After confirming that the knights had disappeared entirely, Louiselle released her hand, and Irene held her nose.
“Ha.”
She took a deep breath and stood up.
“Does that mean Count Ascardo is not in the room?” She murmured as she looked at the place where the knights had disappeared.
“Yes. If he’s not in the room, we can look for it.”
“It’s fortunate.”
With her mind more relaxed, Irene climbed the stairs with an uneasy expression. She didn’t hear her footsteps because she was wearing flat heels.
When she went up to the second floor, her spine straightened. The inside of the hallway was dark, as even the lights were switched off. Irene swallowed and walked in slowly.
“I don’t see any maids or knights.”
“Likely because they are guarding the banquet hall and the outside.”
“I see.”
After their secret conversation, they crossed the entire hallway. The stairs appeared once more. As they could not feel any presence on the stairs, the two climbed straight up.
-The third floor.
On this floor was Ascardo’s room. Irene froze her body tense. But she took a deep breath, struggling to relax, and muttered quietly.
As soon as she finished speaking, a faint breeze arose, circling her, blowing gently. Eventually, the wind gradually took the form of a man. Perhaps it was due to the contract. The figure was more distinct. -Silver hair, silver eyes, transparent skin, and a large body.
It felt as if she were actually meeting a person.
[You called for me, Contractor.]
“I’m almost there.”
[From here on, if anyone approaches, they will be caught on my watch. Don’t worry.]
“All right, thank you.”
She was genuinely amazed at the power of spirits. It was like magic, but it was a different kind of feeling. If magic was based on science and experimentation, this was truly an unknown force. Thus, Irene was still curious, but she was not relaxed enough to admire On leisurely.
Wherever On passed, traces of the wind that only Irene’s eyes could see remained. If something got caught in the wind, it seemed like it would send a signal to On.
Irene, who finally arrived at the end of the room, swallowed nervously and asked Louiselle.
“Who do you think is inside?”
“No one.”
“Then go in….”
“For a bit. You must not go in yet.”
“Huh?”
Irene, who was about to open the door and go inside, had a puzzled expression at Louiselle’s advice. Louiselle said, staring still at the doorknob.
“The door handle has a special device. It’s activated when you grab the handle. We have to get this out.”
“…can you?”
At Irene’s question, Louiselle looked down at her. She was wearing a mask, so she couldn’t see her face, but she seemed to know what kind of expression she was making.
“Leave it to me.”
Without hesitation, she put her hand on the doorknob and disengaged the unique device in no time. Eventually, the door opened, revealing a space where no ray of light entered before her eyes.
It’s dark...
The windows were covered with curtains, and the candles were out.
Irene took out the glowing stone that she had prepared just in case. Only then did the surroundings dimly brighten.
The room was very well organised and immaculate. She seemed to be able to find the necklace with just a few searches. But she felt a strange sense of incongruity.
Ifeel like I’m missing something...
A room in which no traces of people were felt at all. Was this Ascardo’s room?
Irene bit her lips at the sudden thought of her rushing in. Meanwhile, Louiselle, who was unlocking the password from the safe, screamed and stood up from her seat.
“Madame, is this necklace right for you?”
She turned around and held a sapphire necklace in her hand. A foreign object to exist in a man’s room.
Approaching Louiselle, Irene was handed a sapphire necklace.
“This...”
It was a gorgeous and expensive necklace. Irene looked down at the necklace curiously and then shook her head.
“…this is not what I was looking for.”
As she spoke, On agreed.
“It’s an imitation of Rivena’s necklace.”
On’s words made Irene realise that she was right in her guess.
“Louiselle, let’s get out of this room.”
“What are you doing?”
Louiselle asked when Irene was in a hurry.
Irene put on her mask.
“This is not Ascardo’s room.”