The Invisibility Spell
Ren muttered with a depressed expression. Even bearing the stigma of a cursed clan, his compassion for the cursed was truly admirable.
"But I'm not entirely sure yet, so could you help me out?"
"Me?"
"Yes. It'd be great if you could take a look at my father and confirm if he's cursed."
First, it was crucial to let Ren see the duke in person. Only then could they lift the curse or track down the bastard mage who cast it.
"Ah, but Father has his circumstances... Hmm, we'll probably have to meet him in secret."
The duke, steeped in superstition, would likely throw a fit if he saw Ren. Since he didn't know what Ren looked like, maybe disguise him and sneak him in? But Dominic already knew Ren, so he'd probably blurt it out nearby.
As I pondered, Ren spoke up cautiously.
"I... I think it could work."
"Huh?"
I turned to him with wide eyes, and he smiled shyly, looking bashful.
"I can use invisibility magic."
"Invisi... bility magic?"
Magic to turn invisible like the invisible man? I'd always fantasized about using it for petty things back in my old life—like cheating on exams, sneaking into school late, or punching an annoying coworker and bolting.
"Yes, it's my specialty."
"R-Really?"
Invisibility as a specialty? Unexpected, but not a bad idea at all. Still, I worried the knights, sensitive to presences, might detect him and cause more trouble.
"But Father was once a great knight despite his illness now, and he's surrounded by skilled ones. Won't they notice?"
Ren chewed his lip thoughtfully before replying.
"Well... Even my master doesn't notice sometimes, so it should be fine."
"Your master—the Magic Tower Master?"
"Yes."
I gaped at his nod. The Magic Tower Master couldn't detect an apprentice mage's invisibility spell? But it just proved how ridiculously talented Ren was, despite his youth. Jackpot for me.
Then, with a flushed face, Ren confessed to using invisibility magic on the sly to snag extra snacks without the Tower Master noticing.
What a cute kid.
"Ahem, could you show me real quick?"
"Here?"
"Yeah."
I needed to test how close he could get without being detected.
Ren nodded eagerly.
"Sure, I'll do it now."
He closed his eyes. I watched with bated breath. Would he chant some cringey incantation? Flash some blinding light like in comics?
It was my first time witnessing magic up close, and I stared expectantly.
But after a brief moment, Ren—eyes still shut—simply vanished quietly.
"...Huh?"
I blinked around in confusion. The room was empty except for me, with just an empty chair where Ren had sat.
"Lady Abigail, I'm right here."
"Eek!"
His voice came from right beside me. I whipped around, startled, but saw nothing.
I called his name awkwardly.
"Ren?"
"Yes, Lady Abigail."
I reached tentatively toward the voice and touched something soft—like a child's tender skin.
I gasped in awe.
"Oh! I can touch you."
"Yes, it only makes the body invisible. Um, but..."
"Amazing. No sound or presence when you move, yet I can feel you."
Curiosity overrode any sense of impropriety. Even as Ren groaned awkwardly, I kept poking around.
It was fascinating—nothing visible in midair, yet something solid there.
"L-Lady Abigail...!"
"Yeah?"
Suddenly, Ren reappeared before me, face beet red, looking mortified.
I'd been prodding his squishy cheek the whole time.
"Ah, sorry."
I pulled my hand back with an embarrassed grin. I hadn't pinched hard, but his cheek was flushed bright red.
"I-It's okay."
He rubbed the spot and stepped back a bit.
What incredible magic. No sound or presence until he was right up close.
This could fool the duke and his knights easily.
"Ren, that's some amazing magic!"
"Th-Thank you."
"Still, to be safe, stay a little back when we meet Father."
The duke was a Swordmaster who'd honed his body to the limit. His guards were no slouches either. Sharpened senses might pick up something.
"Yes, whatever you wish, Lady Abigail."
Clasping his hands politely, he looked so cute and reliable. With this genius mage, I felt like I could do anything.
"Thanks for your help, Ren."
"N-No, thank you..."
No handshake culture here, so I just patted his shoulder lightly. He bowed his head gratefully.
The future Magic Tower Master might be impossible to sway, but the current Ren? Totally doable.
My goal was to use him to the fullest during his stay for the Magic Festival and save the duke.
And I was getting closer.
* * *
A few more days passed after the duke summoned me. His seizure had been severe, so recovery took time.
The maids still fretted over me, but I persisted with my sword training.
Jade watched me sternly, like a dojo master.
"Your arm's dropping. Focus."
"Hoo, ha..."
Mornings, I swung a wooden sword for a thousand vertical cuts.
Jade critiqued my form ruthlessly, scolding any lapse in concentration.
I gritted my teeth and swung. Wooden swords were tough now, but someday I'd wield a real blade freely.
As I refocused, murmurs rose from the maids behind the training ground.
"Miss! B-Big trouble!"
"What is it?"
Annie rushed up, unusually panicked. Had the duke collapsed again? My gut twisted, but she shouted, pale-faced.
"Crown Prince Michael has arrived!"
"What?"
Why was the crown prince here? I was dumbfounded.
Counting days, I realized a month had passed—it was his scheduled visit. I'd completely forgotten amid duke and Ren worries.
"Haa, good lord..."
I should've remembered.
"We've committed a grave sin, Miss."
The maids knelt, begging forgiveness.
Servants should prepare if the master forgot, but I couldn't blame them. I knew how much they'd done for me.
"Get up. With Father down, no one was in their right mind."
"Miss..."
"Sigh, no training today."
I muttered bitterly and handed my wooden sword to Jade.
Training mattered, but handling the crown prince came first.
"To the drawing room."
"L-Like that?"
I wore pants for sword practice. Original Abigail always appeared flawless for him—up at dawn, primped to perfection, redoing makeup if imperfect.
But that was her vanity. I had no desire to waste time prettifying for my future enemy.
"He's already here, isn't he? Can't keep His Highness waiting."
"S-Still, at least change clothes..."
"It's fine."
The maids fidgeted more than I did.
I brushed off their protests and headed to the drawing room.
"Open the door."
"Y-Yes, right away."
The servant at the door looked flustered. Ignoring him, I entered.
As at our first meeting, Crown Prince Michael sat like a portrait, waiting.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
I curtsied toward him as if in a dress.
He froze mid-sip of tea, clearly shocked by my appearance.
"Lady Carpoem...?"
His gaping expression was almost comical. I suppressed a laugh and approached.
"Forgive me, Your Highness. I've been so absorbed in riding lessons lately that time flew, and I've shown you this unseemly side."
"Riding... horses?"
A Carpoem heir training with swords meant successor training—something to hide from him for now. So I deflected with riding.
"Yes, galloping on horseback clears the stuffy mind wonderfully."
I sat before him. The maids, more rattled than me, calmly set tea and retreated.
"...This is the first time I've seen you out of a dress."
Don't go falling for me now. I smiled inwardly and beamed at him.
He'd fallen for the heroine's simple beauty, so a plainer Abigail might've had a shot. But he loathed House Carpoem. They were doomed from the start.
"I don't always wear those frilly dresses, you know."
Heh heh. I chuckled, grabbing a cookie. Morning training had left me starving. Mindful of manners, I crunched the almond cookie.
Our patissier was top-notch—the buttery richness and nutty crunch hit the spot, soothing my empty stomach.
"I've heard about the duke. It must weigh heavily on you."
"..."
Word of him vomiting blood had reached the palace. He probably thought I was spiraling into madness from grief.
Treated like a lunatic by the crown prince, of all people.
"He'll recover soon. He's a strong man."
So don't start scheming against House Carpoem yet.
I eyed him warily but smiled sweetly on the surface.