Upon returning to the palace, Ethan and I immediately set about packing for our journey to the Witch’s Forest tomorrow. Since it was a long trip, we needed to leave at dawn, so packing ahead was necessary to avoid any delays that could mess up our schedule. If something went wrong, we might even arrive later than planned.

Thankfully, Seraphine had already arranged the carriage and driver before leaving, so we had no worries there. I’d heard the driver was someone trustworthy, so there was nothing more to do but trust her judgment.

As for Dietmeier, who had stayed behind in the capital, he was set to return to the Blackwood estate tomorrow in the Blackwood carriage. He’d also be informing Harold that Ethan and I would be delayed in returning, so everything was well-prepared.

“Clothes packed, food packed, camping gear packed…”

“Did you pack the bug repellent, Lilith?” Ethan asked.

“I put it in my backpack instead of the main luggage. We’ll probably need to use it constantly once we enter the Witch’s Forest, so it’ll be easier to access there. You should keep some on hand too, Ethan, and spray it regularly. I’ve heard some of the insects in the forest are venomous.”

“Got it.”

We spent the next few hours packing our travel bags together, and afterward, we washed up, had dinner, and relaxed. Soon, it was the night before our departure.

“So much has happened in just a few days…”

We’d dealt with Mechart, the fourth major boss, and the demon Ivelin. I’d revealed to Seraphine that I was the true Saintess, planned the summer event, gone on a “date” with Ethan, and helped solve the mystery with Cat’s grandmother. It was hard to believe all of this had happened within a single week, and the main summer event of Luminor Academy hadn’t even started yet.

“I feel like I’m forgetting something… Ah.”

Right, I still hadn’t asked Ethan about his wish.

I’d promised to grant him a wish once we resolved the situation with Mechart, but since he hadn’t brought it up, I figured it might be easier if I asked first.

“Maybe I’ll ask him in the carriage tomorrow? But Agnes will be with us, so that might be a bit awkward…”

Knowing Ethan, he’d probably ask for something inappropriate, and I couldn’t have that kind of conversation in front of Agnes. Of course, Ethan had the freedom to ask for his wish whenever he wanted, but I didn’t like the idea of leaving it unresolved for too long. It was a matter of pride, especially after all he’d done to help me.

“But if I ask him now, it might feel like I’m rushing him to decide…”

I wished for a casual opportunity to bring it up, but it was already too late for dinner, and I didn’t have a good excuse to call him over.

I couldn’t exactly invite him for a glass of wine right before we had to leave early in the morning.

‘Make sure to drink it alone with your lover.’

“Oh.”

Of course, there was that.

I reached into my bag and pulled out the gift from Cashimilly that I hadn’t known when to use. Opening it, I found the tea inside and decided it would be a suitable excuse.

“Tea is fine, right? It’s not like it’s wine.”

Even though we were leaving in the morning, we had enough time for a quick cup of tea. It would be less taxing on the body than alcohol, after all. The dried tea leaves had a slight pink hue, almost as if they’d been dyed, and there was even a little note explaining how to brew it properly.

“One serving. Use 6-7 leaves with 500 mL of boiling water, steep for three minutes, and be sure to savor the aroma while looking into your partner’s eyes…”

As expected from a gift intended for couples, there was only enough for two or three cups. Wait, does that mean people without a partner can’t drink this tea? The instructions seemed to poke at a past-life wound.

Well, the gift had been clearly meant for Ethan and me, so I couldn’t avoid it.

-Sniff, sniff.

“There’s a faint scent, but it’s not too strong…”

The tea leaves didn’t have an overwhelming fragrance, so it was likely that the aroma would bloom once steeped in hot water.

“…I won’t have time to drink it in the Witch’s Forest, right?”

It didn’t seem likely that we’d find a peaceful moment to drink tea during our travels, especially not under the condition that we be “alone together.” This was probably our only chance before the trip, and waiting until after we returned would feel too late. These things usually had a shelf life, so it was best to drink it while it was still fresh.

