sweet things like these..."

"You won this candy. As its owner, you should be the first to taste it."

Yuto gave Elun a nudge. Only after hearing that did she accept the candy with a thoroughly reluctant expression and cautiously put it in her mouth.

"...!"

The taste delivered a far more devastating shock than the parfait. A subtle freshness spread the instant it touched her tongue. Then the hard crystal began to melt, releasing such exquisite sweetness that she could almost imagine tiny stars exploding inside her head. They had said these candies came from Merchant City’s finest dessert shop, and that reputation was clearly no empty boast.

Elun closed her eyes and absorbed the sensation with her entire body. After remaining perfectly still for a long while, she abruptly slammed the lid onto the jar.

"Th-this is dangerous."

Her voice trembled faintly. She gazed at the jar with undisguised longing, then looked across at Flokiro. His mouth hung wide open, drool dripping from it as he lost himself in the candy’s flavor.

"Yuto. Keep this... in your Void Storage. Within its suspended time, even this deadly poison should neither spoil nor deteriorate."

"You don’t want to keep it yourself?"

When Yuto asked with a puzzled look, Elun squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head sharply from side to side.

"If I keep it, I will continue eating it without even realizing. Then I will become a prisoner of this flavor and lose my sense of self..."

'Is it really that bad?'

She seemed to be exaggerating far too much, so Yuto tried the candy he was still holding.

"..."

It was certainly delicious, but not enough to warrant all that.

'She’s never eaten anything like this before, after all...'

Understanding how Elun must feel, Yuto nodded. With a hesitation that betrayed her reluctance to part with it, she handed him the jar of candy.

"From now on... From now on, I will take out just one when I truly need it. Or... only when I cannot improve my mood by any other means. So, Yuto, you must keep it under strict guard."

"All right."

As Elun requested, Yuto put the glass jar into Void Storage.

"I’ll buy you more once you finish it."

"Do not put my desires to the test."

Elun watched until the jar had vanished completely into thin air, then heaved a sigh of relief.

"Now... I have had enough sweets. I wish to savor the taste remaining in my mouth."

"Then let’s head back to the estate."

Glad that Elun seemed to be in a better mood, whatever the reason, Yuto rose with a gentle smile. After paying for the parfaits, he roused Flokiro, who was still sitting in a daze.

"Snap out of it. It’s time we got going."

"Uh... Uhh, uhhh..."

Flokiro staggered as he stood, still struggling to form words. Elun snorted at the sight.

"What a pathetic Evomon. Have you lost your reason over a single piece of candy?"

She spoke as though it had not affected her in the slightest, leaving Yuto no choice but to stifle a laugh.

* * *

Perhaps because he had already heard Levian’s full report, Rufus Marigold did not ask Yuto many questions about Belkain.

Yuto took it as a gesture of consideration. However “well” Levian had delivered her report, a man who had presided over House Marigold could hardly have failed to notice the secrets his daughter was concealing. That he still refrained from questioning Yuto further likely meant that he continued to regard Yuto as the person who had saved his life.

'Something I’m grateful for.'

In that respect, Rufus was quick on the uptake. He asked neither about what had really happened in Belkain nor about Elun, who had come with Yuto and was now sitting on the sofa behind him.

Had Rufus made Yuto uncomfortable, he would not have bothered staying at the estate. With his host being so considerate, however, he had no reason to leave.

"At any rate, I’m glad you’re safe. And Yuto, allow me to thank you once again. My daughter tells me you helped her a great deal in Belkain."

"Levian helped me a great deal as well."

"That was why she accompanied you. To repay the debt for saving my life and our house. But your circumstances were different. You didn’t want Levian to come along."

Rufus smiled gently.

"Didn’t you tell her not to blame you even if she died? That meant you would not protect her."

"You have an excellent memory."

"Haha, I am a merchant, after all."

Rufus laughed heartily. Though not much time had passed during their trip to Belkain and back, he looked considerably healthier than when Yuto had last seen him.

"Levian seems to have gained much from this journey. In little more than a week, she appears to have grown in several ways."

"She went through a great deal there."

"Yes. I hear there were many dangers. Thanks to you, my daughter returned alive and well, and has grown a great deal. How am I to repay you for this...?"

"You needn’t concern yourself with repayment. There’s nothing more I wish to ask for. Besides, haven’t you already promised me a recommendation to Maria Academy and your sponsorship?"

"Yes, I have. But as a merchant, I like to keep a clear account of what is given and received. Of course, I don’t object to being on the receiving end, but I have a feeling you will become a long-standing partner of mine... of House Marigold. All the more reason to strengthen our partnership."

Rufus paused and studied Yuto.

"What do you think of Levian?"

A curious light shone in Rufus’s eyes, blending a merchant’s shrewdness with paternal affection.

"You see, Levian grew up surrounded by the adults of the trading company. She has never been very good at trusting others. But today, after returning from Belkain, her eyes were different when she spoke of you. It seems a deep trust has taken root in her heart."

Fingering his teacup, Rufus discreetly gauged Yuto’s expression.

"If you are agreeable, why not bind that trust into something a little more solid? Hmm, no, no. ‘Solid’ is rather too much. A casual promise would do for now. Even a verbal one."

Yuto saw through Rufus’s intentions at once. He, too, had once ruled a kingdom. He recognized that greedy yet courteous look, one he had seen on countless nobles trying to push their children into the royal family.

Though Rufus had not said it outright, what he was proposing was unmistakably a marriage. To him, neither Yuto’s uncertain origins nor his status as an adventurer posed any obstacle.

Rufus had never witnessed Yuto’s “power” firsthand, but he had heard about it from the estate’s soldiers and seen for himself how utterly the knights who served Cayenne had been crushed.

A boy of only fourteen possessed that much martial strength. Why would he not invest in him? Moreover, Yuto had an imposing presence that was difficult to believe belonged to a mere adventurer. That, too, held considerable appeal for Rufus.

"I appreciate your offer, sir, but Levian is already a far better partner than I deserve."

Yuto answered calmly without losing his smile.

"I am happy with the distance between us as it stands. Closing it too hastily might actually undermine our trust in each other. For us, maintaining that distance now will give our trust greater clarity."

"Hoho... Clarity of trust..."

Hoping for a relationship that went beyond trust, Rufus could only chuckle quietly. Still smiling, Yuto continued.

"Levian is like a hawk that has just begun to beat its wings. Rather than being tied down somewhere, she will want to see the wider world. I believe what is best for her is to fly higher and farther, proving her worth along the way."

"..."

"And for my part, rather than having someone at my side right now... I have my hands full clearing away the fog that blocks my path. The road I intend to take is shrouded in fog and rough underfoot. It would be difficult to walk it with someone else."

Yuto’s answer was an unambiguous refusal. Though Rufus put on a disappointed expression, he was inwardly impressed. A boy of only fourteen had rejected an offer from none other than the head of House Marigold with such courtesy and firmness.

"You truly are someone worthy of my daughter’s trust. Very well. Forcing a bond does not make it a genuine connection, so I will press you no further. Just know that my offer will remain open for quite some time."

Rufus let out a rueful laugh, then changed the subject.

"Let us discuss something else, then. Yuto, when is your birthday?"

"My... birthday?"

At the abrupt, unexpected question, Yuto’s smile faltered.