~Chapter 46~
The next day, Esther thought she would wake up, but it actually took two more days of sickness before she could open her eyes.
“Wow… this is bad.”
The chirping birds made her small head feel like it would split.
The ceiling was completely unfamiliar, and the whole room was so bright and sparkling she was left speechless.
In front of her were piles of bundles, all decorated with lace and ribbons.
‘…What is this?’
There were oddly shaped herbs, some dark medicine bottles she didn’t know, flowers, and heaps of sweet cookies and candy stacked in the corner.
“Herbs with ribbons, really….”
With half-dead eyes, Esther looked around the fancy room, then at the pink-and-sky-blue quilt covering her. The white lace hanging uselessly everywhere made her dizzy.
‘This can’t be my room, right?’
No way.
It must be temporary. Or someone else’s discarded room.
But she knew.
No one would give her a room like this. And no temporary room would be so luxurious.
“……No.”
Not wanting to believe it, Esther grabbed her head.
‘…Should’ve asked for black decorations.’
She hadn’t expected to regret not choosing a color this much.
“…I shouldn’t have left it just because I was lazy.”
The cute dolls filling the room, the small and fluffy decorations—what was she supposed to do with them?
“…Shipon?”
Just then the door opened, and when Esther spoke, the person entering stopped in surprise, eyes wide.
“My lady! You’re finally awake. Are you alright?”
“Ah, yeah. But this place…”
Esther asked Shipon, holding onto her last hope.
“Your room’s remodeling has been finished, so as Lord Kaelos said, you were moved here.”
“……”
It wasn’t a dream.
This was her room after all.
Ah, damn. Should’ve locked Migael Enoch in here instead.
This was punishment, not a gift.
‘What the heck is this!’
Esther trembled.
“…What about those?”
She pointed to the unanswered pile of gifts.
“Ah, Lord Kaelos sent herbs good for your body.”
“…Father did?”
“Yes, and he visited every day without fail.”
Considering he hadn’t shown his face in her whole life, that was effort indeed.
“And your uncle Kardem sent candies and cookies, Lord Nigel sent medicine.”
“Uncle Nigel?”
That was surprising.
“Yes, and the Duke also visited with flowers and even provided a personal physician. The Duchess scolded, saying, ‘Collapsing from a cold—don’t shame the Egbert family name. Get up quickly!’ and sent that temperature-control magic stone over there.”
“…What’s a temperature-control stone?”
“It’s an invention from the Magic Tower. It keeps the room’s temperature and humidity perfectly comfortable. It’s a brand-new product, not even released yet. We installed it here.”
No wonder the air felt neither hot nor cold, just perfect. And since it used similar energy to mana, it didn’t feel uncomfortable.
“Mhm.”
Shipon poured lukewarm water and handed it carefully to Esther.
“And while you were sick, someone came from the Imperial Palace.”
“Someone?”
“Yes. His Majesty the Emperor ordered that when you recovered, you must come to the palace, because he wishes to see you.”
“…Me?”
“Yes, probably because your name has now been added to the family register as heir.”
“Adding a name to the register is the family head’s role, right?”
Strange to get the Emperor’s permission for that.
Even stranger that the Emperor wanted to see her.
“Yes, but since your birth was left unreported for so long, royal approval is required in such a special case.”
“…Ah, I see?”
Well, perfect timing.
She had always wanted to visit the palace once. To see if there was useful material, and meeting more people would only benefit her.
‘…And maybe I can find an ally.’
Maybe even someone with a black exclamation mark.
“Alright. First I’ll finish Banshee’s matter, then I’ll go.”
She jumped down from the bed, but Shipon quickly caught her and sat her back down.
“What?”
“And Lord Larksa asked to be summoned immediately when you woke.”
“Es-ther!”
Before she could respond, the door burst open. Esther turned her head with trembling eyes.
“You’ve finally awoken. I, Larksa, have awaited the awakening of the noble one.”
“…Uh, yeah.”
She frowned, answering automatically, then froze.
“…That body.”
“Don’t you remember? It’s the human body beside you. You called it your prey, so I didn’t kill it.”
Faintly, she recalled before fainting—this guy had taken Denver’s body.
“Once you grow stronger and can summon my body, I’ll return it safely.”
“…But demons can’t do things without a contract with humans.”
Larksa brushed his cheek with a finger.
“I did make a contract. Forced, yes, but still a contract.”
Esther sighed.
A demon being summoned meant at least one being to protect her from danger.
“You checked on Banshee, right?”
Larksa placed his hand on his chest and bent to one knee.
“Of course. But I couldn’t fully cure him. It’s like putting out an urgent fire.”
“…Hm. Even you find it difficult?”
“My power is better suited for killing than saving. If you asked me to tear him apart, that would be easy… but…”
His voice trailed off.
If killing was enough, she wouldn’t have called him at all. That was within her own power.
“It’s rare to see corruption progress that far. And it wasn’t ordinary—it seemed something unusual was involved.”
“Unusual?”
“Yes. When I peeled away his outer shell, I sensed faint mana.”
“…Mana?”
“Yes. Normally that doesn’t happen. If he had just eaten toxic food from the demon realm, it would only cause corruption.”
Esther nodded. It was indeed strange.
“But interestingly, the mana wasn’t holy power, magic, or black magic. It was something new.”
Esther thought for a moment, stood, but quickly sat back when Shipon glared.
“Shipon, bring Banshee.”
“Yes, but please eat lightly first. You haven’t had proper food.”
“Huh? Ugh…”
She glanced at the pile of cookies and candy, but Shipon blocked her view.
“Proper food. Since Denver… isn’t here, Lord Larksa can prepare it.”
Shipon glanced at him.
Larksa only nodded.
“Don’t worry, my lady. For this day, I trained in cooking deep in the demon realm for a long time!”
“Ah, um, okay.”
“And this body also knows fine cooking. I’ll devote body and soul to serve you fitting meals.”
“……”
Larksa clasped his hands over his chest, smiled blissfully, then vanished.
“My lady, that man is really strange.”
“Mhm.”
Shipon muttered with a frown and left the room. Esther couldn’t deny it.
Banshee arrived only after everyone had eaten far too much of Larksa’s excessive feast.
“My lady!”
At Esther’s call, Banshee rushed over, fell to his knees at her feet, and bowed his head.
Esther narrowed her eyes at him.
Banshee lifted his face brightly and quickly spoke.