Plus, I had the perfect reason to talk to Ethan tonight. Deciding to seize the moment, I grabbed the tea leaves and knocked on the door to the room next to mine.

-Knock, knock, knock.

“Ed, are you free right now?”

I hoped he wasn’t already asleep. Given our early departure, it was possible he had turned in for the night, but fortunately, his voice came through the door not long after I knocked.

“Yeah, I’m free. What’s up?”

“I’d like to talk. Can I come in for a bit?”

“…Sure, come on in.”

-Creak.

When I stepped inside, I saw Ethan sitting at a table, writing something. So, he wasn’t in bed yet.

I remembered seeing him writing something earlier in the day, and now he was still at it. He really was diligent, even when we were so close to leaving. Judging by his formal clothes, he hadn’t even changed into his pajamas yet, so he must have been quite busy.

“What’s up, Lily? Bad dream?”

“…I already told you, that’s over. Do you think I’m a little kid who can’t sleep without someone next to them?”

“Well, that’s good, then. But even if it’s not a nightmare, I wouldn’t mind if you wanted to sleep together…”

“What?”

“N-nothing.”

Joking around, Ethan joined me at the small table in the center of the room, sitting down across from me.

“If it’s not a nightmare, what’s the reason for this visit?”

“Nothing serious. I just thought we could have a cup of this.”

“Hm?”

“It’s the tea Cashimilly gave us from her shop earlier.”

“Ah, that.”

Ethan glanced at the paper bag with the tea leaves inside as I explained.

“I figured we won’t have another chance to drink it together. Once we head to the Witch’s Forest, we won’t have much time to relax alone, right?”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“And Cashimilly did say it should be shared with a lover, so I thought we could drink it now. I mean, it’s not like I can drink it alone.”

“…L-lover…”

“I mean, we’re not really lovers, but we’re pretending to be for now. And since Cashimilly gave it to us, it makes sense for us to drink it together, right?”

“…Yeah, that makes sense.”

Understanding my reasoning, Ethan rang the servant bell to request some hot water, and soon enough, a teapot filled with boiling water was brought to the room.

I opened the teapot’s lid, placed all seven tea leaves inside, and quietly closed it again, letting the aroma of the tea slowly waft out from the spout.

-Click.

“It’ll be ready in three minutes, Ed.”

“Alright.”

“So, why don’t we talk while we wait? I actually came by to talk about something.”

“Hm?”

Ethan tilted his head slightly, seemingly curious about what I wanted to discuss, but then nodded as if he’d figured it out.

“Sure, I like talking with you. What did you want to talk about?”

“…It’s about the situation with Prince Mechart a few days ago.”

“…Why are you bringing up that dead bastard?”

The moment I mentioned Mechart, Ethan’s expression hardened. I realized I’d brought up the wrong subject and quickly corrected myself.

“No, wait, I didn’t mean it like that! What I wanted to talk about was how, after the Mechart situation, we didn’t get around to discussing your ‘wish.’”

“My… wish?”

“You haven’t forgotten, have you? I promised I’d grant you one wish once the Mechart ordeal was over.”

“…”

“…Ed?”

I couldn’t help but worry—had I been the only one holding onto that promise? Maybe Ethan didn’t care about the wish after all, and I’d just overestimated its importance. Did he not need anything from me, and I was the one clinging to it unnecessarily?

Just as doubts began to swirl in my head, Ethan nodded calmly, reassuring me.

“Ed…? You haven’t forgotten, have you?”

“Of course not. I remember.”

“Oh, that’s good… I was worried you might have forgotten to ask for your wish.”

“How could I forget? It’s a precious wish you promised me, Lily. There’s no way I’d forget.”

“…”

“So… do I have to use that wish right now, Lily?”

“...Ed?”

Ethan’s tone suddenly shifted, and he leaned forward slightly, his gaze locking onto mine. I found myself averting my eyes, feeling a bit flustered.

What’s with this atmosphere?

Something about Ethan felt different from his usual self…