IPSC 07

Chapter 07

I couldn’t understand at what point Jerome’s favorability had gone up.

Still, it was better than it not increasing at all, so it was good news.

While I was thinking that only a single point increase was a bit stingy, the carriage arrived at its destination.

As I got down from the carriage with Jerome escorting me, a magnificent mansion-like building came into view.

It was the largest and most refined restaurant in the city.

Just as we passed through the entrance, a woman’s voice came from behind.

“Duke Jerome Winston?”

When I turned around, I saw a young lady wearing an elegant dress.

The young lady with long, flowing black hair blinked her large eyes as she looked at Jerome.

“What brings Your Grace to the capital—”

Her gaze shifted to me. For a brief moment, a cold chill flickered through the eyes that had been sparkling like an angel’s.

But soon, her eyes returned to their angelic look, and she smiled softly.

“And who might the lady beside you be?”

Right. Around now was when she was bound to show up.

I slowly looked over the familiar face that had appeared after so long.

Vivian Angus.

The villainess who had poisoned me to death, and the one I would have to deal with in this playthrough.

Vivian tilted her head as she looked at me.

“I don’t recognize your face….”

Jerome opened his mouth.

“This is Miss Aisha, disciple of Lowell Cyprian. And this is Miss Vivian, daughter of Count Angus.”

Vivian’s eyes widened at the introduction.

“Lowell Cyprian? You mean the chief magician of the Imperial Palace?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“No wonder. I thought Miss Aisha had a different air about her compared to ordinary young ladies.”

Vivian continued with a gentle smile.

“Young ladies usually wear flashy dresses, you know? But Miss Aisha is more like… how should I put it… someone full of scholarly passion. As expected of a great mage’s disciple.”

So she meant I look like a nerd who studies too much?

This woman really knows how to slip in an insult.

I replied with the kindest smile I could manage.

“Thank you. These days, there are many people who only polish their appearance and neglect their inner selves, aren’t there? In that sense, you seem like someone with much to learn from.”

Vivian’s smiling lips twitched.

Saying there was much to learn from her could be interpreted in two ways.

One was that both her exterior and interior were beautiful, so she was worth learning from.

The other was that since her inside and outside were different, she made a good example of what not to be.

Depending on how it was taken, it could be a compliment—or an insult.

Of course, I meant it as an insult.

After a brief silence, Vivian broke into a bright smile.

“Thank you for the compliment. Come to think of it, I didn’t catch your surname. What is your family name, Miss Aisha?”

The protagonist didn’t have a surname. She was an orphan, so it was only natural—but in noble society, having no surname was practically proof of low birth.

I couldn’t give Vivian, who was desperate to put me down, any ammunition, so I fell into brief contemplation.

‘I’ll have to make one up.’

At that moment, a certain surname came to mind.

When I had conquered Crown Prince Caliton, he had bestowed a family name upon me.

“Aisha Ambervire.”

Vivian tilted her head at my answer.

“I’ve never heard the surname Ambervire before. Where are you from?”

“Far away. Even if I explained, you probably wouldn’t know.”

“Oh my… so you came up from the countryside.”

Vivian put on a look of sympathy.

“Then life in the capital must feel unfamiliar and fascinating to you. I’ll help you tour the city sometime.”

“I appreciate the thought, but it’s fine. I couldn’t possibly trouble you with something like that.”

So I’m a country bumpkin, is that it?

Anyone with half a brain could tell that her kindness was laced with mockery.

But even a country bumpkin had something to strike back with.

“And don’t worry about me. If it’s touring the capital, I think the Duke will take care of that. Right, Your Grace?”

As if he’d heard something unexpected, one of Jerome’s eyebrows lifted crookedly.

Say you will. Hurry.

I’d said it boldly just so I wouldn’t lose to Vivian, even though I was acting like Jerome had already promised to show me around.

‘He won’t say no, will he?’

That would be unbelievably embarrassing.

As I waited anxiously for his answer, Jerome slightly bowed his upper body and replied in a calm voice.

“If Miss Aisha wishes.”

Whew, thank goodness.

It seemed my desperate wish had reached the system.

I have a Jerome with 32 favorability points who’ll show me around the capital. You don’t, do you?

