Reunited after three years, Sasha was stunningly lovely. As soon as they became adults, the outfits that had been extremely fashionable since childhood seemed to have grown into their own flower buds.
She wore a summer attire consisting of a thin, light pink dress and neatly pulled-back blonde hair. Anita was met by Sasha holding her hand.
“Oh. I was unaware that we would meet here. How long is it? How are you doing?”
It seemed from her unadorned grin that she was unaware of the Volloni family’s demise.
‘I was really lucky. It was much better than being awkward with each other after a long period in a meeting.’
“I’ve been good. Sasha, you’ve grown so much! I feel like you’re becoming more and more like Claunia.”
“Hmm. This is an unpleasant sound. It implies I seem foolish.”
At that time, a lady approached Sasha, who was whining at the time.
“Miss House… Who is this?”
The first thing I saw were the white, delicate arms.
Next came platinum-colored, loose-fitting, long hair. Blue colored eyes. Kindly bent eyes.
Anita was introduced to a stranger by Sasha.
“Ah… this is Ms. Anita Volloni… she’s a friend of my elder sister, Claunia.”
“Ah… I see.”
The lady who lifted the corners of her lips and had a distinct look on her face shook her head slightly.
“Nice to meet you Ms. Anita Volloni… I’m Rosa Eburg… from Count Eburg.”
Count Eburg.
Anita was stunned to hear a name she had not heard for a very long time.
Two years ago, she had an incredible connection with Eburg. Specifically, the connection was with Rosa Eburg’s biological sister.
‘I can’t believe I’m meeting the older sister’s sibling.’
In reality, Eburg and Anita’s relationship was very tough and impossible to articulate.
Prior to the announcement of the engagement between the oldest daughter of the Eburg family and Lancelot, the status of ‘Lancelow’s close friend, Anita Boloni’ was unclear.
[Grandmother was right. A young girl who hitched herself to a government position. If you somehow have a conscience, don’t go telling anyone about Lancelot. So that he won’t be subjected to unnecessary mockery.]
‘For Lancelot, I am only an obstacle.’
Count Eburg’s nasty words invigorated Anita. The engagement between the two did not last long.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Eburg.”
“It seems that the rumors are true.”
Anita’s lips were silently closed.
“Don’t take it the other way, it means beauty.”
Rosa asked quietly with a peculiar grin on her face.
“Miss Volloni does not know me, but I am pretty familiar with her. Are you not inquisitive about how I know?”
Obviously, I am not intrigued.
“I’m sorry. I am occupied at the moment. I will contact you later.”
“The daughter was sold by the money-obsessed Volloni.”
“…”
“It is your moniker. I do not know who constructed it, but isn’t it vulgar? If we happen to meet, I’ll let you know. I’m looking forward to that.”
The blue eyes of Rosa were active.
For the purpose of gauging Anita’s response, it was implied that she would examine the movement of even a single eyelash.
Obviously, Anita, who had been mocked for basically anything, would not break into tears so easily.
When she grinned with a questioning expression, she turned her head as if she lost interest.
“Then… Miss House, I’ll be waiting for you, so please continue your conversation.”
Without remorse, Rosa Eburg turned around, approached the guy who seemed to be at the party, and resumed smiling and conversing.
Sasha regarded her back, which had vanished in an instant, and momentarily clicked her tongue.
“I’m sorry, sister. I was just pretending to understand. I was unaware that she was such a shady lady. Today I met her for the first time.”
“It doesn’t matter. Because that is typical.”
“I’m sure she’s doing that because of Lancelot. I mean, what’s good about that cold jerk? After a few days, he’ll lose attention, correct?”
Anita quietly laughed.
Anita did not dare interfere with Rosa Eburg’s relationship with Lancelot.
‘No longer will I be able to condemn him in my heart. No, since I had the same mentality.’
“I shall spend some time in the Kingdom of Montevio. We will see you in the soon future. Except, of course, for that cheap blonde.”
