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Chapter 13
The moment I recognized the white bird flying toward the main building, I stopped moving entirely. Fiona looked at me with a puzzled face.
“Madam?”
“Ah, I am a bit tired. I feel a little dizzy too…….”
“Oh my, are you alright?”
“Yes, I will rest for a bit and come back! Everyone can take a break until I return, so go ahead!”
With those words, I hurriedly made my way toward the main castle. Once inside, I leapt up the stairs two steps at a time until I reached the third floor and my room, throwing the door wide open.
A pretty, pure white bird that looked like a dove was perched by the sunlit window, tilting its head.
After carefully closing the door, I gestured to the bird, and the white bird flew over and landed on my arm.
Its round black eyes gazed at me intently.
“No matter how many times I see you, I cannot believe you are not a real bird…….”
I murmured softly and untied the blue ribbon bound to the bird’s leg. When I tossed it onto the desk, the ribbon gathered into one shape and transformed into a blue envelope with a small bundle attached.
I quickly opened the envelope to check the letter’s contents, then sat at the desk, took out cream-colored paper, and carefully wrote my reply.
It was not content that required much deliberation.
‘Now then, shall we begin the story?’
When I reunited with Ciel in the garden, I smiled brightly at him as he warily regarded me. In negotiations like this, it is always smoother to make a good impression.
‘I do not know why someone of high station would be so courteous to me…… but please state your business.’
Hmm, I think the first impression is already a bit ruined, though?
‘From observing you all this time, it seems your interests and mine align.’
‘Interests?’
‘You are a magician, are you not?’
When I asked point-blank, his blue eyes sharpened instantly. Despite the murderous gaze, I maintained my smile, pretending to be calm.
Ciel is a great magician.
Not just any magician, but the reincarnation of Enrique, the great magician who was the closest aide to the guardian dragon that founded the empire.
Like any fantasy worldview, in this world too, casting magic required chanting spells or using tools like staffs. But Ciel could manifest magic with mere thought alone.
That is why he earned the nickname <The Mute Magician>.
Of course, with such an overpowered setting, according to the unchanging law of fiction that it could threaten the protagonist’s presence, Ciel was already no longer a person of this world by the time of the main story.
However, throughout the work, there were various tools and items he had arranged for Alek, making him something of a tear-jerker button for Alek and the readers alike.
At times, remnants of him lingered like a spirit, serving as a guide to show the protagonist the way. In fact, there were quite a few instances where the tools Ciel left behind saved the protagonist’s party in times of crisis.
Anyway, that is how incredible a magician he is.
‘You want to save His Highness Alek, and I want to save my own life. If we join hands, we can accomplish both.’
More precisely, I want to escape the flow of the original story.
‘So, what exactly do you mean…….’
‘His Highness Alek’s life is in danger, is it not? Not now, but somewhat in the future.’
Ciel’s expressionless face cracked. I added flatly.
‘And you are fated to sacrifice yourself to save His Highness Alek.’
He is the closest aide of the guardian dragon and a great magician blessed by the dragon. Because his soul is bound to that extent, even upon reincarnation, he instinctively recognizes the dragon’s existence.
‘I think I can help with that.’
It is not as though Alek alone can see the future.
If Ciel could not see the future in the first place, how could he have arranged so many things to appear exactly when Alek needed them?
Bound by a covenant with the guardian dragon, he could glimpse part of the future the dragon sees. That is why he willingly threw himself forward to save his liege, and he never regretted it in the slightest.
‘You are speaking nonsense. Are you aware that what you are saying now is deeply disrespectful to the imperial family?’
‘Oh my, am I not also a member of the imperial family?’
When I retorted mischievously, Ciel shut his mouth with a displeased expression. Of course, if I teased him further, he might truly storm out, so I added quietly.
‘You saw it before, did you not? If I had intended to harm His Highness Alek, I would not have rushed in to calm him down like that. Right?’
As I earnestly appealed to him that “I am your ally,” Ciel opened his heavily sealed lips.
‘How did you know?’
‘Hmm?’
‘What you are saying now—none of it is something an ordinary person would know.’
Yes, I knew this question would come.
Wearing the expression I had practiced in front of the mirror—as though I were stating something perfectly obvious—I spoke confidently.
‘Because I am a fairy.’
‘……Pardon?’
‘Or rather, a descendant of fairies, to be precise.’
I had already been pondering how to explain this. How could I tell a truth that reasonably matches my situation while lying as little as possible?
It felt like being a difficult customer asking for a dress that is modest yet flashy, eye-catching yet inexpensive.
A being who can utilize the original knowledge I possess while roughly avoiding the future Alek saw with his dragon eyes.
To discuss that, a fairy from the founding myth was about right. In this world, fairies are beings on equal footing with dragons.
‘……I was under the impression that Her Highness had no connection to magic.’
‘That is because I am not a fairy myself. Your Highness was not born with all your power either, were you?’
His narrowed eyes as he stared at me seemed to be calculating whether he needed to silence me right now. A chill ran down my spine, but I struggled to remain steadfast like an employee awaiting approval from a department head.
As I said again, I have no talent for magic. I had no aptitude for swordsmanship either. My only lifeline was this healthy body and the original knowledge I gained from regaining memories of my past life.
In any case, it is true that I can be of help to him, and I desperately needed his power.
Honestly, if you weigh the scales, my side is more desperate, but I acted quite shamelessly. Fortunately, knowing the original work meant I held the initiative at this negotiating table, which was a blessing in misfortune.
After nearly half a day of back-and-forth arguing and persuasion, I barely succeeded in reaching an agreement with Ciel to become each other’s supporters.
Apparently, my plan sounded reasonably convincing to him. Who knew that working under a strict department head at a company would shine like this?
Truly, there is nothing bad about learning anything in this world.
I hummed lightly and tapped my index finger on the beak of the bird tilting its head on the windowsill.
“Momo, you really suffer a lot because of us.”
This white bird called Momo is a homunculus created by Ciel, serving as the liaison between me and Ciel.
Being an artificially created lifeform with some magical abilities, I knew well that it would not die easily, but it was fascinating every time I saw it.
‘Can such a small bird really travel such a long distance safely?’
‘Do not worry. Frankly, this one is far stronger than you, Wendy.’
‘That is an insult, is it not?’
‘Not at all.’
I quietly glared at Ciel as he feigned innocence.
Anyway, since we agreed to be each other’s supporters, I suggested we skip honorifics since it was awkward to fuss over rank—but perhaps that was a mistake?
He does not particularly like his own name, so he decided to use the alias Sei.
“Alright.”
After carefully tying the finished letter to the bird’s leg with string, I whispered affectionately.
“Please take care of this again, Momo.”
As if understanding my words, Momo fluttered up and gradually became transparent before finally disappearing.
Anyway, since returning from the imperial palace, my daily life had been flowing quite smoothly.
However, I did not know at this time.
“……So, mana has been detected in the Grand Duchess’s room once again.”
That Kaien had roughly caught on to my movements.
