“No matter how much I think about it, this doesn’t seem like something befitting a Marquis.”
Randall, who was waiting for Sylvia with his back to the living room door, suddenly muttered. Auston, who was also thinking about something, agreed.
“That’s right. It’s hard to explain, even with senility, how someone who was perfectly fine could suddenly become so stupid.”
“...”
Randall considered correcting his utterly impolite vocabulary, but decided against it. His turquoise eyes turned cold.
“It seems like it was affected by magic, or by a demon. What do you think, Auston?”
“I checked it out when I was putting the Marquis in the carriage earlier, but I didn’t find any traces of magic.”
“I see.”
Randel listened to Auston's opinion and concluded that Marquis Seicrine had been attacked by the demons. He glanced at the door of the reception room and listened quietly to the sounds coming from inside the room. However, the reception room was quiet. After that, Randall tried to figure out the situation in the reception room for a while, and then he gave up his foolish thoughts and looked back at Auston.
“Find out if there have been any new faces coming and going to the Marquis of Seicrine’s residence recently. The demons will definitely need help in approaching the Marquis without being noticed by humans.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
Auston replied politely, keeping Randall's order in mind. After that, Auston waited for Sylvia with Randall, lost in thought about this matter, and then suddenly a face came to mind and he held his breath.
"Help me."
"Oh, shit. Again."
Auston tried to banish the image of Rubia's face that kept coming to his mind like a habit, but the memories flooded back on their own.
"There is no reason for Countess Glever to come to me first. Who are you? Did you change your appearance through magic?"
Rubia made a bewildered expression at Auston's continued questioning. Auston was certain that it was Rubia, seeing the familiar contempt on her face, and withdrew his magic. Rubia brought up the main topic when Auston seemed to have come to his senses.
"You'll have to come with me for a while."
"Are you asking me to believe that the Countess is going to help the Duchess?"
Auston knew that Rubia had been hostile toward Sylvia since she became a Duchess. And even then, he had no desire to listen to Rubia's orders. Should he ask for money as usual, or should he bow his head and ask politely, and watch that pretty face contort? Auston twisted his mouth as he thought about this.
"Please."
As if she had taken out the exact action he had thought of, Rubia bowed deeply. Auston froze, feeling as if struck by lightning. That noble woman. The woman who seemed to have been looking down on him from above the clouds for the rest of her life. For the first time, she bowed without raising her head. This fact came as a great shock to Auston. Rubia continued speaking calmly, bowing down.
"People won't readily tell me the truth, having just inherited the title of Countess. But if Dosler stands next to me, they will take notice. They will think, "Isn't this the Duke's will?"
"..."
"So, please. It will only take a moment. I also know that Mr. Dosler is displeased with me. I will also pay you a fair wage."
Auston, who had been quietly listening to Rubia, blurted out impulsively, feeling an inexplicable tingle.
"Okay."
"... Yes?"
"The payment has been made. I will accompany you."
Rubia looked at him with unfamiliar eyes at those words. Auston also thought that he was a little crazy, volunteering to work for free and that too for a noble. However, the sight of Rubia bowing down without hesitation for someone she didn’t like, which he had seen earlier, somehow lingered in his mind. He rationalized that since the other person had bowed down their pride and showed respect to him first, it was right for him to cooperate this time, excluding the headmaster, and extend his hand.
"I will serve you, Countess."
“Your master is Bella?”
Meanwhile, in the reception room, Sylvia muttered in surprise at the answer given by the quivering snakes. She sat across from the Marquis, who had suddenly fainted as if his brainwashing had been lifted, and her eyebrows furrowed slightly.
'I was suspicious because her appearance was unusual, but... she was a succubus.'
Brainwashing is ultimately about seducing the other person and making them do what you want. In a broad sense, it was similar to the 'seduction' of a succubus. Sylvia was lost in thought as she stroked the snakes that were acting cute towards her, as if they had already adapted to her aura.
'Is it me or Randall?'
