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Chapter 72
The duke’s face turned grim when he heard her say she would go to the banquet instead of home. Jerome, who was watching from the side, whispered in genuine surprise.
“Y-Young Lady, I never imagined you liked banquets that much.”
“That’s not it.”
“Then why…?”
While Jerome looked puzzled, the duke spoke in a frighteningly stern voice.
“Elizia Semperion! Enough of this nonsense. Stop talking and go home at once.”
His voice had lowered a little, which somehow made it even scarier. It was clear pressure—he was treating her request as if it were a silly joke, demanding that she go home quietly.
‘Sigh… no helping it then.’
Realizing there was no way to reason with him, Elizia lowered her head. The duke clicked his tongue and added,
“Besides, how could you even think of going to a banquet in that state?”
Her jewelry and decorations had all been ripped off, and her clothes were soiled with monster fluids. The duke must have thought there was no way she could have been serious about attending. He snorted.
“Your next dress is still being made. It will take quite a while to finish, so you’d best stay quietly at home until then.”
‘…Did he delay it on purpose?’
Does he think she can’t go out without a dress? Even now, he still didn’t understand his daughter. Elizia looked at him in disbelief, but the duke didn’t care and went on.
“And when you return, use the family carriage. No more foolishness.”
He must have meant the carriage he had come in. His eyes were sharp, as if telling her to leave immediately. Helpless, Elizia moved her feet.
“Ugh…”
He was clearly furious, and anything she said now would be useless. Better to step aside for now. Besides, the knights and mages still had work to take care of—it would be selfish to delay them over a father-daughter quarrel. But still—
‘It’ll be a problem if I just go home like this. There’s the banquet participation quest… and more importantly, I haven’t made a proper alibi with Finn yet.’
She had barely managed to avoid explaining earlier, but if Finn told the truth later, it would be revealed that she had destroyed the monsters using magic stones as bombs. If it came out that she had been hiding such powerful mana, things would get troublesome.
Sighing, she climbed into the duke’s carriage. The duke, still suspicious, followed her all the way until she was firmly seated inside. He even closed the door himself, keeping his eyes fixed on her with a frighteningly silent glare—as if to say, “If you run away again, you’ll pay dearly.” Elizia awkwardly looked away.
“I really am going home this time…”
She was telling the truth! Stop doubting her!
But the duke ignored her words and instructed the coachman firmly.
“Take her safely home. No detours, no matter what.”
“Yes, sir!”
“If she tries to break the window and run, report immediately. Don’t be fooled by a pitiful look or a bribe.”
‘I don’t even have money to bribe with!’
Elizia made a resentful face, but of course no one cared. The carriage started moving right away toward the duke’s estate.
Through the window, she could see the duke, Jerome, and Finn shrinking into the distance. She tried to catch Finn’s gaze, but the duke’s piercing glare made it impossible to even look outside. With regret, she pulled the curtains closed—
“…Do you have more to say, my lady?”
“…!”
Elizia jumped at the voice behind her. She turned—and there sat Finn, calmly across from her. She hurriedly whispered.
“How did you get in? Are you even allowed?”
“Well… if His Grace the Duke finds out, I doubt I’ll keep my life. A bit of a gamble, you see.”
Despite his grim words, his voice was calm, making it impossible to tell if he was joking. Even now, he sat with perfect elegance, as if this surreal situation were natural.
“But how…? I just saw you standing outside.”
Peeking past the curtain, she looked outside. Sure enough, “Finn” was still standing between the duke and Jerome.
“A doppelgänger?”
“No.”
“A fake?”
“No…”
As Elizia’s guesses kept missing, Finn placed his hand on his chest and spoke.
“Actually, this is the real me. We didn’t get to finish our talk before we were interrupted, so I thought we should settle things. I apologize sincerely for boarding the duke’s carriage without permission.”
“That’s fine!”
At his polite apology, Elizia nodded coolly. Of course, if the duke knew, it would be far from fine—but since he didn’t, it was fine for now. The bigger issue was—
“There are too many eyes outside. You can’t keep a fake standing there for long, can you? Won’t you get caught?”
“…That is true.”
“Then we’d better be quick. I wanted to ask you about something.”
She spoke hastily.
“That thing with the magic stone bombs… about me defeating the monsters with them.”
Now that she said it, she wasn’t sure how to ask him to keep it secret. She hesitated, but Finn nodded.
“Do you wish to keep that hidden, my lady?”
“…For now, yes.”
She nodded. The very idea that a magic stone could be used like a bomb would shock people.
Normally, unless one had Elizia’s level of mana, it was impossible. If that fact had been known earlier, magic stones would have been banned from being embedded in dresses. She’d be treated as a walking hazard, carrying bombs into a banquet.
