And I thought.
About the possibility that Rudnine might suspect me of being a warlock.
It gave me a headache to even think that might be the case.
Of course, Rudnine knows that the hamster I'm raising is a familiar.
How on earth do I explain this part?
I had no idea what he knew and what he was misunderstanding.
'Difficult.'
I, too, was not completely confident in Rudnine.
Even though he is the one who saved my life and I love him deeply.
When I tell him my story, will he be the kind of person who will completely trust me and stand by my side?
'I don't know yet.'
It was difficult for me, who was just beginning to learn how to trust people and build relationships.
As I was taking a deep breath, Liana came to my bedroom and bowed down.
“Princess, Princess Cordelia Mare has sent you a letter.”
“What? Cordelia?!”
'Huh? So suddenly?'
She sent me a letter yesterday after running away from me like that.
She is like a woman whose heart is like a reed!
“Yes. Why are you so surprised...? Did something happen with Princess Mare at the banquet hall yesterday?”
Liana, surprised by my strong reaction, asked sharply.
“Yeah. Yesterday, she avoided me for no reason, then got scared and ran away.”
'And Cordelia was a warlock too.'
Although I swallowed it without saying anything, Lihana narrowed her eyes as if she thought it was suspicious enough.
“There must be a reason.”
“Is she angry that I became Crown Prince Adrian’s partner?”
“No. Now that the Crown Prince has changed his mind, there is no reason for Princess Mare to run away from you.”
“That’s right. The trash is Adrian.”
When I openly badmouthed my former first love and Crown Prince, Adrian, Liana seemed slightly surprised and put her fist to her mouth and coughed.
“Ahem. Well... there’s a clear reason why Princess Mare behaved that way. When people can’t properly face other people, they’re overcome by ‘fear’ or ‘terror.’”
“Huh? She's scared of me?”
'Why? She's never fought me. I've thrown bombs at her unilaterally, but Cordelia is a fairly high-level warlock.'
I frowned because I didn't understand at all.
Liana also carefully stroked her chin, considering various possibilities, and then pointed to the letter Cordelia had sent.
"Yes. She's very scared. Why is that? First, I think it would be best to read the letter Princess Mare sent."
"Yes."
I quickly opened the envelope Cordelia had sent through Liana and unfolded the letter inside.
[ To Princess Yvonne Argenthoz.
I have something to say. I'll be waiting for you at Cafe "Dailing" in the Nasiel district at noon in two days. Please come alone.
-Cordelia Mare Dream. ]
I was somewhat taken aback when I read her letter, which contained a direct request to see me.
'Let's meet in two days?'
Besides, if it's Cafe Dailing, it's the cafe where I had my blind date with Rudnine.
It's a place with a lot of people coming and going, and it's even busier at noon.
What is the Dark Magic Princess trying to do by calling me to a hot place where everyone's eyes are focused?
What kind of nonsense is this?
My already complicated mind became even more tangled, so I groaned, covering my forehead.
"Oh my..."
Liana, who had been watching me intently as I groaned and put the letter down on my lap, opened her mouth.
“Princess.”
"Yes."
“Princess Cordelia Mare is also involved in the Fountain of the Sun incident?”
A sharp question that suddenly comes in.
'As expected, Liana is as quick-witted as she is smart.'
To be precise, Cordelia is a high-ranking dark magician at the very center of the Fountain of Sun incident.
But I couldn't tell everything up to that point.
Instead, I just nodded slightly in agreement.
When the Princess of Mare was involved, Liana's expression darkened rapidly.
“It’s getting serious.”
"That's it. What could be more serious?"
I shrugged my shoulders to lighten the mood.
“First, I need to think about why Cordelia called me.”
"I don't think she intended to fight. She called you to a crowded place, which means she's afraid of you, Princess. It seems like she's suggesting negotiation."
“Negotiation...”
What the heck?
Surely Cordelia isn't trying to recruit me as a member of the Warlock group?
'Cordelia wasn't too pleased when Lady Alentia and Arthur Rognier and their men were joking around and suggesting their opinions on my scouts.'
I thought it wasn't a scout offer, and changed the direction of my thoughts again.
