CHAPTER 29……………………………..
Kautz had once been one of the most renowned magical researchers at the magic academy.
“With just one flick of my hand, all things in existence would bow their heads.”
Whenever he was in a good mood, Kautz would boast like that.
The first time I heard it, I found it fascinating. But after hearing the same lines over and over, I grew tired of them.
Britta, however, clapped happily every single time.
“Of course! Lord Kautz!”
Watching Britta’s adoring gaze, I suddenly felt certain—
If I used her well, this plan might really succeed.
“Britta, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“M-Me? Please, anything, my lady!”
Britta straightened her back like a startled rabbit.
I’d noticed for a while that this young maid was extremely curious, and especially fond of anything involving secret orders.
“This time, Kautz and I will be doing an incredible magic lesson together.”
“Wow…”
Britta’s eyes sparkled.
“But what if I fail?”
“Oh my, our precious lady would never fail. You’ll succeed for sure.”
Seeing my gloomy eyes, Britta looked as if she might burst into tears herself.
“Mm… thank you. But I’m still worried. I’m so young… I know I’ll mess it up. And if the Duke finds out I failed… I’ll be so heartbroken.”
“My lady…”
I let the pure, cute black eyes—Marianne’s greatest charm—fill with tears.
Then I fluttered my eyelids once, and a clear droplet rolled down my cheek.
Perfect. The effect was flawless.
I did feel a little guilty when Britta began wiping her tears along with me—but there was no helping it.
The more people who know a secret, the less of a secret it becomes.
“So anyway, when I’m taking the magic lesson, there’s something you must do for me, Britta.”
“Yes, yes, my lady! I’ll do anything!”
Wiping my tears with my small hand, I leaned in and whispered into Britta’s ear.
After the Duke left for the Imperial Palace, the mansion was quiet all evening.
As usual, I played with Crimu, ate dinner, and spent a normal night.
When the household had finally fallen asleep—
“Kautz, are you ready?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Kautz handed me a small vial filled with blue powder.
“It looks disgusting.”
“As I said before, my memory is not entirely intact…”
Using the samples Kautz had brought days ago, he had remade the powder from scratch.
He had even tested it on himself several times with great enthusiasm—
and finally recreated the disguise-magic powder he had learned in the past.
“But it worked when you took it, didn’t it? It’ll be fine.”
The glass vial lay in my palm.
Kautz gently held my hand.
“My lady, I have strong resistance, so even when I tested it I had no side effects, but…”
“I know. I know exactly what you’re about to say.”
I was thirteen.
And I’d only recently recovered from my injuries.
There was no way to know how my body would react to the powder.
“I’ll be fine. I’m not going to think about what might go wrong. I’ve already made up my mind.”
“My lady…”
“And I trust you, Kautz.”
Seeing my determined expression, Kautz silently released my hand.
I tossed the blue powder into my mouth.
It had no taste. Not bitter, not sweet, not spicy—nothing.
The prickly grains touched my tongue and dissolved instantly.
“This may cause a moment of dizziness—ah! My lady!”
He didn’t even finish his sentence.
Right after drinking a sip of water, I collapsed with a soft plop.
Thankfully Kautz had insisted I stand close to the bed—
otherwise I’d have hit the hard floor directly.
A moment later, I opened my eyes to Kautz’s panicked face.
And I knew.
The spell worked.
“Wow, it’s perfect.”
The face in the mirror was not Marianne’s.
My petite height and frame were the same, but the face was that of a young boy.
My long red hair had disappeared, replaced with short brown hair.
I looked almost like a handsome young lad.
“I made this in a rush, so I’m not sure how long it’ll last. And since your body is already weak, it may wear off even faster.”
“I understand. I’ll keep that in mind.”
My voice was still my own.
Ahem. I cleared my throat and spoke again, this time deeper.
“I understand. I shall keep that in mind.”
Kautz burst into laughter, then quickly turned away when I glared.
Her shoulders shook violently as she struggled to hold it in.
Was it really that awkward?
Well, I’d fix that later.
After changing into the old boy’s clothes and cloak we prepared earlier, I looked convincing enough.
It was a perfect disguise.
Lastly, I slipped into my bag the picture of Ron that I had found in the playroom.
