Chapter 103
Chapter 103
To be honest, I didn’t think he would come to the party.
Since the hearing, he seemed unable to even lift his head properly out of shame.
He had already contacted me and Cassis once to apologize and thank us. And we had already accepted it and moved on.
Because we could understand completely.
Besides, every time I passed by Duke Hellis’s residence, the sight of the half-demolished mansion reminded me of that terrible scene.
So I could understand Duke Hellis’s reaction as well.
“I’ve come to the party to thank you once more and to apologize again.”
I felt uncomfortable with Duke Hellis’s humble attitude.
I glanced at Cassis, who was standing beside me. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
“It’s all right.”
“…”
“We understand.”
Duke Hellis expressed his gratitude and brought up Jane.
“When Jane found out how I had behaved, she was furious. She insisted that Irina and Duke Luwin would never be those kinds of people.”
She defended us. How can I thank her enough?
Actually, I had many concerns when sending an invitation to the Hellis Duchy. I wondered if sending a ‘Lu & Cream’ invitation in this situation might seem like mockery.
But I couldn’t bring myself to not invite Jane, who had consistently visited us since our stall days and promoted us to others.
So I sent an invitation addressed to Jane.
Jane attended the party as if her family’s circumstances or her brother’s situation were none of her concern.
I could vaguely see Jane with her twin braids where people were gathered over there.
“Jane seems to be having the most enjoyable time. So I hope you won’t worry too much, Duke.”
“…And thank you also for helping Jane escape first.”
Ah, that’s right.
Back then, I gave Jane the precious cone hat I had received from Lemiere. Later, Jane returned that hat.
“This… is something I prepared as a token of gratitude.”
The Duke suddenly produced a box from somewhere and held it out.
I reluctantly accepted the box.
Ding!
[SYSTEM | ‘Letter Starting from the 1 Jurang Commemorative Coin’ has been updated.]
[SYSTEM | (Completed) 04. Exchange ‘Humbly Family Wizard Robe’ for ‘Lemiere Cone Hat’.]
[SYSTEM | 05. Exchange ‘Lemiere Cone Hat’ for ‘■■■ ■■■’.]
It’s been a while since I’ve seen this quest that links one thing to another.
“What is this?”
“Please open it.”
I opened the box on a nearby standing table.
“Oh…”
What is this?
What came out of the box was something like a very large egg-shaped container. Almost like…
[It looks like an ostrich egg container.]
[And a very luxurious one at that.]
Yes. That’s exactly what it looks like. It was a very antique-looking container, similar to a storage case designed specifically for an ostrich egg.
“What on earth is this?”
I raised my head to look up at Duke Hellis. The Duke nodded with a very satisfied expression.
“Yes, that is… a family heirloom.”
“…”
“I heard you were interested in ancient civilizations. So I prepared this jewelry box from ancient times.”
Ding!
[SYSTEM | ‘Letter Starting from the 1 Jurang Commemorative Coin’ has been updated.]
[SYSTEM | (Completed) 05. Exchange ‘Lemiere Cone Hat’ for ‘Ancient Incubator’.]
Duke Hellis called it a jewelry box, but the system called it an ‘incubator.’
I held the ancient incubator carefully with both hands and looked up at the Duke once more.
I was about to ask what this actually was, but what I encountered again were expectant eyes.
So my possible response was essentially predetermined.
“Th-thank you.”
“I hope you like it.”
After Duke Hellis left, with Jane happily enjoying herself in the distance and Seiren drinking wine next to Isiel…
“Don’t I look a bit silly?”
[Yes, quite a bit.]
I stood there, awkwardly holding the ‘Ancient Incubator.’
“What am I supposed to do with this?”
[Good question!]
At that moment, another quest arrived.
[SYSTEM | ‘Hatching Seilun’s Egg’ quest has arrived.]
Ah! Aaaah!
Seilun’s egg!
My jaw dropped. I had completely forgotten about it!
[How embarrassing…]
‘Where did I put my egg?’
I couldn’t even remember where I had placed it.
I clutched my head.
[Sigh, I knew you’d be like this.]
[How could you treat our reward so carelessly?]
