Chapter 79
<Whiiine. I went through all the trouble of asking Sister Navira to go on a trip for me…>
Vivi sniffled loudly, cheeks puffed out and red like apples.
“…Since when did you get close enough with the head of Hecate’s Tavern to ask her favors like that, Vivi?”
<Hmm, with a little information and a lot of sincerity?>
Vivi winked mischievously, and Raymon couldn’t help but laugh.
<Anyway, Vivi’s making this a request—no, an order! Big Brother Raymon, Sister Titania, and Brother Lysianthus—all of you better come back safe and sound, without a single scratch. If you don’t, I’ll be very, very mad!>
“That’s the scariest threat I’ve heard all day.”
<Raymon oppa, you’re strong. So, make sure you hold on tight to Sister Titania.>
“……”
Sometimes Raymon couldn’t help but suspect that their youngest sibling might actually be the most perceptive of them all.
Cheerful, kind, smart, always smiling—but with a depth of insight that none could deny. No one in their family treated Vivi as just a child.
Even the famed young sage, Rasper, always listened seriously when Vivi spoke. Her clear blue eyes, as bright as sunlight glinting off a silver stream, blinked softly.
<Well, if Sister Titania does get angry, it’ll obviously be your fault, big brother.>
“…Vivi.”
<But what can we do? We were the ones who were wrong first.>
“……”
<Sister Titania will say we didn’t do anything wrong. …If someone’s decided to live as a stranger, well, that’s their choice. But even though we were the ones to push her away first, she’d still take our hands and save us anyway. Because she’s kind like that.>
Vivi had never once forgotten Titania’s smile—the one she’d shown while saving her, even at the cost of her own life.
‘…That’s why I wanted to tell Mother—it’s okay to rest now. Just that one thing.’
It’s all right. Don’t worry. Even if I die instead of you, it doesn’t matter. So you don’t have to be sad.
‘…Even young Lord Raymon will be all right now. The brother you love so dearly will be all right too….’
How could she, dying like that, have had no self-pity at all?
No regrets?
Was she really fine with leaving nothing of herself behind?
Even at the very end, her thoughts were for the living. Even if her mother had never once reached out to her, she still tried to understand—that at least she had wanted to watch over her.
Even after coming back to life, Titania hadn’t changed.
Whenever someone gave her something, she looked burdened. She couldn’t stand seeing those who helped her suffer losses because of her.
As if she didn’t deserve kindness without repayment.
And yet Titania had saved Vivi for no reason at all.
To be honest, Vivi had thought it wouldn’t be strange if Titania had slapped Raymon across the face when he kept approaching her.
But Titania never lashed out. She only drew her line with calm, unyielding words, like a stone wall built high around her heart. The same went for the talk of their broken engagement.
Titania was just… too kind.
Too kind to even truly hate those who had hurt her.
<…So we have to protect her, right?>
At her little sister’s words, layered with so much meaning, Raymon silently nodded.
* * *
Even though it was night, the streets were as bright as midday.
The air was buzzing with energy, almost festive. It wasn’t cold either, so most people wore short sleeves or light clothes.
Stalls lined the streets, selling simple festival foods, flowers, fruit, and trinkets.
Polished carriages gleamed as they passed, and jesters, street performers, and traveling bards entertained the crowds under colorful tents.
Most were commoners, but a few nobles mingled among them, moving freely through the lively avenues.
It was a true metropolis—crowded and alive.
As Titania found herself watching the spectacle, Flux gave her a curious look.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Do you wish to go out and have fun, Your Highness?”
“Everyone dreams of skipping work and having fun.”
“But still…”
Flux’s gaze was subtle; Debbie’s expression, wistful.
“Your Highness, you haven’t gone out for sightseeing since you arrived in this city. Are you truly fine with that?”
“Today’s too busy for that. No time to complain.”
“It’s not complaining… you could still take a short break. You can’t take your eyes off the streets.”
“I’m done looking.”
She told herself that as someone with the soul of a 21st-century modern human—who’d watched countless movies, gone out plenty, and even if she’d never been abroad, had at least enjoyed top-tier CGI worlds—she could handle this much.
Yeah, no big deal.
But the mind really was tied to the body more than she thought.
Titania had grown up nearly confined within the palace, so the lively night scenery was far more tempting than she’d expected.
If not for her clear-headed modern self holding her back, the wild, impulsive “original” Titania might’ve already shouted, “I want that! I’m going out!” and bolted.
Come to think of it, she’d hardly ever met boys her own age.
Except for Raymon.
Maybe if she’d known someone kind, someone who treated her gently and taught her about the world… maybe then she wouldn’t have fixated so much on Raymon.
Then again, anyone with eyes could see Raymon’s overwhelming presence—far beyond any peer of his age—so it wasn’t like Titania would’ve looked elsewhere anyway.
When she finally tore her gaze from the window, sitting upright, Flux asked, as if confirming something,
“Do you think you can pull this off?”
“Bit late to worry about that now, don’t you think?”
“Well, since Hecate’s Tavern provided us with intel and the Castrain family guards will be on our side, the risks are small, but still…”
Flux clicked his tongue softly.
“Please be careful, Your Highness. No matter how big this city is, neither my father nor I ever let it run unchecked. It’s not that our family lacked power. Since you once healed me, I doubt they could easily harm you—but still, better safe than sorry.”
“That’s why we’re going in disguised and sealed up tight like this.”
She shrugged.
Tonight, they were infiltrating the black market. The thief who had stolen the Emoticon Sword from the princess herself was bold enough to put it up for auction there.
Since her face was far too recognizable, she’d tightly pinned up her platinum hair and hidden it under a dark brown wig.
Just like her disguise at Hecate’s Tavern, she’d dotted freckles and blemishes across her face and wore glasses that shadowed her eyes.
Her outfit was plain to the point of anonymity—a loose blouse and skirt under a hooded robe that covered her completely.
Debbie and Flux were dressed similarly, and Lysianthus, who was likely following them from behind, would be too. His bright red hair was far too eye-catching, so he’d been forced to wear a wig like hers—complaining nonstop that it was suffocating. Even Titania had wanted to smack him.
“Anyway, be careful until the end, please.”
The carriage slowed and came to a stop.
The door opened, and Flux stepped out first, offering her a hand. Debbie followed quietly behind, avoiding attention.
The entrance to the black market was disguised as the door of an unremarkable tavern. As soon as they entered, a neatly dressed attendant greeted them.
“Pardon me, but we only serve guests with reservations. May I have your name, please?”
“The Blue Room on the third floor should be empty.”
“I’m sorry, sir. The third floor is full tonight.”
“The Red Room on the fourth floor, then?”
“Ah, unfortunately… tonight’s quite busy. So many guests have joined us.”
“Then I suppose we’ll go between them.”
“Right this way.”
The attendant led them down a narrow corridor ending in three doors. Without hesitation, Flux turned the purple handle on the center door.
Inside, another masked attendant silently motioned them forward.
They walked for what felt like a long time down a dark, quiet passage until an open space appeared—a wide hall with a stage and rows of seats.
Glittering magic stones lit the walls and pillars. Curtains and partitions divided the tables into private booths so that guests could hardly see who sat beside them.
They were guided to one such booth and left alone.
Soon, a short, masked boy approached with quick steps, placing a small bottle of liquor and glasses on their table before vanishing again.
Titania brought her glass closer—and noticed a folded piece of paper underneath it.
Two simple words were written inside.
“Mouse trap set.”
