What if Rio notices the birds?
Even with that worry eating away at her, Adela gripped the parlor door, pushed by the insistent voices of the birds. At that moment, the merchant’s excited voice echoed from within.
“This is a magic-infused ore! Once refined and mounted into armor, it becomes far more durable—practically impenetrable! I thought the Duchy, always exposed to monster attacks, would especially benefit from this, so I brought it just for you, Your Grace!”
The bird hiding by Adela’s left ear gave a snort at the arrogant merchant’s tone.
[What a joke—says the con artist.]
Though clearly irritated, the bird at least kept its voice low this time, likely trying to be cautious.
“Isn’t magic-infused ore something only nobility or royal agents can trade?”
Adela whispered this to the bird, clearly puzzled.
[Of course it is! What a fraud.]
[That’s just rock from the eastern mines. I’ve seen it before.]
With birds muttering on both sides, Adela peered into the room with an increasingly displeased expression.
The birds had been so upset by the merchant’s lies that they’d missed their moment to barge in.
‘When’s the right time to go in…?’
As she hesitated, Rio responded to the merchant.
“If this can truly make stronger armor, I want it. I’ll pay any price—my knights’ safety is worth it.”
[Whaaat?]
[Adela, your husband actually believes this nonsense?]
Even the birds were dumbfounded. Meanwhile, the merchant beamed with glee.
“Ah, I knew you’d say so, Your Grace!”
He eagerly pulled out the contract.
[No way. He’s not seriously going to sign, right? That contract must be outrageous.]
Though she hadn’t caught the exact amount, given the merchant’s nonstop lies, Adela could only assume the price was absurd.
Oblivious to her growing alarm, Rio picked up the pen with a calm face.
[No, no, no! Why is he picking up the pen?! Adela! Get in there and stop him!]
At the birds’ urging, Adela yanked the doorknob and flung the door open.
“Just sign here, Your Grace—”
“Wait!”
Adela burst into the room.
Her hair likely puffed up like balloons on either side from the birds hiding within, and just imagining how ridiculous she must look made her cheeks turn bright red.
Rio, pen in hand, turned at her cry. Their eyes met—his wide, sky-blue eyes full of surprise.
“My lady?”
The merchant, also turning toward her, looked visibly annoyed at being interrupted mid-deal.
[Go, go! Grab the pen first!]
Adela strode straight up to Rio and quickly snatched the pen from his hand.
Then she glanced at the contract—and gasped at the listed price.
[See? And they say this guy’s scary. What a joke.]
Just like the birds said. Adela now genuinely feared that this merchant might actually swindle the entire duchy. She felt a surprising sense of duty to stop it.
Awkwardly, she smiled and plopped down beside Rio.
“I-I hope I’m not interrupting… You had a guest…”
Summoning courage from the depths of her belly, Adela forced herself to speak.
“Interrupt? Not at all, my lady.”
Adela still wasn’t used to being called “my lady,” but this wasn’t the time to dwell on that.
[Ask about the contract.]
The bird on her left whispered nonstop. Adela followed its instructions and feigned interest in the paper on the table.
“A c-contract, is it?”
“Yes! I was just about to purchase a material that strengthens armor.”
“I-I see…”
She glanced sideways at the box on the table.
She was technically an outsider, having only arrived yesterday, but she couldn’t just sit by and let this happen.
“I want only the best for the knights fighting on the frontlines,” Rio added sincerely.
Adela resisted the urge to rub her forehead.
[Unbelievable. Who started that rumor that this Duke was scary again?]
The bird hiding in her hair seemed to share her disbelief.
But despite everything, Rio’s words sounded absolutely genuine.
Even if he had conspired with her father to drag her here against her will, the truth was he had fought monsters. He had witnessed countless comrades injured in those battles.
And the reason the empire was safe from monsters… was likely thanks to this very Duke and his knights.
‘How dare that man try to trick someone with such pure intentions.’
