Chapter 93

#093 Counterfire (1)

The next day was peaceful as well.

"Go on now."

"Yes, yes."

At Banzam's words, the valets of the Motte Manor started moving, startled.

I smiled and looked at them.

A few who met my gaze wandered around and even bumped into each other.

Thinking that watching any longer would be a hindrance, I turned my gaze to the notebook.

Thanks to the balcony being wide open, the summer air of the capital flowed in.

It was a scorching afternoon, but taking a bite of the sweet and tangy Peach Melba was just perfect.

I carefully reviewed the contents of the notebook I had been writing in.

"Hmm."

First, I knew about the abilities I possessed.

I had absorbed the power of the Holy Grail of Wishes and, as a result, now held a large amount of the purest form of ether.

However, overusing it at once would lead to ether depletion, just like other priests, and causing an ether surge would also be equally unbearable for my body.

In both cases, I had fainted.

I drew a long arrow with the quill pen.

The reason I was possessed by the Duke of Retreat was because someone had made a wish on the Grail.

So, I prayed to another holy artifact, the Sword of Mars, to send me back home.

Of course, nothing happened.

It seemed the author had no intention of letting me go until Prince Yeseo's survival was confirmed.

Another arrow came from the tip of the pen, pointing in the opposite direction.

Kristel and Prince Sedric. From the first day of possession, I had decided not to get involved with these two.

They were the official couple of the Duke of Retreat, and Prince Yeseo was a character who sacrificed himself for their love.

To survive, it was best not to form any ties with the main characters. But...

"Are you curious about the adventures of the prince and his friends?"

Kanae said, closing the door. I smiled awkwardly at the boy.

Unlike the thoroughly trained royal valets, the valets of the Motte Manor seemed eager to talk to me.

Their eyes, filled with curiosity and fondness, followed me all day.

That was the problem. Friends.

I had inadvertently become friends with the main characters.

"Umm..."

I filled my cheeks with peaches soaked in syrup and vanilla ice cream.

The cold in my mouth should have made my head clear, but thinking of them made even that impossible, and it just tasted good.

This was the result of my efforts to avoid them.

I had even tried to be rude, but the prince's position in this field was too solid.

It was hard to change a lifetime of personality.

I had tried to only take care of the people around me, but before I knew it, things had turned out like this.

"Do I look close to those two?"

"You've become quite close to them."

"Yes! Very much so!"

Even without specifying who 'those two' were, Banzam and Kanae reacted immediately.

I couldn't find an appropriate response.

I knew best that forming attachments with the people here, especially the main characters, would be troublesome.

I had to return home someday, and I didn't want to hurt each other.

But I was an extremely ordinary person, and there was nothing I could do about it.

A mentally strong person or someone with the ability to block emotions.

"It's difficult."

I muttered.

I had to return to the house where Jeon Seo and my brother were, but I couldn't think of any more ways.

I couldn't give up either.

I emptied the spoon and opened a new page in the notebook.

I had already agreed to spend time with the two until the annual prayer meeting.

So, it was better to prepare for what might happen next.

"Banzam, can I have what I asked for now?"

"Yes, here it is."

Banzam took a piece of paper from his inner pocket.

"Thank you."

"If you need more detailed information, just call me."

I nodded and slipped what he gave me between the pages of the notebook.

It was just a table of the main events for the second half of the year.

As a hostage, I naturally had no fixed schedule.

But knowing the royal schedule and the empire's annual events in advance would be helpful in some way.

Who knows, while reading, the content of the Duke of Retreat that Yeseo told me might come to mind.

"Shall we go down now?"

I said brightly.

After lunch and organizing the notebook, it was time to go to Sir Haines to use my healing power.

I thought I would rest for a while after returning and then memorize a new healing circle,

-Tap, tap, tap

I thought it was suddenly raining. It was the sound of something tapping on the open balcony door.

We quickly turned our heads.

