Chapter 24……………………………………………………….
“Once you find it…”
No further words followed.
For the sake of her own sanity, Laseil didn’t try to guess what would have come next, nor did she ask.
“This gemstone, by the way… could it be—”
“It’s mine.”
The head maid replied, her eyes a bit dimmer than earlier.
Only then did Laseil notice that the gem had been crafted into a ring.
Considering everything they had talked about so far, there was only one person who could have given this ring to the head maid.
Seems like I touched on something sensitive.
“It had a curse on it.”
“It wasn’t a curse… more like leftover magic.”
Apparently, the ring was enchanted so that self-defense magic would activate if anyone other than the head maid touched it.
The magic was so strong that it caused all kinds of ghost-story-like incidents.
…That black magician must have been the one who put it on.
She had no idea why someone who had clearly cared so deeply—deep enough to enchant something so thoroughly—had done what they did.
“Anyway, thanks for bringing it back. I’ll break—deal with it. And, Sir Jaen?”
“What?”
“When you get engaged, meet as many people as possible before choosing.”
“…What?”
That came out of nowhere.
It was advice the ducal Lady Glia often gave her, and sometimes to Laseil as well.
“Don’t get fooled by a pretty face or smooth talk!”
“U-uh… okay…”
“And never enter a ballroom alone! Always go in with a partner! Don’t give weird guys a chance to hover around you!”
“But I’m going as the Lady’s escort—”
“Sir Luzea is her guard! And you have a title, so you need to be extra careful of weirdos!”
“Well…”
She wasn’t wrong.
Laseil held a baron title bestowed by the Duke—
and, unbeknownst to most people, she also possessed the viscountship inherited from her father.
Plus, she had ties to the ducal house.
Anyone seeking connections would find her a very attractive target.
“Go in with that pretty boy at your side!”
“Pretty—who? Do you mean Sir Sierenne?”
She really is old-fashioned sometimes.
Apparently, the head maid had the tendency to call anyone with long hair “pretty.”
It was the first time anyone had called Irenes “pretty.”
“You two are friends, right? He’ll be your partner if you ask!”
“Would there even be a ball here in the first place?”
Laseil, who had never once entered a ballroom with a partner, asked nervously.
Irenes was kind, so he probably wouldn’t reject a partner request outright…
But it would be embarrassing if he says he already has a promise with someone…
The easiest solution was for the ball to simply never happen.
“With the Lord’s personality? You think she won’t?”
“She will.”
Right after her debutante, Yujere Lesean had risen to the top of the social world like a glittering jewel.
There was no way she’d sit and watch another noble lady try to take her place just because she’d been away for a short while.
Holding a ball in her own territory so she could step on everyone else and remind them of her position—
that was completely her style.
“Listen carefully, Sir Jaen.”
The head maid grabbed Laseil’s hand and looked her in the eyes.
“Sir Sierenne would never reject your partner request.”
“How do you know?”
“You learn these things when you’ve lived as a ghost for a long time.”
…Is that how it works?
She had experienced all kinds of things, but never becoming a ghost.
And the head maid had no reason to lie about something like this.
So it was probably true.
“The other ghosts might not like it, but… I support you.”
“Support what?”
Before the head maid could answer, something shattered loudly.
It was the kind of noise that always accompanied paranormal disturbances.
Apparently, something happened that the other ghosts didn’t like.
“Oh honestly! They never let me finish a sentence. Anyway, remember what I said!”
“What part of it?”
They had discussed too many things for her to guess what the maid meant.
From the atmosphere, it likely had to do with the black magician.
Ah, the hair ribbon.
She suddenly remembered she had meant to ask about something and had forgotten.
Touching her hair briefly, Laseil began walking.
It shouldn’t be anything extremely dangerous.
If it were, Yujere or Irenes would have warned her immediately.
“Is the jeweler okay?”
As soon as morning came, Laseil headed to the jewelry shop.
Irenes, who had somehow been walking beside her without her noticing, was with her.
“We’ll check now.”
Azien, the owner, appeared as soon as they opened the door.
Her bright face suggested the shop had mostly recovered.
“No new issues, right?”
“None. Ah—thank you for erasing that drawing! It was always a problem.”
She meant the demon summoning circle on the bottom of the display case.
“Whenever I tried to erase it, I’d hear screaming from somewhere. No matter how much I scrubbed, it never faded!”
So that’s why it looked smudged…
While Laseil gained a new understanding, so did Irenes.
So it wasn’t her trying to summon something…
Demon summoning required magical power, and this woman clearly had none.
Even when Irenes discreetly activated his aura specialized for detecting demons, he sensed nothing.
“The shop is back to normal, so don’t worry.”
“What about the broken glass back there?” Irenes whispered.
Even though there had been paranormal events yesterday, nothing had happened that should leave that kind of mess.
“Oh, that? It happens all the time, no big deal!”
“That doesn’t sound—”
“It’s normal. This place has always been like that.”
“I see!”
Hearing Laseil’s explanation, Irenes accepted it immediately.
He still didn’t understand it, but if Laseil said it, then it must be true.
“It’s completely fine now. Would you like to browse while you’re here?”
Azien suggested.
“Take anything you like. I heard the Lord will be holding a ball soon.”
“What?”
“Already?”
Both expected Yujere to eventually host an event.
But the schedule came faster than expected.
Irenes had a guess, though.
Ah… she must think it’s time to crush that marquis’s daughter who’s been growing too bold lately.
That girl would definitely be invited.
And then Yujere would stomp her into the ground without mercy.
Wait—if it’s a ball…
Usually, you entered with a partner.
Partners were generally nobles of similar age or status.
And next to Laseil, the only one who fit that category was Irenes.
Though the problem is which identity Lady Laseil will use to attend…
If she attended as Yujere’s knight, she wouldn’t need a partner.
Time to hope Luzea took the knight role instead.
“…This gem has had its owner die of plague for four generations—”
“Does anyone even buy things like that?”
“There are lots of collectors with unique tastes.”
“What about the ones that aren’t cursed?”
“Oh, those are over here. Am I well-prepared or what?”
While Irenes was desperately lost in thought, the conversation between the two women reached his ears.
“Really, you don’t want anything? What about the gentleman next to you?”
“Uh…”
Irenes was about to decline when a ring caught his eye.
In the center was a gemstone of pale turquoise, slightly lighter than Laseil’s eye color.
The silver band was engraved with vine patterns, giving it a vintage feel.
“How much is this?”
“You can just take it.”
“No, I want to pay.”
Irenes leaned close to Azien and whispered so Laseil wouldn’t hear.
“I want to use it… when I ask her to be my partner…”
He couldn’t just take the gem for something like that.
Azien, realizing his intention, grinned and pulled out a case for the ring.
Meanwhile, Laseil had completely misunderstood the situation.
Sir Sierenne is sometimes just… like this.
She was a bit startled to see him whispering with someone else so suddenly.
Just like before, she thought again that he probably wouldn’t make a great lover—
bad habits like that wouldn’t disappear just because he found one.
Nex(Down arrow)
