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Even Parnel, who was standing nearby, looked visibly shaken.
Aidelica clutched her hood tighter over her head and began to ramble.
“I-I don’t know… what you’re talking about. I mean, I don’t know!”
“Oh? Then I guess it’s fine if I just take this carriage straight to the Duke’s estate?”
“NOOOOOOOO!!”
Aidelica grabbed Railey’s shoulders in a panic, almost as if she were about to devour her in desperation.
In the frenzy, her hood fell off, finally revealing her face clearly.
Despite her disheveled appearance, with her fiery red hair tied back hastily and no effort put into grooming, her striking beauty still shone through.
There was no way anyone could mistake her for a boy upon seeing her clearly.
‘That hood must be some sort of magic tool for cognitive distortion.’
Even as Railey was being shaken by Aidelica, she calmly evaluated the situation and greeted her with dignity.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Aidelica Colluima, daughter of the Grand Duke. I am Railey of Elestine.”
“Ugh…”
Aidelica let out a weak moan and slumped her shoulders.
She was probably fifteen this year, still just a clumsy teenager.
“Please… don’t tell my mother… the Grand Duchess… anything about this… What do you want? You can just have the jewel. If you want something else, then…”
“No. I don’t want anything in particular.”
“…Because telling my mother would be more beneficial for you?”
“That’s not it either. I don’t intend to report today’s incident to Her Grace, the Grand Duchess.”
At Railey’s answer, Aidelica blinked in surprise.
“Really…?”
“Yes. I also won’t reveal the fact that I was assigned as your escort. You have nothing to worry about. However, I do have one question.”
“What is it?”
“Why were you trying to sell the jewel for money? Surely your personal funds are more than sufficient.”
“…”
At that, Aidelica lowered her eyes, fidgeting and unable to respond.
Railey gave Parnel a subtle gesture, asking her to step out of the carriage. Now that the other party’s identity had been confirmed, there was no longer any concern for safety.
Parnel quickly caught on and exited the carriage without a word.
Even after Parnel left, Aidelica didn’t give a clear answer. She only muttered sulkily.
“I don’t see any reason why I should tell you something like that…”
“Even if I were to report this to the Grand Duchess?”
“Is that a threat?!”
“Who knows?”
“W-Why are you, a child, so forward and shameless?!”
“Perhaps it’s not me but Your Ladyship who’s being careless…”
“Urgh…”
Railey wasn’t entirely sure if it was the right choice to build a connection with a Grand Duke’s daughter who might disappear from the picture later on.
Still, regardless of what the original story dictated, Railey wanted to do what would benefit House Elestine.
‘If things go exactly as the original did, House Elestine ends up destroyed.’
So to prevent that, she decided it would be best to gather as many usable cards as possible.
“In any case, this isn’t blackmail. I simply thought I might be able to help you, Your Ladyship.”
“Help?”
“Yes. I don’t know exactly why you need money, but if you’re looking for untraceable funds, ones not tied to your official estate, then I can help provide them.”
“…Then what is it that you want from me? There’s no such thing as help without a price.”
Despite her youth and awkwardness, Aidelica was still the daughter of a Grand Duke. She didn’t accept the offer right away and instead gave Railey a sharp, discerning stare.
Railey answered honestly.
“I saw this as a good opportunity to build a connection.”
“…A connection?”
“Yes. I come from a humble background, actually, my family’s completely fallen. I have nothing, which makes every opportunity that much more important to me.”
“…”
“So… well… I just want to be close to you. You’re someone important, after all.”
Railey was still just a regular kid. She didn’t have the skill to weave some grand political scheme or pretend otherwise.
So she just admitted it plainly: that she wanted to get close to Aidelica because she was someone from a noble and powerful house.
Though Colluima was officially part of the Empire, in truth it functioned like a self-governing duchy, practically its own principality.
Naturally, getting close to the likely successor of such a house had significant value.
Aidelica stared at Railey blankly, then burst out laughing.
“I’ve seen many flatterers, but I’ve never met anyone as blunt as you.”
