The Pink-Haired Knight
The hesitation was brief.
Sigmund was the type to act rather than endure, the kind who preferred knowing the danger over remaining ignorant.
Rip!
The envelope tore open easily. He pulled out the paper inside and read the words carefully.
Another person with the same mark appeared. They haven't done anything suspicious yet, so I don't know their intentions, but I thought you should know in advance.
Appearance: A knight with pink hair and golden eyes.
Area of activity: Near Dante Knightray, the ducal heir.
Characteristics: Annoying. Occasionally loiters around for no reason and stares.
I couldn't ask anything last time, but next time I see them, I have a lot of questions.
P.S. I might not be able to contact you for a while.
P.P.S. The ring feels a bit uncomfortable.
The letter was irritating in multiple ways.
The news of another mark-bearer and the possibility of lost contact were one thing, but the rest was so very much like her.
The crossed-out parts, the phrase "area of activity."
Does she think the mark-bearer is some kind of wild beast?
Sigmund snorted as he noticed the meticulous complaint about the ring tacked on at the end.
Well, that's beside the point. The mark is what matters.
His gaze lingered on the line about having many questions. He had plenty of his own.
What the mark actually was, why his master was acting so suspiciously, why she kept her mouth shut about everything.
But Master won't tell me anything.
Sigmund's sharp instincts told him as much.
Even if Idel pressed Viled, his master would dodge and evade rather than lay everything bare.
No matter how closely it related to her curse.
……And for some reason, it feels deeply connected to me as well?
After glaring sharply into the air, Sigmund folded the letter and tucked it into his coat.
As expected, I'll have to work with the client separately.
The thought of teaming up with Idel, laughing and putting their heads together, made his skin crawl, but still……
At least it won't be boring.
Setting aside how much she grated on him, they did make a decent team when it came to work.
Having sorted his thoughts, he stood in front of the shop with a deeply furrowed brow, as though Idel had unilaterally broken their agreement and he was thoroughly displeased.
Sigmund had no intention of sharing the letter Idel sent with his master until he found some clue.
"What, why are you back already? Where's the client?"
"She accidentally rubbed the ring. That esteemed client of yours."
"She rubbed the ring by mistake?"
"A maid I've seen before was waiting instead. What, did you think I'd just waltz in because I was annoyed?"
"No, it's not that, but……"
Sigmund let out a sharp sigh as he watched Viled trail off.
"I'm already annoyed enough that I'm getting tangled up with her beyond our contract, and now I'm even being suspected like this. If this keeps up, I might actually lie down like a dog and refuse to move."
"Ah, fine, I get it. I get it. Sorry. Want me to prepare another potion?"
"No need."
Sigmund waved his hand curtly and headed toward the study inside the shop. He planned to search for any communication artifacts he could craft with his own skills.
"……Sigmund, shall we have your favorite for lunch?"
"I said it's fine. When you have time, change the ring. She said it's uncomfortable too."
"Is that so?"
Before his master, who was subtly trying to strike up a conversation, Sigmund cleverly hid the truth. The stiff texture of the paper tucked against his chest somehow felt like it was poking at him. Just a little.
While Sigmund was struggling to create an artifact, Idel found herself at an unexpected meal with unexpected company.
"My, this is quite something! I only asked to join as a joke…… I don't know if I even belong at a table like this."
"Nonsense. We're glad to have you, Sir Patrick. The children seem less awkward with you here, since they see you often."
"……I doubt that very much."
Idel muttered under her breath, too quietly for anyone to hear, then swept her eyes over the people seated at the table.
Patrick, the Duchess, Jiana, and Dante.
Everyone in this strangely awkward group was a guest at the Duchess's "let's all get along" gathering.
Regardless of the outcome, everyone present had clashed with one another at some point.
Why Patrick is mixed in here is a mystery no matter how I think about it.
Patrick continued his conversation with Rowena in his usual exaggerated tone and gestures.
Despite bearing the same mark as Melissa, he chattered away like someone whose dream was to be a social butterfly.
Watching his obviously fake demeanor made irritation rise for no reason.
He's really annoying.
As she'd written in the letter to Sigmund, Patrick kept a certain distance while still loitering around her.
During the nosebleed incident, he followed the Duke to the pharmacy, and this morning he suddenly asked whether I resembled my father or mother more.
He hadn't said anything particularly suspicious or made her feel threatened, but there was something odd about the way he seemed to be observing her.
At first she'd suspected he was working with Melissa to monitor her, but she'd quickly dismissed the idea.
The mark-bearers weren't some love-support squad, and there was no reason for them to help Melissa's romance schemes without cause.
In the end, it all circles back to square one. I have no choice but to ask Viled about the secret.
Having reached that conclusion, Idel let out a small sigh. It was a minor action, but Rowena didn't miss it.
After lightly wrapping up her chat with Patrick, the Duchess carefully addressed Idel.
"Idel? Are you all right? Is something bothering you?"
"……"
"Ah, I'm not scolding you. There's no need for formality among family. I was just worried the seat might be uncomfortable for you."
Listening to the Duchess, Idel rolled her eyes slightly.
Dante, Jiana, Patrick, and even the servants were all looking at her.
Come to think of it, Diane said something similar. That people's reactions become strange once they get involved in the rumors themselves.
Watching them exchange glances now, she understood.
In short, they're still testing the waters.
They're gauging whether it's safe to torment her without repercussions, whether any trouble will come back to them.
Like a pelican checking whether it can swallow its prey whole.
In that case, I should give them an opening.
It would be far more stable if she pulled the trigger rather than Melissa.
Having quickly organized her thoughts, Idel let out an obvious sigh. Perhaps because she'd done it a second time, the Duchess's expression quickly filled with concern.
"Idel?"
"Ah, seriously……"
Idel covered her face with both hands, as though she hated even saying the words.
Startled by the sudden action, Rowena stood and approached her.
"Just a moment, dear?"
"Don't touch me……"
Like a child throwing a tantrum, Idel dodged the hand on her shoulder and stubbornly refused.
After some time of this back-and-forth……
Idel, who had been acting as though she'd never show her face, suddenly took a rough breath and dropped her arms.
Her eyes, filled with resentment, irritation, and discomfort, sharply pierced Rowena.
"Why are you doing this to Idel?"
"What?"
"There's no one here who wants to play, and nothing fun either. I hate all of it!"
With her fists clenched and trembling, Idel avoided Rowena's gaze.
"Why won't you even let Idel breathe freely? Everyone here hates Idel anyway!"
The dining room fell silent at Idel's outburst, thick with tension.
Jiana, who had been watching the servants' expressions in the strained atmosphere, let out a soundless exclamation.
Idel's plan……!
Though her mother's distressed face made her heart ache, Jiana steeled herself.
According to Diane's explanation, this was like a "hero's secret mission"!
The moment Jiana recalled her role and was about to speak up to help Idel……
"It seems there may be some misunderstanding."
A voice, upright to the core, spoke first from beside her.