After leaving Ted and the others in King's Landing, Aldis went back to the forest where Nere and the others were waiting for him on his feet.
　Even though the forest is infested with dangerous predators, it's not much different to Ardis than taking a walk in the garden.

　In order to let Nere sense his own return, he dares to head straight for home without killing any signs.
　That squire. I'm sure he's long since noticed that Aldis is approaching.

　As I walked forward, chasing away the occasional carnivorous beast I came across, the scene of my home soon appeared in Aldis' vision.
　A single-story house with its roof lower than the trees around it, a storage shed and woodshed built as dummies, an expanded gardening area that has already been turned into a magnificent vegetable garden, and an unfamiliar set of playground equipment, including swings, slides, seesaws, and jumping jacks that weren't there when we left.
　Every time Aldis came back from her trip, our house would change.

　As soon as we arrived, Ardis opened her mouth with a wry smile.

She said, "Do you have more things?

　For some reason, Nere, who was sitting in the middle of the garden, did not show any surprise at the sudden voice, but returned his words to Aldis.

'Safe return. Best of all, my Lord.'

　Her soft smile reminded me of the Lady of the Deep Window who was waiting for her guests.

''Ah!　It's Aldis!

Welcome home!　Aldis!

　The twins, who have been rummaging around behind Nere, notice Aldis and call out when they notice him.

　Just then, the sound of a blade cutting off something echoes.
　In between the faint sound of the wind shaking the leaves, that something falls to the ground, and Filia and Liana, who had been following it with their eyes, let out an involuntary gasp.

'Ah ......'

Oh, .......

　Following the twins' gaze, Aldis's eyes saw a cut off Alice Blue object.

'Oh ......'

　It's a very good idea to have a good time with them.

''It's a little early, but shall we have a meal?　My Lord.

　He is a squire with impeccable ability and behavior, if only his language is decent.
　The woman, who looks up and smiles with a smile that would have been bone-chilling to a beginning man, asks Ardis.

　Nere looks over her shoulder as she looks at me with a smiling face, and I can see her long hair, snarled off in one part.
　The imbalance that ruins a seemingly perfect appearance in an instant makes Ardis feel strangely confused.

'Nere, I'm sorry!　I'm sorry!

Nere, are you okay?　It doesn't hurt!

　A teary-eyed Filia with a pair of scissors in her hand was frantically apologizing to Nere. At her side, Liana was cringing and caring for Nere.

'Well, and ....... What's the situation?

　Ardis asks, pointing to the twins and the hair she can see over Nere's shoulder.

They wanted to cut my hair," he said. They were imitating a haircut. Well, this is...

　He put his hand to his own hair, which had been snapped off, and said, "It's no big deal," as if it were no big deal.

"-I suppose he was so distracted by the return of my Lord that he lost his mind at hand.

　I put my hand on Filia's head and gently stroke her gently to reassure her as she continues to look desperate and apologize.

'Don't worry about it, Filia. Hair and all that will grow back if you leave it alone.

But .......

　Removing her hand from Filia's head as she tried to return the words, Nayle shook her wrist on the shaft to drive her away.
　There was no chanting, only a small flame created by the motion, which quickly burned the hair that fell on the grass.

'Ah ......!'

　It was Aldis who choked up at the sight of it.
　Seeing Alice Blue's hair instantly burn off as it was cut off reminded her of the conditions that had been demanded of her by the female merchant in Leytin.

'Hmm?　What's going on?　My Lord.

　To the squire who asked the question with a flat expression, Aldis began to explain the situation with a subtle expression.



　After moving the place to the house and hearing the whole situation, Nere says "I see" and says the words of understanding.
　The room is filled with a sense of life.
　The thirst-quenching herb tea is on the table and Ardis and the others are sitting on four chairs around it.

You mean that you want to get information from this woman merchant with my hair?

"Of course, if Nere doesn't like it, I'll give up the information.

　No matter how much hair you cut off, you don't know who or what you're going to use it for.
　It's natural to feel creeped out by the idea of providing it.

　I'd like to get information from Marida.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world, but I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world, and I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world.

Hm. ......

