“Is that so? They won’t even come here because they’re staying in the same room?”
Ah, so there’s no need to come to this underground castle in the end if there’s no Redian? She made a promise to him, but only protected Redian…
“Uaargh!”
Vallentin slammed the glass bottle, causing Maze to jump up.
Vallentin’s hair is red, but the color is subtle, and sometimes it looks like the color of wine. Perhaps that’s why his hardened face felt even colder.
Maze became nervous again. What else is bothering him? He was on the verge of death, wary of Redian and Vallentin.
The thing Vallentin slammed contained none other than poison.
“I’m sure,” Vallentin muttered with a look as if he was going to curse harshly. “I asked her to love me more.”
Hmm? Maze couldn’t understand.
“Her favoritism is too extreme,” said Vallentin with a look that seemed to say ‘what nonsense’…
The fact that Redian went to the Eve festival with the princess was also surprising. But what happened this time with the grim-looking Vallentin?
“Cough, cough, even if that’s not the case, the princess said she had something to say and told you to wait.”
“Something to say?”
Maze thought he should quickly deliver the news and run away from this madman’s lair. “Yes. She said she would call you soon… talking about a monster hunting competition.”
Monster hunting competition? At that moment, Vallentin’s expression became strange.
* * *
At that time, the atmosphere of the duchy was restless.
“It looks like it’s gotten worse.”
“I don’t know why this is happening.”
The faces of Loid, the butler, and Jen, the head of the maid, who were leaving the east building, were serious.
“As instructed by His Grace, all the servants with skin diseases were moved to the east building, but if it continues to spread like this, we will have to use the west wing as well.”
Jen, who took off the towel that was covering her mouth and nose, said, “Did you hear what the doctor said, Butler? It’s a skin disease that only occurs in slums.”
“Sigh, I really don’t know how to accept this.”
Loid and Jen shook their heads as if they didn’t understand. This place is Duchy Felicite. It’s no exaggeration to say that everything that comes in and goes out here is top-notch. Not only the servants but also the traders are all selected through a strict process. But are skin diseases that are common in slums circulating in such a place?
“Even if we look at the statement of the infected servants, there’s no other unusual activity.”
However, Jen, who hesitated for a moment, continued. “It is said that a few days before the skin disease started, the servants shared a cake made by Lady Luna in the shared accommodation…”
“Hm, come to think of it, you and I, who lived in a separate room, are fine.”
It was when Loid squinted his eyes.
“If the cake I made was the problem, wouldn’t I also be suffering from the skin disease now?”
“Oh my, Milady.”
“I feel so upset and unfair to hear that, Butler and Head Maid.”
Luna, who had been wandering in the distance, approached the east building.
“You know that I often made desserts or snacks for my servants or ate together with them, right?”
Luna’s big eyes seemed to be filled with water right away as if she had heard the conversation between the two.
“Besides, I ate the cake, and so did you.”
“As we investigated, it turned out to be that way. But how could we suspect you, Milady? We also know that you have always been generous to the servants.”
“You shouldn’t come here, Milady. What are you going to do if you catch that disease too?”
Said the butler and the head maid while soothing Luna.
“But I was so worried… Is everyone okay? How are the servants doing?”
In particular, most of Luna’s maids were infected with skin diseases. Luna became sullen and fiddled with her nails.
“But the skin disease has spread again…”
“Do you have anything in mind, Lady Luna?”
“Well…”
Luna was thinking and opened her mouth with the sound, “Ah.”
“Come to think of it, our maids recently shared an ointment.”
“…Ointment?”
“Yes. The ointment that older sister made herself.” She answered innocently. “I heard that older sister gave them ointment because she was worried about Susan’s face getting slapped in the grand prince’s welcoming party.”
“…”
“By that time, all my maids were also sharing the ointment. They loved how effective it was.” Luna continued with a smile. “Then the skin disease…”
But she soon covered her mouth with both hands. “Ah, I said something for nothing. That wouldn’t be possible.”
However, her eyes were already moving between the butler and the head maid.
“Hmm, now that I think about it, most of the servants were using that ointment.”
“Aren’t His Grace and his aide also using that ointment? Besides, I’m using it too.”
