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Chapter 13
Ted wasn’t an important character, but he left an impression — a man who was half-fairy. I had seen his face once or twice before, and I had heard his voice several times.
“I saw that the building where the guild was burned down. What happened?”
“Some lunatic suddenly appeared and set it on fire. Said we knew something we weren’t supposed to know.”
He said the arsonist had been so thorough that they’d barely had time to escape.
“We fled through the secret passage underground. Even if you dig through the ashes, you won’t find it.”
“Do you know who set the fire?”
“Not exactly, but I have a good guess. To dare burn down the guild… I’ll find out who it was, no matter what.”
Ted’s eyes were full of vengeance.
“Fine ambition. Then what about the task I gave you?”
“That’s actually why I came. That bastard burned down the branch, so I’ll have to start all over again—but I swear I’ll collect everything you asked for. Just… please extend the deadline.”
“Are there any surviving guild members?”
At my sudden question, Ted looked uncomfortable for a moment but answered honestly.
“The informants who lived outside are safe, but among those who lived in the building… I’m the only one who survived.”
“And the money?”
“The fire was so fierce it even melted metal. Luckily, I had some money entrusted to a merchant guild, so I was able to distribute it to the survivors. But yes, I’m broke now.”
Ted shrugged.
I had heard rumors that the information guild kept all their earnings in the guild’s coffers, so I’d tried probing him — and I was right.
“All right then, come to the Leveian estate.”
“…Excuse me?”
“The guild’s burned down, you have no money, and nowhere to go, right? That’s why you’re wandering around like this.”
He blinked, clearly not understanding.
“Our family is famous for its excellent employment conditions, you know?”
“Um, my lady—”
“And if you’re my personal secretary, the conditions are even better.”
“Ah!”
At that, he finally seemed to understand my intention.
“Very well. I’ll enter your personal employ.”
“In exchange, I need you to tell me about the person who burned down the guild. You just have to confirm if the person I name is the one.”
“You already have a suspect in mind?”
“Shilla Bernstein.”
When I spoke the name of the Tower Master, the lively glint in Ted’s eyes sharpened into murderous rage once again.
“You’ve guessed right.”
“You’re planning to take revenge on him, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
I couldn’t figure out what the Tower Master wanted from me or why he’d approached me in the last round of my life. I had to find that out. It might be an opportunity—or an obstacle.
So, it was best to leave the matter to the most suitable person.
“Good. But your appearance is too noticeable. You’ll have to hide it.”
“If it’s disguise, I’m quite skilled at that.”
“Then I’ll be counting on you, Ted.”
When I held out my hand, Ted looked startled but then laughed cheerfully and shook it.
A good card had just fallen into my hand.
“I heard you went to the Duke of Lishiansius’ party, Roa.”
As usual, Stella was lounging on the sofa, lazily eating grapes.
“That’s right! But I didn’t see even a hint of you. Where did you go?”
Pony chimed in, munching on an éclair.
“I was so tired I just greeted the duke and went home.”
“How exhausted were you to leave right after arriving? You didn’t even say hello to us.”
Stella frowned and sat up.
“Don’t tell me Merina Ikel bullied you again?”
“You could say that was part of it.”
“What’s her problem, anyway? Why does she act like she’s going to devour you every time she sees you?”
Pony viciously stabbed at her éclair with a fork, as if it were Merina.
“Let me guess—this time she said, ‘The Duke is mine! Don’t you dare approach him!’ again?”
Her imitation of Merina, delivered in a cute little voice, made Stella clutch her stomach with laughter.
“Just listening to her makes me sick. Anyone who hears her would think the whole world’s against her except her.”
“And the rumors are ridiculous too. She tripped on her own and cut her cheek, yet somehow they say you slapped her?”
My friends, who had seen the whole thing happen, were firmly on my side.
They had stood by me and my family even when I was falsely accused of treason — precious friends indeed.
“It’s best not to get involved with someone like her, but of course she has to be the empress’s sister. She gets invited to every party.”
“If she had any sense, she’d stay home.”
“Pony, if she had any sense, we wouldn’t be this angry.”
“Oh, Stella, you’re right!”
“That empty-headed girl actually believes every man in the world is on her side. It’s terrifying how convinced she is that everyone will take her part.”
Unless someone had witnessed it themselves — like my friends or Violet at the last tea party — they all assumed I was the villain, and Merina the victim.
It was as if the world itself followed some unbreakable rule: heroines are heroines, villains are villains, and nothing you do can change that.
I remembered the times I had rushed in blindly, not understanding that, and died uselessly again and again.
“Speaking of which, who are you all going to the imperial ball with?”
Stella picked up another cluster of grapes.
The imperial ball — that’s where the real story begins.
It’s there that Merina receives multiple dance requests, and her younger brother, Calvin, realizes his feelings for her.
The crown prince, who resents the new empress for replacing his late mother, also begins to take an interest in Merina. At first, he despises her for being the empress’s sister, but gradually, he falls in love.
Originally, at this ball, Merina and I were supposed to fight — and seeing her being beaten down, the crown prince would feel pity and begin to watch her closely. From there, affection would blossom.
But not this time. I wouldn’t fight with Merina, and even if something happened, I wouldn’t allow her to be painted as the helpless victim.
“Stella, your fiancé’s coming this time, right?”
“Yes.”
The Maritney Marquisate, which owns a coastal territory, trades frequently with the Grand Duchy across the sea. Stella was engaged to the Grand Duke’s second son.
“He’s coming as part of a diplomatic delegation. I told him to bring lots of fine goods, so you can look forward to it.”
“Really?”
The Grand Duchy produced jewels and luxury goods, small in land but rich in wealth.
Because of Stella, Pony and I always got first pick when such imports arrived.
“But shouldn’t you two be getting nervous? Considering the Crown Prince’s age, it’s about that time, isn’t it?”
“Eek! Don’t even joke about that, Stella. Marrying the always-frowning Crown Prince? Just thinking about it is horrible!”
Pony furiously tore apart her éclair.
“But it’s true, Pony. The Duke’s family doesn’t have any daughters.”
Stella’s practical observation was spot-on.
The ducal family had no daughters, which meant that next to Stella and me, our positions in the Empire were second to none.
With Stella already engaged, I was the most likely candidate to become the Crown Prince’s fiancée. The only other possible choices were the daughters of high-ranking counts—like Pony.
“I don’t want that. I plan to enjoy life and marry late—and it definitely won’t be to the Crown Prince.”
Don’t worry, Pony. The Crown Prince will soon fall into Merina’s net anyway.
“How about suggesting that His Highness marry the princess of the kingdom instead?”
“That’s a good idea. Isn’t the princess coming of age this year?”
“Yes. I’ll tell Father to recommend the princess as the Crown Princess candidate.”
Pony looked unusually serious.
“But will your father agree? I heard he secretly wants you to become Crown Princess.”
“Ugh, don’t say that. If he tries to marry me off to the Crown Prince, I’ll run away. Don’t forget—you promised me a ship, Stella.”
“Of course I did.”
In truth, until the Crown Prince fell for Merina, the Emperor wasn’t seriously considering any fiancée for his son, so I was completely at ease.
But my complacency didn’t last long — as if to mock me, the Emperor summoned me.
