Chapter 6 Part 3
A bright answer without any hesitation came back readily, making my reflexively blurted question seem foolish.
But that appearance and such an answer felt uncomfortably familiar because they were too familiar.
What is it, it feels like I’m forgetting something…
…Ah, Caligo!
He was the type to unhesitatingly make embarrassing statements like “because I like you” or “I like you.”
I thought the situation seemed strangely familiar, but to think Caligo was the cause.
Come to think of it, compared to how he used to pop up frequently before, I haven’t seen him lately…
For a moment, my vision seemed to flicker slightly hazily. It meant there was no more time to dawdle.
Let’s return home first. The magic’s operation time is really running out now.
“Tia, listen carefully. This vision stone must only be used to contact me.”
“What? Is there some problem…”
Perhaps taking it as a serious matter, Tia’s expression instantly became solemn. Seeing her, I slightly raised the corner of my mouth and gently shook my head.
“You said you like me, right? So I’m saying don’t cheat with what I gave you.”
I said it because it would be troublesome if she missed my contact while communicating with someone else.
Though that was clearly all… Whether Tia understood my intention or not, she nodded her head vigorously while smiling brightly with a face even redder than before.
“Yes, I will! Then is this our secret?”
“…Well, I suppose so.”
Though there was nothing particularly secret about a mere vision stone, seeing Tia smiling brightly so pleased about something, it didn’t seem necessary to correct that misunderstanding.
Taking advantage of Tia’s smile, I quickly teleported to my bedroom in the duchy.
I decided to count the earlier farewell as good enough.
In truth, the more honest reason was that I had no more energy for exchanging greetings.
Using black magic frequently lately made me feel like my lifespan was really shortening.
Otherwise, my body wouldn’t feel this exhausted just from some teleporting and using magic.
More importantly…
“Caligo.”
Where did he go that there’s no answer? Usually he appears quickly even without being called.
“Caligo?”
No matter how many times I called, there was no trace of Caligo at all.
It was the first time he hadn’t responded to my call as his contractor.
If I truly wanted, I could summon him based on the magic circle from the demon contract, but I had neither the physical strength nor justification to do such a thing right now.
“…Could he still be upset about that time?”
“Rosi, if you’re not going to take responsibility, stop provoking me.”
Those were Caligo’s words to me earlier in Abel’s bedroom.
Unfortunately, I still didn’t understand what Caligo’s words meant.
Given his warning not to provoke him, I must have touched some nerve of his…
Could he have been upset that I patted his head?
But normally Caligo was someone who liked physical contact almost excessively.
Whatever the reason, this kind of unannounced disappearance was problematic.
This was especially true since Caligo wasn’t just a demon, but one who had formed a blood contract with me, the young lady of House Laté.
“Caligo-“
Knock knock-
Just as I was about to call Caligo one more time with force in my voice.
Suddenly, hearing a small knock from outside the room, I tensed up and held my breath.
“My lady, it’s Lynn.”
Somehow Lynn’s voice was lower in tone than usual.
I thought I had returned to my room quietly enough that no one would notice…
Seeing how quickly she came looking for me, it seemed she somehow already knew I had returned.
“Yes, come in.”
At my permission, Lynn approached me with somewhat slow steps, wearing a rather solemn and serious expression.
“What’s the matter?”
Lynn, who had kept her mouth shut, only opened her lips carefully as if whispering after I asked the question.
“My lady, His Highness the Crown Prince has sent a letter.”
Huh? Already? It hadn’t even been half a day since Abel and I parted?
Though some time had passed while I met Tia in between, it was still only the evening of the same day.
The letter Lynn handed me contained a simple greeting along with a message saying he would visit the duchy soon.
“…Huh.”
Though I didn’t know his intention, it wasn’t particularly welcome. So I can’t just quietly sit at home and welcome him. Who would that benefit?
“Lynn, could you schedule something for tomorrow?”
“What kind of schedule would you like?”
“Just, anything. Maybe set up a tea party with my friend or something.”
As I finished speaking and carelessly tossed aside Abel’s letter, I suddenly felt the atmosphere grow heavy.
When I turned my head in confusion, somehow Lynn was looking at me directly with sad eyes.
…What’s with that look?
“My lady… you don’t have any friends.”
“Ugh…. Don’t I have at least one? You know, like the young lady of Marquis Artine?”
Though I was called a villainess, I threw out any random name that came to mind with the nuance that surely I must have at least one noble lady I was close with, but Lynn’s expression darkened even more.
“Contact was cut off after you poured cold water on Lady Artine last time.”
“…Ah, I did that?”
“You did it because she touched the brooch you treasured.”
The fact-checking delivered in a gentle, measured tone hit quite painfully.
However, all my evil deeds had happened before the regression, so honestly, they were quite hazy memories.
“I should apologize soon.”
“Yes, that would be… What? Apologize!?”
Lynn’s shoulders shook as she started in surprise, making my pupils dilate in response.
Even if it was something I did in my past life as a villainess, I’m saying I’ll apologize since I was wrong, so why react with such shock?
“Lynn, set aside that brooch Lady Artine wanted. That would be much better than just a verbal apology.”
“Ah, yes! I’ll do that!”
As Lynn quickly left the room after being assigned her task, I sensed a presence outside the window as if it had been waiting.
Turning my gaze toward the window at the strange feeling, a pure white messenger bird was perched on the windowsill, looking at me as if asking me to open the door.
“Green eyes…”
