CH 33

I had the illusion that a black aura was slowly rising around Duke Perdia.

It was such an unusual momentum.

If Isis, the master of the magic tower were in front of me, it would have finished him in one fell swoop.

“Did that guy talk like that?” The low-pitched voice snapped off each word, riddling the room with tension.

All I could do was nod timidly.

‘Well, I said I wouldn’t say this….’

However, except that I invested in slush funds or heard about my mother, the only thing left to talk about were the curses about the Duke of Perdia.

In other words, it was inevitable. The action I chose to survive in the midst of this was–

“Yes, that’s what Isis, the master of the magic tower said!”

It was a strong assertion that had absolutely nothing to do with my opinion! It doesn’t matter to me; it was just the opinion of that other human being.

‘I’m sorry, Isis, but since you’re the Master of the Magic Tower, you’ll be fine.’

The Duke of Perdia quietly muttered, “It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen that mug of his…..”

“Haha,” I laughed awkwardly. “I guess you’ve known each other for a long time.”

“It’s a bad relationship.”

I knew that he didn’t like people very much, but I had never seen him so openly hate someone like this.

‘I’m sure it’s related to my mother.’

I mean, I didn’t know for sure.

Duke Perdia’s sharp gaze reached me as I was thinking about something else. I flinched and glanced over at him.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

“Is there anything else he said other than that?”

His face looked confident that there would be more.

At that moment I had to swivel my head violently. To come up with a story that had as little to do with my mother as possible.

“Ah, he’s making a trump magic tool to defeat my father. Be careful.”

“Was that all?”

“I think so-. Oh, and he said he wanted to take something away.”

That was all I said, but the duke gave a small nod as if he knew it.

“He means ‘that.’”

“What’s that?” I asked curiously.

“Perdia’s heirloom.”

I opened my mouth wide at the mind of the Magic Tower’s Master. To think of stealing the heirloom of Perdia, a family with a long history.

Even the emperor would have never thought of such a thing.

“You don’t have to care. He’s just a thoughtless idiot.”

“Yes….”

“Keep your distance from him. He is the second most harmful human being after the Second Prince.”

“I’ll try my best,” I deliberately answered vaguely.

Because it doesn’t matter how much the duke is telling me to keep my distance from him; I couldn’t give up my connection with the Master of the Tower.

After all, the world is network-oriented. The West Magic Tower’s Master was the person I needed for my independence.

Fortunately, the Duke of Perdia did not ask further questions.

‘This is all, right?’

Just when I was beginning to feel relieved–

“Elodie.”

Why are you calling my name with such weight? I’m feeling scared for nothing.

“Yes.”

“If you don’t mind, I’m thinking of organizing the annex and preparing a room for you in the main mansion instead. What do you think?”

I was stunned by the sudden suggestion.

“……a room for me?”

“Yes. Come into the main mansion now.”

“……well.”

“I didn’t know when to bring it up, so I left it alone. It’s already been so long.”

When I was very young, I used to sit in front of the largest window of the annex and look outside endlessly.

Because that spot had the best view of the mansion.

It has always been my earnest dream to live in the main mansion. I thought then that I could feel like a real member of Perdia.

But I’d never once let that wish out of my mouth.

It was the words the servants whispered behind my back that undermined my self-esteem.

“Did you see? Sitting by the window and just looking at the mansion?”

“I wonder if she even wants to go to the mansion she is seeing. As an illegitimate child, who is not a direct descendant, she should be grateful to be allowed to live in a separate building.”

“I know. She needs to know her place.”

“I feel sorry for the duchess.”

After hearing such words, there was no way I would dare to say that I want to enter the main mansion.

Because I had defined myself as an obscure stranger who cannot be a Perdia ever since.

The question of whether I would come into the mansion was unrealistic, but inside…..I was happy.

It felt like I was recognized as Perdia, even if it was just a little bit.

My situation now is completely different from before.

Unlike before, Jansi and Carlot were not hostile, and I also learned that the duke didn’t hate me.

The duchess also treated me as her partner.

But.

I couldn’t have their favor. 

Because we’re not a “real family”.

They’re all being nice to me because they think I’m the duke’s real daughter.

‘They’ll throw me out right away, as soon as the truth is revealed.’

So, it would be better not to get any closer. In order to not hurt each other.

I looked at the duke with a smile. “Maybe I was waiting for my father to say that.”

“I didn’t know that. Tell the butler to prepare right away- “

I cut off the duke’s word in the middle, who took my words to mean consent.

“No.”

“……….”

“Thank you for your offer, but I will decline.”

I’m not going to enter this mansion.

At first glance, Duke Perdia’s face seemed frozen.

“Why?” He finally asked.

“It’s comfortable where I’m used to living, and…..and there will be many people who will be uncomfortable if I go there.”

“Elodie, are you not uncomfortable?”

I just laughed at the question that hit the point.

There were a lot of inconveniences.

Now that I was preparing for independence, entering the main mansion had more losses than benefits.

Right now, it was not easy to make the antidote ordered by the duchess because of Carlot and Jansi, who came and went, but it would be totally impossible if I moved to the main mansion.

In the annex, if the servants saw me, they would walk around as inconspicuously as they possibly could.  But that wouldn’t be the case in the main mansion.

There would be more people watching.

As such, I would not be able to move as before due to restrictions on my behavior.

“I will listen to what you want to make you feel comfortable.”

“No, you don’t have to.”

“Are you sure you won’t come to this mansion?”

“Yes. I like the annex because I’m used to it…… except for one thing.”

Fearing that duke Perdia, who suggested it would be offended, I gave it a chance to see if everything was all right, and the duke’s eyes changed.

“What is that one thing?”

I was embarrassed because I didn’t know how to ask, but it wasn’t hard to answer.

