The Result of a Subtle Scheme
Lady Morgana’s presence was far more dangerous than anyone else’s…
The Klein Duchess had been about to raise her fan to cover her mouth, but stopped. Still seated, she examined the faces of those who had just entered.
She saw her.
The figure of Lady Morgana, the mage Pay.
‘Hmm.’
The first thing that caught her eye was the neatly pinned-up light-pink hair. It was the same childish shade of pink that Tiana had stubbornly declared she disliked whenever the servants were around, though she never showed such distaste in front of others. Yet beneath that hair, the sparkling light-green eyes were quite lovely. The plain white dress, worn without a single accessory, suited her surprisingly well.
‘She serves as the Crown Prince’s right hand, so she must have money. Given the occasion, she simply chose not to dress lavishly? At least she has some sense.’
The Klein Duchess searched her memory. There had been chances to meet her before. Since Pay came from the same monastery as Tiana and her daughter disliked the girl, the Duchess had avoided any gathering where they might cross paths. She had even inquired whether the mage would attend the last joint family gathering; upon hearing she would not, she had gone herself. Most likely, if word had spread that Pay would appear today, she would have stayed away again.
‘Choosing both the reading club and this gathering was rather clever of her.’
Meanwhile, Pay accepted something from the salon attendant, slipped it between the books she carried, and turned away. Was that the spring-flower bookmark she had mentioned giving out today?
“Klein Duchess, this is a gift for every guest present today. Which one would you like?”
When the attendant approached, the Duchess asked, “What did the mage guest choose?”
“Pardon…? Ah, you mean Lady Morgana. This one.”
On the tray lay a bookmark made from vividly dried spring flowers. Pay had apparently selected the bright yellow rapeseed blossom. Cherry blossoms, peonies, or hyacinths would have been prettier—why that one?
The Duchess hesitated for a moment, then picked the same flower.
“Thank you.”
Throughout the rest of the gathering, the Duchess spoke almost no words. Many guests stole glances at her, yet when she remained quietly in her seat, the others began to boast of their own accomplishments. The salon was filled with a remarkably varied crowd: a sea captain who crossed the ocean several times a year to trade with the Eastern Continent, a wealthy merchant who held great influence in a distant province, a judge renowned for landmark rulings, a celebrated historian, a designer who set new fashion trends with striking patterns, and a former mercenary who had grown rich after slaying a magical beast that carried a magic stone.
‘How tedious.’
To the Duchess, all their achievements were things that could be purchased with money and proper manners. In the capital, where everything converged, such matters were only natural. Even the most novel stories would soon grow stale after circulating through salons and balls for half a year.
Just as her eyelids, heavy from endless gatherings and banquets, began to droop, a clear, resonant voice—neither loud nor soft—reached her ears.
“Now, please hand one to each guest. It is my gift.”
The Duchess’s eyes flew open.
‘Lady Morgana…?’
“What is this? Oh my, it’s shaped like a heart!”
“It’s called a Heartall. Long ago it grew wild in many regions, but after the ancient era the climate changed, so now it can only be produced through summoning magic. If you bite straight through the shell without peeling it, you’ll taste something sweet and refreshing.”
Pay finished her explanation, plucked a fruit from the basket, and took the first bite. Its color was nearly identical to a ripe peach. Watching her, the Klein Duchess felt an unexpected warmth rise in her chest.
Yes, eat well.
‘What on earth…?’
Why was she thinking such a thing? The feeling was strangely unsettling. The basket of Heartalls made its way around the room until one reached her as well. She was about to set it aside for later when a voice spoke beside her.
“Quite a pleasant atmosphere, isn’t it?”
“Who—? Ah!”
The Duchess’s eyes widened at the familiar voice. Crown Prince Silas had quietly taken the seat next to her.
“Shh.”
“How… how did Your Highness come here?”
Was he in disguise? If she had known, she would have dragged Tiana along no matter what!
Heart pounding, she unfolded the fan she had kept closed all evening, covered her mouth, and glanced sideways. As expected, the Crown Prince wore a brown wig and a slightly worn coat. The sight was so startling she might have staggered had she been standing.
“Here I am merely the wandering knight Gladys, Duchess.”
“……”
“The taste is quite good.”
The Crown Prince took a crisp bite of the Heartall Pay had given him. His casual manner made the Duchess doubt her own eyes. Yet she understood at once.
‘This is not the first time. His Highness has been disguising himself and roaming the capital!’
Still, her trembling lips managed to form words.
“For what… purpose have you come?”
“The same reason you attend these gatherings—to observe the empire. I cannot travel every corner of the realm, but I can still listen to what people say. I simply wish to hear their true thoughts, spoken without restraint to a wandering knight.”
“Ah…”
She should have brought Tiana after all. Even if the reading club had been missed, this would have been the perfect opportunity.
