Chapter 19
Prim had reached the point of being moved by Baron Corvas’s stupidity.
He didn’t simply steal Prim’s perfumes.
Whenever he shut himself inside the perfume laboratory and failed to create a blend, he would start looking for special ingredients.
“Enough of this, Vianna! You! Stop making such vulgar noises while you eat!”
“S-sorry…!”
“Oh! I think I just got an idea.”
At that moment, Prim would raise her hand and say so. Hearing those words, the baron and his wife would immediately stop whatever they were doing and hurry Prim toward the perfumery room.
— Vianna! What’s wrong with the way your clothes are tied?!
— I want to do some perfumery.
— Vianna! Don’t walk making such noise!
— I just got an idea for a new perfume.
— Vianna!
— If I go to the perfume lab right now, I think something good will come to me.
In this way, as Prim defended Vianna from abuse whenever she could, about a month passed.
Finally, an opportunity appeared.
The baron and his wife decided to visit the Temple of Tamdrion instead of the Temple of Letemore to offer fragrance.
“Good grief. Even if it’s autumn, the weather is still hot. Why go all the way there and take forever to return?”
“You were the one who first suggested going to Tamdrion’s temple!”
“That was when we hadn’t heard any news at all. But things are going well these days…”
“This still isn’t enough.”
The baroness grumbled for a long time, clearly displeased about traveling so far, before climbing into the carriage.
Baron Corvas, meanwhile, was so preoccupied with the thought of going to the Temple of Tamdrion that he paid no attention to his wife’s complaints.
“G-goodbye, Baron, Baroness.”
“Oh, right.”
He didn’t even glance at Vianna, who had come to see them off. Then suddenly, as if he had just remembered something, he turned around and hurried back into the villa.
“Wh-what? You were the one rushing us to leave! Where are you going now?”
“Where’s Prim?”
“Where else? In her room. You said she doesn’t need to come out since she can’t even stand.”
“We should move her room.”
“Do it after we come back.”
The baroness snapped irritably after having to go back and forth unnecessarily, but the baron ignored her and rushed off like a madman, flinging open Prim’s door.
“Prim, we need to move your room. I’ll give you a better one.”
Vianna, who had followed behind in haste, glared secretly at Prim with a face twisted by despair and jealousy.
But the expression didn’t last long.
The baron personally picked Prim up and climbed higher and higher—past the third floor—to the attic directly beneath the roof of the villa.
Then he shoved Prim inside.
“…Baron?”
“Your talent is simply too outstanding. Someone might try to target you! I’m worried. Once I return, I’ll let you out again. Stay quietly here, alright?”
He repeatedly instructed a servant to bring Prim blankets, clothes, and food, sparing no expense.
Only then did he finally leave.
The baroness’s voice complaining about how unnecessary this all was faded into the distance.
Left behind, Vianna stared at the locked door with a bewildered expression. But none of the servants paid any attention to her.
* * *
Prim stared at the locked door.
I didn’t expect this.
He suddenly locked someone up?
To behave like this required more intelligence than expected.
You had to calculate someone’s value, consider the risks of losing them and the damage to property, and then think of a way to prevent it.
He’s that terrible at perfumery, yet he can think this far ahead…
Prim stared at the tightly shut door, then turned her gaze to the window.
It was just large enough for a small child to squeeze through.
I can’t unlock the door from the inside.
Prim inhaled deeply the air drifting through the crack in the window.
She smelled the rich sap scent from the branches of poplar trees—the thin stems and long leaves.
Just from that scent alone, Prim could picture the scenery beyond the window.
Towering cypress trees stretching their thick branches, dense shrubs beneath them.
At this height, I probably won’t die.
In her previous life, Rozien had once jumped down from several floors up and been perfectly fine.
She was even lighter than he had been back then.
It should be alright.
First, she would jump onto the tree outside the window.
Then slide down through branches, leaves, and shrubs.
She might get injured, but she could get out.
After that she would go straight to the perfume lab, create the fragrance she intended to offer to Barin and Yulberon, and then secretly return.
Unlocking the door from the outside wouldn’t be difficult.
Even if she returned scratched and battered, she could simply claim the curse had acted up again.
A perfect plan.
Just as Prim made up her mind—
Clink.
Prim whipped her head toward the door.
She heard the sound of metal scraping together outside.
It was the sound made when a lock was picked without a key.
Prim had always been the one picking locks from outside before. It was the first time she heard the sound from inside.
Soon the door creaked open.
Brown hair appeared first through the gap.
The boy spoke in a voice full of surprise.
“Why were you suddenly locked up? What in the world is going on—Prim!”
Seeing Prim about to jump out the window, the boy—Rozien—rushed over.
“Uh… Rozien? How did you get here?”
“What do you mean how? The servants are all whispering that the young lady of the house was locked in the attic. I came running because I was shocked. And you weren’t actually about to jump out the window, were you?”
“Well… I was going to the perfume lab… No, I mean. Just looking outside.”
Embarrassed, Prim quickly released the curtain she had been holding.
Rozien looked down out the window, then grabbed his own cheeks and stretched them.
Reality didn’t change.
“I came because Vianna said maybe I should at least bring you something to eat since you’re locked up…”
At that moment, a clinking sound followed.
The noise of dishes.
Vianna stood in the doorway holding a plate with bread and jam.
“….”
“….”
For a moment, Vianna said nothing.
With her chin raised and a cold expression, she stood there like a porcelain doll.
Then suddenly she held out the plate.
“It’s… leftovers. Eat it if you want.”
Prim was surprised.
Vianna had never liked her.
She hadn’t thought much about it before—but she certainly hadn’t expected her to bring food.
“If you’re not going to eat it…”
“Hey, hey. We barged in picking the lock, so Prim’s probably just surprised. Thanks, Vianna.”
Rozien flashed her a sly smile and took the plate.
Vianna snorted but handed it over.
Prim hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“…Thank you, Vianna.”
“Prim, eat the bread first. Did you eat anything today?”
“We’re talented at starving, remember?”
Rozien shot Prim a glare at those words, but a small smile tugged at his lips.
Vianna, however, shuddered.
Talented at starving?
Even though the orphanage was poor, the priest had never starved them.
She had no idea what that feeling was like.
“But what do you mean going to the perfume lab? At this time?”
“Yeah… I have to go.”
“What for?”
“Perfumery. I have to do it now.”
Rozien ran a hand through his hair and sighed.
“Then let’s go after you finish that bread.”
The moment he said that, Prim tried to grab the bread quickly.
Rozien laughed softly and pulled it away.
Then he tore the bread in half and spread plenty of jam over it.
The translucent apricot jam glistened like a jewel before melting softly into the bread.
“Here. Eat.”
“Should we share it together?”
“I’m full.”
Vianna replied curtly, turning her head away.
Rozien simply said he was fine too.
Although he had split the bread in half, once Prim finished one half, he pushed the remaining half into her mouth.
“Mmph.”
“Eat it all.”
She couldn’t spit it out after biting it, so Prim ended up swallowing everything.
Then Rozien turned his back to her—clearly preparing to carry her.
Vianna was startled.
“You’re really going now? Where? To the Baron’s perfume lab?”
