The swaying carriage rolled along with Tales and Raphael sitting opposite each other in silence.
Tales studied the Secret Section agent who had shared life-and-death experiences with him in Dragoncloud City, recalling their last parting in the underground passage.
Raphael remained perfectly at ease, his dark-red eyes carrying a half-smile.
Just like when they had first met, he was confident and utterly in control.
Why was he always so confident?
And then he went and did all sorts of shady, disgraceful things, making a mess and leaving others to clean up after him.
Thinking of this, the boy who had only just escaped the Ballad Room felt his mood grow even gloomier.
"Shouldn't you have stayed in the north playing hide-and-seek with Starfaller? When did you get back?"
Unable to stand the other man's enigmatic smile, Tales broke the silence first.
Raphael curled his lips and looked out the window.
"Recently."
Just look at that. What a detailed answer.
Could there be a more thorough reply than that?
Tales coughed.
"The people who stayed in Dragoncloud City—Wyatt and Rolf, and Putilai..."
"Safe."
Raphael's answer was concise, and his lips were sealed tight.
Tales frowned.
"Gilbert said he couldn't find you in the Secret Section these past few years..."
"Confidential."
"And just now, at the Imperial Council, you disguised yourself with makeup..."
"Concealment."
"So why are you taking me to the Kingdom Secret Bureau?"
"An important matter."
After several rounds back and forth, Tales felt as though he were talking to Yordel. He was so exasperated that he laughed angrily.
"Can't you say a few more words?"
At last, Raphael turned back. His red eyes held profound meaning.
"But you were the one who said that if I wasted one more sentence..."
"You'd go ask Lady Miranda to marry you?"
Tales