CHAPTER 36
“The core of this proposal lies in establishing a sustainable economic cycle and lowering the barrier to accessing magic to make convenience more widespread. Magic should not be the privilege of a select few. Especially when it comes to practical magic needed in daily life. For example, imagine the change it would bring if people still lighting fires with flint were given devices with small fireballs inside. Sure, fire accidents might increase, but the benefits of convenience would far outweigh such downsides.”
The audience chamber was dead silent. The nobles just stared at me.
Their expressions looked surprised—maybe even a little shocked.
“I’ll now take questions.”
No one raised a hand. It caught me off guard. That’s not right.
Questions like: How will you distribute the magical devices? How will you lower the cost? Do you have measures to prevent side effects?
Gentlemen, aren’t you curious about any of this?
‘Are they scared to ask me?’
I smiled gently and asked again.
“Please don’t hesitate. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”
“…”
Strange. The atmosphere seemed to freeze even more.
No questions meant I couldn’t gauge how much they actually understood.
Should I just call on someone directly? I debated for a moment but gave up.
My condition had taken a sharp turn for the worse ever since meeting Rusfell and Owen. I was sore all over, and breathing felt slightly labored. I needed to get back to the estate fast.
Please let it be that they just didn’t have questions—not that they didn’t understand anything.
“Then I’ll take individual questions later. That concludes my presentation.”
Clap, clap, clap!
The nobles all stood up and gave me a standing ovation.
I stood there, dumbfounded.
“A splendid presentation, Duchess!”
“Duchess, how did you come up with such an idea? Truly admirable!”
“We can supply the metals needed for the devices from our family mines!”
“Then allow my firm to handle distribution!”
Why were all these people—who had kept their mouths shut the whole time—suddenly acting like this?
‘Well, I guess it’s a relief they understood, at least…’
Most of the nobles present were supporters of Leonhart, and not particularly fond of me.
For such people to be showering me with praise—it wasn’t gratifying or surprising. It was just… worrying.
I glanced at Leonhart.
Sure enough, he was glaring at me with smoldering eyes.
Even though Rusfell and Owen were whispering something beside him, he didn’t respond at all.
‘I’m not trying to steal your people, okay? Stop overreacting.’
…Now he’s glaring even harder. I should just leave.
I started organizing the presentation materials I had spread out.
“Duchess, may I have a word with you?”
“Huh?”
The moment I looked up at Leonhart’s voice, my vision spun.
“Wha…?”
My body swayed uncontrollably.
I reached out to grab the podium but only grasped at air.
Leonhart caught me as I stumbled.
“Duchess!”
“Ah…”
“What’s wrong? Are you ill?”
“No, just… a little dizzy.”
“Where’s a chair…”
Leonhart effortlessly lifted a heavy one-seater sofa with one hand and placed it behind me.
“Please, sit.”
‘Tch, you think I’ll be thankful for this or something…?’
The grudge I’d been holding toward Leonhart eased just a little. I was about to sit with my usual aloofness when—
[Stage 2: (Push his arm away) I’d rather wrap things up quickly and head home.]
As expected, the awful writer wouldn’t allow even a sliver of warmth between us.
I didn’t push his arm away, but I followed the command in tone instead—how you say something can completely change its impact.
“I’d rather wrap things up quickly and head home.”
“Sit.”
Leonhart motioned again to the sofa.
[Stage 2: (Irritated tone) Do you really want to argue with me in front of everyone?]
“Your Highness, aren’t there too many eyes on us to bicker like this?”
Sure enough, the nobles were watching us.
They quickly turned away when Leonhart glanced at them, but they were clearly fascinated.
“Wait here.”
Leonhart walked over to Rusfell and Owen, exchanged a few words, and came back.
“I’ll take you somewhere you can rest.”
“I appreciate the offer, but if you could just summon a carriage for me to return—”
“Do you think you can ride in a carriage in that condition?”
“…”
Honestly, I didn’t think I could make it back alone.
‘Shouldn’t have sent Luna back…’
I didn’t even know how to explain what was happening—it didn’t feel like normal illness.
More like my blood was rushing through me all at once? Like life force was leaking out?
My heart was beating so fast it made me dizzy.
“If you collapse after I let you go, people will say I plotted something. Just do as I say.”
“…Then I’ll accept your help, Your Highness.”
I stumbled forward, using the wall for support.