At that moment, Pembe, who had already finished the first tier of cake and was lying down with a satisfied expression on his face, covered in cream, came into my sight.
'Hmm...'
What is it?
It's nothing to be anxious about.
I stared blankly at Pembe, who was happily patting his bulging belly and holding Cordelia's letter on my lap for a while.
It won't be a big deal.
Yeah, that's okay.
I repeated the spell over and over again in my head.
I'm lucky, so I'll be okay.
Palace of the Deep Sea.
The eyes of Consort Evelyn, who had always been blank and relaxed, began to stare at her son, Prince Felix, with increasing clarity.
"Ah..."
A trembling but beautiful voice flowed from her dry lips.
“Felix?”
"Mother!"
Prince Felix found it hard to believe.
His mother calls him with such a clear and perfect voice.
For a while, he couldn't even meet her in his dreams.
She was laughing like an idiot, but could it be that her mind was always sane?
Tears of regret and sadness flowed down her face as she looked at her son.
"Ah..."
But she immediately closed her eyes again and fell asleep. Then, Duke Argenthoz, who was standing at the head of the bed, stepped forward and explained.
"She fell asleep. But when she wakes up, she'll be back to the same state as before. She'll need to take the antidote and use healing magic. Shr'll need to keep repeating this process."
The promise to treat Consort Evelyn, the price he had agreed to receive as Princess Yvonne Argenthoz's partner, was steadily carried out.
Not only did he obtain the expensive treatment that was said to be difficult to obtain from the Duke of Iels, but he also personally visited the Duke of Argenthoz, the lord of the magic tower, to use high-level healing magic.
Who would have thought that such a huge amount of attention would be poured on them, who had been abandoned as if they were in a palace in the deep sea?
“Ah... Thank you, Duke Argenthoz. I can’t tell if I’m dreaming or not.”
Prince Felix, still feeling dazed, answered hesitantly.
Duke Argenthoz, who looked back and forth between the prince and Consort Evelyn, who was sleeping in a cold sweat, clicked his tongue as he looked around the old palace of the deep sea.
Today, he came to the Palace of the Deep Sea for the first time to treat Consort Evelyn, but her condition was too serious to be considered a palace where the royal family resides.
In comparison, the palace of peace where the Empress resided was so splendid that it was practically spotless, and even the tiles on the most remote terrace were all new.
'Since when has the Palace of the Deep been like this?'
Prince Felix smiled as the frowning Duke of Argenthoz exchanged glances with the vassals who had come with him.
“I know what you’re thinking, but you don’t have to.”
"There's no need for that, Your Highness. You haven't received the treatment you deserve as a member of the royal family."
"Haha. Of course, Duke. I deserve nothing less. To be honest, I've done nothing for the Empire. And yet, I've lived comfortably here."
Duke Argenthoz's eyes lit up at Prince Felix's firm answer.
“Oh, really?”
"Of course. If you look at it objectively, yes. Isn't it fortunate that I'm alive like this now?"
"...Your Highness."
“However, since I took on the role of Princess Argenthoze’s banquet partner, even at the risk of disobeying Her Majesty the Empress’s orders... it seems like my days of comfort are over.”
“It seems you haven’t been very comfortable, Your Highness.”
Count Olit, a vassal of the Duke of Argenthoz, groaned and muttered as he peered through a fist-sized hole in one wall.
The sound of large rats scurrying around above the ceiling was clearly eerie.
“I was comfortable... sigh.”
Prince Felix rubbed his eyes as if he was going to be tired from the journey ahead, and answered stubbornly.
However, Prince Felix was living a life so frugal that even the other noble vassals and knights who followed him were astonished.
If this is royalty, then I don't want to be royalty.
They wanted to get the two out of this palace in the deep sea as soon as possible and let them stay at home.
Prince Felix raised his head, came closer to Duke Argenthoz, and smiled.
And he expressed his sincere gratitude.
"Thank you. I can't promise to repay your kindness, but I promise to do whatever you ask and do faithfully."
“...Very well, Your Highness.”
Duke Argenthoz found himself increasingly drawn to Prince Felix, whom he had actually met.
Even more so, he doesn't say anything nonsensical.
