TOYLCG 40 🍒

Chapter — 40

The More You Know, the More Complicated Your Thoughts Become

Ophelia couldn’t stop smiling after receiving an interesting letter.

It was unexpected that Duke Efrian had contacted her at all, but what amused her even more was his request—to buy thin paper.

“What an interesting man.”

As a woman who had risen to the rank of marquis, Ophelia was someone many nobles avoided.

They didn’t openly shun her, but it would be more accurate to say they preferred not to get involved with her if possible.

Still, regardless of that, there was someone who contacted her whenever he needed something.

That person was Duke Efrian.

Before, he had contacted her to obtain high-quality paper for his daughter. So the fact that he was now suddenly asking for thin paper was naturally amusing.

On top of that, there were rumors going around that the young lady of the Efrian family had become strange after injuring her head.

It wasn’t surprising. A girl once known for luxury and vanity had not been seen in high society for quite some time.

Of course, Ophelia herself didn’t enjoy such gatherings either, but to gather rumors and information, attendance was unavoidable.

She had heard the rumors about the Efrian young lady at such events.

“If it weren’t for Ariel, I would’ve just ignored it.”

Clicking her tongue, she picked up her pen. The paper was obviously of high quality. Using ink that was a specialty of Ritten, she neatly wrote her reply.

To the Esteemed Duke Efrian,

In order to confirm the paper you wish to purchase,
please send the young lady to my residence.

—Marquis Ophelia

She placed the short, straightforward letter into an envelope and sealed it with wax, stamping it with her family crest.

“She must resemble Ariel quite a bit… Has she really changed, like the rumors say…?”

With a voice filled with quiet anticipation, Ophelia gently stroked the letter.

At that same time, Rosebell and Aren had stopped by Ritten.

Instead of returning directly to the estate as originally planned, they had come to Ritten to investigate something.

Rosebell scanned the area, instinctively trying to find the woman she had glimpsed before. But finding someone you had only seen in passing was like looking for a needle in the desert.

“Should we ask the innkeeper?” she suggested.

“Good idea.”

Together with Aren, she went to the inn they had stayed at with Daniel. However, they couldn’t get any useful information.

In a small town like this, there was no way people wouldn’t notice a newly arrived young woman.

“We didn’t get anything helpful…”

“Yeah. If an outsider had come to a town this small, people would’ve known.”

“Exactly. Nothing we can do. Let’s go back.”

“Alright.”

As they walked along, dragging their feet, they passed by a shop they hadn’t been able to visit before because it had been closed.

“Huh?”

“What is it?”

“There’s someone inside today. Should we go in?”

Rosebell hesitated in front of the ink shop. But there were no true coincidences in life.

As they opened the door and stepped inside, an old woman greeted them with a smile.

“Welcome.”

“I’d like to buy some ink,” Rosebell said.

The old woman told her to take her time and look around. As Rosebell browsed, she thought it might be nice to buy some as a gift for the duke as well.

She chose a standard black ink for him, and for herself, she picked purple, burgundy, and blue.

“How long do you think it’ll take you to use all that?” Aren asked.

“When something is pretty, even a lot never feels like enough!”

“What kind of logic is that?”

“The more, the better, you little rookie.”

Passing Aren, Rosebell walked up to the counter.

At first, she had only thought the old woman had a kind face—but something felt oddly wrong.

As the woman packed the ink, Rosebell noticed her hands.

They were too smooth.

A chill ran down her spine. It wasn’t just that her hands lacked wrinkles—her eyes were also far too clear and sharp.

Wasn’t it said that no matter what, a person couldn’t hide their eyes and wrinkles from time?

Swallowing dryly, Rosebell forced the corners of her stiff mouth upward.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Please visit again.”

“I will.”

Rosebell left the shop quickly. Her heart was racing.

There was something there.

She was sure of it.

There was no solid proof—just intuition—but the feeling of danger was unmistakable.

“Why are you acting like that all of a sudden?” Aren asked.

“Huh?”

“You’ve gone pale. What’s wrong?”

“I’ll explain later. For now, let’s leave quickly. I don’t think we should stay here.”

It was hard to explain that she felt the old woman was strange based on nothing but a feeling.

First, she needed to get away.

