Chapter 84
“Haah….”
Annie kept glancing at Eilen, who had taken a seat inside the shop and was letting out deep, heavy sighs.
She wasn’t the only one. Happy, who was watching over the shop, also peeked toward the inner space with a worried look every time a sigh echoed.
Annie pretended to be organizing the shop’s goods and subtly approached Happy, whispering.
“What do you think’s wrong?”
“I wonder… it seems like something bad might have happened…”
The two of them could only wring their hands in confusion. Just then, the door opened, and Heinell came into the shop for work, letting out a long yawn as usual.
“Huaaah… hmm?”
As soon as he stepped in, he noticed the simultaneous gazes fixed on him. When he looked at them as if to ask why, Annie gestured toward Eilen, trying to communicate through her hands:
‘It seems the boss is having a problem!’
‘So?’
‘Go ask what’s going on!’
Heinell let out a heavy sigh. Annie and Happy sent him desperate looks.
Though he wanted to refuse, he ultimately approached Eilen. Annie saw him and let out a small chuckle.
Even though he seemed to dislike bothersome requests, he would quietly go along with them.
Completely unaware of what Annie was thinking, Heinell stood in front of Eilen. Seeing her look up at him with worried eyes gave him an odd sense of déjà vu.
Heinell glanced at Annie once more before asking Eilen:
“Ma’am, what’s the problem this time? Did something happen to the little one?”
“Oh, it’s not that…”
Eilen hesitated to answer. Heinell then pointed at Annie and Happy standing behind her and said bluntly:
“The staff are worried. Stop hemming and hawing and just tell us.”
At his words, Eilen turned her gaze. Annie and Happy, meeting her eyes, flinched and pretended to continue their work.
‘I caused them to worry.’
Feeling apologetic, Eilen forced a small, awkward smile. Then, looking at Heinell’s sullen face, she spoke.
“I just have something on my mind. Sorry for making you worry.”
“So, what is it this time?”
“Well… it’s about a friend of mine…”
At that moment, Annie, who had been dusting near the shelves, quickly approached and asked:
“You mean the friend you mentioned before—the one who was worried about love?”
“Ah, yes. Actually, that friend ended up doing well with the guy she liked.”
“That’s something to celebrate! But what’s the problem this time?”
“Well… you see…”
Eilen began explaining to the staff gathered around her what had happened a few days ago.
Of course, she didn’t tell the full truth. She only said that her friend had a boyfriend but had grown distant because she was getting close to another man.
Annie, who had been listening quietly, spoke firmly as soon as Eilen finished.
“That’s your friend’s fault.”
Eilen, suddenly cast as the one at fault, frowned.
“R-Really?”
“Of course! She has a boyfriend, and yet she got close to another guy? And didn’t even tell him? Of course the boyfriend would be angry!”
Eilen’s expression darkened further.
Why are you getting worked up over something that isn’t even your business?
Puzzled, Annie tilted her head and clenched her fists, continuing:
“There’s only one way to deal with this.”
“What is it?”
“You beg.”
“Huh?”
Annie spoke with emotion, imagining herself in the place of the boyfriend, Richard, that Eilen had mentioned.
“Beg until he accepts your apology. Beg, and beg again. Humbly, sincerely.”
“…And if that doesn’t work?”
“Then, break up.”
Eilen visibly flinched at the thought. But Annie was too excited to notice.
“If it were me, I’d have already broken up. How dare she look at someone else when I’m here? Hah! She’d better be completely crushed…!”
“A-Annie, calm down…”
“Let go, Happy! I haven’t even finished yet!”
Sensing something strange, Happy took Annie outside. Even then, Annie’s cries of “break up!” echoed through the shop.
Jingle—
Once the door closed, the shop finally fell silent. Heinell, who had been listening quietly by the side, asked Eilen:
“That story just now… was that you talking?”
“…Yes.”
Eilen answered softly and let out a long sigh.
Heinell, shaking his head as he observed her, cautiously spoke again.
“But… Ma’am.”
“Yes?”
“Just to be clear, the guy your friend got close to isn’t me, right?”
Eilen looked at Heinell as if he had just said something ridiculous. Heinell, reading her expression without needing to hear it, scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
“Just making sure.”
“Don’t worry, definitely not. Richard wouldn’t even suspect you, Heinell.”
“…I don’t know whether to be happy or sad.”
Heinell groaned with a complicated expression. Annie, who had been smiling, grew serious again as she recalled her own words.
“Beg until he accepts your apology. Beg, and beg again. Humbly, sincerely.”
