<Chapter 44>
“That’s right. Among the dead were even young children who hadn’t even had the chance to bloom. Regardless of age, gender, or status, there are victims.”
At her words, both the duke and I darkened at the same time.
“…Human experimentation. To verify the effects of the bloodstone.”
“That’s right. From what I can see, the recent rise in missing persons cases seems to be connected to this as well.”
I pressed my hand tightly over my mouth, afraid I might scream.
It was too horrific. Having seen Hans cough up blood and die from mana rampage right before my eyes, the princess’s words felt all the more vivid.
Beatrice.
After the mana enhancement stimulant, now even an unidentified red stone—an anonymous criminal guild responsible for countless casualties.
They were the very darkness of the world of mages.
I could finally understand, at least a little, why the Duke of Nosedian had looked at that guild with such hatred, why he had relentlessly pursued them.
Having heard that much, the duke made his decision.
“I’ll cooperate.”
The princess smiled as she took back the documents he handed over.
“To think a day like this would come. It may be by imperial command, but to cooperate with you of all people.”
“There won’t be a next time. This time, we’ll uproot them completely.”
“I agree. To have to work with you again—I’d rather give up my position as princess.”
They were smiling at each other, yet the atmosphere was nothing short of murderous. They must truly dislike one another.
The princess drained the rest of her tea in one gulp and stood.
“Then I’ll be on my way. I’m actually meeting Count Lassen today to pre-screen the mercenaries invited to this banquet. After that, I’ll be busy, so I deliberately made time yesterday to come.”
“Mercenaries?”
“Ah, the ones who resolved the stimulant incident, I presume.”
“That’s right. You’re well informed.”
I froze at their conversation.
“Wait… don’t tell me those mercenaries are…”
Risha had said the mana enhancement stimulant case was commissioned by Sky Ark. And the princess was the next master of Sky Ark. Then the person who commissioned Risha couldn’t possibly be…
“They’re capable individuals. If we meet at the banquet, I’ll introduce them to the duchess as well. You’ll like them.”
“That was the princess?!”
I wanted to clutch my cheeks and scream like a figure in a painting.
“So, Duchess, even if the duke doesn’t attend, I hope you will. Banquets are dreadfully dull, after all.”
She gave me a playful wink.
Immediately, the Duke of Nosedian stepped beside me and wrapped an arm around my waist, as if he wouldn’t let me be taken.
“My wife will attend with me. So I’d appreciate an introduction as well. I’ve suddenly become quite interested.”
As he said that, he flashed me a grin.
“No, why are you like this too?!”
Internally invoking a second version of The Scream, I stared at the meaningfully smiling Duke of Nosedian.
“How unusual, the duke taking interest in others. One truly must live long to see such things.”
After exchanging farewells, the princess left the estate by carriage to cast a teleportation spell somewhere farther away—
Leaving a terrifying bomb in my hands.
This is an emergency.
I paced anxiously around my room.
“I have to meet Ripei!”
The one who commissioned the mana enhancement stimulant was the princess. Which meant the mercenaries she would bring to the banquet were Risha and Ripei.
That wasn’t the main issue.
The Duke of Nosedian, who knew I had intervened in the stimulant matter at someone’s request, had instantly realized from the princess’s words earlier that those two were my clients.
Of course, Ripei wouldn’t utter a word about my secret—but what I worried about was something else.
“He doesn’t know the Duke of Nosedian is my contract husband.”
For my safety, Ripei had a tendency to act without thinking. If he saw the duke and panicked, who knew what kind of trouble he might cause?
“He gets overly sensitive about anything concerning me.”
Worse, Ripei knew far too much about me. If I let my guard down even a little, that sharp-eyed duke would wring every last bit of information out of him.
Since avoiding their contact was impossible, I had no choice but to meet Ripei in advance and align our stories.
As luck would have it, tonight was the full moon.
“Ah, right.”
I habitually reached to open the door to the cottage, then remembered something and instead opened the safe where I kept personal belongings. The duke had shown me how to use it and told me to store valuables there.
“This is the communication orb, right?”
I immediately poured mana into the red sphere. It glowed crimson, and an indistinct buzzing filled the air.
[El? Is that you, El?]
As the noise subsided, Ripei’s slightly low voice came through.
“Yeah, it’s me. Ripei, where are you right now? Are you in the capital?”
I was so anxious I asked his location the moment we connected.
[I am. How do you know that?]
“Ha… I knew it.”
I pressed my forehead.
[What’s wrong? Did something happen?]
“Ripei, I need to tell you something urgently. Let’s meet.”
[Can’t you say it through the orb?]
“It can’t risk leaking. The landlord has very sharp ears.”
