Baryt's attempt to catch the thief in the act of receiving their response failed. However, as they waited, they did realize something. What was the thief going to trade for the necklace? Would he give everything back or only part of what he took? Would it be necklace for necklace? In that case, why the necklace, specifically?
Mencer hoped he would get the necklace back. But there was something that struck him as odd.
They missed the thief when he came to pick up the note, and they missed him again when he dropped off the next one. With skills like that, the thief should be able to break inside. But the fact that he didn't meant he knew Mencer wore the necklace around his neck and wasn't confident in taking it without getting caught.
That explained why the thief was willing to trade.
Mencer had a lot on his mind as he waited for the time to come, including how the thief knew he wanted his mother's necklace back. Out of all the things that the thief could have wanted to exchange for his own necklace back, why offer Mencer's necklace?
He had to know Mencer wanted it back more than anything else he had taken.
Mencer looked at all the guards with suspicion. He hadn't told anyone about the specifics of what the thief took, except for his guards. If there was a leak, it came from them.
However, Mencer wouldn't make it without his guards. He needed them to secure the perimeter when the time finally came to meet the thief. Mencer sat through the Prince's opening speech, feigning attention since he couldn't focus. He was too distracted by waiting for the clock to strike midnight.
Mencer stood up and bowed in greeting to everyone as the Prince introduced the guest from the sovereign state of Imra Kingdom. He was just a count's son. So, even if he came from the kingdom that oversaw the Principality, he didn't have the right to be arrogant.
The Prince's dark red eyes shone with a playful light as he looked at Mencer. But Mencer missed it as he absent-mindedly took part in the feast.
After a peaceful dinner with several courses and desserts that Mencer picked through, the official dinner was finally over, and the clock began to approach the promised time as the dance floor and mingling spaces opened.
Baryt did his best to keep annoying small-time nobles out of Mencer's hair. Fortunately, it didn't take long before people interpreted Mencer's distracted attitude as him being cold and unapproachable. Even if they wanted to get close to a noble from the Kingdom and hopefully soar through the political scene, they had to give up.
Mencer was only accompanied by Baryt as the bell signaling midnight chimed. They exchanged glances before heading toward the location that the thief had chosen for the exchange.
The balcony was far away enough and around a corner that no one would disturb them, even if they caused a ruckus.
Mencer and Baryt had stationed the guards outside in advance. Hopefully, everything would go down smoothly. But there was no harm in having one or two guards as a precaution.
Mencer didn't bother knocking and opened the door to the balcony terrace.
"Welcome."
Lu greeted them with a wide smile. The guards below the terrace weren't exactly stealthy, but Lu had counted on Mencer preparing something like that. After all, he had carefully analyzed the weather and made sure that it would be a clear sky tonight. Even if the guards secured the perimeter, Lu was confident he could escape. It wasn't like his Master or someone like him was here to stop him.
Mencer glared at the white-haired young man, who appeared to still be wet behind his ears. A brat of a thief had robbed him of his most precious possession in his own room?
"...Fucking bastard."
"Now, now. That's no way to greet someone who offered a fair trade."
Lu brushed Mencer's insult off. It wasn't the worst he had heard. Margie wasn't exactly clean-spoken when in a foul mood, after all.
"Fair trade, my ass. Hand over the necklace, and I won't torture you."
The breeze picked up as Mencer spoke. It ruffled their hair and clothes. The training Mencer had done over the last few weeks had borne fruit, and he wielded his Blessing with ease.
"You mean this necklace?"
Lu held up the necklace he stole from Mencer with a teasing smile.
Mencer lunged forward to try and grab it, but Lu dodged to the side while making the necklace disappear from his hands. The wind brushing against his clothes as Mencer missed was surprisingly cold. But Mencer still missed, and he glared at Lu.
"How about a sign of sincerity? Where is my necklace?"
Lu had already seen the silver chain around Mencer's neck, but he wanted Mencer to bring it out.
Mencer scoffed and pulled the symbol from inside his clothes. But he let the chain hang around his neck.
Mencer controlled his breathing as he gripped the two rings with a dash.
"How do you want to do this?"
Lu shrugged.
"On three?"
Mencer nodded. As much as he wanted to catch and tear Lu apart, he wanted his necklace back more.
"Before that. How did you know I wanted the necklace out of all the things you took?"
Lu shrugged. He didn't mind answering.
"It was obvious. It was the only personal effect among all that important stuff. It's clearly something very dear to you. I figured if you wanted something back, it would be that."
"Well, you're right. One."
Mencer pulled the chain over his head.
"Two."
Lu stopped hiding the necklace in his clothes.
'"Three.'"
No one threw anything to the other.
"Aha! I knew I couldn't trust you."
Mencer pointed at Lu with a contemptuous gaze.
Lu just shrugged.
"I didn't toss it because I knew you wouldn't."
"Bullshit. Give me my necklace."
"If you give me mine."
"I'll give it to you as soon as you give me mine."
"Likewise."
"Fucking bastard."
"Grass kisser."
"What?"
Mencer raised an eyebrow at the strange insult. He hadn't heard that one before. He wasn't even sure what it meant. As he tried to figure it out, the thief vanished from the other side of the balcony.