Chapter 41
“Catherine!”
Returning to the mansion, Alicia headed straight to Catherine’s room.
“Ah, you startled me! What is it?”
Catherine visibly flinched and closed the book she was reading.
“It’s urgent. I’m sorry, but do you have any gold or jewels saved up?”
“Huh?”
She openly frowned, showing her displeasure. Her own mother had never given her gifts, yet now asked for her gold and jewels. Irritation welled up in her.
“Why do you need them?”
Her sharp tone slipped out without thinking.
“It’s very urgent!”
Alicia shouted desperately. She needed to pay the fee quickly to have Icel dealt with before the mage arrived at the mansion.
Though only the two of them were in the room, Alicia brought her lips close to Catherine’s ear and whispered.
“I’ve found a way to get rid of Icel.”
“…Icel?”
At those words, Catherine’s eyes sparkled.
Of course, she was confident she would never lose to Icel. Still, it was better if that girl died.
For someone raised so lowly, she constantly irritated Catherine and dared to act elegant like a noble lady.
She was disgusting. Enough to kill. Catherine stared at Alicia, waiting for her answer. Then Alicia spoke in an utterly excited voice.
“Yes, I’ve found a good person. Someone who specialises in such work.”
“…You need money for that, right?”
“Yes. As soon as possible.”
Catherine stood from her desk and placed her jewellery box from her vanity onto the table.
Alicia opened the ornate jewellery box encrusted with small jewels. Inside were various gems shining their own lights.
But this still wasn’t enough. Should she borrow from a loan shark? Yes, she must. Alicia clenched her lips with resolve.
However, Catherine didn’t stop there. She walked to her wardrobe where her dresses hung and pulled out a box from the corner.
Seeing the unfamiliar box, Alicia tilted her head and asked,
“The box is…?”
“These are what Grandfather gave me.”
They were the finest jewels she had saved for emergencies. She never thought they would be used for something like this.
“Even if it’s a child, removing a mage will cost a lot.”
“As expected of my daughter. I was thinking of borrowing from a loan shark.”
Seeing Catherine speak so decisively, Alicia smiled with satisfaction.
Then she opened the box Catherine had brought. Inside was a necklace, earrings, and ring set adorned with the highest-grade diamonds from Pereshte’s diamond mines.
With these, she would have more than enough to pay. The dazzling diamonds reflected in Alicia’s eyes.
“This is enough, more than enough!”
For the first time in ages, Alicia smiled brightly. Ever since Icel returned, she hadn’t been able to sleep from anxiety.
She closed the box and pulled it toward herself, but Catherine’s hand stopped her.
And she spoke coldly.
“You’re sure… you can really get rid of Icel?”
“Of course. He’s a former Tower mage, so naturally.”
“…Hmph, here.”
Catherine reluctantly withdrew her gaze from the box.
Alicia hugged it tightly. These diamonds would protect her daughter from the vile Icel.
“Thank you, Catherine. I’ll send these off and come back.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Carrying the box with excited steps, Alicia left the room. She wrapped it in silk and sent it to the mage.
Now all that was left was the timing of Icel’s abduction. For the mage to abduct her smoothly, Icel had to go out ‘alone’.
She mustn’t go out with Diana. Even a former Tower mage would struggle against two mages, and the job might get messy.
At that moment, a good idea flashed in her mind. Alicia’s eyes gleamed as one corner of her lips curled up.
“Princess, a letter has arrived from the Tower.”
“The Tower?”
Icel took the letter from Shane and read it slowly.
“They say they’ll give me a tour of the Tower.”
“A tour?”
“Yeah. It’s an event they hold for children with magic.”
Icel placed the letter on her desk and fell into thought.
Soon she would be learning proper magic, and if so, she could even qualify as a junior mage.
Once she had that qualification, she could choose to become a Tower mage.
She hadn’t yet decided on her career path. Still, the Tower was a place she had always wanted to visit at least once.
“Did Catherine get one too?”
“No, Your Highness. It was only addressed to you.”
At Shane’s answer, Icel’s lips curled slightly. If Catherine knew only Icel went to the Tower, she would surely throw a fit.
Icel smiled, determined to go.
“I have to tell Mother. I’ve always wanted to visit.”
“Her Grace will surely approve.”
“Yes. But I must ask for permission.”
Icel beamed at Shane and skipped off to Diana’s room with the letter in hand.
