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Chapter 11
The terrace in the middle of the day was peaceful. Caius was lying on the outdoor sofa bed, lost in thought.
He reached out and tilted the small glass vial in his hand from side to side. Sunlight passing through the glass made it sparkle.
“So the headache is really gone…”
It had been only a day since he had taken the medicine Charlotte gave him from the apothecary. The headache that had tormented him endlessly had vanished as if it were a lie. Not only that, he had slept deeply last night for the first time in years.
“This leaves me no excuse.”
He hadn’t expected her to boldly poison him, but he had prepared to pressure Charlotte if the effects were minimal or if there were side effects.
However, the medicine was far too effective, leaving him no choice but to acknowledge Charlotte’s skill.
Caius suddenly recalled her confident expression in the apothecary yesterday.
“After all, to seek revenge, you have to stay alive first, right?”
Was she really planning to help him get revenge?
Lost in faint thoughts, a commotion near the terrace caught his attention. Caius lowered his head to check below the railing.
“…What now?”
It was Charlotte, appearing from the road leading east of the castle. She was walking toward him, holding a basket full of fruit, humming, almost dancing as she went.
Her curly white hair swayed gently with her steps.
Suddenly, Charlotte stopped and looked around. She carefully set down the basket, picked up an orange, and devoured it in an instant. Tossing the peel into the bushes, she resumed walking lightly.
Caius couldn’t help but let out an incredulous, dry laugh.
…She’s supposed to be the most notorious witch in the capital?
From their first meeting, Charlotte Schmidt seemed more clumsy than the terrifying rumors suggested.
Caius had met countless nobles since his days as a prince: sly snakes who hid their cunning behind smiles, and greedy fools who made no effort to conceal their desire. He could easily see through any pretense—it was easier for him than breathing.
Yet Charlotte Schmidt, whom he had met in person…
“She seems a bit… off.”
Literally, she looked almost innocent.
Even Caius paused after saying it. It was absurd.
A witch… looking innocent?
How could one say that about someone who used dark magic?
Yet Charlotte gave off a strangely different aura compared to the dark mages he had known.
“Your Highness.”
At that moment, Basel entered through the terrace glass doors. Seeing Caius’s serious expression, he stopped.
“What are you doing?”
“…Pondering.”
“Pardon?”
“Regarding the orders you gave.”
“Yes. Here is the material you requested.”
Basel handed over the documents.
Caius straightened his body from the railing and leaned back on the sofa bed. The papers rustled under his hands as he scanned them.
“It appears she was adopted by Count Schmidt around the age of ten. There are no notable records suggesting she could use dark magic at that time. I assume she learned it herself after being adopted into the Schmidt household.”
“Learned it herself, huh…”
“Since dark magic is traditionally passed down in secrecy, I couldn’t find any solid documentation. The first suspicion of Charlotte Schmidt using dark magic dates back to around age fifteen.”
Caius skimmed the documents.
There was a record of the heir of Marquis Eizer falling off a horse during a commotion at Count Schmidt’s birthday celebration, leaving him bedridden for about a week.
“Compared to now, that’s trivial.”
“She hadn’t even had her debutante ceremony yet. As the documents state, she likely used similar minor dark magic over the following year.”
Indeed, most of the incidents listed were minor, more like children’s pranks than crimes.
“Overall, it’s hard to say she was directly involved in ‘that incident,’ as she claims.”
Caius set the papers down on the table.
It was exactly as he expected.
No matter how extraordinary Charlotte Schmidt was, she probably hadn’t committed any major crime at the age of eleven. Judging by her current demeanor, even less so.
“Count Schmidt and his wife were foolish enough to watch their foster daughter learn dark magic without intervention.”
“Well… it might have been a planned adoption,” Basel said.
Caius, who had been wearing a bored expression, raised his eyes.
“They adopted a child with potential to raise as a dark mage?”
“I can’t say the Count deliberately aimed for a dark mage…”
“But they did take in an orphan with extraordinary magical talent,” Caius continued.