I prayed I would meet him.
“My lady, I’ll see you soon.”
“Yes. You be careful too, Kautz.”
Everything was ready.
All that remained was escaping the mansion safely.
We followed the plan precisely.
Caw! Kautz disappeared first into the darkness with her crow.
Next came Britta’s part.
Though my bedroom door was closed and no one should enter, Britta stood guard outside—just in case.
Reliable girl.
Britta’s help had been invaluable while planning.
Since she was always polite and hardworking, the maids and knights alike were fond of her.
“I accidentally left my hairpin in the storage room, but I’m too scared to go alone at night…”
So when she lied to distract the guards—
“My head suddenly feels dizzy! Oh, my eyes—! Someone please bring medicine!”
—even when she acted sick poorly, everyone believed her without question.
She would guard my door until morning.
Even if Crimu cried, no one would be allowed in.
We were supposedly doing advanced magic lessons, after all—strict secrecy required.
“My lady, leave it to me!”
Yes. I’m counting on you, Britta.
Now it was my turn.
First, I had to get from the second floor to the first.
I tied the long rope we had prepared to the bedpost and slowly lowered myself.
My hands trembled as I held the rope tight, but I managed.
Kautz’s crow distracted the knights to keep them from noticing me.
Caw! Caw-caw!
Its endless cries summoned dozens of other birds into the front yard.
The knights, confused, all gathered there—
and I finally reached the first floor’s back area.
Hah… I did it!
My palms stung from the rope burn, but that didn’t matter.
I hurried toward the dog hole.
Running, running without looking back.
It was pitch black, but my earlier practice walks under the excuse of “evening strolls” helped.
It should be around here somewhere…
A straight stretch of wall beside the storage shed.
Somewhere along it was a small dog hole.
“Nunaa, wabbit hide here.”
I’d discovered it while playing with Crimu—
never thought I’d use it like this.
Gasping for breath, I finally found the hole.
Yes… here.
I bent down and squeezed through.
Thank goodness my body was that of a small boy.
I crouched and slipped out.
Leaving the glowing mansion behind, I walked straight into the darkness.
“Kautz!”
Keeping my voice low, I called for her.
She emerged from the thick bushes.
“My lady, are you hurt anywhere?”
“I’m fine. Let’s go—quick.”
We walked and walked down a narrow path.
My steps were slow, but it couldn’t be helped.
If I knew it’d be this hard, I should have had her give me a full transformation spell.
Already exhausted, I caught my breath, then pushed myself to keep running.
“Haa… ha…”
Who knew how long we ran.
When I looked back, the towering Kereis mansion was no longer visible in the moonlight.
“Over there, my lady.”
A black horse stood by the lonely roadside.
I had never ridden a horse before, so I was nervous—
but Marianne’s body seemed familiar with it.
More than I expected.
“How long will it take?”
“If we keep riding until the moon is fully visible.”
The black horse galloped swiftly.
Hiiiii!
But suddenly, it reared and halted in the middle of a foggy thicket.
“What’s wrong? Move!”
Kautz shouted, but the horse trembled anxiously.
Meanwhile, at the same time—
In the forest by the boundary of the Western and Southern regions,
a fast-moving carriage slowed and stopped.
A small window opened.
Moonlight illuminated the cold face of Getre Kereis.
“They still haven’t appeared.”
The attendant outside the carriage spoke quietly.
The Duke’s eyes chilled.
He looked ready to leave—
when armed men in black suddenly appeared.
“…Hand it over.”
At his command, the attendant nodded silently.
He passed a heavy bundle to the men.
After checking the thick stacks of money inside, they grinned.
The Duke then handed them a letter—
the reply he had received from “D” last time.
After handing over the final message, the secret exchange ended.
The window shut with a clack.
The carriage that had paused at the border now sped back toward the Southern region and the Imperial Palace.
“…”
The Duke slowly rubbed his tired face with both hands.
His fingertips were cold.
Even his heartbeat was irregular—unlike him.
He didn’t regret the large sum of money he had just given away.
If they wanted more, he would give more.
There was only one thing he desired.
The letter he sent—the letter containing his wish—
would soon reach “D,” who was currently residing in Hezar.