“…Heinell, I’m heading home for today.”
“Going to apologize?”
Heinell asked casually. Eilen smiled sheepishly and left with Cain.
“Huh? Boss, where are you going?”
“Sorry, something urgent came up. Take care of the shop.”
“Got it! Leave it to us!”
She waved to the spirited Annie and the politely bowing Happy, then headed straight to where the carriage was waiting.
Eilen climbed into the carriage, telling the driver to return to the mansion.
“Huh?”
Beside her lay a strange orb. Pitch black, like a black pearl.
Eilen picked it up with her fingers.
“What’s this?”
It wasn’t hers—she’d never owned anything like it. The strange object in the carriage felt odd, and she was about to ask Cain outside when…
“Cai…n!”
Eilen couldn’t finish her sentence. A strange energy pressed against her voice.
It wasn’t just her voice; the ominous aura spread through her body and soon fully consumed her.
A moment later, with a crack, the orb shattered.
“Did someone call?”
At that moment, Cain opened the carriage door and spoke.
Eilen tried to say something was wrong, but her lips moved on their own, forming different words.
“It’s nothing.”
“Is that so? Then we’ll depart.”
Cain closed the door again. Eilen tried desperately to call for help:
‘Help me, Cain!’
But no voice came out, and Cain didn’t reappear.
The carriage began its journey toward Oldenga.
“…The magic has been absorbed by the target.”
A man spoke, his hands trembling.
His hood completely concealed his head and face, so no one who knew him could recognize him.
Originally, his hair was silvery with a faint blue tint, but now it had turned completely black.
Not just his hair—his eyes, once praised as resembling the sea, were also dyed black.
It had been altered by magic, but not by ordinary means. Its meaning was clear.
‘I’ve become a dark mage…!’
The trembling spread from his hands to his entire body. He was terrified.
Dark magic was something any mage should avoid—a forbidden magic, one that should never exist or be used.
Yet he had used it. If anyone found out, he could be expelled from the Mage Tower—or even forced to hide in some rural place.
But he had no choice.
“Well done. As promised, the first reward will be delivered.”
Croker signaled his subordinate behind him. Understanding the gesture, the subordinate silently left the room. Relief washed over him, knowing that money would soon be sent to his ailing parents.
But that relief was short-lived, as Croker’s next words froze him.
“Surely you’re not satisfied with just this?”
“…What should I do now?”
Croker raised one corner of his mouth.
“You said you could manipulate the target as you wish, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then do this.”
Croker’s eyes sparkled as he issued a command.
“Search the Second Prince’s office. If you can’t find anything that could be used as leverage, it’s fine to kill him. Also, take the highest-grade magic stone as well. It’s useful in many ways.”
A smile tugged at Viso’s lips as he muttered, watching the mage obey his orders.
“I’m really curious to see how the Second Prince will fall.”
When the carriage arrived at the mansion, Eilen lightly stepped onto the ground. A maid approached upon noticing her.
“You’ve returned early today, Ma’am.”
“Yes. Somehow, I ended up here.”
Eilen smiled lightly, but it wasn’t her will controlling her.
‘Please help me!’
No matter how she struggled, her body didn’t move. It was as if someone else was controlling her like a puppet on strings.
The feeling was disgusting and gave her goosebumps. Yet her mouth still moved.
“Where’s Richard?”
“The Duke is in the garden right now. Would you like to see him?”
“No.”
“Shall I tell him you’re looking for him?”
“No. Don’t say I came.”
The maid tilted her head. Eilen passed her and went upstairs.
‘What is this?’
The real Eilen had no idea what the one controlling her body wanted.
But soon, she realized.
‘This is Richard’s office.’
A sense of dread washed over her. And her intuition was correct.
After checking that no one was around, Eilen turned the doorknob and entered without hesitation.
Click—
The door closed lightly behind her. She faced forward. As usual, Richard’s desk was piled high with documents.
She approached and began rifling through the papers with bold hands.
‘No! What are you doing!’
Eilen screamed in shock, but her body continued to sift through the documents, absorbing their contents against her will.
‘Stop!’
Only then did she faintly understand what the one controlling her body wanted: information on Richard, or something that could serve as leverage against him.
She desperately tried to regain control, but it was useless. It was like trying to move a massive boulder.
Then, she sensed someone outside.
Tap, tap—
The sound of high heels in the hallway was unmistakable. Her rifling stopped.
She put the papers back and turned around. At that moment, the door opened, and Richard appeared.
