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Chapter 57
“Choo, choo…!”
It was midnight, and darkness had sunk thickly into the sky.
I was flying across the air, clutching Bishop by the scruff of his head.
Earlier today, we had passed through the rose garden where I faced Yellowise. The place Bishop led me to was far, far away from the palace annex.
[There. I clearly saw the coachmen entering the tower.]
Sitting on a high tree branch with his wings folded, Bishop pointed his beak toward a tower.
“Choo? Choot…?”
Th–there? Are you sure?
[Yes.]
His lazy nod left me speechless.
The gloomy atmosphere completely contradicted the splendor of the palace—already suspicious enough.
But the real problem was something else.
“Choo, chooat…!”
I peeked down from the tower’s edge—practically glued to its peak.
The towering trees below, easily over 3 meters tall, looked like toys from this height.
Just how high is this!?
I couldn’t even estimate it.
One thing, however, was completely certain:
If I slipped even once… I’d die immediately.
That damned bird definitely dropped me off this high on purpose…
I shot Bishop a resentful stare. The ill-tempered white hawk only shrugged his wings.
[I only did it for your sake, obviously.]
Even in the darkness, his sharp eyes glinted as he pointed below.
Glowing red dots surrounded the tower.
[Quite the strict guard, you see. Keh keh.]
He was right.
Whether they were soldiers from Black Dragon Castle or laborers from the Rose Merchant Guild, torches in hand, men stood in a complete ring around the tower. No blind spots.
Getting past that many guards and entering the tower would be nearly impossible.
Still—this is TOO much!
Flattened against the tip of the tower like a terrified gecko, I kicked my feet helplessly.
It felt like being trapped on a tiny sailboat in the vast open sea.
No—except this was sky instead of water, but the feeling was exactly the same.
Aside from the cone-shaped roof on which my body barely fit, there was nowhere to stand.
I… I’m scared…!
Just looking down made my head spin.
[Kyahaha! Just climb through that hole and go inside!]
As if reading my terrified thoughts, Bishop flapped and cackled.
That bastard. He was enjoying my fear.
Grinding my teeth, I turned away from him.
I couldn’t stay here forever.
Time was passing, and dawn would come soon.
If that happened, König would realize I escaped…
And this time, I really might end up fused to that damned pouch!
Horrified at the thought, my body moved on its own.
Slowly but steadily, I crawled forward, clinging low to the roof.
[Tsk. Tough little thing.]
Fueled by Bishop’s half-mocking “encouragement,” I finally squeezed myself into the hole leading inside the tower.
“Choo… chooa…”
Never again. I never want to repeat that.
Calming my trembling heart, I looked around—
and couldn’t help but gasp.
Jackpot…!
Legends say a dragon’s lair is filled with treasure.
And that was exactly what it looked like.
Luxurious chests overflowing with gems, precious goods from the Western Continent scattered on the floor…
The princess wasn’t in the top of this tower—but treasure was!
Like a greedy squirrel, I walked through, arms jangling with rings and bracelets.
There must be a crystal here somewhere…
Remembering why I risked becoming pouch food, I scanned the room.
Then—
Zap.
A sharp sting ran through my fingertips like static electricity.
From experience, I knew that was a mana reaction.
I turned toward the sensation.
On a stack of crates, there was a small wooden box about the size of my torso.
Old, ordinary, nothing impressive—but my instincts screamed:
It’s that one.
“Choo… choot…”
Excuse me for a moment.
I whispered, then carefully opened the lid.
Inside lay a dull mineral.
It was shaped like a long octahedron, resembling quartz more than crystal.
There was no shine—only faint cracks.
Yet—
This is a crystal.
I felt certain.
And when my hand reached out automatically—
Zap.
A mild pain shot through my fingers.
Far weaker than what I’d felt in the underground prison with Astrahan.
‘I want to be like Rania too.’
I want to hold Father’s hand and walk with him at the Marquisate…
A soft, trembling voice echoed in my ears at the same time as the pain.
The words were slurred, hard to understand, yet I grasped the meaning immediately.
Because—
That’s my voice…
It was the same thought I repeated endlessly whenever I saw my half-sister Rania at Father’s side.
“Chut.”
I jerked backward in shock.
Where had that voice come from?
The room was empty except for me.
Don’t tell me… the crystal?
I hesitated, then pressed my ear toward it again.
Nothing. Silence.
Did I imagine it?
Maybe the crystal made me subconsciously think of Father.
But before I could sort through my thoughts—
the voice returned, echoing clearly:
“Father, um… may I hold your hand?”
“Of course, my lovely daughter, Muriel.”
Such a gentle voice it made my eyes sting.
“Chut.”
But I could only laugh hollowly.
I never had such a conversation with Father.
Not once. Not even on the day I attended my first banquet with him.
And also…
‘My lovely daughter? Muriel?’
Father had never called me that.
So why…
Why did it feel so real?
My eyes prickled, so I squeezed them shut.
I turned away—
when suddenly:
Step. Step.
Footsteps beyond the firmly closed door.
They grew louder—until a faint red glow seeped through the crack.
“Yaaaawn… Who the hell comes here at this hour?”
“That creepy bird squawking like crazy made me nervous. This room has things the Boss cherishes. If something went wrong… ugh, even thinking about it makes me sick.”
They called Yellowise “Boss,” meaning they were employees of the Rose Merchant Guild.
And that obnoxious squawking bird…
Bishop.
Completely useless, that bird.
But more importantly—
If they find me, I’m dead!
Panicking, I peeled off all the Western Continent treasures I was wearing and threw them aside.
Then I searched for a hiding spot.
Luckily, the old tower had plenty.
There.
I quickly climbed the wall and hid near the ceiling, peeking through a gap.
Two big, bearded men pressed their ears to the door.
“Do you hear anything?”
“Maybe? Something jingled a bit. But only the Boss has the key, so we can’t check…”
I let out a tiny sigh of relief.
I just had to slip out the way I came and meet Bishop—
Then—
“Well, not that it matters. The Boss and the Duke of Kreutz… they’ll both die the day after tomorrow anyway.”
My whole body froze.
W–WHAT did he just say…?