And he was sensitive to mana, too. Though my room was separated from the duke’s, I didn’t know how far he could sense. I couldn’t speak at length through a mana-reactive device.
Ripei was silent for a moment, then his voice lowered.
[Alright. Let’s meet at the Blooming Mountain Range.]
The Blooming Mountain Range was a large inn we often used when meeting in the capital. Popular among mercenaries and travelers, it was ideal for staying unnoticed.
“Okay, I’ll head there soon.”
The connection cut, and the orb’s light faded.
I was about to open the door when I paused and opened my wardrobe instead. Thankfully, I found a green hooded cloak. After tying up my hair and pulling the hood low, I grasped the handle leading to the bathroom.
I had already dismissed Shina and Sera early, saying I was tired and turning in soon. It wouldn’t take long—I could return before they came to my room in the morning.
“[To the Blooming Mountain Range.]”
It had been a while since I stepped through the door.
The capital was still bustling.
Dodging through the crowd, I arrived at the inn, chose a secluded corner, and ordered a juice.
When my glass was half empty, a familiar face appeared at the entrance.
“El!”
He rushed over and immediately pulled me into a tight hug.
“Have you been well? You didn’t contact me for a whole month—I was worried.”
“I’ve been fine. Just busy…”
“Huh? What do you mean—wait, you!”
Seeing me scratch my cheek awkwardly, Ripei grabbed my wrist in alarm.
“What is this?”
“Ah.”
In my panic over the duke and Ripei meeting, I’d forgotten to explain this part.
I rolled up my sleeve and properly showed him the starter ring. Just looking at it made a smile bloom on my lips.
“That’s right. I became a mage.”
Ripei was so shocked he couldn’t speak for a moment.
“…When?”
“Um. Yesterday?”
It was yesterday that I properly cast a spell for the first time, so that counted, right?
After staring at me with a stiff face, he asked,
“Your heart?”
“Oh.”
Of course—he worried about my heart first. That was so like Ripei. I smiled and explained.
“I was examined by both a doctor and a mage. They said it’s fine. Apparently, it’s common for the heart to grow stronger upon reaching adulthood.”
“But this starter ring…”
I knew what he was concerned about.
I explained, with slight embellishment, how I had come to use magic and why I now wore the starter ring.
“You said your contract husband gave it to you as a gift?”
“Yeah.”
I even explained how, after losing control of my mana in anger and ruining an expensive desk, he bought me the ring.
Ripei’s expression darkened. Holding my hand tightly, he asked seriously,
“He didn’t use this to threaten you, did he?”
“…Threaten me?”
I hadn’t even considered that.
But thinking about it, being unable to control mana was a serious weakness for a mage. The ring was expensive—he could have demanded things in exchange.
Yet the duke had instead offered to personally teach me mana control and even taken me to that terrifying grandmother’s shop to buy the ring. He had actively supported me becoming a mage.
And he had asked for nothing in return.
It felt excessive to simply say it was because I was his “contract wife.”
“Why? Is there another reason?”
Then I remembered his recent changed attitude and gaze. But I quickly shook my head.
“No way…”
He was probably just worried I’d destroy the mansion like I did the desk.
“El? Did he…?”
“No, he didn’t threaten me. He’s just being kind because I need it. It’d be troublesome for him if I suddenly died before the contract ends.”
Ripei tightened his grip.
“Don’t say scary things like that.”
“Ah, sorry.”
“Nobles are all black-hearted. Be careful.”
“I know.”
Only then did he release my hand and sit across from me. Ordering the same juice, he raised his glass in a toast.
“Congratulations, El. You achieved your wish.”
“Thank you, Ripei.”
Our glasses clinked in midair.
“Ah, Risha is here too. We accepted this commission together. She said she’d like to greet you once we’re done.”
“Great! I’ve missed her too.”
After another sip, I glanced around and lowered my voice.
“By the way… about coming to the capital. Is this the princess’s commission?”
His light-green eyes widened.
“How do you know that? Come to think of it, you also knew I was in the capital.”
“Oh dear.”
I pressed my forehead. If I’d known things would connect like this, maybe I shouldn’t have taken that job.
“No. If I hadn’t, there might’ve been more victims. Taking it was the right choice.”
Still, the situation was awkward.
Ripei held far too many of my secrets.
“Actually, I’m attending the imperial banquet too.”
“What?”
Ripei jumped up in shock. Fortunately, the inn was noisy enough to swallow his shout.
“Shh!”
I put a finger to my lips, and he leaned in, whispering.
“Is your contract marriage partner a high-ranking noble?”
“Yes. Actually, that noble is…”
