Chapter 7
So something like that had happened.
It wasn’t in the original story, so I hadn’t known.
But that’s strange.
As far as I knew, Duke Argent didn’t dislike Cain. He didn’t find him bothersome either.
Then why would he say something like that and never even respond?
“……That may be so, but it isn’t something you need to concern yourself with, Lady Winiel. There’s no need to think too deeply about it.”
With those words—essentially telling me to let it go—the maid closed her mouth again.
She even pressed her lips tightly together, as if regretting having spoken at all.
Hmm, but I can’t just let the conversation end here.
Sorry, but since she’d already opened up, I intended to get as much information as possible—especially things I didn’t know.
“You seem to know a lot.”
“I’ve worked here for a long time, and I was originally assigned as the young master’s personal maid.”
“Wow, then you must know other things too. After that, is the communication magic device no longer being used?”
“…….”
“Can’t you tell me…?”
“……It is being used.”
A sigh slipped out between each of the maid’s words.
I nodded, maintaining a listening posture as if I didn’t know anything.
“It’s used to receive messages. Not often, but important news does come through from time to time.”
“So it didn’t stop recently? It’s always been like that?”
“……No. The frequency of messages is about the same as before.”
“Huh?”
“I can’t tell you the contents, but we received a message just a few days ago.”
If he really didn’t want contact, shouldn’t the other side stop reaching out too?
It contradicted what Duke Argent had supposedly said.
There has to be some misunderstanding.
At this point, even if Cain objected, I had to somehow get Duke Argent here and talk to him.
“So in any case, the young master doesn’t plan to inform the duke, since he thinks this isn’t a big deal.”
“That is correct.”
“And I don’t have the right to interfere in this matter.”
“……That is also correct.”
“Hmm. Still, I need to meet the duke, so please call him.”
“Pardon?”
“You may have forgotten because I saved the young master, but I originally came here to deliver a message to the Argent family.”
I finished eating every last crumb and headed to the sink to wash my now-clean plate.
“So as a saint candidate, I need to convey a message to the duke. This isn’t a family matter, so it’s something I’m allowed to request, right? Of course, while we’re talking, this incident might reach the duke’s ears, but…”
“…….”
“Keeping things hidden won’t suddenly improve their relationship, so it shouldn’t be a big problem.”
Just standing still won’t solve anything. I have to try something.
Whoosh—water poured down, rinsing the plate clean.
The maid remained silent.
Uh—did I push too hard?
Only then did I realize I’d been insisting on my opinion too much.
I glanced at her cautiously and hurried to add,
“But you don’t have to summon him to the estate! I can go to him instead—just that I want to talk…”
Clatter.
In the blink of an eye, the plate was taken from my hands.
“Huh?”
I looked up at the maid who’d snatched it away.
She calmly washed the plate in my place, then spoke.
“You make a valid point. I will inform him so that you may meet the duke, Lady Winiel.”
“!”
My mouth slowly fell open.
“Thank you!”
I smiled brightly and bowed.
The maid simply inclined her head in response and continued her work without much reaction.
Still, the worry that had clouded her expression earlier had noticeably eased.
“But what if the young master stops it again? He said something earlier. And even if we try to use the communication magic device secretly, wouldn’t we need permission?”
“It will be fine. There is a regulation stating that permission is not required when the device is used to send urgent messages.”
Wow—what a wonderful regulation!
“Where is the device? Can I use it too?!”
“Guests are not permitted to use it. I will handle it.”
After placing the dried plate on the shelf, the maid led me out of the kitchen.
“This way.”
Guided by her, we arrived at the basement.
Though it was called a basement, perhaps because it was a ducal estate, it wasn’t musty or dirty at all.
It’s nicer than my room at the temple.
As I looked around, my gaze landed on a massive machine occupying an entire wall.
A device with intricately connected metal components.
This must be the communication magic device.
Wow—how amazing!
Without thinking, I placed my hand on it, then quickly pulled back.
I shouldn’t touch it carelessly!
Fortunately, the maid was busy preparing the device and didn’t notice.
Phew… huh? But I think I felt something just now.
I rubbed the hand that had touched the device, tilting my head in confusion.
For just a moment, a familiar sensation brushed past my fingertips.
