Chapter 49
Even though it was a monumental incident that forced the entire family to leave the capital, there wasn’t a single rumor about it circulating.
This meant the Peris family had hoped to resolve it quietly.
Nanael didn’t know the exact circumstances either.
She just had a feeling that digging into this matter could inflict a deep wound on Rodellia Peris.
“Yes. Thanks to the precious items you sent along with the letter, I’ve received a great deal of help.”
Behind her polite demeanor, it seemed like she was probing what Nanael wanted from her.
Nanael got straight to the point.
“I heard you suffered an injustice eight years ago.”
The moment that day from eight years ago was mentioned, Jessica’s face turned as white as a sheet.
“Ah, no. Not particularly…”
“There’s no need to hide it. In a way, Lady Miranda and I have something in common.”
“Me, with Your Highness?”
“You must not have heard the news yet, since you’ve only recently arrived in the capital.”
Nanael elegantly grasped her teacup and gave it a light swirl.
“Rodellia Peris stole my fiancé.”
“R-Rodellia? Gasp.”
Jessica naturally mentioned Rodellia’s name, then startled herself and clamped her mouth shut.
Having been holed up in the estate for so long, she clearly didn’t know how to hide her expressions.
From her reaction, Nanael gained a certain conviction and flashed a triumphant smile.
“They say the quietest cat is the first to the hearth. I understand Lady Miranda’s feelings. She’s truly a despicable woman, isn’t she?”
“…”
“How about it? Would you tell me the story of that day eight years ago? At least by my side, you won’t be unjustly driven out like before.”
By my side.
That was the reason she had broken her long-ago promise and come up to the capital.
Because Nanael had sent her a letter and gifts, asking her to become her close attendant.
‘No matter how much it’s a ducal family, they wouldn’t dare touch Her Highness’s maid carelessly.’
For Jessica, who knew nothing of Nanael’s rumors, she couldn’t tell if this was a poisoned apple or not.
She had already been completely captivated by her sweet, ingratiating manner of speaking.
In truth, she still felt aggrieved about that day eight years ago.
It was just childish mischief, yet the entire family being banished from the capital—wasn’t that an excessive punishment?
After that, her parents would lament their fate and blame Jessica at every opportunity.
Unable to endure it, fleeing to the capital was, in a way, a natural outcome.
‘Being Her Highness’s close attendant isn’t something just anyone can do. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!’
To the nearly swayed opponent, Nanael delivered the finishing blow.
“And if you assist me from now on, you’ll receive rewards far greater than that.”
At Nanael’s sweet whisper, Jessica’s eyes sparkled.
“That day…”
Unaware that it was a poisoned apple.
* * *
In the Magia hideout, bathed in the leisurely afternoon sunlight.
There, Loti was in the midst of sketching, while Sierra and Glaster were whispering, creating a small commotion.
Having watched their antics the whole time, I casually broached the subject.
“Magia is supposedly a club for magical flora and fauna, so why aren’t there any magical plants or animals here?”
Caught off guard by the sudden lob, Sierra opened her mouth in defense, as if struck in a vital spot.
“W-We do have some!”
“You’re not about to say Wind, which every mage raises, are you?”
“Ugh.”
With a frustrated expression, Sierra quietly set down the whistle hanging around her neck.
At that moment, Glaster spoke up for Sierra.
“Magical flora and fauna are extremely rare. Even if you find them, taming them is no easy feat. The chances of forming a contract are higher if you raise them from eggs or seeds… The problem is that even if you get the eggs or seeds, hatching them isn’t simple.”
“Exactly! And even if you succeed in hatching, there’s no guarantee you can form a contract. They’re such free-spirited beings that if you try to force it even a little, they’ll just turn away.”
Magical flora and fauna were incredibly sensitive creatures.
To begin with, they belonged to another realm, so they could withdraw from this world at any time.
“Then do you have any seeds or eggs?”
“We do have some. Though we’ve never succeeded in hatching any.”
“So, basically, you’ve just been throwing money away.”
At the pointed remark, Sierra and Glaster both flinched simultaneously.
As the so-called leader and treasurer, it was only natural to feel that way when a newbie pointed out the club’s existential crisis.
“In the past, there were many dragons and spirits out for amusement, making contracts easy, but these days, we can barely find traces of them. Even if there are traces, we can’t be sure they have proper intelligence, so we’re busy sealing them. Of course, I’ve heard the Magic Tower secretly raises a lot of magical plants, but I’ve never actually seen…”
As Glaster spoke more than usual, Sierra cut him off.
“Honestly, most of the things sold as traces of magical flora and fauna are fakes. We’ve been duped into buying quite a few—they’re that sophisticated.”
Sigh.
The expressions on Glaster and Sierra, letting out a sigh, were filled with the weariness of grad students wrestling with an unsolvable problem.
It seemed they’d been scammed countless times since starting to collect out of love for magical flora and fauna.
Still, their passion for the field appeared genuine. They might have a lot of knowledge because of it.
Recalling Sophia’s shadowed face, I brought up the main topic.
“Do you happen to know a way to melt the glacier of an ice dragon?”
Even though it might sound like a far-fetched question, Sierra answered seriously.
“The glacier of an ice dragon is ice that absolutely doesn’t melt, right? It’s safe to say it can’t be melted.”
Yeah. Generally, that was the case.
It was powerful magic that had even forced Alferen to rely on the imperial family.
Still, I wondered if enthusiasts of magical flora and fauna might know something different.
“Just wondering. In case there’s a way to melt that ice.”
It was then that I tried to pass it off as mere curiosity.
“Well, the tears of the Fairy King might make it possible…”
Sierra fixed her gaze on me and subtly added.
“But if it’s a demonized ice dragon, that alone wouldn’t be enough. You’d definitely need a purifying agent like holy water.”
Sharp as expected.
I’d only hinted at it, but Sierra seemed to have figured out which dragon I was referring to.
Well, anyone with even a slight interest in magical flora and fauna would know.
Six years ago, the Ainluk Knights had set out to subdue a rampaging ice dragon. They killed it, but lost their lord in the process.
Right after, Alferen, who became the interim lord, moved the ice dragon’s corpse to the Magic Tower.
Given that no items related to the ice dragon had appeared on the market since, it was highly likely still at the Magic Tower.
For Sierra, who was preparing for the Magic Tower mage exam just to see that one ice dragon, it was a story she couldn’t possibly be unaware of.
“What if even holy water isn’t enough?”
“Then you’d need the most fundamental power.”
Sierra shrugged her shoulders.
“For example, something like the real Fairy King appearing and melting it personally.”
That was deflating.
How am I supposed to bring the Fairy King, who’s long since lost interest in the human world?
“So, ultimately, it’s impossible.”
“Yeah. Moreover, if the ice dragon is already dead, there should be no way to dispel the glacier.”
At her firm tone, I let out a deep sigh.
In the end, it seemed the previous duke would die, just like in the original story.
‘Alferen will be sad.’
In the original, after his father’s funeral, he didn’t leave his room for several days.
What self-reproach and grief he felt inside wasn’t described in detail.
Only that when he emerged, his face looked like that of a different person.
Even I, who had visited the previous duke frequently these past few days, felt this unsettled—how much more so for his son.
“To add a bit more, if someone is hit by an ice dragon’s glacier, even if they’re alive, it’s right to consider them already dead.”
Even without a subject, we both knew who it referred to.
I murmured somberly.
“Yes. It looked just like time had stopped. Frozen in that exact pose.”
“I had my suspicions since no obituary came…”
