Chapter 10
“I want this one. Blue Lady.”
Taeri pointed at the champagne marked as having the highest sweetness.
She thought Bridget would at least buy her one drink before putting her to work—but instead, Bridget immediately shut it down and scolded her sharply.
“What are you talking about? We order the cheapest one. Why would we fatten these people’s pockets for no reason? We came here to ruin this place’s business. Don’t forget that.”
“Still, if we’re going to drink, it might as well taste good—”
“Have you already forgotten your role? You came here today to support me. Not to have fun!”
“Ahh, okay, okay.”
Seriously, she’s so strict.
If she took off her hat, it would basically be the same as announcing her identity on the spot—so she’d planned to relax with a drink first. But instead, two of the cheapest options were ordered.
They were quietly discussing their strategy while waiting for the unpleasant-tasting drinks to arrive.
That was when a noblewoman, a peacock feather pinned to her chest, swayed her skirt as she approached.
To Taeri, she was just a stranger passing by.
But to Bridget, she greeted her warmly with a familiar tone.
“It’s been a while, Miss Bridget. I thought you’d stopped coming here for good.”
Bridget, who had been unwrapping a sugar cube with a faint crinkle, lifted her brows with a look that clearly said, What the hell is this?, and didn’t respond at all.
Even so, the noblewoman continued without losing composure.
“I heard the runaway princess has returned… Have you met her? You still have connections on that side, don’t you? What’s she like? Oh dear, I do worry—what if she’s violent? After all, she’s the daughter of that mad wizard.”
So that’s why she didn’t leave despite being blatantly ignored—she had something she wanted.
When Bridget still didn’t respond, the woman exaggerated her tone even more, trying to coax her.
“I also heard you grew up in the castle with the princess when you were young. My, to think you became a maid to such a reckless person… You must have suffered a lot at such a young age.”
Hmm. Is this what people call a backhanded insult?
And with the princess herself sitting right next to them, it was basically a two-for-one attack.
“Hey.”
Bridget dropped the unwrapped white sugar cube into her cup and finally opened her mouth.
“Yes, Miss Bridget.”
“Why are you pretending to be friendly all of a sudden? It’s so obvious.”
“E-Excuse me…?”
“You used to ignore me even when I greeted you. What is this now? One of those ‘sweet when it benefits you, spit it out when it doesn’t’ types? People die like that, you know. What—did you think I’d just swallow whatever you throw at me?”
Her tone was indifferent, but her eyes shot out something like laser beams.
Startled, the noblewoman hurriedly fled.
Taeri, who had been watching, was even more shocked and smacked Bridget on the arm.
“You can’t talk to people like that!”
“That woman used to go around saying witches aren’t people—they’re monsters.”
“Isn’t that just because she’s afraid of magic?”
“How would I know? She suddenly comes up to me and expects me to forget everything and giggle along with her? Where does she get that kind of baseless courage? Honestly, I should smash her head with that ‘courage’ of hers.”
Bridget, clearly fired up, declared grandly that today, if she bit—she would bark.
She’d spent enough time keeping her head down and clinging to the walls. Now she was going to be a “genuine” person.
“Besides, now that you’re here, I’m not scared of anything.”
That line almost stirred something in Taeri.
In reality, it just meant she now had a shield she could freely use—but somehow, even that felt a little bittersweet.
She was a friend who had endured through a storm-like chaos. Taeri had thought the hard times were over.
But looking at her now… it felt like she was still enduring something.
Still wounded, even in everyday life.
“That lady wasn’t completely wrong, you know.”
“What?”
“The part about it being hard for you.”
“I don’t dwell on things that are already over.”
“Even so, it must’ve been hard. You did well. I mean it.”
Honestly, isn’t it you who grew and evolved well—not me? Brave and confident.
Taeri said it with a smile, and Bridget snorted.
“You’re going too far over just a little help.”
Like a prickly doll, she still bared her fangs even at Taeri.
You’re someone who deserves my irritation too—and if anyone’s going to pick on you, it’ll be me.
That justified criticism felt oddly pleasant—and the cocktail that had just arrived was beautifully colored.
