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Episode 47

"...Huh? What did you say?"

Iodel's brow furrowed in disbelief. He had said something similar before, but she hadn't expected to hear it again. She deliberately made a fierce expression, as if she had heard something she shouldn't have.

"Ahaha, please don't look so put out. The truth is, you remind me of someone I greatly admired."

Ah, so that's what he meant.

Relieved, Iodel finally asked with curiosity.

"Do I look like her?"

"No. My..."

Theodore hesitated for a moment, then added.

"...late older sister."

"Ah..."

Not knowing how to respond, she simply opened and closed her mouth. He lightened the mood by speaking playfully.

"Honestly, there's no resemblance in appearance. My sister had droopy, puppy-like eyes. But her actions were just like yours."

"How so?"

"Let's say she wasn't like a typical noble. She shared well, ate well. She was... a little special."

At the word 'special,' Iodel tilted her head. Wasn't a noble being noble what made them special?

"Yes. Just like you."

"I'm not special at all."

This person who said she reminded him of his sister would surely turn away if he found out she was a fake. Thinking that, her good mood plummeted instantly.

As her expression darkened, Theodore spoke in a low voice.

"You know how to share what you have with others."

"...I can only do that when I have plenty. When I don't, I can't. Even I can't."

"Most people can't."

He smiled brightly.

"They find it harder to share when they have a lot."

"That doesn't quite make sense to me..."

"I agree. Anyway."

They had been chatting and eating delicious food for so long that the end of the festival street was already in sight. It also meant the time to part was approaching.

"That's why I feel comfortable with you. And I hope you don't feel too uncomfortable with me either..."

Theodore lowered both eyebrows regretfully and gazed at Iodel.

"...since we could become friends."

A pure smile without any ulterior motive. Theodore was sincerely expressing his desire to be friends.

"...Lord Belice."

Iodel stopped in her tracks. Then she answered sincerely.

"I'm sorry."

His eyes trembled faintly.

"I was sorry before, and I'm sorry now."

"...Do you not want to be friends with me?"

Seeing Theodore's hurt expression, she hurriedly replied.

"Of course not."

Regardless of him being the heir of the House of Belice, Theodore was a good and kind person, even if a little peculiar. How could she refuse his offer of friendship?

But Iodel couldn't accept it.

"I..."

She took a small step back from him.

"...am not worthy of being your friend."

"Huh? What do you mean..."

"Because I'm a fake."

Iodel looked at Theodore and smiled sadly. At that moment, a crowd of festival-goers surged between them.

"My lady?"

He pushed through the crowd to where Iodel had been standing. But where she had been just moments before, no one remained.

---

Having returned to her bedroom using a teleportation spell, Iodel gasped for breath.

"Ugh..."

A groan escaped her lips. Teleportation was a spell that consumed an immense amount of mana. Moreover, she had taught herself from magic books she'd glanced at whenever she had time, so it was naturally clumsy.

Besides, this time—when everyone believed she was out—was the only window to roam the Imperial Palace unnoticed.

Catching her breath, Iodel straightened up. On the table, the gift boxes for Aegir, Pluto, Thetis, and Cordelia remained.

She arranged them neatly and took out the pouch of gold coins she had kept in the desk. She took only two gold coins and tucked them into her bosom.

'I can't take it all. That would be stealing...'

Iodel left the pouch with the remaining gold coins on the desk in plain sight.

Then she took one last look around the bedroom—the first place where she had ever been treated with warmth.

The cocoa Aegir had secretly made for her on her first night had been so sweet. That taste, dangerously addictive, still lingered on her tongue.

"No."

She shook her head roughly to shake off the thoughts. The ruby tiara Pluto had given her came into view. Iodel forced herself to look away and muttered.

"This place is poison to me."

But as she turned her head, she saw the dress Thetis and Cordelia had altered for her to wear on her birthday. It was so beautiful and precious that she had hung it on one wall, never expecting it to become such a lingering attachment.

"I..."

She roughly wiped the tears that had gathered in her eyes, sniffling.

If he had burned down the Freya Ducal residence and deliberately caused the carriage accident, there was no way he could have any good feelings toward her. There was clearly another motive. Having learned the truth, Iodel could only think that way.

"I can't be fooled. I can't trust anyone."

As if brainwashing herself, she muttered to herself and closed her eyes, gathering her mana once more.

"Goodbye..."

Leaving a farewell that no one would hear,

"...everyone."

She fled the Imperial Palace.

---

"We've finally succeeded in glimpsing Grand Duke Freya's memories!"

Bell, who had been holed up in the Sun Palace's basement without enjoying the festival at all, burst into Aegir's office and exclaimed.

He sprang up from his work.

"Is that true, Bell!"

"Yes! Soon you'll be able to break the curse placed on everyone!"

"Thank you, Bell. Thanks to you, on the last day of the birthday festival, I can deliver some very good news..."

Aegir clasped Bell's hands, deeply moved.

He had struggled to find the solution to the curse that only Grand Duke Freya knew.

And at last, he had found it.

"Finally, finally...!"

"I'll inform the Magic Tower and have them take action immediately, Your Majesty."

"No. First, let's bring Iodel."

"You want to show her?"

"Yes. That way, that suspicious child will understand us too."

Completely elated, he laughed and joked.

Bell was also fully excited, laughing loudly.

"She'll be overjoyed, truly...! I'll go to the Galaxy Palace right now and fetch her..."

"No. I'll go myself. Bell, have a carriage prepared in front of the Galaxy Palace. We need to go straight to the Magic Tower."

"Yes, understood!"

She answered cheerfully.

Aegir immediately set off for the Galaxy Palace with his guards. He knew she had a date, no, an outing with Lord Belice today, but by this hour she should have returned.

With his long strides, he hurried to the Galaxy Palace in one breath. The Prince and Princesses would also be there, so he could take care of Iodel first and then head to the Magic Tower with all of them.

Finally arriving in front of Iodel's bedroom, Aegir knocked. But even after waiting, no sound came from inside.

Feeling that there was no sign of anyone, he cautiously opened the door and entered. A cold chill greeted him.

"Iodel?"

Sensing something was wrong, Aegir's eyes turned to the gift boxes on the desk. He opened the box with his name on it. Without even thinking to taste the cotton candy roll inside, he immediately pulled out the note and read it.

As he read the note, Aegir's face went pale, his mouth slowly falling open.

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