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Chapter 4
Benjamin’s eyes even welled up with tears as he expressed his disappointment. But Bice’s attention was completely focused on Cassius.
“I was the one who proposed the contract to enter the Magic Tower. Don’t blame the Tower Master.”
If anyone had to offend him and receive that chilling contempt, it should be only her.
What if he cancels the contract just because his mood gets ruined? He already has a terrible personality…
Bice carefully observed Cassius’s expression.
He seemed to study her as if he couldn’t understand her, then turned away.
He doesn’t seem angry.
Relieved, Bice stepped closer to him.
“Besides, you’re going to personally take me all the way to the cave alone, right, Tower Master?”
“That’s quite a nonsen— …Very well.”
Cassius had been about to refuse immediately, but at the phrase “just the two of us,” he noticed Benjamin’s face twisting in obvious jealousy—and changed his answer.
“Shall we depart, Lady Beatrice?”
“Yes.”
“Beatrice? Beatrice, you say?”
Benjamin exploded in shock, as if asking when they had become close enough to use first names. Cassius snorted at the duke’s reaction and swept his hand through the air.
A massive light enveloped them both.
* * *
When she opened her eyes, they had arrived inside an ice cave in the Teneb Mountain Range.
“We got here in the blink of an eye.”
“Now let go.”
Once they were alone, Cassius immediately pushed Bice away.
But she simply looped her arms around his.
“Just a little longer like this.”
It wasn’t because she liked him—it was to see his disgusted expression.
She happily admired his irritated face and said,
“What if a monster suddenly appears?”
“That won’t happen.”
“How do you know?”
“There is a dragon protection spell inside this cave to guard the egg.”
“But we got in just fine?”
“I can bypass it.”
“…I see.”
So the strongest being in the world could casually break through dragon magic.
If he’s that strong, he could probably bury me here and erase everyone’s memory of me without anyone noticing.
Realizing his overwhelming power again, Bice quietly let go of his arm.
Then she slowly looked around the cave.
The ice cave glowed a crystalline blue. Transparent white ice walls, sharp stalactites and stalagmites—everything looked unreal.
“It’s a really beautiful cave.”
“You’ll be seeing it for a long time.”
Cassius crossed his arms.
“You’ll be staying here for a week with no outside help.”
“Until I find the dragon egg, right?”
Bice said confidently.
“You tried to scare me with the Teneb Mountain Range, but there aren’t even monsters here. I think finding the dragon will be easier than expected.”
“That’s not the problem.”
Cassius’s lips curled slightly in mockery.
“Once I leave, you’ll be here alone. No servants. No protection.”
“I was a commoner before I was a noble lady. Being alone is nothing.”
“That reincarnation nonsense again.”
“It’s not nonsense.”
“If you survive even one day properly, I’ll reconsider that claim.”
He sounded certain. Her supplies were far too minimal for a week-long stay in the cave.
“Villains really never trust people.”
Bice grumbled and pulled out a necklace from inside her clothes. A transparent gem hung at the end.
“This gem is supposed to help find the dragon, right?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, I’ll test it.”
She walked around the cave holding the necklace. It showed no reaction.
“If it were that easy, I wouldn’t have given it to you.”
Despite Cassius’s sarcasm, she ignored him and tapped the cave walls.
“If you want to give up, just tear the scroll and leave.”
“I won’t.”
“If you fail, you’ll still return in a week.”
“I’ll find the egg and hand it to you before then.”
“Where does that confidence come from?”
Cassius muttered in disbelief.
Bice smiled at him.
Then he spoke again, as if deciding something.
“Before I leave, I have something to give you.”
“Something for me?”
Her excited expression instantly stiffened when she saw what he handed over.
It was a ring.
A ring she had received countless times before from men—and sometimes women—who fell for her under the blessing.
“Sorry, but I don’t accept—”
“It’s an artifact that allows instantaneous movement based on thought.”
“An artifact?”
“I prepared it in case you cannot tear the scroll.”
“You scared me!”
Bice collapsed onto the ground, muttering.
“For a moment I thought you had feelings for me… wait, don’t look at me like that.”
“That would never happen.”
“If someone gives me a ring, I naturally think it has another meaning.”
Bice looked up at Cassius. A normal person would have been overwhelmed at this angle, but he remained impossibly perfect.
If a normal guy gave me a ring like this, I’d already be naming our grandchildren.
But not this time.
The only person in this world who did not love her. The only person who treated her honestly. She couldn’t afford to lose him.
“I hate that idea.”
“Then I’ll treat you more harshly.”
“I’ll take that as meaning you’ll keep seeing me.”
She stood up, teasing him again.
Cassius frowned and stepped away.
“After this trial, we will never be involved again.”
“I’ll succeed and stay by your side.”
“That kind of statement from you is also—”
…enough to cause misunderstandings.
But Cassius stopped himself and chuckled instead.
A noble lady like her would never harbor feelings for someone like him. The idea itself was absurd.
Her shocked expression when he gave her the ring proved it.
“Just wear the artifact.”
“It fits perfectly.”
She showed him the ring on her left middle finger.
Satisfied, Cassius stepped back.
“I will take my leave.”
“Thank you for bringing me here and giving me this artifact.”
“Please fail safely.”
With a graceful bow, Cassius clapped his hands—and vanished without a trace.
“…He’s gone?”
Bice looked around carefully.
Then a sinister smile formed on her face.
“Alright then, time to unpack.”
She lifted her bag.
“What should I take out first?”
She flipped it upside down.
And—
“Ta-da!”
A blazing furnace fell onto the ground.
She shook the bag again.
Out came a rocking chair.
Then a small leather bag far too small to contain such items.
“I can finally breathe.”
She sat in the chair, then pulled out a thick wool blanket and steaming hot chocolate.
“So sweet…”
She wrapped herself in warmth.
“Survive one day, he said?”
She tapped the bag proudly.
“With the Vault of Everything, I can survive not just a week—but even a year.”
The Vault of Everything was an ancient artifact that could store anything and summon what the user needed, once they understood its use.
“It was worth stealing what the male lead originally got.”
In the novel, Alex obtained it only after freeing enslaved dwarves, saving their leader, and receiving land as reward.
But Bice?
“Could you give it to me, please?”
With just that one request, she got it.
“I’ve suffered my whole life under this blessing. I deserve at least some reincarnation perks.”
I’m a privileged reincarnator, she hummed happily.
Completely unaware that every word she sang was being transmitted somewhere far away.
