Morris Dmitry ♡
It had been a long time since I'd faced such an uncomfortable morning. The reason was simple. It was because of Seria, who now occupied one corner of the mansion. I'd set up no small number of spells in case something happened—alarms in case she tried to escape outside. Fortunately, she hadn't run. She had some grasp of reality, at least. She'd undergone status execution. She might scream that Siegfried Duke wouldn't abandon her, but deep down, she knew. The outside world was nothing less than hell for her now.
"That outfit suits you. Do you like it?"
I asked, looking at Seria in her maid uniform. She just bit her lip and said nothing. She was a bit softer than on the first day, but still the same. That unbroken pride.
"Looks like you do."
I'd considered making her live naked at first. Wearing a shabby maid outfit would be a greater humiliation than being bare. It proved her status was completely gone. No more accessories adorning her body—just a choker embedded with a blue mana stone in their place. Her neck beneath the choker was bright red. Traces of her struggling all night to remove it. No use, though. It wouldn't come off unless I released it myself.
"What about breakfast?"
I'd clearly ordered her to make it before bed last night. But there was no sign of breakfast on the table. Seria stayed silent.
"Haa."
I looked down at her.
"Still hung up on your old status? Or are you too stupid to understand my orders?"
"I'm a Siegfried! The eldest daughter of the empire's proud ducal house of Siegfried—Seria Siegfried! Me, cooking for you? Ridiculous!"
Seria glared at me.
Still clinging to it, huh.
This wouldn't do. In all sorts of ways.
"I told you yesterday. Seria Siegfried is dead."
She had strong pride. Even in the original story, that personality got her in trouble time and again. But now the original plot was over. Time to fix that attitude first.
Snap!
"Kyaaak!"
The mana stone on her choker lit up in response to my mana. Seria's body jerked from the flowing current.
"S-stop it!"
The mild current stimulated her body. But it wasn't simple electricity. It targeted her entire nervous system. Even veteran warriors would weep from it—a torture method. Not something Seria could endure. While that magic flowed, her body wasn't hers anymore.
Seria writhed wildly and screamed.
"P-please, stop!"
But I didn't stop the current. Didn't even respond.
How long had she suffered the shocks? "S-sorry! Please, stop!" She cried out desperately amid her convulsions.
"Not enough. Put more sincerity into it."
"I-I'm sorry!"
Only then did I snap my fingers again.
"Get it now? No one will protect you, no matter what I do. Better realize it quick. Or else."
It'd hurt even more. I swallowed the last words.
"I'm hungry for breakfast."
"……."
"Need another shock to come to your senses?"
As I raised my hand, Seria flinched. Hesitating, she headed to the kitchen. Clattering sounds came from there.
Since reaching the pinnacle of magic, I hadn't bothered with separate breakfasts. Ordering her to make it was to make her realize her new status. Not a noble lady anymore—a thing. She needed to adapt fast, so I could save time for what I'd pour into her later.
I sat quietly, savoring the kitchen noises. Clumsy and loud, as expected. No hope for proper food. A girl who couldn't even wash herself. Breakfast? Obviously impossible. But it was all necessary procedure.
Crash!
A plate shattered loudly.
"Kyaaak!"
A scream followed. But I didn't go. Not until ominous smoke poured from the kitchen.
Whoosh!
"Haa."
I had no idea what she'd done, but the kitchen was a disaster. Ingredients spilled everywhere, shards of dishes scattered. Flames roared from the frying pan.
Worse than I thought.
I deployed a water barrier formula. Cutting off the air's oxygen, the fierce fire slowly died down.
Sizzle!
Once the flames were out, I finally saw Seria, collapsed in shock. Her face flushed as she bowed her head.
"Wipe your face with this first."
I handed her a handkerchief. With a wave, I cleared the broken dishes and ruined ingredients.
"Prepare it again."
"Pardon?"
"I said make breakfast."
"……."
"Not much time left. Hurry up. I don't want to be late because of a maid."
Seria bit her lip. Staggering, she stood before the frying pan again.
Sizzle!
A good while later, half-burnt fried eggs emerged as breakfast. At least I avoided being late.
* * *
The Magic Tower. Repository of the empire's magical essence and knowledge, symbol of imperial magic. All key magic-related organizations, including the Magic Department, were housed there. They said the imperial Magic Tower connected to all worlds.
