"I found this suspicious lady on the street and arrested her.

"

I immediately snapped at the man beside me,

"Hey! What are you saying?

"

I won't really get to hear the end of this, huh? He's making me look like a bad person, seriously…

Ezekiel was surprised for a moment before he started laughing out loud.

"Suspicious? Hahaha, that's the first time I heard someone finding Nadia dubious,

" he said.

"I mostly hear crazy things but hahaha…

" he added.

Good for you, Zeke. You must be feeling truly happy. Tch.

The only one who was not amused by what Lukas said aside from me was Nathaniel. He was now staring at him with narrowed eyes..

"She's my sister.

"

"I could obviously tell,

" Lukas replied in nonchalance.

Just as what has been said before, who among the whole of the empire possesses the characteristics we have? Only the Hermans. We could be singled out among the crowd instantly and everyone in the social circle recognizes us.

We're literally two peas in a pod, brother.

Nathan frowned and glanced at me.

"You know him?

"

'Ugh! … I really can't get away with this?'

I peered through my peripheral vision, saw Lukas's little evil smirk, and started feeling nervous. Even though I have nothing to get wary about because I haven't done anything wrong. It's just that this man has the ability to put you on the spot and make you feel guilty for no damn reason.

"Uhh… yeah, kind of…

" I mumbled vaguely.

His expression got more complex.

"Really?

"

"When did you two meet? Why did we not know of this?

" Ezekiel butted in.

"That's…

"

"It's not important,

" Lukas answered on both of our behalfs--

"Why are the two of you here?

" He then questioned, easily shifting the topic at hand.

Looks like they weren't convinced but Ezekiel dropped it off anyway after gauging Lukas's attitude.

"Hmmm well, I can't remember the exact reason but we suddenly just felt like it.

"

"Yeah…

" Nathan seconded.

So the two were drawn out here just like us… What is with this bookshop? Is there something here? Is this not an ordinary establishment?

Just look at the situation right now. Isn't this extraordinary?

"Ahem. You're all being very rude to the shop owner right now. This is not a place for talking, may I remind you,

" Janus rebuked us, cutting our conversation short.

Ezekiel almost immediately turned towards the still-smiling Nine.

"Ah. Sorry about this…

"

"It's fine… I actually like how lively the shop is right now,

" she remarked.

It earned her a glance from the great magician himself who then cleared his throat afterward.

"I thought of this from the start but what are you doing here? You keep springing out of nowhere, are you a mushroom?

" Lukas suddenly voiced out what's in his mind and it was directed towards the certain golden-eyed mage.

"How rude of you to say that, mutt-- Ahem,

" he suddenly stopped when he was about to call Lukas something as if he thought otherwise--

"I'm here to buy books, what else?

"

"You really think I would believe that?

" Lukas countered.

"What you think is of no importance to me,

" Janus replied arrogantly yet saying that with a refreshing smile on his face.

Lukas scoffed.

"Hmph. In my opinion, you are the most suspicious out of everyone so I should be bringing you back for interrogation.

"

"Hoh? Why don't you try then?

"

The tension in the air rises again but for a different cause now.

Ezekiel swiftly jumped in between them.

"You two…

" he then glanced at the purple-eyed snake--

"Lukas, you do know Lord Janus, right? The arcane tower.

"

He was clearly trying to remind him but the latter was unfazed. In fact, he doesn't seem to care at all.

"It's just a damn magician, what of it? He can't be a suspect?

" was what he said.

Oh wow, what a friendly atmosphere we got here.

Letting out a sigh, I averted my attention from the childish banter I am being forced to witness to the side. Coincidentally, Estelle was standing there as she awkwardly arranged a row of books on one shelf. She looked like a fish out of water, or the odd one out.

She must have been feeling uneasy to stand among us when she's not that familiar with the others. I could tell just from her actions solely, she was very lonesome.

"Do you frequent here?

" I uttered after sensing her discomfort.

Estelle had looked like he was surprised for a second when she noticed me talking to her.

