~Chapter 110~
“Ah, this wizard is someone who graduated top of her class from the Imperial Academy. She’s very precious to me, so you don’t need to worry.”
“…Is that true?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Alright then. What do you think of this perfume?”
The Empress shifted her attention away from Dorothea and handed the perfume to the Tower Master.
“…Isn’t this just a normal perfume with a pretty strong daisy scent?”
The Tower Master opened it, inspected it carefully, and replied cautiously.
But from Dorothea’s perspective, that perfume was definitely not normal.
It looked like it contained black magic—something she had only ever read about in books.
‘Is it even possible to create such powerful black magic?’
Dorothea couldn’t take her eyes off the perfume.
“So it really is that well disguised.”
The Empress muttered with amusement.
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. So, you also see it as just an ordinary perfume?”
“Yes… yes, Your Highness.”
The Empress’s question was strange and unsettling, but the Tower Master still nodded.
“Next time you see this perfume, you’d better say the same thing you did just now. Understood?”
“…Excuse me?”
The Empress went on, speaking in riddles.
“As long as you do that, your life will be filled with beautiful mansions and rare treasures.”
Dorothea caught a glimpse of the Empress’s smile, and it sent shivers down her spine.
“…Of course, Your Highness.”
The Tower Master didn’t understand why such a huge reward would come from calling a perfume ordinary, but blinded by greed, he simply agreed.
“You’ve done well.”
The Empress patted his shoulder and left the office.
Once Dorothea confirmed the Empress was completely gone, she quickly approached the Tower Master.
“Sir, that perfume the Empress brought earlier—it didn’t seem like an ordinary perfume.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
The Tower Master frowned deeply.
“…I think it contained some kind of ominous magic.”
Dorothea couldn’t bring herself to actually say “black magic.”
The Empress and black magic—too dangerous to even suggest out loud.
“Ominous magic? Are you certain of that?”
“…”
Dorothea opened her mouth, then closed it again.
Her master had told her never to reveal her detection ability.
She’d spoken without thinking when she first sensed the black magic, but seeing how close the Empress and the Tower Master seemed, she realized it would be dangerous to mention it here.
Still, that perfume in the Empress’s hands was far too dangerous.
“I, the Imperial Tower Master, have guaranteed that it’s harmless, yet you doubt me? You really dare?”
Dorothea’s silence only made him angrier.
“…I’m sorry.”
For now, she would have to consult her master about this.
“You’ll go work at the Imperial Sub-Tower outside the capital for a while. They’re short on people there.”
The Tower Master waved his hand, essentially ordering her into disciplinary duty.
Dorothea thought she’d soon get a chance to meet Eleonore, but the work assigned to her was so exhausting that she barely had time to breathe.
Whenever she returned to her quarters, she collapsed straight into bed.
“…Nothing bad will happen. Nothing will.”
She repeated this like a prayer every night before falling asleep.
But the very day after she finished her punishment, she saw that perfume again.
“I’ve brought this perfume for your consultation.”
This time, it wasn’t the Empress.
The heads of the ducal families—excluding the Goldscheider family—brought it.
“It has a very strong daisy scent.”
The Tower Master inspected it and gave the same reply as before.
“Since you’re a healing mage, why don’t you tell us?”
Duke Blumhardt asked with a heavy expression.
“Would this much daisy extract be deadly to someone allergic to it?”
“…Unfortunately, yes.”
“My God… then the rumors are true. Duke Goldscheider really tried to assassinate Her Majesty the Empress.”
The dukes looked crushed.
‘The Goldscheiders?! But that’s Master’s family! And Her Majesty is Master’s daughter! This makes no sense!’
Dorothea turned pale as the words hit her.
Too late or not, she had to speak up.
She tried to step forward, but the Tower Master stopped her.
“Dorothea, stop. Do you value your life at all?”
“Let go of me!”
She shook off his grip.
“If I tell them the truth, at least the Goldscheiders won’t be falsely accused!”
She regretted not going to her master earlier.
Maybe then she could have prevented the Empress’s death.
“Nothing will change. Do you think this was the Empress’s scheme alone?”
“…What do you mean?”
“The Emperor himself gave final approval.”
“What?! Why would His Majesty do such a terrible thing?”
“How should I know the will of those above me?”
The Tower Master shrugged.
“Even if you do have some detection ability, it’s useless. Whatever you saw, people will just call you insane and have you executed.”
“…”
“Take my advice. For your own sake, never speak of this again.”
Dorothea trembled.
“Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to tell the Empress, and you’ll end up like the Goldscheiders—dead for nothing.”
He patted her shoulder with a thick hand.
She wanted to push him away, but she couldn’t move.
“Yes, your master was the Duchess Goldscheider, but is that really worth ruining your bright future over?”
He whispered slyly into her ear, like a snake.
“I expect great things from you. If you just keep contributing to the Imperial Tower as before, I’ll make sure you get plenty of support from the Empress.”
“…I…”
Her throat burned with suppressed rage.
She had family to protect, dreams she still wanted to chase.
But ignoring such a massive conspiracy? Impossible.
‘If I stay silent, Master and her family will all die.’
“Dorothea, give me a clear answer. Unless you want to die here and now.”
When she hesitated, he gestured to his servant.
“Sven, bring paper, a pen, and a knife.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now, choose.”
The Tower Master handed her both a sharp dagger and a pen.
“Die here, or sign this pledge of silence and keep working in the tower.”
“…You already know what choice I have.”
Knights had quietly surrounded her.
“I truly want you to walk out of here alive.”
She thought quickly—she had to survive first. Dying here would accomplish nothing.
“…I’ll sign.”
Her voice was trembling.
Tears streamed down her face as she signed her name, promising never to speak of it.
“I didn’t want it to come to this, but it’s better to make things certain.”
The Tower Master snatched the paper away.
“Remember, if you break this oath, not only you but your family will be in danger.”
“…Why? Why would the Imperial Tower Master cover up such wickedness for the Empress?”
Dorothea collapsed to the floor, crying out.
“You grew up poor, didn’t you? Then you should know. Money never lies. I follow the one who pays me.”
The Tower Master chuckled and tapped her shoulder.
Dorothea felt sick.
She had once admired this man almost as much as her master.
The next day, before dawn, she slipped out of the tower.
She tried desperately to find her master, but failed.
Then she heard the news: the Goldscheider estate had burned, their daughter killed, and Duke and Duchess Goldscheider executed.
Dorothea was devastated.
Wracked with guilt, she fell into a fever and was bedridden for days.
In the end, she gave up searching for her master.
She was too afraid—too ashamed—to face her.
She would never be able to look her master in the eye and confess what she had done.
‘…How can I admit that I was too much of a coward to die for the truth?’
All she could do was hope, desperately, that her master was alive somewhere, safe.
She could never return to the capital, where the Emperor, the Empress, and the Tower Master reigned.
From then on, Dorothea wandered aimlessly throughout the Empire.