“…I’ll take that as a compliment?”
“Ahaha!”
She laughed for a long time, eventually wiping tears from her eyes.
“But that’s unfortunate. I’m not really the kind of ‘important person’ who can help you.”
“…”
“You’re still young, so you probably don’t understand yet… but even if I hold a high title, I don’t actually have any power. Becoming close to me won’t be of much use.”
She was a Grand Duke’s daughter, overshadowed by her mother who served as regent, someone with little presence of her own.
Railey could easily imagine how that must feel.
But…
“That doesn’t mean it’s meaningless.”
“……”
“The rightful heir to the Great Watchtower that guards the Empire isn’t the Grand Duchess, it’s you, Your Ladyship.”
“……!”
“That’s what I believe.”
Aidelica, who had been silent for a long while after hearing that, let out a bitter chuckle.
“You really are an impudent little thing.”
“It’s an honor.”
Aidelica shook her head and reached for the carriage door.
“I’ll be on my way now.”
“……You’re not accepting the deal?”
“You said you were Railey of House Elestine, right? I’ll send you an invitation to a tea party soon.”
“……!”
“We can speak properly then.”
Aidelica pulled her hood tightly back over her head and stepped out of the carriage without another word.
Parnel, startled, hurried to assist her as she stepped down, then glanced back at Railey. Railey gave her a small nod, silently telling her it was fine to let her go.
Aidelica calmly walked away and eventually disappeared from sight. It seemed her magical hood had both cognitive distortion and stealth functions.
‘I don’t know if this was the right decision today, but…’
Putting aside all the pros and cons.
She couldn’t deny the excitement bubbling inside her, like she had just made a new friend a little older than herself.
***
After that, Railey headed to the outskirts of the commercial district, to an antique shop.
It didn’t give off a luxurious, noble-oriented air; in fact, it looked rather shabby.
She browsed the items on display before speaking to the gruff-looking shopkeeper.
“Do you have anything… special?”
“Those are kept in the storage room. I can show you more inside.”
“Please do!”
The shopkeeper cast a sidelong glance at Parnel standing behind her and said.
“Only the customer can come inside for the deal.”
“Then I’ll go in alone. Parnel, I’ll be right back.”
“Yes.”
Given the small size of the shop and the fact that the storage area was just around the corner, Parnel judged it safe enough and nodded.
Railey followed the shopkeeper inside.
At that moment, she felt a subtle magical shift, some kind of soundproofing enchantment sealing off the space.
“So, little miss, what are you looking for?”
“I came to buy information!”
“Hmph, I figured as much. Did your parents send you?”
“No. And besides, isn’t it an unspoken rule that you don’t judge clients by appearances during a deal?”
It was common for information traders to disguise their appearance when doing business to conceal their identity.
Perhaps assuming Railey was one of those types, the information dealer gave a small nod.
“You’re right. As long as the intel is high-quality, appearances don’t matter. My apologies for the earlier assumption.”
“No offense taken.”
“So, young miss, are you selling or buying?”
The middle-aged man’s demeanor was extremely businesslike.
Railey stared at him for a moment, then replied.
“I’d like to save that answer… for when I speak with the Guildmaster directly.”
“……!”
The shopkeeper’s eyes widened.
“You even know about the Guild’s existence… You’re no ordinary girl.”
The information brokers operated all across the Empire.
But very few people knew that these brokers were actually rooted in a centralized network, a 'Guild.'
Even fewer were aware of the existence of the Guildmaster, who bought and managed all intel from the central hub.
“But the Guildmaster isn’t so idle as to meet just anyone. I’m not sure you’re worth-”
Just then, a plume of pitch-black smoke began to swirl from the ceiling.
From within it, a strange voice, blending both male and female tones, echoed through the room.
[But I do want to meet her. She’s a cute and intriguing young miss.]
“…Guildmaster?!”
🍓; 'Disappear from the picture later on' is an idiomatic expression. It means that someone or something that was once involved or present in a situation eventually is no longer involved, fades away, or stops being relevant.
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OHHHHH
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