Chapter 53
The day before the festival.
The Empire was in chaos, crowded with people from all over. I wanted to finish my errands as quickly as possible and hurry back to the shop.
Why was I so generous today of all days?
I clutched the jewelry box tightly to my chest.
Inside were hairpins I had bought as gifts for the hardworking shop employees.
With the festival drawing near, there were far more pickpockets prowling about than I had expected.
They only ever fixed their eyes on their targets, which made them easy enough to spot.
The real problem, however, was that there wasn’t just one or two of them in the crowd—there were dozens. I couldn’t let my guard down for a second.
As I quickened my pace, fireworks suddenly bloomed in the sky.
They were the festival’s opening salute.
Despite being warned against it, I instinctively turned my head toward the imperial palace where the sounds came from.
For just a few seconds, I was dazed, swept up in the cheers of the people.
“Hey, that’s dangerous. You’ve got more than one pair of eyes on you right now.”
Someone stepped up to me and warned me.
Startled, I hugged the jewelry case to my chest and lowered my head.
Phew, it’s still here. Thank goodness.
I looked up, intending to thank the person who had warned me.
It was Jake.
“Been a while, hasn’t it?”
What a coincidence this was.
To be honest, I had lived long enough without thinking of him that even when I saw his back earlier, it didn’t occur to me to call out.
“Been busy? You don’t drop by anymore.”
“I just… haven’t really had anything to request, ha ha…”
Uncharacteristically, I trailed off and edged closer to the side of the street.
He looked a little sulky, like he wanted to complain that I hadn’t visited the guild in so long.
I forced a stiff smile and nodded slowly.
“We said we’d see each other sometimes even without requests, remember?”
“Ah, maybe I phrased that wrong… Yeah, you’re right. Oh, actually…”
That reminded me—I did have something to tell Jake.
Back when Berry and I nearly got slandered by that man who was most likely Radipal.
And whether there was a way, through the guild, to dig into my past.
This wasn’t the kind of conversation to have in the middle of a noisy square.
So, cautiously, I asked him:
“Would it be possible to go somewhere quieter? There’s something I want to talk about.”
Jake nodded without hesitation.
For a busy guildmaster to so readily make time—well, I should be grateful.
Looking around at the crowded streets, I asked,
“By the way, wherever we go, it’s packed with people. Is your… workplace far from here?”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that.”
With a natural gesture, Jake opened a nearby side door.
“…?”
“You said you wanted to talk at my workplace. As it happens, this is my fifth house.”
“…Your fifth house?”
“Of course. In the Empire, real estate is king.”
“Ah, right… So, you mean to talk there?”
“Exactly!”
Still, the thought of being seen entering some man’s private home didn’t sit well. People would gossip.
As I hesitated, he seemed to realize something and exclaimed, “Ah!” Then he draped a robe over my head.
“What’s this?”
“Just thought it’d be better to talk at my workplace. Let’s go.”
Before I could protest, I found myself transported inside the familiar guild hall with Jake.
The dusty smell in the air was oddly comforting—no need to watch for thieves or prying eyes here.
“So, you can use teleportation magic… and yet you were bragging about your real estate?”
“Ha, you really do notice everything. Honestly, I was joking. Teleportation drains stamina. I just cobble together spells, so I try to avoid overusing it.”
He shrugged and added,
“I figured it’d be easier this way. Also, it’s been a while since I tidied that house, so I brought you here instead.”
Smiling brightly, he guided me to a sofa.
I sat, hesitated a moment, then told him what had happened a few days ago:
How Berry and I had gone to handle a claim, how things had turned dangerous, and how it seemed tied to Radipal, given the sorcery involved.
Jake listened silently, occasionally nodding in sympathy. Sometimes his brows knit, but he quickly smoothed his expression and returned to listening.
“Phew. Berry didn’t mention any of this. I’ll have to look into it myself.”
“It might be best to stay cautious. Even Berry… was entranced.”
“I just don’t get why that guy keeps targeting Lady Daphne and trying to harm you. Honestly, he’s someone I could take care of with little effort. Don’t worry.”
He shrugged again, flashing a reassuring smile.
His simple, confident words eased my fear a little.
“And… does your guild take on requests like this too?”
“What kind of requests?”
“Looking into the past. Tracing someone’s history.”
“You—Lady Daphne, you make requests like that?!”
Jake’s eyes went wide with genuine surprise.
Feeling awkward, I nodded.
It did sound strange to ask someone to investigate my own childhood.
“Would it be possible?”
“We do that kind of work all the time. Just the other day, I dug up the entire gambling history of a client.”
In his half-polite, half-casual way, Jake was boasting about his exploits.
“Impressive. Well… what I want is to know what kind of child I was around eight or nine.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I fell gravely ill back then and lost my memories. I doubt anyone can restore them, so I thought it’d be easier to just find out.”
I added the explanation quickly and then shut my mouth.
It might sound strange, but since the opportunity was here, I wanted to ask.
He thought for a moment before replying:
“That’s not a particularly difficult job. Honestly, it might take only a week.”
“Really? Then I’d like you to look into it.”
“Hmm, but I find memory retrieval even more fascinating.”
He grinned, stood up, and said:
“The thing is… that’s in the realm of supernatural abilities.”
“True. There are people who can do that, but…”
“Edin Richevarden. He can. You knew that?”
Of course I did—I’d read the original story.
But I’d never thought of asking him, nor did I need him to restore anything.
“I’ve heard the rumor.”
“See, I was always more interested in reviving memories than lives. The latter is a power those people have had since the Empire’s founding, beyond my reach. But the former—they developed that themselves.”
If Jake hadn’t told me, I’d never have known such a thing.
I leaned forward, listening intently.
“I’ll try. Both finding out what happened in your forgotten years, and even looking into whether your memories can be restored.”
“Thank you! Then, how much for the fee…?”
“Hmm, two silver.”
“…Did you mean gold?”
How could he buy five houses in the capital at that rate?
When I looked doubtful, he hastily defended himself.
“You always bring me easy requests, Lady Daphne. That’s the only reason I’m charging so little.”
“I don’t know… you said you’d try. That sounds like difficult work to me.”
“Ah, but that’s just me admitting my limits. I can’t charge more. Two silver is enough. If it works out, just add one more later.”
“In that case, I’ll pay in gold.”
“Then I won’t take it.”
“You’ll take it whether you like it or not.”
After some ridiculous back-and-forth, he burst out laughing.
And laughing along with him, I felt the tension I’d been holding finally melt away.
The unease caused by Edin, the anxiety Radipal had stirred—they all loosened their grip on me.
Yes, with people like Jake around, life could go on just fine.
Shaking off the heavy feelings, I rose from the sofa.
“I’ll count on you, then. And I hope things go well with the matter of Jane too.”
“Of course. Rest easy.”
He and Doren escorted me to the guild entrance.
With a lighter heart, I headed back toward the shop, clutching the jewelry meant for Berry and Salvia.
Unaware that in the noisy, bustling streets, someone’s eyes were fixed on me.