If Bella was the culprit who brainwashed Marquis Seicrine, there were two people who would have suffered the most because of that. Herself and Randall. Sylvia could have been kicked out of the position as a Duchess due to the resentment of the northerners. Randall could have been attacked by the royal family using rumors as an excuse. So what was Bella's goal? To kick Sylvia out of her position as a Duchess? Or to have the royal family put pressure on Randall and the north?
'Hmm...'
Sylvia squinted her eyes and watched the snakes wiggling their heads around her.
'I guess I'll have to find out who the owner is to be sure.'
The one who watched over Bella kept her in the human world and used her as his own servant. She had to know who that was. Even if this incident was Bella's own action, there was no way she could have acted against the person who provided her with the medicine that allowed her to maintain her human form. It was highly likely that the will of that master was the reason for Bella's actions.
'I can't miss this great opportunity.'
Even if Sylvia were to pursue Bella now, it would appear to be for the stability of the North. It would be the perfect condition to avoid God's suspicion and naturally put herself in danger.
“...”
The moment she continued her thoughts, Randall's face came to mind, causing her shoulders to flinch. However, she quickly shook her head to shake off the thought and stood up.
'He won't be able to approach the Marquis for the time being because of today's work anyway, but he'll notice once the snakes disappear.'
Sylvia only took away the 'brainwashing' power that Bella had implanted in the snakes and sent them back into the Marquis' shadow. The Marquis was still unconscious. Sylvia calmed her expression, removed the sound-blocking barrier, and opened the door.
“Randall.”
At the sound of the door opening, Randall immediately pushed himself away from the wall and turned to look at her.
“Sylvia.”
“Can you call the doctor? Before we could even have a proper conversation, he suddenly grabbed his head, cried out in pain, and collapsed.”
Sylvia gestured toward the Marquis, who was sprawled on the sofa, with a look of apparent concern. A surprised Randall ordered Auston to call the doctor and came into the drawing room. The moment he set foot in the room, Randall suddenly stopped moving and looked around the room with narrowed eyes as if he were wary. He fixed his gaze on the area where Sylvia had been sitting and licked his lips.
“...Sylvia.”
"Yes?"
“Has anything strange happened? The atmosphere in the room seems strange.”
Even while talking, Randall seemed unable to let down his guard and led her behind him. Sylvia looked up at the back of his head with a slightly bewildered expression.
'...You felt it, not even as an animal?'
It was normal for only the demons who could handle the darkness, or beasts that were sensitive to such energy, to be able to sense 'darkness'. However, Randall seemed to sense the darkness that Sylvia had briefly summoned, perhaps because he had a sense close to that of a beast. Sylvia secretly stuck out her tongue, saying that the more she saw him, the more amazing he was. However, she responded with a sharp look on her face.
“No, nothing happened.”
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
Randall stared intently into Sylvia's eyes, feeling very uneasy. Her golden and his light green eyes stared at each other with similar yet different tensions.
“Ugh...”
At that moment, the Marquis, who had been lying on the sofa, let out a small groan and opened his eyes. Randall and Sylvia were startled by the sound, and they looked away from each other and approached the Marquis.
“Marquis Seicrine. Are you alright?”
Randall supported the Marquis and made him lean back on the sofa, expressing his concern. The Marquis frowned and looked around as if his head still hurt.
“Here... Why am I here...”
“I brought you to the castle because of what happened at Countess Glever’s party.”
“Countess Glever’s... party?”
The Marquis looked confused. He folded his fingers to count the days, then gave up and sighed deeply.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been having a lot of trouble remembering things lately... so I can’t remember properly.”
Randall's face darkened at those words.
“Then you don’t remember the Marquis demanding a divorce because Sylvia and I did not have a first night together?”
“Yes, no, yes? What, what is that? Did I say something like that?”
The Marquis jumped up at once. He hurriedly lowered his head with a thoughtful face.
“I’m sorry. I don’t remember, but I, I dared to say such nonsense... Even if I had a hundred mouths, I have nothing to say.”
Randall and Sylvia each looked at him with slightly regretful eyes. It was heartbreaking to see him sincerely apologize and offer an apology even though it was not his own will. Randall swallowed a sigh and helped him up.
“...No. That wouldn’t have been the Marquis’s will.”
“Huh? What is that...”