"Steadfast, what are you doing there?"

A small chimney swift was flapping its wings and pecking at the glass door.

I put the notebook in my bosom and hurried to the balcony.

I thought it was with the lesser pandas in the yard.

-Tap, tap

"No, the window is important. If it breaks, you'll get hurt. Come here."

I had petted it a lot in the morning, so why was it acting like this? I extended my hand to it.

Steadfast tilted its head and perched on my finger, then flew down to the ground.

Its mood changed like boiling porridge...

"Huh?"

I blinked. A row of royal carriages was lined up right in front of the mansion. And,

"Why are you there?"

A strikingly handsome man with black hair was looking up at the balcony.

His orange eyes, which met mine, were even more brilliant in the early summer sunlight.

Steadfast, perched on his head, chirped innocently.

Was he called by the prince to fetch me?

Thinking he might be asking me to return to the palace immediately, I opened my mouth, but his lips moved first.

'Shopping.'

...What?

*

In the vast 'Rigo General Trading Company,' we were the only customers.

The prince had rented the entire place for the afternoon.

According to valet David's explanation, he had used his own money, which was truly jaw-dropping.

Kristel sighed in admiration, saying, "This is what you get for being famous."

I never thought I would meet a personal shopper, something I had never seen even in Korea.

Is this what VVIP shopping is like?

"Give me everything from here to there!"

"Good job, Eva. You learn one thing and do ten."

Kristel affectionately stroked Eva's curly hair.

Eva, clearly delighted by the praise, kept directing the trading company with her hands on her hips.

The employees, responding to the highborn lady's commands, didn't stop packaging for a moment.

Eva, unable to suppress her 2% of villainess instincts, also said things like, "Why are your hands so slow? Did you eat snails today?" and "If there are no strings, you can tie it with silk."

Mostly, it was my job to apologize and clean up.

"This is for the prince. The prince has white hair and golden eyes."

"...Thank you. I will use and wear it well."

At the fifth store, after paying, Eva handed me a large paper bag.

One of the employees following us would eventually carry it, but she insisted on checking the items herself.

The little lady then handed a large package to the prince, looking very hesitant.

"And this... is a small token of my respect for His Highness. Because His Highness shines like Betelgeuse in the night sky and has eyes like a lake at sunset."

The difference in adjectives was too much, wasn't it?

While thinking this, I opened Eva's gift with a smile.

Inside were a glittering golden evening gown studded with diamonds and several white silk shirts.

There was also a large collection of various accessories.

I wouldn't be able to show them to the costume designer if I took them to the palace as they were.

"Shall we go see the shoes and boots now?"

"Yes, let's go!"

Kristel suggested, and Eva responded energetically.

She said she had never shopped before in her life.

In the Blancquer family, it was mainly her older brother, the young duke, who spent money, and the duke and duchess always bought what Eva needed.

She had never made friends who could give her gifts, being known as a little villainess in the eastern region and not having debuted in society.

The two ladies moved towards the shoe section. I spoke to the prince sitting next to the long sofa.

"Thank you for not mentioning the royal treasury to Eva."

"..."

He frowned slightly and looked at me. He always did this, knowing what I meant.

"Didn't you usually not accept such gifts?"

It was natural.

All the items and letters sent to me by nobles had gone into the royal treasury.

Because the prince didn't mention this openly, I could at least pretend to receive them in front of Eva today.

I thought he was considering the child's feelings.

"Take care of it yourself."

"Huh?"

"The treasury is full."

He said this and turned away.

I was surprised and looked at the prince, then at David standing behind him.

The middle-aged man bit his lip and shook his head.

Wow, the treasury must really be full. It's good that the royal family is wealthy.

"Understood."

I replied.

I didn't have a big desire for money, but it was nice to be able to keep gifts.

Feeling good, I spoke to the prince again.

"Was the reason you left the tea party early yesterday to prepare for today's shopping?"

"..."

Right, right. I