Chapter 55 — Report (3)
If all it took to figure out what was inside the box was breaking it, then that would’ve been fine.
But a box that might contain a method to summon a god couldn’t be so simple.
It could contain an instruction manual, sure—but if not, then the box itself might be a necessary component for the summoning ritual.
“Please find a way to open the box without damaging it.”
“Hmm… understood.”
Annie nodded, saying it wasn’t too difficult.
She immediately opened the door and left, saying she’d look into a method right away.
As I sipped my tea, thinking at least one issue was now off my plate, I felt Ginger’s gaze.
“What?”
“You’re always so busy.”
“Well, what else am I supposed to do—sit around and do nothing? Gotta do something.”
I replied while popping a butter cookie into my mouth. Ginger nodded in agreement.
“I see. So the task you gave me was along those lines too?”
“Well… yeah, pretty much.”
Ginger let out a sigh that sounded as if he was disappointed.
Though, his face didn’t actually look disappointed—he was just saying it for the effect.
“By the way, where’s the report?”
I tilted my head, seeing that Ginger came empty-handed. He chuckled.
“For background investigations, it’s better not to leave a paper trail.”
Ginger casually answered and pulled out a visual crystal from his pocket.
A visual crystal.
In Korean terms, it was like a magical version of a beam projector.
The difference was that instead of connecting it to a computer to project something, the visual crystal itself could store data.
It could save not only documents but also videos, and with a security code, it could maintain confidentiality.
Basically—an external hard drive! A mini computer! Read-Only Memory!
In the original story, there was a line that said Odelia used to store images of her family in it and watch them whenever things got hard.
Of course, later in the novel, Rudolf smashed it to pieces.
“Jina.”
As Ginger placed the visual crystal on the table and said my name, it lit up white and projected an image of a woman.
Wait—why the hell did this guy use my name as the activation code? What if someone overhears that?!
Thankfully, Lucy, who didn’t know my real name, seemed to think it was just a normal incantation.
Relieved, I turned my attention to the woman in the projection.
She looked like a young girl, barely twenty years old.
Wavy red hair, lips just as red and seductive.
Eyes slanted like a cat’s, and a lovely face overall.
Objectively, she was a beauty. I lightly clapped my hands.
“She’s pretty.”
“I didn’t show her to you so you could admire her, you know.”
I nodded at Ginger’s grumbling response.
Before we went further, I asked Lucy to step out for a while.
She hesitated, saying she was worried about leaving me alone with Ginger, but I coaxed her out.
She was clearly uneasy about leaving the two of us alone, unaware of the situation.
But I couldn’t talk about this with her around—she didn’t know I wasn’t originally from this world, and I knew too much because of that.
Even thinking about the near future, it was better if Lucy remained clueless.
Once she left, I nodded toward Ginger.
“Who is she?”
“Lamia Deusman, the eldest daughter of Duke Deusman.”
As Ginger gave his explanation, text began appearing next to the woman’s image.
A PowerPoint! Familiar yet strangely foreign—I was briefly impressed and listened as Ginger continued.
“She’s eighteen, but she’s said to have dominated high society from the moment of her debut.”
“Is she smart?”
“She’s cunning.”
As soon as Ginger finished speaking, the scene changed to what looked like a lounge.
Lamia appeared there like a queen, surrounded by what looked like a group of admirers.
“…That’s not cunning. That’s just nasty.”
Opposite her, a young noble girl sat crying, drenched in tea.
Given the empty teacup in Lamia’s hand, it was obvious she’d thrown it.
“The Duke has two sons and one daughter. The duchess died giving birth to the second son, and other than the duke and his children, there are no other members of the family. So, aside from the Empress, there’s no young lady in the Empire more noble than Lady Deusman.”
As Ginger spoke, the screen changed again.
Now, elderly noblewomen were bowing politely to Lamia.
It was excessively respectful behavior, especially toward someone new to the social scene.
Lamia, for her part, accepted the greetings as if it were natural.
“There are plenty of nobles who want to be connected to the Deusman family.”
I nodded at that.
Marriage was the best way to link noble houses.
Those old women were probably trying to make such connections.
I stared at the next projection.
“There she is yesterday too.”
The crystal showed me, Visen, Ian, and Diane joking around at a table.
Not far away, Lamia’s group was also visible.
Lamia’s face was cold—too cold for someone that pretty.
“That’s a scary look.”
