Episode 23
The moment I opened my eyes, my head throbbed as if splitting apart. A terrible groan seeped from my parched throat.
“Uuuugh.”
Just then, a water cup abruptly appeared beside me.
“Lady Calyphe. Water.”
Too weak to turn my head, I shifted only my gaze to find Noah wearing a worried expression.
After gulping the cold water and feeling slightly revived, I hastily smoothed my tangled hair and asked:
“How long have you been here?”
“Um, since yesterday... when you suddenly collapsed. I stayed because I was worried.”
“Yesterday...?”
What happened yesterday?
I’d nurtured the conscience of a future secret merchant, procured illegal magic tools for the silver-haired man. Then, oddly enough, I’d run into that same silver-haired man...
“Noah’s so cute. Know what their treasure is? Coins and buttons that look expensive but aren’t... plus the encouragement card I gifted them!”
“I see.”
“And know what’s even cuter? That my encouragement card is their treasure!”
“...Twentieth time. Not tired yet?”
“One last thing! Know what Noah’s treasure is—”
“Shopkeeper. One rye bread, please.”
“The treasure is— Mmph!”
The silver-haired man shoved rye bread into my mouth.
“You’re hungry. Eat.”
“Not huu— Mmph!”
“Eat.”
“Mmmph!”
“......”
I’d murdered my own charisma. In front of that crucial silver-haired man, no less!
‘If I drink myself stupid again, I’m done. Done...’
I recalled the silver-haired man hauling my drunk, disorderly self into a carriage like baggage before dumping me somewhere.
‘...Come to think of it, before passing out, I’d debated visiting Posher Offensa’s grave.’
I never went.
Too busy now... with work and all... Later. I’ll visit later.
I gestured at the hesitating Noah to leave.
“I’m fine now. Go do your tasks.”
“Actually... I have something for you, Lady Calyphe.”
“Hm?”
Noah produced a small pouch.
Untying the drawstring revealed a gem-like black stone inside. An uneasy feeling prickled my skin.
Watching me cautiously, Noah explained:
“This... I took it from Viscount Sohu’s room.”
“What? The Viscount’s property?”
“Mhm.”
After much fidgeting, Noah confessed—they’d stolen it as tuition for swordsmanship lessons, refusing to carelessly take my belongings.
My eyes narrowed instinctively.
‘Such an adorable crime. I could just bite them.’
“...Sniff. I’m sorry.”
Misreading my gaze, Noah’s eyes began wavering. I quickly interjected:
“The teacher who ordered the theft is at fault, not you. It’s fine.”
“No scolding...?”
“Why scold you? You did well.”
I reached to pat Noah’s head.
They froze momentarily before suddenly pressing their head firmly against my hand—thud—like a magnet.
‘Ah, too forward again?’
As I withdrew my hand, Noah abruptly furrowed their brows and urgently shoved their head back against my palm.
Thud.
Huh?
Flustered, I tried evading by moving my hand left and right, but Noah’s head followed stubbornly, refusing to detach.
“Gnnngh.”
Their straining tiptoes trembled violently.
‘This behavior... could it mean?!’
Suppressing excited breaths, I cautiously moved my hand again.
Rustle rustle.
I gently stroked Noah’s hair.
“......”
Noah pursed their lips, cheeks flushing crimson, yet obediently endured my touch.
‘Heavens! Finally!’
I could pet Noah!
The silken black strands felt indescribably moving, impossibly pleasant.
‘Just like a... puppy.’
After dazedly stroking them, I finally coughed and withdrew.
“Ahem. I’ll keep the Viscount’s item. Did you make this pouch?”
The embroidered pattern showed clustered golden... caterpillars?
“Fine-looking larvae.”
“...They’re roses.”
“Bring me anyone who dares mistake roses for caterpillars. Unforgivable.”
Good. Smooth recovery.
“Why choose roses?”
“The maid noona said your nickname is Golden Rose.”
Well, it’s not exactly a flattering nickname, but I suppose there’s no need to point that out.
“So I made this for you, Calyphe…”
“By giving me this black stone, you mean?”
It was a bribe—crafted out of fear that I’d reprimand them for stealing.
A brilliantly petty scheme.
‘Now that I look, their hands are covered in scars.’
The thought of Noah, terrified of my scolding yet enduring countless needle pricks, filled me with guilt.
Though Noah was gradually opening up to me, the wounds of the past still needed time to heal.
Had we built enough trust, they could’ve confessed without resorting to bribes.
“Thank you. This shall become my treasure now.”
“…!”
Noah’s eyes widened as if asking Really? before nodding eagerly.
I tucked the suspicious black stone into the pouch Noah had given me.
To avoid future complications, I ought to secretly return it later.
‘No wonder it reeks of trouble.’
My intuition whispered sharply.
But first—I’d uncover the stone’s true nature before deciding.
Days later, an invitation arrived from Dietrich.
To my wedding announcement banquet—inviting me, no less.
The burly maid who delivered the letter bristled with outrage.
“This is outrageous! How can they decide your marriage unilaterally?”
“Their motives are transparent, aren’t they?”
My opinion held no weight here. This was Viscount Kaiman’s will as well.
“Still, they added a personal postscript for their ‘special guest.’”
“A postscript?”
“Yes.”
At the card’s edge, scrawled in mocking script:
Come willingly. Unless you fancy a beggar’s wedding without a dowry. The Viscount knows—don’t embarrass yourself. Preserve your dignity while you can, dear heir ^^
They’d even doodled a taunting smiley face. Yet I only snorted.
‘Overjoyed at finally being literate, are we?’
Enjoy your victory while it lasts.
[Duration of Dietrich’s ability: ≤3 days]
“Miss, why are you smiling so grimly?”
“Ahem. I suspect the banquet’s aftermath will be… entertaining.”
“You’re too calm! I’ve lost sleep worrying they’ll humiliate you!”
“Humiliation?”
Unlikely. But I could guess what would happen.
‘Monsters.’
“I only sell my works to connoisseurs. One noble even bulk-ordered for the banquet—”
The black-market dealer’s careless slip pointed straight to Dietrich. No other event matched the timing.
“Speaking of which, the venue’s Imperial Hall. They must’ve prepared performances too?”
“Undoubtedly.”
Banquet performances and a monster outbreak…
…Would the danger extend beyond the silver-haired man?
‘I should bring defensive artifacts.’
Advanced artifacts required bonding with the user’s magic—a problem, as I’m magic-incompatible. Ordinary tools with embedded stones worked, but artifacts? Only if I embraced a death wish.
‘Calyphe’s memories warn how one nearly killed her by draining magic forcibly.’
Safety mattered, but not at the cost of suicide.
‘I need alternatives.’
Luckily, I’d planned ahead.
“Maid. Did you acquire what I requested?”
“The high-grade potions?”
She nodded, fetching a box.
“The Magic Tools Department released this much under your name.”
“Three bottles…”
Top-grade potions would’ve been ideal, but even Ophensa’s patriarch couldn’t access those freely.
‘Long-term, I need a supply chain beyond the Viscount’s reach.’
Just as I sighed over this—
“Miss, an… unusual visitor has arrived. Shall I admit them?”
Another maid announced the guest.
The intruder’s identity stunned even me.
“Take responsibility! This is YOUR fault!”
Dovian—the illegal trader from Marino—wailed, kneeling dramatically.
