After returning to the annex, I finished bathing and had breakfast.
Cheese salad with a creamy stew and tangy yuzu sauce.
Freshly baked bread with a crispy crust and cranberry jam.
I had to suppress a shiver several times while eating.
‘It was truly a touching meal.’
Vivian was in charge of cleaning the annex, while Genia took care of the food and Astel’s needs.
So, it meant that Genia, the mastermind behind enchanting the humble ingredients sent from nature, was the one who added mana to them.
If this were a game, an information window would have probably popped up by now.
“[Genia’s value has increased by 10].”
“Princess, Lord Duke has sent a carriage for you. It’s for your use when going out.”
Instead of savoring the aftertaste of the meal, I raised an eyebrow.
“How did you know?”
“You asked about the location of the carriage this morning. So, I told the butler that you would be going out. It seems Lord Duke heard about it.”
“Hmm…”
“Did I make a mistake?”
“No, you did well.”
Becoming a hunter has its advantages. They even provide a carriage for me when I go out.
’Well, if they treat me this well, I’ll stick around this place a little longer. Maybe for about a day?’
I inwardly chuckled.
“What about Vivian?”
Genia, who had been answering smoothly, started to stumble over her words.
“Uh, well, I, I’m not sure… I’ll check later.”
“I already checked.”
“…”
“Was there luggage in the room?”
“…No.”
She slipped up.
“You’re quick. What about the nanny?”
“H-He, Mrs. Herot went to her parents’ house the day before yesterday. She, she said she’s taking care of her sick child.”
“She probably went to gamble instead of taking care of a sick person.”
“Gasp! You knew?”
“What? Vivian going on unauthorized trips as if it’s nothing? Or maybe the nanny using my jewels as gambling funds? Or is it you selling my dresses to supplement your sister’s medicine expenses? Which one are you referring to?”
Astel was not a fool.
She was well aware that the employees were behaving recklessly on their own.
She simply lacked the ability to solve the problems and the mental composure. She felt sorry for the workers who had to work in the annex because of her.
Genia fell to her knees with a thud.
“I-I’m sorry! Princess! Please forgive me just this once!”
“From today, both of you are fired. Deliver the message to Vivian, who ran away.”
“Yes…”
Genia replied gloomily. Her complexion was ashen, as if she thought she would end up in the same situation as them.
I tapped the table with my finger.
“What are you doing? Don’t you need to prepare for going out?”
“M-Me? Are you not firing me?”
“Why? Do you want to quit?”
“That’s definitely not it, but… I also stole your belongings.”
“When I gave you a chance, that was already in the past. I’m not one to dwell on past matters.”
“…”
“Did I give the impression of being someone who holds grudges?”
“N-No! Not at all! You are more beautiful than anyone I’ve ever seen!”
“Stop saying strange things and get up.”
“But it’s true…”
Genia struggled to stand up, stumbling in the process.
“Ah…”
In her haste, it seemed like her legs collided with the floor.
I averted my gaze from her wounded knees.
“Genia, never deceive me again. When I ask a question, no matter how trivial it may be, you must tell the truth. This is not a request, it’s a warning.”
“Yes, Princess. I will keep that in mind.”
“Go on.”
“Then I will select the outfit for your outing!”
The dress Genia chose was a high-waisted dress with green embroidery on a white background.
It had a fresh yet elegant atmosphere, exuding a delicate charm.
With Genia’s assistance, I put on the dress and tidied up my hair.
As a touch of makeup was added, my previously hidden appearance now dazzled.
Clear skin and green eyes.
Although it seemed like a somewhat contrasting combination, Astel was not affected by it.
The deep green irises evoked images of majestic forests rather than mere foliage.
Combined with the proud nose and slightly plump yet firmly closed lips, it exuded a strong and resolute aura.
‘It’s truly beautiful.’
Genia combed my hair with a cautious expression. The silver strands that were always tangled gradually gained a lustrous sheen.
Compared to Astel’s former, almost indistinguishable appearance, it was as if a different person had emerged.
Genia’s expression turned dreamy.