“She’s probably upset that, for the first time since her debut, she’s not the center of attention at an imperial party.”
I nodded at Ginger’s amused comment.
“So, she’s the one at the center of that rumor?”
“Exactly.”
Ginger, having finished his coffee, set his cup down and nodded.
The rumor about the “bluebird” that was quietly spreading among the noble ladies.
The person at the heart of it was Lamia.
She was also the one Selene had said I needed permission from.
“Apparently, she’s recently been working hard to form ties with the imperial family.”
“…With His Highness?”
Ginger nodded with a look of amusement.
Oh wow. What a strange taste in men.
Ian might look fine on the outside, but one wrong move and he’ll stress you to death.
In the original story, 70% of the reason Diane’s life fell apart was Ian’s refusal to let go.
Stick too close and you get stressed for not being loved, stressed for the empty title, get jealous for no reason, and then end up executed—ridiculously.
Unless Ian completely lets me go, she’d be better off giving up.
That way, it’d be easier for both of us. Everybody happy.
And I wouldn’t have to deal with more headaches.
I’d been relieved thinking Diane’s closeness would keep the villains away, but if Lamia’s going to insert herself and play the villain, I was definitely in for a headache.
“I’d rather not be dragged into something annoying just because of His Highness.”
“Then I’m afraid it’s already too late.”
Ginger gestured toward Lamia’s cold gaze and smiled faintly.
Way too late, apparently.
It certainly seemed that way.
“If I tell her Ian and I are just friends—”
“Do those eyes look like they’d believe you?”
Ginger refilled our coffee as he asked.
I shook my head.
Lamia’s eyes in the projection were already unhinged. One wrong move and she looked ready to lunge at someone’s throat.
Of course, I didn’t know her that well—so who knows how she’d attack.
But one thing was certain: she was a dangerous variable.
“Not your type? Don’t feel like seducing her?”
“My type is Odelia.”
Ginger answered smoothly, smiling as he lifted his coffee cup.
I couldn’t help but think their personalities matched weirdly well.
“So, do you want me to watch her on the last day of the party? Or are you after more intel?”
He asked arrogantly, as if daring me to ask.
Didn’t really match the word “request.”
I ignored his attitude and shook my head.
“This much info is enough. Now it’s time to approach her.”
“What’s the plan?”
Ginger leaned forward, intrigued.
Seemed like he was more than willing to join in.
“Ginger.”
“Hmm?”
He replied with a smile, clearly enjoying himself.
I couldn’t see my own face, but I bet I looked like a mischievous troublemaker just then.
The kind of kid planning something truly chaotic.
“Will you be my partner on the last day of the party?”
Ginger burst out laughing.
Apparently, he liked my plan quite a bit.
After a moment of chuckling, he kissed the back of my hand in response.
“How could I refuse a beloved lover’s request?”
The Emperor’s birthday. On the final day, just like the first, many nobles would attend the party.
The current Emperor always made his appearance only on the last day of the week-long celebration—though his actual birthday was the first day.
The previous emperors never did that. They usually attended the first day and left before the end.
Because of that, the final day was always packed with nobles.
Lamia would certainly be there.
That day was D-Day.
A great chance to uncover the identity of the bluebird—something neither Selene nor Rudolf had figured out.
I leaned back on the sofa, anticipation rising.
“…Oh, but…”
The woman at the center of the rumor. The woman dominating high society.
A woman who wanted to become royalty using Ian.
Then… why didn’t she try to use the power of the bluebird to make Ian fall in love with her?
All the other young ladies had done it.
This sudden realization brought new questions.
…Well, I’ll probably find out on the day.
“Well then, I’ll be off.”
“Huh? Just like that?”
I blinked in surprise as Ginger said he’d leave so easily. He shrugged like it was no big deal.
“I got a date request from my lover—I’ve got to prepare too.”
“…Creepy.”
The excitement on his face gave me chills.
“You will give me a heads-up before you stir up trouble, right?”
“Trouble? How could you say something so hurtful?”
He had the look of someone definitely about to cause a scene. No one would believe him if he said otherwise.
Still smiling, Ginger said not to worry as he stepped out the door.
And just like that, the room fell completely quiet.
Usually, at least one of the four male leads would be around.
“…It’s peaceful. And boring.”
And right at that moment, someone opened the door.
See? That’s why people should watch what they say.
Jinx it with a stray comment, and trouble comes knocking.
