Chapter 74
“Maybe…?”
Sophia, Albert, and Veloz all turned their hopeful, expectant gazes toward Melania.
Feeling a bit pressured by their attention, Melania decided against voicing the thought she’d just had. It was still only a hypothesis, after all.
“No. Anyway, we succeeded in extracting Cecil’s magic. I think we can finally complete the magical device to track the Soul Shards.”
“When do you think it’ll be finished?”
“Hm… probably in three or four days.”
Melania prepared to leave Snowy behind, promising to contact them once the device was ready. But just before she could, Sophia stopped her.
“Has the royal family made contact with the Frost Tower?”
“The royal family…? Ah, now that you mention it, I think I did hear something about that.”
Her indifferent expression made Sophia tread carefully.
“Will you refuse their offer?”
Melania shrugged. “My students’ positions matter more than mine. Unless the royal family offers a reasonable reward, I can’t force them to comply either.”
“My husband is on his way to the capital. Go with him when you negotiate with the royal family. Whether it’s acceptance or refusal, he’ll be of help.”
“I will. Thank you for your consideration.”
“No thanks needed. You’re practically part of our family, Melania.”
With a smile that seemed warmer than any empty words she had ever heard, Melania transformed into an owl and flew out the window.
“Phew!”
Snowy flapped his wings, as if waving her off with a gentle “go ahead.”
Albert decided to find a treat for Snowy, placing the owl on his shoulder as he headed to the kitchen.
Left in the hallway were only Sophia and Veloz.
Veloz was about to return to his room when he noticed Sophia lost in deep thought, and he asked with curiosity:
“Mother?”
“….”
After a moment, Sophia opened her eyes, looking at Veloz.
“Cecil seems to like the Second Prince very much, doesn’t she?”
“Eh? Ah… yes. Not just liking—she seems completely smitten.”
Looking back at Cecil’s actions, it was impossible to deny it.
“To be honest, it’s for the best. Even with the prophecy, her engagement wasn’t her choice…”
Veloz muttered absentmindedly, then suddenly realized he should check that Cecil’s bedroom door was properly closed.
“Don’t worry too much. The Emperor said it himself—if we successfully repel the Monster Wave, the Second Prince will be appointed Crown Prince.”
“That’s right… the Monster Wave.”
Muttering the words repeatedly, Sophia clenched her dress in frustration.
“I’ll send a letter to your father first. You should go and rest.”
“Yes…”
Watching Sophia walk away in quick strides, Veloz scratched his head.
‘In just a few days, Father will arrive… but does she really miss him so much that she has to send a letter?’
Seems like our parents are still in the honeymoon phase.
With that calm thought, Veloz returned to his room.
The tonic the physician had made was bitter. Really bitter.
“Ugh… Uni, I need chocolate…!”
“Here. Chew it thoroughly.”
After chewing five pieces of chocolate, the bitterness faded slightly. But the despair of having to endure this medicine for a whole week made me flop onto the bed.
“Miss, are you alright?”
“Not at all! Ugh, it’s the worst medicine I’ve ever had… the bitterest!”
I sighed loudly and asked Eunice, “So… it’s been four days since I collapsed, right?”
“Yes.”
“And the Northern Expedition… has the schedule been set?”
“Yes. In three days.”
Three days… it was the busiest time. Seeing Lionel one more time before he left for the North seemed impossible.
‘By the way… where’s Ruda?’
No one had mentioned him, so it seemed nobody had seen him.
‘Maybe Lionel took him along?’
But then, a sudden certainty washed over me.
Ruda was fine.
‘Ah, he sent me a signal knowing I was worried!’
So this is what it feels like to be connected to a Spirit Familiar.
“Miss? Why are you smiling like that?”
“Huh? Was I smiling? …No, ah, nothing.”
I felt the urge to boast to Eunice about my brilliance but held it back. Above all, the existence of my Spirit Familiar could never be revealed.
‘I collapsed after contacting Ruda and had another dream. Last time I collapsed, it wasn’t magic—it must have been because of Ruda.’
Eunice was sensitive about my health. If she found out I collapsed due to Ruda, she might try to separate me from him.
‘But why do I collapse and dream whenever I contact Ruda?’
Could it be that my past-life memories are embedded in the Soul Shard inside Ruda? Is that why every contact triggers those memories?
‘Then… if I contact Ruda a few more times… maybe I could recall even more of the story?’
“Earlier you were smiling to yourself, and now you have a serious expression… nothing’s wrong, is it?”
“No, don’t worry. But I do have a favor to ask.”
“A favor?”
“Yes. Spread a rumor outside.”
“A rumor? About what?”
“Tell people I collapsed in shock because Lionel had to leave for the North for at least five years and I’ve been feeble ever since.”
“…What?”
“I thought I’d recover in a few days, but my condition keeps worsening. Say I have to go to the estate to recuperate. Can you do that?”
Eunice nodded, though a puzzled look appeared on her face.
“Why do you want to spread that rumor?”
“Because if I go with the Northern reinforcements, the palace restrictions will be lifted. Then I can resume my bride lessons. Why would I go to unnecessary bride lessons in an empty palace without Lionel?”
I guarantee that if I attend, the First Prince would pull some stunt again.
‘You don’t avoid poop because it’s scary. You avoid it because it’s dirty.’
“I understand perfectly. I’ll take care of it immediately!”
“Good. I trust only you, Uni.”
After Eunice left, I took out the two items Lionel had given me to examine them.
‘One looks like a beast’s claw… but this whistle…?’
It was definitely a type of whistle, but I couldn’t tell exactly what it was.
‘A magical tool?’
I tried putting a little magic into it, but nothing happened.
‘If you were going to give me this, you should’ve at least explained it.’
Muttering, I brought the whistle to my lips and blew as hard as I could.
“….”
No sound. I tried once, twice, three times—still nothing.
“What? Why isn’t it making a sound?”
Could it be a dog whistle? One that emits a frequency beyond human hearing?
Then… what does it call?
‘Could it really summon a dog…?’
“Did you call me, Miss?”
“Ahhh!”
Startled by a voice behind me, I screamed.
A woman in black with an eyepatch stepped back rapidly, almost pressing against the wall.
‘An assassin!’
…but she had no weapon and didn’t seem to want to attack.
Instead, she hesitated, watching me carefully. Seeing no malice, I exhaled in relief.
“You… scared me. How did you get in here?”
“Through the window. Didn’t you leave it open for me?”
“No? Why would I leave the window open for you if I didn’t know who you were?”
“Huh? Didn’t the Chief tell you about me?”
“Chief?”
We blinked at each other in silence, realizing our brains were spinning fast.
I spoke first.
“Are you the person Lionel mentioned…?”
“Yes, that’s me!”
She immediately confirmed, without a hint of suspicion. Relieved, I laughed.
“I was worried the Chief sent you without my permission.”
“Sent me without your permission? Honestly, as a noble lady, you might not trust people from the underworld like me. If I’d been sent without telling you…”
“Underworld? You’re from the underworld?”
“Yes?”
Blinking, she looked shocked and asked:
“Didn’t the Chief tell you?”
“No! He just left this whistle!”
The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed. If he was sending someone from the underworld, he should have told me… Wait a second.
“…Chief?”
The underworld people call Lionel “Chief”?
“Oh… so Lionel is the Underworld Chief?”