While I was arguing with the system, someone suddenly appeared before me.
They were wearing a black butterfly mask. Wearing such a mask at a non-masquerade party means they don’t want to reveal their identity. Or perhaps they can’t.
Usually, I can identify who someone is even with a mask, but I couldn’t place this person.
‘Who is it?’
[I can’t remember.]
[We really don’t know.]
While running Seike Winery, I’ve memorized almost all the relevant nobles. Moreover, I made efforts to remember as many people as possible while preparing for ‘Lu & Cream.’
But this person before me—though I felt I’d seen them somewhere before—I couldn’t recall where.
I started by greeting them.
“Hello, Lady. Is there a problem?”
“Hi, hello.”
The woman immediately spoke informally, despite this being our first meeting. I was a bit taken aback but nodded anyway.
Who is she? Why does she seem familiar? Where have I met her?
The woman had long straight hair and was dressed modestly. Just a dress with an ordinary design. However, looking at the details, everything from the fabric to the jewels was quite expensive.
Even more noticeable than that was her aura. Despite her appearance and attire suggesting gentleness and warmth, her atmosphere was cold and sharp—completely contradictory.
‘There’s no way I could forget someone like this.’
[Ah. I remember now.]
‘Who is it?’
[She came as a customer when we were selling from the ice cream truck before.]
How many ice creams have I sold from the truck so far? How could I remember them all?
[No. You do remember her.]
[She came when we were selling behind the Imperial Palace.]
Hm? It does seem a bit familiar.
[She came with Sian back then.]
‘Ah.’
<Irina, relax your expression.>
<Who is that?>
<Someone you’ll get to know eventually.>
The person I was afraid of back then. That’s who this is.
I pressed Sian about it several times afterward, but he didn’t answer, and since he was absent for quite a long time after that, I stopped asking.
“…”
“You seem to remember who I am.”
The woman said with a slight smile.
“…You visited Lu & Cream before. It’s an honor to see you again.”
She dismissed my response with a casual “hmm” and turned her head to look at Vroom-vroom in the hall.
The fact that she specifically looked at Vroom-vroom suggested she did remember it.
Who could she be? What is it about her that makes me feel so uneasy? How does she know Sian, a person from a thousand years ago?
While I was wrapped in all these questions, she spoke.
“That sacred beast looks fine now?”
“Ah, yes. Thanks to sacred power.”
The woman cut me off.
“Did Sian Terezia help?”
“…”
She knows that Sian has sacred power.
“Or perhaps you drew on the sacred power of Lake Yusta Winter.”
What? As I swallowed dryly, she took a step toward me. That step felt threatening.
She slightly removed her mask right in front of my face. I still couldn’t place her. I know she’s the person who bought ice cream that day and that she knows Sian. But who is she?
‘System?’
[……]
[……]
Once again, the system fell completely silent.
I could only go by my intuition again.
‘This person must be related to the destruction.’
Whenever the system fell silent, whether by choice or compulsion, it was always when something touched on destruction and the secrets of the world.
“…Who are you?”
“Where is Cassis Luwin?”
“Why are you looking for His Grace?”
“Is it wrong for me to look for him?”
Well, no. There’s nothing wrong with it. But I’m scared of why you’re looking for him.
When I didn’t respond, she spoke first.
“Interesting. Since you were the first, I had planned to break you from the beginning, but you’ve managed to survive against all odds.”
“…”
“You’re lucky.”
After saying that, she swiftly turned away.
I didn’t know where to begin with questions or objections.
‘Since you were the first.’
What does that mean?
‘I had planned to break you.’
What was she planning to break? ‘Lu & Cream’? Me? Luwin?
I wanted to hold her back, but I couldn’t. The Saint, who had been standing in the distance with an anxious face, rushed over immediately.
The Saint clung to the woman’s side, at a complete loss for what to do.
The woman didn’t even blink when the empire’s Saint bowed and scraped before her. People’s gazes seemed to fall on the woman, but she straightened her back and disappeared from the party venue.
Watching the woman who commanded the Saint like her own limb, I had a realization.
She is…
“Leilyranda Jackmüller.”
The empire’s hidden princess,
And the original female protagonist.
