Chapter – 36
“Alright.”
“Really? You won’t kill me no matter what I do?”
“Yeah. You’re the strangest person I know, so I’ve decided not to kill you. I won’t even take the mirror. I swear on the honor of the Tower Master. Now, when you wake up, I’ll cast a spell that binds me to die if you do.”
A golden light shimmered around the Tower Master’s hand and then vanished.
Still, even though I had received his promise not to kill me, I couldn’t feel happy—why, I wondered.
“Am I really that strange?”
“Yeah. The strangest.”
“…In what way am I strange?”
“You’re neither sick nor heartbroken. Your body is weak, your strength is low, and you have no mana. Yet you don’t yield to threats and aren’t afraid of death. But at the same time, you value objects more than your own life?”
Hearing it from someone else’s mouth, I had to admit—it did sound strange.
“Also, you’re not afraid of me, nor do you get flustered. You don’t admire my face either.”
“People like that are fairly common.”
I said confidently, but he snorted.
“Maybe they don’t get scared or flustered, but nobody has ever looked at my face without being impressed.”
“Not even His Highness the Crown Prince or Duke Lissiansher?”
After all, they were the male leads!
“What do you mean? The Crown Prince fainted at the sight of me, saying I was beautiful… hmm, the Duke didn’t exactly admire me.”
“See?”
The Crown Prince—admiring someone else’s beauty over Merina! The male lead qualities clearly fell short, so he completely escaped the role. That could have changed my fate…
“Still, the Duke wouldn’t act like you. Anyway, I won’t kill you, so I hope you’ll continue being strange.”
“I can’t stay strange forever. If something goes wrong because I act strangely, that’d be a problem.”
“I’ll take care of anyone who interferes with your strangeness.”
Hearing this from the Tower Master—the head of the illegal Blue Bird organization—sounded incredibly convincing.
If it’s something useful, even if it belongs to an illegal organization, I’d gladly accept it. As long as nobody finds out when I use it, right?
“Alright.”
“Do you remember the parchment and pen I gave you before? Use those to contact me.”
“Understood.”
The Tower Master smiled and headed toward the window that opened to the terrace.
“Take care of yourself; I’ll be going.”
Before I could ask why he didn’t leave through the door, he vanished outside the window.
“Phew…”
Everything feels so chaotic.
I rang the bell on the console.
As soon as the Tower Master left, the magic that had blocked conversation sounds seemed to have lifted, and Cache entered.
“What is it… oh, the Tower Master has gone?”
“Yeah, but I’m hungry now. Could you bring me a snack?”
“Understood, milady.”
Shortly after, my mother appeared with some light refreshments. She sat in my room and watched me eat.
“It’s good to see you eating well. The mark on your neck has faded too.”
Her worried gaze made me fill up quickly, but I continued eating.
“Yes, eat more. By the way… Duke Lissiansher and the Tower Master. Such difficult choices.”
“What choice is this for?”
“For the man who will become my son-in-law.”
Any parent with a daughter my age could certainly imagine this scenario.
For me, looping back to the same point in time repeatedly, the remaining period is usually about ten months. Judging by my actions so far, my lifespan had likely extended by more than two months.
Since two months have already passed, the remaining time is at least ten months.
This time, events have unfolded completely differently than in previous loops, so it could be longer—but it’s unwise to overestimate.
A person must always prepare for the worst to avoid becoming complacent.
Anyway, I have no time to think about marriage, and I’ve never actually been married. I had to dispel my mother’s illusions…
“One man is cold but warm to his woman, the other is ruthless but warm to his woman. And their looks are undeniable.”
…No, I think I need to set her straight.
“Mother, I see Duke Lissiansher like an older brother. As for the Tower Master, well… he probably sees me like some kind of rare animal.”
“That’s how it starts, Roa.”
Mother poured the tea herself.
“I felt the same about your father at first. I thought he was a strange man, but he kept appearing before my eyes. I spent time with him, got attached, and eventually married him.”
My father was a strange man…
Well, considering what Mrs. Meritni said, my mother had been a rare beauty in her youth, and my father must have been equally remarkable.
Even now, her youthful beauty remains, and she elegantly placed fresh fruit on my plate.
“Your father cared about a lady’s honor and all that. But if you meet a great man, there’s only one way not to ruin your reputation.”
“And what’s that?”
Mother smiled meaningfully.
“Meet several fine men.”
A grape rolled down my throat by accident.
“The key is, none of them should be inferior. Anyone should find them desirable. In that sense, the Duke and the Tower Master pass.”
Mother continued as if my reaction didn’t matter.
“Also, it’s better to treat them all fairly. Keep balance. Hmm… they’re not enough, so how about meeting at least one more?”
I opened my mouth slightly, completely caught off guard.
“Do you mean more than two, Roa? I’m fine with it, but it might be hard for you.”
“No! Mother, I really have no feelings for those two, so please don’t say anything more.”
“Oh my, such a wasteful statement?”
“Please, I insist.”
I had carefully maintained the facade that the Duke and I were “more than friends but definitely not lovers,” and I couldn’t let that be ruined.
After repeatedly urging her, Mother finally pouted and agreed.
After taking a full week off, my condition improved considerably.
The mark on my neck could be concealed with light makeup, and Ted, who had gone down to the estate and returned, brought me good news.
“Look at this, milady. I promised I’d find it, right?”
He presented a raw Red Diamond.
“I never thought there’d actually be a Red Diamond mine. That’s incredible, Ted.”
“If you’re the guild leader of the Spider’s Web, this is the least you can do.”
It was a small mine, but Red Diamonds are several times rarer than Blue Diamonds.
Unlike the previous mine I found, where Blue Diamonds almost rolled at my feet, this one will require a large-scale expansion, but the profit is worth it.
“Good work. I wonder how much incentive I should give you.”
“I’m employed by you, so there’s no need. Of course, I’d appreciate it if you did.”
“Ha, I’ll make sure you’re not disappointed.”
Once the exact reserves are confirmed, I can adjust the reward accordingly.
Ted also brought reports related to Blue Bird and the items I had ordered for Lexian.
“The craftsmanship is excellent.”
“They said it was a special order from you, so they put in extra care.”
The brooch, designed to hold a large Blue Diamond cut intricately on a platinum base with reinforcement magic, is the only accessory Lexian uses to fasten his cloak. He likes things neat and simple.
“I’ll have to give a bonus.”
Whether I’ll ever give this to Lexian is uncertain. Giving it to him now, especially since he’s already showing more interest in me than usual, could be dangerous.
“Are you worried about something? Like assassinating Duke Lissiansher or something?”
I looked up to see Ted scratching the back of his head.
“I said it because you were glaring at the brooch.”
“Ah…”
I closed the small box containing the brooch.
“I just remembered something else. The Tower Master came by earlier.”
“The Tower Master…”
Ted’s expression darkened.
“He only came to see me, but you never know when he might visit the estate again, so be careful.”
“Yes, understood.”
Ted bowed his head with a serious expression, but when he lifted it, his eyes were firm.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave. Get some rest.”
I was left alone in the room with the Blue Bird reports and documents about the recent state of the capital.
So far, there are three confirmed Blue Bird branches, and the Imperial Knights have located an illegal gambling den within the capital.
Soon, the gambling den outside the city will also be found, which will contain information related to Blue Bird.
“It’s about time to head out.”
Since my parents were keeping a vigilant eye on me, sneaking out was impossible…
“In that case, I should leave openly and honestly.”
