~Chapter 22~
‘So, they were speaking about me.’
Though he could not hear every word from the second floor, Christan’s keen senses as a Sword Master allowed him to catch fragments of the conversation, enough to infer the gist.
‘Gerard, that man… speaking of her again…’
Because he had only noticed Amelie and Gerard belatedly, he had missed their exchange about her debutante ball. Unaware of this, Christan exhaled a heavy sigh, attempting to quell the irritation simmering in his chest.
“tsk.”
Clicking his tongue in disapproval at his aide’s behavior, Christan returned to his desk and sat down.
He had relocated his office here out of habit, to easily gaze upon the gardens when idle, never imagining he would be confronted with such a scene.
That particular garden, save for its dedicated gardener, was a place where no one entered without Christan’s express permission. Amelie had never set foot there before; she would not have simply wandered in of her own accord.
“Gerard must have led her there.”
Christan silently vowed to assign Gerard every onerous task come morning.
And he had certainly not forgotten his decision to send Amelie back home.
At dawn, imperial researchers arrived at the Grand Duke’s castle to examine Kamarin.
“Oh, so this is the fabled top-class monster!”
“It’s much cuter than I expected. Is this its true form?”
“No, this is merely camouflage. Its true form is… Kamarin.”
『Very well.』
The researchers marveled at the telepathic voice in their minds, only to recoil in horror when Kamarin revealed its true form—a lump of sludge-like darkness.
“Ahhh!”
“By the goddess…!”
『Why call upon the goddess all of a sudden? Humans truly are weak creatures…』
“Stop tormenting them and go along quietly,” Amelie said, waving.
Kamarin, confined within a sturdy case, departed with the researchers for Bellerophon’s laboratory.
Meanwhile, Christan handed a sealed envelope to the imperial messenger.
“This is the report on the recent subjugation.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I shall deliver it safely.”
Amelie, who had been hiding behind Christan’s broad back, peeked her head out and accidentally met the messenger’s eyes.
“Did His Majesty have no message for me?”
“No, my lady, none at all…”
Amelie tilted her head in puzzlement. The subjugation had been an imperial mandate; she had assumed the Emperor would at least send a word of acknowledgment.
“Well, perhaps we’ll hear something if we wait long enough.”
“Indeed. There is no need for impatience,” Christan replied calmly. “If you remain at your family’s estate, a royal edict will arrive soon enough.”
Amelie nodded reflexively before halting, one particular word catching her attention.
“Wait… my family’s estate?”
Christan spoke as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“The subjugation is over. It is time for you to return home.”
“What?!”
The declaration struck her like thunder.
“Why?!”
“What do you mean, why?”
Christan’s brow furrowed faintly as he responded.
“There is no reason for you to remain here any longer. You are still young; you should return home rather than struggle in a foreign place.”
“B-but…”
He was right, of course. Amelie had no legitimate reason to linger at the Grand Duke’s castle. Desperately rolling her eyes for an excuse, she blurted,
“There’s… Kamarin! My familiar!”
“Ah.”
He had momentarily forgotten. Kamarin was, after all, Amelie’s property, merely entrusted to Bellerophon for research.
Amelie promptly approached a passing researcher.
“When will the study be completed?”
“Oh, it will take around two weeks.”
“…”
Christan ran a hand over his face and fixed his gaze upon Amelie, who smiled triumphantly.
“Don’t worry! I won’t be a burden. I can stay quietly for two weeks. I even packed generously just in case. And as you can see, I brought my personal maid.”
She gestured toward Nina, who was standing awkwardly at a distance.
“If you wait at your family’s estate…” Christan began, “I will send someone to return the monster to you after two weeks.”
“No! Kamarin is a top-class monster. If anyone other than me tries to handle him, something dangerous might happen!”
Christan released a dry sigh.
Amelie, sensing her victory, beamed brightly.
“Then I’ll be in your care for the next two weeks!”
The kitchens of the Bellerophon Grand Duke’s castle bustled with their usual commotion.
“Hey! Have you seen that small pot? The one that woman borrowed the other day?”
“No, I’ve been searching everywhere but it hasn’t turned up.”
Yet today’s noise stemmed from an unusual cause: a missing pot borrowed by a maid.
“It wasn’t even an important one, but still—why borrow something and not return—”
“Is this the kitchen?”
“!”
All heads turned toward the clear, lilting voice.
A young woman stood in the doorway, as strikingly lovely as her sweet voice.
‘Who is she?’
Everyone stared, wide-eyed, wondering where this charming girl had come from.
She scanned the room with bright eyes and spoke,
“I am Amelie Winterpull of the Winterpull County. I will be staying here for two weeks as a guest of His Grace the Grand Duke of Bellerophon.”
“L-Lady Amelie?!”
The kitchen erupted in murmurs. It was their first time seeing her in person, and now they understood why the maids whispered about wanting her as their future Grand Duchess.
She was not only beautiful but carried an air of warmth that was rare within the cold stone walls of the castle. Men and women alike were captivated.
Then Amelie produced what she had been hiding behind her back.
“Actually… about this.”
“Wait, that’s—?!”
The cooks gasped. It was the very pot they had been searching for all morning.
Amelie offered an apologetic smile.
“My maid borrowed it on my behalf. I’m sorry for returning it so late.”
The cooks hastily waved their hands.
“No, no! It’s not important at all. Please don’t worry!”
“Oh? That’s a relief…”
Amelie smiled in genuine relief, and the entire kitchen seemed to brighten.
But she was not finished.
“If it’s not too much trouble… could I borrow this pot a little longer? Just for two weeks.”
“Two… weeks?”
This time the cooks looked conflicted. The pot was not in immediate demand, but it was still official property; lending it out for two weeks without higher approval was awkward.
One cook ventured to ask,
“May I ask what you intend to use it for, my lady?”
“To brew witch’s potions.”
“Ah…!”
They had forgotten—she was a witch. Uneasy glances flickered among the staff.
At last, one brave soul stepped forward and said,
“I’m sorry, my lady, but that will not be possible.”
“Oh…”
Disappointment clouded her face. With a small nod of resignation, Amelie quietly handed the pot back. The man who received it was left staring blankly.
“Thank you for lending it to me. I’ll be going now.”
She smiled faintly, dipped her head, and left with her maid.
Murmurs filled the kitchen the moment she disappeared.
“Isn’t she like an angel?”
“Yes! She was so incredibly gracious. You’d never believe she was a witch!”
“Exactly!”
The cooks each voiced their thoughts. One of the kitchen maids whispered dreamily,
“Why is someone like her even here at the Grand Duke’s castle?”
“You don’t know? She came to assist with the rift subjugation.”
“Oh… I thought she was delicate, but she’s actually remarkable.”
“Not only beautiful but strong too? Amazing. If only we could have her as the Grand Duchess…”
The maid who had been mesmerized by Amelie’s beauty sighed wistfully. At this, the man still holding the pot scoffed.
“Do you really want a witch as your Grand Duchess?”
“Lloyd, what kind of question is that? Yes, she’s a witch, but why phrase it like that?”
The maid flared up instantly, but Lloyd only snorted.
“I simply asked a question. Why are you so defensive? Feeling guilty about something?”
“Do you really need me to explain why?”
The atmosphere in the kitchen turned tense in an instant.
