SEVL 4

Chapter 4

It took quite a long time to reach the Empire. Even though I had installed as many acceleration magical devices on the carriage as possible, the distance between the Duchy of Riloni and the Empire was immense.

Meanwhile, Piyakie sprawled across my lap and asked,

<Kiana, what exactly are you planning to do in the capital? Are you going to start some huge business, become insanely rich, and use money to pressure Prince Hitton?>

“What are you talking about? I have no sense of economics, so I couldn’t do something like that. I know how to spend money, not earn it.”

“What are you saying? I have no connections in the Empire, so I couldn’t do that either. I know how to criticize politicians, but I don’t know how to play politics.”

I understood myself perfectly. Piyakie tilted her head with a doubtful expression at my calm and humble answers.

She asked in a very anxious tone.

<…You’re not planning to honestly spill everything to your family, are you?>

“Why not?”

I blinked, and Piyakie’s beak dropped open as if she’d just heard the worst possible answer.

<Kiana, think carefully.>

She spoke seriously.

“Of course not. Who’d believe me? I’ve always been impossible, and I spent half my time hiding behind closed doors.”

I answered nonchalantly.

“Exactly. That’s why I have to go back and make an effort.”

<Hmm… yeah… effort… hmm, effort…>

Piyakie shrugged, looking unsure.

Of course—during my childhood at the Prellai manor, I had only been a nuisance to my family. By the time I was sixteen, I had grown into a grimly exemplary little villainess. People always said, “The Prellai manor has an angelic Melisa and a devilish Kiana.”

Still, cooperating with my family was my Plan A. That was why my first destination was the manor.

Piyakie tilted her head, still worried, and spoke again.

“Honestly, I’m worried about that too. That’s why I also have a Plan B.”

I rested my chin on my hand and gazed out the window.

“Help ‘that man,’ the greatest enemy of Hitton, with his revenge. Let him carry us along. Before Hitton ruins us in a year with treason charges, we’ll use someone else’s hand to bring him down faster.”

“Anyway, it seems Prince Hitton is in a tight spot recently… maybe because he expects us to side with the crown prince.”

When Melisa had said that from prison, I had no idea what she meant. But thanks to the original story, I could now somewhat understand the situation: “Prince Hitton is in a bit of trouble.”

<Oh, the enemy of my enemy is my friend?>

“Exactly.”

My voice lowered as I thought of the days to come.

“I’ll get along with my family, and also actively help ‘that man.’”

The Empire’s capital, Rafahan.

“Ah…”

A black-haired young man tilted his head slightly as he received a report in his office.

“Kiana Prellai is returning to the Empire? Just like that?”

“Furthermore, she’s canceled all patents registered under the academy name for joint research. The academy is in chaos because of it…”

The young man squinted as he read the report.

Tall and well-built, with long yet decadently sharp eyes, he gave off an instinctive sense of authority. His neat attire was flawless, and even the pens on his desk were perfectly aligned.

“Did something happen at the academy?” he asked suspiciously.

A large foreign subordinate immediately answered.

“Well, it’s a very closed-off place, so I don’t know the details, but it seems the academy didn’t anticipate this situation either.”

The subordinate’s stern expression reflected his seriousness. His pronunciation was slightly off because he wasn’t completely fluent in the Imperial language.

“Judging by her route toward the capital, she’s probably heading to the Prellai manor. Perhaps she’s finally fed up with being stuck in that rural corner doing research?”

The report ended there.

“That’s hard to say…”

After a brief silence, the young man slowly rose. Despite his languid movements, his eyes were sharp, like a predator used to ruling.

“Well, finally, we’ll meet.”

A faint smile crossed his face, clearly brimming with anticipation.

“It’s been a long time.”

We traveled for several days without rest. By the time we reached the capital, Rafahan, it was the middle of the night.

<Wow, we’re almost at the manor!>

I held Piyakie by the hand as she wriggled excitedly, peering out the window.

“Wait a moment.”

<Yes?>

I pulled a small note from my pocket and placed it in her beak.

“You have a task. There’s someone this must be delivered to.”

<Now… work…?>

Piyakie flapped her small wings and immediately protested.

“Piyakie.”

I gently pressed her chubby cheek, letting her know the reality.

“You follow orders, understand? I’m your master now, not Melisa.”

<Ugh… sob…>

I offered her a gentle piece of advice about life with a master.

“You can’t just sit back and sponge off me like that.”

Piyakie flinched and whined, protesting.

“I know. Anyway, deliver this secretly to P.O. Box 1135.”

<Secretly? That’ll take a whole week!>

“I know that too.”

Each familiar had a unique ability. Piyakie’s was secret delivery: she could transport small items anywhere without being detected. Long distances were impossible, so it required time—about a week according to Melisa’s memory.

She frowned.

“Piyakie.”

I said firmly,

“Souls don’t have capillaries, so they can’t bruise.”

<…>

Piyakie flew out the window, muttering,

“I hope magical engineering fails.”

A bold little curse, but it didn’t matter—magical engineering wasn’t going to fail just because of her.

Alone in the carriage, I took a deep breath.

“The Empire… the capital Rafahan… and the Prellai manor.”

For the first time since leaving at sixteen, I was returning to a place that was home in name only.

My heart pounded. I had no fond memories here. To be precise, I had no honorable memories here. Just thinking of the grand, ornate manor made sweat trickle down my spine.

“It’s okay… it’s okay. I can do this. It’s okay. I’ll try. I can try now.”

I tried to calm my stomach as the carriage arrived at the manor gates.

Though it was midnight, the manor was bustling. That night, a maid of my grandfather had attempted an assassination with a poison-coated dagger. Naturally, the attempt failed—the Prellai manor was not to be trifled with. The important thing was that when I arrived, the manor was in complete chaos.

As I appeared in the garden, the servants were startled.

“L-lady? You’re really… Lady Kiana?”

“Lady… without any notice… suddenly…!”

“Forgive me, Lady! There’s been an assassination attempt tonight, so the manor is in disarray. If you wait a moment, the duke will…”

Of course—after six years, showing up suddenly was bound to cause confusion.

“Don’t fuss too much. I’m tired from the journey, so I’ll go straight inside to rest. I’ll greet grandfather tomorrow, so just know that.”

I said, slightly aloof, and walked past them. The chaos actually made it convenient to postpone meeting my grandfather.

But I couldn’t delay meeting him forever.

“I can’t just avoid grandfather because it’s awkward or uncomfortable like before.”

I took another deep breath.

“He’s the only head of the Prellai I can trust… I have to get closer, warn him, and prepare together for the coming dangers.”

Slowly, I stepped into the massive Prellai manor—a place I had never imagined returning to on my own—my uncomfortable home once again.