DHDF 49

chapter 49

We immediately went upstairs.

The knight who was leaning against the wall, guarding the door, let out a hollow laugh as soon as he saw us.

“So this time, you’ve come with the young lady, Ritema.”

It seemed he had been lurking around even before Ritema came looking for me.

“Of course, Verjene couldn’t miss out on this.”

At that remark, the knight raised one eyebrow.

It was the first time I had seen him, but it seemed he had some misunderstanding about me.

Still, I stood silently. My purpose was just to enter, so I assumed Ritema had a plan.

“Don’t tell me you don’t trust me, Knight? I’m called Knight now too. Even if you tried to attack us, I could subdue you immediately.”

Since he couldn’t use magic, that wasn’t an exaggeration.

In fact, the wizard didn’t seem to have any physical prowess at all, so it seemed a normal person could handle him if necessary.

“What worries me is quite the opposite.”

Ritema gave me a look that said, You think I wouldn’t know about you? He wore an expression claiming his innocence.

Unfortunately, I had seen him trespass into my room on my very first day at the mansion.

So his feigned innocence didn’t inspire much trust.

“I won’t cause any trouble, Knight.”

“If you get permission from His Excellency tomorrow, we’ll let you in.”

Of course, there was no way the Duke would grant that permission.

If things continued like this, we’d be sent back to our rooms, so I decided to step forward.

“I just have a few things I want to ask.”

“You, young lady?”

“Yes. That wizard was after me, wasn’t he? Since I got involved, I believe I have the right to know too.”

The knight hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

“Sometimes it’s said that ignorance is bliss.”

“But in this case, it’s right to know. Something like this could happen again.”

In the end, we were allowed into the room under a few conditions.

First, don’t get close to the wizard.
Second, don’t provoke the wizard.
Third, finish within ten minutes.

“What would you have done if the knight hadn’t opened the door?”

“Break the window or something?”

The method was strictly limited to entering.

There were two more knights in the room; if we had tried to enter without permission, we’d have been immediately driven out.

“What are you guys doing here?”

The wizard was slouched on the bed, shackled.

She still looked frail and skeletal, but her complexion was much better than before.

“Kids these days really have no fear. Don’t even know how scary a wizard can be.”

I ignored her comment, pulled a chair, and sat in front of her—keeping a safe distance, of course.

“You’re the one who kidnapped me before, right?”

The wizard remained nonchalant, lips sealed.

I didn’t expect her to cooperate willingly.

“Why did you do it?”

“No regrets about the young lady. I was just taking on a commission.”

I had planned to use my final measure—a curse—if she stayed silent, but thankfully, it didn’t come to that.

A commission means she’s not necessarily tied to any specific wizarding faction.

Of course, I didn’t fully believe her. Lies like that were easily within her range.

“What was the purpose? Who commissioned you?”

“How would I know? Not my concern.”

As she fiddled with the end of her gloves, Ritema, watching from the side, jumped in.

“If you’re cooperative, I can speak well to my father.”

“…Your father?”

“The Duke of Edendale.”

Finally, her attitude changed. The wizard sat up and turned properly to face me.

“I really would like to tell you. But in our world, it’s against the rules to ask about the client’s personal details.”

“…”

“And what foolish client would go on and on explaining their reasons anyway?”

That part seemed plausible.

I sighed and stared at the ceiling.

I felt deflated, but I couldn’t leave without any information.

I quickly thought and asked her a few pointed questions.

“So how much was the commission fee?”

“That I can tell you exactly. After the fee, 1,275 gold.”

She talked a lot, giving additional details without me having to ask further.

“I took the job for that sum. There are hardly any clients offering that much. Even tough jobs usually pay around 700 gold.”

That meant the offer was beyond the usual rejection threshold.

Commoner-born merchants tend to haggle more strictly, so the client was probably nobility…

“Do you remember the client’s way of speaking? Accent, pronunciation, anything?”

“Western region, definitely a Westerner. Pronunciation… pronunciation…”

She seemed to think hard and then exclaimed, “Ah!”

“When they said ‘trade,’ it sounded like ‘Sdelden,’ pronounced ‘Sdi-Elden.’ That was unusual, I thought.”

That concluded the interrogation.

The knight outside said our time was up and we had to leave.

Back in the room, I reviewed the wizard’s final answer.

“Was that helpful?”

“Yes, very.”

I was starting to piece together the truth.

I had received etiquette lessons from Aete, which included not just posture and gait but pronunciation corrections as well.

“Pronunciation differs slightly depending on social class. That’s true even between new and old nobility. Few react sensitively, but it doesn’t hurt to be careful.”

According to the wizard, the client was old nobility.

In the West, where the pro-Imperial faction congregated, a financially secure old noble, bold enough to target the Duke’s family.

It seems connected to the royal family…

They targeted me as a means to attack the Edendale family.

My heart pounded. A chill ran down my spine.

I stared at Ritema to maintain my composure.

After the engagement is broken, will they leave me alone?

I couldn’t predict what would happen, but I couldn’t stay idle either.

Perhaps the Duke would take measures to protect me after I left, but relying solely on that wasn’t wise.

But what should I do, and how?

No matter how I thought, I couldn’t find a good solution, so I stopped trying for the time being.

“Your expression just got serious.”

Ritema, fiddling with my hair, asked.

“Just… things aren’t going well.”

“Hmm. Is there anything I can do to help?”

According to the story, Ritema would leave the family upon reaching adulthood, living freely as a mercenary.

I wanted to ask him to take me with him. It could be a solution to escape the royal family’s watch.

I’d surely be a burden.

If I asked, Ritema would look uncomfortable. Facing that reality was unpleasant. He might agree, but…

“Can you teach me swordsmanship?”

I wanted to first acquire the ability to physically defend myself.

A wizard unable to use magic is extremely vulnerable. Seeing it firsthand made it clear.

And I don’t know how soon my limits will be reached.

Rosaline taught me self-defense, but only up to that point. She didn’t seem to think more was necessary.

“Teaching isn’t hard.”

Ritema paused, then continued,

“I’m not sure if you have the talent for it.”

It didn’t take long to fully understand what he meant.

The Duke arrived at the Imperial City with that strange wizard. We also safely completed the investiture ceremony and returned to the estate.

Time flew, and Laot’s departure for the academy quickly approached.

“If you don’t know something, just ask. It’s not difficult for me.”

The words were far friendlier than his usual indifferent expression. No conditions attached this time.

Although I teased him by wanting to cancel my smile as soon as I smiled.

“I realized something while learning magic.”

“Something easy?”

I let out a hollow laugh.

“No, that’s not it. Laot is incredible.”

Magic, I had learned firsthand, was a solitary study—a battle against oneself.

Even without moving, one could tire quickly, and high mental strength was required.

“Laot may be used to it, but not getting complacent and continuing to study and immerse himself isn’t easy.”

I wanted to express that it motivated me, but I couldn’t find the words.