TMSB Ch#14

She knew better than anyone that his action was an escort. Because she had already received it once before.

“…I like it. Though I can’t eat much if it’s too sweet.”

She paused for a beat, then spoke again with an awkward smile.

“But by now, the attendant and maid who came with me must be frantically looking for me. I don’t want news of my disappearance to unnecessarily reach His Grace the Grand Duke and cause a fuss.”

If that happened, she might never be allowed to see this place again.

She didn’t want to live trapped in darkness anymore.

Though she didn’t say this last part out loud, Psyche’s expression wasn’t bright.

Somehow, one corner of her mouth looked rebelliously twisted.

Psyche quickly tried to pull the other corner of her mouth up as well, but the man’s piercing blue eyes were already fixed on her face.

“I’ll take care of the attendant. I have a contact, so I’ll be able to relay Miss Clement’s whereabouts without delay.”

The man, who had been gazing at Psyche with clear eyes, surely noticed the shift in her emotions.

Even so, he continued in a neutral tone.

“Why do you think His Grace allowed you to go out today, Miss Clement?”

Hmm. Psyche had been wondering the same thing herself.

As she prepared to go out today, she interpreted the past month she spent without stepping outside the Grand Duke’s residence as a kind of voluntary confinement.

She had thought that although the Grand Duke sent her extravagant dresses and jewelry every day, he perhaps wasn’t all that interested in her.

> ‘He hasn’t come to see me even once since I arrived in the Grand Duchy.’

“He probably wishes for you to live not a life of sacrifice, but to find a new path.”

The envoy’s tone was careful.

The Grand Duke was not indifferent to Psyche. He had simply been generous.

“Miss Clement, live your own life.”

And strangely, the man standing before her also seemed to wish for the same.

Psyche stared quietly at him before speaking.

“…I’d like to. But I don’t know where to begin. All my life, I’ve lived preparing to inherit my family.”

She had left the Grand Duke’s residence on a whim.

She didn’t know what to do, but she thought maybe she could find an answer if she stepped outside.

“Since the environment has changed, you must feel even more confused. The Grand Duchy of Haier is a completely different place from the Sigur Empire. There’s no need to rush.”

The envoy smiled smoothly, as if to show he understood her concerns.

“So, now that you’re out here—have you thought of something you’d like to do?”

“No, I’m still figuring it out. This is my first time going out. …But I do have a question.”

Psyche shifted her gaze from the envoy to the store next to them.

“What on earth is that?”

—

[Franchae’s Creation! Magic Random Candy!]

—

A large flyer was posted on the shop window she pointed at.

And at the bottom corner of the flyer, in small letters, it said, “May cause side effects. Please use with caution.”

There were strange and suspicious shops scattered throughout the streets. Yet, every customer walking out looked cheerful—almost as if intoxicated by happiness.

Following Psyche’s gaze, the envoy let out a quiet “Ah.”

“That’s an illegal shop. During the Heavy Snow season, crackdowns are paused, so these shops pop up quickly.”

“An illegal shop?”

“Yes. It’s not something you need to concern yourself with, Miss Clement.”

But human curiosity is strange—when told something isn’t worth knowing, it becomes even more intriguing.

“I am curious. Since I’ll be living here, I want to know more about the Grand Duchy.”

What was making those people so happy?

When she had visited the capital of the Sigur Empire, Biscaya, she hadn’t seen people smiling like this. Their faces were expressionless—like they had no emotions at all.

But the Grand Duchy was different. That was what caught Psyche’s attention.

Her curious pink eyes sparkled.

The envoy seemed unable to turn away from that look. His tightly shut lips twitched.

“…Understood. Since Miss Clement is to become someone who governs the Grand Duchy, I suppose it’s only right that I explain.”

Someone who governs the Grand Duchy.

That phrase gave Psyche a strange feeling.

Leaving her heart stirred, the envoy then turned his gaze to the flyer she had been reading and finally opened his lips to speak—hesitating at first.

“…It’s a place that sells magical candies—with effects like creating a double of yourself that lasts for ten minutes, or causing a blackout in a building so you can leave work early.”