“I don’t think I can give you any details right now. For now, please return to your residence and stay there for a while. I will come see you once the investigation is over.”
Sylvia also suggested that the Marquis return to the his residence, saying that his complexion was not good. In the end, the Marquis got a brief examination from the doctor brought by Auston and got into the carriage with a confused face.
Randall, who was waiting for Sylvia with his back to the living room door, suddenly muttered. Auston, who was also thinking about something, agreed.
“That’s right. It’s hard to explain, even with senility, how someone who was perfectly fine could suddenly become so stupid.”
“...”
Randall considered correcting his utterly impolite vocabulary, but decided against it. His turquoise eyes turned cold.
“It seems like it was affected by magic, or by a demon. What do you think, Auston?”
“I checked it out when I was putting the Marquis in the carriage earlier, but I didn’t find any traces of magic.”
“I see.”
Randel listened to Auston's opinion and concluded that Marquis Seicrine had been attacked by the demons. He glanced at the door of the reception room and listened quietly to the sounds coming from inside the room. However, the reception room was quiet. After that, Randall tried to figure out the situation in the reception room for a while, and then he gave up his foolish thoughts and looked back at Auston.
“Find out if there have been any new faces coming and going to the Marquis of Seicrine’s residence recently. The demons will definitely need help in approaching the Marquis without being noticed by humans.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
Auston replied politely, keeping Randall's order in mind. After that, Auston waited for Sylvia with Randall, lost in thought about this matter, and then suddenly a face came to mind and he held his breath.
"Help me."
"Oh, shit. Again."
Auston tried to banish the image of Rubia's face that kept coming to his mind like a habit, but the memories flooded back on their own.
"I just received some information about the work you instructed me to do earlier. When should I report to you?"
At the party of Countess Glever, Auston had left with Randall to hear reports on the situation in the South and the Crown Prince's current situation. However, during the report, Randall ordered him to stay by Sylvia's side, saying that he was worried about leaving her alone. Auston enjoyed the sweetness of receiving extra pay without working by Randall's side, and then grumbled and left.
"Ah, you are here."
It was then that Rubia Glever came to see him.
Auston was on guard at the sight of Rubia Glever, who seemed to be running around busily and panting. It was absurd that Rubia Glever, who despised him and even hated him, would come to see him on her own. Auston called out a magic circle in case of an unexpected situation and opened his mouth coldly.
"Who are you?"
At the party of Countess Glever, Auston had left with Randall to hear reports on the situation in the South and the Crown Prince's current situation. However, during the report, Randall ordered him to stay by Sylvia's side, saying that he was worried about leaving her alone. Auston enjoyed the sweetness of receiving extra pay without working by Randall's side, and then grumbled and left.
"Ah, you are here."
It was then that Rubia Glever came to see him.
Auston was on guard at the sight of Rubia Glever, who seemed to be running around busily and panting. It was absurd that Rubia Glever, who despised him and even hated him, would come to see him on her own. Auston called out a magic circle in case of an unexpected situation and opened his mouth coldly.
"Who are you?"
"...? Are you hurt in the head, Mr. Dosler?"
"There is no reason for Countess Glever to come to me first. Who are you? Did you change your appearance through magic?"
Rubia made a bewildered expression at Auston's continued questioning. Auston was certain that it was Rubia, seeing the familiar contempt on her face, and withdrew his magic. Rubia brought up the main topic when Auston seemed to have come to his senses.
"You'll have to come with me for a while."
"Why should I? I hate it."
"It's for the Duchess."
"It's for the Duchess."
"...Yes?"
For a moment, Auston thought his ears were wrong and asked again. But Rubia continued speaking seriously.
"There have been some unpleasant rumors going around recently about the Duchess. We need to find out exactly who started the rumors before they spread any further."
"Ha."
Auston let out a hearty laugh.
For a moment, Auston thought his ears were wrong and asked again. But Rubia continued speaking seriously.
"There have been some unpleasant rumors going around recently about the Duchess. We need to find out exactly who started the rumors before they spread any further."
"Ha."
Auston let out a hearty laugh.
"Are you asking me to believe that the Countess is going to help the Duchess?"
