I decided to start by slowly reviewing the facts and organizing my thoughts rationally.
The Warlock who sent a familiar after me was Cordelia.
And the original owner of Pembe is the black magician Cordelia.
But the old master Cordelia tells me to kill Pembe.
'So, that woman is going to commit suicide?'
Well, whether your fate is twisted or twisted, that's your fate.
'The way these people think is truly bizarre.'
I shook my head, realizing once again that I wasn't one of those crazy people.
The suggestion to become a warlock on your own instead of being scouted by warlocks and defeating the warlocks, including Empress Giselle, was also quite strange.
And why did Cordelia harbor such a grudge against Empress Giselle? Weren't they on the same side? They were both warlocks.
The more I thought about it, the stranger it became.
‘Am I crazy...? To become a warlock.’
I just briefly imagined it, but it was so disgusting that it made me shudder.
If that happens, I will not only be kicked out of the Argenthoz family, but I will also not be able to meet Duke Rudnine of Iels, and I will have to live a life in hiding.
Why would I bother doing something like that when I have everything now?
But anxiety came over me.
‘...Surely Empress Giselle isn’t really that strong?’
Enough for me to become a warlock.
I shook my head, thinking that it couldn't be true, and jumped up from my seat.
But strangely, my fingers were shaking.
I hope my intuition, which is sharper and keener than that of any beast, is wrong this time.
'Ah.'
As my heart began to weaken, I missed Rudnine so much.
Hurry up, hurry up, as soon as possible.
In that state of considerable dismay, I staggered to the salon in the Nasiel district where Eudela had made a reservation.
“Welcome, Princess!”
"...is it so."
I changed into the date dress that Eudela had sent to the salon in advance, and sat down in the chair recommended by the salon owner to touch up my makeup and get my hair styled again.
The owner stroked my hair and smiled kindly.
“Princess, if there is a style you want, I will make it fit you.”
“Just... pretty... ”
“Oh, then! Just decide whether you want your hair up or down, and I’ll style it nicely for you!”
“As if decorated, yet not decorated... Natural yet not ordinary, seductive yet innocent, just pretty…”
“...Oh, I see? I understand.”
The salon owner nodded, forcing a smile while sweating profusely as if she was embarrassed.
And she began to work carefully with her assistant.
I had planned to do my best to explain the style I wanted since I had a date with Rudnine, but I didn't have the energy to do that right now.
I met Cordelia before the date for no reason, and my soul was completely drained.
I'm sure they'll figure it out somehow.
Rather than trying to do it yourself, it's best to leave it to the experts.
I was lost in thought, leaving my fate in the hands of the expert teachers who diligently stroked my hair.
It's too disturbing to dismiss as Cordelia's ramblings to spite me.
Moreover, it was meaningful that the warlock could vaguely see a future in which he would become a warlock.
Even so, in my previous life, I had glimpsed another future through a book, where I had become a great warlock and destroyed myself.
The reason I can't dismiss the book as a simple novel is that I benefited from seeing the effects of the 'Rhodia grass' I saw in the book.
'I'm going crazy!'
Feeling dirty, I shuddered, forgetting that there were people tangled in my hair.
"It's annoying!!!"
“Whoa! Where is your discomfort, Princess?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Please continue.”
When the salon owner was startled and terrified, I forced a smile to reassure her.
Then, I opened my eyes wide as I saw someone familiar coming in through the mirror.
“Carol?”
“Princess!”
Carol, smiling brightly as our eyes met through the mirror, ran over to my side.
I asked, dumbfounded.
"What happened? I thought something happened to you."
"That wasn't it. I thought you might be worried anyway. I contacted the mansion and heard the Princess was in the salon, so I came to see you."
“I see. That’s fortunate.”
I smiled and looked at Carol.
Fortunately, Carol appeared to be fine, with no injuries or pain.
I wanted to quickly ask what had happened that had caused her, who had been texting me every three hours the last time I went out, to not contact me at all.
“Excuse me, Miss. Look here!”
“Hmm? It looks okay to me.”
But Carol was busy at the moment, having a serious discussion with the salon owner.
No... Actually, it would be better to think of it as interference rather than discussion.
