Chapter 47
Siena looked at Rodite with a face that said, What on earth are you talking about?
Rodite, whose temper was quick to flare, even exposed his dog-like ears as he growled.
“With my excellent dynamic vision, I saw everything. You were about two seconds slower.”
“How rude!”
Siena’s bodyguard, who had barely made his presence known until now, jumped in as well.
“What kind of beastman are you supposed to be?”
“He’s a plains dog, obviously!”
Dog beastmen had such sharp dynamic vision they could catch even the twitch of an insect’s leg.
Siena’s bodyguard flinched, but quickly argued back.
“You can’t even properly control partial beast transformation, and you call yourself—”
“It’s not that I can’t control it, I just chose to show it off!”
The knights began bickering loudly.
The entire shop turned to stare at the commotion.
Laria, who had intended to quietly do her business and leave, pressed her fingers to her forehead.
Then she asked the nervous shopkeeper behind her,
“By any chance, do you have any more stock of Blue Horn Coral?”
“Uh… it should come in about three months. It’s not harvesting season yet.”
She had been willing to give way, but three months was far too long.
Noticing that Laria wasn’t about to yield, Siena asked in a tone that pretended to be merely curious.
“What do you need Blue Horn Coral for?”
Blue Horn Coral was used as an ingredient in mid-tier or higher potions.
And there weren’t many sorcerers capable of handling potion-making.
Siena was subtly mocking Laria, implying she probably couldn’t even make use of it.
“To make a potion.”
A crack appeared in Siena’s perfectly smooth expression.
“You… can make potions?”
If even Solike had praised her, then at least she wasn’t bad enough to be mocked.
When Laria nodded, Siena’s eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering there.
Was she lying?
“What a shame. I need it badly myself.”
“Indeed. What should we do, then?”
Laria pretended not to notice, simply echoing Siena’s words.
Having dealt with her a few times now, Laria thought she was starting to understand Siena’s personality.
In public, Siena never said outright what she wanted.
She spoke indirectly, maneuvering people into doing as she wished.
Even at fox clan gatherings, she rarely spoke up directly, but she was always the one setting the stage.
“Two people need it, but there’s only one piece of coral… I suppose the shopkeeper will have to decide.”
Unable to bluntly ask Laria to give up, Siena passed the decision to the merchant.
“Who will you sell it to?”
“M-me? Well…”
The shopkeeper looked like he had been struck by lightning.
No matter who he chose, he would lose a customer.
“Don’t feel pressured. Whatever choice you make, I’ll respect it.”
Siena smiled, glancing around the shop.
“There aren’t many stores near the Sorcery Bureau that sell such fine ingredients… I might recommend this place to my colleagues when I return.”
She was praising the store, while dropping hints at the same time.
That she was affiliated with the Bureau of Sorcery. That she could bring more customers.
Wow, did she really need to go that far?
Laria raised her hand, already thinking about possible substitutes for the coral.
“I’ll give it up.”
“Milady!!”
Rodite, who had been quarreling fiercely with Siena’s guard, shouted.
“How can you give up so easily! You grabbed it first!”
“Uh…”
“She just doesn’t want to say you give up outright, so she’s circling around it!”
To reveal Siena’s intentions so plainly—trust Rodite to be that oblivious.
Laria stared at him. Flustered at his own outburst, Rodite rolled his eyes in panic.
Siena, unable to maintain her composed expression any longer, glared daggers at him.
“Your lady’s guard certainly has a loud voice…”
Was that an order to shut him up?
Laria decided she might as well play dumb now.
“A loud voice is a sign of good health.”
“Exactly! And who’s healthier than me!”
Siena’s face darkened beyond recognition.
If she took the coral now, everyone would think she had extorted it.
But she couldn’t bear to hand it over to Laria either.
For someone like Siena, who cared deeply about her public reputation, this was a dilemma.
Her idiotic guard was no help whatsoever. She resolved to replace him as soon as they returned home.
Eyes lowered, Siena forced herself to speak.
“I never meant for you to give up, Lady Laria. I must apologize for misleading you.”
“Misleading? Please. You meant it.”
Rodite muttered it just loud enough for everyone to hear.
Clearly, Siena and he were a terrible match.
Unlike Rodite, who was bristling with outrage, Laria didn’t find Siena particularly hateful.
So this is about money after all.
When Siena hired her, she had paid several times Laria’s usual fee upfront.
Just thinking of that money was enough to soothe her temper.
Even if Siena cursed her, Laria doubted she’d mind.
I’ve become a slave to money…
She decided she’d demand even more next time—since watching over Siena was such a burden.
Truly, earning money without lifting a finger.
Smiling at the thought, Laria picked up the Blue Horn Coral and handed it to Siena.
“Please, take it. I can substitute other ingredients.”
“Our lady is far too generous.”
Rodite sighed, exasperated.
Siena’s fist clenched slightly.
But with so many watching, she couldn’t act on her feelings.
Taking the coral, she darted her eyes about, then lowered her lashes in feigned remorse.
“Should I really accept this? Since you’ve yielded, I’d like to repay your kindness.”
She clearly wanted to end this on a wholesome note for appearances’ sake.
It’s not even something I bought—being repaid for it would be ridiculous.
Laria smiled and waved it off.
“Then if a situation like this happens again, please yield to me next time.”
The onlookers murmured in admiration.
“What a kind-hearted young lady.”
“Which family is she from…?”
Beaming with pride, Rodite announced that she was from the House of Lohan.
“House Lohan? I’ve heard of them…”
“Wait, isn’t she the one rumored to be engaged to the Grand Duke?”
As the gossip began, Laria quickly clamped her hand over Rodite’s mouth and dragged him aside.
“Quiet, you.”
“Good deeds are meant to be broadcast everywhere!”
“Keep talking and I’ll leave you behind.”
That shut him up at last.
Feeling the stares grow uncomfortable, Laria began tossing items into her basket.
I’ll need to make that potion for Solike too…
Potions with teleportation spells embedded in them were particularly difficult to craft.
It would take time, so she had better start gathering ingredients now.
“…”
Biting the inside of her lip, Siena kept sneaking glances at Laria’s basket.
What was she trying to make?
She couldn’t even guess.
While Laria turned her back to pay, she noticed Siena’s basket—and froze.
“A potion to turn hair gold?”
The words slipped out before she could stop herself. Siena flinched in shock.
How could she tell just from the ingredients?
There were countless potion recipes.
“Well, you’ll probably fail.”
The sudden jibe nearly twisted Siena’s face with anger, but she forced herself to remain calm.
Instead, she realized this might be her chance to trip Laria up.
“How could you say such a thing…”
“You need sal-sali grass instead of volcanic herb.”
“What?”
Startled, Siena forgot her act.
“There are recipes with volcanic herb, but they make the color muddy—more of a dirty blonde.”
She had never heard of sal-sali grass being used.
Was Laria just messing with her? But then Laria winked.
“Well then, I’ll be going.”
After paying, Laria left the shop, leaving Siena behind.
“Hah, as if I’d fall for that.”
Siena scooped heaps of volcanic herb into her basket.
She would definitely succeed in brewing the perfect potion with it.
Grumbling internally at how annoying Laria was, Siena thought of the mercenary she had hired before.
When would he finally report back?
If only he could dig up Laria Lohan’s weaknesses.
So she could be rid of her once and for all.
Siena had no idea.
Very soon, she would be meeting that long-awaited mercenary.