"Mmm? L-lady Nadia… well, uhmm... Yes, I do. I come here thrice a week if I have nothing to do and help out sometimes…

" she mumbled in a low tone.

"Ohh…

"

I really don't have anything else to say to that… This sucks. What a stupid response, me.

Because of that dull retort she got from me, silence pervaded between us. Naturally, the atmosphere got spoiled.

"It's been three years now since I discovered this place,

" Estelle then broke the silence by saying that.

The shop's been here for three years? Why did I never notice… And the location is in the heart of the capital either yet I only recently got to know about it.

"You know her?

" It was my brother. He was talking to me again.

The others who were bickering a while ago had finally stopped and now their eyes were on us upon hearing Nathan's question.

"Mmm. This is Estelle. She was present during the ball,

" I informed them.

Nathan only reacted ever so slightly,

"... Is she?

"

Yes, she was, Nathaniel.

"She came late and grabbed everyone's attention, you know,

" I pointed out.

It was showstopping. Even the nobles got their eyes glued on her but to these guys, it's as if the whole thing didn't happen. Acting like they weren't there when it occurred.

Estelle flushed when I said that and shyly played with the books to distract herself.

Oof-- was that offending?

Ezekiel gazed at Estelle for a good moment, trying to figure her out probably, and nodded.

"I do recognize her a little bit… Was she the one who was wearing a champagne-colored dress?

"

"Yes, that's her. She was also with me when you fetch me,

" I added all the while looking at Nathan.

"... Ah…

" was his lame reply.

From your half-hearted response alone, I could already deduce you don't remember her at all so might as well drop the topic.

"Estelle, this is my brother Nathaniel and the crown prince. There, right beside the counter is Lord Janus of the Arcane Tower,

" I said to her, introducing everyone.

She instantly curtsied in front of them, looking more and more ruffled.

"Estelle greets His Highness, the Crown Prince.

"

"Mmm…

"

"S-sir Nathan…

"

Nathan only nodded, preserving his image of a cool guy.

Estelle then turned towards Janus and curtsied as well,

"Lord Janus…

"

I glanced at the timid Estelle and then back to the four flashy men. Now that I had sorted my feelings and with my early misgivings gone, I finally got a clear head. I was freaking out earlier because of everyone appearing at once, but now I can breathe freely.

"We're really not going to buy anything here right? Why don't we get out of here because we're being a nuisance? More especially, we're crowding the shop,

" I noted.

"I agree. You all should leave,

" Janus sympathized with a big grin on his face.

Bruh.

"Then we will go ahead, Lord Janus,

" Ezekiel bid his goodbye.

Nathan grabbed my arm and placed me on his side, being very protective all of a sudden. I couldn't even properly say my farewell to Estelle and had only waved at her which she also returned.

It seems that my brother doesn't want me sticking to Lukas. I have no idea whether it's because he doesn't trust him or because he's only being wary.

Outside, the four of us kept walking. I was in the center, nestled between three towering guys. Seeing that all three of them possess extraordinary looks even though they are wearing peasant clothes, our group naturally gained the attention of others.

So much for being low profile…

"The sun hasn't set yet, we can continue with the search,

" Ezekiel stated.

"That's fine with me,

" Lukas agreed.

We stopped walking for the time being as they discussed among themselves while I listened. Nathan looked at me with a thoughtful expression on his face as if he was reluctant to leave me alone. After all, I am here to walk around the capital.

"Nadia, you should go home,

" he then told me.

Eh?

"But I don't want to go home yet. Can't you just bring me along? I can help you search,

" I said.

I mean, they are only patrolling, right?

Nathaniel was of course opposed to that idea and had opened his mouth to express his thoughts on it. Yet for some reason, he clamped his mouth just as instantly.

"It's dangerous…

" he then muttered.

Inside his head, Nathan was actually about to say that it's dangerous for a woman like me to be outside but then remembered what happened years ago and held back. He was surprisingly worried that I might get offended and got angry at him again.

Needless to say, I wouldn't get to know that unless I could read his mind.