"Melbert."

  Adele sat in the grand study, eyes darting between the pages she'd been meticulously working through for the past few days. The words refused to hold her attention.

  "Regression."

  Her heart pounded.

  "T-that's…"

  Melbert entered the room, his expression as composed and unreadable as always.

  "Has Peter come around yet?"

  "I'm afraid not," he answered.

  Adele frowned. That was… odd.

  Peter always visited her at the same spot in the garden — the place where they'd first met. It was a routine neither of them had ever broken. Until now.

  She had just returned from one of her trips to the Magic Tower, and she had even met a friend along the way. Meanwhile, the prince had supposedly gone to the Konrow Duchy for training. She had only entertained his presence for various reasons — revenge being chief among them — but she couldn't shake the unease crawling up her spine.

  "Peter hasn't come in three months?"

  Impossible.

  Something must have happened.

  Adele stood abruptly. "Melbert, did something happen in the capital?"

  Melbert hesitated. His gaze flickered toward Mark von Konrow, who was nonchalantly flipping through a newspaper in the corner.

  "The Crown Prince has been missing for six months," Mark said.

  Adele's blood ran cold.

  "W-what?!"

  Mark barely spared her a glance. "We don't know where he is. None of his whereabouts are known."

  Josephine.

  Adele's grip tightened on the book in her hands.

  Regression.

  Had Peter encountered something beyond her reach?

  For the first time since her regression, she felt something unfamiliar claw at her chest.

  Worry.

  Her hands trembled.

  This isn't possible. If Peter disappears now, then my plan will—!

  "Calm down, Adele." Mark tapped the table in front of her.

  She barely registered it. Her breathing was growing ragged, unwanted memories clawing their way back up from somewhere she'd buried them.

  "What about her?"

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  Her mind screamed at her to stop.

  No. I don't want to hear her name. I don't want to think about her.

  Josephine von Konrow.

  The most wicked and heinous person alive. She—

  "She hasn't been seen in a few months either," Melbert stated.

  Silence.

  Adele's lips trembled.

  "…No…"

  Tears welled up before she could stop them. She clawed at her golden locks, body shaking.

  "NO!"

  Books fell from the shelves. Papers she'd meticulously arranged scattered across the floor.

  "This can't be happening! There's no way—"

  It was impossible.

  Her sister could not make a comeback. Not now. Not after everything.

  "It's okay, Adele," Mark said, his voice softer this time. "She's only secluded herself for a few months, like she used to."

  His words did nothing.

  Adele didn't reply.

  Melbert stood quietly in the corner, uncharacteristically still.

  Adele exhaled sharply. "Mark-nii-sama. Can you leave us alone?"

  Mark hesitated.

  Then sighed. "…Fine."

  The door clicked shut behind him.

  The moment they were alone, Melbert's form began to shift.

  A familiar light flickered — and then bloomed. His figure dissolved and reformed into something else entirely: a floating figure draped in regal, iridescent robes, translucent rainbow wings shimmering behind him in the candlelight.

  Adele's breath hitched.

  "…No way."

  The Fairy King, Oberon.

  Her familiar. Her contracted spirit. A being of immense power who could command a million fairies — his strength rivaling even the Great Beasts.

  Oberon smirked, crossing his arms. "What?"

  "What's the catch?!" Adele snapped.

  "What do you mean, what's the catch? It is what it is."

  "Don't 'it is what it is' me! You know exactly what I'm asking!"

  He let out a dramatic sigh, waving a hand lazily. "Fine, contractor. Are you willing to pay the price?"

  "What price?"

  His smirk widened. "The information you're looking for is so valuable that nothing you currently possess can cover it."

  Adele scoffed. "Why? It's just Josephine's activities. Last time I asked, you didn't charge me anything!"

  "Because last time, it wasn't classified information."

  "Classified information." She folded her arms. "What the hell does that mean?"

  "Exactly what it sounds like, dear contractor." Oberon shrugged. "Knowledge that I cannot grant you freely."

  "But it's just about Josephine—"

  "That's your assumption." His tone turned uncharacteristically serious. "I'm telling you this only because of our contract. The World Tree can reveal anything to me — but classified information carries a price. One that's far beyond what you can currently afford." He pressed a finger to his lips. "Though, since this is your first time asking about such a thing… I'll give you a discount."

  He grinned.

  "Angel's Tears will suffice."

  Adele's breath hitched.

  The Angel's Tears. The gift Josephine had sent during her debutante — the one she'd despised from the moment it landed in her hands. Crafted by Nephi, a designer whose work auctioned for staggering sums. She had never dared wear it. She knew better than to trust anything her sister gave her.

  The box had sat untouched in its locked crate in the corner of her room ever since.

  "Fine."

  She crossed the room, retrieved the box, and tossed it toward Oberon without ceremony.

  "Very nice." With a flick of his hand, it vanished into a swirling void.

  "Alright, contractor. Listen carefully." His voice turned solemn. "Classified information is knowledge the world deems too important to reveal freely — usually because it's protected by an entity above the World Tree itself. In most cases, that means the gods."

  Adele's fingers dug into her palms. "And my sister falls into that category."

  "Correct."

  Her pulse pounded in her ears. "A god has taken an interest in Josephine?"

  "Seems that way." Oberon's eyes twinkled.

  Adele bit her lip. "What about Peter?"

  "Also classified. But that one falls under the former category — important location, not divine interest."

  "…So Peter is somewhere significant."

  "Good thinking." Oberon gave a slow, approving nod. "Now. What will you do?"

  "What do you think?!" Her fists clenched. "I'm going to find Josephine myself!"

  Oberon sighed, massaging his temples. "You know, normally I'd just let you—"

  "I'm going. That's final."

  "Adele."

  "What?!"

  "Josephine's mansion is an illusion now."

  Adele froze.

  "…What?"

  Oberon dragged a hand down his face. "Your sister's entire estate has become classified information. Whatever you think the situation is, it has changed. Significantly."

  Adele gritted her teeth.

  "Then I'll go see for myself!"

  She was already moving — coat thrown on, boots fastened, out the door before Oberon could get another word in. He floated lazily after her, half-amused, half-exhausted.

  Under his breath, he muttered, "I just hope she doesn't incur the wrath of the gods."