-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Toys and Threats
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Being a toy store that catered to high nobility, it featured dolls adorned with real jewels and miniature carriages as elaborate as their full-sized counterparts.
A teddy bear dressed in high-quality silk, with its plump stuffing and cute design, tempted even me.
I never thought I'd go on my second-ever spending spree, the first being for Darcy, in a toy store of all places.
My initial leisurely pace was short-lived; I realized it would take quite some time to sweep up all the toys inside.
That also meant I would have to endure the public's gaze for that much longer.
I sipped the tea a staff member brought me, lost in thought.
‘…But how am I going to move all of this?’
As I calmed my mind and body with a well-brewed cup of chamomile tea, I faced the most critical problem.
Storing them in the mansion's warehouse would be fine, but secretly transporting them to the mages' village by carriage would be impossible.
But the solution was simple.
‘I have Darcy.’
Just because we were together didn't mean I couldn't use his abilities.
If Darcy helped me, he could even use it to his advantage with the mages later.
I decided to make active use of Darcy's abilities.
Couldn't he become a mentor to the mages who would later contract with me?
Darcy's guilt wasn't misplaced.
But just as the mages fought Darcy to survive, for Darcy, too, the battle had been a struggle for survival.
The store was left as empty as if a typhoon had swept through. I walked out feeling satisfied.
When I opened the door and stepped outside, I felt even more eyes on me than before.
There were quite a few people whispering with envious faces.
‘They must be wondering just how deep my relationship with Darcy is.’
As if the rumors of us being lovers weren't enough, now I was even picking out toys for children.
Of course, I had already prepared an explanation for this.
I donated a portion of the toys I bought today to an orphanage in the capital. It was a chance to kill two birds with one stone—doing a good deed while deflecting people's attention.
Those who didn't know the exact quantity I bought today would assume all the toys were donated to the orphanage.
Of course, those who wanted to be suspicious would be suspicious no matter what I did.
My eyes met with the whispering people. They flinched and suddenly raised their fans as if it were hot.
‘What of it?’
I gave a bright smile and quickly boarded the carriage. It was to escape the people rushing over to talk to me.
Once inside the carriage with the door locked, I let out a sigh of relief.
To think I had the nerve to smile and brush it off so calmly. I've really grown.
‘I should host a tea party before I go.’
I needed to make a good impression on my future guests, and I also had to clear up the rumors with Darcy.
I'd have to discuss with Darcy exactly how to clear them up.
Honestly, I'm fine with how things are... but I can't be sure about Darcy.
We're not even lovers yet, after all.
I stroked the back of my hand where his lips had touched. The warmth I had felt was still vivid.
Even on a busy day like this, my thoughts turn to Darcy.
‘Does Darcy, too?’
I hope so.
I hoped he felt the same way, recalling our physical contact just as I did.
***
After Marso left, the people gathered in front of the toy store began to chatter loudly.
Since the rumors spread that Ryan and Marso were completely over—and that Marso had even given him a magic stone as a gift—the number of people who openly showed their jealousy toward her had been dwindling.
“It seems she's in a deep relationship with Prince Darcy, the one we saw back then…”
“She abandoned Lord Ryan. Tsk, tsk, a person should have some integrity.”
“Saving Lady Reshuan must have been a coincidence.”
“To come and buy toys, don't tell me…”
The ones speaking out so openly were nobles on Ryan's side. They had received instructions from him.
This organized movement was Ryan's ploy to isolate Marso once again.
His goal was to use Marso's feelings for him to ultimately bring down Darcy.
Entrusted with this weighty task along with Ryan's request, they spoke at the top of their lungs.
“What interesting bullshit.”
Of course, this didn't last long.
Because Darcy appeared on the scene after Marso's carriage had left, cutting their conversation short.
“Y-Your Highness…”
“Looks like you didn't expect the subject of your story to show up. I guess word of the mess I made at the imperial palace hasn't gotten around yet.”
There wasn't a single person who didn't know about the imperial palace gates being smashed.
“And objects aren't the only things I can break.”
At Darcy's words, the people's faces turned deathly pale. It was clear he wasn't making an empty threat.
Those who weren't on Ryan's side were quick to act.
“I said no such thing, Your Highness.”
“Me neither.”
“Oh, I know who said it. I don't touch the innocent, either.”
Darcy nodded at their words. Those who had escaped the madman's net felt a sense of relief. At the same time, they were surprised that the madman was more honest than they'd expected.
He wouldn't touch the innocent.
They resolved to live without sin from now on…. Darcy's appearance had suddenly made people repentant.
