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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: A Gift and a Warning
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We arrived at Crescent Moon Castle before sunset.
The first news to reach my ears was about Marquis Ingram.
It seemed he had been caught trying to escape when he saw an opportunity.
But the circumstances relayed by the aide-de-camp were strange beyond belief.
Marquis Ingram had reportedly suffered all sorts of hardships, such as constantly tripping on an empty road, his carriage breaking down without fail, and even being attacked by a horse.
He had become a wreck all on his own, to the point that even the pursuit team was bewildered.
I was reminded of Rebecca, who, as in , might become a curse user.
*He must not have paid her salary until the very end...*
“What a pathetic fool. Still, I'm grateful he gave up his territory on his own.”
That was the extent of Winter's comment.
Yelena checked on my condition.
“Little Madam, how are you feeling?”
“I'm not… completely fine, but I'm okay!”
I changed into an indoor dress and went to see Rose.
“Rose! Have you been well? Did anyone bother you? You didn't get into any trouble, did you?”
Rose, who had looked happy to see me for a moment, immediately changed her expression.
“What do you take me for? No one bothered me, and I didn't get into any trouble.”
Though her displeasure was evident, she still answered my questions dutifully.
Since my favorite spot for tea time was being cleaned, I used the excuse of having tea to look around Rose's room.
As if mindful of the fact that Rose was an otherworldly being, her room was set apart from the others.
It was on a higher floor with a good view, and there was even a space that could be used as a study.
I admired the desk and floor, which were completely tidy.
“It's surprisingly neat.”
Rose's eyebrow twitched.
“Why is it surprising? And how have you been?”
I told her about Elbert asking for help and my sister coming to request an escort.
Rose showed interest in the fact that my sister had precognitive abilities.
“The Saintess is a prophet?”
“Not often enough to be called a prophet, but she sees the future anyway.”
“And so far, everything has come true?”
“Yeah.”
Rose stroked her chin.
“Could it be… No, that's impossible. The prophet I knew was foolishly kind and lived her life being used by others. The complete opposite of the Saintess.”
Mumbling to herself, Rose soon gave her head a light shake.
“In any case, it's a relief that your frail body is growing.”
I was just amazed that Rose had managed to find a positive aspect in that terrifying premonition.
While looking around Rose's sparsely furnished study, I found a peculiar sculpture that looked like a crudely clumped ball of mud.
“Rose, what's this?”
The sculpture was slightly larger than my palm.
Its eyes were decorated with obsidian, but its quality was so poor that if it hadn't been for the whiskers and tail, I would have suspected it was meant to depict a monster.
“It was supposed to be your birthday present.”
Ah.
“It's from Del, isn't it?”
“How did you know?”
I was dumbfounded by Rose's surprised expression.
*—Th-that is, I thought about it, and the birthday present didn't seem to suit you very well!*
*—What was it?*
*—I-it was nothing! It was something completely, utterly unrelated to Del!*
...She said it in a way that made it impossible not to guess!
“Can I touch it?”
I asked.
Rose took the sculpture out herself.
A strange sensation washed over me as the smooth surface touched my fingertips.
Huh?
*This doesn't seem like just a failed sculpture.*
*There's something to it.*
Back when Emil had presented me with an item that detects curses, I had felt it was clumsy.
When I found the magic circle in the underground passage of the marquis's castle, its structure was naturally interpreted.
I was getting a similar feeling now.
As I instinctively examined the sculpture from all angles, Rose boasted.
“Do you have any idea how much I had to flatter the spirits to keep it as it was? If you ever meet a spirit, make sure you praise them first. Spirits love being praised.”
*Alright, I've figured it out.*
I glanced at Rose and shared what I had sensed.
“Rose, we might have to break this.”
Just after she had bragged about flattering the spirits, I said we might have to break it, and Rose's mouth fell open.
“What?”
“It's not just a sculpture. There's something round inside. That's the real thing.”
The bridge of my nose wrinkled on its own as I focused my senses.
*If I just try a little harder, I feel like I could figure out what it is...*
Rose urgently snatched the sculpture from my hand.
“Then we'll just break it. Why are you trying to use your ability? You'll be in big trouble if you keep overexerting yourself.”
I blinked.
“Are you sure?”
