IPAMB 7

Chapter: 7

So something like that had happened.

It wasn’t mentioned in the original story, so I hadn’t known.

But something feels strange.

As far as I know, Duke Argent doesn’t dislike Cain. He doesn’t even find him troublesome.

Then why would he say something like that and not even reply?

“……That did happen, but it isn’t something Lady Winiel needs to worry about, so there’s no need to think too deeply about it.”

With those words—telling me once again to let it go—the maid closed her mouth.

She even pressed her lips tightly together, as if regretting having spoken.

Hmm. But I can’t just let the conversation end here.

Sorry, but since she’d already opened her mouth, I intended to squeeze out as much information as I could.

“You seem to know a lot.”

“I’ve worked here for a long time, and I was originally assigned as the young master’s personal maid.”

“Wow, then you must know other things too. Has the communication magic device not been used since then?”

“…….”

“Can’t you tell me……?”

“……It is used.”

Each word the maid spoke was mixed with a sigh.

I simply nodded, listening as if I didn’t know anything.

“It’s used to receive messages. Not often, but important news does come through from time to time.”

“So it used to be more frequent, and then it changed?”

“……No. The frequency of messages is about the same as before.”

“What?”

“I can’t tell you the contents, but we received a message just a few days ago.”

If he doesn’t want contact, shouldn’t the other side stop contacting him too?

It contradicted what Duke Argent was said to have done.

There has to be some kind of misunderstanding.

At this point, even if Cain refused, I’d have to summon Duke Argent somehow and talk to him.

“So, in any case, the young master doesn’t plan to inform the Duke, since he thinks this isn’t a big deal.”

“That’s correct.”

“And I have no right to get involved in this matter.”

“……That’s correct.”

“Hmm. Even so, I need to meet the Duke, so please call him.”

“Pardon?”

“You may have forgotten because I saved the young master, but I originally came here to deliver a message to the Argent family.”

Thank you for the meal.

I headed to the sink to wash my plate, which I’d cleaned spotless down to the last crumb.

“So, as a saintess candidate, I need to pass a message to the Duke. This isn’t a family matter, so it’s something I’m allowed to request. Of course, while we’re talking, this incident might reach the Duke’s ears, but…….”

“…….”

“Hiding it won’t make their relationship any better, so it shouldn’t be a big problem.”

Nothing gets solved by staying still. You have to try something.

Whoosh.
The plate was rinsed clean under the rushing water.

The maid remained silent.

Uh… was I being too rude?

Only then did I realize I’d been pushing my own opinion too hard.

I quickly added, watching her reaction.

“I don’t mean you have to summon him to the ducal estate! I can go myself—I just want to talk to him…….”

Whoosh.

In the blink of an eye, the plate was pulled from my hands.

“Huh?”

I looked up at the maid who had taken it from me.

Calmly, she washed the plate in my stead, then spoke.

“You make a valid point. I will try to speak so that Lady Winiel may meet the Duke.”

“!”

My mouth slowly fell open.

“Thank you!”

I smiled brightly as I thanked her.

The maid merely bowed her head and continued her work without much reaction.

Still, the worried look on her face had softened considerably.

“But what if the young master tries to stop it again? He said something earlier. Even if we try to secretly use the communication magic device, wouldn’t we need permission?”

“It’s fine. There’s a regulation stating that permission is not required when sending urgent messages.”

What an amazing rule!

“Where is the magic device? Can I use it too?!”

“Guests are not allowed to use it. I’ll handle it.”

After placing the dried plates on the shelf, the maid led me out of the kitchen.

“This way.”

Guided by her, we arrived at the basement.

Though it was called a basement, perhaps because it was a ducal residence, it wasn’t musty or dirty at all.

It’s actually nicer than my room at the temple.

As I looked around, my gaze landed on a huge machine occupying an entire wall.

A device made of intricately connected metal components.

So this is the communication magic device.

Wow, that’s amazing!

Without thinking, I placed my hand on it—then quickly pulled it back.

I shouldn’t touch things recklessly!

Thankfully, the maid was too busy preparing the device to notice.

Phew… huh? But I feel like I sensed something just now.

I rubbed the hand that had touched it and tilted my head.

For just a moment, a familiar sensation brushed against my fingertips.

