“Would it pique your interest if I told you that this isn’t the first time someone’s soul has switched?”
“…I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but go on.”
Finally getting the desired reaction, Rondun wore a satisfied smile.
“A magician’s lifespan is significantly longer than that of a human. You could say I’m somewhat of an ancestor to humans, you know?”
“Get to the point.”
“Haha, my master and I have been researching soul swapping for ages. The mystery that no one could unravel was extremely fascinating to us.”
“So?”
Rondun began to pull out a collection of marbles from his pocket and laid them out on the table, the brightly colored spheres not overlapping over each other.
“The gods created many worlds, much like these scattered marbles. Well, that’s the conclusion drawn by the priests and wizards alike, so it’s pretty solid.”
Rondun rolled a green bead with his fingertip, causing it to gently touch a nearby yellow one.
“For some reason, my master and I discovered that in different realms, individuals with heightened sensitivities and emotions can express a sliver of another world’s future through mediums like art or literature.”
“Are you saying that someone entered through art and literature?”
“Correct! You’re sharp! Indeed, so far, four people claimed they entered through paintings, songs, poems, and fairy tales. And in another person’s form! Initially, they were treated as mad or confused until they began to predict events they had seen, earning them a reputation as prophets.”
Rondun casually called for a servant to bring him some water, his throat dry from speaking. Rosalie noticed he kept his gaze on her even as he waited and drank the water. After finishing, he continued.
“However, they eventually became confused again.”
“Why?”
“Because the stories would often diverge.”
This time, Rondun tapped a pink bead with his empty glass.
“And we reached a conclusion. Ah, perhaps this is the gods’ little game. They show a mutable future and then introduce variables to observe how that future changes, all for their amusement.”
“Do the gods have nothing better to do?”
“Haha! You’re the first person to say that. Although experiments on soul-swapped individuals are forbidden in the magic tower, we’ve conducted very beneficial experiments for those wishing to return.”
“So, did you get results?”
“Well, we’re very close to a breakthrough.”
However, it’s not easy because there aren’t many people whose souls have switched.
Rondun held back those words.
Perhaps he had struck the pink bead harder than expected as the pink marble rolled off the table and shattered. Rondun looked at the broken marble and then smiled mischievously at Rosalie.
“Don’t you want to return? Don’t you want to know why you’re here?”
Rondun whispered softly, almost like a wicked demon tempting a lost child with sweet candy.
“I can find out. The experiment is almost complete. So, you can tell me. I’ll help you, Your Grace.”
Rosalie just looked silently at Rondun, who still wore his friendly smile.
‘If my body is still alive… If it’s just a matter of a switched soul, I can go back… To my original body… And to my friends and family.’
Rondun observed the silent Rosalie. He was certain that Rosalie’s mind was wavering and decided to attempt another hypnotic spell once again, seeing an opportunity.
“Your story is fascinating, magician. But I’d prefer not to hear such legendary tales in the future.”
However, before Rondun could activate the hypnotic spell again, the response he received was a polite refusal, firmly stating she would not entertain such stories anymore.
“Haha, what are you talking about?”
“You’re too suspicious.”
Rosalie wasn’t even initially sure if her original body was still alive.
Rondun chuckled and shook his head as if he were going mad. Just as he had been laughing heartily, his laughter abruptly stopped, and he was grinning ear to ear. Rosalie glanced at him, then discreetly checked the mirror behind him.
“Don’t you want to return to your original world? You can find out through the experiment.”
“Then why did the magic tower forbid such experiments in the first place?”
Rondun’s smile faltered at Rosalie’s question, and he covered his face with one hand, muttering.
“Ah, dealing with difficult people is really….”
Rondun’s fingers twitched, and Rosalie felt the air around them ripple like waves.
“Don’t you dare try anything funny.”
Rosalie whispered threateningly. Rondun, sensing the touch around his neck, turned to find that Joey, who had been freed from the hypnotic spell, was now pointing a sword at his throat.
“Ah, people usually collapse from the backlash of hypnosis magic. You’re a strong knight.”
“Don’t underestimate our knights. Now would be a good time for you to disappear while you’re ahead.”
Rondun glanced between the sword threatening his neck and Rosalie, who seemed ready to unleash her aura and sighed.
Things would become even more complicated if he caused a commotion and it reached Nine’s ears.
‘Finding a good experimental subject is hard enough. I need her now more than ever.’
Rondun grumbled, admitting defeat.
