TAKP 10

Chapter 10

Wait, we can’t proceed with a demon verification like this.”

Kies spoke up about Berto’s proposed solution.

“It seems like a reasonable solution to me.”

Ferian cast a glance at Kies, as if urging him to explain why he was objecting.

“Demon-related matters must be handled with utmost seriousness. Most nations punish it with execution by fire. So it absolutely must be verified through an officially recognized mage.”

“If she hasn’t made a contract with a demon, there’s no problem. If she has, doesn’t she deserve to be burned?”

“Tatiana is an imperial citizen. As the Crown Prince, I cannot stand by and watch an imperial noble be burned at the stake in a foreign land.”

“Is that really all there is to it?”

Kies and Ferian stood locked in a tense standoff.

Honestly, I was a bit taken aback.

Just moments ago, the three of them had seemed to be interrogating me—but now Kies had suddenly taken my side, standing against the other two.

“If we go through the Mage Association, even if the mage isn’t officially recognized by law, it’s still sufficiently trustworthy.”

Berto mediated between the two.

“And confidentiality is a basic principle in magical commissions. If we get through this, Tatiana will be able to avoid suspicion to some extent from now on.”

Tired of the ongoing argument, I cut in.

“It’s just a verification, right? It’s not like the moment the mage detects demonic power, their magic will kill me or anything?”

“That’s right.”

“Then I’ll do it.”

At my easy agreement, Kies grabbed my wrist as if to stop me.

“Tatiana, if it’s demon-related, they’ll ignore confidentiality and report it.”

“I don’t care.”

Even if I were burned at the stake, I wouldn’t die. Still, I’d need to think of a way to escape.

“But I have conditions.”

Of course, I had no intention of doing this for free.

If I was going to brace myself this much, I had to get something out of it.

“If it’s proven that I never made a contract with a demon, then don’t ever be rude to me again.”

“Rude?”

Ferian tilted his head.

“Trying to have me burned just because I survived a monster attack. Treating me like a murderer because I have a bad personality. Three burly men threatening me. And also…”

As I rattled on, Ferian looked uncharacteristically flustered.

His expression seemed to say he’d never once considered how I might feel.

“I’m just traveling with you. I have no intention of causing trouble, nor do I want to get close to you for any ulterior motive. So back off while I’m still being patient.”

There was a limit to how much I could tolerate being treated with suspicion.

Every time this happened, that very first question kept sharpening itself and scratching at my insides.

‘Why am I…’

For what purpose? There wasn’t a single person here I loved. If there was always a next life anyway…

The thought that crossed my mind snapped me back to my senses.

Then I said to the three men, who were still standing there unsure of what to do.

“You just arrived, so eat something and come down to the first floor at 2 PM.”

It was a clear dismissal, and after hesitating for a moment, the three of them left the room.

The time for our visit to the Mage Association was drawing near.

I was loading my revolver into its holster and packing plenty of bullets when someone knocked on the door.

“Who is it?”

I swung the door open, and Kies was standing there.

“What if it were a suspicious person? You opened the door without even checking who it was.”

Kies grumbled as he stepped inside and locked the door behind him.

“You’re right—a suspicious person just walked right in.”

Kies shot me a sharp glare.

“Why are you here?”

“Cancel it, even now. I’ll stop it.”

“That means you think I made a contract with a demon too. So why are you trying to help me? Because I’m an imperial noble?”

“Even if you prove you didn’t make a contract, the mage might get suspicious and report you anyway.”

Kies didn’t answer my question.

If that was the case, further conversation was pointless.

After all, he was no different from the others—he just wasn’t using extreme methods.

“I won’t reveal that I’m from the Empire, so don’t worry too much.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what?”

“……”

Seeing his sealed lips, I strapped the brown leather bag around my waist.

“It’s good that you’re responsible as the Crown Prince, but don’t forget to take care of the people who matter to you.”

Checking the time, I left the room first.

Thanks to Ferian’s proactive efforts—he’d contacted the Mage Association in advance—the verification process went quickly.

“You said you have a request.”

The mage asked in the Association’s reception room, and Ferian answered.

“We’d like to conduct a demon contract verification.”

The mage’s pleasant demeanor changed in an instant. A trace of tension and wariness crept in.

“Which of you will be undergoing it?”

