CHAPTER 91………………………………….
Laseil, who quickly noticed that suspicion, spoke first.
“I know that Lady Direna isn’t someone who would ally with a dark magician.”
“…We haven’t talked that much, have we?”
“I mean I can testify to that. You know something, don’t you?”
Direna glanced around for a moment, then asked in a voice much smaller than before.
“You won’t ask how I know?”
“I won’t.”
“That street vendor…”
Direna took a long breath and then let out the information.
“He’s probably a dark magician.”
“Do you have anything to prove it?”
“The best way would be to catch him in the act of selling. Everything he sells is probably dangerous.”
She sounded like someone who had actually met him.
Before Laseil could comment, Direna continued.
“Yes, I have met him. I never bought anything, though.”
Her urgency was so palpable that Laseil, who was just listening, found himself catching his breath.
“He approached me using what I value most as bait. Then he tried to sell some strange items.”
Direna shivered as if she still felt chills.
“God, what if I had stupidly bought any of that!”
The tone suggested she didn’t even want to imagine that scenario. Just thinking about it seemed horrific. In any case, there seemed no reason to doubt Direna.
‘Back then, maybe…’
Direna now was very different from before.
She was the lady of the Karen Marquis family, but the real power of the house rested with Direna.
Perhaps because of that, she seemed somewhat gentler.
‘Even judging by the dress she wore today.’
Direna wore a dark green dress.
It had an elegant aura but lacked any adornment. Previously, it would have been covered in lace and ribbons.
‘Maybe she no longer needs to show off.’
“What did that vendor look like?”
Laseil asked again after finishing his thoughts.
The dark magician… probably didn’t look the same as Eril did when selling things.
“Hmm… he had golden hair and brown eyes. I’m crazy for almost letting my guard down in front of him.”
‘So he changed his appearance.’
It was unclear whether he would keep that appearance in the future. He might use a different look every time he sold something.
“Any other distinguishing features?”
“He had scars on his wrists and face. About a handspan long.”
“……!”
If he wanted to hide his identity, he would have had to cover those scars. Leaving them exposed meant they couldn’t be hidden.
‘This might become a clue.’
“Thank you.”
The music was about to start again.
As Laseil turned to leave after giving thanks, Duke Lund blocked the way.
“Your Grace?”
Previously, he hadn’t paid any attention to Laseil. In fact, it was questionable whether he even knew of Laseil’s existence.
“Sir Jaen… was it?”
Duke Lund asked in a deeply subdued voice.
A shadow of gloom was visible on his face, impossible to conceal.
“Yes, I am Laseil Jaen.”
Laseil answered calmly, thinking:
‘So the rumors were true.’
The rumor that he always speaks in a highly polite manner to everyone.
He did so to avoid leaving an image of rudeness, since one never knows when they might meet the Duke’s lost daughter.
“I heard you… resolve the family affairs of nobles.”
“Me?”
Laseil forgot his usual formality and asked instinctively.
He had only ever intervened in two family matters before.
He couldn’t even guess how that rumor got distorted.
“Not true? My apologies.”
Duke Lund continued, still looking gloomy.
“But I have a request… Could you help me?”
“If it’s something I can do, yes.”
“I actually made the same request to other nobles as well.”
“What was it?”
“Over fifteen years ago… my child was abducted by a fairy. She was the only child my wife left me.”
Duke Lund paused for a moment, then kept silent as if gathering himself.
“…She resembles her mother—bright and adorable. She was a girl. If you see a similar child, could you tell me?”
“I will.”
Honestly, the Duke’s request was extremely broad: a bright, cute girl, who by now would be an adult.
But Laseil didn’t bother pointing that out.
‘It would be hard to bring it up after seeing that face.’
All he could do was nod in agreement.
As he quietly turned back to his original place, Laseil suddenly stopped.
‘Did I just… see that wrong?’
Next to Duke Lund, a female ghost seemed to stand.
A beautiful woman with bright orange, curly hair.
Her clothes were almost plain, like a commoner’s attire.
‘Was it just my imagination?’
Since it was only a brief glimpse, he couldn’t be sure.
‘If she wants to say something, she’ll come back later.’
Quickly dismissing the thought, Laseil approached Irenes.
“Did your conversation go well?”
“Yes, she even told me she bought things from a strange vendor several times.”
“Lady Direna said something similar.”
Comparing notes with Irenes, the picture became clearer.
The dark magician was hiding his identity while mingling with nobles.
“Even the nobles probably don’t realize they are under the dark magician’s influence.”
Irenes began to lightly step as she explained.
“They probably just thought he sold items that would appear on the black market at most.”
“So they could unwittingly get involved in rebellion.”
“Yes, and he might even frame a noble and slip away himself.”
He was tricky in many ways.
“What will you do now?”
“Hmm, I’ll probably stay at the Count’s house for a while.”
The suspicious vendor visited the Count’s house periodically.
It had been quite some time since the last visit, so he would probably come again soon.
“I’ll try to catch him and interrogate him then.”
“Hopefully it works out well.”
Yet something felt off.
The dark magician’s trail had been traced far too easily.
‘Couldn’t he hide better?’
Or perhaps he decided to act openly now that his identity was revealed.
‘I hope I’m just overthinking it.’
Laseil sighed silently.
A nagging unease lingered in his chest.
“Then, let’s go, Your Grace.”
Contrary to expectations, nothing happened on the way back to the estate.
Except for the fact that the dark magician, posing as a vendor, was captured and imprisoned.
‘Guess I was overthinking it.’
Laseil inwardly sighed in relief and greeted Ermeta.
If nothing happened, that was the best outcome.
“Take care. If you’re tired, come rest anytime. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Yes.”
“Make sure to tell Rella this story too.”
“…….”
Ermeta still called Yujire by his nickname.
If Yujire were here, he would surely be appalled.
“Yes.”
Laseil replied shortly and climbed into the carriage.
He could have run, but it felt like wasting aura.
He also wanted to avoid drawing attention.
‘I’ll have a lot to do when I get back.’
He had to check if the fairies had caused any trouble in his absence.
He needed to investigate strange traces in the forest.
And check if the meat at the restaurant was still fine.
‘Hmm? Now that I think about it…’
His thoughts paused.
Thinking of the restaurant reminded him of Ensi as well.
‘This is similar to what the Duke mentioned.’
A bright, cute girl, now an adult.
Of course, there could be more than one fitting that description…
‘Wasn’t there a story about fairies?’
The rumor that the Duke’s child had been abducted by a fairy weighed on his mind.
The basket that Ensi had as a child was said to have been affected by fairies.