“Magic? You mean… creating doubles? Causing blackouts to leave work?”

Psyche asked in shock.

> ‘We’re not on joking terms yet, are we?’

Was this some sort of joke? If so, it wasn’t funny at all.

“If you recall the ‘Traces of the Butterfly’ we passed on the way here, it may help you understand. It’s hard to believe, but a small portion of the Grand Duchy’s population can use magic.”

“That’s interesting. Thanks for the explanation.”

“…It’s true, Miss Clement.”

The envoy spoke seriously, his face devoid of amusement.

She nearly mistook it for him stating an obvious truth.

Now she wasn’t sure how to respond.

As she stepped back slightly in disbelief, the envoy held her in place with a quiet voice.

“Did you not notice anything artificial in the Grand Duchy?”

“No, not really.”

She tried to recall—but nothing specific came to mind.

Except perhaps that the Grand Duke’s residence was too beautiful and grand to have been built by mere humans.

“Very well. Then let’s take our time learning.”

The envoy reached his hand out to her again.

> ‘I thought I’d never have to take this hand again.’

She looked at the hand extended toward her and slowly took it.

The warmth from his hand tingled at her fingertips.

—

* * *

—

“A warm drink will help ease the tension from the cold.”

Suddenly, a warm sensation spread through her hand.

She tilted her head to check and saw a cup of hot milk tea with melted chocolate in her hand.

She brought it to her nose and took a deep breath, drawing in the sweet steam.

Due to the worsening weather, they had stopped sightseeing and entered a nearby tea house for shelter.

“Are you worried about the attendant who came with you?”

The tea house in the port’s bustling center was noisy with a variety of people—no clear customer base.

But the terrace seat where Psyche sat was relatively quiet, perhaps because it was open to the outside and the only seat left.

“They won’t be punished.”

“…Sorry?”

The envoy’s voice pierced her ear with precision.

“You’re clearly troubled right now.”

He pointed at his own face with his index finger.

Following his gesture, Psyche glanced up at his pale face and quickly averted her gaze when their eyes met.

> ‘His eyes are too…’

Though the long, narrow shape of his eyes gave him a sharp look, when he smiled, he seemed like someone admiring a beautiful woman in a drowsy afternoon.

She belatedly composed her expression and lifted the corners of her lips.

Perhaps intrigued by her ever-changing expressions, he stared at her intently.

“…Your name is Aster, right?”

“Yes.”

“Mr. Aster, are you a magician too?”

At her question, the relaxed look on his face faded.

“I’m not. But someone here in this very place might be.”

He then returned to his composed demeanor.

Psyche looked around in response.

Everyone looked perfectly normal.

She still couldn’t believe his words.

Magic? Was that even possible?

It felt more plausible that she was dreaming.

“Oh dear. Judging by how dark the sky’s gotten, it seems a typhoon is coming.”

Aster pointed upward, and Psyche followed his gaze, staring at the sky.

As he feared, strong winds were driving the clouds roughly across the sky—an incoming storm.

Psyche suspected he was changing the subject, but it was true that she had to return to the Grand Duke’s estate soon, so she stayed quiet.

Sensing her inner conflict, the envoy added reassuringly:

“Not much time has passed.”

“I should get going. It’s a shame we couldn’t see the harbor… Ah!”

As Psyche stood up reluctantly, a chilling gust of wind drowned out her cry.

Her scarf had been blown off in an instant.

She stared blankly into the empty air where her scarf had disappeared, then let out a helpless laugh.

“Miss Clement, are you alright?”

Whooosh.

Another gust of wind blew.

It was so fierce that her delicate shoulders staggered.

Then, just as suddenly, the harsh wind stopped.

Only then did Psyche lift her head.

At the edge of her vision, she felt a refreshing scent.

Of course, scent couldn’t be seen—but that’s how it felt to her.

She could almost see the flow of the air and the way the fragrance painted the sky in vivid blue hues.

Then came a return to reality.

“…Aster.”

Psyche finally realized that the envoy had stepped in front of her to block the wind.