As night began to fall, the six members of the Special Action Group returned from the beach to the inn.
Constance had already changed out of her swimsuit and was walking at the head of the group. Patrick was still droning on about how pale the legs of the beauties at the seaside were, earning him a beating from both Irene and Lovell while Erica hid off to the side, giggling.
Margarita and Joshua walked side by side at the very back.
“…Joshua.”
“I’m here.”
“Can you do something for me tomorrow?”
“What is it?”
“Take Lovell out to explore Arlan. The entire city. Try to keep her as far away from the tavern the President and I are going to as possible.”
The reason she had given Lovell earlier—that if Grey had been sitting in the same spot for ten years, his routine would be a target—was only one reason she didn't want Lovell going to the tavern alone. The second reason was the possibility that Grey might already be under the Sacrosanct Circle's control; the person in the tavern might not even be him. In such a scenario, Lovell would be in even greater danger, so she didn’t dare let her come along.
“Okay.”
Eh? You just agreed like that?
Margarita gave Joshua an surprised look.
“Aren’t you going to ask why?”
“I trust you.”
Margarita narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Trust me…? More like you’re looking for a chance to be alone with Lovell…
Margarita suddenly punched Joshua’s arm.
My two brothers actually want to date behind my back? Not allowed!
Wait, wasn't I trying to set them up before…? Why am I even angry?
…Forget it, I won’t think about it. Anyway, it’s not allowed!
Joshua looked at Margarita with a face full of innocence. “What’s wrong?…”
Hmph… You and Lovell aren't allowed to be together. You should go with Instructor Clara instead… No, wait, what would I call her then… Sister-in-law Master…? No, no, no. Then what about the President… that won’t work either. This dummy would be tricked by those people in the palace until he didn’t know which way was up.
Just stay single your whole life!
Margarita huffed and turned her head away, ignoring him. But then, fearing her punch might have hurt him, she reached out to rub his arm. As she rubbed, she got more annoyed the more she thought about it. Just then, Patrick was still talking about the legs he saw today, so Margarita charged forward and joined the group beating him.
“Consultant, your hitting feels like you’re flirting… Ow!”
…
Margarita sat at the small wooden desk in her inn room, spreading out a sheet of white paper to begin writing tomorrow’s plan.
The two members who had attacked Lovell… they knew what she and Joshua looked like. Even though their memories had been erased, it didn’t mean the Sacrosanct Circle didn't have other records. If their intelligence network already had portraits of her and Joshua, tomorrow’s scouting would be troublesome.
She needed a disguise and an identity—an identity that the Sacrosanct Circle in Arlan would see and that the Diestwald family wouldn't dare touch.
“Little Mari~” Lovell leaned over. “What are you writing?”
“A plan for how to see your master tomorrow. I’m thinking of having the President come with me. If there really are Sacrosanct Circle members there, she can protect me,” Margarita began to spin a tall tale.
This time is different, Lovell. I can’t gamble with your life.
“Tomorrow, you should accompany Joshua on a tour of Arlan. It’s his first time here. Maybe by the time you’re done, the President and I will have finished up?”
“Mm-hmm.” Lovell nodded with a smile, seemingly happy at the thought of seeing her master soon.
The guilt in Margarita’s heart grew a bit heavier.
This time… is different. Yeah.
Is it really different?
Ink dripped from the tip of her pen, blossoming into a dark spot on the paper.
“Lovell… listen to me… I’m not letting you go because your master might be controlled by the Sacrosanct Circle. I’m afraid you might be in danger. I… I’m making decisions for you again. I’m sorry…”
The room was quiet for a long time.
“You said sorry last time, too.”
Margarita gripped the pen tightly.
“I know,” she said. “I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I want you to know that I realize I’ve done it again.”
Lovell tilted her head to look at her, the lamplight reflecting a hint of disappointment in her eyes.
“You go to the tavern tomorrow, and I’ll tour Arlan with Joshua,” she said. “But this time, when you get back, you have to tell me everything. Every single thing. Is that a deal?”
“Deal.”
Lovell began rummaging through her backpack.
“What are you looking for?”
“Boar bristles. You’re sleeping on this tonight.” She pulled the bristle-spined wild boar bristle pillow out of her bag.
Margarita laughed, her voice carrying a slight nasal quality. “Okay.”
…
It was already late at night when Margarita knocked on Constance’s door with the proposal in hand.
Come to think of it, this inn is a Windermere property. No wonder that old man could give me the letter that day.
While Constance opened the door, Margarita was busy calculating how much money she could collect every day if she owned an inn like this.
Constance glanced at Margarita and stepped aside to let her in.
“Oh! President, you’re not asleep yet?” Margarita walked inside, handed the proposal to Constance, and used her foot to hook the door shut.
“A Windermere branch member, holding a family token.” Constance took the proposal and began flipping through it. “…You want to impersonate a member of the Royal Family? That is a felony.”
“Oh, President~” Margarita leaned in close. “The heavens know, the earth knows, you know, and I know. At most, a few more members of the Sacrosanct Circle will know. If no one speaks of it, how could anything happen? Besides, this identity is only for one-time use. You wouldn't want to see your consultant in peril and then have to hire a new one, would you?”
“Moreover, President, think about it. The Sacrosanct Circle dares to target the Special Action Group because they think we are just academy students. If the person who appears before them tomorrow is a ‘member of a royal branch,’ would they dare to gamble?”
Constance sighed. She closed the proposal and took a sip of the cold black tea on the table.
“Don’t be late tomorrow morning. Shut the door on your way out.”
“You got it~”
…
The next morning, Lovell sat on the edge of the bed, her hands clutching Margarita’s white hair. She didn't say a word, but she didn’t refuse the comb Margarita handed her either.
When Irene entered from outside, Lovell was braiding Margarita’s hair. The thief’s hands were exceptionally nimble, and a beautiful Princess Braid quickly took shape under her fingers.
“Irene, Irene,” Margarita sat upright in front of Lovell, looking at the newly arrived Irene. “Do you have any alchemical tools that can change hair color?”
“I do… but Consultant, what are you planning to do?”
“I want to dye this stuff gold.” Margarita pointed at her hair.
“…”
About half an hour later, a beautiful girl with golden hair in a Princess Braid, blue eyes, and a white dress appeared in Constance’s room.
“President,” Margarita said, her eyes crinkling into a smile as she folded her hands in front of her. “For the rest of the day, please address me as…”
“Mary von Windermere.”
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