Basel remained silent—an unspoken confirmation.
Caius’s gaze lingered on the stack of documents.
After age fifteen, Charlotte’s misdeeds or suspected dark magic incidents were mostly connected to the Schmidt household. The Counts seemed to leave all responsibility to Charlotte, punishing her severely when necessary.
Yet, reviewing the records, there were clearly suspicious gaps—details that hadn’t been uncovered before, almost miraculously.
“This is interesting.”
Caius paused, deep in thought.
“Basel.”
“Yes?”
“Do you believe there are dark mages who aren’t evil?”
Basel hesitated. He knew too well what Caius meant by the question.
Charlotte Schmidt was undoubtedly called a witch of the capital. Even if not a perfect dark mage, she could wield dark magic freely.
Yet her recent behavior, and the documents in front of him, made it ambiguous to define her as purely evil.
“Alright, go now.”
Understanding the silence, Caius stretched back on the sofa bed, sounding lazy.
Still, Basel hesitated instead of leaving immediately.
“What is it?”
“…Miss Charlotte Schmidt has regenerated a significant portion of the eastern estate.”
Caius’s brow furrowed.
“That witch?”
“Yes. I observed it until today, and it’s confirmed. The peasants were planting new saplings there today.”
Caius rolled his eyes.
He recalled that yesterday, she had mentioned distributing antidotes to the orchard workers. It seemed she hadn’t stopped at medicine—she had restored the land itself.
“…Impressive.”
Caius felt his lingering doubts rise again. He was certain that if he looked in a mirror, his expression would be quite complicated.
“I only did it because I want to live, too.”
Why did that phrase come to mind now?
“…And yet, you were reluctant to just watch for now, but what made you defend her?”
Basel paused, then answered, “I’m merely stating facts. They may differ from my judgment.”
“……”
“I cannot claim to answer regarding the part you asked, but if you ask whether Charlotte Schmidt is the same as every dark mage we’ve seen… I cannot be certain either.”
Caius, stroking his chin, waved his hand.
“Fine, understood. Now go.”
“Yes, my lord.”
As Basel bowed and turned to leave, Caius called him back.
“Basel.”
“Yes?”
“Report all of her actions to me in detail from now on.”
Lately, I’ve been enjoying myself immensely.
“Um…”
While wandering the garden late, someone quietly called me. It was a young maid in uniform.
She glanced around before approaching, lowering her voice to a whisper.
“I heard from Uncle Charles about the orchard…”
Ah.
I smiled gently.
“Do you need it too?”
She nodded.
“Did you bring the payment?”
“Yes!”
The spirited maid took a checkered handkerchief from her chest. Unfolding it revealed a delicious slice of strawberry tart.
Wow, amazing.
“Is this… enough?”
“Perfect.”
My mouth was already watering.
I told her to wait a moment and handed her a small vial from my pocket—the same potion I had given the orchard workers a few days ago.
Apparently, its effect was so remarkable that people had begun seeking me out after hearing about it. Thanks to that, I had secretly been trading food for it.
“My sister in the same room said her chronic rhinitis disappeared after taking this. Is it true?”
“Well… rhinitis can result from poor condition.”
“Thank you!”
“You’re welcome. See you next time.”
“Yesss!”
The maid dashed off. I waved, as if telling her to come again, and took a bite of the strawberry tart. The pastry crumbled delightfully in my mouth.
“Mmm, really delicious.”
Sweet things are the best.
My side hustle was better than I expected. Even if the rations were small, I wouldn’t go hungry.
I hummed a tune as I entered the corridor.
“Um… Wizard?”
Oh no, another customer.
Brushing the pastry crumbs from my mouth, I turned with a businesslike smile.
It was another maid in uniform.
“Do you need it too?”
“Huh?”
“Uh?”
Not for the potion? Then why call me?
Perplexed, I tilted my head as she delivered shocking news.
“The Duke summoned you. He said to come to his office immediately.”
Thud.
The strawberry tart fell to my feet.