Darcy took a step forward. The nobles trembled, covering their necks.
“Y-Your Highness. I was just preparing for a potential situation—”
“Tell Ryan to find another way. This one's wrong.”
Watching their struggles with amusement, the corner of Darcy's mouth twisted.
“I don't care what you say about me... but you can't involve others. Shouldn't a prince at least uphold his honor?”
At his words, the crowd held their breath.
The madman might be a decent person after all. More suited to be emperor than Ryan—
“Aaargh!”
Something grazed the ear of a noble who was having this ordinary thought. Without blinking, Darcy spun the gun in his hand.
“Ah, my mistake. I was aiming for the temple.”
“...W-what is this?”
People gathered around the noble who was screaming in pain. But Darcy didn't answer.
Whatever Darcy had shown them, it was clear it could take their lives.
The people backed away from Darcy, each calling for their knights. The rumors about him being a madman weren't for nothing.
Darcy approached the crying noble, who was touching his ear, and crouched down to meet his gaze.
His gleaming eyes were like those of a grim reaper, ready to snatch a life at any moment.
“Spread a rumor like this one more time, and I'll put this in your mouth.”
Darcy smiled. It was an angelic smile that contrasted with his grim-reaper-like actions.
The small commotion ended just like that. In the end, Ryan's pathetic scheme didn't work.
When Kies heard about this later, he flew into a rage and ordered Darcy to be confined.
But this only added fuel to Darcy's fame.
***
Leticia mulled over Marso's words.
‘My own self.’
It was a life she was able to live thanks to Prince Ryan. She had believed her faith in him would last a lifetime, no matter what he did.
Until Marso had completely shaken her.
During her time as a lady-in-waiting, the Marso she experienced was completely different from Ryan's description.
It was to the point that she couldn't believe they were the same person.
At first, she thought Marso was wearing a mask.
But the more time they spent together, the more she realized that all of Marso's actions were sincere.
Ryan didn't believe it. Instead, he told Leticia not to be deceived.
Leticia trusted Ryan. While serving Marso, she might have pitied her somewhat, but she didn't believe Marso had changed to the core.
Not until the day Marso looked at her with eyes full of betrayal.
Watching the expectations of someone who had trusted her shatter into pieces made her feel the absolute worst.
Because she knew all too well that Marso had always been sincere with her.
‘I was a coward.’
She was ashamed of herself.
After clearing away the tea set, Leticia greeted Ryan.
“You've arrived.”
She didn't bother to report Marso's visit.
‘Nothing happened, anyway.’
Making excuses to herself, Leticia turned her attention back to Ryan's words.
“Letty, there is something you must do.”
“…What is it you need?”
She couldn't abandon Ryan.
Wasn't he the master who had protected her, even while suffering that humiliation in front of Darcy?
“From now on, you will be the point of contact.”
“Contact with whom?”
As the head of a merchant guild and Ryan's right-hand woman, she had done many things.
“Marquis Epekel.”
“Don't you visit the Epekel estate often?”
It was strange. She couldn't fathom what he would ask of her, considering he already spent so much time at the Epekel estate because of Reshuan.
“No, this is separate from Reshuan. That sounds a bit odd. It would be more accurate to say it's something she must not know.”
Another matter someone must not know.
Thinking to herself, Leticia murmured with a skeptical expression.
“…Is this really the right thing to do?”
Ryan's brow furrowed slightly.
“Are you doubting me?”
“No.”
Leticia said no more.
But the doubt Marso had planted had already begun to sprout.
‘What is he planning this time?’
Once again, her master was about to disappoint her.
Leticia had to make a choice.
Between loyalty and justice, what would she choose?
***
Raiding the toy store was only the beginning.
Dresses, books, daily necessities… Over the course of ten days, I swept through all the major stores in the capital.
It was obvious that shopping like this would make people say I'd reverted to my old ways, but I now had the mental fortitude to simply brush it off.
‘It's just the whining of people who are jealous of my wealth.’
How thrilling it is to be able to pick out anything without looking at the price tag.
A lot happened while I was preparing to meet the mages.
First, a gift arrived from the House of Marquis Epekel.
It was a token of gratitude for saving Reshuan.
Along with this, rumors began to circulate that Kies's combat prowess actually came from Darcy.
Kaysen, who supported Darcy, ran around acting as a direct witness.
I could still clearly picture him being tormented by Darcy when I last saw him, but it seemed they got along quite well regardless.
And finally….
“This bastard must be crazy.”
Darcy let out a hollow laugh as he read the secret invitation sent by Ryan.
