"…what…the hell happened?"
"??"
Arthur blinked, genuinely confused. He walked up to her, puzzled, asking what was wrong, but the moment he stepped within arm's reach, Cattleya grabbed him and yanked him closer in a blur.
"How long were you there?"
Her voice was calm, but Arthur knew his mother was the type who could be completely expressionless even while seething with rage, so he knew she was anything but calm at the moment.
"…about a year and two months…" he replied after a slight pause.
But that response only made Cattleya's expression worsen.
There was shock, disbelief, worry, and anger in her eyes—but the only emotion actually directed at Arthur was her worry.
"Again, I ask. What's wrong?"
The answer didn't come from Cattleya, but from Lostvayne.
[Master…your concealment ring is deactivated.]
'Oh!'
And then, Arthur understood.