That day, the Crown Prince who had slipped into the Dahlia Hotel salon never once spoke to his subordinate, the mage Pay. He merely listened to the conversations around him before quietly departing. Whether Pay had noticed his presence or not, the Duchess did not care. What mattered was the missed chance for her daughter.
How wonderful it would have been to bring Tiana, whose heart was full of longing for the Crown Prince. The previous escort had been important, but a private encounter like this would have been far more valuable.
‘Regret is pointless. Even His Highness skipped the gatherings of the Orleans and Quasar families. How could I have known he would appear here?’
When she left the Dahlia Hotel salon, the spring rain had already stopped. Pay’s umbrella magic had vanished, leaving a clear sky. She would have liked to see that curious spell once more.
The lingering regret turned to displeasure the moment she returned to the ducal residence and learned that Tiana, who had been sleeping late, had gone out into the city. If only she had waited a little longer and brought the girl along. At the very least, Tiana could have exchanged a greeting with the Crown Prince.
“The servants accompanied her, I assume?”
“Yes, madam.”
She had seemed exhausted for days, yet the moment the Duchess stepped out, Tiana went gallivanting about. Something felt increasingly off-kilter.
“Where did she go?”
The Duchess placed the rapeseed-flower bookmark on the table and set the uneaten magical fruit atop the fruit basket.
“She went to the Righteous Worker’s Guild.”
“Again?”
The destination irritated her. There were countless respectable places a young lady could visit alone—even the Dahlia Hotel salon would have been acceptable. Yet Tiana kept returning to a guild that ran trivial errands for nobles. Moreover, the place was rumored to have ties to the underworld.
What Tiana requested was never anything grand: rare fruits out of season, small ornaments, or laces with unusual patterns. The scale of her commissions had hardly changed since the beginning. At first the Duchess had allowed it for amusement’s sake, but today her mood was far too sour.
Was it because of that mage who had drawn everyone’s attention without ever pushing herself forward? Or because the Crown Prince had attended in secret and Tiana had not been there to meet him? Why did her chest feel so heavy?
“Shall I fetch her?”
“No need. When Tiana returns, prepare bathwater at once. The rain has stopped, but the air is still cold.”
“Yes, madam.”
Perhaps it was time to hire a dedicated tutor and instill some discipline. Living as a noble daughter was no easy matter; Tiana needed to understand that.
While pondering her daughter’s education, the Duchess realized that the scholar Pochette she had met earlier had not once inquired after Tiana’s well-being. Even after the family had unilaterally withdrawn the tutoring request, he had shown no resentment. The thought only brought another weary sigh. Never becoming the subject of gossip was not always a blessing.
After dismissing the maid, the Duchess stared at the bookmark left on the table. It was nothing precious. She had told herself she felt no attachment, yet she could not bring herself to discard it. Rising, she slipped the bookmark between the pages of the notebook where she occasionally jotted memos. She also retrieved the Heartall from the fruit basket.
What had it been called—Heartall?
The Crown Prince had enjoyed it as well.
‘…Hmph.’
With nerves already frayed, she carefully bit into the fruit. A sweet, refreshing sensation spread through her mouth, clearing the fog from her mind.
It was delicious.
‘She is not without skill.’
If Pay had wanted to boast about being a Drakan Rider in a place crowded with people, she could have. Instead she had remained quiet, merely entertaining the guests with two curious spells. The Klein Duchess savored the lingering sweetness and found herself quietly revising her earlier judgment. Her husband’s eyes had not been entirely mistaken. She still had no desire to grow close to the girl, yet there was no longer any need to hate her either.
‘If the Crown Prince is willing to keep her as a direct subordinate, then… well, that alone is proof enough.’
Contrary to her rational thoughts, the sweet and tangy taste of the Heartall lingered on her tongue for a long time. The fatigue that had weighed on her all evening had vanished without her noticing. For the first time, the Klein Duchess found herself smiling faintly at the thought of Lady Morgana.
Late into the night, long past the usual hour for retiring, Cassel sat alone with Crown Prince Silas.
“Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince’s expression was as gentle as ever. Even though he was strikingly handsome, Cassel—who was often called frightening because of his red eyes—could never reach that same unthreatening aura.
“Cassel, I trust you.”
“…Your Highness.”
“You must have had a reason for submitting this report without any additional explanation.”
Silas held up the document Cassel had filed after visiting the Sionel estate. Cassel nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
A faint anger flickered in his golden eyes.
“I have never even heard of the Caris Viscountcy. Yet no matter how minor a border noble house may be, there is no justification for them to suffer such cruelty.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Suspected arson, and the remains swapped? How could such a thing occur? Whether they were killed or abducted, they must be returned to their rightful place.”
“I agree completely. That is justice.”
The Crown Prince’s fist, resting on the report, trembled.
“You concluded that the group of performing priests who buried the bodies at least collaborated with the culprit?”
“It must have been the work of the main temple. According to the innkeeper where we stayed, performing priests almost never travel that far.”