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Episode 124

"It's a magical tool I prepared especially for you, Mother."

"A magical tool for me?"

The title 'Mother' still grated on her nerves, but her curiosity about the tool was greater.

From the hunting party incident to the recent epidemic, she'd learned that Yuperion magic was more useful than she'd thought.

So naturally, she was interested in Yuperion-made magical tools.

Taking the box Evadne handed her, Merian checked its contents.

Inside the blue velvet box was a silver bracelet. A thin, inconspicuous silver chain held a violet jewel.

Its color was strangely captivating.

"What does it do?"

"It's a protective tool. Given your position, you must have many enemies, don't you? This will have the effect of bringing five excellent guards with you."

"Hm. I see."

Merian answered with little interest.

She'd expected something more impressive—a mere protective item was disappointing.

Seeing the disinterest rise on Merian's face, Evadne smiled with narrowed eyes.

---

A few days later.

Merian's carriage was attacked while she was out.

The attackers were skilled, and several of Merian's escort knights were seriously injured.

Fortunately, the culprit was caught on the spot, but——

"You're not the only one after me. There's a contract out on you all over the underworld. Hahaha!"

After leaving those words, he took his own life.

Killing himself without hesitation was proof that he was from the underworld.

Merian quickly sent people to confirm whether there really was a contract on her in the underworld.

Soon, it was confirmed to be true.

She couldn't yet identify the exact client, but since she'd harmed many people over the years, it was hard to narrow down the suspects.

Merian's mood naturally grew sharp.

And then her eyes fell on the protective bracelet Evadne had given her.

"Yes. It's better than nothing."

If it had the effect of bringing five excellent guards, it should be fairly effective.

From that day on, a bracelet with a strangely glinting violet jewel adorned Merian's wrist.

"Tsk. This had better be useful."

Haven't all the plans Evadne had led ended in failure?

They always seemed promising at first, but in the end, everything fell apart.

Merian didn't care about the process.

What mattered was the result.

Looking back at everything so far, she regretted joining hands with Evadne to the point of madness.

Her comment in front of Evadne—"I should have paired Zephyr with that handmaiden instead of you"—had been sincere.

'Well, maybe it's not too late even now.'

Come to think of it, Evadne and Zephyr hadn't officially held their engagement ceremony yet.

Just as Mateo's illness had caused the marriage talks with Rosina to fall through, she could create a plausible excuse and pin the blame on Evadne.

From the start, she'd planned to milk Evadne for all she was worth and then discard her.

'I'm just moving up the timeline a little.'

Just as Merian was stroking the bracelet Evadne had given her and smiling coldly—

"Lady Merian! We have a problem!"

Her maid, who had come running in a panic, reported to Merian with a pale face.

"What's all the commotion?"

"His Grace the Grand Duke……!"

After hearing the maid's report, Merian's eyes widened.

"Is that true?"

"Yes. They should be meeting about now."

"Ha! How dare they leave my son out……!"

Unable to even finish her sentence in anger, Merian clenched her fist.

Thinking of the First Prince Oscar and the two princesses, who were probably gathered in the Grand Duke's chamber, made her grit her teeth.

---

Meanwhile, in the Grand Duke's chamber.

"Hehe, yes! I'm glad you've recovered safely too, Zephyr."

"I'm honored you would say so."

At the Grand Duke's words, Zephyr bowed his head with a smile.

Having suffered a severe illness for the first time in his life and recovered, the Grand Duke had become much more cheerful than before.

He'd acquired the characteristic detachment of someone who had crossed death's threshold.

"Yes. So the young lady who sent me Velfia tea leaves was Julietta's handmaiden?"

"Yes, that's right, Father. My handmaiden, Janet, happened to discover that Velfia tea leaves were effective against the epidemic. She sent them to me as soon as she found out."

"Oh? So it was that girl who discovered Velfia's efficacy?"

Julietta answered with a slightly stiff expression, and the Grand Duke nodded contentedly.

Then—

"Wait. Julietta's handmaiden……"

Recalling the past, the Grand Duke's mind brought up the face of the young handmaiden.

She was the girl who had cheekily said she had no wish right away and asked if she could save it for later.

Soon, the Grand Duke burst into laughter.

"That was her! Yes, I thought she was an interesting girl, but to think she'd save my very life!"

If Janet hadn't discovered Velfia's efficacy, he might have been dying right now.

Though Princess Evadne, Zephyr's prospective fiancée, had occasionally visited and checked on him, the effect only lasted for the moment and didn't last long.

"Come to think of it, wasn't it the Ortega lady who played an active role at the hunting party as well?"

"Yes. If not for the Ortega lady, the Empire would have faced a disaster."

Catching the Grand Duke's muttering, Oscar skillfully praised Janet's achievements.

Not to be outdone, Rosina also smiled and added.

"The owner of the business I'm managing is also Lady Janet."

"Hm? You're running a business?"

Even at the Grand Duke's question, as if he had no idea, Rosina's expression didn't waver.

Instead—

"Yes. I run a café called 'Blossom' in the capital, and it's been quite successful. When we sold Velfia tea leaves this time, we also created and sold something called 'tea bags'—that too was one of our café's main products, developed by Lady Janet."

"Oh? Is that so."

"Yes, Father."

The Grand Duke's face, which had been showing interest, began to shift strangely.

'Janet Ortega……'

The Marchioness of Ortega was the Grand Duke's comrade-in-arms and one of his long-standing acquaintances.

As the lord of the North, his family was also quite solid.

'A young lady who has achieved so much would surely be recognized by both the Imperial family and high society.'

The Grand Duke had a good eye for people.

It was only natural—the most important thing for leading a family's vast wealth was the ability to recognize valuable people and products.

Thinking of Janet, the Grand Duke nodded slowly, then turned his gaze to Oscar, who was smiling with a composed posture.

"Oscar."

"Yes, Father."

"I hear you're quite close with the Ortega lady. Is that true?"

At the Grand Duke's question, Oscar gasped.

He understood from that single question what the Grand Duke was envisioning.

'Does he want to connect me and Miss Janet?'

It made sense. Janet's recent achievements were so outstanding that it was natural to want her.

For just a moment, Oscar imagined himself standing beside Janet.

To be honest, it wasn't a bad match at all.

"I am close with Lady Ortega, but more than I—"

"Janet is closer to me and Sister Rosina, and to Kendrick, than to Oscar, Father!"

Oscar blinked as his words were cut off.

The one who had interrupted was none other than Julietta.

She'd spoken almost as if shouting, so all eyes were on her.

Instead of getting angry at Julietta for butting in, the Grand Duke looked at her with interest and spoke.

"Kendrick? You say Kendrick is close to the Ortega lady?"

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