“The meals. As for the food, the chef’s dishes in the main mansion were more to my taste than that of the annex. But it’s not a big problem because the chef’s cooking in the annex is also delicious.”

I didn’t forget to defend the chef of the annex because I was afraid that sparks might fly to the annex chef.

The duke still didn’t seem to like it, but he seemed to give up because I insisted on not wanting to enter the mansion.

“Elodie, if that’s what you mean, I understand.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“If you change your mind, tell me anytime.”

“Yes.”

I smiled brightly at the duke and thought, ‘I’ll have to be a good daughter until I become independent.’

***

And the next day.

Martha and I saw the face of the person who knocked on the door of the annex, and my sleep ran away in an instant.

“I’m the chef who will be in charge of cooking in the annex from today. I look forward to your kind cooperation, Miss Elodie.”

“……..”

The chef of the main mansion had been demoted……

***

Martha, who entered the bedroom, shook her head, and announced the visit of an uninvited guest.

“Miss, he came again today.”

“Jan or Carl?”

“Master Carlot.”

“Yes…..”

It seemed that Carlot was wandering around the garden again.

“Did you tell him to go back?”

“He called me Misa, so I got angry and just came inside.”

“Well done.”

There was no answer to either Carlot, who stubbornly called Martha Misa, or Martha who was a maid and just came in saying that the young master pissed her off.

“Master Carlot will kill himself with this ridiculous behavior. What if he’s lying down with a heat stroke?”

“No way,” I said with a shake of my head. “That’s just Carlot.”

He’s different from ordinary humans, so strong sunlight shouldn’t be a big deal. I know that, but it bothered me to know that he was under the scorching sun.

Eventually, when I went out of the annex, Carlot found me and ran over with a big smile.

“Sister!”

“What are you doing here when it’s this hot?”

“I was waiting for my sister to come out. Aren’t you going out today?”

“I will.”

“Oh, really…….?”

Carlot was visibly sullen when I said I was going out.

‘I’m leaving because of you. You ignorant boy.’

These days it was common for Carlot and Jansi to just leave the mansion when they took turns coming to the annex.

Whether he knew my heart, Carlot held out something that he was holding dearly in front of me.

“Sister! I heard this is a popular accessory among young girls these days. What do you think?”

The jewelry box Carlot opened was full of all kinds of accessories.

‘Have you got a girlfriend?’

Carlot, who suddenly asked a random question, was strange, but I responded appropriately.

“Really? It’s pretty.”

C: “Pretty? Then take them all.”

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“It’s not unusual for a younger brother to give a present to his older sister. My sister also has given me a banquet dress once.” 

“I think that’s different from this. Carl, I’m not taking this-”

The moment I was about to say I wouldn’t accept it, Carlot…..jumped away?

He literally bounced.

***

Having placed the jewel box Carlot forced onto me into my room, I prepared to go out.

After a while, Raeyan found me. After escorting me for a few days, Perdia seemed quite familiar now.

As soon as we got into the carriage, Raeyan commented, “I think you go out a lot these days.”

“Well, there’s a cat at home that’s been chasing me around.”

“Do you hate cats?”

“I like cats.”

It’s just that the cat Carlot is a bit……

The Perdia brothers made me feel burdened, so I had no choice but to wander around outside. I at least felt at ease when I was with Raeyan.

Also, I have to go out and stop by all kinds of stores to complete the homework of spending the allowance given by the Duke of Perdia.

But again, the problem was the antidote.

“I need a place to be alone, but it’s not easy. There’s something I have to concentrate on.”

When I complained without realizing it, Raeyan, who had been silent for a while, recommended something to me.

“There are many unused rooms in the mercenary headquarters. We can provide you with a place if you need it.”

“….really?”

It was a very tempting proposal for me who was struggling with the antidote.

If I ate poison, I would be stuck in bed for about half a day because of the poison’s effects.

If I came out early in the morning and stayed at the mercenary corps and drank it right away, I’d be able to move around by evening. It was perfect.

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” I asked, eyes glimmering.

“Yes.”

“No one can interrupt me in the middle.”

I don’t want to reveal my secret.

But Raeyan was adamant again this time.

“No one will disobey my orders.”

“Then can I ask you for that favor?”

“Yes.”

We immediately turned the carriage’s destination to the Earth Hawk Mercenary Headquarters. 

Arriving at the mercenary corps, we went straight inside. It was said to be the largest mercenary corps, and it was a truly enormous building.

“It’s not organized yet, so it can be messy.”

“I’m just going to look around today, so it’s okay.”

It was when I was walking down the hall talking about the place with Raeyan.

A mercenary who appeared from the opposite side greeted Raeyan.

“Oh, Captain? You’re coming already? Didn’t you say you were going to Perdia?”

I wanted to see the face of the person with the husky voice, but I couldn’t see it because Raeyan covered it with his body.

The other person didn’t seem to know I was there.

The mercenary was quite a talkative person. To the extent that he talked about the captain’s escort target.

“Anyway, the captain is working hard. I heard the woman escorted by the captain has a crazy personality. Tearing a man’s hair out? Her nickname is Perdia’s madman! Hahahaha.”

“Keep that mouth quiet.”

“Huh? Why are you telling me to keep quiet instead of telling me to shut up?”

“Shut up.”

Raeyan warned coldly, perhaps because of me behind his back. But I’d already heard it all.

Soon after, the mercenary who found me standing behind Raeyan opened his eyes wide.

“Whoa, who is that? Who is this beautiful woman? A lover? Are you his girlfriend?”

I gave a witty greeting to Raeyan’s subordinate, who was making a fuss.

“Hello, I’m Perdia’s madman! Nice to meet you.”

“……!”

Then the mercenary’s face turned white.