18.
While tending flowers alone in the greenhouse, Marin came up to share a memory with me.
If Modway brought a broad range of information from across the imperial palace, Marin operated in a narrower range.
‘Her limit is about the size of a single palace, right?’
In exchange, Marin’s information was much more detailed than Modway’s.
That’s because Marin could show me exactly what she saw.
The reunion between Gobard and Agasa that I witnessed through her unfolded exactly as I had expected.
‘Almost disappointingly so.’
“You guided Gobard to Agasa properly. Good job.”
[Fufu~ Luring humans who are sensitive to presences is an easy task~.]
Even if regular people couldn’t sense spirits, if Marin deliberately lingered nearby, it was impossible not to notice.
‘Especially for someone like Gobard, who has heightened senses.’
Using that to guide people as she wanted was Marin’s specialty.
Pleased by my praise, Marin swam around the greenhouse a few times, then quietly floated closer to me.
[By the way~ You look like you’re having fun, master~? That pink-eyed human insists on meeting that guy again~?]
“It is fun.”
I raised the corners of my lips as I snipped more leaves to help the flowers grow better.
“Watching her mistake Gobard’s obsession for passionate love.”
Would Agasa even be able to guess?
What the madness of Lorhnord, disguised as love, eventually leads to.
‘I’ll adjust things so it doesn’t go that far yet, though.’
I didn’t want Agasa to end up with a life like my mother’s.
‘Hmm… I wonder if the original novel showed it all?’
The ending between Agasa and Gobard, I mean.
With that thought, I gave a small shrug.
‘As long as it doesn’t interfere with me, I should support Agasa’s choice.’
Snip—.
I cut off the remaining flower buds that hadn’t bloomed with the scissors in my hand.
The more I did, the more the blooming flowers around them sparkled with fresh vibrance.
[Is this a new flower you’re raising, master~?]
“Yeah. It’s one of the tribute offerings to the emperor. Modway found it.”
At some point, Nesgal appeared and looked at the flower in front of him.
[That emperor sure receives some interesting things.]
At his words, I smirked and muttered,
“The emperor probably doesn’t even know this flower came to me.”
The amount of tribute that the greedy emperor collected from all over the continent each year was beyond comprehension.
He wouldn’t remember a single flower that Modway secretly smuggled away.
[Hmm~ It seems like an ancient plant~. Can’t say for sure though~.]
[Hmph, maybe that child would have known.]
At Nesgal’s words, Marin stopped swimming around.
[…Why bring up that one now~?]
She suddenly seemed dispirited, drooping her body and flying far away.
Seeing this, Nesgal clicked his tongue.
[Such a weak little fish. You have to keep talking about him—then maybe that idiot will realize we’re talking about him and show up!]
I mulled over Marin and Nesgal’s words.
‘Idiot…’
The one who still hadn’t appeared to me—he was referring to the Earth Spirit.
After forming contracts with Modway, Marin, and Nesgal, I had been waiting for the Earth Spirit.
All three of them had said I could form a contract with him too.
But no matter how long I waited, the Earth Spirit never showed up.
[That idiot might be slow, but there’s no way he wouldn’t sense your presence, master.]
“You said you don’t know where he is either, right?”
[Correct. In fact, I haven’t seen him in ages… Ugh, he’s a troublesome one, no doubt.]
There was clear concern in Nesgal’s voice.
I couldn’t help but worry about the Earth Spirit’s whereabouts too.
“Do you think there’s someone else who can see spirits besides me?”
[As I’ve said before, in this world, no one but you can sense us. That’s the way of this world.]
“What if…”
There’s no such thing as “absolute.”
Even I, the one thought to be the emperor’s daughter, was ultimately just an illegitimate child.
And the world I used to live in was just a novel to someone else.
Nesgal pondered over my words for a moment, then shook his head.
[If there is such a person, they must be an even rarer freak than you’ll ever meet.]
And that’s when it happened.
[M-Master~!]
Marin, who had flown off earlier, came rushing back in a rare panic.
[It’s bad~! Really bad~!]
[Marin! What is it?!]
[We need to go! Right now, master~! Hurry~!]
For the usually laid-back Marin to speak with such urgency, something truly serious had to be happening.
I didn’t even have time to set down my scissors. I quickly followed after Marin.
