♛
Mayerie thought a tiger would come.
“I greet the Crown Prince, the descendant of the Guardian.”
Ellex got up from his seat and greeted Grandiel. I followed him and bowed my head.
Grandiel looked around the room and answered, wriggling with his fingers, “The Du-duke was also here.” (Diel)
“What’s the matter?” (Ellex)
“I- I need to talk to my maid for a moment. Um, co-could I take her with me?” (Diel)
There was an awkward silence. Ellex stared at me strangely, and Grandiel was also looking at me through his bangs.
‘Why, what? What did I do?’
With both eyes on me, I forcibly raised the corner of my lips and maintained my awkward smile. It’s embarrassing.
“I’m going back now.” (Ellex)
Instead of answering, Ellex left the room before us. We haven’t signed a contract yet. Well, he’ll come back if he’s in a hurry. Next time he comes, I hope he brings my 5 gold.
“I heard the news that the Duke had come from Makia and I ran immediately, but I’m glad nothing happened.” (Diel)
“Thank you for your concern.” (Mayerie)
No wonder, he appeared at such perfect timing. Makia told me about the Duke and went to tell Grandiel right away.
“Should we also leave?”
“Yes?”
Grandiel whispered in the room where only the two of them were left. Mayerie thought it was a lie to make Ellex leave, but if anything else happened, they headed to the wall.
♛
I followed in his footsteps and asked what I was curious about.
“But why did you come today as the Crown Prince, not as a servant?” (Mayerie)
Dressing up as Nepenthes seemed more comfortable because he didn’t have to stutter.
And when he moves as a Crown Prince, everyone’s gaze naturally follows. No matter how much he was ignored by the nobility and not treated properly as a crown prince, he had to be careful. He couldn’t let his guard down in front of the aristocrats.
“I think it’s faster to press him with this identity,” Grandiel answered with a sly smile.
Having said that, I didn’t know how to answer him back. I had a similar thought and brought up Grandiel’s name to Ellex.
“What conversation did you have with the Duke?”
As soon as we passed through the wall and reached the hideout, Grandiel asked a surprising question. Mayerie agonized. Whether to tell him everything honestly or hide it.
“If you feel troubled, you don’t have to tell me.”
Grandiel, who read my hesitation, backed down unexpectedly easily. I thought he’d bite me a little more.
‘Was there anyone near the room when I talked with Ellex?’
Nepenthes, the king of the dark world, has more connections beyond imagination.
There are so many rumors that he even knows about someone’s sleep talking that I don’t even know! Besides, the imperial palace was in Grandiel’s palm, so there were plenty of possibilities.
‘There’s nothing good about hiding it.’
While Mayerie was making up her mind to talk about it and organize the situation in her head, Grandiel suddenly reached out to her.
“Your face doesn’t look good.”
Instinctively, I avoided his hand that was reaching for my cheek. Mayerie felt uncomfortable contacting him because of what happened in the room with Ellex.
“It’s okay. It wasn’t important enough to keep it a secret. May I sit down and talk?” Mayerie said with a smile.
Mayerie distanced herself from Grandiel.
It felt a little relaxing when I sat facing him with the table between us.
“The Duke offered to scout me. If I needed money, he said he’d give me tenfold, so he told me to work in the Duke’s Mansion.” (Mayerie)
Grandiel quietly listened to me. With an unwavering smile on his face.
“I don’t know why he suddenly made that offer, but that’s all. I asked him why, but the Duke wouldn’t tell me.”
It’s scarier when the person who always smiled became expressionless, but that’s exactly what it felt like. I finished the story calmly, examining his reaction.
It wasn’t a very long story. In addition to that, when I subtracted the use of my unknown ability and the things we traded, it shortened even more.
“Are you going to accept the offer of the Duke?” (Diel)
“No. I’ve already refused.” (Mayerie)
“But Miss Mayerie likes the Duke?” (Diel)
It’s not a big secret that I was chasing after Ellex in society, but it was also a fact that few people knew.
Because the aristocrats in the society were not interested in me! In the novel, I was rumored to be Ellex’s stalker because I was an attention seeker at every party, and on the last day of the New Year’s party.
‘Only the group that I belonged to or the group that Razvia belonged to would know.’
Does the information guild have insight into the love affairs of the poor nobles? Even from a Count family? The rumors about the information guild without exaggeration were terrifying.
‘I shouldn’t be talking in my sleep. But what about my past life?’ I denied it, thinking of it as stupid.
“I don’t like him anymore.” (Mayerie)
Come to think of it, Grandiel knows better than anyone that I’m afraid of Ellex because he could read emotions. Are you asking this on purpose?
Mayerie had no idea what his intentions were.