Auston knew that Rubia had been hostile toward Sylvia since she became a Duchess. And even then, he had no desire to listen to Rubia's orders. Should he ask for money as usual, or should he bow his head and ask politely, and watch that pretty face contort? Auston twisted his mouth as he thought about this.
"Please."
As if she had taken out the exact action he had thought of, Rubia bowed deeply. Auston froze, feeling as if struck by lightning. That noble woman. The woman who seemed to have been looking down on him from above the clouds for the rest of her life. For the first time, she bowed without raising her head. This fact came as a great shock to Auston. Rubia continued speaking calmly, bowing down.
"People won't readily tell me the truth, having just inherited the title of Countess. But if Dosler stands next to me, they will take notice. They will think, "Isn't this the Duke's will?"
"..."
"So, please. It will only take a moment. I also know that Mr. Dosler is displeased with me. I will also pay you a fair wage."
Auston, who had been quietly listening to Rubia, blurted out impulsively, feeling an inexplicable tingle.
"Okay."
"... Yes?"
"The payment has been made. I will accompany you."
Rubia looked at him with unfamiliar eyes at those words. Auston also thought that he was a little crazy, volunteering to work for free and that too for a noble. However, the sight of Rubia bowing down without hesitation for someone she didn’t like, which he had seen earlier, somehow lingered in his mind. He rationalized that since the other person had bowed down their pride and showed respect to him first, it was right for him to cooperate this time, excluding the headmaster, and extend his hand.
"I will serve you, Countess."
***
“Your master is Bella?”
Meanwhile, in the reception room, Sylvia muttered in surprise at the answer given by the quivering snakes. She sat across from the Marquis, who had suddenly fainted as if his brainwashing had been lifted, and her eyebrows furrowed slightly.
'I was suspicious because her appearance was unusual, but... she was a succubus.'
Brainwashing is ultimately about seducing the other person and making them do what you want. In a broad sense, it was similar to the 'seduction' of a succubus. Sylvia was lost in thought as she stroked the snakes that were acting cute towards her, as if they had already adapted to her aura.
'Is it me or Randall?'
If Bella was the culprit who brainwashed Marquis Seicrine, there were two people who would have suffered the most because of that. Herself and Randall. Sylvia could have been kicked out of the position as a Duchess due to the resentment of the northerners. Randall could have been attacked by the royal family using rumors as an excuse. So what was Bella's goal? To kick Sylvia out of her position as a Duchess? Or to have the royal family put pressure on Randall and the north?
'Hmm...'
Sylvia squinted her eyes and watched the snakes wiggling their heads around her.
'I guess I'll have to find out who the owner is to be sure.'
The one who watched over Bella kept her in the human world and used her as his own servant. She had to know who that was. Even if this incident was Bella's own action, there was no way she could have acted against the person who provided her with the medicine that allowed her to maintain her human form. It was highly likely that the will of that master was the reason for Bella's actions.
'I can't miss this great opportunity.'
Even if Sylvia were to pursue Bella now, it would appear to be for the stability of the North. It would be the perfect condition to avoid God's suspicion and naturally put herself in danger.
“...”
The moment she continued her thoughts, Randall's face came to mind, causing her shoulders to flinch. However, she quickly shook her head to shake off the thought and stood up.
'He won't be able to approach the Marquis for the time being because of today's work anyway, but he'll notice once the snakes disappear.'
Sylvia only took away the 'brainwashing' power that Bella had implanted in the snakes and sent them back into the Marquis' shadow. The Marquis was still unconscious. Sylvia calmed her expression, removed the sound-blocking barrier, and opened the door.
“Randall.”
At the sound of the door opening, Randall immediately pushed himself away from the wall and turned to look at her.
“Sylvia.”
“Can you call the doctor? Before we could even have a proper conversation, he suddenly grabbed his head, cried out in pain, and collapsed.”
Sylvia gestured toward the Marquis, who was sprawled on the sofa, with a look of apparent concern. A surprised Randall ordered Auston to call the doctor and came into the drawing room. The moment he set foot in the room, Randall suddenly stopped moving and looked around the room with narrowed eyes as if he were wary. He fixed his gaze on the area where Sylvia had been sitting and licked his lips.