However, they were not a puppet royal family that was helplessly swayed by the opinions of the nobles.
"Take care, Your Highness. Always keep the knights we sent with you. If Her Majesty the Empress summons you to the Palace of Peace, which is unlikely, please contact us. If possible, delay as much as possible."
“Yea.”
“We'll take care of the rest. Don't worry.”
“I guess so. I will believe it.”
Duke Argenthoz left the Palace of the Deep Sea with his vassals, escorted by Prince Felix, who wore a deep smile.
Prince Felix didn't seem to know yet, but Duke Argenthoz was very worried.
It was because he received a secret message from Duke Iels.
[ The forces of the Dark Magician are visible around Empress Giselle and the Cardin family. Remnants of Dark Magic remain in the Palace of Peace, so be especially cautious and vigilant. ]
'I had no idea Empress Giselle was a warlock.'
It was a blow to the pride of the owner of the tower, but there was nothing he could do about it.
The Warlock is very good at hiding their presence, so if they deliberately hide their identity, it is impossible to know.
But he never dreamed that the warlock would infiltrate so deep into the imperial capital, and even the imperial palace.
The Duke of Argenthoz stroked his chin.
'If Duke Iels hadn't been there, things would have been a disaster.'
Duke Argenthoz also knew that the Iels family had been operating a separate intelligence organization for the safety of the empire since the early days of its establishment.
He had also been aware of the suspicious circumstances surrounding Crown Prince Adrian, Empress Giselle, and the Duke of Cardin's family for a long time, but if it weren't for the secret intelligence organization of the Iels family, he wouldn't have been able to uncover them so quickly.
'The more I know... the more I covet the Duke of Iels.'
Duke Argenthoz's eyes lit up as he remembered Duke Rudnine Iels.
If you pretend, pretend. If you knock, knock.
He prepares everything he wants, including the information he wants, in a flash.
He felt like he had a smart subordinate who could handle things smoothly and let him just walk.
But Duke Iels is not his subordinate, but a Duke of the Empire.
'I tried to appease Yvonne by setting up a fake blind date, but... he's such a waste. It's a shame to send him away.'
About the possibility that Rudnine might suspect me of being a warlock.
It gave me a headache to even think that might be the case.
Of course, Rudnine knows that the hamster I'm raising is a familiar.
How on earth do I explain this part?
I had no idea what he knew and what he was misunderstanding.
'Difficult.'
I, too, was not completely confident in Rudnine.
Even though he is the one who saved my life and I love him deeply.
When I tell him my story, will he be the kind of person who will completely trust me and stand by my side?
'I don't know yet.'
It was difficult for me, who was just beginning to learn how to trust people and build relationships.
As I was taking a deep breath, Liana came to my bedroom and bowed down.
“Princess, Princess Cordelia Mare has sent you a letter.”
“What? Cordelia?!”
'Huh? So suddenly?'
She sent me a letter yesterday after running away from me like that.
She is like a woman whose heart is like a reed!
“Yes. Why are you so surprised...? Did something happen with Princess Mare at the banquet hall yesterday?”
Liana, surprised by my strong reaction, asked sharply.
“Yeah. Yesterday, she avoided me for no reason, then got scared and ran away.”
'And Cordelia was a warlock too.'
Although I swallowed it without saying anything, Lihana narrowed her eyes as if she thought it was suspicious enough.
“There must be a reason.”
“Is she angry that I became Crown Prince Adrian’s partner?”
“No. Now that the Crown Prince has changed his mind, there is no reason for Princess Mare to run away from you.”
“That’s right. The trash is Adrian.”
When I openly badmouthed my former first love and Crown Prince, Adrian, Liana seemed slightly surprised and put her fist to her mouth and coughed.
“Ahem. Well... there’s a clear reason why Princess Mare behaved that way. When people can’t properly face other people, they’re overcome by ‘fear’ or ‘terror.’”
“Huh? She's scared of me?”
'Why? She's never fought me. I've thrown bombs at her unilaterally, but Cordelia is a fairly high-level warlock.'
I frowned because I didn't understand at all.
Liana also carefully stroked her chin, considering various possibilities, and then pointed to the letter Cordelia had sent.
