The weather in Ragunna carried its usual salty dampness as Zani passed through the gates of the Montelli district, just as she had promised Aeron. These days, she made the trip daily to check on the limited five-star individuals for him.
Five days had already passed since Aeron was sent on his "pilgrimage."
Five days—not too long, not too short. Just enough for so to grow complacent, and just enough for others to bury their anxieties in work.
Zani was still Zani, the workhorse remained the workhorse, but with her recent additional routine, she seed less weary than before, her fists packing more punch during night shifts.
Occasionally, colleagues would ask if sothing good had happened to her, but she brushed them off with claims of lighter workloads lately.
She didn't know why this change had co over her. If she were to be honest, her mood had been genuinely better recently.
Of course, those unaware of the circumstances might not share her optimism.
"Ah, Miss Zani."
After just a few steps, Zani encountered her primary person of interest—Cartethyia.
"Morning, Cartethyia," Zani greeted the girl kindly.
By now, many within the Montelli district knew Cartethyia's identity, yet it hadn't created any distance between them.
Though Aeron called her the "Blessed Maiden"—whether true or not remained unclear—the question had clearly beco irrelevant.
Didn't the Montelli family adore this lively, lovely, and studious girl?
She usually acted like any young girl, but when necessary, she revealed a mature side. Everyone in Montelli had grown quite fond of her. With Aeron having purged Capollo's faction, there was no longer any worry about leaks to the Order.
"So... Miss Zani, any news about that guy recently?" Cartethyia's gaze drifted uncertainly as she mumbled the question, trying to sound casual.
"Not yet," Zani replied imdiately.
"He's only been gone a few days after all. Probably need to wait a while longer. Must be tiring for you to ask every day."
"J-just asking casually! That guy always keeps everything to himself and dumps the trouble on others," Cartethyia turned her head away, feigning composure. "We'll talk when he returns... when he returns."
Of course, her sulking was still very childlike.
Naturally, Zani's eting with Cartethyia wasn't just for these few words. There was another matter she needed to inquire about.
"How are things with Phoebe?"
"This... I'd say she's basically fine?" Cartethyia's tone wavered, uncertain how to phrase it.
As the golden-haired twins, Cartethyia and Phoebe had maintained frequent contact since Aeron's departure. Zani had t Phoebe once or twice before, and as an adult, she felt she should check on her situation on Aeron's behalf.
"She's usually okay, but whenever that guy gets ntioned, Phoebe suddenly starts crying and nothing can console her..."
"Uh..."
Even Zani was at a loss for words now.
She knew Phoebe had always looked up to Aeron as her senior protector, but she never imagined the girl would worry to this extent.
When Aeron returns, he really must properly apologize to Phoebe.
Just then, a series of light, brisk footsteps approached.
"Sister Zani! Little Carte!"
She stopped before the two, her fingers gliding across the strings to produce a stream of fluid notes. Her gaze lingered on Zani's face, and her smile deepened. "Good morning! You're looking quite well today, Sister Zani~"
"Not bad," Zani replied curtly, her eyes sweeping over the faint shadows beneath the other's eyes. "What about you? Staying up late even when you don't have work?"
Ciaccona blinked, an awkward yet polite smile appearing on her face.
"I-I was preparing so things... After all, we need to have sothing ready to welco him back, right?"
Her tone was natural, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Cartethyia glanced up at her, sothing flickering in her pale blue eyes.
Zani's expression remained impassive. "You seem to have a lot of faith in him."
"Of course! Even though that guy is always reckless, says unpleasant things, and constantly gets himself into trouble... he's never broken a promise. If he said he'd co back, he'll find a way to make it happen."
She paused, her fingertip lightly plucking a single, clear note from the strings. "After going through all those experiences together and hearing each other's truest 'poems'... I guess this is the bond between partners!"
"Let's hope so," Zani finally said, her voice flat.
After confirming that both of them were fine, Zani bid them farewell and headed deeper into the residence.
Now, the last person to see was her big boss.
Zani knocked on the door, and after a mont, two weak words ca from inside: "Co in."
When Zani pushed the door open, all she could see were mountains of docunts piled so high that not a single person was visible.
"...Zani?"
After a while, Zani finally spotted Carlotta's... ahoge amidst the paper mountains.
"Second Young Lady, you should rest for a while. At this rate, you're starting to look almost as bad as I do."
Hearing Zani's voice, Carlotta lifted her head from the sea of docunts... though only her head was visible.
"Wait until... I finish dealing with the Montelli exhibit matters..."
Zani navigated around several precarious docunt mountains and approached the desk. From her angle, she could only see the top of Carlotta's head.
"Do you need help?"
"Not for now..." Carlotta peeked out with half her face from behind the docunts, her voice unable to conceal its exhaustion.
"And then there's the matter with the Order and Montelli... When Aeron was here, those people didn't say a word, but now they're arguing endlessly over the smallest things..."
As she spoke, the resentnt that had been building up in Carlotta's heart over this period grew heavier.
"He's got it good... dumping everything on others and conveniently disappearing... Hah, hahaha, it seems I've been too lenient with that guy before... When he cos back, I'll have to teach him a lesson..."
Oh no, while the employees' conditions are improving, is the boss going crazy?
Witnessing her boss making what sounded like criminal declarations about her subordinate.
"Alright, Second Young Lady, I'm also from the Montelli family. At least let help you organize these."
She sorted the letters into categories: those requiring urgent review, those that could be postponed, and those that were purely ceremonial correspondence. As she bent down to pick up a few quotation slips that had fallen to the floor, her personal terminal, which had been tucked in her coat pocket, slipped out and landed softly on the carpet near Carlotta's feet.
Carlotta glanced down and recognized it as Zani's terminal. She picked it up casually, intending to hand it back to Zani, who had just straightened up.
"Zani, you dropped your—"
Her words cut off abruptly.
There, on Zani's terminal screen, was a familiar na, followed by a brief ssage:
"Aeron: Zani, save ! IP: Porto-Veno Castle"
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