Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Deal
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Before Kanibella and Lukamin parted ways.
As soon as Lukamin disappeared, Kanibella quickly closed the window. Then, with no one around, she began to meditate. She was thinking about what lay ahead and steeling her resolve. At that moment, there was a knock at the door, and the knight captain entered.
She found this knight captain burdensome. He seemed quite skilled in his own right (though not on Lukamin's level), and every time he entered the carriage, he rolled his eyes around suspiciously, making her anxious that he might sense Lukamin's presence.
It was the knight captain's voice that snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Ma'am, aren't you going to eat?"
"Oh, I'm not eating! So get out!"
At her innocent words, the knight captain let out a subtle sigh, told her to call him when she finished, and left.
"This act is getting too tiring to keep up."
She had been playing the role of a child nonstop since ascending the mountains. She was starting to get bored and exhausted. With the time drawing near, she wanted to end this life quickly. Besides, she had no desire to eat the soup laced with drugs.
And her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Escape, and someone watching her.
A few days ago, Lukamin had mentioned that someone of unknown identity seemed to be surveilling her. That had sharpened her nerves considerably.
'I don't know who sent the watcher, but I need to be careful.'
To that end, she threw herself even more into the act, and no one suspected a thing. When no one was looking, she dumped the soup on the floor and quickly called for the knight captain.
"I-I'm done eating!"
The knight captain swiftly grabbed the bowl and exited the carriage. Watching him go, she pulled out the luggage she had hidden. And she waited for nightfall.
'Now it's time to get out.'
Soon, she sensed Lukamin's presence. Just as he tried to open the door, she felt a killing intent, followed by the clash of swords. She hurriedly grabbed her custom rapier. At that precise moment, the enemy opened the door.
She kicked the man and severed his tendons. A groan escaped his lips. She held her sword to his throat and demanded answers, but the man bit down on a poison capsule and died without a sound. He collapsed muttering something incomprehensible.
'Damn it.'
She wondered who he was and why he was here. But for now, escaping took priority. As she rode in the carriage Lukamin had bribed for her, speeding away, she worried for him, watching him fade into the distance.
She would be safe in another country (the Empire) to conduct her investigation, but he was heading back to a den full of enemies.
'Lukamin, you have to be safe....'
Meanwhile, the carriage was gradually leaving the mountains behind. Buildings in the style of the Luminir Empire came into view. She swallowed nervously, tense about adapting to this new environment.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped, and the coachman opened the door.
"What's going on?"
"By any chance, Ma'am, what brings you to the Luminir Empire?"
She bristled at the coachman's excessive interest and shot back sharply.
"I don't think it's any of your business."
"No, Ma'am, you must tell me. I can help you."
Then, suddenly, light emanated from the coachman's entire body, and his appearance changed. From a bandit-like figure with a beard covering half his face, he transformed in an instant into a small child with black hair reaching down to his waist.
"Wh-what is this...."
Seeing her bewilderment, the child chirped brightly.
"This is magic. Surprised?"
"I'd say anyone would be surprised to see a person change right before their eyes...."
"I haven't used magic in front of humans in so long, I'd forgotten. Sorry about that."
She tilted her head at the child's words. Magic? What was that? But the child pressed on without resolving the doubt in her eyes.
"Any plans to attend the Luminir Empire's ball, by chance?"
"My goal isn't to become a noble of the Luminir Empire. And there's no legal way anyway. I'd have to resort to illegal means, but I have no reason to go that far."
The child chuckled softly at her indifferent tone. Then, in the tone of a grandmother telling old tales to her grandchild, he said,
"That's where magic comes in. What if I made it possible? Would you go to the ball then?"
"No, I wouldn't. My aim is to settle in the Luminir Empire, not to go to some ball and build pointless connections."
"In that case, nothing to be done. Actually, I already know you made a fake ID to get through that checkpoint ahead."
She stared at the child in shock. But the child's words didn't end there.
"One thing I can tell you: it won't work at all."
"What?"
The fake ID was a secret known only to her and Lukamin. Yet the child knew every detail, as if he'd seen it all. She grew wary of this odd little person she'd dismissed as just quirky.
"No need to be scared. Just make a promise with me."
"What promise?"
"I'll get you through that checkpoint. In return, attend the ball."
She couldn't fathom why the child was so fixated on the ball. But if the situation was unavoidable, she could turn it to her advantage. Passing the checkpoint in exchange seemed a fair trade.
"If you're asking that nicely, sure. But you have to meet my conditions too."
The child was amazed at her counteroffer in a situation where anyone else would have yielded. He'd performed a miracle beyond human imagination and offered help, yet here she was bargaining.
"Fine, what do you propose?"
"I'll attend the ball as you say. But as I mentioned, I'm not interested in pointless connections. So help me settle in the Empire."
"Settle?"