Divine power? Why would I feel that here? This is a magic device.
Was I imagining it?
I reached out toward the device again.
That was when—
“What do you think you’re doing here?”
“Eek! That startled me!”
At the sudden voice, I jumped and hastily pulled my hand back, turning around.
“This isn’t a place one should enter freely.”
A middle-aged man with a kindly appearance, dressed in a knight’s uniform, stood there with a stern expression.
Who is he?
I darted my eyes around, trying to assess the situation.
The maid stopped what she was doing and bowed her head.
“My apologies. I intended to use the magic device to send an urgent message to the duke.”
“An urgent matter? If so, shouldn’t you have informed me before coming here?”
The man let out a deep sigh.
“Even if permission isn’t required, that regulation wasn’t made to be used indiscriminately.”
He seemed to be of higher rank than the maid.
But why call it indiscriminate without even hearing the reason?
I stepped between the maid and the man.
After all, the maid wasn’t at fault—I was the one who insisted on coming here.
“Please wait. There is a reason.”
“Who—could it be Lady Winiel?”
The man’s eyes widened.
I’ve been standing right here the whole time.
I nodded blankly.
Immediately, the man’s stern expression melted into a gentle smile.
“I was just about to visit you to thank you for saving the young master. To meet you here of all places—what a pleasure.”
“Ah—yes… but who are you?”
“Oh, my apologies for the late introduction. I am Tristan Nelson, captain of the Argent Knights.”
…Tristan?
I knew that name.
He’s a character from the original story.
The captain of the Argent Knights and an old friend of Cain’s father, entrusted with Cain’s protection and assistance when Cain was left alone at the estate.
But at the same time—
The instigator who spread malicious rumors among the servants, causing young Cain to be isolated.
In truth, he envied Cain’s father—for rising in status through marriage into the Argent family.
Unable to harm Cain’s father directly, he poured his malice onto the son who’d been left alone in the estate.
I really hate him.
Even though it hadn’t happened to me personally, my mood soured.
I’d seen with my own eyes how deeply Cain was wounded by the rumors this man spread.
Come to think of it, after Cain’s father dies, this guy confesses to the duchess and gets rejected.
That’s when it comes to light that he was the one spreading the rumors, leading to an honest, heartfelt conversation between Cain and his mother.
I was planning to casually suggest that the duke investigate him once I met him, to deal with it in advance.
But seeing him like this made me want to deal with him immediately.
But there’s no evidence. His later crimes are only exposed when, after being rejected, he lashes out and spews accusations.
I have to endure it. For now, I have to endure it.
“Lady Winiel? Why are you staring so fiercely… haha.”
When I just stood there silently, Tristan laughed awkwardly and cleared his throat.
“Ahem. Anyway, Rain, stop operating the device for now and step back. We’ll discuss this first.”
At Tristan’s gesture, the maid—Rain—stood up, her face darkened.
Ah—wait. That won’t do!
I quickly stepped between Rain and Tristan.
“Lady Winiel?”
“Please wait. We need to use the device. There’s a reason.”
“Pardon? Why would you—”
Tristan trailed off, then pressed his forehead as if he understood.
“Don’t tell me you were trying to contact the duke, Lady Winiel? That is not permitted by regulation.”
“I’m not doing it myself. I said I have something urgent to convey, and she kindly agreed to help.”
“Even so, that won’t be allowed. The duke is currently very busy. The young master is aware of this and said he does not wish to disturb him.”
“Using the communication device isn’t that much of a disturbance.”
“But we cannot ignore the young master’s wishes. He does not want even that brief interruption.”
Coming from the person who ignores Cain’s feelings the most.
I suppressed the urge to frown.
And then it hit me.
This man doesn’t want me talking to the duke.
He was probably worried I’d report the black magic attack.
If the duke learns that something serious happened to Cain, he’ll want an investigation.
And in the process, the fact that the servants avoid Cain would come to light.
Or worse—Tristan’s role as the instigator might be exposed.
Once I reached that conclusion, Tristan’s cautious behavior made sense.
“Yes. And?”
“…Excuse me?”
“So what are you going to do about it? I have an urgent message important enough to justify causing a brief disturbance.”
But what does that have to do with you?