"Yes. She's very scared. Why is that? First, I think it would be best to read the letter Princess Mare sent."
"Yes."
I quickly opened the envelope Cordelia had sent through Liana and unfolded the letter inside.
[ To Princess Yvonne Argenthoz.
I have something to say. I'll be waiting for you at Cafe "Dailing" in the Nasiel district at noon in two days. Please come alone.
-Cordelia Mare Dream. ]
I was somewhat taken aback when I read her letter, which contained a direct request to see me.
'Let's meet in two days?'
Besides, if it's Cafe Dailing, it's the cafe where I had my blind date with Rudnine.
It's a place with a lot of people coming and going, and it's even busier at noon.
What is the Dark Magic Princess trying to do by calling me to a hot place where everyone's eyes are focused?
What kind of nonsense is this?
My already complicated mind became even more tangled, so I groaned, covering my forehead.
"Oh my..."
Liana, who had been watching me intently as I groaned and put the letter down on my lap, opened her mouth.
“Princess.”
"Yes."
“Princess Cordelia Mare is also involved in the Fountain of the Sun incident?”
A sharp question that suddenly comes in.
'As expected, Liana is as quick-witted as she is smart.'
To be precise, Cordelia is a high-ranking dark magician at the very center of the Fountain of Sun incident.
But I couldn't tell everything up to that point.
Instead, I just nodded slightly in agreement.
When the Princess of Mare was involved, Liana's expression darkened rapidly.
“It’s getting serious.”
"That's it. What could be more serious?"
I shrugged my shoulders to lighten the mood.
“First, I need to think about why Cordelia called me.”
"I don't think she intended to fight. She called you to a crowded place, which means she's afraid of you, Princess. It seems like she's suggesting negotiation."
“Negotiation...”
What the heck?
Surely Cordelia isn't trying to recruit me as a member of the Warlock group?
'Cordelia wasn't too pleased when Lady Alentia and Arthur Rognier and their men were joking around and suggesting their opinions on my scouts.'
I thought it wasn't a scout offer, and changed the direction of my thoughts again.
At that moment, Pembe, who had already finished the first tier of cake and was lying down with a satisfied expression on his face, covered in cream, came into my sight.
'Hmm...'
What is it?
It's nothing to be anxious about.
I stared blankly at Pembe, who was happily patting his bulging belly and holding Cordelia's letter on my lap for a while.
It won't be a big deal.
Yeah, that's okay.
I repeated the spell over and over again in my head.
I'm lucky, so I'll be okay.
***
Palace of the Deep Sea.
The eyes of Consort Evelyn, who had always been blank and relaxed, began to stare at her son, Prince Felix, with increasing clarity.
"Ah..."
A trembling but beautiful voice flowed from her dry lips.
“Felix?”
"Mother!"
Prince Felix found it hard to believe.
His mother calls him with such a clear and perfect voice.
For a while, he couldn't even meet her in his dreams.
She was laughing like an idiot, but could it be that her mind was always sane?
Tears of regret and sadness flowed down her face as she looked at her son.
"Ah..."
But she immediately closed her eyes again and fell asleep. Then, Duke Argenthoz, who was standing at the head of the bed, stepped forward and explained.
"She fell asleep. But when she wakes up, she'll be back to the same state as before. She'll need to take the antidote and use healing magic. Shr'll need to keep repeating this process."
The promise to treat Consort Evelyn, the price he had agreed to receive as Princess Yvonne Argenthoz's partner, was steadily carried out.
Not only did he obtain the expensive treatment that was said to be difficult to obtain from the Duke of Iels, but he also personally visited the Duke of Argenthoz, the lord of the magic tower, to use high-level healing magic.
Who would have thought that such a huge amount of attention would be poured on them, who had been abandoned as if they were in a palace in the deep sea?
“Ah... Thank you, Duke Argenthoz. I can’t tell if I’m dreaming or not.”
Prince Felix, still feeling dazed, answered hesitantly.
Duke Argenthoz, who looked back and forth between the prince and Consort Evelyn, who was sleeping in a cold sweat, clicked his tongue as he looked around the old palace of the deep sea.
