Chapter 9

I returned to the annex, bathed, and had breakfast.

Cream stew and a cheese salad with a refreshing yuzu sauce.

Fluffy, freshly baked bread with cranberry jam.

I had to stop eating several times, trembling with delight.

‘It was a truly moving meal.’

Vivian was in charge of cleaning the annex, and Zenia handled the food and attended to Astell.

This meant Zenia was the one who worked magic on the shabby ingredients sent from the main estate.

If this were a game, an information window would have popped up right about now.

Saying, [Zenia’s value has increased by 10.]

“Princess, the Duke has sent a carriage for you. He said you could use it when you go out.”

I stopped savoring the afterglow of my meal and raised an eyebrow.

“How did he know?”

“You asked about the location of the Magic Tower this morning. So I told the butler that you would be going out, Princess. I suppose word reached the Duke.”

“Hmm…”

“Did I make a mistake?”

“No, you did well.”

It was nice being a Hunter. They even provided a carriage for an outing.

‘Alright, if this is how I’m treated, I suppose I can stick around this dump a little longer. For about a day, maybe?’

I sneered inwardly.

“What about Vivian?”

Zenia, who had been answering without hesitation, began to stammer.

“Uh, I-I’m not sure… I-I’ll check later.”

“You’ve already checked.”

“…”

“Were her things in her room?”

“…No.”

She bolted.

“Quick on her feet. And the nanny?”

“M-Mrs. Herot went home the other day. T-To nurse her daughter, she said.”

“Not to nurse her daughter, but to gamble.”

“Gasp! You knew?”

“Knew what? That Vivian stays out all night as if it’s routine? Or that the nanny uses my jewels for her gambling funds? Or maybe that you sell my dresses to help pay for your brother’s medicine? Which one are you talking about?”

Astell was no fool.

She was well aware that her servants were doing as they pleased.

She simply lacked the ability and mental fortitude to solve the problem. She also felt sorry for those who had to work in the annex because of her.

Zenia dropped to her knees with a thud.

“I-I’m sorry! Princess! Please forgive me just this once!”

“As of today, they’re both fired. Tell Vivian, who ran away.”

“Yes…”

Zenia replied sullenly. Her face was ashen, as if she thought she’d share their fate.

I tapped my fingers on the table.

“What are you doing? Get ready for the outing.”

“M-Me? You’re not firing me?”

“Why? Do you want to quit?”

“Absolutely not, but… I stole your things too.”

“That matter was settled when I gave you a chance. It’s not my style to bring up the past.”

“…”

“Do I look like someone who holds a grudge?”

“N-No! Not at all! You’re more beautiful than anyone I’ve ever seen!”

“Stop talking nonsense and get up.”

“But it’s true…”

Zenia stood up, limping.

“Ouch…”

It seemed she had banged her leg on the floor when she knelt so hastily.

I looked away from her bruised knee.

“Zenia, don’t ever lie to me again. When I ask you a question, no matter how trivial, you must tell me the truth. This is not a request; it’s a warning.”

“Yes, Princess. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“You may go.”

“Then I’ll go pick out an outfit for you!”

The dress Zenia chose was a high-waisted gown of white fabric with green embroidery.

The design exuded an air of pure elegance.

With Zenia’s help, I put on the dress and had my hair done.

With a bit of adornment, her once-hidden beauty was dazzlingly revealed.

Translucent skin and green eyes.

It was a combination that might seem delicate at first glance, but Astell was anything but.

Her deep green eyes were reminiscent not of blades of grass, but of a magnificent forest.

Paired with her proud nose and slightly full yet firmly set lips, they created a strong and resolute aura.

‘She really is beautiful.’

Zenia carefully combed my hair. The silver locks, always frizzy and tangled, gradually regained their luster.

She secured my neatly combed hair with an emerald pin, letting it fall over one shoulder.

“All done, Princess.”

Zenia took a step back to look at me.

Compared to the old Astell, who was no better than a madwoman, it was as if she were a completely different person.

