#063
The next day, strange letters began arriving at the mansion—ones Catherine had never received before. There were already about ten just from the morning, which was surprising enough, but what stood out was that they were all printed on high-quality paper used exclusively by noble houses.
"Every single one requests a meeting with you, miss. His Highness Chezare's name comes up now and then, too…."
"That's it. Ding ding ding. One hundred percent."
"Right? With you being a knight now, lots of people recognize you, miss."
"They're clearly trying to lure you in to get a strong connection to Lord Chezare."
Roze and Demian, who had been scanning through the letters, chimed in unasked. Demian, in particular, was spot-on about her movements like some kind of detective, which was unlike his usual lazy self.
"You went to the ducal residence yesterday, right? Met some nobles there by accident. You probably didn't notice, but there was a little article in the Christopher region paper. Said a bunch of nobles visited the ducal residence for some friendly gathering."
"There was an article like that? I didn't see it."
"Folks in Christopher couldn't care less about Lord Chezare's political moves. So stuff like this always gets tucked away in a tiny spot on the notice board."
Catherine stared at the man in front of her, wondering if this was really Demian. She couldn't help but blurt out in admiration.
"Did you always read the papers that closely? I thought you had zero interest."
"Hate work, so I end up diving into anything else super hard."
That tracks, Catherine thought. She tossed the letters from unfamiliar houses into a basket. Among them were some shocking sender names….
"…Prince Morgichi?"
It was none other than Prince Morgichi, one of the real powers in the imperial family. The Iterana Empire was currently divided into three factions centered around Crown Prince Seifran, Prince Morgichi, and Princess Monat. With Emperor Shagweed II refusing to back any one side, no successor had emerged dominant enough to shatter the triangle.
That said, if you had to rank them, Crown Prince Seifran's faction was the strongest, followed by Prince Morgichi's. The prince, despite not being the legitimate heir, held a top spot in the succession struggle—which meant he had plenty of enemies.
And Catherine had zero interest in the current state of domestic politics. It was someone else's problem, after all. Her philosophy was that a little person like her could get crushed if she poked her nose into a fight between whales.
But a letter from Prince Morgichi in the midst of all that?
This… I should tell Chezare first.
I can't let my whims cause trouble for him since we're basically one body now. Hmm, good plan. This gives me an excuse to meet him—not on purpose, but accidentally.
Problem is all those nobles swarming the ducal residence.
After a moment's thought, Catherine used her magic key without hesitation and transferred straight to the ducal residence. No point hiding her face now that it was known.
Fortunately, Chezare was in his study this time. He was handling work with his glasses on, as usual.
"…Catherine? What's the business this time?"
Well, she did have business, but his immediate grilling soured her mood.
"Do I have to have a reason to visit?"
"You always do."
"Not really…."
Okay, maybe she did. But Catherine figured there was a good reason for coming.
Chezare rose from his desk, studying her face, and headed to the sofa.
"You look hard done by. Let's hear what's got you so aggrieved."
Catherine settled naturally into the seat across from him. The moment she sat, he fired off like he'd been waiting.
"Have you ever dropped by my residence just for fun, no agenda?"
She racked her brain, but nope.
"No."
"Then why ask if you need a reason to visit?"
That was….
Catherine glanced at his face before answering. He didn't look amused—more gravely serious, ten times more than yesterday's chance encounter in the reception room.
She laid her feelings bare.
"I didn't think we were at the 'casual hangout' stage."
"Why not?"
"We've never done it."
"Why haven't we?"
"Have you ever shown up at my place for no reason?"
His mouth snapped shut. His face screamed he had nothing to say. Of course—Chezare always visited her with a purpose!
After a silent beat, he smoothed his furrowed brow and spoke.
"Fine, let's settle this."
It felt like they were sealing some major contract.
"First off, we have endless reasons to seek each other out without 'business.' Starting with our soul-swap contract."
Catherine nodded vigorously in full agreement.
"That's rock-solid."
"We know each other's secrets."
Each other's secrets? She pondered briefly. He was a demon—that was secret. And she… well, okay.
"True enough."
"We're puzzle-game buddies."
"Valid."
"We boarded the Lilith Ship together and attended a wedding."
"Spot on."
Chezare rattled off ten flimsy reasons for "visiting without cause," capping it with "Just because we feel like it." By the end, Catherine wanted to crawl into a hole. And her chest tickled even more.
She felt like a silly kid for the butterflies.
"That enough for you, Catherine?"
"…Yeah."
Too much, even. Chezare nodded, pleased. A not-so-brief silence settled between them. No meaningful glances exchanged, no pretending otherwise.
He crossed his arms, staring silently. She stared back, glanced around the room, stared again… repeating until he broke it with a amused lilt.
"So, what's the business? Don't tell me you were waiting for me to ask."
No. Honestly, she'd forgotten. But Catherine smiled innocently and pulled out the letter.
"Got one from Prince Morgichi. Felt off, so I brought it unopened."
Chezare snatched it and tore it open without pause. Facing her dazed look, he praised her.
"Good call. Bring any more junk like this straight to me."
"Sure, but… you can just rip it? No backlash?"
He shot back incredulously.
"From who? Me?"
"No, me. What if they keep hounding?"
"Hm… fair. Those leeches stick hard."
Only Chezare could call the Iterana imperial family "leeches." He straightened from his lounging pose on the sofa back. With the same gravity as his "ten reasons" speech, he began.
"Remember the ones you met here yesterday?"
"Yeah. Friendly gathering at the ducal residence, right?"
"Precisely: the faction backing Prince Morgichi gathered here."
Catherine gasped.
"You support him?"
"No. I aid all successors except Crown Prince Seifran—at a reasonable level. Morgichi and Monat, specifically."
Leaning forward, he tapped the table with a fingernail. Desserts of every variety materialized on the empty surface.
"Need anything else?"
"Nope."
Catherine sliced into the nearest pound cake. Chezare watched her chew, continuing.
"So when I accept their requests, they make a huge fuss advertising it everywhere. Like I've joined their side."
She couldn't fathom the prince and princess.
"You're a potential enemy anytime. They ask you for favors so casually? Info could leak…."
"Because I have that much wealth and power."
Perfect, succinct. Pouring coffee, he added,
"They only ask what I can share publicly—like investments. We're more debtor-creditor than allies."
Frankly, Chezare fulfilling royal whims baffled her more than the royals begging.
"Why humor their requests?"
Boredom? It fit him. But his answer surprised.
"Shagweed II asked me to. Balance the factions."
Catherine had pegged him as a lone operator, emperor be damned. Yet the chancellor on the Lilith Ship was chummy, and his social ties seemed thriving.
That's why he feels so human.
Curious why he kept close with the emperor. Full immersion in the duke role? Or genuine brotherly bond?
"You two are close, huh."
Chezare sipped coffee without replying. Catherine swallowed the last cake bite, summing up.
"So, your point: to milk your funds better, Morgichi or Monat might target me."
"No."
Flat denial. Deeper meaning, then?
"What?"
"Prince Morgichi is one of Iterana's top playboys."
He advised with unprecedented seriousness.
"If he lays a hand on you, kill half his entourage outright—no mercy. Use pureblood gargoyles, Sir Demian, the queen—whatever suits you."
"…The prince?"
"Leave him breathing. I'll handle the rest."
"That what this was about?"
"Yes. Vital advice."
Nailed as "vital," Catherine had no retort. She shared a brief tea time with him before heading home. Digesting the stuffed desserts took all day.
The next day, Catherine prepared to leave for Panya and stepped out. Which meant just slotting the magic key into her bedroom door and turning it.