What kind of dream is this?
“I’m afraid Miss Mayerie would leave after reassuring me.” (Diel)
Grandiel, who had been expressionless, looked at me with his eyebrows drooping pitifully.
No, why are you asking me like a pitiful dog in the rain? Even if I break his orders due to a magic contract, my heart would surely explode.
Of course, I would be dead if I followed Ellex to the North under a contract.
‘But at this rate, my heart would explode before I could break the contract.’
Because I didn’t want to die yet.
“I’ll be by your side until the contract ends. Don’t worry.” Mayerie said firmly.
“Then please promise me.”
‘What?’
Grandiel, who was smiling, whispered as I wondered what else he was going to promise.
“You won’t be alone with the Duke.”
It was impossible. Since I also made a deal with Ellex, I had to meet him secretly often in the future.
‘Then I’ll have to ask Ellex if he could sneak in.’
The Imperial Palace was in Grandiel’s palm. So it would be difficult for me to go outside.
Mayerie thought deeply about how she would meet Ellex.
“I’ll be careful, but I couldn’t promise you. And the Duke will return to the North soon, so you don’t have to worry.”
“I’m still nervous, so I’ll give you this.”
Grandiel took a small box out of his arms. It was even wrapped in a cute red ribbon. Mayerie was handed a box.
“This…”
There was a necklace in the box. It was a cute necklace with a simple silver string and navy blue jewel.
Although it was the size of a little fingernail, it was created by an outstanding craftsman, so the transparency and brilliance were different.
The blue jewel turned purple when exposed to light. The jewel sparkled with different lights depending on the angle, it looked very expensive.
“It’s a gem called iolite, doesn’t it resemble Miss Mayerie’s eye color?” (Diel)
“It’s too sudden. I couldn’t accept anything that looks this expensive.” (Mayerie)
“I’m not just giving it to you, I’m giving it to you for your safety, so don’t feel pressured and accept it. I have to keep you safe, don’t I?” (Diel)
Why does it feel suspicious?
As I looked down at the necklace, Grandiel explained, “It’s a magic tool that lets me track your location. Also, if you call my nickname when you’re in danger, the gem reacts and calls me.”
It must be my misunderstanding to think that the word ‘nickname’ was emphasized. I glanced at the necklace and recalled something I had forgotten.
‘Acker Saccharin.’
It was an impressive first meeting, but I forgot because Ellex’s impact earlier was stronger.
“Come to think of it this morning, a wizard asked me if I had signed a contract with Nepenthes. Do you know him by any chance?”
Grandiel’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
‘Oh, you look guilty.’
Would Grandiel be able to explain that he failed to hear from Acker? I was curious about his answer.
After a brief silence, Grandiel spoke, “It’s a mutual interest that has a mutual purpose. Simply put, it’s a partnership.”
Grandiel’s goal was to strengthen the imperial power. Then what about Acker?
Acker was recognized as an independent wizard. The wizard’s tower has a stronger position than any other, so even the Empire could not treat them recklessly.
For him, strengthening the imperial power of the Magnolia Empire wouldn’t be very important.
‘What could Acker benefit from helping Grandiel?’
Perhaps it’s a very personal affair between Grandiel and Acker, not the Crown Prince’s relationship with the wizard’s tower.
I was curious about the reason for their alliance, but that’s all I could guess. Unfortunately, there was a lack of hints even from the original. I put aside my curiosity and asked Grandiel another question.
“Aha, you’re partners. So to whom? Nepenthes?”
Mayerie threw a boulder and hit it straight at Grandiel. Mayerie spoke as hard as reading a textbook, but it was enough to distract from Grandiel’s faint smile.
Nepenthes was Grandiel’s alias that he used in the dark world, but few know the name. It’s because people who work in the dark world also call him ‘King’.
The same was true of high-ranking aristocrats and merchants who knew his existence and were practically trading.
‘So Acker mentioned Nepenthes in the middle of the Imperial Palace.’
Except for Grandiel’s closest aides, there is only a handful.
“The wizard asked me so persistently. If I signed a contract with Nepenthes? It was the first time I heard this name, so I denied it, but the wizard pushed me so hard not to lie. He even threatened me with magic!” (Mayerie)
I became a little excited when I remembered what had happened in the morning. Somehow it became like I was snitching on Grandiel, but I coughed lightly and got back to the point.
“Hmm, anyway, the wizard said that he was the only one who gave Nepenthes a magic contract. Do you know him?” (Mayerie)
“…”
The silence lasted longer than the first question. In the quiet space, I calmly waited for Grandiel’s answer.
To be honest, I didn’t understand why he was so hesitant. We know each other except that he’s the king of the back world, so he doesn’t need to hide it.
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