And then, I heard a familiar crying voice in my ears.
[Waaahhh! Master! Master! Help me! Help!]
My heart dropped at the desperate cries calling out for me.
I sped up without realizing.
I rushed out, unlocked the latch, and burst out of the greenhouse.
“Modway!”
And outside…
[Master?! Is that you?! Master! Let go of my wings, you wicked human!]
“Hmm? Long time no see, Princess. What a coincidence. Come look at this fascinating bird.”
[Waaahhh! I want to go to master! Let me go!]
“A translucent bird, imagine that. Isn’t that interesting?”
With violet hair and violet eyes, the most peculiar man on the continent was waiting for me.
‘Hist Nethurn…’
The Tower Master, Hist, tilted his head slightly, his white robe fluttering.
The amethyst earring he wore sparkled in the sunlight.
“Hmm, I still can’t see any organs? It barely even has any weight.”
Hist turned Modway this way and that in his hands.
[Stop it! Let me go!]
With his wings held by Hist, Modway flailed his tiny legs helplessly.
The pitiful sight made the other spirits beside him uneasy.
[Oh no~ What do we do~?]
[L-Look at that vile human!]
I couldn’t keep a straight face either. My expression darkened as I quickly approached.
Noticing my presence, Hist finally turned his gaze toward me.
“Is this bird yours, Princess—Ack!”
Without a word, I pressed the sharp edge of my scissors close to Hist’s neck.
“Let go.”
At my reaction, he blinked and then slowly curled up his lips.
“…As you wish, Princess.”
As soon as Hist let go, the freed Modway hurriedly flew into my arms.
[Waaah! Master! That was scary! So scary!]
“It’s okay now.”
I hugged Modway gently and let out a small sigh of relief.
Still holding the scissors, I took a step back from Hist.
“Can you really see them?”
At my question, Hist nodded, clearly intrigued.
“Not just that bird, but that water-made fish over there.”
Marin, who met his gaze, flicked her tail coyly.
[Oh my~.]
“And that lizard over there breathing fire through its nose. I can see them all.”
[What are you looking at?! Insolent!]
I clutched my throbbing head.
‘Nesgal, you said no one but me could see spirits.’
Nesgal flinched and coughed awkwardly.
[Ahem! Ahem!]
‘…Right. I’m the one who said “absolute” doesn’t exist.’
As I remained silent, Hist’s eyes sparkled as he asked excitedly,
“Are they really spirits?”
I frowned and stared at him.
He remained completely unfazed under my gaze.
“…Follow me.”
I had to change locations.
It was too risky to talk about this out in the open.
I went back into the greenhouse first, and behind me, I heard Hist’s excited voice.
“As you wish, Princess.”
‘So slick.’
As soon as he stepped inside, the quick-witted Marin slammed the door shut.
Click.
The lock moved automatically, sealing the greenhouse.
I returned to my place among the flowers and set the scissors down on the table.
Behind me, Hist murmured in awe.
“Oh, most of these plants are completely new to me. Impressive.”
At his carefree attitude, I couldn’t help but ask bluntly,
“How do you know about spirits?”
“Oh? Jumping straight to the point, are we?”
“We’re not exactly on friendly terms for small talk.”
“Fair enough.”
Hist walked closer and glanced at Modway perched on my shoulder.
Modway quickly hid among my hair.
“Though honestly, I’d love to chat with you anytime, Princess.”
“How can you see spirits?”
“Hmm, by the way, when did we agree to drop formalities? Oh! I must be getting too comfortable?”
“Are you really planning to waste time with this nonsense?”
“You’re so impatient. Weren’t you planning to silence me? Isn’t that why you brought me into this greenhouse?”
That much was true.
‘But…’
While I traded meaningless words with him, the anxiety of having the spirits exposed had eased a lot.
Besides, I didn’t bring him in here just to silence him.
Gazing into his violet eyes, I asked in a dry tone,
“Who are you planning to tell?”
“Hmm?”
“No matter how much you blabber, your fellow tower mages won’t be a threat to me.”
As I said that, I casually leaned closer to the table.
“Or the emperor? As if His Majesty would believe a word you say. Especially when he already dislikes you so much.”
“Oh ho, so you’re saying I should do whatever I want?”
I didn’t respond to Hist’s words and simply glanced toward the shelf at the corner of the desk.