Today, he came to the Palace of the Deep Sea for the first time to treat Consort Evelyn, but her condition was too serious to be considered a palace where the royal family resides.
In comparison, the palace of peace where the Empress resided was so splendid that it was practically spotless, and even the tiles on the most remote terrace were all new.
'Since when has the Palace of the Deep been like this?'
Prince Felix smiled as the frowning Duke of Argenthoz exchanged glances with the vassals who had come with him.
“I know what you’re thinking, but you don’t have to.”
"There's no need for that, Your Highness. You haven't received the treatment you deserve as a member of the royal family."
"Haha. Of course, Duke. I deserve nothing less. To be honest, I've done nothing for the Empire. And yet, I've lived comfortably here."
Duke Argenthoz's eyes lit up at Prince Felix's firm answer.
“Oh, really?”
"Of course. If you look at it objectively, yes. Isn't it fortunate that I'm alive like this now?"
"...Your Highness."
“However, since I took on the role of Princess Argenthoze’s banquet partner, even at the risk of disobeying Her Majesty the Empress’s orders... it seems like my days of comfort are over.”
“It seems you haven’t been very comfortable, Your Highness.”
Count Olit, a vassal of the Duke of Argenthoz, groaned and muttered as he peered through a fist-sized hole in one wall.
The sound of large rats scurrying around above the ceiling was clearly eerie.
“I was comfortable... sigh.”
Prince Felix rubbed his eyes as if he was going to be tired from the journey ahead, and answered stubbornly.
However, Prince Felix was living a life so frugal that even the other noble vassals and knights who followed him were astonished.
If this is royalty, then I don't want to be royalty.
They wanted to get the two out of this palace in the deep sea as soon as possible and let them stay at home.
Prince Felix raised his head, came closer to Duke Argenthoz, and smiled.
And he expressed his sincere gratitude.
"Thank you. I can't promise to repay your kindness, but I promise to do whatever you ask and do faithfully."
“...Very well, Your Highness.”
Duke Argenthoz found himself increasingly drawn to Prince Felix, whom he had actually met.
Even more so, he doesn't say anything nonsensical.
However, they were not a puppet royal family that was helplessly swayed by the opinions of the nobles.
"Take care, Your Highness. Always keep the knights we sent with you. If Her Majesty the Empress summons you to the Palace of Peace, which is unlikely, please contact us. If possible, delay as much as possible."
“Yea.”
“We'll take care of the rest. Don't worry.”
“I guess so. I will believe it.”
Duke Argenthoz left the Palace of the Deep Sea with his vassals, escorted by Prince Felix, who wore a deep smile.
Prince Felix didn't seem to know yet, but Duke Argenthoz was very worried.
It was because he received a secret message from Duke Iels.
[ The forces of the Dark Magician are visible around Empress Giselle and the Cardin family. Remnants of Dark Magic remain in the Palace of Peace, so be especially cautious and vigilant. ]
'I had no idea Empress Giselle was a warlock.'
It was a blow to the pride of the owner of the tower, but there was nothing he could do about it.
The Warlock is very good at hiding their presence, so if they deliberately hide their identity, it is impossible to know.
But he never dreamed that the warlock would infiltrate so deep into the imperial capital, and even the imperial palace.
The Duke of Argenthoz stroked his chin.
'If Duke Iels hadn't been there, things would have been a disaster.'
Duke Argenthoz also knew that the Iels family had been operating a separate intelligence organization for the safety of the empire since the early days of its establishment.
He had also been aware of the suspicious circumstances surrounding Crown Prince Adrian, Empress Giselle, and the Duke of Cardin's family for a long time, but if it weren't for the secret intelligence organization of the Iels family, he wouldn't have been able to uncover them so quickly.
'The more I know... the more I covet the Duke of Iels.'
Duke Argenthoz's eyes lit up as he remembered Duke Rudnine Iels.
If you pretend, pretend. If you knock, knock.
He prepares everything he wants, including the information he wants, in a flash.
He felt like he had a smart subordinate who could handle things smoothly and let him just walk.
But Duke Iels is not his subordinate, but a Duke of the Empire.
'I tried to appease Yvonne by setting up a fake blind date, but... he's such a waste. It's a shame to send him away.'
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