The two stared at each other for a brief moment before continuing the conversation. Even the maids noticed a certain hostility between them. With a polite nod, Rebecca gave the slightest possible bow.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
Without a doubt, her response was polite, yet cold. Elara kept the smile on her face as she took another step forward.
"I was surprised when I heard Leon got engaged so quickly. It's been so long since I last saw him. I have to admit... I've missed him."
The maids were confused for a moment because, from what they had heard, Leon had met Elara at a banquet. Rebecca continued observing every expression on the girl's face. Her smile remained the same, but her eyes carried no warmth.
"Is that so?"
"Of course. After all, we grew up together."
Rebecca remained silent. That alone was enough for Knigrave to take a subtle step forward, positioning himself almost imperceptibly between the two. Jirena also noticed the change in the atmosphere, but unlike Knigrave, she simply placed a hand against her cheek as though surprised. Elara glanced at Knigrave's subtle approach and gave a small smile before looking back at Rebecca.
"You don't have to be so tense. I just wanted to talk."
"Then talk."
Rebecca replied calmly, but there was an unusual weight in her voice that made Jirena lightly cover her mouth.
"Leon never talked much about his family."
For a fraction of a second, Elara's smile faltered before returning to normal. As if remembering something, overwhelming confidence appeared on her face once more.
"That must be because you've only known each other for a few days."
"Who said it was only a few days? You yourself said you hadn't seen him in a long time. The two of us could have known each other for a year without you ever knowing."
"I'm sorry, but I'm certain that's not the case, Lady Rebecca."
The confidence in her words was so great, and that smile was so irritating, that this time it was Rebecca's smile that faltered for a brief moment. Even Knigrave felt as though he could cut through the tension between them with a blade. Politely, Elara raised her hand toward a restaurant.
"Would you like to have something to eat? It's my treat."
"How kind of you. Of course I'll accept. I can use this opportunity to learn more about my husband."
"Of course. I have many stories to tell about the two of us."
Jirena placed a hand on her chin and followed the two of them, along with the maids and Knigrave. To be honest, every sentence they exchanged amused her a little after everything that had happened over the past few days.
As she remembered what had happened, her eyes lowered for a moment before she shook her head. Then her gaze shifted to Knigrave, who was cracking his fingers in a threatening manner while looking at the two women.
'Why is he doing that? You know what, I'd better not worry about it too much. That knight is strange.'
As they entered the restaurant, several shadows began surrounding the place. Even though it was daytime, they were almost impossible to notice because of how fast they moved. Only one person followed them without even bothering to hide her presence properly, something that caught Knigrave's attention.
'A woman?'
The woman walked toward them with complete calm. Both Elara and Rebecca noticed her shortly after Knigrave came to a stop.
"Can I help you with something?"
"Yes. You could say I'm looking for someone... my son. Since you all seem to be nobles of this city, I'd like to ask if you know Leon Solfyr."
The eyes of the maids, Knigrave, Rebecca, and Jirena widened in surprise. After a few seconds, everyone became suspicious of the woman standing before them. Before anyone could say anything, Solene spoke calmly.
"My name is Solene—"
"You've got a lot of nerve coming here and saying you're Leon's mother after abandoning him, you old woman."
Elara's words left everyone even more shocked than Solene's introduction itself. That confirmed the woman before them truly was Leon's mother, and at the same time, hearing Elara speak that way was unbelievable. In fact, the most unbelievable thing was her expression. She kept her head slightly raised while a gaze full of contempt was plainly visible on her face.
'Old woman?'
Several veins bulged on Solene's forehead. A strained smile appeared on her face. Even before meeting Elara, she had already disliked the girl because she had always heard people praising her beauty, but now a personal hatred was beginning to grow in her heart.
"I'm sorry, I think there's been a misunderstanding—"
"Just say what you came here for already. It must be one of your schemes. Actually, it's better not to let you do anything at all. Knigrave, get this woman out of here."
Jirena's mouth hung open, while Rebecca's face showed complete confusion over the situation. Knigrave hesitated for a moment, but stepped forward to remove Solene from the area.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but those are my orders. Perhaps if I speak with Lord Leon, you might—"
"Tsk... It seems the plan didn't work."
Solene's eyes swept across the group before she snapped her fingers. Suddenly, everyone was surrounded by the shadows that had previously been moving in secret. Realizing the situation, Knigrave drew his sword, while Jirena stepped in front of the hooded figures. The maids also surrounded Rebecca and Elara to protect them.
"Who are you?"
"It doesn't matter. The only thing you need to know is that if you want to stay alive, you'll have to hand Rebecca over to us."
Rebecca narrowed her eyes upon hearing her name mentioned. Beside her, Elara snorted in dissatisfaction.
"They're here because of you, because you're Leon's wife. Without a doubt, they're under that old woman's command."
"...I understand."
Rebecca's eyes turned cold as her magic began activating to protect herself in case they cast any spells. Knigrave assumed a fighting stance and prepared to attack if anyone took a single step forward.
Seeing that movement, the hooded figure standing in front of the irritated Solene pulled out a stone. Jirena's eyes widened slightly, but before she could warn the others, everyone was swallowed by an intense light.
Moments later, that entire area had vanished, along with part of the restaurant.
"What happened?"
Several of Leon's knights who were in the city rushed to the scene. After examining what remained, they realized that those involved had most likely been taken to another dimension.
"We have to go after them."
"But how? We don't have enough power to enter."
"Then let's inform Lord Leon and our commanders."
As they began communicating, one of Leon's knights arrived at the scene. That man was one of the leaders of the Order of Leon's Knights and had participated in the previous battle at the border.
'From the looks of it, I'll have to help Leon once again. What would he ever do without me?'