Now that she’d heard it all, Adela found the merchant even more despicable. Her golden eyes sharpened like a cat’s as she glared at him.
[Adela, pretend to examine the stone closely.]
Following the unexpected command, Adela leaned forward and stared at the stone on the table.
“Th-this is the one, right?”
Flustered by her question, the merchant quickly jumped in, feigning indignation.
“A stone? This is a rare, magic-infused ore! There’s nothing more suitable for knights who risk their lives fighting monsters!”
[Magic, my tail.]
“M-Magic, you say?”
Adela, unable to directly repeat the bird’s sarcasm, repeated the word as innocently as she could.
[Then it must’ve come from the Imperial Palace, right?]
This follow-up from the bird was news to Adela too. Her eyes widened in surprise as she tilted her head and asked,
“Then this must be from the Imperial Palace, right?”
“…Excuse me?”
Though her voice and manner were painfully awkward, the merchant flinched noticeably at her question.
[Told you. He’s rattled.]
“Oh… am I wrong?”
As Adela asked again, the merchant awkwardly nodded.
“O-of course! Items with magical properties are rare, after all!”
[Exactly. Which means a regular merchant can’t handle them.]
“R-right. A-a regular merchant wouldn’t be allowed to deal in this kind of thing.”
“But I—personally—have brought it here!”
The merchant laughed heartily, puffing up his chest. Adela blinked slowly at him.
“But this is just regular ore from the eastern mines.”
“Pardon? That can’t be! This is definitely—!”
[Push harder. Say exactly this.]
Adela, copying the bird’s exact words, continued:
“Y-you’re not underestimating the western region, are you? I only recently moved from the capital, so I know what I’m talking about. Eastern ore looks just like this—dull, no shine. It’s often used in low-end decor, not gemstones.”
“Ha! My lady, it seems you’re… a bit misinformed. It’s unbecoming for a woman to involve herself in such matters. Perhaps that’s why you’re confused.”
The merchant, now invoking her gender to dismiss her, further enraged the birds hiding on her shoulders.
[What the hell is this lunatic saying? What does “outside matters” have to do with anything right now?!]
[Adela, just one punch. Please?]
Even Adela was getting angrier at the insult, but her main concern wasn’t being disrespected—it was the fear that someone might notice the birds in her hair, who were now furiously screeching.
Because they were making so much noise, Adela herself didn’t feel all that angry anymore.
As she momentarily fell silent, the merchant turned smug again and looked back to Rio. But as their eyes met, the merchant suddenly gasped.
“H-Hrk.”
The naive western Duke who’d just moments ago looked so trusting was gone. In his place now sat a beast—glaring as though he might tear his prey to pieces.
There was an almost tangible sense of menace. It made the merchant’s hair stand on end.
As he stiffened in fear, Adela followed the bird’s next whisper and opened her mouth again.
“Why is purchasing equipment considered ‘outside matters’?”
She wore a puzzled look, genuinely wanting to know. The merchant, annoyed and flustered, responded reluctantly.
“Matters involving knightly equipment naturally fall under external affairs, don’t you think? Women typically purchase things like dresses and jewelry…”
“So men don’t buy jewelry? Or clothes? Only women care about appearances?”
Adela’s pointed questioning left the merchant fumbling for words, smiling nervously. She was just parroting the birds, but to anyone watching, she looked sharp and relentless.
“I heard merchants encounter all sorts of people and goods. I guess that’s not always true?”
Coming from such an innocent-looking young woman, the barb hit even harder.
But he couldn’t say anything back. Not with Rio sitting next to her, radiating a lethal aura.
“I’m joking. Did I upset you?”
Adela shrugged and smiled sweetly.
She was still just repeating what the birds fed her—but even she had to admit, that last line was kind of satisfying.
[This is it. Now for the final question.]
Hearing the word final, Adela asked in a firm voice:
“You said this ore is magic-infused… so of course you have the proper authorization, yes?”
The merchant’s face immediately stiffened.
And Adela drove the nail in:
“With the imperial seal?”