　After hearing the reason, Nere stood up and took out the dagger that he had kept in his pocket.
　And then, with the three gazes of the three of you, he bundled his hair with one hand and cut it off without hesitation.

''Na......!''

　To Ardis, who is exasperated, Nayle offers her hair, which she still has in her hands, in a bundle of twine.

It's just a hair, it's only a hair, if the Lord needs it, let him use it for good. It's a mere hair, if the Lord needs it, you may use it for your own good.

'You don't have to buzz through everything ....... One bunch would have been fine. ......

　Aldis said awkwardly to Nere, who cut off his hair without a care in the world.

I'm sure it will grow out of its own accord, even if you don't mind. It's not a bad idea to keep your neck cool for a while.

Yeah, right: ......

　Nere's hair, which was long, was broken off a little above her shoulders.
　Aldis, who had only seen her long haired appearance before, could only make a meaningless reply to her squire, who gave her an unusual impression.

''However, let me offer you two conditions on my end as well.

　Aldis was stunned by the suddenness of the situation, forgetting to even say thank you, but when Nayle sat down in a chair and cut him off, his expression instantly became serious.

''What do you mean by ...... conditions?''

What? I don't think it's a big deal.

　After taking a breath as if it were a welcome relief, Nere took a swig of the herbal tea he had made and moistened his mouth.

First thing. First, I want you to share with me the information you've gained from trading this hair. I'm not interested in digging into the Lord's past, and I don't want to force you to do so. I am not interested in asking the Lord about his past, and I don't want to force him to do so, but I want to obtain information in exchange for my hair. This is the one time I have the right to listen to what you have to say.

　Nere, with whom it has been less than half a year since they met, has a lot of mysteries, even from Aldis's point of view.
　But Aldis had never pried into Nere's origins and background.

　He hadn't intended to ask from Aldis, nor would he ever do so in the future, even if Nayle himself would talk to him.
　The main reason for this is because Aldis herself doesn't want people to explore her.

　It's not that he doesn't trust Nere, it's just that he doesn't trust her.
　If he didn't trust her, he wouldn't be living with her or leaving her to take care of the twins.

　It's just that Aldis himself doesn't know how to explain himself. It's not that I understand everything that has happened to me, and it's hard to determine how to explain it to Nere.
　That's why it's a good thing that Nere doesn't ask, and that's why I've been vague about it.

　I don't know if Nere has the same reason as Ardis, but he has never been able to find out who Ardis is.
　However, as Nere insists, this time he's going to get information in exchange for her hair. Nere would have the right to hear the results.

''Okay, I promise.''

Another condition...

　Nayle nods in satisfaction at Aldis's answer, and then mentions another condition.

'What are the conditions?'

　The squire smiled at Aldis, who turned a serious gaze on him, and his eyes narrowed.

'I shall have my hair cut.

...... Yes?

　For a moment Nere didn't understand what he was saying and Aldis asked back.
　Nere touched the end of her hair a little above her shoulders and said.

'It would be awkward as it is, wouldn't it?　I've just given the twins a haircut. And while we're at it, I'll have the Lord trim my hair.

Is that the second ...... requirement?

Yes.

I don't mind that. ......

　If you control the wind with your magic power, it will be over in an instant.
　As soon as possible, Nere stopped Ardis, who was trying to create a blade of wind with magic power.

It's a good idea to wait, my lord. It's a good idea to use scissors and not magic,

...... It'll be over as soon as you get the wind up and cut it off, right?

That would be too lacking in emotion. It will be no fun unless you take the time to prepare it slowly and painstakingly.

　As soon as he said that, Nayle took his haircut scissors and walked out into the yard with the twins in tow.

'Huh?　A haircut with scissors?　...... for other people's hair?　I haven't done that for years, ......?

　A voice from outside the house urged Aldis, who was hobbling around from his chair, to halt.

'Lord!　What are you waiting for?　Even though the sun is still high, you still have dinner to prepare!　Hurry up!

'Oh, ah, ......'

　It was not until an hour later that Aldis, who had been hurriedly held in the garden with a pair of scissors, finished cutting Nere's hair and was released.