Chapter 14 Part 4

Recently, I had drastically cut down the number of Raphlas I controlled, saying I was restraining my magic use.

One for Abel, one for Hertiana, one for Hyle, and lastly, one more for the Brissel Viscounty just now…

“…About four, I guess?”

“That doesn’t seem reduced at all.”

“It’s temporary, so it’s fine.”

I waved my hand a couple of times with a tone suggesting this much was easy.

Indeed, thanks to receiving a lot of holy power from Hyle, even if there was magical backlash, no great pain was coming.

Of course, if I used up all the holy power to block the backlash this way, the purification of my heart would be delayed, which would be unfortunate.

But since I couldn’t not use Raphla… I had no choice but to make Entrie’s diet successful as soon as possible!

Having slept well after a long time and eaten a hearty meal, it was time to return to where we each belonged.

I had confirmed that Abel had returned to the Imperial Palace… and I had work to attend to as well.

I also needed to check on the status of the Raphla I sent to Hertiana.

I couldn’t hide my anxiety as this was the first time there had been no contact from Raphla for such a long period.

“Thanks for the sleepover.”

“Me too.”

Hyle readily returned my farewell and smiled faintly.

Perhaps because his figure, seeing me off as I left the villa, had an atmosphere like welcoming a partner heading off to work, I burst into laughter.

“I’ll contact you.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Replies came as if he had been waiting with every word I spoke.

But… when did the words “I’ll be waiting” sound so pleasant?

Somehow, it felt like Hyle’s foolish smile had spread to me as well.

* * *

A few days later, a particularly loud knock echoed on my office door in the middle of the night.

What could it be? No one should be looking for me at this hour…

“Um, my lady. I’m sorry to disturb your work. It’s urgent…”

Lynn’s voice was more tense than usual.

Sensing something quite unusual, I allowed her to enter.

“An unidentified visitor has arrived, showing a communication device containing your magical power and demanding a private audience.”

A communication device with my magic?

…No way.

“What’s their appearance?”

“They’re wearing a black robe, so it’s difficult to determine details. However… their build is quite small and short, making it hard to consider them an ordinary adult man.”

After adding her deduction that men in the Empire were generally of average height, Lynn looked at me as if asking what to do.

“It’s… someone I know. Let them in.”

After a brief deliberation, I finally approved the meeting.

My head was spinning from this unexpected visit.

I couldn’t believe Hertiana had come all the way here.

When I checked through Raphla a few days ago, there didn’t seem to be any particular issues…

And she even showed a communication device containing my magic.

That meant… my identity had been exposed.

She’d discovered that “El” was actually me, Rosiel Laté.

And not just a guess, but with absolute certainty.

There was only one possible way this could have happened.

That day, when I supported Hyle to the inn.

My identity was momentarily exposed on the street when my robe slipped off.

And the gaze I felt afterward.

I thought it was nothing significant at the time… was that Tia?

But it’s strange.

I’m certain Hyle erased the memories of everyone in that vicinity.

Unless she wasn’t affected because they both use holy power…

“…Should I have done it myself after all?”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. Lynn, escort the guest to the reception room. I’ll be there soon.”

“Understood.”

Watching Lynn leave, I swallowed a complex sigh.

There was no point in regretting it now that the truth had been completely exposed.

I never thought I could keep it hidden forever anyway.

As I entered the reception room, I saw Tia, who had been sitting demurely, rise urgently.

As the door closed behind me, her black robe was finally removed.

Her dazzling golden hair, flowing softly, seemed to illuminate the dim interior of the reception room like the moon.

Eventually, her lake-blue eyes that gazed at me trembled slightly.

“Lady Rosiel, I apologize for the late hour. I have something I really need to tell you… I am Hertiana Brissel.”

“Have a seat. It seems you already know everything.”

At my blunt words, Tia bit her lower lip once, then slowly sat down.

Rather than her troubled face, I was the one who was flustered.

For someone who came knowing the truth and was supposedly angry, she had a puzzlingly ambiguous expression.

I was the one who should be questioned, yet why did she look more uncomfortable…

“Are you angry with me?”

I had long anticipated that Tia would be angry once she learned the truth.

That’s why I had instructed Lynn not to enter the room no matter what loud noises she might hear.

But…

The response was quite different from what I had expected.

“What!? W-what do you mean? Angry…”

“You’ve been deceived by me all this time. Now that you know El is me, if you want an apology…”

“No, absolutely not! That’s impossible. El—I mean, Lady Rosiel… you’re still my benefactor.”

…To be honest, I wasn’t completely surprised that Tia wouldn’t be angry with me.

I had vaguely suspected it, but the probability seemed low, so I hadn’t given it much thought.

After all, Hertiana was someone who hadn’t even been angry with Fergio who had kidnapped her in her previous life.

So why would she be genuinely angry just because I had deceived her a little?

But I thought she would at least express some light resentment, so this was truly unexpected.

She couldn’t be a fool either, considering she had come all this way. So perhaps she had a different purpose?

“Then why have you come here at this late hour? If you’re not angry with me, I don’t think we have any particular business.”

“I know that you… sent a letter to the Brissel Viscounty.”

“Hmm?”

I hadn’t listed the sender when sending the letter to eliminate any possibility of a reply.

Yet Hertiana was confident that I was the one who wrote it.

Just like before, she had a vague certainty without revealing any evidence, but there wasn’t even a hint of doubt in it.

Moreover, this was quite important to me.

If even Hertiana could immediately recognize that I had sent the letter… it would be a problem.

The reason being that I occasionally sent politically disruptive letters to other noble houses.

But I had never been caught during any of those occasions, so how did Tia know?

The handwriting was deliberately disguised to be quite different from the average noble’s style, and even the scent emanating from the letter would have been completely removed…

“What made you think it was me?”

At my question, Tia’s lips moved momentarily, then she cleared her throat with a somewhat embarrassed face.

Then, scratching her head, she spoke again.

“Well… the content of the letter seemed rigid at first glance, sounding like commands, but it was actually kind words of concern for me. Among the people I know, only you would be like that, Lady Rosiel.”

…Even after her explanation, I still don’t understand. I just sent it as I always did. What a strange woman…

“And lately, a black bird that keeps circling around me suddenly appears and helps whenever I’m about to fall. When I slip while trying to pick fruit from a tree, it picks it for me… I felt the same magic from that bird as from the magical item you gave me.”

…Raphla, I wondered why there had been no contact all this time, but you were completely immersed in monitoring Hertiana’s every move?

Moreover, rather than just surveillance, it seems you’ve been practically babysitting the clumsy Tia… no wonder the communication was cut off due to being busy!