Chapter 94
The letters were filled with content vile enough to make anyone frown.
As if already accustomed to them, Summer let out a quiet sigh.
“They’ve been coming nonstop ever since His Highness the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet. The guides have been working so hard every day to deal with them—I feel terrible about it.”
“Huh.”
I could guess what was going on.
They’re hounding her like cats after a mouse just because she comes from a humble family.
And now that Nanael had marked her as well, it must be even worse.
The threats were quite different from the ones Alferen and I had received.
“Does oppa know?”
I asked casually, just in case, and Summer practically jumped.
“No! Please don’t tell the young lord. I don’t want to cause him any trouble because of me.”
Well… I had a feeling our oppa would be far more hurt if she simply stopped seeing him without explanation.
So this was the beginning of the heroine’s trials.
If I stepped in rashly here, I’d only end up stealing Adrian’s role.
“All right. I’ll keep it a secret from oppa.”
“Thank you so much.”
Summer exhaled in visible relief.
And that very day, I went straight to Adrian and told him everything.
These things were meant to be handled by the male lead, after all.
* * *
It was Edwin who met Pierre at the train station.
“Welcome, Lord Pierre.”
The troublesome attitude he wore like a second skin at Magia had vanished entirely, replaced by perfect courtesy.
To him, Pierre was a father.
His biological father had always treated him like vermin, but Pierre had been different.
“You possess a rare gift.”
He was one of the few who had ever truly seen Edwin.
The benefactor who had pulled him up from the very bottom of life.
Pierre was the mage Edwin had encountered in the Range territory.
The one who had taught him curse magic and helped him claim the family inheritance.
He looked exactly the same as he had eight years ago. Even Edwin didn’t know his true age.
Standing side by side now, they could almost pass for brothers.
Yet his eyes still carried the seasoned aura of a great sorcerer.
“It’s been a long time. Still fond of flying, I take it?”
“Yes. I’ve even perfected my landings now.”
“Splendid.”
Edwin guided Pierre toward the Range mansion.
“I’ll be staying in the capital for a while. She has summoned me again.”
At the mention of her , Edwin’s shoulders stiffened involuntarily.
The hidden backer who had helped fake the epidemic that wiped out the Range family.
He hadn’t understood it at the time, but now he knew perfectly well.
The person sponsoring Pierre was none other than the empress of this empire.
Edwin worried that Pierre might get drawn into something dangerous.
Pierre was the only family he had.
“I didn’t realize you were still in contact.”
“Why? Does it bother you that I keep in touch with her?”
“No—it’s just… I want you to stay healthy, that’s all.”
Six years ago, Pierre had suddenly collapsed and hovered on the brink of death.
That was when Edwin learned the truth: the magic Pierre used was sorcery.
Sorcery that staked his very life.
A dangerous power that everyone shunned.
Afterward, Edwin had thought Pierre had quarreled with the empress and cut ties.
To call him the moment Davin Ainluk wakes up…
Edwin ground his teeth, trying to read the empress’s intentions.
Only later had he realized that Pierre’s collapse six years ago was connected to Davin Ainluk.
It had always struck him as strange that a great mage like Davin would make such a novice mistake.
He had felt relieved when it seemed Pierre was no longer in contact with her.
But now Pierre had come to the capital at this suspiciously timed moment, and worry gnawed at him.
“Hmm. Age is catching up with me, I suppose. But it’s not bad enough to warrant your concern.”
“You keep collapsing in random places and tell me not to worry?”
At the sharp retort, Pierre smiled warmly and ruffled Edwin’s hair.
“No wonder I have to hide when I’m unwell. If you’re still going to scold me like a child over what happened back then, let’s leave it at that.”
Edwin could only shrug in defeat.
* * *
It was the weekend, and I had slept in gloriously late.
After finally getting ready to go out, I stepped into the drawing room—and found we had a guest.
“Delly, come here, dear.”
At Mother’s beckoning, I entered and saw an unfamiliar man smiling gently.
“So this is the daughter who made her debutante this season.”
He appeared to be in his thirties, but his eyes were as deep and weathered as an old man’s.
There was something detached about his gaze, an air that felt faintly suspicious.
I sat beside Mother almost on instinct, and she draped a shawl over my shoulders.
“This would suit you beautifully.”
“The weather has turned chilly—perhaps a thicker one?”
The man smoothly produced a heavier shawl in a similar shade.
A traveling merchant, then. What brings him here?
Jasmine wasn’t the type to casually invite strangers into the mansion.
She was especially selective about wanderers like merchants.
Given that I was already on guard against the sorcerer Pierre—who disguised himself as a traveling merchant—something about this felt off.
I stole a covert glance at him.
The man had deep violet hair and eyes, and a strikingly handsome face.
His short hair, cut neatly along his jawline, gave him a cool, aloof impression.
He looked pale and thin, almost frail.
Noticing my obvious stare, the merchant smiled.
“Is there something in particular you’re looking for?”
“Oh—no.”
I quickly looked away, only to meet Jasmine’s eyes.
Seeing the wariness in my gaze, she added an explanation.
“Don’t be so guarded. He’s someone I know.”
“Someone you know?”
“We met when I was snowed in at Ravernin last time. He helped me a great deal.”
Ah. That explained it.
I had thought it unlike Mother, but now it made sense.
Only then did I relax and begin examining the goods.
Meanwhile, the conversation between the man and Jasmine continued.
“I was the one honored to assist the Duchess Peris. To be invited like this is the greatest privilege.”
“If anything, you brought too few items. I was planning to buy everything.”
“I thought you might say that, so I brought only the expensive ones on purpose.”
“Hahaha, I see. You could have been a little greedier.”
“If you insist, then please invite me again. I’ll be staying in the capital for a while.”
“Oh? Really? Where will you be staying?”
“At the Range mansion.”
“Cough!”
I had been listening quietly when I suddenly choked, coughing hard enough to turn red.
I had swallowed wrong out of sheer shock.
“Delly, are you all right?”
Jasmine patted my back with concern.
I waved a hand to say I was fine and stared at the man.
“You’re staying at the Range mansion?”
At my confirmatory question, he smiled broadly.
“My apologies for the late introduction. I’m Pierre. Edwin has told me about you, my lady. We’re fellow members of the same club, he said.”
The moment he confirmed he was Pierre, my mind spun into chaos.
I forced myself to respond calmly.
“Yes, that’s right. I was just surprised to hear a familiar family name.”
“I should have explained sooner—my oversight.”
“No, it’s fine. Now that I think about it, I remember Edwin saying he was going to meet you at the station. He was unusually excited.”
“…You must be quite close with Edwin. He’s not the type to tell people his plans.”
“Oh, yes. Everyone in Magia is incredibly tight-knit!”
I deliberately emphasized how close Edwin and I were.
It was a probe, and his expression softened noticeably—he clearly cherished Edwin, just as I had suspected.
Well, it’s not entirely untrue.
When I first joined Magia, I never imagined I’d grow this close to them.
Back then, I had been utterly sick of high society.
I only recently learned that it had all stemmed from Jessica Miranda.
Afterward, Pierre left without further comment, promising to return—as befitted a traveling merchant.
The moment he was gone, I seized Jasmine and demanded answers.
“Is that man really trustworthy?”
