Malinda naturally recognized the bracelet in Arthur's hand.
It was the bracelet Baron Hausmann's Chief Swordsman had offered under pressure.
So Malinda had never considered it hers.
She had already accepted that it belonged to Arthur, along with the other ring and those ten chests of gold coins.
And now Arthur had suddenly tossed it to her.
The lady certainly would not mistake it for some "extra gift."
"Glaster of the Pale Hand came for this?"
Malinda asked directly.
"Yes, that's what my information says."
Arthur nodded.
At once, the lady examined the bracelet in her hand more seriously.
"There are inscriptions that make the wearer lighter...
It's a decent arcane item.
But surely it isn't enough for someone like that to go to all this trouble?"
Malinda frowned, reaching much the same conclusion as Arthur.
"That's what you need to investigate."
Maintaining his stance of "knowing nothing," Arthur shrugged, then shifted into an even more comfortable position, reclining halfway in his chair.
Looking at Arthur, Malinda instinctively felt that he was setting a trap for her.
But...
She was a little curious!
I might as well investigate it in secret.
With that thought, Malinda settled back into another chair.
Arthur was short on sleep.
Malinda was exhausted.
The lady had prepared so much and gone through so much for this day, determined that nothing could go wrong. Now that it was finally over, irresistible exhaustion washed over her.
Even using a mystic art to regulate herself could not stop her breathing from becoming steady a dozen or so seconds after she closed her eyes.
Arthur opened one eye and glanced at Malinda.
As it happened, Malinda opened one eye at that same moment.
After their eyes met, they both gave each other the middle finger, their faces wearing identical