Zenia’s expression grew dreamy.

“Princess, you truly are… beautiful…”

“Bring me a robe.”

“…To cover yourself?”

“Yes.”

“What a waste… You should just go as you are.”

“Hurry.”

“…Yes.”

Astell was infamous throughout the empire as the Mad Princess.

Having not been out in a long time, no one would likely recognize her face.

But her eye and hair color were a problem. Silver hair and green eyes were proof of Ruthius blood.

The mere thought of what might happen if she went out with her face uncovered gave me a headache.

‘It’s better to prevent trouble before it starts.’

I pulled on a black robe.

“Are these the only shoes you have?”

“Oh, should I bring a different design?”

“The design isn’t the problem. The heels are too high.”

“These? They’re not that high compared to what other noble ladies wear.”

“Clothes don’t matter much, but shoes must be comfortable. In a fight, shoes cause more problems than clothes.”

Zenia’s eyes widened.

“Who are you planning to fight?”

“You never know what might happen.”

Without further explanation, I sorted the shoe items in the shop.

‘Winged Shoes of Hermes… 80 million points. What, the Red Shoes are 20 million points? And Dorothy’s shoes are 15 million? This is insane…’

At this rate, this would never end, so I sorted by lowest price again and chose a suitable pair.

[System: <The Queen’s Leather Lace-Up Boots>, available for 4,500 points.]

[Exchange] / [Decline]

They were below-the-knee lace-up boots, designed to be tightened with laces starting from the instep.

‘The only benefit is a measly -1 to weight… Well, they’re cheap.’

I handed the boots I’d exchanged for points to Zenia.

“I’ll wear these.”

Zenia didn’t seem particularly surprised, even though the shoes had appeared out of thin air.

She examined the boots slowly.

“What are these?”

“Boots.”

“I’ve never seen a design like this before.”

Zenia quickly figured out how to put them on and helped me into them.

My long, shapely calves were snugly encased in the boots.

The skin peeking through the X-shaped laces created a slightly sensual atmosphere.

“I didn’t know you had an Infinite Pocket, Princess.”

The Infinite Pocket was a magical item sold by the Magic Tower.

It was similar to a storage box in that it could hold a certain number of items regardless of their weight or volume.

“For a maid to know nothing about the mistress she serves… I’m truly ashamed. I’ll have to work hard to learn more about you from now on.”

“Do as you please.”

“What do you like most, Princess?”

“Good food.”

“Oh, really? I’ll have to pay more attention to the food from now on. Then what do you dislike the most?”

“People.”

“…”

I tapped my toes on the floor to test the fit, then lowered my dress. The full skirt completely concealed the boots.

“Zenia, listen carefully.”

“…Yes?”

“I am not your mistress. I will discard you whenever you are no longer useful to me, and the same goes for you. Discard me whenever I am no longer useful. That is our relationship. Never forget that.”

“…Yes.”

Zenia replied with a faint smile.

It was a weak smile, unlike her usual cheerful retorts, no matter how coldly I treated her.

***

The Magic Tower was near Hegea Grand Plaza.

As the plaza grew closer, a massive structure floating in the air came into view.

A pitch-black spire engraved with bizarre patterns.

So impossibly tall that its height couldn’t be gauged, it seemed completely out of place in this world.

Perhaps that was why looking at it sent a shiver down my spine.

On one side of Hegea Grand Plaza, white bouquets and countless candles had been placed.

People paused before them to mourn the victims.

The condition of the plaza was surprisingly not bad. There were a few bloodstains on the ground, and some nearby buildings had collapsed, but that was it.

‘This is pretty good, all things considered.’

Zenia credited the swift response from the Magic Tower and the Temple, but I had a different opinion.

Unlike in my past life, the buildings in this world weren’t very tall, nor were they packed closely together.

It was bound to be different from my past life, where the damage from collapsing buildings was greater than that from the monsters themselves.

‘How did they deal with the monsters?’

Other than the scattered bloodstains, there were no monster corpses in the plaza.

Someone had cleared them all away.