~ Chapter : 7 ~
The clatter of tables and dishes shifted. A sudden chill ran down my spine.
“L-Lady Saint! Behind… behind you…!”
Camilla’s eyes shook violently, and I couldn’t bring myself to look back.
Honestly, why did I speak so carelessly about there being no ghosts when they always show up right after I say that?
Even though this world had monsters and fairies, I had never seen spirits or ghosts before. If this were before I had possessed someone, I would have just thought, “Fine, take me then,” if a ghost appeared. But now… it was different.
Frozen in place, Camilla calmly drew her staff. It looked old, but would it work well?
“Don’t turn around—stay right where you are!”
“Uh?”
A sacred golden light swirled around the tip of her staff. The light twisted and formed the shape of a lion with a sparkling outline.
That magic… could it be…?
The lion stretched its legs and opened its mouth wide, baring sharp fangs. Then it lunged forward and bit the ghost that had been behind me, vanishing instantly.
Camilla had perfectly executed a high-level spell—with that shabby-looking secondhand staff! At this point, I thought she could barely string magic lines together, and yet here she was.
Could it be that hiding Camilla for me repeatedly, giving her magic books a few times, allowed her to reach this level at the academy?
She was already at a level where she could graduate with a magic major.
Unlike me, who was struggling with the heroine suddenly becoming far too strong, Camilla simply blew on her staff, letting out smoke, as if it were no big deal. Even though the ghost was gone, I was still shaken.
“It seems the ghost is gone now. It wasn’t anything, really.”
“Your magic… is even better than the students at the academy.”
“Th-That’s… too much praise!”
My head was spinning a little. It was my first time being complimented, and I decided it was best to retreat quietly before things got awkward.
“Well, I’ll return to the Count’s estate and contact Duke Agnis.”
“Already? Well… um…”
Camilla fidgeted, clasping her hands together. She clearly wanted to say more, but I didn’t want to take any further steps that might raise her favor with me.
“I’m a bit busy. I’ll send the Count’s guards to assist you. In the meantime, coordinate any necessary matters with them.”
I recalled my friends and imitated a haughty noble voice. I still had to refine the social skill of lifting my eyes arrogantly and letting out a faint, disdainful smile.
“Yes, but it’s okay if you don’t send them.”
Camilla lowered her head pitifully, like a tragic heroine who had been cruelly rejected by the male lead.
Rocio seemed a little hurt by me earlier, and now seeing Camilla like this made me uneasy.
“…I’ll arrange for you to meet Duke Agnis soon.”
At least, this was all for everyone’s benefit.
After parting with Camilla, as the carriage passed through the Count’s estate, the driver suddenly stopped.
“It seems a messenger bird has arrived for Miss Esmeralda. It’s amazing how it appeared in an instant like magic, and I’ve never seen feathers so splendid!”
The driver was amazed, but knowing the original story, I immediately recognized that this wasn’t an ordinary messenger bird.
It was Rocio’s divine beast, named Arl.
It had feathers as extravagant as a peacock, but for security purposes, it could change its color when needed. In emergencies, it could even use magical attacks.
Using a divine beast as a messenger bird—this is the level of an elite duke.
When I opened the carriage window, the divine beast stretched out its legs. One leg held a letter, the other a pouch. Inside the pouch were a brown catalog and a small bottle.
I read the letter first.
To Miss Esmeralda: I have gathered a list of part-time staff for the graduation party. If there are any employees who cause inconvenience, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
Opening the catalog, portraits of men and women with blond hair and teal eyes were drawn briefly. Perhaps thinking “teal” was vague, it included green and blue eyes as well.
One of them was Camilla. Rocio must have mistaken my intention to complain about an employee. Cute, but I’d have to clear up the misunderstanding.
I read the rest of the letter.
The bottle contains my homemade perfume. If it helped with your headache, I can make more anytime.
I had mentioned looking for headache medicine in passing that morning. Rocio seemed concerned.
I opened the bottle and inhaled the scent. It felt calming and relaxing. After receiving such kindness, I understood why people liked him. Still, his destined partner was Camilla.
Yesterday, perhaps both Rocio and I were captivated by each other’s presence—playing with fire, in a sense.
How did I look yesterday?
I took a hand mirror from my pouch, let my hair fall freely, and squinted. I looked less like a femme fatale and more like someone half-asleep.