Seeing that, Leonhart frowned and suddenly grabbed my forearm, pulling me toward him.
“Let’s go.”
“Y-Your Highness?”
His stride was enormous.
Meanwhile, I was in a tight-fitting dress and heels.
From the outside, it looked like I was being dragged away by Leonhart. A situation ripe for misunderstanding.
And just as expected, the nobles began whispering with horrified looks.
They probably thought we were going outside to have a shouting match.
‘Hey, you jerk! Who grabs a woman like this?! It’s obvious you’ve never escorted anyone before. At least call a maid!’
Thankfully, the place Leonhart brought me to wasn’t far from the audience chamber.
‘A guest bedroom?’
I could see the interior through the slightly open door.
A clean and elegant bedroom. Seemed like a decent place to rest.
“You’re hurting me, Your Highness.”
“What?”
“My arm. You’re holding it too tightly.”
“…Ah.”
Only then did Leonhart release me.
I quickly checked my arm, now flushed red.
‘Yep, I’m gonna bruise tomorrow.’
I looked up at Leonhart without revealing anything on my face.
He was staring at his hand in disbelief.
‘What’s with him? Did he not even realize he was grabbing me?’
“Thank you, Your Highness. While you’re being so helpful, could you call a maid for me?”
“…Just go inside and wait.”
Leonhart turned on his heel and left. I staggered into the bedroom.
Moonlight poured through the half-open terrace doors.
It felt romantic… but this was no time to enjoy it.
“Ugh…”
The moment I sat on the bed, the spirits appeared.
— Rian! What’s wrong? Are you sick again?
— With a body this frail… this is serious.
— What the hell is wrong with this brat, always collapsing! Water-brain! Screw this—Seviden, Pouriden, go get a dragon heart, now!
The gnome jumped onto the bed and looked up at me with worried eyes.
I wanted to reassure them, but I couldn’t even force a smile.
“…Haa, keep your voices down… people outside… might hear… Hrk!”
I clutched my chest and collapsed forward.
My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would explode. The spirits rushed to me.
— Gah! Get a grip, Rian!
— Lady Rian! Are you alright?!
— W-what do we do? Should we call someone?!
With all my strength, I lifted my head.
“…Don’t… call… anyone…”
The panicked spirits suddenly froze.
— Oh no! Look at her face!
— Wait, this is…
— AAAH, WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!!!
They started screaming in horror, but I couldn’t hear clearly.
I hadn’t completely lost consciousness, but I couldn’t move.
Like that space between dream and reality just before waking.
I stayed like that for a moment, then forced myself up. I pressed a hand to the floor and shook my head roughly.
My senses slowly returned. My heartbeat calmed.
‘What’s happening to me… huh?’
Everything was crystal clear, like a light had switched on. I could even see the weave of the bedsheets.
‘What the…?’
My vision couldn’t have improved just like that. In disbelief, I tried to rub my eyes.
‘What the—?’
My arms wouldn’t move.
My whole body didn’t feel like mine. I was as light as if I could fly, yet too heavy to take a single step.
I had no logical explanation. My body felt completely alien.
Panicking, I looked for the spirits.
They were standing on the bed, surrounding me.
With blank, stunned expressions.
‘What are you staring at…?’
And then it hit me.
‘Why… are we at eye level?’
The spirits, each the size of my palm, were standing on the bed—but we were eye level.
Which was impossible.
Yet we were looking directly at each other.
I couldn’t take it anymore—I spoke.
‘Guys, what’s going on?’
“Caw, cawk, cawk-awk?”
‘Huh?’
“CAW! CAWCAW!”
‘What?!’
What came out of my mouth wasn’t speech.
It was the bizarre cry of a bird.
I stared blankly at the spirits and slowly turned my head.
And when I saw the mirror on the vanity across from me, I froze.
‘A… a crow?’
The spirits weren’t surrounding me. They were surrounding a crow.
About 50 cm in size. Its eyes were clear, ruby red like gemstones.
Its pitch-black feathers shimmered with a purple sheen under the light.
The aura it gave off was anything but ordinary.
It was graceful—nobly so. Stunning, even.
…But so what?
‘Did I just… turn into a crow? Is that what’s happening right now?’
The spirits and I froze in perfect sync.
This wasn’t just shock—it was complete incomprehension.
And then—
Knock knock.
“Duchess, may I come in?”
LEONHART?!