Sasha, who had just spoken angrily, returned to Rosa with a careless expression.
Anita stayed still where they had vanished, and after some time, she turned around. Anita’s route was nonetheless obstructed by an unprecedentedly lengthy shadow.
It was the guy with gray hair who was smiling beside Rosa Eburg.
Anita, who had toughened her body, retreated three or four paces from the guy. On a sunny summer day, the guy was wearing a mask that, at first sight, seemed strange.
The lips under the mask smiled softly.
“I am not a strange person. A woman’s icy gaze penetrates my delicate heart.”
Isn’t he with Sasha? Should I be worried about him?
“I’m sorry… Do you have any business with me?”
The guy who had been observing her in silence inquired,
“Do you have a habit of saying sorry?”
“Yes?”
“I’ve been observing for some time, and you utilized apologies as weapons. I was astounded by how adeptly you concealed your trouble and annoyance. Thanks to you, I was twice injured.”
Anita recalled her talk with Rosa Eburg with a chilly grin. As he said, it was a habitual apology accompanied by a habitual grin.
“I share your sorrow. I’m busy, but I’ll go first unless it’s anything crucial.”
“I have a favor to ask. I’m in search of a locker room. If you know the location of the Green Vault.”
Storage.
Without uttering a thing, Anita’s expression toward the guy stiffened.
Are you searching for storage that will soon be scrapped?
Even the guy in front of her was from another country. Montevio was so skilled that it was difficult to discern at first look, yet it was unmistakable.
“Even after asking around, nobody knows where it was.”
“I’m not sure.”
Anita, who was just marginally unfaithful, retreated.
It is impolite to suspect the person, yet she somehow refrained from telling him.
Today, among the many individuals in this time period, at least the guy who inquired about the location of the Green Vault was there.
Even if it was a mere coincidence, Anita persisted.
The guy who followed questioned in a genuine tone of astonishment.
“You have no idea? Were you a member of the amusement park’s staff?”
“You look like a staff… Are you a magician? I am genuinely curious about magic.”
The guy stroked the tip of her nose while grinning. As soon as she pushed his body in shock, a blue rose grew from between his fingers, which had just brushed the tip of her nose.
It was so ridiculous.
‘What? Is he really a magician?’
The guy bowed with an exaggerated motion and extended a blue rose to Anita.
“It was only a joke. I am sorry if I insulted you. I am unfamiliar with the humor in this nation.”
“It’s alright… You knew that I didn’t know, so stop following me now.”
Anita disregarded the man’s rose and hurried towards the carousel. Unless it was an optical illusion, the man’s meaningful line of sight seemed to be obstructed near the back of her head.
When she turned my head again, she was surrounded by children giggling. The man’s physical look vanished without a trace.
‘Hooh.’
Is it because I’ve gotten more sensitive as my sensitivity has increased? Unknowingly, a breath of relief was released.
“Am I too cold hearted?”
She can never tell. He may be searching for the Green Vault with the same desperation as she.
However, it was like wasted water that will later be lamented.
Anita immediately approached the trash disposal. She discovered a warehouse full of rusted iron storage containers after a lengthy search in a place with both loud and quiet sounds.
Green storage box. Despite their age, they were all green storage containers.
Anita approached the guy in the corner chair who was nodding.
“Hi. I was looking for something.”
Anita delivered the ticket to a guy who stood up in shock upon receiving it. The guy who examined her ticket escorted her down a long, narrow corridor.
“Follow me.”
The discolored ticket was swallowed by the guy.
Anita, who was shocked to see him comfortably swallow the thick piece of paper, averted her gaze and feigned not to notice him.
Her locker was positioned at the end of a lengthy tunnel that resembled a back alley.
Shiver. Shudder. The guy who had opened the four locks stumbled backwards and then went away.
Strongly focused on the old topic. At least thirty of these lockers…
Isn’t it a rather suspicious location for a lengthy stay?
Regardless, the locker was accessed. Anita inspected the goods inside.