“If it bothers you, you can just make another one later. It's not like your skills are any better than this right now anyway.”
“…”
After making a comment that could have been an insult, Rose crushed the sculpture with her bare hands.
As the sculpture crumbled, a purplish-black orb popped out.
“Hm?”
Rose's eyes widened.
It seemed she had thought of the sculpture as nothing more than an ordinary monstrosity made by Del.
The sculpture was solid inside, except for a space just large enough for the orb, as if it had been made from the start to conceal it.
I held the orb in both hands.
Soon, the orb began to project numbers made of light into the air.
“Rose, is this an artifact?”
“It's just a spell. A one-time use.”
Rose quickly scanned the numbers.
Its task complete, the orb cracked and broke apart.
“Looks like coordinates. Coordinates used in spells are written like that.”
“Then let's write them down!”
I quickly grabbed paper and a pen from the desk.
While Rose marked the coordinates on a map, I gathered the fragments of the sculpture with a handkerchief.
Rose scowled at that.
“Cheria? What are you doing?”
“I'm going to ask Emil to fix it.”
Rose clicked her tongue.
“It's your thing anyway, right? You've just now learned its proper use.”
“But!”
“Ah, is it because you're not confident you can make something better than this?”
“…That's not it!”
Rose, seeing me flinch, gestured me over.
“Leave that and come look at this. It's closer than you think.”
Rose showed me the map.
I rolled my eyes back and forth.
“It's in the Empire?”
“Closer than the place you just visited, right? Why would she leave coordinates for here?”
“I don't know… Should I try sensing it again?”
Knowing I felt guilty, Rose roughly patted my head.
“The location is close, so we can just go whenever. Just stay still. More importantly, it seems like your ability is manifesting more naturally. What happened while you were away? Tell me everything.”
I explained about the magic circle I found in the cave.
“Still, it's a relief that the magic circles are all gone, right? Maybe it's because of the grass Kivrin brought, but my body doesn't hurt much either. Anyway, my worry is that the relationship between Kivrin and Father just keeps getting worse. I think Father often forgets that Kivrin is still young.”
“…Setting aside your still-incoherent storytelling skills, it does feel like something is about to blow up. I just hope it's not during the Consecration Ceremony.”
*I-if even Rose is worried, isn't this really serious?*
Rose pushed me toward the tea table as my pupils quaked.
“For now, just don't do anything and drink your tea. And don't think about that magic circle.”
“But Del is in danger of being falsely accused…!”
“Kivrin won't stand by and let that happen. Like I said before, you're the only one who thinks he's nice.”
Rose poured me some tea.
I reluctantly took a sip, then remembered the things I had brought for Rose.
“Oh, right. And this.”
I took some snacks out of my handbag.
“They said the area is famous for tourism, so I brought a few snacks.”
As cookies, chocolates, honey, and jellies kept coming out, Rose looked astonished.
“You really managed to cram all that into such a tiny bag.”
Still, Rose accepted everything.
After having tea with Rose, I returned to my bedroom.
But then, the window suddenly shut with a *thud*.
*What was that? Was the window open? That can't be, it's too cold.*
I tilted my head and went to the window.
A note was tucked into the window frame.
I had a strong sense of déjà vu, and the note's contents didn't stray far from my expectations.
[I recommend a divorce.]
“Cheshire?”
But this time, there was another line.
[Where's my present?]
*Look at this kid.*
I placed a wrapped jelly necklace and some pineapple cookies outside the window.
“I'm sharing my food with you, so don't leave any leftovers!”
I shouted out the window.
Then I added in a small voice.
“I'll tell you why I don't have to get a divorce, so come find me if you want to hear it.”
When I left the bedroom and came back, another note was tucked in the frame.
[I was curious so I looked into it, but there aren't any factions trying to kidnap the Saintess. It's completely clean. I think that guy, Net or whatever, is just trying to get rid of the Saintess this time.]
“Who's Net?”
It was a name that had never appeared in the novel.
With a question mark floating over my head, I read the next line.
[Don't get caught in the crossfire between the Pope and the Saintess. Just make up with Sir Jaehae.]
“…”
*The Pope's name is Nocturne, not Net.*
*What kind of information broker gets the name wrong!*