Without any warning, Taeri suddenly took off her hat.
She ran her fingers through her flattened hair and shook it loose. Her black hair shifted into a rich blonde, scattering light brilliantly.
At the same time, her rare orange irises returned.
Ah… this kind of feels like a magical girl transformation. I might get addicted to this.
The bartender, who witnessed it first at close range, froze—then gasped.
“Gasp—S-soneti…!”
His cry spread like a signal flare.
The once-lively bar froze instantly, like a kingdom of ice. Not a sound—everyone stiffened in place.
It seemed that to these people, the Princess of Izariss was practically on the level of a supreme villain.
Taeri considered what to do—then decided not to ease the tension.
These people already had a deep-rooted fear of wizards. Using that psychology didn’t seem like a bad idea.
She simply sipped her drink in silence.
After a long moment, people cautiously began to move again, loosening their stiff bodies.
Soon, they forced exaggerated laughter and overly refined gestures, pretending nothing had happened.
Seeing the effect work immediately, Bridget beamed and gestured nice, then covered her mouth and whispered quickly.
“They’re coming again. This time in a group. Guess they’re too scared to come alone.”
The group turned out to be a cluster of gentlemen who had been reading and chatting by the window.
“If it’s not an inconvenience, we’d like to greet you. Are you perhaps the Princess of Izariss?”
It was more polite than expected. Taeri gave a small nod.
Immediately, exclamations like “Oh my,” “Good heavens,” and “My lady” followed.
One man stepped forward.
“To meet Your Highness in a place like this—it’s an honor.”
“Mm.”
“Welcome.”
“Ah, thanks.”
Short, blunt speech—hovering between arrogance and natural authority.
The man hesitated briefly, but Taeri simply smiled, as if to say: Why? Aren’t I someone who can speak casually to you?
This must be what being a princess is like.
Making sure no one even dares to think the word ‘how dare’ in front of you.
The man seemed to realize it belatedly—Ah, right. She’s royalty. He moved to kiss her hand, then stopped himself.
“I would like to show my respect, but since you must have a husband, physical contact might be unwelcome. I’ll refrain.”
Husband?
She didn’t have one.
And more importantly—
“The governor didn’t seem to mind.”
Was that… not allowed?
Sorry, but I’m completely clueless about your etiquette.
It was an innocent question—but the surrounding listeners reacted like it was a bombshell.
“The go—ah, the governor? Haha… perhaps he assumed Your Highness was unmarried.”
Honestly, yesterday Claude didn’t seem that thoughtful.
As she wondered whose approach was correct, she caught a faint smirk on the man’s face.
A bad sign.
Right on cue, he struck.
“You seem well past marriageable age, yet have no match or partner… I understand, but it is rather unfortunate.”
What exactly did he understand—and what was unfortunate?
Outdated thinking.
To challenge a woman of higher status with something so old-fashioned?
“Your way of speaking reminds me of my late grandfather’s grandfather. Try broadening your perspective. The world has changed—you’ll need to learn.”
But he pressed further, even more condescendingly.
“Do you have someone you’re seeing?”
“If you’re asking whether I’ve dated—yes. Quite a bit. One lasted about five years.”
“Five years? And you didn’t marry him?”
Ah, seriously, this obsession with marriage—
Just as she was about to snap back, she saw his lips move as he turned to his companions.
Four syllables.
How distasteful.
What did he just say?
As she considered how to deal with him—
Bridget shot up like lightning.
“What’s distasteful about it? If dating one person for a long time is distasteful, then is switching partners every day acceptable? Trying to judge a woman with that kind of nonsense logic—how pathetic.”
“What?! You insane—!”
True to her word, Bridget barked.
All manners and decorum gone, she charged fiercely.
And then—remarkably—she stood protectively in front of Taeri.
“Shut it, brat. You insulted our princess—get down and apologize right now. Or I’ll spit on you and show you what justice looks like.”
Taeri, who had been stunned by Bridget’s explosive reaction, changed her mind at that line and couldn’t help but be impressed.
In a situation like this—how could she say something that funny?