“Princess, you are truly… beautiful…”
“Bring me the robe.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Yes.”
“But… it’s such a waste… just go like this.”
“Hurry.”
“Alright…”
Astel was a notorious figure throughout the entire empire.
Having been unable to go out for a long time, there would be few who recognized her face.
However, the color of her eyes and hair posed a problem. The silver strands and green irises were evidence of her Luteous’s kin.
So, the mere thought of exposing her face and going out sent a shiver down her spine, anticipating potential troubles.
‘It’s better to prevent troublesome situations in advance.’
I wrapped myself in a distant robe.
“Is this the only pair of shoes?”
“Oh, should I change them to a different design?”
“It’s not about the design, but the heel is too high.”
“Is it? Compared to other ladies, it’s not that high.”
“Clothing matters to a lesser extent, but shoes must be comfortable. In battles, more problems arise from shoes than from clothing.”
Genia’s eyes widened in surprise.
“With whom are you planning to fight?”
“We don’t know what might happen.”
Without further explanation, I sorted through the shoe items in the store.
‘Hermes Winged Shoes… They cost 80 million points? Oh, the red heels are 20 million points? Dorothy’s shoes are 15 million points? This is insane…’
Feeling that it would never end, I rearranged the shoes in ascending order of price and selected a suitable pair.
[System: <Queen’s Leather Lace-Up Boots> available for exchange with 4,500 points]
[Exchange] / [Decline]
The lace-up boots, reaching below the knees, featured a design where the laces tightly cinched from the instep.
“The only benefit is a mere weight reduction of -1… Well, it’s cheap.”
I exchanged my points for the boots and handed them to Genia.
“I’ll wear these.”
Even though the shoes suddenly appeared out of thin air, Genia didn’t seem particularly surprised.
She carefully inspected the boots.
“What is this?”
“Boots.”
“I’ve never seen a design like this before.”
Genia, who quickly learned how to put them on, handed me the boots.
Her long and beautiful calves were wrapped perfectly by the boots.
The exposed skin between the crisscrossed straps emitted a slightly alluring atmosphere.
“I didn’t know Princess possessed an Infinite Pouch.”
The Infinite Pouch was a magical item sold in magic tower, resembling a storage box that could hold a certain quantity of items regardless of weight or volume.
“I knew nothing about the mistress served by a maid. It’s truly embarrassing. From now on, I have to diligently learn about it.”
“Do as you wish.”
“What does Princess like the most?”
“Delicious food.”
“Oh, really? I’ll pay more attention to food from now on. Then, what do you dislike the most?”
“People.”
“…….”
After confirming the comfort by lightly tapping the tip of my foot on the floor, I let down my dress. The voluminous frills gracefully concealed the boots.
“Genia, listen carefully.”
“…Yes, please tell me.”
“I am not your master. I will discard you whenever I no longer need you, and the same goes for you. You can discard me whenever I become unnecessary. That’s the kind of relationship we have. Never forget that.”
“…Understood.”
Genia replied with a faint smile, unlike her usual strong and defiant responses, it was a smile devoid of strength.
* * *
Magic Tower was located near the Hegea Grand Plaza.
As we approached the square, a massive structure floating in the air came into view.
A jet-black spire adorned with mysterious patterns.
It was so dark and towering that its height could not be fathomed, completely out of place in this world.
Perhaps because of that, an eerie feeling washed over me as I gazed at it.
On one side of the Hegea Grand Plaza, white bouquets of flowers and numerous candles were placed, a tribute to the victims.
The condition of the plaza was not as bad as I expected. There were a few bloodstains on the ground, and some surrounding buildings had collapsed, but overall, it seemed relatively intact.
“It’s in decent shape, considering.”
Genia attributed it to the swift response from the magic tower and the temples, but I had a different perspective.
Unlike in my previous life, the buildings in this world were not as tall and not as densely packed.
Therefore, the damage caused by building collapses outweighed that of monsters.
‘How did they deal with the monsters?’
I couldn’t see any monster corpses amidst the sporadic bloodstains in the square.
Someone must have cleared away the monsters.
