Home/Why Is Everyone Doing This?/ch45

Episode 45

"Pant, pant...!"

Her breath came in ragged gasps.

She had sensed that the Emperor of the Kinis Empire was a fearsome man, but she never dreamed that the one who set fire to the Freya Ducal residence and caused the carriage accident was Aegir.

Running without stopping all the way to her bedroom, Iodel locked the door tightly and collapsed to the floor.

—Wouldn't the carriage accident and the burning of the Freya Ducal residence have no meaning otherwise?

His voice, laced with cruelty, swirled in her mind.

"I'm going to die..."

To a ten-year-old girl, death was a terrifying prospect.

Her voice trembled with shock as she muttered to herself.

"I'm definitely going to die..."

The pouch of gold coins she had hidden in her bosom fell with a clatter.

'You knew it.'

Gold coins spilled out of the pouch.

'That there's no such thing as unconditional love. Yes, at least not for me. You knew it all along...'

That was why she had sold dresses and jewels to prepare emergency funds for escape.

So why did her heart feel like it was breaking?

Iodel clutched the pouch of gold coins with trembling hands. Then she immediately scrambled to her feet.

"I have to run away."

Even though she was terrified, her golden eyes flashed fiercely.

'Denzel said I'd meet him again if I stayed here, but...'

Thinking of Denzel's words, a shadow of gloom fell over her face.

But if she stayed and was discovered to be a fake, she would be killed.

Leaving this place and contacting Denzel later would be a far better choice—for both of them.

'Yes, Denzel will understand too...'

Steeling her resolve, Iodel quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and checked the schedule on the desk.

Tomorrow, she was supposed to explore the festival with Pluto; the day after, she was to visit the empire's most famous boutique with Thetis and Cordelia.

There was only one day she could escape.

The last day of the festival, when she was supposed to watch the parade with Theodore.

On that day, she would leave this place.

With a determined expression, Iodel clutched the pouch of gold coins.

Her face, weighed down with sorrow and complexity, seemed too heavy for a ten-year-old.

---

"Finally, today is the day, my lady?"

Two days passed in a blur, and the last day of the birthday festival arrived.

Demaret, more excited than ever, happily brushed Iodel's hair.

"See? Our family's perfume is the best, isn't it? It's a new product, not even displayed in stores yet, my lady."

"Hmm, is that lily of the valley?"

"Yes. I thought a subtle scent would be better than something too flashy and strong. You have no idea how much I nagged the developers!"

Her excited voice grew louder.

"Hmm, the scent is lovely."

Bell also took out a hairpin to place in Iodel's hair, humming happily.

"We should definitely pin the hairpin you received, right?"

"Of course. That's a classy choice!"

"It'll match the dress we picked out today too. We made sure it wasn't too flashy and allowed for easy movement."

"Right. That's why we stayed up almost all night yesterday."

Iodel chuckled and shook her head.

Even though she was tired after visiting the boutique with the twin princesses yesterday, she had been dragged along by Demaret and Bell to look through hundreds of dresses that all looked the same.

"But we picked the best result, didn't we?"

"Right. You'll look truly beautiful today. It's a good thing the appointment is in the evening—it gave us plenty of time to prepare."

They smiled at each other, then cleared their throats and cautiously presented a small box to Iodel.

"Huh?"

Her eyes widened.

"What's this?"

"We hadn't given you a birthday present yet."

"It's not very expensive..."

"Huh? No, it's fine. We don't need gifts between us."

"The closer the relationship, the more you should take care of each other."

Demaret said in a grown-up manner.

With a bewildered expression, Iodel slowly opened the box.

Inside was a crystal bead bracelet that looked like they had made it themselves.

"It's pretty..."

She carefully lifted the bracelet, which clinked softly.

A small diamond pendant dangled beneath the sparkling beads.

"Actually..."

The two exchanged glances and rolled up their sleeves slightly.

"Ta-da."

Beneath their sleeves, bracelets of the exact same design were revealed.

"They're matching bracelets?"

"Yes. They're all the rage in high society these days. Friendship bracelets."

"Lady Merilina kindly gave one to me too."

"You can't leave just one person out. We're all friends."

Demaret smiled primly and teased.

"Friendship bracelets..."

Feeling a flutter in her heart, she held the bracelet preciously.

Today was the day Iodel had decided to flee the Imperial Palace.

With a heavy heart, she fought back her tears.

Every time she received a joyful gift, she had cried, and she couldn't show tears on the last day too.

Yes, today was the last day.

"...Thank you, Demaret. Bell."

Forcing back her tears, Iodel smiled brightly at them.

Then, as if she had made a decision, she slowly opened her mouth.

"Um, by the way."

"Yes?"

"Since I have some time before meeting Lord Belice, could I use the kitchen?"

"Why the kitchen all of a sudden?"

"It feels like I've only been receiving gifts for my birthday."

She thought for a moment, then added.

"I want to give something to everyone too."

"But it was a birthday gift!"

"Right. You don't need to do anything for us right away, my lady!"

Demaret and Bell waved their hands and shook their heads.

They could say that because they didn't know that today Iodel had resolved to leave.

She just smiled bitterly.

"Still, I want to. I also want to give something to Lord Belice."

"Hmm, if you insist... do you need any ingredients?"

"Yes, I'll write them down."

Iodel quickly scrawled down a list of ingredients on a piece of parchment.

"Here."

"Hmm?"

Bell tilted her head at the note.

"Is this really all you need?"

"Yes, this is enough."

"Understood. Then please wait a moment!"

Bell left the room briefly and soon returned.

"I've prepared all the ingredients in the kitchen, and I've cleared it out so you can move freely!"

"Thanks, Bell. Let's go."

"This way!"

She immediately led Iodel to the kitchen.

"It's here."

"Both of you, stay here."

"Huh? We don't know what you're making, but it might be hard to do it alone..."

"No, it's really simple. It won't take long either."

"Hmm, alright!"

At Iodel's insistence, Demaret and Bell didn't enter the kitchen.

The door creaked shut.

Inside the kitchen, Iodel smiled at the ingredients laid out on the island table.

Sugar, black tea powder, gardenia powder, matcha powder, and milk.

'I can do this.'

Just once, she had seen young ladies eating it at Sherelle's birthday party.

It was called cotton candy.

She mixed the sugar with the various powders.

Then she drew upon the mana flowing through her body. Since it was the last day, it didn't matter if traces of magic remained.

By the time they discovered the traces, she would already be gone.

Soon, with a blue glow, the colorful sugars began to sparkle like jewels around Iodel.

Back   Next