“...Sylvia.”
"Yes?"
“Has anything strange happened? The atmosphere in the room seems strange.”
Even while talking, Randall seemed unable to let down his guard and led her behind him. Sylvia looked up at the back of his head with a slightly bewildered expression.
'...You felt it, not even as an animal?'
It was normal for only the demons who could handle the darkness, or beasts that were sensitive to such energy, to be able to sense 'darkness'. However, Randall seemed to sense the darkness that Sylvia had briefly summoned, perhaps because he had a sense close to that of a beast. Sylvia secretly stuck out her tongue, saying that the more she saw him, the more amazing he was. However, she responded with a sharp look on her face.
“No, nothing happened.”
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
Randall stared intently into Sylvia's eyes, feeling very uneasy. Her golden and his light green eyes stared at each other with similar yet different tensions.
“Ugh...”
At that moment, the Marquis, who had been lying on the sofa, let out a small groan and opened his eyes. Randall and Sylvia were startled by the sound, and they looked away from each other and approached the Marquis.
“Marquis Seicrine. Are you alright?”
Randall supported the Marquis and made him lean back on the sofa, expressing his concern. The Marquis frowned and looked around as if his head still hurt.
“Here... Why am I here...”
“I brought you to the castle because of what happened at Countess Glever’s party.”
“Countess Glever’s... party?”
The Marquis looked confused. He folded his fingers to count the days, then gave up and sighed deeply.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been having a lot of trouble remembering things lately... so I can’t remember properly.”
Randall's face darkened at those words.
“Then you don’t remember the Marquis demanding a divorce because Sylvia and I did not have a first night together?”
“Yes, no, yes? What, what is that? Did I say something like that?”
The Marquis jumped up at once. He hurriedly lowered his head with a thoughtful face.
“I’m sorry. I don’t remember, but I, I dared to say such nonsense... Even if I had a hundred mouths, I have nothing to say.”
Randall and Sylvia each looked at him with slightly regretful eyes. It was heartbreaking to see him sincerely apologize and offer an apology even though it was not his own will. Randall swallowed a sigh and helped him up.
“...No. That wouldn’t have been the Marquis’s will.”
“Huh? What is that...”
“I don’t think I can give you any details right now. For now, please return to your residence and stay there for a while. I will come see you once the investigation is over.”
Sylvia also suggested that the Marquis return to the his residence, saying that his complexion was not good. In the end, the Marquis got a brief examination from the doctor brought by Auston and got into the carriage with a confused face.
***
After the Marquis returned to the mansion. Randall and Auston began to investigate the people around the Marquis, and Sylvia began to think about how to meet Bella's master. The couple, who had each spent a busy night, met again at the restaurant early in the morning.
“Good morning, Sylvia.”
"Good morning."
The couple exchanged brief greetings and sat down. After the servants had served the meal and left, Randall spoke with an apologetic look.
“I couldn’t go back to the bedroom last night because of work. I should have told you in advance... I’m sorry.”
He had left the castle with Auston the day before after sending the Marquis back, so he had not had time to tell Sylvia that he would be back late. When he apologized for it, Sylvia just smiled and spread butter on her bread as if it were nothing.
“No, it’s okay.”
".Still.."
“I was planning on using separate rooms from now on anyway. Don’t worry about it.”
Chaenggrang.
"... Yes?"
The knife fell from Randall's hand when he heard the word 'separate room'.
“Good morning, Sylvia.”
"Good morning."
The couple exchanged brief greetings and sat down. After the servants had served the meal and left, Randall spoke with an apologetic look.
“I couldn’t go back to the bedroom last night because of work. I should have told you in advance... I’m sorry.”
He had left the castle with Auston the day before after sending the Marquis back, so he had not had time to tell Sylvia that he would be back late. When he apologized for it, Sylvia just smiled and spread butter on her bread as if it were nothing.
“No, it’s okay.”
".Still.."
“I was planning on using separate rooms from now on anyway. Don’t worry about it.”
Chaenggrang.
"... Yes?"
The knife fell from Randall's hand when he heard the word 'separate room'.
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