IOBAO 08

Chapter 8 …

Well, it was true that there were probably very few nobles who would sell the clothes they were wearing and give the proceeds as compensation.

Ezet had only shown a hint of emotion at first, and now seemed expressionless again, making him difficult to read.

Diarin carefully added,

“Wouldn’t the servants of Bukmunseok Castle be happy if this compensation were used to repair the castle in the Bukmunseok Territory?”

“…Repairs?”

“Yes, repairs.”

Ezet tended to be generous toward those beneath him. So if the subject of repairing and renovating the aging Bukmunseok Castle came up, perhaps it might move his heart a little.

At least, that was what Diarin thought.

In truth, cold sweat was gathering in her palms, but she was doing her best to think positively.

What kind of expression is he looking at me with?

Ezet’s gaze fixed on her was excessively bright.

Like the sun floating above a sea of fog, it was dazzling enough to make her eyes sting and ache if she looked at it too long.

After a brief silence,

Ezet spoke.

“According to this contract, there is absolutely nothing for me to lose, Lady Diarin.”

“I worked very hard to prepare it that way.”

That statement was completely sincere.

Before long, Ezet finally looked away from her.

“Very well.”

“…!”

Diarin’s eyes widened.

Soon, unconcealable joy bloomed across her flushed cheeks.

Ezet lowered his head slightly.

His firm hand, characteristic of one who wielded a sword, picked up the fountain pen.

Afraid that Ezet might change his mind, Diarin barely even breathed as she watched his every movement.

Naturally, she found herself observing him.

It seemed as though there were more scars than the last time she had seen him two years ago.

Since she could not see his face, Diarin often paid attention to other things instead.

His clothing was one of them.

Ezet even dresses beautifully.

Today, Ezet was dressed magnificently.

It seemed he had just returned from an audience with the Emperor.

One of the imperial princes’ formal uniforms, a dark blue ceremonial outfit, was embroidered with golden patterns.

Rubies, obsidian, and diamonds adorned it in harmonious balance, sparkling brilliantly.

No matter who looked at him, Ezet Asperk was far too handsome and splendid.

He did not suit this White Oak Palace.

It was like wrapping a diamond in newspaper.

While Diarin was busy observing Ezet’s clothing, Ramd was staring at him with an expression that clearly said,

Is this really okay?

Regardless, the pen touched the paper.

—Ezet Asperk Kirchen.

The neat handwriting characteristic of the Akir Imperial Family.

Ezet set down the pen.

* * *

At the very least, Ezet was the type of person who kept promises with absolute precision.

As a result, Diarin was able to board a carriage headed for the Bukmunseok Territory.

The carriage had been prepared less than thirty minutes after Ezet signed the contract.

Clatter.

Clatter.

The sound of the wheels rolling echoed in her ears.

It was a good carriage.

Not the sort of absurdly luxurious carriage drenched in money, but several convenience enchantments had been placed upon it.

In particular, the spell that infused mana into the wheels, making the ride feel as soft as though it were gliding through the air, was not even especially difficult magic.

Diarin had just changed into new clothes.

The expensive dress that the maids of Conkle had worked so hard to put on her had already been removed inside the carriage.

Taking off such a voluminous dress without a maid’s assistance was an extraordinarily difficult task, nearly an art form.

Fortunately, Diarin had obedient familiars.

〈Why do I have to help with changing clothes of all things?〉

〈Because they’re our Master’s clothes.〉

〈We’re Divine Beasts!〉

〈But, Ror.〉

Oll spoke in the purest voice imaginable.

〈Familiars have to obey orders absolutely, don’t they?〉

〈Damn it! Shut up! Stop pretending to be so innocently pure!〉

〈Eeh?〉

“Ror.”

The red feather, which had been flashing angrily, trembled.

Diarin spoke calmly.

“If you throw that shawl, you’re dead.”

〈Damn it…〉

The mana immediately became gentle.

The Bergé shawl that had been floating in the air was folded with extreme care.

The way it was delicately placed upon the carriage seat was remarkably graceful.

Once their work was finished, the feathers of Oll and Ror flew toward Diarin’s body and disappeared as though being absorbed.

Diarin stretched out across the seat.

Since she was the only passenger, there was no reason to hold back.

Only three people were aboard this hastily arranged carriage.

Diarin.

The coachman.

And Sir Ramd.

Ezet was not there.

As proof of the Emperor’s renewed favor, he had to remain in the capital for an entire additional month.

A busier schedule in the capital was effectively the same as receiving greater imperial favor.

I said I didn’t mind going to Bukmunseok alone.

Perhaps it had sounded like bravado.

