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Chapter 41
Well, he doesn’t seem like the type to say something he doesn’t mean. If the potion hadn’t worked, he wouldn’t have just left quietly—he would’ve at least thrown in a line like “useless” or “worthless” before going.
Thinking about it that way made me feel a little better.
Though, his face didn’t look so good when he left…
‘Is he alright?’
I glanced at the door he’d walked out of, hesitated, then finally got up from my seat.
“Uh, where are you going, my lady?”
“I’ll just go tidy up my room for a bit!”
“W-wait a second…!”
Ignoring Gilbert’s call, I only told him to wait a moment and hurried out of the room.
Maybe it was none of my business, but still—it was better to check than to sit here feeling uneasy.
‘He didn’t go far, right?’
He hadn’t walked that fast. He should still be inside the building.
The empty hallway told me he’d probably gone downstairs.
After stopping briefly in my room, I quickly headed for the stairs. Then I saw him—blue hair like the ocean, instantly catching my eye.
“Your Grace!”
“!”
Felix, halfway down the stairs, looked up in surprise. He stopped where he was, lips parting slightly.
“What is it.”
“Oh, um…”
I’d rushed out here, but now that I was face-to-face with him, I suddenly had no idea what to say.
“Y-you didn’t look so well earlier.”
“……”
“So I was worried—”
I pulled out a potion I’d brought with me.
If the first one had really helped, another wouldn’t hurt, right?
“Please, have this one too.”
I didn’t need anything in return. I was giving it because he looked unwell… and besides, he was technically my employer.
He was the one paying me, after all.
If the potion worked, that’d also help build his trust in me.
“Did you feel better after taking the first one? I’ve never heard of any side effects, but…”
“……”
“I only started making potions recently. I’d be glad if it worked well for you—but if there’s any discomfort at all, please let me know anytime.”
“You…”
He stared at me.
“Be honest.”
“Huh? About what?”
“What the hell are you.”
He lifted the empty potion bottle he’d finished earlier.
“How did you make this? No—how could you make something like this?”
“Uh, well…”
“What exactly did you do to create something like this?”
“W-worked really hard?”
I’d poured every ounce of energy I had into it—future big money depends on quality, after all.
“Hah—”
He gave a disbelieving little laugh, like he didn’t know whether to be amused or exasperated.
‘Does that mean he liked it?’
Or… not? I couldn’t tell.
Then, from below the stairs, a voice called out. Startled, I looked down to see Maytal staring at us, eyes wide.
“Your Highness! Please come down for a moment—!”
“Ha…”
Of all times.
Felix bit his lower lip and muttered something under his breath. Then he suddenly turned to me.
“You brought this for me, right?”
“Yes? Yes, I did—”
“Then I’ll just take one of these.”
“?”
Before I could even finish replying, the potion was gone from my hand. He’d already taken one and started down the stairs.
But after only a few steps, he spoke again.
“Tomorrow.”
“……”
“Be there tomorrow. Don’t run off anywhere.”
R-run off?
But before I could respond, Felix was already gone.
I stared blankly after him, letting out a faint sigh.
“What… was that?”
Seriously, what was that supposed to mean!
Tap, tap, tap, tap—
Felix descended the stairs at a near-run, gripping the potion tightly in his hand.
“Your Highness?”
Maytal’s eyes widened at the sight of him, his whole body radiating an intense aura.
Wasn’t he supposed to meet with Master Gilbert today?
The reason had been simple enough—to borrow someone from him who knew Angelo’s geography well.
But judging by Felix’s expression, something had clearly happened inside.
“Did something happen? Did the guildmaster refuse your request?”
“Maytal.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Bring that guy. Now.”
“That guy?”
“The bastard rotting away in that little lab.”
“Ah—”
Maytal immediately realized who he meant and nodded.
But…
“I’m not sure he’ll come out. He never leaves his lab except for experiments that interest him.”
Calling him was one thing—getting him to actually come was another.
The man was a total eccentric; even if summoned, he rarely cooperated unless intrigued.
“Tell him I found something fun.”
“Something fun?”
“Yeah.”
Felix gave a short, distracted reply, eyes dropping to the potion in his hand.
“Tell him it’ll drive him crazy when he sees it.”
“?”
Drive him crazy?
‘Over what?’
If Felix was saying that, then it had to be something big.
“Understood. I’ll contact him as soon as we return to the estate.”
Thinking it must be something urgent, Maytal nodded.
“What’s going on, all of a sudden?”
“Ah—there was also a letter from the Imperial Palace.”
Felix froze. His already dark expression turned even grimmer.
Maytal quickly pulled a sealed envelope from his coat and handed it over. Felix examined the wax seal immediately.
Pressed into the wax were two angel wings.
One wing symbolized the Empress or another royal family member, but two? Those belonged only to one person—the Emperor himself.
Felix broke the seal without hesitation and unfolded the letter.
“What does it say?”
“What else.”
His eyes darted quickly across the page.
“The situation we feared… it’s happened.”
He folded the letter sharply with a snap and resumed walking.
“I need to find the old man—fast.”
There was no time left.
Cursing under his breath, Felix strode swiftly down the main corridor.
Just then—
“?”
As he passed by a staff member, Felix suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“Wait.”
“!”
The guild worker froze instantly. Maytal, noticing Felix’s sudden tension, narrowed his eyes.
From the man’s uniform, he clearly worked for the guild—but not recognizing the young duke? Impossible, unless he was insane.
“Not turning around?”
Felix’s voice dropped low, sharp as a blade. The air itself seemed to tighten.
Maytal glanced nervously between them.
Really, if the man would just turn around once, this would be over. Why was he—
“?”
But as Maytal looked closer, he too felt something was off.
He didn’t know every single guild employee by face, but—
‘He looks… familiar somehow.’
Where had he seen him before?
Frowning, Maytal stepped closer. The man flinched as he approached—
And then—
“!”
The man suddenly bolted forward!
“Wh–what the—!?”
Was he out of his mind?!