Flustered, Kies—sitting next to me—reacted.

From the corner of my eye, I could see his entire body was rigid, from his face to his legs.

But my head only grew cooler.

‘I have no intention of being toyed with again.’

His expression when he jumped off the ship was far more worth seeing. It had made me completely unable to imagine the interrogation that would follow.

“Me.”

At my dry reply, the mage stood up and extended a hand.

“Contact is necessary when casting magic. Would you step over here for a moment?”

I stood facing the mage, holding both hands together.

“I’ll begin.”

At the same time, a bright light seeped into me.

I stared intently at the mage’s lips. Depending on what came out of them, I might have to draw my gun immediately.

My breathing grew short, my chest heaved. Our clasped hands were damp.

And finally, the mage’s red lips parted.

“No traces of a demon contract have been found.”

I let out a long breath and squeezed my eyes shut tightly. My lashes trembled.

“Are we done now?”

I looked at Ferian and asked, but he said nothing.

“……”

I couldn’t read his thoughts.

Judging from his eyes, he seemed unconvinced, but oddly, his tense shoulders had relaxed as if relieved.

“I won’t bring up any further issues related to this matter.”

Berto, who had been waiting with his usual expressionless face, rose and spoke.

“And?”

“I apologize for suspecting you.”

That’s how an apologetic person acts?

Still, Berto wasn’t the type to offer a false apology.

‘Ferian…’

When I shifted my gaze, our eyes met, and Ferian flinched.

“Let’s go.”

Kies said, his face noticeably more relaxed.

But on the way back to the inn, we were all lost in our own thoughts, and no one spoke a word.

Click. The door closed, and I cursed under my breath.

“Bastard.”

I didn’t feel satisfied at all.

I opened my bag to unpack the things I’d prepared in case I needed to flee, and a neatly folded piece of paper caught my eye.

“I’ve been carrying this around for them too.”

As I pulled out the paper and unfolded it, large letters caught my eye against the colorful background in the center:

Bella Luna Troupe

The place where the female lead was being held.

She was a brilliant mage. But the troupe leader, coveting her beautiful appearance, had taken advantage of her kind nature, fitted her with a magic control device, and kept her under his control.

‘I don’t think I can rescue her alone.’

I couldn’t exactly ask those three to go see the troupe’s performance, and I didn’t want to either.

There were still a few days left until the show, so I’d figure out an answer by then.

‘Maybe I’ll just talk to the one halfway decent one.’

Ferian was out of the question. He couldn’t fight anyway, so he’d be useless.

As I was deliberating which one to choose, tap, tap— a knock came at the door.

I was about to open it right away but paused and asked.

“Who is it?”

“…It’s me.”

At the voice I didn’t want to hear, I sighed, put the flyer on the table, and opened the door.

Ferian stood there with a gloomy expression.

“What do you want?”

“I have something to say. Can I come in for a moment?”

“No, say it here.”

His lips moved. With such a gentle impression, I almost felt like the real villainess.

“I’m sorry. This isn’t something to treat lightly, but I pushed you with excessive speculation. I think I was under a lot of stress from suddenly being dropped on the other side of the world.”

I stared at Ferian for a moment before speaking.

“You don’t have to force an apology.”

“I mean it. No matter how socially adept I am, I don’t calculate every single action.”

He’s dressing up his insincerity as social skills.

“Then all your suspicions about me are cleared?”

“…Honestly, I still think you’re suspicious.”

Of course.

“But from now on, I won’t pressure you without evidence. And I’ll keep in mind that without your status, you’re just an ordinary woman.”

Should I be happy about this? Or not?

“I’ll also make sure to maintain the appropriate social grace for the sake of the atmosphere, like you mentioned.”

At least I knew he was a weirdo now.

The sincere apology from this cunning bastard was truly strange.

“Fine. I’ll accept your apology, so stop the eye-smiling and go back to your room.”

I thought that wrapped things up nicely.

The next morning, I irritably threw off the blanket I’d pulled up over my head.

“Tatiana~”

Even as I sprang up and ran to the door, that mouth of his wouldn’t stop.

“Morning~”

I threw the door open, and there was Ferian, standing in the exact same spot as when he’d apologized.

“Sleep well?”

The only difference was the refreshing smile and his nonsense chatter.

“Your hair’s all messed up.”