After returning home, while bathing alone, Mirena found an item in her pocket.

At the same time, her sealed memories began to slowly resurface.

She felt as if she was back at the moment of her kidnapping—carried on someone’s shoulder.

Mirena had struggled desperately then.

Finally, she bit down hard on the arm of the person carrying her.

Immediately, she jumped off his shoulder.

Mirena broke free from the man and ran back the way she came.

But the enemy wasn’t foolish; they’d already tightly surrounded the area.

At the spot where Mirena tried to flee, another cloaked figure appeared.

Surrounded by so many, she froze, unsure what to do.

“Your Highness, it’s me…”

Hearing a familiar voice, she looked toward the small figure blocking her path.

The person removed their hood.

Before Mirena stood a familiar face: long orange hair draped over clean shoulders, her previously dirty cheeks now spotless.

For a moment, Mirena didn’t recognize her.

“N-Nym!? What are you doing here… and who are they all…”

The surrounding figures lowered their hoods, revealing long ears like hers.

A slightly taller Elf with green hair stepped forward, knelt on one knee before Mirena, and apologized.

“I’m deeply sorry. I’m Doris Croft, deputy captain of the Royal Guard. After that day’s operation, countless Elvenfolk were injured. The captain—your ‘mother’—left without bandaging her wounds. Only when we learned you’d been captured did we belatedly prepare this rescue…”

“Is that so? I’m sorry… It’s my fault for running off and ruining your plan…”

“No, we came precisely to save you. Please leave now—while the Vampire Queen is still in her meeting…”

“Yes, Your Highness! Nym was rescued by them too. But let’s escape with me first—discuss later!”

Yet as Nym pulled her, Mirena’s feet stayed rooted to the floor.

“You said Hestia is the Vampire Queen?”

“Yes? What’s wrong?”

“No. I must go back. My mother’s still in their hands. If Hestia can’t find me, she’ll be in danger…”

“What? The captain was captured too!?”

Doris grabbed Mirena’s shoulders, eyes wide.

“Yes. It’s all my fault…”

Mirena explained what happened. Doris listened, dumbfounded.

“So it’s my fault…”

“It’s not your fault. Your actions were understandable…”

“Even so, I won’t leave. I’ll find where my mother is. I’ll wait for you to rescue her first…”

“Your Highness, that’s far too dangerous. At any moment—”

“Danger doesn’t matter. For my mother, I can endure it. Also—do you have anything to unlock this collar?”

Mirena asked the group. Doris examined the collar around her neck.

“This material is nearly impossible to unlock. Only Hestia’s magic code can open it…”

“I see. But I don’t actually want you to open it…”

After taking the item from them, Mirena addressed the Elven Royal Guard again.

“Please erase my memories from the past few dozen minutes. Then send me back to the pet shop’s back door. I beg you…”

“We can do that. But why, Your Highness?”

“Hestia has mind-reading. She’ll read my thoughts. If I can’t deceive myself… how can I deceive her?”

“Understood. Stay safe—we’ll arrange messengers. This magic lasts only three hours. Be alone by then, or Hestia’s mind-reading will still work…”

Thus, Mirena was returned to the pet shop’s back door.

This was their agreed-upon deception.

*The collar-unlocking tool…*

Mirena rummaged through her discarded clothes’ pockets and finally found it.

After bathing, she slipped the item into her pocket.

It was small enough to hide—undetectable by touch.

She’d keep it there, ready to use when the time was right.