Holy power? Why would I feel that here? This is a magic device.

Was I imagining it?

I reached out to the device again.

That was when—

“What are you doing here?”

Ah! That scared me!

Startled by the sudden voice, I yanked my hand away and turned around.

“This isn’t a place one can enter freely.”

A middle-aged man in knightly attire stood there, his kind-looking face set in a stern expression.

Who is he?

I rolled my eyes around, assessing the situation.

The maid stopped what she was doing and bowed her head.

“I apologize. I needed to send an urgent message to the Duke and was about to use the magic device.”

“An urgent matter? If that were the case, shouldn’t you have informed me before coming down here?”

The man let out a deep sigh.

“Just because permission isn’t required doesn’t mean that regulation was created to be used carelessly.”

Judging by his tone, he seemed to outrank the maid.

But why is he calling it careless without even hearing the reason?

I stepped between the maid and the man.

After all, she wasn’t at fault. I was the one who insisted on coming here.

“Wait a moment. There’s a reason for this.”

“Who…? Don’t tell me—Lady Winiel?”

The man’s eyes widened.

I’ve been standing right here the whole time.

I nodded, slightly dazed.

At that, his stern expression vanished, replaced by a warm smile.

“I was actually on my way to thank you for saving the young master. To think we’d meet here. It’s a pleasure.”

“Ah? Yes… but who are you?”

“Oh, my apologies for the late introduction. I am Tristan Nelson, commander of the Argent Knights.”

…Tristan?

I knew that name.

He’s a character from the original story.

The commander of the Argent Knights and a long-time friend of Cain’s father. When Cain was left alone in the ducal estate, he was entrusted with protecting and assisting him.

But at the same time—

He was the one who spread malicious rumors, making young Cain isolated among the servants.

In truth, he was jealous of Cain’s father—for rising in status by marrying Duke Argent.

Unable to directly harm him, he instead poured his malice onto his son, who had been left alone in the estate.

I really hate him.

Even though it hadn’t happened to me, my mood soured.

I had seen with my own eyes how deeply Cain was hurt by the rumors this man spread.

Come to think of it, later on, after Cain’s father passes away, this guy confesses to the Duke and gets rejected.

That’s when it’s revealed that he was the one spreading the rumors, leading to a heartfelt conversation between Cain and his mother.

I was planning to subtly suggest to the Duke that he look into this man once I met him…

But running into him like this made me want to deal with him immediately.

But I don’t have any evidence. His crimes are exposed later, when he vents his anger after being rejected.

I have to endure it. For now, I have to endure.

“Lady Winiel? Why are you looking at me so frighteningly… haha.”

Since I was just standing there silently, Tristan laughed awkwardly and cleared his throat.

“Ahem. Anyway, Rain, stop operating the device for now and step back. Let’s discuss this first.”

At Tristan’s gesture, the maid—Rain—rose with a shadowed expression.

Ah, wait. That won’t do!

I quickly stepped between them.

“Lady Winiel?”

“Just a moment. We need to use the magic device. There’s a reason.”

“What? Why would Lady Winiel…?”

Tristan trailed off, looking troubled, then pressed his forehead as if he understood.

“Don’t tell me—you were trying to contact the Duke yourself? That isn’t permitted under the regulations.”

“I’m not doing it personally. I said I have an urgent message, and she kindly offered to help.”

“Even so, that won’t do. The Duke is currently very busy. The young master knows this and said he doesn’t want to disturb him.”

“Using a communication device isn’t that much of a disturbance.”

“But we cannot ignore the young master’s wishes. He doesn’t want to cause even that brief interruption.”

Says the person who ignores his feelings the most.

I suppressed the frown forming on my face.

And then it hit me.

This man doesn’t want me talking to the Duke.

He was probably worried I’d report the black magic attack.

If the Duke learns something serious happened to Cain, he’ll investigate.

And then he’d discover that the servants were avoiding Cain.

Or worse—he might uncover the fact that Tristan was the instigator.

Once I realized that, Tristan’s cautious behavior made sense.

“Yes, and?”

“……Pardon?”

“So what are you going to do? I have a message urgent enough that I’m willing to cause a brief disturbance to deliver it.”

But what does that have to do with me?