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Chapter – 22
“Th-that, that one. Let me have it.”
My long fingers pointed at the muffin. Without a word of complaint, Razette brought it to my mouth.
Since the incident at the cabin, he had been coming to see me far more often.
It was unexpected. He used to visit frequently because Risenn called for him, but coming even when he wasn’t summoned was rare.
“Mmm, sweet.”
I bit into the chocolate muffin and smiled in satisfaction. It was a peaceful afternoon. I lay on my stomach on the bed, reading a book and enjoying myself, while Razette watched me with his chin propped on his hand.
At first, I’d only meant to tease him by making him do little things for me, but since Razette carried them out so smoothly, this life had become surprisingly comfortable.
“You eat some too.”
His unblinking gaze made me uneasy. I picked up a piece of chocolate nearby and pushed it toward his mouth. He raised an eyebrow slightly, then bit into it.
“…It’s good.”
Despite his words, his face crumpled like paper.
Guess he doesn’t like sweets much.
Calib liked sweet things.
That was one difference between them.
Suddenly, I felt sorry for Razette. He had to hide what he liked, and sometimes pretend to like what he hated. To him, I was probably the latter.
“You don’t like sweets.”
“No, I do.”
“It’s written all over your face. I told you I’d help you so you don’t get ruined, didn’t I? Then you need to cooperate.”
How long was he planning to keep acting like Calib? I’d expected it, but lowering Razette’s guard wasn’t easy.
Gifts didn’t work. Sincerity didn’t work. Then what would…?
“Trust this big sister a little. I’ll put you back the way you were.”
Back where he belonged.
I intended to send him back to the Duke of Wigrion’s estate.
To do that safely, I had to break the spell.
Witch doctors were usually wanderers.
They worshipped demons instead of gods, were branded heretics, and had to hide their identities. Regardless of status, witch doctors existed everywhere—and nowhere.
“Is this the place?”
The witch doctor Amy found was like that.
When I realized Razette was under a spell, I agonized alone for days before telling Amy to find a witch doctor.
“Why a witch doctor?” she’d asked.
It had probably been a few days since I learned about the spell.
“I have a use for one. You don’t need to know.”
“Well, if you say so, I’ll look.”
“Use your connections. If you do well, I’ll reward you.”
I made good use of Amy.
The witch doctor she found was a traveler who roamed from place to place, never staying long in one region.
It was sheer luck that he happened to be in the count’s territory.
“Yes. This is it.”
Not wanting to miss that chance, I dragged my torn-up body all the way here.
The inn was in the outskirts, far from the bustling streets.
No one would know how much pain I endured to get here. Every time the carriage moved, my back scraped against the wall and burned; even tensing my waist to avoid it was exhausting. My temples still throbbed.
“He should still be here… Open the door.”
The inn where the reclusive witch doctor stayed was at the end of a secluded alley, the building badly run down. Cobwebs filled the interior, and I didn’t even want to step inside.
Each step down the hallway made a creaking sound that sent chills down my spine, making me glance back for no reason.
Razette should at least know how much trouble I went through.
As I thought that, Amy knocked on the door. There was no response. Maybe he wasn’t here? Just as I thought that, Amy kicked the door. She kicked it hard again and again—then smashed it open in one go.
“Amy?”
“Yes?”
“You can’t just break it!”
I thought she’d stop after trying once, but she actually broke it. It looked like it might fall apart anyway, but still—really?
“Guess you really are from the underworld…”
“Please don’t bring that up.”
Breaking the door was shocking, but it was already done. We could compensate the innkeeper later. The real problem was whoever was inside.
He must be pretty startled.
But I wasn’t in any condition to worry about someone else’s feelings. I was at my limit. Cold sweat poured down, and the room spun before my eyes. I jerked my chin toward the door.
“Go in.”
Only after Amy entered did I knock on the half-broken door.
“Who are you?!”
A man shouted, followed by loud crashing and breaking noises. I didn’t need to see it to know what was happening.
