Chapter 3 Part 6

“Seeing you seduce me like this, you really are a demon.”

I responded half-heartedly while quietly accepting his touch.

“How about it, feeling like giving in a little?”

Showing a light smile at my unexpected response, Caligo slowly bent down to come closer.

“Shall I give it to you by mouth?”

The round, small magic stone in his hand blazed with a sunset-red light.

“No.”

His temptation was attractive, but fortunately, my reason to judge remained intact.

I immediately refused and pushed Caligo’s hand away.

The small but dense spherical mass emitting magic moved away from me, leaving a deep afterglow.

Just from that faint trace, it felt like my heart, which had been purified by Hyle, was instantly being dyed black.

If Hyle’s holy power felt cool and bright, Caligo’s magic felt hot, making all the blood in my body boil strongly from overwhelming power.

“Thanks anyway.”

Still, Caligo’s goodwill in granting my request and offering the magic stone was a separate matter.

When I briefly expressed my gratitude, Caligo’s eyes narrowed as if unconvinced.

“Hmm, you don’t look very thankful? I went through a lot of trouble. It was a perfect opportunity to kill the future head of House Feros, but I held back because you said no.”

“Yes, I know.”

“And you asked me to erase not just one, but multiple priests’ memories. That’s something only someone of my level could do, it’s absolutely not an easy task.”

Complaints came flooding in as if he’d been waiting for this moment.

I nodded perfunctorily while giving dry responses.

“So, tell me.”

Caligo, who had been quietly accepting my patronizing attitude with a gloomy face, suddenly looked at me directly and brought up his point.

“Tell you what?”

“Why that white one is your lifeline.”

Ugh, he remembered that? I thought he hadn’t been paying attention.

How can I tell a demon about trying to purify a demon’s heart? I absolutely can’t say it.

“It’s just something. Demons don’t need to know.”

“Hm? Rosi, you’re a demon too.”

Caligo’s cheerful response, tinged with cruel humor, flew to my ears like sparks.

He meant it as a joke, but for a moment, along with a small “ah” sigh, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Right, come to think of it, I must be a demon to someone too.

It was natural – no matter how much I declared I wouldn’t be a villainess, that wouldn’t erase everything I had done until now.

I unconsciously bit my lip. A salty and bitter taste of blood came up.

“Caligo, is the magic I asked about last time ready?”

Trying to reassure myself that this life would be different, I changed the topic.

I had previously asked Caligo to prepare a certain magic spell just in case.

At my question, Caligo’s smiling face briefly darkened.

Groaning with a troubled expression, he slowly nodded.

“Yes. But are you sure you want to use that magic? As I said before, it’s forbidden even in the demon realm.”

Rare shadows crossed Caligo’s face as he carefully tried to dissuade me.

While it was indeed such dangerous black magic that even a great demon like him would worry this much, it was also magic that was equally effective.

“Given who we’re dealing with, we need to prepare thoroughly.”

“I’ll keep watch, but still be careful. It’s magic that would make an ordinary magician’s heart explode.”

I planned to use this dangerous magic on someone who would be at the Flore Party when it reached its peak.

The party was in two days, so there was enough preparation time.

Caligo’s yellow eyes held a complex light.

I looked at him soothingly and smiled gently.

“Don’t worry. I’m quite compatible with dangerous things.”

“Ah, Rosiel…”

Caligo’s stiff eyes curved like a crescent moon at my arrogant words.

“You cause trouble so casually with that shameless pretty face. How can I not love you…?”

Giggling, Caligo briefly kissed my cheek and quietly disappeared.

It was a chaotic night where the coming storm could not be predicted.

* * *

“My lady, His Highness the Crown Prince has sent a letter!”

Receiving the letter Lynn handed me right after I woke up, I opened it in my half-awake state.

The red velvet letter paper with the imperial crest engraved in pure gold felt soft to the touch.

The letter said that Abel would personally visit the mansion for tomorrow’s Flore Party.

“It’s already tomorrow.”

At the end of the paragraph was written that he was very much looking forward to attending the party with me.

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow too.”

The moment to break off my engagement with Abel was finally approaching.

My heart fluttered at the thought of proceeding with my carefully prepared plan.

“The dressmaker has finally completed the custom dress they specially made for you! It’s scheduled to arrive this afternoon.”

Lynn smiled brightly with an expectant face while holding out a silver tray with morning tea and tea cookies.

“Skip breakfast, I have no appetite.”

“My lady, you don’t look well… Should I bring some soup?”

“No, I just want to be alone for a while.”

Lynn tactfully left, saying she understood.

Lying back down on the bed, I sighed while looking at the red sun rising outside the window.

“Ah… I need to ask Fergio about the Black Forest.”

Just as I felt like I was forgetting something important, Fergio suddenly came to mind.

After using Raphla to locate him, I immediately teleported to the beast pen.

As soon as I entered, Fergio’s pink hair caught my eye as he was checking the condition of the magical beasts.

“Hello, Rosi. Did you really come all the way here to see me this morning?”

Wow, I’m touched.

His meaningless gruff afterthought was clearly audible beyond the back of his head.

Approaching Fergio, I began to glare at him sideways.

“I’m warning you, stay out of my business.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Without even wiping his hands soaked in magical beast blood, Fergio turned around to face me.

His deep red eyes swept over me with a strange gaze.

“I’m saying don’t interfere unnecessarily. Since when did you care about my affairs?”

“Is approaching House Feros after announcing your broken engagement to the Crown Prince really your own affair?”

Though Fergio asked with a kind face, I knew he wasn’t asking out of pure curiosity.

Seeing him beat around the bush like this, he doesn’t seem certain about what I’m doing…

Still, his intuition is irritatingly sharp.

“You dare ask that after releasing magical beasts as you pleased? If even one of the Feros knights had died, it would have caused troublesome issues.”

“They all lived thanks to you putting them to sleep with Raphla, didn’t they?”

As expected, Fergio knew I would release magical beasts in the Black Forest.

And that I had no intention of killing them.

I could guess how he found out. He must have peeked through my Raphla’s eyes.

It must have been quite difficult to catch a magical beast skilled in stealth, he must have struggled.

But it would be troublesome if he discovered my purpose, so I’ll deal with him moderately.

“Are you proud of spying by catching someone else’s magical beast? This should be the last time.”

“Rosi, don’t let the magical beasts loose too much. They’re not pets.”

A strange non-sequitur response came.

Fergio’s affectionate smile turned chilly as he faced me.

I had given Raphla some freedom lately since I felt like I’d been overusing her, and it seems Fergio had taken that chance to peek inside.

He really only chooses to do things that make me lose all affection for him.

“I’ll say this one last time, stay out of my business.”