Gawain walked down a long corridor. Broad windows lined one side, their panes formed from a barrier condensed out of magic, allowing those in the corridor to see the rooms beyond. He and Amber stopped before one of the windows and looked inside. In the brightly lit reception room, they saw Duchess Victoria in a snow-white dress, along with an old man sitting opposite her, clad in a short black robe and a soft black cap.
They were talking in the room, though no sound reached the corridor. The old man appeared somewhat nervous, constantly asking Victoria about certain matters, while the Duchess seated across from him answered with great patience. There was even the faintest smile on the face of the northern ruler, who rarely showed much expression.
Amber was utterly astonished by the sight and exclaimed under her breath, "Hey, hey, look! That Ice Block's poker face has been cured!!"
Gawain glanced at this Disgrace of the Alliance. "Would you dare say that to her face?"
Amber immediately planted her hands on her hips, looking entirely justified. "Obviously not. I'm not stupid."
"He looks to be in pretty good shape, better than I expected," Gawain said, ignoring Amber's babbling as he turned to Heragol beside him. "Did he know I would be seeing him today?"
"He knew, which is why he seems a little nervous. This Great Adventurer normally has a steadier mindset than anyone," Heragol said with a faint smile. "Did you know? He considers you his idol—even now, after losing his memories."
"I know. The reason he went to sea in search of the 'secret route' was to follow 'in my footsteps,'" Gawain said with a smile, a touch of sentiment in his voice. "And it was precisely because of that voyage that he lost his