Chapter 8

However, they were not even allowed to enter the foyer.

"The Duke will not meet with you two," the young servant announced coldly from inside the gate.

"Arbitrary!"

"Give us our daughter back!"

As they clung to the gate, a large dog nearby bared its teeth and began to growl fiercely.

"The Duke is deeply saddened by Lady Lise's condition. It would not be unreasonable to sue for murder," the young servant said in a tone that was far from calm. The two shuddered but remained indignant.

"Magic burns are quite common, aren't they!?"

"It's a craftsman's disease. There's no reason to make a fuss over something like that..."

"Please file any complaints through the court."

The young servant smiled, and the dog barked fiercely.

Intimidated by the dog's fierce barking, they returned empty-handed.

***

Artemisia had just completed her engagement to the prince and was filled with happiness.

Artemisia was at the top of her class at the academy and had never received anything but the highest marks in all her ladylike education courses.

If asked who was the most ladylike, cultured, and beautiful in the academy, people would undoubtedly answer Artemisia.

...Except for the women steeped in jealousy.

They seemed to hold a grudge over their defeat in the competition for the prince's affection.

Today, as she took the prince's arm and subtly pressed her hidden, large chest against him, she could hear sighs of envy and admiration from those around her.

—To be unable to view oneself objectively, what foolish people.

Artemisia could only smile wryly.

There is no one more suitable than Artemisia.

"...Arte? What's wrong, you seem dazed."

"It's nothing," she replied with a sweet smile, and the prince returned an even sweeter, love-struck smile.

"In the future, I think there will be many more opportunities for you to create magical artifacts as we prepare for the marriage."

"Are magical artifacts necessary for the wedding?"

"Of course. We will invite dignitaries from other countries to the ceremony. It will be a good opportunity to showcase your magical artifacts."

He drew a short sword from its sheath.

An eagle design soared through the air, flying like a bullet and disappearing.

Albert sighed in admiration.

"Oh... wonderful. If this can be applied to war, our country's enemies will be eliminated. Other countries will realize this and change their ways in dealing with us. The world will bow before your technology."

Artemisia, who was unfamiliar with magic and war, did not fully understand and nodded vaguely.

Besides, the magical artifacts were not her creations, so she did not feel particularly pleased by the praise.

She would have preferred more attention to her well-maintained hair and perfect figure.

"The next thing I would like you to create is the 'Aurora Dress.' It's a magical fabric dress that changes color according to the wearer's will. It's something that only appears in fairy tales, but with the technology to create this dagger ornament, it should not be impossible."

Artemisia nodded easily, not realizing how difficult it would be due to her lack of knowledge about magic.

"I understand. I will bring it to you as soon as possible."

"Thank you. You are the guardian goddess of our country."

She listened to the prince's praise with pleasure.

—After returning home, Artemisia turned pale.

Lise had been taken to the Duke of Rospihali's mansion.

"Father, Mother, I have something the prince urgently needs me to create."

"Huh?"

They had not forgotten being told at the party that "any magical artifact craftsman can be replaced."

"Make it yourself, you foolish girl!"

"That's right! When the shop is busy, you don't even help with the housework and just go out to play!"

"The party is not just for fun! I was chosen as the prince's fiancée because I put effort into socializing! It's unfair to be called a playgirl! This magical artifact is a request from the prince, and it is absolutely necessary!"

"Who cares! If you want it so badly, make it yourself!"

Her mother pointed to a pile of boxes containing raw materials.

Artemisia became angry.

"...Fine! I'll do it, okay!?"

Artemisia was not bad at making magical artifacts; she just hadn't put much effort into it because of her busy social life.

If her lazy, foolish sister could do it, then Artemisia could easily do it too if she tried.

First, she decided to create a small piece of magical fabric and incorporate the spell to change its color, to see how it would go.

However—

"What is this... the magical threads won't do what I want at all..."

She found the spell to change the color in the materials at home, and it didn't seem too difficult to change it to a single color.

Since it was a small spell, she thought it would work immediately if she inscribed the magic and intertwined it with the base silk thread, but the crucial magical threads did not react.

They did not change to any color.

"Why...? What's wrong...?"

After desperately searching through the materials and trying to find the cause, she discovered that silk and cotton were magical insulators and that a special spell had to be applied when incorporating the magical threads.

The special spell—

"Confidential technology...!? Every country keeps it secret...!? Why is a simple color-changing technology...!?"

Artemisia, who was unaware of this—

A cloak that changes color according to the wearer's thoughts,

known as the

"Elf's Cloak"

or

"Optical Camouflage"

—was considered a crucial technology that could determine the outcome of future wars.

Artemisia did not give up there.

"So what if it's confidential technology, I'm a woman who does what she says she will. Action is the only way. ...Is it because the magic in the magical threads is insufficient? If so, perhaps I can spin a thread made entirely of magic, without using silk or cotton..."

However, Artemisia did not yet know that creating a 100% pure magical thread made entirely of magic was a mythical, unprecedented technology.

Artemisia tried to create the magical threads many times and failed, wasting several days.

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