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Chapter: 19
Traces of magical power.
They were the marks left behind whenever a monster appeared or a certain power was exerted.
It was fortunate that Linette had read so many books while ransacking the library. She immediately understood what he meant.
“So, you’ve discovered where the monster first appeared.”
Perhaps expecting her to know, Derbel stepped aside and nodded toward the back.
It was the place where the explosion had just occurred.
The difference now was that the magical circle drawn by the mage repeated the image of Malphus emerging from the floor, the same as before.
It was as if it were telling them: this was where the monster appeared, sent through a breach in the barrier from the outside.
Noticing Linette staring, the mage there turned to look at her.
Then, as if recognizing her belatedly, the mage lightly bowed his head.
“It came out from there.”
Was it just her imagination? She thought she heard the faint sound of teeth grinding overhead.
“The barrier shouldn’t have been weak, though.”
Knowing Derbel’s personality, he would never tolerate a hole in a barrier he had set.
“Do you think I’d do something that stupid? I set the barrier with double and triple layers so not even a mouse could get through.”
At his words, Gregorian flinched and quickly hid between Linette’s dress folds.
“Since it’s not a place frequented by people, it seems they let their guard down.”
Hearing his sharp words, she couldn’t help shaking her head slightly.
She could feel the wound to his pride.
Whoever did it would likely face the death penalty once caught.
No, she hoped that before that, they wouldn’t give the knights and mages more trouble by breaching the barrier.
But…
“Before that… we need to properly deal with those slackers first.”
Listening to his intermittent words, it seemed the knights were in for quite a rough time for a while.
‘Sir Olof, you must survive.’
Linette cast a consoling glance at the knight commander, who was speaking with the mage with a stern expression.
“Let’s head to the main building for now.”
“…Without cleaning up there?”
“They’ll manage on their own since they’ve seen it once.”
“…….”
It seemed there was more to it than just that, but Linette didn’t ask.
Perhaps because he had been rolling on the floor to save her, his appearance was a mess too.
“That’s right. We should both at least change our clothes.”
Sighing, Derbel let out a small laugh and extended his hand.
“Shall we, Princess?”
Linette reached out to take his hand.
Then—
“……!”
Derbel’s brows furrowed sharply.
Had he perceived a threat from Linette? Or was it revenge for being thrown into the bushes earlier?
Baby pig Françoise bit down hard on Derbel’s outstretched hand.
“Françoise!”
Panicked, Linette pulled Françoise into her arms. But the little pig didn’t budge.
Derbel remained unmoved as well. The pig clamped onto his hand, yet he merely raised an eyebrow, not flinching at all.
“No, Françoise. Let go quickly. That’s not something to eat.”
“That thing……”
At Linette’s words, Derbel clicked his tongue and swiftly lifted the hand Françoise was biting.
Dangling in the air, Françoise was lifted upward.
“Françoise!”
Linette called out anxiously, but Derbel grinned at the baby pig raised right in front of him.
“Brave, aren’t you, little fire pig.”
……
“Are you seeking revenge, or protecting me?”
……
“Good, you have to show a temper like that. Otherwise—”
He’ll roast you.
Muttering almost inaudibly, Derbel tossed the pig toward Linette.
Linette hurriedly caught Françoise.
By the time she looked up again, Derbel was already walking ahead.
“Honestly……”
I can never tell what he’s thinking.
Muttering to herself, Linette started hurrying after him, holding Françoise tightly, who was glaring at Derbel’s back in discontent.
That night.
Head Butler Müller came to Linette with a box.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a gift from the Duke. For Françoise.”
“A gift?”
Linette’s face lit up in surprise at the butler’s words.
“Did he send it? A gift for Françoise?”
“Yes.”
“My goodness……”
What could have prompted that? He wasn’t the type to adore Françoise enough to give a gift.
“It’s something he intended to give before, but it was only completed now, so I’ve brought it, albeit late.”
“I see.”
Hiding her awkwardness, Linette nodded, and Emma took the box.
Then the butler handed over a letter.
“It’s a letter from the Duke.”
“…….”
It was an unexpected gift and an even more unexpected letter. The handwriting was neat and beautiful, just like the Duke’s appearance.
“Praising the brave deeds of the little pig.”
Just one line.
“When did he prepare this?”
“The order was placed right after the incident in the annex. He said the little pig who saved the Princess deserved praise.”
The butler said proudly.
Indeed, Françoise had played a decisive role that day.
“Françoise really is amazing.”
Linette murmured, stroking the dozing pig.
Then she remembered Derbel calmly holding Françoise in his hand and couldn’t help but laugh.
Judging by the gift, he probably wouldn’t complain about her raising the pig anymore.
Then—
“Oh my.”
Emma’s short, admiring voice rang out.
“Emma?”
“Princess, look at this……”
Linette took a medal from the box Emma handed her.
The gold medal bore the crest of the Chrissian family—a star on a shield—and Françoise’s name. And…
“The back.”
Following Emma’s gesture, Linette flipped it over.
“What the….”
Linette shook her head in disbelief. She had thought the gift was generous for once.
“Are you really narrow-minded, or generous?”
Engraved on the back in sharp, almost clawed letters was a single word:
Bite.
‘This must have been carved because of what happened earlier today.’
Linette let out a helpless laugh and muttered,
“You stingy little thing.”
“Not wrong, is it? That brat bites recklessly.”
“But he doesn’t bite just anyone. He’s protecting me.”
“I’m not someone threatening you.”
“That you don’t know.”
At that, Derbel’s sharp gaze turned toward her, then casually shifted away as he resumed reading the documents in front of him.
“I saved you from that explosion, and saved him too.”
“You threw him.”
“I couldn’t throw you.”
“…….”
If only words could do it.
Linette couldn’t hide her disbelief and fell silent.
“I decided to give him as a gift because I judged you’d be fine keeping him by your side.”
Derbel’s voice was sweet beyond measure.
Anyone seeing them might think they were having a casual, pleasant tea-time conversation, given how soft his tone was.
Even though his gaze never left the documents awaiting approval.
“All right.”
That aside, there was another reason she had come to his office.
“What did you want to tell me?”
“Two things.”
Derbel set aside the last document, having apparently finished his work, and looked at Linette.
“There’s a festival that takes place every year around this time in the Holy Nation, isn’t there?”
“Yes, the Foundation Festival.”
“You are to attend as an envoy of the Empire.”
“……!”
Linette frowned.
“Wasn’t attending the Foundation Festival the job of the Foreign Minister? Why you…….”
Surprised she knew, Derbel raised an eyebrow, then continued as if it was nothing.
“The Emperor said you might miss your homeland, so you should go.”
Ah, so he used my excuse.
“The Emperor’s words are rather strange.”
“I told you, I’m the one being nagged and harassed.”
Though obviously dissatisfied, Derbel answered casually.
Without smiling even a little.