Grabbing Aren’s hand, Rosebell ran to the carriage. Only after it started moving did she finally let out a breath of relief.

Seeing Rosebell suddenly act so strangely made Aren’s heart sink.

After all, just a few days ago, she had been bedridden.

When the usually talkative Rosebell fell silent, Aren felt a strange sense of unease.

After returning to the estate, Rosebell buried herself in work.

After thinning the flowers, time had passed, and it was almost time for fruit to begin forming.

The pruning shears she had ordered from the blacksmith arrived, and she distributed them to the workers while explaining the precautions.

“They’re new, so be careful with your hands. I won’t explain much since you’re experienced, but make sure not to damage the fruit while cutting.”

Because Rosebell’s demeanor had changed compared to before, the servants had begun whispering more often.

She knew she was lost in thought, but the atmosphere made it hard for anyone to speak up.

Early in the morning, Rosebell went to the training grounds and took a deep breath in and out.

Questions kept piling on top of questions.

Even if she wanted to investigate that old woman, there was nothing she could do herself.

She could hire people to look into it—but if the duke found out, what would she say then?

That would mean bringing up everything that had happened in the Demetra territory.

She didn’t want to add more worries to someone who already worried too much.

She needed something to clear her mind. But in a repetitive daily routine, that wasn’t easy to find.

“My mind’s a mess, so everything I say and do feels awkward…”

—Rose, because of that being who can’t even be called an old woman, we couldn’t use our power.

“What?”

At Sylphid’s sudden words, Rosebell was left speechless.

Her suspicion had been correct.

—That’s right! No matter what we said, you couldn’t hear us! Sylphid said we’d talk after returning to the duchy, but that day was really dangerous!

The gnome panicked, but Rosebell’s face only grew paler.

“Then… what was that person?”

—Rose, calm down. I’ll try to look into it first. But since our power didn’t work, it’s better not to expect too much.

Sylphid spoke gently, but if the spirits’ power didn’t work, then what was she supposed to do?

Did that mean there was nothing she could do at all?

—Rose, calm down. You can become stronger! So don’t be too anxious.

With tears streaming down, Elaim rubbed his small body against Rosebell’s cheek.

The soft, cool sensation helped her regain her senses.

“Thank you, Elaim.”

—Even if our power doesn’t work! If it comes to it, I’ll protect you!

Ifrit said confidently, breathing out a small flame.

The spirits were comforting Rosebell.

She smiled at them and pulled them into an embrace.

“Thank you, all of you. I’ll do my best too!”

Letting them go, Rosebell took a deep breath in and out, focusing on controlling her mana as usual.

For the past few days, Rosebell had been keeping her distance from Aren.

If she spoke carelessly, she felt like she might end up telling him everything.

Including the duke, she was second only to him when it came to worrying too much—so she couldn’t speak lightly.

If someone asked whether she really needed to hide it, she had no good answer.

But what if that woman was the female lead?

If the female lead had appeared there, then the story had gone terribly off track.

Worse still, she didn’t know what abilities the female lead possessed.

To prevent her own death, she had sworn not to leave the territory and not to get involved with the crown prince.

She had managed to avoid the crown prince.

But getting involved with the female lead was a different matter.

Facing something so unexpected made her sigh again and again.

What if getting entangled with that woman caused her harm?

The peaceful life she had barely managed to build could collapse in an instant.

She couldn’t accept her hard-earned stability being destroyed by someone else.

“Stability! I need peace of mind! Meditation!”

Rosebell sat cross-legged and breathed deeply, telling herself that nothing would happen, that everything would be fine.

But in one corner of her mind, a voice whispered that there were no coincidences in this world.

She couldn’t feel at ease.

That was when—

—Rose, if you’re that anxious, I can go check right now.

“Sylphid…”

—Use me. I’m using you too, after all.

“You’re using me? For what?”

—Have you already forgotten what happened last time?

“Ah…”

She had never expected to be able to purify a curse, but somehow, she had succeeded.

—Don’t think it was just luck. It was the result of your efforts all this time.

“Thanks… for saying that.”

—I think the worst could happen. But since it hasn’t yet, don’t worry in advance.

“Yeah… I’ll try.”

Even with Sylphid’s reassurance, her heartbeat refused to calm down.