Chapter 2

"Here, in such a place... I am truly sorry, Elizabeta-sama."

"There's no need for you to worry, as this is by Lord Fried's command. Besides, you have already informed His Majesty the King and your father, haven't you? Once they return, everything can be resolved."

I dismissed the deeply apologetic guards and sat down on the damp, moldy chair in the underground dungeon.

"Hmm, to do this when all the influential figures who could oppose Lord Fried are out of the country... No, perhaps that's why he did it?"

Regardless of the truth, in the world of nobility, once a rumor starts, it becomes a wound. If they want to exclude me, this could indeed be a good opportunity. Well, I'm sure His Majesty the King and my father will return immediately once they hear about this.

Elizabeta has a magic-sealing collar around her neck. This is a special collar developed in this country to seal the magic of criminals, and it was placed on Elizabeta, who has high magical power, by the Prince's order.

"Tsk"

Elizabeta sighed deeply while tapping the collar.

◆◇★◇◆

"What?!!!"

In a room lavishly furnished, part of the mansion allocated to the kingdom by the host country for this conference.

"Is this report true?!"

"Yes, sir."

The messenger bowed deeply, and King Brat Haldoria, the king of the Haldoria Kingdom, clenched his teeth in anger. Brat was once known as the "God of Thunder" on the battlefield and was feared as a warrior. The messenger, overwhelmed by the king's wrath, chattered his teeth.

The middle-aged man sitting next to the king, Duke Sieg Reistone, the prime minister of the Haldoria Kingdom, could no longer bear to see this and spoke up.

"Please calm down, Your Majesty."

"Hmm, you're right. It's not your fault. I apologize. You've done well. You may go and rest."

"Yes, sir!"

After the messenger left, the king buried his head in his hands.

"Truly, that fool keeps causing one problem after another..."

"Prince Fried is indeed a problem."

Duke Sieg, who had a bitter expression, nodded. They had received news that while they were away for the international conference, the Prince had imprisoned his fiancée and declared his engagement to a baron's daughter.

"Still, even if she's imprisoned, it's Elizabeta."

"Hmm, you're right. Your daughter can handle anything."

"Yes, she is very capable."

"Indeed, leaving it to Elizabeta will be fine."

The two of them, without worrying about Elizabeta, grumbled about Fried's foolish actions while sipping wine.

Unaware of the maid who had disappeared from the room next to them, and even after the next day, no one mentioned the missing maid.

◇◆☆◆◇

It had been about a month since Elizabeta was confined in the underground dungeon. The rough table in the dungeon was piled high with tax documents, state management materials, and reference books that Elizabeta had brought in.

Since that day, Prince Fried has not come here.

But, does he not worry that important state documents are being processed in such a place?

Elizabeta, flipping through the documents in her hand, was exasperated by Fried's irresponsibility.

"Even though Prince Fried has never been particularly competent, I never thought he would be this bad..."

Elizabeta's mutterings echoed faintly in the dungeon.

"Oh?"

A few hours later, Elizabeta, tilting her head, looked around and nodded as if satisfied, then stood up with a graceful movement that was unbecoming of a dungeon prisoner.

"Excuse me, may I ask you a question?"

"Yes, what is it?"

The guard, who was watching over the dungeon, politely asked. He probably didn't want to lock someone like me in, but as a subject, he had no choice but to follow orders.

"Yes, please come here for a moment."

"Y-Yes?"

Following Elizabeta's words, the guard approached the front of the cell. Naturally, he had no guard up, so he couldn't react.

Snap

The right hand extended through the gap in the cell.

As the fingers snapped, the light of will in the guard's eyes disappeared, and his expression became dazed, as if he were in a dream.

This is a dark magic spell called "Hypnosis."

However, this spell is weak enough that anyone with average magical power can easily resist it. So why did the guard fall under the spell so easily? It's because he was too complacent.