Both the act itself, and her mana that made it possible—
It would all become a huge incident.
I never planned it that way. I just had no choice…
As she made excuses to herself, a thought hit her.
“…Wait. Finn, why aren’t you surprised?”
“Surprised?”
“That I took down those monsters. You saw it, but you didn’t even comment.”
What noble lady suddenly rips magic stones out of her dress and hurls them like grenades? And yet he asked nothing.
“Jerome—the Vice Tower Master—would’ve said, ‘For the good of the magic world, please join our research! Won’t you enter the Tower?’ He would’ve scouted me right away.”
At her Jerome impression, Finn chuckled.
“You know him well.”
“So you think the same, huh…?”
“Yes. I do think your deed was remarkable. If word spread, everyone would be amazed. But…”
His voice grew serious.
“…You don’t want that, do you, my lady?”
“Even if telling the truth could help the magic world?”
“…Ignore the magic world.”
“Huh?”
His blunt words made her look up in shock. A respected researcher and librarian of the Tower, telling her to ignore it? Did she mishear?
But Finn continued.
“No matter how important progress may be, we cannot demand your sacrifice. If you wish it to remain hidden, I’ll keep it secret to the end. What would you prefer?”
“…Hm.”
She paused at his unexpected words. Would he really guard her secret so firmly?
But why turn down such a chance? After some thought, she said,
“Yes. I’d prefer it if no one knew it was me. I’d like the fact I can detonate stones kept secret as well.”
“Even if it means your achievements are buried?”
“I don’t mind. Honestly, I’d rather they were.”
Rejecting credit for defeating monsters—most would faint at such words. But for Elizia, it was nothing. If she wanted, she could leave home and wipe out the empire’s monsters as a mercenary. For now, hiding her strength was safer.
‘But will he really accept this?’
He might think it strange. He might refuse. She had no convincing argument. But—
“…Then so be it. Until you want otherwise, I’ll say nothing.”
“….”
He’s really agreeing?
She stared at him, dazed. Even under pressure from the duke or the Vice Tower Master, could an ordinary librarian really keep silent? Even if the imperial family or clergy questioned him?
Still, this was his way of saying he’d do his best. That alone was kindness. She exhaled and said softly,
“Thank you. And Finn… don’t worry. I won’t say anything either.”
“…?”
He looked confused. She looked away, murmuring.
“Your teleport magic today—that was high-level. And the doppelgänger spell too. I’ve never even heard of it. Honestly, I don’t think you’re just an ordinary mage.”
“….”
His brows lifted, caught off guard. Then he smiled as if amused.
“Well, yes. If that got out, it would be troublesome. Everyone would beg me for teleportation and clones, and the Tower would be swamped with requests.”
That’s all?
That couldn’t be it. They’d interrogate him, demand to know what other secret spells he had. Teleportation especially—it was perfect for infiltrating forbidden places. The palace or the temples might try to control him.
Yet he had revealed such a trump card in front of her. Did he trust her that much? Or did he have some leverage?
Reading her serious expression, Finn’s smile faded. His voice turned grave.
“Then let’s both keep each other’s secrets. The Vice Tower Master likely won’t press too hard about this incident anyway, so don’t worry.”
“…Really?”
Could Jerome, of all people, not pry? He had immense authority in the Tower, and Finn, who worked there, would surely find it hard to refuse him.
He lent me the best carriage earlier too… Does Jerome owe him something?
As if reading her thoughts, Finn said lightly,
“Actually, the Vice Master owes me a lot of debt. Quite a lot.”
Elizia blinked in surprise.
“Uh… Did he owe you his life or something?”
At that, Finn smiled mysteriously.
“Of course that too. But there are many other things he owes me as well.”
…Well, as a healer, Finn could easily have saved him before. Elizia nodded absentmindedly, then frowned.
Wait… shouldn’t Finn leave soon?
Their talk had gone on for a while. Wouldn’t his double get discovered? She was about to voice her concern when—
Clatter!
The carriage stopped abruptly.
“What’s going on…?”
They hadn’t reached home yet. Another monster attack?
She yanked open the curtain, but nothing unusual appeared outside. Instead—
“Elly! Are you in there?”
A booming, familiar voice rang out.
…Howell?
Shouldn’t he already be at the banquet? How could his voice be here, far from the estate?
Before she could think further, the carriage door rattled.
“Elizia! Why’s this locked—don’t tell me you disappeared again?! Answer me! Hey!”
“…!”
The door shook violently, as if it would burst open. Elizia and Finn exchanged alarmed looks.