"Look at the Princess's head. This part, from the back of her head to her ear on the right side, is slightly curved and protrudes. You need to pay more attention to this area."
“Aha? Oh, I see.”
"And our Princess has cool tones. A jewel pin like this wouldn't suit her, would it? Fancy ones suit her, but simple designs suit her too... Ah, what could I do?"
It was comforting to see Carol, with her usual serious expression, trying on dozens of hair ornaments on my head.
The muscles that had been so tense because of Cordelia gradually relaxed.
Fortunately, my hair was done nicely enough to my liking, and Carol seemed satisfied as well.
After finishing my trim, I left the salon with Carol, and she asked me a question first.
“Princess! I heard you’re going on a date soon?”
“Date... um... uh, yeah.”
I blushed slightly, embarrassed to tell Carol outright that we were dating, and I cleared my throat to hide my embarrassment.
Then Carol, who had been staring at me, smiled slightly and shrugged her shoulders.
“It’s okay, Princess. Someone like Duke Iels isn’t a bad opponent.”
Haha... Carol also treated Duke Rudnine Iels as a ‘not bad date’.
“...Yeah. You think so too.”
I muttered, feeling half-given up.
“Yes. Enjoy yourselves, Princess.”
“Uh... Yeah, yeah.”
Why on earth are our maids like this? What kind of sense of closeness are they filled with?
I put my hand on my forehead and shook my head nervously, but Carol looked around, then came closer to me and lowered her voice.
"Princess, I was investigating the Duke of Cardin's family, Her Majesty the Empress, and His Highness the Crown Prince's surroundings, and I found something suspicious. But I couldn't contact you, and it got late."
"I see?"
When I nodded without any particular reaction, Carol shut her mouth and stared at me.
Carol opened her lips again as I looked at her with puzzled eyes.
"Princess, you knew this from the beginning, didn't you? That the warlock was deeply involved."
"Ah..."
Surprised, I blinked and hesitated for a moment, then nodded when I saw Carol's serious gaze.
'That's amazing.'
I was very impressed inside.
The information power of the Demirant Information Guild, which is Carol's home, is truly outstanding.
Once you dig, you'll figure it all out.
As I raised my lips, Carol's expression hardened, and she bit her lip.
“When you went to the palace banquet last time... you almost got into big trouble.”
“Well, it’s okay now. Don’t worry about it, Carol.”
Her expression was so serious that it startled me.
But Carol's mood was different than usual.
“It’s okay...! And there’s another reason why I was so surprised when I saw the Princess collapse at that time.”
Carol, who was out of breath, took a deep breath to calm her excitement and finally calmed down.
Then he looked into my eyes and continued speaking calmly.
“It was because the symptoms the Princess showed that day were similar to those when my father passed away.”
“What? That’s what happened?”
It was a point of contact I had never expected.
Carol nodded, then clasped her hands together and wiggled them.
"My father was the former leader of the Demirant Guild. He was murdered, and no matter how hard we searched, we couldn't find the culprit. If it were a warlock... the Demirant Guild won't stand still. We will stake the lives of the entire guild and seek revenge against the warlocks."
The hazel eyes in Carol's gentle gaze shone sharply, unlike usual.
“Carol! But that’s too dangerous.”
I was worried that she might get hurt if she got too involved in this incident, so I grabbed Carol's arm and quickly stopped her.
But Carol smiled leisurely and instead took my hand and patted the back of it.
"Why are you so deep-seated? Princess, you were alone against the warlocks. I thought about it carefully... The illness you suffered two years ago was also caused by the warlocks. Is that correct?"
"...Uh."
"Oh my goodness. I see. It's so heartbreaking... for that young Princess. Don't fight alone. I sincerely want to help you."
“Carol...”
Today, for some reason, I feel strongly that Carol, who is twenty-nine years old, is an adult older than me.
Did I just look at Carol's appearance and think she was too funny?
I felt embarrassed.
No, more than anything, I was touched by Carol's sincerity in going to such lengths to help me.
I felt something hot rising up in my throat.
"And don't underestimate the Demirant Guild. I was raised as a successor when I was young. I'm sure there's a lot I can do to help."
