Chapter : 13
Ted wasn’t a major character, but he was an impressive man because he was of fairy descent. I recognized his face from a few previous encounters, and I had heard his voice multiple times.
“I saw that the guild building burned down. What happened?”
“Some lunatic suddenly appeared and set it on fire. You weren’t supposed to know.”
He explained that the arsonist had been so meticulous that there was almost no chance to escape.
“We fled through the secret passage underground. Even if you sift through the ashes, you won’t find the secret passage.”
“Do you know who set the fire?”
“Not exactly, but I have my suspicions. To dare burn down a guild… no matter what, I’ll find out who it was.”
Ted’s eyes were filled with a thirst for revenge.
“Ambitious. Then what about the task I assigned you?”
“I actually came because of that. That wretched guy burned down the branch too, so I’ll have to start from scratch, but I’ll gather it all for you. Just extend the deadline.”
“Are there no surviving guild members?”
Ted hesitated for a moment at the sudden question but then answered honestly.
“The informants who stayed outside are safe, but among those who stayed in the building, I’m the only survivor.”
“No money either?”
“The fire was so extreme it even melted metal. Fortunately, there was a little money entrusted to the guild by the merchant group, so I distributed that to the guild members. But yes, now it’s all gone.”
Ted shrugged.
I had heard a rumor that the intelligence guild pooled all their income, so I asked—just as I thought.
“Good. Then come to Levian.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Since the guild building burned down, you have no money and nowhere to go, right? That’s why you’re wandering around like this.”
He blinked, clearly not understanding.
“You know our family is famous for offering great employment conditions, right?”
“Um… my lady?”
“And if it’s as my personal secretary, the conditions are even better.”
“Ah!”
At my last remark, he finally seemed to grasp my intention.
“Very well. I’ll be personally employed by you.”
“In return, I need to be prepared for danger. Tell me about the one who burned the guild. Just confirm whether it’s the person I suspect.”
“You have someone in mind?”
“Silas Bernstein.”
When I spoke the name of the mage tower lord, Ted’s previously cheerful eyes filled with deadly intent again.
“You guessed correctly.”
“You’re going to take revenge on him, right?”
“Yes.”
It’s difficult for me to figure out the mage tower lord’s motives on my own.
I also need to find out why he appeared during my last cycle. It could be an opportunity, but he could also be a hindrance.
So it’s better to assign this task to the most suitable person.
“Good. But your appearance is too conspicuous, so we need to disguise it.”
“If it’s a disguise, I can handle it.”
“I’ll be counting on you, Ted.”
When I extended my hand, Ted looked surprised but soon laughed cheerfully and shook it.
A good card had fallen into my hand.
“I heard you went to the party at the Duke of Licianshire’s estate, Roa.”
Stella, as usual, was stretched out on the sofa, picking grapes.
“That’s right! But I didn’t even see you. Where were you?”
Pony, eating an éclair, chimed in.
“I was too tired, so I just greeted the Duke and went home.”
“How tired must you have been to leave immediately? You didn’t even say hi to us.”
Stella frowned and sat up.
“Did Merina Eikel bother you again?”
“That’s one reason, I suppose.”
“Why is she always so desperate to get to you?”
Pony jabbed the éclair with her fork as if attacking Merina.
“She probably did the same thing this time. ‘The Duke is mine! So don’t approach him!’”
Pony, with her adorably expressive face, acted it out like a performance, and Stella doubled over laughing.
“Hearing her talk makes you so irritated. Anyone else listening would think she’s the only villain.”
“And the rumors are ridiculous. She fell and hurt her cheek, yet people say Roa hit her?”
My friends, who had seen Merina’s behavior toward me firsthand, took my side.
They were precious friends who defended me and my family even when I was accused of treason.
“It’s best not to get involved with that woman, but of course, she’s the emperor’s sister. She gets invited to every party.”
“She should know better than to show up.”
“Pony, if she had any sense, we wouldn’t be this mad.”
“Oh, Stella, you’re right!”
“That empty-headed girl thinks all men are on her side. She genuinely believes everyone will support her, it’s scary.”
Unless someone witnessed the incident with Merina directly, like my friends or Violet at the last tea party, everyone assumes I’m the villain.
It’s as if the world dictates that the heroine is the heroine and the villainess is the villainess, no matter what I do.
At first, not knowing this, I recklessly fought and ended up dying several times.
“By the way, who’s everyone taking to the royal ball?”
Stella picked up a new bunch of grapes.
Ah, the royal ball—the real story begins.
The crown prince, who dislikes the new empress who took his mother’s position, ends up being drawn to Merina.
At first, he dislikes her because she’s the empress’s sister, but gradually, he falls in love.
Normally, I fight with Merina at this ball, and the crown prince develops sympathy for her because she’s the victim of my schemes.
Now I won’t fight Merina, and even if we do, I won’t allow her to be treated as a victim.
“Stella, you said your fiancé is coming, right?”
“Yes.”
The Marquess Meritney, whose estate is by the sea, frequently exchanges with a duchy across the waters.
Stella is engaged to the duke’s second son.
“They’re coming as a diplomatic delegation. They were told to bring many good items this time, so everyone’s excited.”
“Really?”
The duchy produces many luxury items like jewels and accessories. Though small, it’s wealthy.
Roa and Pony, as Stella’s friends, get the privilege of first pick of these goods.
“Shouldn’t you be nervous? Considering the crown prince’s age, it’s that time.”
“Eek! No! Don’t joke about that, Stella. Marrying the always frowning crown prince just thinking about it is horrifying.”
Pony aggressively tore the éclair apart.
“But it’s true, Pony. The duke has no daughters.”
Stella made a very practical observation.
Since the duke has no daughters, both Stella and I occupy high positions in the empire.
If Stella is excluded, I become the most likely candidate for the crown prince’s fiancée.
Next would be the young ladies of prominent count families, and Pony is one of them.
“I don’t want to. I’ll play around and marry later. The crown prince isn’t my type anyway.”
Don’t worry, Pony. The crown prince will flounder in Merina’s web regardless.
“Should we suggest the crown prince marry a princess of the kingdom?”
“That’s not a bad idea. Is the princess coming of age this year?”
“Yes. I’ll tell my father to propose her as crown prince’s consort.”
Pony was more serious than ever.
“But will your father allow it? He seems to secretly want you to become the crown prince’s wife.”
“Ugh, don’t. If they try to marry me to the crown prince, I’ll run away. Don’t forget the ship you promised me, Stella.”
“Of course.”
Since the emperor doesn’t seriously consider his son’s fiancée until the crown prince shows interest in Merina, I could remain at ease.
But to mock my complacency, the emperor summoned me.