“Mother!”
“Oh, Icel.”
Diana welcomed her daughter with joy.
“What is it?”
“A letter came from the Tower!”
“A letter?”
Diana read the letter Icel handed her. It was an invitation from the Tower, inviting children with magic for a kind of tour.
She recalled that she too, as a child, had visited the Tower on such a tour. When she received the letter, she had been so happy that she held a small party with Alicia.
Back then, Alicia had sincerely congratulated her. No, she had pretended to. Only now did Diana realise her true feelings.
“May I go?”
Icel blinked her emerald eyes like jewels, sparkling with gold dust.
Diana looked at her daughter lovingly and soon nodded with a smile.
She had no reason to refuse. She too had once been dazzled by a world beyond the social circles.
It felt strange. What once brought her happiness now brought happiness to her daughter.
This strange feeling made her heart feel fluffy like cotton candy.
“Of course. Have fun.”
“Yay! I’m so excited! This is my first outing!”
At those words, Diana’s face stiffened. Come to think of it, Icel had never gone out except between the Pereshte Marquisate and the Ernst Duchy.
She hadn’t even realised it. Icel’s world had been so narrow until now.
“Oh, Icel.”
Sadness surged from deep within. Diana hugged her daughter tightly. Icel regretted her careless words.
She never meant to hurt her mother.
“Mother, it’s okay! Really…”
Icel cupped Diana’s face between her small hands. Diana looked as if she would cry at any moment.
“Mother… please don’t cry… It hurts me more…”
Diana’s tears pained her even more.
They were such people to each other. Always blaming themselves for not protecting the other.
“It’s not your fault, Mother…”
The misfortunes that befell them were never each other’s fault. They were only because of the evil people who thought only of their own gain.
“Yes… In the future, I will show you more beautiful places. When everything is over… shall we go see the sea together?”
“The sea? I’d love that!”
“In the south, there’s a beach the same colour as your eyes.”
“Let’s bring Grandfather too.”
Icel cheerfully wiped Diana’s tears with her small hands.
“Yes, my sweet girl.”
Diana hugged her tightly again, vowing never to lose her daughter from her arms again.
The next day came, and Diana was more excited than Icel preparing for her daughter’s first outing.
“Take this just in case.”
She handed Icel a clutch full of gold coins. Icel shook her head.
“Mother, I won’t need gold coins at the Tower.”
“You might get hungry on the way. Buy what you want to eat or anything you want.”
“Wow, does that mean I can stop by the city centre too?”
Seeing Icel blush with joy, Diana playfully flicked her nose.
“Of course.”
“Yay!”
Icel grabbed her dress hem and twirled in place. She looked so happy that Diana felt guilty for not giving her more such moments before.
Diana accompanied Icel outside. At the entrance was the finest carriage prepared just for her.
“Wow, I’ve never seen this carriage before!”
“This is the best one in our estate. I had it specially prepared.”
The carriage was a special one, the only such in the Ernst estate.
It was the carriage Diana rode when she married Calypso. Yet it still looked new.
Made of wood imbued with magic, it never decayed or aged. The sofa inside was the finest velvet, and there was even a small magic-powered refrigerator.
Because of these features, even Calypso only used it when going to the imperial palace.
“Thank you, Mother!”
Icel kissed Diana’s cheek and excitedly stepped into the carriage.
“Wait a moment.”
Diana looked around as if waiting for someone. Soon, Belinda came running, out of breath. She wasn’t in her maid uniform but wore a dress.
“I’m sorry, Your Grace. Shane said I must wear a dress when escorting the Princess.”
She looked uncomfortable in the dress, walking awkwardly. Diana smiled softly at her.
“It suits you well.”
“I will protect Her Highness, so don’t worry.”
At her waist was a long sword that didn’t match her dress at all.
“Thank you. I entrust Icel to you.”
After Belinda boarded, Diana leaned halfway into the carriage and kissed Icel’s forehead.
“Have a good time, Icel.”
“Yes, don’t worry. I’ll have fun and come back safely.”
“Good.”
Diana smiled and slowly closed the carriage door. Icel opened the window and waved to her. Diana waved back until the carriage disappeared from view.
With Belinda there, surely nothing would happen. Yes, nothing would happen.
Thinking it was natural to feel anxious about her daughter’s first outing, Diana turned back towards the mansion.
But she did not know. That someone was watching her ominously from her room’s terrace.