“Oh, was that so?”
Why are there so many talented people around me who have been raised as successors?
As I was laughing to myself, thinking that I had been blessed with talent, Carol grabbed my hand tightly and told me to focus.
"Yes."
"If you, Princess, act alone in dealing with the warlock, there will be many things that will be difficult to understand. And even if I die, I jumped into this to avenge my father, so please don't feel guilty."
“Ah, Carol.”
Is her justification for revenge on her father sincere, or is it just her consideration to put my mind at ease?
I hesitated for a long time.
But I told my decision to my maid and colleague, who came forward to give me strength.
"Well then, Carol Demirant. I need information on the Warlock. Anything I can get my hands on. Anything."
“...I will obey your command, my lady.”
Despite the difficult request, Carol smiled brightly, placed her hand on her left chest, greeted me politely, and then quietly disappeared.
I clenched my fists.
Yeah, a warlock.
You have to know what it is and your opponent to win.
I was worried that the Demirant Information Guild would be able to find the information on a black magician who couldn't even properly understand the Magic Tower, but I decided to trust them.
Because it's Carol.
Somehow, just that one thing gave me faith and made my heart feel much lighter.
Feeling a little better, I walked to the opera house where I had promised to see Rudnine.
The opera house was also located in the Naciel district.
As the sun began to set, carriages and people began to gather near the performance venue, just in time for the performance.
As I entered the large plaza in front of the concert hall, people's eyes were fixed on me.
“She's Princess Argenthoz, right?”
“Oh my? Why is she here...?”
“No way? A date?”
“With who?”
Hmm... My thoughts were very short-sighted.
If you're going on a date with Rudnine in a place where so many people are watching, it's only a matter of time before your father and Barden hear about it, right?
'Am I stupid?'
My mind was spinning with confusion over how to explain today's events to my father and Barden, and I found myself pulling out my hair.
But then someone quickly grabbed my hand and squeezed it.
'Uh?'
I felt dizzy from the scent that had become quite familiar to me by now.
A gentle yet slow bass sound rang in my ears.
“You’re here, Yvonne.”
The Warlock who sent a familiar after me was Cordelia.
And the original owner of Pembe is the black magician Cordelia.
But the old master Cordelia tells me to kill Pembe.
'So, that woman is going to commit suicide?'
Well, whether your fate is twisted or twisted, that's your fate.
Why are you trying to kill yourself while urging me to kill the poor Pembe?
I shook my head, realizing once again that I wasn't one of those crazy people.
The suggestion to become a warlock on your own instead of being scouted by warlocks and defeating the warlocks, including Empress Giselle, was also quite strange.
And why did Cordelia harbor such a grudge against Empress Giselle? Weren't they on the same side? They were both warlocks.
The more I thought about it, the stranger it became.
‘Am I crazy...? To become a warlock.’
I just briefly imagined it, but it was so disgusting that it made me shudder.
If that happens, I will not only be kicked out of the Argenthoz family, but I will also not be able to meet Duke Rudnine of Iels, and I will have to live a life in hiding.
Why would I bother doing something like that when I have everything now?
But anxiety came over me.
‘...Surely Empress Giselle isn’t really that strong?’
Enough for me to become a warlock.
I shook my head, thinking that it couldn't be true, and jumped up from my seat.
But strangely, my fingers were shaking.
I hope my intuition, which is sharper and keener than that of any beast, is wrong this time.
'Ah.'
As my heart began to weaken, I missed Rudnine so much.
Hurry up, hurry up, as soon as possible.
***
In that state of considerable dismay, I staggered to the salon in the Nasiel district where Eudela had made a reservation.
“Welcome, Princess!”
"...is it so."
I changed into the date dress that Eudela had sent to the salon in advance, and sat down in the chair recommended by the salon owner to touch up my makeup and get my hair styled again.
The owner stroked my hair and smiled kindly.
“Princess, if there is a style you want, I will make it fit you.”
“Just... pretty... ”
“Oh, then! Just decide whether you want your hair up or down, and I’ll style it nicely for you!”
“As if decorated, yet not decorated... Natural yet not ordinary, seductive yet innocent, just pretty…”
“...Oh, I see? I understand.”
