CHAPTER 54………..
Even if he’d slipped further down my list of suspects, he was still a man who bore me no goodwill—and one who possessed terrifying power.
Meeting him alone, in a secret place, meant I could not afford the slightest carelessness.
“Still… with this, I should have a means of self-defense.”
After obtaining the knowledge I wanted from the library, I returned to the duke’s residence.
“Did you return from the palace, my lady?”
The butlers greeted me respectfully. The fact that I had been invited to the royal tea time must have spread among the servants, and no doubt my standing in this household had risen quite a bit.
Thinking that, I looked at the butler.
“I’ll need to stop by the armory for a bit.”
“The armory, my lady? Very well.”
As expected, the butler raised no objections and led the way.
The armory of the ducal house.
A place where the knights and guards kept their weapons. I looked around at the walls lined with swords, spears, and daggers.
The armory’s keeper approached.
“What are you looking for, my lady?”
“Just something simple, for self-defense.”
I paused, lost in thought.
True, since I could see the stigmata, even a light blow would nearly kill him…
“But stabbing or striking still scares me. You have to get close for that.”
If something went wrong, there was no way I could withstand his physical strength.
“Isn’t there a way to strike from a distance? Something even a beginner like me can use—and small enough to fit in a bag.”
I showed the armory keeper the cooperation document Zikren had once written for me.
“My father already gave permission.”
“Ah, I see. Understood.”
His attitude immediately grew more cooperative.
“A ranged weapon, beginner-friendly, and small enough for a bag… Such weapons don’t exist. However, we did receive something from the Magic Tower recently—experimental magic bullets sent to the duke. Not high-level sorcery, but sufficient for self-defense against ruffians. They even have auto-guidance functions, so that a novice can hit the target.”
“Really? Then let me see them.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The keeper brought out a locked box. Opening it revealed three magic scrolls, tightly rolled and bound with string.
“These are the magic bullets?”
“Yes. One must first be used for training. You imprint the spell into a weapon of your choice, like this…”
He placed a block of wood on the desk, then tore a scroll in half. The glowing characters spilled out, transferring onto the wood.
“How fascinating.”
I picked up the block and, as instructed, gave the mental command word: “Fire!”
Bang!
The magic bullet shot forth and struck the target dead center.
“Excellent. Now you can load the remaining bullets into your chosen weapon.”
After thinking for a moment, I decided to load the last two into the handle of my fan.
“With this much, even if something unexpected happens, I’ll be able to put up a threat.”
My heart felt steadier.
Time to set out.
I left the armory and returned to my room, where I rang the bell to summon the maids.
“I’m going to relieve stress at a party. Dress me up as extravagantly as possible.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Adorned with jewels from head to toe, clad in a deep wine-colored gown, and gloved in lace, I boarded the duke’s ornate carriage with Sophie and the other maids.
“Anywhere in the entertainment district will do.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The carriage set off.
It rumbled along until, just before entering a busy intersection near the city’s bustling quarter, it stopped briefly to let pedestrians pass.
Once it started moving again, a figure appeared among the crowd that hadn’t been there before—a woman dressed as a pilgrim.
Of course, it was me.
I had changed clothes inside the carriage and slipped out unnoticed during that brief pause.
“This method works well enough.”
I watched the carriage, now carrying only the maids, roll away toward the pleasure district.
I had indeed recruited an excellent bodyguard, a former martial artist. But unfortunately, where I was headed now was a place I had to go alone.
“Everything must remain secret.”
Glancing down at the bag that held my fan, ready at any moment, I made my way toward the line of waiting carriages.
“Are you taking passengers now?”
I pulled back my hood slightly, flashing a glimpse of my well-kept golden hair—a sign that I could pay well.
The coachman immediately understood and climbed up to the driver’s seat.
“Where to, my lady?”
“Belmare Harbor.”
The carriage set off.
Belmare, a half-day’s journey from the capital, was a port town that had grown up along the river mouth.
“The atmosphere here is completely different.”
Looking around, I saw merchant ships flying various banners afloat on the water, while sailors and laborers bustled back and forth.
“Where’s the back alley?”
Behind a small market, I finally found something resembling what Ruellian had described: a rough street lined with taverns, eateries, and inns for sailors.
Perhaps I could ask around here.
I stopped in front of a tavern marked with a crayfish sign.
“I’m looking for a certain place…”
The owner and his friends stared at me.
“Best get home before dark, young lady. We want no part in any trouble.”
“You heard him. Run along now, eh?”
Their tone was the kind one would use on a child of six, not a grown woman.
“Are they mocking me?”
I glared, but it made no difference. These men dealt daily with the roughest sailors alive.
“Hah, must be some rich miss bored of her pampered life, trying a bit of rebellion. Spoiled rotten.”
Their faces said as much, arms crossed, eyes filled with disdain. Not one would listen.
And unlike in high society, I couldn’t draw attention here with theatrics.
“Still, there must be at least one helpful person among them, right?”
Half in resignation, I pulled out the key and held it up.
“Does anyone know this name? A place called The Two-Faced Serpentas.”
A silence fell.
Every eye in the tavern fixed on the key in my hand. Then their faces went pale.
Bang!
Doors and shutters slammed shut on both sides of the street. Those outside vanished in an instant.
“Spare us! Have mercy!”
The very man who had mocked me as a runaway heiress just moments ago slapped himself hard across the face, then dropped to his knees. The others followed suit—slapping their own cheeks, then prostrating themselves.
“Grant us mercy!”
I stood dumbfounded.
“Mercy? What do you mean—”
“Please, forgive us! Just say the word—say you forgive us!”
“…I forgive you.”
At that, they finally dared to raise their heads, trembling. Their faces were a mix of fear and reverence.
“What on earth…?”
Through my wavering vision, I saw children leading an old man toward me from further down the alley.
The old man glanced at the key in my hand, then bowed deeply.
“Please, come this way. I will guide you.”
“……”
Silently, I followed him.
The back alley returned to its normal state. No one so much as glanced in our direction.
“Forgive us our rudeness. None of us imagined he would entrust his possession to someone else—let alone to a young lady.”
The old man walked quickly as he spoke.
At last, we arrived at a small, humble chapel. Its stone walls were bare, furnished only with simple chairs.
“This way.”
He led me to the large stained glass window at the front.
It depicted a saint wielding a massive cross, crushing beneath his feet a monster—a serpent with two heads.
“Here, now.”
The old man pointed. Looking closer, I saw a recess in the serpent’s body. It was a keyhole.
I inserted the key.
At once, the wall rumbled and slid aside, revealing a passage just wide enough for a person to walk through.
“Follow me.”
As I stepped in behind him, the floor jolted and began to descend.
“An elevator?”
After a long descent, the platform stopped.
Before me spread a vast underground chamber. Though sunlight could not reach, glowing stones lit it brightly.
Even here, there was stained glass.
Before the round window, at a desk, stood a man. His back was to me, papers in hand.
The old man, face tight with fear, spoke carefully to him.
“I have brought the one who holds the key.”
At that, the man slowly turned toward me.
I flinched.
“…!”
