IBDFSML 09

“Chapter 09

Seriously, why is this castle so huge?!”

According to my plan, I should’ve already made my way to the main building of the Grand Duke’s castle and been leisurely shopping by now…

But instead, I hadn’t even managed to leave the annex and was wandering around in a daze.

Just then—

“Elda, did you hear the news?”

Voices drifted from somewhere nearby. They sounded like young maids.

‘Hmm? This kind of setup…?’

Pressing myself flat against the wall, I quietly crept toward the source of the sound.

‘In situations like this, eavesdropping is the rule.’

When I slipped into the direction of the voices, a large kitchen came into view.

It was where meals for the annex were prepared, and inside were two maids.

“I heard from the maids working in the main building that the head of the Noel merchant group arrived at the castle this morning.”

“Oh, the one that’s been trading with our duchy for years?”

“Yeah. They say he brought a whole year’s worth of supplies for the North, and the procession was so long they couldn’t even see the end of it.”

“Well, that makes sense. He came all the way from the capital, and it’s a once-a-year large-scale deal.”

“Ugh, seriously. If we worked in the main building instead of this shabby annex, we could’ve seen all kinds of rare goods.”

At her colleague’s grumbling, the maid called Elda chuckled.

“Don’t say that. The head merchant and his entourage are known to be very difficult guests. I heard the staff had a hard time dealing with them last year and the year before.”

“So what if it’s hard? If we butter them up and get even a little extra on the side, it’s worth it~!”

“I still prefer the annex. It’s quiet and peaceful.”

“You’re weird. What’s so good about serving that illegitimate prince in this gloomy place?”

‘Excuse me?!’

I swung an imaginary fist at the back of the complaining maid’s head.

‘Should I just go smack her?’

“Marie, you shouldn’t talk like that about the young master we serve.”

“Who cares? It’s not like anyone’s listening. Ugh… the top floor of the main building, where the guest rooms are, must be packed with rare items. I bet the skilled staff have already swiped one or two things. I’m so jealous!”

‘What did she just say?’

My eyes widened.

Packed with rare items to the point you can’t even step inside?

And some of the staff might’ve already stolen a few?

Absolutely not.

“I haven’t even stolen anything yet—who do they think they are?!”

I shouted without realizing it. Startled, Elda turned toward the corner where I was hiding.

“…Huh? What was that just now?”

Oops.

I quickly ducked my head and pressed myself flat against the wall.

‘I am a wall. I am air. I will not be detected.’

“…Guess I imagined it. Sounded like a mosquito buzzing.”

“A mosquito? In this freezing weather? You must’ve heard wrong.”

“…I guess so.”

‘Phew. That was close.’

Still crawling low, I slipped out of the kitchen.

“Ah—achoo!”

The razor-sharp snowstorm forced a sneeze out of me.

“Ugh, it’s so cold! Sniff.”

Shivering, I pulled the hood of my pink pajamas tight and peeked through a window into the guest room on the top floor of the main building.

“…This is way more than I expected…”

“…But still…”

“…I wanna go home…!”

Inside were three people I could identify at a glance.

A man wrapped in a luxurious fur robe, wearing flashy gemstone rings—that had to be the head of the Noel merchant group.

Next to him, a middle-aged woman in a fancy fur coat, pacing anxiously—his wife.

And rolling around on the floor like a spinning top, throwing a tantrum, was a little girl—their daughter.

All three of them looked well-fed and glossy, completely out of place in the bleak northern atmosphere.

“Hmm, let’s see.”

I pressed my forehead against the glass and scanned the room carefully.

In one corner of the massive, luxurious guest room, there was a display of extremely expensive-looking clothes and accessories.

They were probably this season’s goods meant for sale to the Grand Duchess and the northern nobles.

“Perfect. There should be at least one outfit in there that suits Sion.”

Smirking, I began searching for a way inside.

The window wouldn’t budge when I pushed it.

“…Should I just break it?”

But that would definitely cause too much noise.

“Hmm… what to do?”

Just then—

Knock knock.

A loud knock came from the door.

The merchant and his wife quickly straightened themselves.

“Ahem, come in.”

A retainer entered.

“I am Jerome, direct aide to Her Grace the Grand Duchess. A banquet has been prepared this evening in your honor.”

After he left, the couple immediately dropped their polite act.

“Those northerners are already trying to pressure us.”

“Exactly! Looks like they’ll push those ridiculous prices again this year!”

They grumbled, revealing their true intentions.

And then—

“…We encountered bandits on the way here.”

‘…Bandits?’

I stared at him.

That was obviously a lie.

(…time passes…)

Back in the guest room.

As soon as the door closed, the merchant couple let out the breath they’d been holding.

“I thought I was going to suffocate!”

“Same here! I was so nervous we’d get caught…!”

They collapsed onto the sofa, looking ten years older.

Only Sonya, who had eaten well, looked cheerful.

“…Do you think it worked?”

“Not yet. We’re not safe until we recover the hidden goods.”

So they had hidden the supplies.

My mind started racing.

Later that night.

After confirming everything was quiet, I crawled out of Sonya’s coat.

“Ugh, my legs are cramping…”

The merchant and his wife were snoring loudly.

I headed for the window.

Escaping safely was more important than shopping now.

Especially after overhearing that conversation.

“They hid supplies…”

“Alright. First—escape.”

I pushed the window with all my strength.

“Hngh—!”

SLAM.

“Gah!”

I smacked headfirst into the glass.

The merchant stirred.

“Hm? Perdicceus? You’re back already?”

He stumbled toward the window.

I quickly hid in the curtain.

After a moment, he went back to bed without closing the window.

‘Now’s my chance!’

I darted out—

But—

Grab.

“…???”

Something grabbed me.

I looked down.

A chubby little hand.

‘Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.’

“Hehe! I caught it!”

It was Sonya.

“A shiny, pretty fairy!”

“….”

She ran over and shoved me into a birdcage.

Click.

“Now you’re mine! I’ll raise you forever!”

“…No thanks.”

Later.

I tried to break out—

But suddenly—

A giant centipede crawled toward me.

“AAAAAAAAH!!! <Unstoppable Fangirl Power!!!>”

I spammed my skill wildly.

Finally—

SMACK.

The centipede died.

Panting, I tried to use my skill again—

Nothing happened.

Ding—

Event Helper: Your fangirl energy has been completely depleted!

“…What?”

“…YOU SHOULD’VE TOLD ME THAT FIRST?!”

And just like that—

I collapsed.

“…I’m screwed.”

Morning came.

Sonya hugged the cage happily.

“It’s mine!”

I was smuggled out with them—

And before I could escape—

The carriage sped away from the Grand Duke’s castle.

I stared out the window at the castle growing smaller in the distance.

“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”