The child came dashing straight toward the spot where I was hiding.
‘Wh-What!? Why is she coming this way!?’
Frozen in shock, I couldn’t move as the child reached me with a thoroughly grumpy look and began rifling through the clothes.
“Sonya’s cold! I don’t wanna be cold!”
What do you want me to do about it!?
Apparently, she had come back inside the castle after getting too cold while wandering around with her mother.
Then, the child suddenly grabbed a thick piece of clothing with her small hand.
“Ooh? What’s this?”
Unfortunately, it was the very coat I was hiding in.
It was covered in flashy frills and ribbons—it must have belonged to a little girl.
“Sonya likes this one!”
…Damn it.
Without hesitation, she yanked the coat out and wrapped it around herself.
And that’s how I ended up becoming one with the daughter of the merchant guild head, a girl named Sonya.
“Heehee, it’s so pretty!”
Sonya twirled happily in front of a large mirror, admiring herself.
Then she plopped down on the sofa next to her sleeping father, the guild head, still humming a tune I didn’t recognize.
Moments later, the guild head stirred and woke up with a jolt.
“That price is unacceptable…!!”
“Ah! Daddy’s awake!”
“…Huh? Sonya? What are you doing here? Where’s your mom?”
“Sonya came back ‘cause it was cold!”
Just then, the guild head’s wife crept into the room like a secret agent from a spy movie, carefully cracking open the door.
Upon seeing her husband wiping drool from his mouth, her eyes narrowed into sharp slits.
“Unbelievable! I was out trying to get a feel for the atmosphere, and you were here napping!?”
“…It’s not what you think, darling.”
At that moment—knock knock—a knock sounded at the door.
It was the assistant who had come by earlier.
“Dinner is ready. We will now escort our honored guests.”
“……”
“……”
The guild head and his wife froze.
After exchanging nervous glances, they swallowed hard and nodded in sync.
Moments later, the couple and Sonya exited the room under the assistant’s guidance.
Naturally, I went with them—still hidden inside the coat.
***
Banquet Hall of the Grand Duke’s Castle.
Still tucked away inside Sonya’s coat, I peeked out just enough to survey the surroundings.
The massive banquet table was surrounded by over a dozen retainers, all of whom looked to be in very influential positions.
And then—
‘…Whoa.’
I scanned over the extravagant dishes one by one, nearly drooling at the sight.
Compared to the meals served back in Sion, the quality and quantity here were on a whole different level.
Seriously? So these people have been living it up like this while the rest of us struggle?
Right then, my stomach let out a loud growl.
Grrrrrrrgle—
“Huh?”
Sonya tilted her head, puzzled.
“What’s wrong, Sonya?”
“…Hmm? It’s nothing.”
Sonya scratched her ear with a puzzled expression.
I quickly rubbed my unruly stomach and looked around, trying to find an opening to escape while things were still somewhat chaotic.
But then—
“Her Grace the Grand Duchess will dine with you.”
At the aide’s words, a heavy silence fell over the banquet hall.
Moments later, a woman with an overwhelming presence appeared, accompanied by several maids.
She was a cold beauty with long black hair and violet eyes.
It was Grand Duchess Priscilla.
“……!!”
Seeing the story’s villain in person for the first time, I involuntarily clammed up.
She was even more stunning—and exuded a terrifying aura far greater—than I had imagined while reading the original novel.
…Yeah, I was intimidated. I admit it.
“Everyone, please be seated.”
The Grand Duchess gave a graceful command as she sat at the head of the table.
With the poise of a classical painting’s heroine, she raised her glass with a serene smile.
“Jean Noel, head of the merchant guild. Amanda Noel, his wife. And their daughter, Sonya Noel. On behalf of the Grand Duchy of Northern Luxior, I welcome you all.”
“We are deeply grateful for your generous hospitality, Your Grace.”
“We are truly honored to be welcomed by such an esteemed figure, Your Grace.”
The merchant couple, who had shown a much different attitude in the guest room earlier, now bowed their heads in servile deference.
The Grand Duchess smiled deeply, now every inch the dignified authority figure.
“You must be weary from your long journey. I wouldn’t want to burden you on your first day here. Let us simply enjoy this evening. As for this year’s trade negotiations, how about we proceed slowly… over time?”
She put particular emphasis on “slowly… over time.” At that, the merchant couple exchanged a brief glance and nodded.
“That would be, Your Grace—”
At that moment, as though anticipating this exact moment, the Grand Duchess turned her gaze directly toward us—no, specifically toward little Sonya—and said.
“What a lovely child. Did you say her name was Sonya?”
“Yes, Your Grace. She is the only daughter of the Noel family.”