“But, Your Grace, how long do you plan to keep up this pretense? It won’t work on me~ I’ve already confirmed with Mister Neon and the daughter of Count Amins that you’ve changed!”
“You probably wouldn’t understand because you’re a magician, but people can change when it’s necessary.”
Rondun seemed disappointed by Rosalie’s unwavering demeanor. He couldn’t easily break her strong will.
‘I should consider other options.’
“If you don’t leave right now, I’ll strike.”
Joey threatened, raising his sword menacingly. Rondun made a fuss and wrapped himself in mana.
“See you around, Duchess~.”
Despite Rosalie’s urge to curse him out, Rondun had already vanished. Rosalie and Joey glared at the spot where he had been, now scattered with light.
“Sister! I’m sorry I’m late! The carriage wheel came off all of a sudden!”
Bianca then rushed over to Rosalie, out of breath. Rosalie sensed that the carriage wheel’s mishap was not a mere accident.
“Bianca, let’s change our location.”
“Huh? But I just arrived.”
“I told you we had somewhere to go today, right? Let’s go there.”
Seeing Rosalie’s determined expression, Bianca could only nod. Rosalie glanced at Joey, who was following behind, and spoke.
“Is your body alright? Can you continue to escort us?”
“Yes, I can. I’m sorry; I should have been more cautious.”
“No, it couldn’t be helped. Just make sure you can respond properly next time.”
In response to Rosalie’s words, Joey bowed deeply. Judging by his fists, which were tightly clenched, it seemed that he was quite frustrated.
Rosalie lightly patted his shoulder. Bianca, who was flustered by the heavy atmosphere, reached out and gently grabbed Rosalie’s arm.
“Sister…? What happened?”
“Let’s just go.”
Rosalie reassured and hurried Bianca out of the cafe, driven more by annoyance than fear. The man had been thoroughly unpleasant.
⊱⊱⊱────── {.⋅ ✧✧✧ ⋅.} ──────⊰⊰⊰
After leaving the cafe, Rosalie and Bianca entered a dressing room located in the center of a large alley. The dressing room appeared ordinary from the outside, but its interior was quite spacious.
“Bianca, why are we here?”
Rosalie asked as she looked around at the mannequins dressed in various designs of dresses. She hadn’t heard any plans about shopping today.
At that moment, a middle-aged man with gray hair emerged from the innermost room and greeted Bianca warmly.
“Lady Bianca, you’ve come.”
“Morel, it’s been a while.”
When Bianca extended her hand, the middle-aged man, Morel, responded by kissing it familiarly. Then, he bowed to Rosalie.
“Hello, Your Grace. I am Morel, a dress designer.”
“Hello.”
Rosalie acknowledged his greeting and gave Bianca a questioning look, silently asking for an explanation. In response, Bianca approached Rosalie with a sweet smile.
“In fact, I wanted to give you a special gift as a token of my gratitude for saving my brother.”
“So, that’s why we’re here?”
“Morel is considered the best designer in the capital. Please accept my sincerity.”
Bianca pleaded with folded hands, and Rosalie couldn’t help but agree after seeing her pitiful and earnest demeanor.
Morel clapped loudly twice upon seeing Rosalie’s nod.
“Alright, let’s start with the measurements.”
At Morel’s signal, employees entered the dressing room and began taking Rosalie’s measurements, inspecting various fabrics, and even draping them on her to see how they looked.
Meanwhile, Morel grabbed a pen and paper, starting to sketch fervently.
“Morel, please make it as beautiful as possible.”
“Of course. My dresses must always be exquisite.”
Bianca was reassured by Morel’s confidence.
“Actually, it’s not just because Lady Bianca requested it. When I see Your Grace, my ideas just overflow. Your image is more distinct than I expected.”
Morel’s pen flew across the paper. He flipped pages, continuing to sketch rapidly. Rosalie, standing still like a mannequin, softly voiced her hopes.
“Please make it as comfortable as possible.”
“…Your Grace, there’s no such thing as a comfortable dress. Beauty comes with discomfort.”
“That’s right! To achieve a beautiful dress, you must abandon comfort!”
However, Rosalie’s small request was rejected by the passionate duo. Rosalie sighed and stared into empty space.
“But sister, do you have any accessories? Should we order some while we’re at it?”
Rosalie thought of the accessories she had received from Derivis. There were so many of them that she hadn’t even tried most of them.
“No, that’s okay. I have a lot of unused ones.”
“Did you order so many?”
“I didn’t order them; I received them.”
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