Trying to look alluring, I loosened a shirt button and parted my lips dreamily, then burst into a laugh. Rocio had looked like this, but it felt strange on me. I put the mirror back in my pouch.
“…ugh.”
Even the divine beast beside me let out a sound that seemed like a mix between “coo” and “ugh.”
I buttoned up my shirt, unfolded the small desk in the carriage, laid down parchment, picked up a pen, and calmly wrote a reply.
There is someone I would like to introduce to Duke Agnis. If you have time, I would be glad to meet at a convenient location.
I also needed to mention the perfume.
I’ll sleep while smelling the perfume tonight.
That sounded… suggestive.
The headache is fine. I am in good health.
Still awkward. I decided to simply add that I would use it well.
I folded the parchment, placed it in the empty pouch, and carefully tied it to the divine beast’s leg. It flew west, feathers fluttering.
Just as I grabbed the pouch Rocio had given me, grinning and about to tell the driver to depart, there was a knock at the carriage door.
I peeked out the window, wondering if the divine beast had returned…
“What’s got you so happy? Your smile’s stretching ear to ear.”
The familiar woman, her academy cloak and sky-blue hair whipping in the wind, was leaning close to the window like a scene from a horror movie.
B-Beatrice Erhen, daughter of the Marquis!
In every romance story, there’s always one—the heroine’s rival, the classic villainess. I wanted to shut the carriage window and tell her to leave.
Beatrice, second in the academy, was highly skilled in magic and had already set her sights on Duke Agnis for social advancement. Camilla’s existence was an eyesore to her.
Every time Beatrice appeared, readers in the story would scream for some “refreshing justice.”
She’d accuse Camilla of theft, deliberately make her lose books and assignments to anger professors, and spread ridiculous rumors—the textbook form of bullying.
She even escalated to gradient-level torment, going beyond academy drama, conducting dark magic experiments on Camilla. I was nervous too.
Having managed her network well, she rarely bothered with someone ordinary like me. Having experienced her terror indirectly, I too dreaded facing her.
I hoped that, like at the academy, she had no business with me. I wished she had just lost her way in the Count’s estate and happened upon this carriage by chance.
“Hah.”
Perhaps thinking too long, Beatrice let out an annoyed sigh and asked,
“You know who I am, don’t you?”
Classic villainess line, as expected. Even in this unbelievable situation, I, of lower rank, greeted her brightly first.
“Y-Yes, Miss Erhen. Hello!”
I forced a smile and acted like I knew her. I hoped she’d give me bonus points for recognizing her immediately…
“Do I appear well to you, Lady Saint?”
“Huh?”
Completely unexpected.
“Seems your etiquette training is lacking. You won’t leave me standing here forever, will you?”
Beatrice snapped with a thorny tone.
You suddenly appear here, and now you’re telling me this?
Still, I politely opened the carriage door. Beatrice gracefully stepped in without the driver’s help.
“Guide me somewhere at once.”
She spoke as though commanding a servant. There were no decent salons or cafés nearby, so I decided it would be better to take her straight to the Count’s residence.
“Th-Then I will take you to the Count’s residence!”
Without realizing it, my service instinct from my previous life kicked in.
‘Take you!’ sounded humiliatingly subservient. I’d rarely been manipulated by other nobles before.
Beatrice sat opposite me, her sharp eyes scanning my simple attire.
Since I had dressed plainly to avoid attention in the slums, I immediately seemed lacking at first impression.
Taking her to my home, I felt more like I was being kidnapped.
“So, Miss Erhen, how did you come to the Count’s estate?”
“I was following the Duke’s messenger bird.”
Good heavens, what a waste of talent. I shivered.
“Th-That’s… impressive…”
Beatrice shot me a look that seemed to say, ‘You can’t even do that?’
Even the divine beast seemed like a mere chicken or pigeon in front of her. Not only did it locate the disguised divine beast, it even chased it with impressive teleportation magic!
She also stared directly at the pouch I was holding. Could she use clairvoyance too?
Fortunately, she didn’t ask me to open the pouch. In a flash, we arrived at the Count’s residence through the gate.
I hurriedly asked the maids in the garden to prepare tea.
Even though it was outdoors, the scenery was beautiful and the time was not late—perfect for welcoming guests on a cool day like this.
Once the tea table was set, Beatrice pulled out a handkerchief, placed it neatly on the chair, and sat gracefully.
She gave off the vibe that she could sit on a person instead of a chair.