A lady who showed no resistance and even seemed to care about the guards' position, and who was wearing a magic-sealing collar. The decisive factor was that Elizabeta Reistone's magical power was known to be water-based, specifically ice. The guard had seen Elizabeta manipulate ice magic during training with the knights. Magic users can only handle magic of their affinity and non-elemental magic. Therefore, the guard never considered that Elizabeta could cast a dark magic spell.

"You will sit down and forget everything you saw here."

"Y-Yes... I understand."

The guard walked unsteadily, sat down, and stared blankly into space.

"Alright, you can come out now."

As I spoke, the space in front of the cell distorted, and a woman of my age, dressed as a maid, appeared.

"Thank you for your trouble, Miss."

"Don't worry about it, Elizabeta."

Mirei is my confidante. She had left to follow the messenger to confirm how the king and my father would react to this situation.

"So, what happened?"

"It's... complicated."

"Tell me."

Mirei's report made me unusually furious. They knew about the Prince's actions but were trying to dump all the problems on me. Lately, this has been happening more often. Every time Prince Fried causes trouble, they simply say, "Elizabeta, please take care of it." My father does the same, increasing my workload with every new issue.

Mirei, trying to comfort me, continued.

"Furthermore, after I returned, I investigated the city, and rumors that tarnish your reputation are spreading."

"Rumors?"

"Yes, like 'she went mad with jealousy and tried to assassinate the baron's daughter' or 'she is trying to take over the country by interfering in politics, even before the Prince.'"

"Where are these rumors coming from?"

"From some merchants and nobles who are connected to... that scum... I mean, Prince Fried."

"How widespread are they?"

"Unfortunately, it's impossible to completely erase them. While merchants and nobles who know you well dismiss these rumors, many commoners believe them."

"I see."

"Also, about your merchant guild..."

I am the guild master of a merchant guild.

When I proposed several policies to the king to help the poor, I faced budget issues. To obtain funds I could control personally, I established the guild around the time I turned twelve. Now, it has grown to a significant scale in the kingdom's economic sector, contributing to reducing the wealth gap through job creation and charitable activities. Mirei is referring to this guild.

"Prince Fried is trying to force a search of the guild and is pressuring merchants and nobles loyal to him to take key positions."

"What? My guild is a joint-stock company with multiple investors! Even if I were convicted, the guild would simply expel me. There's no legal basis for the state to interfere in its management."

"There is no legal basis, but Prince Fried is trying to force it by waving his power around. The guild's executives are resisting, but the situation is not good."

Grinding my teeth, I felt a surge of anger.

Mirei, with a shadow in her eyes, asked hesitantly, suppressing her anger.

"Forgive me for asking, but... why do you serve the country so much, Elizabeta?"

"Because I am a noble... Even after such treatment?"

"I... I was saved from a life of slavery or begging, and you honored me as your confidante. I respect you deeply."

"..."

"I!!!"

Startled by Mirei's sudden outburst, I quickly cast a "Silencing" spell over the entire dungeon.

"I hate the nobles who treat you like a convenient tool when it suits them! I hate the people who betrayed you with a mere rumor after you worked tirelessly for them! I hate the king and the duke who don't even worry about this situation after relying on you so much! And most of all, I hate that scum!!!"

Mirei's sobs shook the cold air of the dungeon.

I was taken aback by the sudden emotional outburst from my usually quiet and supportive confidante. As the echoes of her anger faded, her words seeped into my heart, awakening a boiling rage I hadn't even realized I had.

"..."

The emotion that rose in response to Mirei's anger spread through my body, making my limbs tingle and my head feel hot. I realized that the anger I had felt earlier was just a ripple compared to this.

"Why... Why am I...!!"

My fist slammed into the stone wall of the dungeon, creating a loud crack. Realizing that my magic was leaking out of control, I took deep breaths to calm it down.

"Phew... Thank you, Mirei. I feel... awake."

"Elizabeta..."

"Let's leave the country."

"Leave the country... What will you do?"

I smiled genuinely, refining the newly awakened anger quietly.

I declared it to the world.

I vowed it to myself.

I spoke the words.

"Revenge."

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