“I see. Such a precious and beautiful child shouldn’t fall ill from such a grueling journey. While you stay here, I shall ensure she receives special care… so that no unfortunate accidents happen.”
“……!”
“……!”
With a gentle smile, the Grand Duchess delivered what was clearly a veiled threat disguised as a gracious remark. Then, with all the elegance in the world, she lifted her wine glass and took a slow sip.
The merchant guild head, who had been watching the Grand Duchess with a stiff expression, exchanged a tense glance with his wife. Their eyes trembled like an earthquake.
After a heavy gulp, the merchant head finally opened his mouth.
“Well, the truth is, Your Grace…”
And what came next was completely unexpected.
“…On our way over the northern mountains, our caravan was ambushed by a group of bandits.”
“…Bandits?”
‘…Bandits?’
I stared at the merchant.
Didn’t he just wake up from a snoring nap a moment ago? And now he’s claiming they were attacked by bandits?
It was the most obvious lie I’d ever heard.
“It all happened so fast—even our hired mercenary guards couldn’t do anything to stop it.”
A cold silence fell across the banquet hall.
Sweat poured down the merchant head’s face as he glanced at the Grand Duchess, who now wore a frozen expression.
“As a result of the attack… nearly half of the goods we were supposed to deliver to the North this year were stolen. I truly… apologize.”
“What!?”
“How could that be…!”
“That’s absurd!”
Gasps and groans of disbelief erupted from the Northern retainers seated around the table.
“…It’s truly shameful, but it was an unavoidable situation that no one could have foreseen. We are just as shocked and upset, but we still managed to bring the remaining half of the goods. We hope you’ll acknowledge our efforts in salvaging what we could.”
At that moment, someone slammed the table and stood up from the far end of the banquet.
It was a large man who had been silent and disinterested the entire time—a knight, clearly.
With red hair and a scar on one cheek, his rugged appearance made him instantly recognizable.
‘…Wait. Isn’t that Ulrich Thurman, the deputy commander of the Northern Knights?’
His distinctive look made it impossible not to recognize him.
“Bandits, huh. That’s laughable. You expect us to believe that in the Grand Duchy of Luxior, which boasts better security than the Imperial Capital? Can you prove that?”
Ulrich Thurman asked sharply, his voice laced with menace.
Faced with this challenge, both the merchant head and his wife went pale.
It was a suspicious reaction by any measure, but they didn’t back down.
“P-Prove it!? Are you suggesting we made this all up? That’s outrageous!”
“That’s right! After braving the brutal cold to honor our long-standing relationship with the North, we’re being treated like this? We’re deeply offended, Your Grace!”
One of the retainers interjected.
“Ahem! Frankly, the whole story is highly suspicious. Who in their right mind would commit banditry in this freezing, monster-infested North?”
“Exactly. Perhaps, driven by greed, they concocted this scheme instead of selling to us at such low prices. They’d earn several times more if they sold the goods elsewhere.”
The Northern retainers weren’t fools—they had seen through the merchant head’s scheme.
“W-What are you implying!? Do you have any proof?”
“This is outrageous! Don’t forget that we are officially designated by the Imperial Family as trade partners for the North! To accuse us without evidence is an affront to—!”
“Enough.”
The Grand Duchess’s cold voice cut through the clamor.
At once, the room fell silent.
With a thoughtful expression, she lowered her gaze, then turned to her aide.
The aide solemnly reported.
“As the merchant head claimed, we’ve confirmed that the quantity of goods delivered to the Grand Duchy this year is roughly half of last year’s.”
“…Hah.”
“…This is unbelievable.”
“Then what are we supposed to do this year—”
Quiet murmurs of concern spread among the Northern officials.
After a moment of silent contemplation, the Grand Duchess turned her gaze toward the merchant head and gave him a beautiful, yet chilling smile.
“Your explanation has been heard. In that case, this year’s trade agreement will proceed—with only half the originally promised quantity.”
“…W-Would you really allow that?”
The merchant head blinked in disbelief. Then, clearly relieved, he bowed gratefully.
“Thank you, Your Grace! Then we’ll proceed with trading only the goods we’ve managed to bring.”
“So be it.”
The Grand Duchess replied calmly, bringing her wineglass to her lips. Her eyes, gazing down at the crimson liquid in the glass, gleamed coldly.
And with that, the banquet came to an end.
💗 Hello! If you’d like to read chapters 10, 11, 12, 13 of the novel ‘I Became the Devoted Fairy of the Second Male Lead!’
I’m currently providing additional chapters of the novel here [IBDFSML].
The link will remain available until the next updates. Thank you!
