Gina returned home and hurriedly informed Theodore, still disguised as Odell, that they would soon have to move to another country because of the urgent danger they were in. The boy was struck with terror, the blood draining from his face, since he had only just arranged to meet his sister for the swap back and now feared being trapped as a girl forever. Gina reassured him, saying that before they left, she wanted to take him somewhere special to settle one last piece of unfinished business.
Back at the palace, the trembling guards knelt and reported that they had lost track of Gina in the chaotic crowd. Cecil flew into a rage, shouting furiously and ordering every corner searched, determined to find that woman no matter the cost.
Odell hid behind a door, terrified at the sight of her father raging like a tiger, intending to quietly slip away before she got caught in the crossfire. But unluckily for her, Cecil's sharp instincts caught sight of her, and he called out sharply for Theodore, making the girl's heart stop. Startled by the stern call, the girl tripped and fell flat on the floor, aching all over. Odell pouted, thinking to herself that her brother would surely be upset that she had let slip their father was already gone, while Cecil lifted her up into his arms.
The girl kept whining, saying that since tomorrow the two of them would not get to see each other all day, they absolutely had to do something together right now. Odell looked up at her father with wide, sparkling eyes, boldly inviting Cecil to sneak away from his duties the night after next and go out with her to Moon Lake.
Curious, Cecil asked why Moon Lake, of all places, and at night. Odell bashfully explained that she had heard there were fireflies there and really wanted to see them. Charmed by his son's adorableness, Cecil eventually nodded in agreement, making the girl squeal with joy.
Odell happily sealed the promise with her father just as a servant arrived to remind the young master that it was time for bed. The girl reminded her father not to break his promise, since lying was a bad thing, then cheerfully waved good night to him.
Watching his son skip away, Cecil narrowed his eyes suspiciously, sensing that something here was quite off. He had noticed that lately his child had become unusually lively and no longer seemed afraid of him the way he used to, a complete departure from his usual behaviour. Cecil bent down to pick up a teddy bear, telling himself that perhaps his son had simply grown up and felt lonely, wandering this vast estate all alone. With the mindset of a mighty warrior, he seriously considered going out to hunt down a real, full-grown bear to keep his son company. The servant broke out in a cold sweat, not daring to explain that children usually preferred toy bears, not real ferocious ones, and reluctantly agreed to carry out his master's wishes.
In a back alley, rumours spread among eavesdroppers that the crime boss Aaron was desperately searching for a healer. The guards blocking the road looked at the disguised Gina with contempt and chased her off, insisting that she showed no sign whatsoever of being someone who could use magic.
Still in disguise, Gina calmly countered, playing her trump card, claiming that she knew someone with the rare ability to perform purification magic. The guards began to waver, murmuring among themselves about whether her claim could possibly be true, since purification magic was so rare that even the royal family had been desperately searching for it. Their attitude flipped instantly. They invited her in for tea while she waited.
But Gina shrewdly noticed that these guards belonged to Cass's family, and sensing that something was off, she excused herself, claiming urgent business, and quickly left behind a note explaining how the crime boss Aaron could contact her before slipping away. Aaron Odyssey, the fiery-haired black market boss, appeared holding the note, listening to his subordinates report on the situation.
The following night at Moon Lake, Cecil arrived at the meeting spot but found no sign of his son. Instead, a timid servant handed him a letter the young master had left behind. In the letter, the boy invited his father to play hide-and-seek, with the rule that he had to find him within twenty minutes and absolutely no cheating, complete with an adorable little drawing. Helpless against his son's mischief, Cecil ordered the servant to stay put while he went to search for his precious child himself.
He ventured alone deep into the dense forest surrounding Moon Lake, where a thick fog was beginning to settle.
Meanwhile, Gina too was desperately searching for Odell amid the thick fog, her heart burning with worry. Just a moment ago the excited child had asked her mother to play hide-and-seek and then dashed off, leaving Gina calling frantically after her.
As Gina groped her way through the fog, she suddenly spotted a pair of unfamiliar legs standing before her. Cecil, taken aback, called out his son's name, while Gina grew anxious. The figure before her was far too tall, and the fog obscured his face, so she could not make it out clearly. Cecil politely apologised for being so absorbed in searching for his child that he had not watched where he was going, and kindly asked the strange woman whether she was all right.