Wearing a victorious smile, I looked at Vivian.

Surprisingly, she was looking at Jerome and me with a calm expression.

“…Well, if that’s the case, then that’s good.”

But it didn’t take long to realize she was only pretending to be fine.

If you looked closely, the corners of her lips were trembling slightly.

Serves you right. Who told you to pick a fight?

As I clicked my tongue inwardly, Vivian composed herself and turned her gaze back to Jerome.

“Oh, right. It seems like it’s about time you ran out of incense. When should I visit the ducal estate?”

Come to think of it, I remembered that when Jerome had been suffering from headaches, Vivian had regularly brought purification incense used by the temple.

“If it’s not the incense I bring, you can’t even sleep properly, Your Grace.”

Since she couldn’t outdo me with words, she was trying to emphasize her connection to Jerome somehow.

“There’s no need for you to come anymore.”

Jerome’s reply was firm. But Vivian didn’t back down.

“I’m not someone who finds that sort of thing troublesome. If it’s for the sake of curing Your Grace’s headaches, I can do anything.”

“What I meant was that the headaches have been resolved, so there’s no need for you to visit anymore.”

“…What?”

At Vivian’s bewildered expression, Jerome continued his explanation.

“Miss Aisha found the cause of my headaches. The problem has been resolved, so the incense is no longer necessary.”

“Th-that can’t be….”

Vivian parted her lips in shock. This time, she truly seemed surprised.

Soon, moisture gathered at the corners of her eyes.

Seeing a beautiful woman look sad made my heart soften a little.

From the position of unrequited love, she must have wanted to be connected to him in any way possible—and I had taken away even that small excuse.

Just as I was about to feel sorry for Vivian, I smacked the back of my own mind.

Get a grip. She’s a murderer.

A psychopath who poisoned someone to death out of jealousy.

I steeled my heart. No matter how pitiful she looked, a killer who had taken a life didn’t deserve sympathy.

At that moment, Vivian lifted her head. Seeing how quickly her face had cleared up, she seemed to have regained control of her emotions.

“Since we met like this by chance, would you like to come to the tea party I’m hosting this week? I’d really love to invite you, Miss Aisha.”

Here it comes.

On the surface, it looked like a sincere invitation—but it wasn’t.

This invitation was no different from a plot to kill me.

“I’d be honored if Miss Aisha came and brightened the gathering.”

With a friendly smile, Vivian picked a strand of hair off my clothes.

“I’ll send the invitation to the Moon Mage Tower. I can look forward to a positive response, right?”

I replied with a slightly uneasy feeling.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Then I hope you both enjoy your meal.”

Vivian lightly lifted the hem of her skirt and greeted us gracefully.

After she left, it was just Jerome and me again.

“There’s no need to accept Lady Vivian’s invitation.”

“…Huh?”

I turned my head toward Jerome.

At first glance, he looked as expressionless as ever, but there was a gravity to his expression.

He really was more considerate than he looked.

“It’s fine. I was curious about how young ladies in the capital host tea parties anyway.”

If I rejected Vivian’s invitation, there was no predicting how she might act next.

Dealing with a situation I’d already experienced was easier than facing an unknown one. As long as I didn’t drink the tea served at the party, I could avoid the death right in front of me.

Of course, I’d need to settle things decisively this time.

Someone who kills others just because they don’t like them needed a proper scolding.

As I was thinking about how to give her that scolding, Jerome spoke.

“I was being unnecessarily meddlesome.”

“No, not at all. I’m glad you were concerned for me, Your Grace.”

“……”

Jerome cleared his throat, then spoke in an awkward voice.

“Shall we go inside?”

“Sure.”

I entered the restaurant with Jerome.

After leaving the restaurant, Vivian got into the carriage waiting at the entrance.

The moment the door closed, her expression turned icy cold. It was a stark contrast, hard to believe she’d been smiling just moments ago.

“This won’t do. This won’t do at all….”

Vivian tightly clenched the strand of Aisha’s hair she had removed.

Then she muttered in a small voice.

“I need something stronger… but what should I do? What should I do….”

At that moment, something surfaced in Vivian’s muddled mind.

“…That’s it. Yes. I have to go find him.”

A chilling smile spread across Vivian’s lips, which had been cold just moments ago