I wasn’t interested in watching a fight, so I stepped back.
“Miss, you can come in now!”
When the noise died down, Amy called me. I entered the room.
The air reeked of moldy wallpaper mixed with food, making me frown.
“W-who… who are you…?”
The man Amy had beaten senseless was crying. Kneeling with his arms bound behind him, he trembled violently. I felt a little sorry for him and glanced at Amy.
I swear, I hadn’t planned on barging in like this.
“Sorry. My maid can be a bit rough.”
“A bit…?”
He clearly had a lot to say, but instead he bit down on his split, bleeding lip.
“Looks like she was very rough. I apologize.”
“……”
“I heard there’s a witch doctor here.”
The moment I finished speaking, his face turned white. He sucked in a sharp breath, as if he were about to faint.
It was obvious.
This was him.
A witch doctor, yet he went down this easily?
The thought crossed my mind, but I quickly reconsidered.
Witch doctors were still human. Aside from using spells, they were no different from anyone else.
“Don’t worry. I’m not here to capture you.”
“……”
“I’m not reporting you to the imperial family either. I have business with you. I’m a customer—a customer.”
As if afraid I’d misunderstand, he muttered incoherently.
“What are you doing right now—”
Is he trying to cast a spell?
“Amy, gag him.”
At my command, Amy grabbed a tablecloth. Food clattered to the floor as she shoved it into his mouth.
“Mmph! Mmph!”
No words came out. I frowned at her roughness but merely observed. I hadn’t really felt that Amy was from the underworld until today—now I understood she was no ordinary woman.
“Sorry, but I’m in a hurry. I don’t have the time, the patience, or the stamina to deal with you properly.”
He was a precious witch doctor who could break Razette’s spell.
Under normal circumstances, I should have treated him respectfully.
But things had gone wrong from the start. Given the situation, there was no way he’d follow us willingly.
“So just get kidnapped for a bit.”
I was at my limit.
Behind my reassuring smile, I felt a long trail of liquid—whether sweat or blood, I couldn’t tell—run down my back.
“Your job is to break the spell on my younger brother.”
Once brought to the luxurious mansion, the trembling witch doctor stared around in disbelief.
He must have expected to be taken to the guards, the imperial palace, or some dark, grim place.
“My brother will be here soon. Examine him carefully. And don’t make it obvious.”
I told Amy to bring Razette to the drawing room. The witch doctor had said the spell could only be undone if the subject was present.
“Absolutely don’t let it show.”
If Razette realized this man was a witch doctor, that would be a problem. If the spell could be lifted, fine—but if this man turned out to be incompetent, or unable to undo it for some reason, Razette might really kill me.
Right now, freedom mattered more to him than the guilt he felt toward me.
“If you do exactly as I say, I’ll pay you generously. You can do that, right?”
“First, I need to see whether it’s something I can解除—”
“Alright, alright.”
I waved my hand, telling him not to rush.
Razette would arrive soon.
I was just as anxious, but I tried not to show it.
“Sister, you called for me?”
Razette looked puzzled, clearly unsure why he’d been summoned. His gaze flicked between me and the shabby witch doctor sitting across from me.
He stared down at me, expression asking why he was here.
“Yes. This gentleman kept praising my little brother endlessly. So I bragged too—said you’re kind, gentle, and capable of anything. He said he wanted to meet you, so I invited you.”
Though what the witch doctor and I had discussed was the spell, I spoke like a proud older sister.
“…I’ve heard a lot about you.”
The witch doctor, watching for cues, greeted Razette and lightly took his hand. Razette frowned and pulled it away.
“Sister, you bragged about me?”
“……”
“That’s a little embarrassing.”
He brushed off the witch doctor’s touch and sat beside me.
I didn’t even tell him to sit.
Suddenly, dizziness washed over me. I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them. I felt my lower lip tremble.
“By the way, Sister… why are you sweating so much?”
That was when it happened.
Razette reached out toward me.