“She might have given an ointment different from the ointment shared with the servants. Now that I think about it, it’s strange that only the princess’s maids are fine.”
Jen, the head maid, whispered in a low voice. “I suddenly wondered why she was so nice to the servants…”
It was an open fact that Siani and the servants didn’t get along well. Siani didn’t want to talk to the servants, and the servants quietly ignored Siani and isolated her. Even thinking about it again, it was surprising that Siani made the ointment herself and distributed it to the servants.
“Wouldn’t she still have some resentment behind? Moreover, looking at the princess these days, she seems to be trying to fill all the duchy with her own per—”
“Is that something that would come out of the mouth of someone who is the head maid of the duchy?” At that moment, Butler Loid scolded in a stern voice. “Don’t have any hasty doubts. The priority is to ask the princess.”
“Hm... I apologize.”
While the head maid bowed, Loid looked at the clock. “Now that it’s past noon, she might be calling Norma for a chat.”
“…Norma?” Luna, who was briefly in conversation at that time, asked back.
“Yes. It seemed like he was calling Norma and talking about the monster hunting competition.”
“Ah… I see.”
At the same time, Luna’s eyes sparkled. “Does that mean ‘that person’ might be in older sister’s room right now?” Of course, the person she talked about was Redian.
* * *
“Monster hunting competition?”
“Yes,” I said, pushing the soup in front of Redian. Food was spared out on the table set up in the room.
The table in the room was full of food.
“When you’re sick, you have to eat well. I should go now.”
It was worth seeing the expression of the chef who was carrying this large amount on the tray. Everyone probably thinks I’m resting alone because I’m tired after attending the Eve festival.
“The knights under my direct command decided to leave. So, I really want you to participate.”
“Are you saying that there are other knights besides me,” said Redian after clearing his throat.
“Yes. But they’re not knights who will be a bother to you.”
First of all, I wasn’t going to tell him who they are today.
“Everyone will do their part, even if their skills are not as good as yours.”
I thought of the four Norma who survived in the original work. Although Redian stood out as the male lead, the remaining three Norma were equally great. The fact that they survived from the underground castle is enough…
Busy, I’m busy. First of all, I need to quickly meet the other two guys too.
“There’s nothing I can’t do.”
Contrary to my expectation, Redian nodded his head quite obediently.
“It’s a monster hunting competition anyway. I’ve been doing it since I was in the guild…”
Suddenly, I felt at ease, as if I had gained a thousand soldiers.
“Is Princess going to attend?”
“Yes. I won’t participate in the competition, but I will be watching you from the stadium.”
It was true that I couldn’t feel completely relieved. Still, just in case…
Putting down the teacup, I said, “I’m going to connect your restraints to my necklace.”
“Connect?”
“For now, I can only move you next to me if your restraints and my necklace are in contact. It’s convenient for you and me if you can’t find me right away, even from a distance.”
“Ah, so I can find Princess wherever you are.”
“Anyway, I should be able to find you right away at any time, right?”
“…I’ll find you.”
Then Redian smiled briefly.
“I hated this kind of thing.” He muttered as he slowly stroked the restraints wrapped around his wrists.
Now that I think about it, I didn’t really like that clunky and ugly design. I want to change the design to something prettier.
“But I will wear it all the time now.”
“Huh? What?” I couldn’t hear Redian properly because I was momentarily lost in thought. He shook his head again when I asked again as if it wasn’t important.
“But is it possible?”
He rose from his seat. The food remained largely untouched since he had only sipped some water and tea.
“Ah, that’s…”
For a moment, a person’s name passed through my head. Francis. One of the four surviving figures was a person who would later become Redian’s tactician. It was a very possible scenario if Aeron Port, who would become the head of the family, helped him and supported him with money.
“Well, there’s nothing I can’t do.”
It was a time when a happy smile naturally appeared.
“Master.” Redian, who stopped in front of my desk, stared down at something. “What is this?” There was a glass bottle sent by Vallentin where his locked gaze landed.
“Ah, that’s the cosmetic product being developed this time.”
“No, not that…”
But what Redian lifted.
“This one.”
It was a note from Vallentin.
I hope Siani slaps that Luna bitch silly when she exposes her nasty scheme. I can’t stand her.