Not entirely wrong.
Just look at those countless portals attached. One portal could take you to the world's edge.
"Has the Minister arrived?"
"Yes."
I drew the stares of countless mages and staff. It'd been over a week since becoming the youngest Magic Department Minister. Still not used to the 90-degree bows. Some with respect. Others with envy and jealousy.
A world apart from my vice minister days.
Well, yeah.
Morris's fame in the empire was high, but not for good reasons. The empire's top combat mage. And the empire's worst torture mage. Those were the epithets stuck to Morris Dmitry.
As vice minister, the old minister kept me in check. But as minister? Different story.
Anyway. The stares felt especially intense today.
Did they send an assassin?
Half those bowing clearly resented me. Factions existed even in the Magic Department. The emperor faction of young mages loyal to the current emperor. The Magic Tower faction upholding the old order. I leaned emperor faction, technically. No shortage of enemies gunning for me.
As I waited for the elevator amid the burdensome gazes—
"Oh, Minister!"
"Cedric, is it?"
Cedric Volpart. Newly promoted vice minister when I became Magic Department Minister. Specialized in fire magic, I recalled. A regular mage before. Like me, he'd sided with the emperor faction, got his talents recognized, and climbed high. Most hardline and aggressive in the faction.
The one to watch out for most.
One of the fanatics who saw the emperor as law and god.
"Still so cold. How's minister life treating you?"
"Same as before. Just what I did as vice minister."
"Impressive. I still can't adjust."
"Combat isn't all there is to magic."
"Haha, I'm a battle guy. Should've turned down vice minister."
Cedric joked around. Annoying type—being near him made everything more bothersome. The elevator arrived.
"By the way, how was last night?"
"What about it?"
"His Majesty's gift. That Siegfried..."
Ah. That explained the thick stares upon entering the tower today.
"I'm jealous, Minister. Getting your former fiancée, the empire's most beautiful woman, as a gift from His Majesty."
"Cedric."
"Yes?"
"Seria Siegfried is dead."
"Oops, my mistake."
Cedric covered his mouth with his fingers.
"This mouth of mine. Mother always said watch it."
"Cedric."
"Yes?"
"Shut up."
"Ah, sorry."
Ding!
He stayed quiet until the 72nd floor, vice minister offices.
"Take care."
I watched his back as he exited. Dangerous guy. One of the most to watch in the tower, in a different way. Three years surviving here taught me: loose screws like him were the deadliest.
Ding!
89th floor—my office as Magic Department Minister. The whole floor was it.
"You've arrived?"
My secretary, already in, stood.
"Any issues overnight?"
"Yes. Fire in the eastern elf forest, dragon rampage in the northern woods, city murder, southern barbarians eyeing the border post-coronation unrest. Nothing else."
"No real issues."
All routine. Most dispatches ended up minor. I looked down at the secretary. Mary Jane, serving since the previous previous minister. Striking with blood-red hair and beauty. Non-character from the original novel. Three years later, her true nature still unknown. But definitely not human.
"What day is it today?"
"Pardon?"
"Regular mages, Cedric, even you—everyone gives me that weird smile."
"Busted?"
Jane grinned.
"Spit it out. You're giving me a headache."
"What else? Seria."
"You curious too?"
"Who wouldn't wonder how the man gifted the empire's fairest beauty spent the night?"
Jane perked her ears.
"Wasting energy on nonsense."
"You'd be curious too, Minister."
"Did nothing."
"Really? No beastly urges? No orders to rape her?"
"No."
No intention or taste for it. She looked a bit disappointed. Wanted something spicier, but no such luck.
"No screams of pleasure last night?"
She did scream. During the bath, but still. I stayed silent.
"You did!"
Her green eyes sparkled. Those eyes discerned truth from lies in words.
"I said nothing."
"That silence was basically yes!"
"Haa, don't you have work?"
"You handle it quick anyway."
"Jane, I don't keep incompetent secretaries. Lazy ones even less. Don't want to get kicked from the tower? Start working."
She pouted at my firm refusal and backed off.
"Any schedules to focus on today?"
"One."
"What?"
"His Majesty summons you."
"Summons?"
"Yes."
Rare for the emperor to summon the Magic Department Minister first. Usually reports in writing, scrying orbs for video calls. Or the minister visiting the palace.
Obvious.
All those stares today. About Seria, no doubt.