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Chapter 14
“Rene. If you don’t mind, should I introduce you to one of my colleagues? He works at the Imperial Palace, and he might be able to get the restriction lifted so that you can use that bracelet-type magic tool.”
“Really?”
Overjoyed, I grabbed Shamal’s hands and bounced up and down.
Shamal smiled shyly and shared in my excitement.
“Yeah. I’m a kind person, so I can do things like this.”
Shamal reached into empty air and pulled something out.
It was a white, transparent orb— a communication magic tool.
“Take this.”
A crystal sphere about the size of my face landed in my hands.
It looked heavy because of its size, but it was surprisingly light.
Maybe there was a weight-reduction spell on it?
As I examined it curiously, Shamal explained simply.
“It’s a communication magic tool. When my colleague comes to the Magic Tower, I’ll have them contact us through this.”
“Thank you so much, Shamal.”
I hugged him tightly with gratitude.
Shamal flinched in surprise at my sudden contact, then carefully pulled away.
His face was red.
“Y-you shouldn’t just hug a lady like that.”
“I was just really happy. And you’re my friend, Shamal, so it’s okay, right?”
“Friend?”
“Yes. Aren’t you?”
If he said no, I’d be really hurt.
I genuinely felt some sense of kinship with him.
Fortunately, Shamal let out a small “ugh” sound and nodded.
“Right. Friend.”
“Yay!”
I clapped and smiled.
Judging by his “ugh,” it sounded forced—but I was still happy.
Even if it wouldn’t turn into romantic feelings since I wasn’t the heroine…
Having a mage like Shamal as a friend was definitely a huge advantage.
After that, Shamal left the balcony with red ears, and I carried the magic tools he gave me into my room.
Things were going too smoothly.
* * *
The next morning, I immediately wrote a letter to “uncle.”
Even though we were friends, I filled it with overly elaborate noble phrasing, but the summary was simple:
[“I am not feeling well and will not be able to go out for a while.”]
I sent the letter to the marquis’s estate through a maid, then happily rolled around in bed for a while.
Since my room had a dressing room, bathroom, and vanity, and I could have meals brought in, there was no need to leave.
And anyway, Louis probably only banned me from going out because of his bad mood—he wouldn’t want to see me inside the house either.
I decided to rest until his mood improved.
Just as I was thinking of taking a nap—
Knock knock.
“Lady Beatrice of the Lockwood Marquis family has arrived.”
…Huh?
I threw off the blanket and ordered the maid to open the door immediately.
When the door opened, she walked in.
“Gasp.”
So pretty.
What is that light behind her?
Even more so now that the heroine was dressed up—she looked like an angel with no wings.
While I was admiring her beauty, she pushed past the maid and rushed straight toward me.
She grabbed my cheeks with both hands and shouted:
“Where are you hurt?!”
“Ehh?”
“You’re fine?”
Now that I think about it, Shamal’s healing magic from yesterday…
I awkwardly glanced around as my now-healed cheek came to mind.
She narrowed her eyes.
“You got hit, didn’t you? You bled, didn’t you?”
“Ehh?”
“Who the hell hit you?!”
Is this some kind of gangster intuition?
Before I could respond, she sighed deeply and spoke.
“There was blood on your nightgown. It spread from your chest downward and even on your sleeves. Looks like you wiped blood from a split lip. It’s impressive you have no visible wounds.”
I gaped at her terrifying deduction skills.
She shrugged as if it was nothing.
“You think I haven’t seen blood a few times? No, forget that. Who hit you?!”
She suddenly exploded with rage, like she had a split personality.
My peaceful rest was clearly over.
Holding back tears, I calmed her down and asked the maid to bring tea.
“Bea—no, Beatrice. Calm down and sit.”
She huffed but obediently sat down.
Then she glared at my cheek.
Even with a heroine’s face, that was scary.
“It’s nothing serious.”
“Nothing serious? You were bleeding like that. Who was it? Tell me.”
“I just… fell over.”
She snorted—literally snorted—and her eyes turned sharp like a beast’s.
“Do I look like an idiot?”
“Pardon?”
“If you fell, you’d have injuries on your hands or knees too. But the blood is only on your nightgown. I’ve beaten people before—I know what it looks like.”
Ah. Right. She used to be a thug.
I realized my weak lie was useless against a former gangster and swallowed hard.
Her gaze looked like she might rip apart whoever hurt me.
Terrifying.
“Well….”
“‘Well’ what? You’d better answer properly if you don’t want to be punished.”
“I… got into a fight with my brother.”
“A fight means he hits a kid?!”
“I-I hit him too.”
“You?”
“Yes.”
Of course, that was a lie.
I hadn’t hit him at all—I’d only been hit.
But I had to calm her down somehow.
She narrowed her eyes and asked:
“How many times did you hit him?”
“Th-three times.”
“And you only got hit once?”
“Yes.”
That part was true.
The “three hits” part was a lie, though.
She studied me for a moment, then—
“…I see?”
For some reason, she looked very satisfied.
What do you mean “satisfied” that someone got hit?!
“Next time, if it looks like you’ll get hit, don’t hesitate. Hit first.”
“Yes….”
“First strike wins. Got it?”
I obediently agreed.
She smiled brightly—so brightly it was almost blinding.
Her beauty was lethal.
Others wouldn’t believe me because of Louis’s perfect public reputation.
But she believed me completely.
It made my nose sting a little.
“By the way, why are you so kind to me? We haven’t known each other long.”
She went quiet.
That was the first time I’d ever seen her so still.
After a long pause, she answered:
“Kids don’t need to know.”
That was… a very unhelpful answer.
“More importantly, stand up. I’ll teach you something.”
After that, she taught me how to make a fist and kick properly, then finished all the snacks the maid brought in.
I had no idea how all that food fit into her small frame.
Eventually she left, very satisfied.
I told the maid to clean up, then secretly tried the skills she taught me.
Yap.
I immediately smashed a vase sitting on the side table.
And gave up right away.
* * *
Just as I was forgetting about my “house arrest,” I received contact from Derek, the mage from the First Princess’s palace.
That day, I was once again lying in bed eating cookies.
Beep—beep—beep.
The crystal orb Shamal gave me began blinking and making strange sounds.
I quickly got up and approached it.