The salon owner nodded, forcing a smile while sweating profusely as if she was embarrassed.
And she began to work carefully with her assistant.
I had planned to do my best to explain the style I wanted since I had a date with Rudnine, but I didn't have the energy to do that right now.
I met Cordelia before the date for no reason, and my soul was completely drained.
I'm sure they'll figure it out somehow.
Rather than trying to do it yourself, it's best to leave it to the experts.
I was lost in thought, leaving my fate in the hands of the expert teachers who diligently stroked my hair.
It's too disturbing to dismiss as Cordelia's ramblings to spite me.
Moreover, it was meaningful that the warlock could vaguely see a future in which he would become a warlock.
Even so, in my previous life, I had glimpsed another future through a book, where I had become a great warlock and destroyed myself.
The reason I can't dismiss the book as a simple novel is that I benefited from seeing the effects of the 'Rhodia grass' I saw in the book.
'I'm going crazy!'
Feeling dirty, I shuddered, forgetting that there were people tangled in my hair.
"It's annoying!!!"
“Whoa! Where is your discomfort, Princess?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Please continue.”
When the salon owner was startled and terrified, I forced a smile to reassure her.
Then, I opened my eyes wide as I saw someone familiar coming in through the mirror.
“Carol?”
“Princess!”
Carol, smiling brightly as our eyes met through the mirror, ran over to my side.
I asked, dumbfounded.
"What happened? I thought something happened to you."
"That wasn't it. I thought you might be worried anyway. I contacted the mansion and heard the Princess was in the salon, so I came to see you."
“I see. That’s fortunate.”
I smiled and looked at Carol.
Fortunately, Carol appeared to be fine, with no injuries or pain.
I wanted to quickly ask what had happened that had caused her, who had been texting me every three hours the last time I went out, to not contact me at all.
“Excuse me, Miss. Look here!”
“Hmm? It looks okay to me.”
But Carol was busy at the moment, having a serious discussion with the salon owner.
No... Actually, it would be better to think of it as interference rather than discussion.
"Look at the Princess's head. This part, from the back of her head to her ear on the right side, is slightly curved and protrudes. You need to pay more attention to this area."
“Aha? Oh, I see.”
"And our Princess has cool tones. A jewel pin like this wouldn't suit her, would it? Fancy ones suit her, but simple designs suit her too... Ah, what could I do?"
It was comforting to see Carol, with her usual serious expression, trying on dozens of hair ornaments on my head.
The muscles that had been so tense because of Cordelia gradually relaxed.
Fortunately, my hair was done nicely enough to my liking, and Carol seemed satisfied as well.
After finishing my trim, I left the salon with Carol, and she asked me a question first.
“Princess! I heard you’re going on a date soon?”
“Date... um... uh, yeah.”
I blushed slightly, embarrassed to tell Carol outright that we were dating, and I cleared my throat to hide my embarrassment.
Then Carol, who had been staring at me, smiled slightly and shrugged her shoulders.
“It’s okay, Princess. Someone like Duke Iels isn’t a bad opponent.”
Haha... Carol also treated Duke Rudnine Iels as a ‘not bad date’.
“...Yeah. You think so too.”
I muttered, feeling half-given up.
“Yes. Enjoy yourselves, Princess.”
“Uh... Yeah, yeah.”
Why on earth are our maids like this? What kind of sense of closeness are they filled with?
I put my hand on my forehead and shook my head nervously, but Carol looked around, then came closer to me and lowered her voice.
"Princess, I was investigating the Duke of Cardin's family, Her Majesty the Empress, and His Highness the Crown Prince's surroundings, and I found something suspicious. But I couldn't contact you, and it got late."
"I see?"
When I nodded without any particular reaction, Carol shut her mouth and stared at me.
Carol opened her lips again as I looked at her with puzzled eyes.
"Princess, you knew this from the beginning, didn't you? That the warlock was deeply involved."
"Ah..."
Surprised, I blinked and hesitated for a moment, then nodded when I saw Carol's serious gaze.
'That's amazing.'
I was very impressed inside.
The information power of the Demirant Information Guild, which is Carol's home, is truly outstanding.