"Yes. I'm starting a new life there. After the ball ends, guide me there. I'll handle the rest."
"I have no obligation to do that."
"No, trades are about equal exchange by principle. You have no right to demand something I don't want. And... I don't need your help anyway. I can figure out how to pass the checkpoint on my own."
"...."
For the first time in his life, the child was speechless. Her audacity in claiming she could breach the magically fortified checkpoint alone, and the confidence in her tone, left him mute.
The child sighed inwardly and nodded. He waved his staff.
"Very well, then. Shall we start with the transformation?"
Her everyday clothes glowed and instantly became a blue dress. The bodice hugged her figure tightly, accentuating her lines, while the skirt flared out abundantly, evoking a single flower. The dress made even her who wore it shine.
The child was pleased with his handiwork. He handed her an appropriately ornate mask.
"This ball's theme is a masquerade. Perfect for someone like you who wants to hide her identity."
She stared at the mask for a long moment before putting it on. Then the child put her back in the carriage, transformed into the coachman, and headed for the Luminir Empire checkpoint.
"What brings you here?"
"The House of Amari, invited to His Highness the Crown Prince's birthday party."
The guard examined the invitation and house seal the coachman presented, then pressed them against a white stone in his hand. A beep sounded, followed by a green light. The guard returned the documents and said,
"You're cleared. Have a wonderful time in the Luminir Empire."
"Yes, thank you."
She had no idea what this "Amari" house was, but passing through was a relief. Everything visible out the window was novel. Grand yet vibrant.
Seeing people speaking a foreign language made it real: she was no longer in the Rasoni Kingdom.
I finally escaped that hellhole! Finally!
She was thrilled. But melancholy over parting with Lukamin washed over her at the same time. What was he doing now? Had he safely returned to the Rasoni Kingdom?
The coachman, now back in the child's form, interrupted her reverie. Somehow entering the carriage, he said,
"Take a look at this."
He unfurled a paper detailing everything about the House of Amari: status, territory, economic and military strength, specialties, number of family members and their tastes, even the children's academy grades.
"What is this?"
"The House of Amari doesn't actually exist. It did once, but the line was wiped out."
"So I'm the lady of a house like that? How did we pass?"
"I told you, didn't I? This is the power of magic."
She still didn't fully grasp what magic was, but she roughly understood it created miracles. Pointing to a portrait of a girl her age among the lord's family, she said,
"I just have to impersonate this girl?"
"Yes. From now on, your name is Maria Amari."
"Maria Amari...."
She examined the documents again. She read about Maria Amari's personality, clothing style, hobbies, favorite foods, books, and tastes in men. She had no idea why "tastes in men" was included, but she studied it carefully.
"Really bland and colorless girl. Is that why you picked her?"
"Exactly. Should be easy to act, right?"
"After three years of playing child, it'll be a breeze."
She replied indifferently. The child laughed at her confidence.
"Now you're showing some initiative. No need to worry."
She smiled cynically. The child didn't comment on her expression and continued.
"'Maria Amari' doesn't exist in this world. But with my magic, she does now. Understand so far?"
She nodded. This 'magic' was beyond imagination. If I could use it, could I save Mother? Go back to that time?
But she shook her head. The enigmatic child had emphasized attending the Luminir Empire ball, and she'd already added her own terms. Greed would only backfire.
"But this magic isn't permanent. In a week, it will wear off. 'Maria Amari' vanishes, and 'Kanibella du Rasoni' reappears. That would be trouble for you, right?"
"Then after that week, I leave there. And you guide me to safety."
"Correct. You understand well."
That eased her mind. She gestured for him to continue. The child spoke.
"For that week, your presence will be faint. If someone interacts directly with you or forms a deep bond, they'll remember you afterward. Otherwise, people will forget you. So don't form any relationships."
"But what do you mean by 'interact'? Does bumping into someone count?"
"No. 'Interaction' means forming a relationship with someone, mutually willing physical contact."
She was relieved. She was going to the ball almost by force, and if her identity leaked, she'd be dragged back to the kingdom. She had no intention of risking that for contact or talk.
In short, no relationships for a week. The moment one formed, she'd become 'recognized' by people, complicating her plans.
The child had altered her identity with magic, not her appearance. She was still a newly adult girl with golden hair and blue eyes.
So she had to be cautious. To find Mother's killer and reunite with Lukamin, no one could discover who she really was. 'Kanibella' was publicly a child now—and gone.
"Are those all the warnings?"
"Yes, that's all. I hope you succeed."
But she fell silent at his words. The child chuckled dryly, drove her to the palace gates, and opened the door.
Creak!
From the carriage emerged a vision of beauty. Escorted by the child, now the coachman again, she stepped onto the ground. Taking the invitation, she headed toward the throng of nobles.
And she set off for the place where a new act of her life would begin.