Before she knew it, Ramd had been ordered to accompany her to the Bukmunseok Territory.

It had been Ezet’s command.

Traveling with the knight who, just moments ago, gave permission for me to kill him…

How strange and peculiar.

Ramd seemed just as uncomfortable around Diarin.

He had volunteered to sit beside the coachman and had not entered the carriage even once.

It seemed likely he would stay that way until they arrived.

Fine by me.

The journey would not be long.

After all, the great calamity that had obstructed travel for nearly thirty years—the Great Monster Skellus—was gone.

Soon countless gates would once again be established across the continent.

A new gate would appear in the Bukmunseok Territory as well.

And people would praise Ezet.

Until a new means of transportation emerged to replace the gates, they would continue praising him endlessly.

As these thoughts drifted through her mind, Diarin’s gaze landed on the neatly folded dress.

〈Master, I folded the dress. I did a good job, right?〉

“You could work as a maid, Oll.”

〈Hehe.〉

In a proud voice, Oll asked,

〈But what are you thinking about? You’ve been smiling while looking at the dress.〉

“The people at Conkle are probably suffering from stomachaches right now.”

The servants of the ducal estate were undoubtedly waiting for Diarin’s return.

The outrageously expensive dress.

The glittering gold accessories.

Luxury shoes.

A hat decorated with gold coins.

The reticule and Bergé shawl that were too precious to even touch casually.

They had probably been planning to retrieve every single item.

But all those hopes vanished the moment Diarin headed for the Bukmunseok Territory.

Not only could they not easily send letters there, they certainly could not ask her to return the items she was wearing.

Pride was an extremely complicated matter in noble society.

If anyone sent such a letter, they would likely be expelled from the Conkle Ducal House immediately.

For lacking dignity and damaging their master’s prestige.

“So all of this belongs to me now.”

Indulging herself with the ducal family’s budget.

Making the servants of the ducal estate suffer.

Having completed this small act of revenge, Diarin could now focus solely on her true objectives.

No, objectives.

Diarin tilted her head slightly.

Her pale violet eyes stared at the ceiling of the carriage.

“This time, I won’t fail the magic, right? Oll, Ror?”

* * *

Wasn’t there a saying that geniuses and fools were separated by only a sheet of paper?

Diarin altered that saying slightly.

Geniuses and lunatics are separated by only a sheet of paper.

To ordinary people, mages were geniuses.

But these so-called geniuses suffered from a chronic affliction.

Not a physical illness.

Mages possessed excessive desire and obsession toward magic.

Their lives were governed entirely by magic and the drive to improve as mages.

Some would lock themselves away for three years after a single magical failure.

Others would stake their souls on creating a grand magic circle and, if it failed, fall into such despair that they took their own lives.

They were complete lunatics.

With her cold personality, Diarin could never understand such impulses.

She had always considered them pathetic.

Pathetic my foot.

Among all those lunatics, I thought I was the only sane one.

What a colossal misunderstanding that had been.

In her first life, Diarin had been born into a tribe known as the White Deer Tribe.

The noble White Deer Tribe was naturally aligned with light and healing.

As a mage, Diarin had been an oddity among them.

Maybe that’s why my ending wasn’t a good one.

As a mage, Diarin was extraordinarily talented.

But aside from that, she possessed almost none of the traits associated with the White Deer Tribe.

Their characteristic kindness and devotion could not be found in her at all.

Her cold personality became even more noticeable because there was another child of the White Deer Tribe to compare her with.

Dear Vanda.

Another child of the White Deer Tribe alongside Diarin.

A good child.

Kind-hearted and warm.

That child had always worried about her.

Unlike Diarin, who chose the rational path of a mage and became colder and more detached with every passing year, Vanda was fundamentally different.

The world they lived in was consumed by brutal tribal wars.

Even the White Deer Tribe, who lived deep within the forest, felt the effects of those conflicts.

In many ways, Vanda’s kindness had been a source of comfort.

But because of me, Vanda died.

More precisely, Vanda had been caught within Diarin’s defensive magic.

To protect the White Deer Tribe, Diarin had erected a barrier.

The enemy attempted to destroy it through a massive explosion.

At that very moment, Vanda was caught in the blast.

Covered in blood, Vanda died in Diarin’s arms.

“I… wanted to live.”

Even now, those words remained faintly etched into her memory.

After that, life became hell for Diarin.

They told me to bring Vanda back somehow. The elders…

Vanda’s death had deeply shocked the elders.

Everyone blamed Diarin.

Eventually, the Council of Elders issued an order.

They commanded her to cast a spell that would revive Vanda.