Once you dig, you'll figure it all out.
As I raised my lips, Carol's expression hardened, and she bit her lip.
“When you went to the palace banquet last time... you almost got into big trouble.”
“Well, it’s okay now. Don’t worry about it, Carol.”
Her expression was so serious that it startled me.
But Carol's mood was different than usual.
“It’s okay...! And there’s another reason why I was so surprised when I saw the Princess collapse at that time.”
Carol, who was out of breath, took a deep breath to calm her excitement and finally calmed down.
Then he looked into my eyes and continued speaking calmly.
“It was because the symptoms the Princess showed that day were similar to those when my father passed away.”
“What? That’s what happened?”
It was a point of contact I had never expected.
Carol nodded, then clasped her hands together and wiggled them.
"My father was the former leader of the Demirant Guild. He was murdered, and no matter how hard we searched, we couldn't find the culprit. If it were a warlock... the Demirant Guild won't stand still. We will stake the lives of the entire guild and seek revenge against the warlocks."
The hazel eyes in Carol's gentle gaze shone sharply, unlike usual.
“Carol! But that’s too dangerous.”
I was worried that she might get hurt if she got too involved in this incident, so I grabbed Carol's arm and quickly stopped her.
But Carol smiled leisurely and instead took my hand and patted the back of it.
"Why are you so deep-seated? Princess, you were alone against the warlocks. I thought about it carefully... The illness you suffered two years ago was also caused by the warlocks. Is that correct?"
"...Uh."
"Oh my goodness. I see. It's so heartbreaking... for that young Princess. Don't fight alone. I sincerely want to help you."
“Carol...”
Today, for some reason, I feel strongly that Carol, who is twenty-nine years old, is an adult older than me.
Did I just look at Carol's appearance and think she was too funny?
I felt embarrassed.
No, more than anything, I was touched by Carol's sincerity in going to such lengths to help me.
I felt something hot rising up in my throat.
"And don't underestimate the Demirant Guild. I was raised as a successor when I was young. I'm sure there's a lot I can do to help."
“Oh, was that so?”
Why are there so many talented people around me who have been raised as successors?
As I was laughing to myself, thinking that I had been blessed with talent, Carol grabbed my hand tightly and told me to focus.
"Yes."
"If you, Princess, act alone in dealing with the warlock, there will be many things that will be difficult to understand. And even if I die, I jumped into this to avenge my father, so please don't feel guilty."
“Ah, Carol.”
Is her justification for revenge on her father sincere, or is it just her consideration to put my mind at ease?
I hesitated for a long time.
But I told my decision to my maid and colleague, who came forward to give me strength.
"Well then, Carol Demirant. I need information on the Warlock. Anything I can get my hands on. Anything."
“...I will obey your command, my lady.”
Despite the difficult request, Carol smiled brightly, placed her hand on her left chest, greeted me politely, and then quietly disappeared.
I clenched my fists.
Yeah, a warlock.
You have to know what it is and your opponent to win.
I was worried that the Demirant Information Guild would be able to find the information on a black magician who couldn't even properly understand the Magic Tower, but I decided to trust them.
Because it's Carol.
Somehow, just that one thing gave me faith and made my heart feel much lighter.
Feeling a little better, I walked to the opera house where I had promised to see Rudnine.
The opera house was also located in the Naciel district.
As the sun began to set, carriages and people began to gather near the performance venue, just in time for the performance.
As I entered the large plaza in front of the concert hall, people's eyes were fixed on me.
“She's Princess Argenthoz, right?”
“Oh my? Why is she here...?”
“No way? A date?”
“With who?”
Hmm... My thoughts were very short-sighted.
If you're going on a date with Rudnine in a place where so many people are watching, it's only a matter of time before your father and Barden hear about it, right?
'Am I stupid?'
My mind was spinning with confusion over how to explain today's events to my father and Barden, and I found myself pulling out my hair.
But then someone quickly grabbed my hand and squeezed it.
'Uh?'
I felt dizzy from the scent that had become quite familiar to me by now.
A gentle yet slow bass sound rang in my ears.
“You’re here, Yvonne.”
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