Deep inside the Magic Tower.

In a dark room on all sides, Gallard was alone. He glared at the map placed on the table. Purple rays of light moved back and forth across the map.

Eventually, those rays converged toward a single point. At the same time, his whitish eyebrows twitched.

That night, Gallard sent a letter to Imperial Princess Jeanne through her messenger. It was a secret contact.

Upon receiving the letter, Jeanne read its contents in one breath. With each letter she took in, her expression became distorted.

She sensed that something strange was happening.

Among the imperial family, some naturally born members were sensitive to detecting and feeling the flow of magical power. Jeanne was one such person. Even when the Emperor and Crown Prince were insensitive, she alone could keenly recognize unnatural magical power and sense something was amiss.

However, that ability wasn’t particularly useful. Rashid Penvernon with his fire-like red and hot energy was the only notably unusual situation, and besides him, the world was truly peaceful.

It was at such a time. If not for Rashid Penvernon, legends would have remained just legends, old tales of the past. In other words, if not for Rashid Penvernon, it was an era when everything was quiet and predictable.

But one day, a strange flow of magical power suddenly appeared and broke her peace. Though it was a very thin and weak signal, Jeanne detected it.

She could have dismissed it as nothing significant, but she didn’t. The suspicion that started as a small spark blazed like a wildfire and lit an ominous signal in her heart.

The recently established exchange with the Magic Tower was a great help. Jeanne requested help from Gallard, the Tower Master. Thanks to his tracking, they could confirm where the changes in magical power had begun.

‘House Limnike……’

That was the starting point Gallard had discovered.

‘I need to find out exactly why these changes are occurring.’

At first, Jeanne thought of witches. Though she had never seen them, it was difficult to think of anyone else as the source of this discomfort. She had heard that witches used improper magical power without the imperial family’s permission and desired power not given to ordinary humans.

But to think that it was none other than an imperial duchy causing such strange and alien sensations…

‘I can only interpret this as House Limnike coveting extraordinary power.’

The Dragon’s Strength given to them was black magic of aggression. If they sought to harm people in more sophisticated and destructive ways, it had the potential to develop into a major incident.

‘Then…… I have no choice but to stop them.’

Jeanne steeled her resolve firmly. The determination befitting an imperial princess of the vast empire shone vividly in her green eyes.

* * *

Around the time summer was growing more abundant by the day, news came that the villa whose construction had begun last year was finally complete.

‘It took longer than expected.’

This was because they couldn’t progress much work during winter, and it took considerable time waiting for the planted vegetation to grow nicely.

I made separate time to visit the suburban villa. As I rode in the carriage, the scenery outside gradually became more peaceful and modest.

The modest mansion was neatly decorated.

“This way, my lady.”

Julia, the maid guarding the villa, welcomed me. I walked around with her examining various places.

The surrounding forest was abundant with various flowers and trees.

I walked around examining the condition of the flowers. While checking every corner for any damaged parts or if anything was withering in the shade, the bright fragrance of flowers welcoming summer seeped into me.

Countless roses bloomed in the garden spread out in front of the mansion. While gauging the types and colors of those roses, after walking for quite a while, the newly made pond came into view.

Blue hydrangeas bloomed and dyed the waterside refreshingly, and delicate water scales emerged on the surface following the direction of sunlight.

As I tried to approach the pond, Julia hurriedly came and grabbed my arm.

“Please don’t go too close to the pond, my lady. Though it’s shallow, it’s still dangerous.”

“Wouldn’t it be fine since it’s shallow?”

“Still…… we were strictly instructed to be careful.”

“By whom?”

“The Duke’s secretary. He said the Duke gave those orders.”

「Julia recalled the letter sent by Benjamin. The sentence stating that she must absolutely not let the madam approach the water’s edge lingered in her mind.」

Both Julia’s words and that sentence reached me at the same time.

Well then, it can’t be helped. It’s a shame, I wanted to look at the lotus flowers closely.

When I turned around, there was a small farmhouse newly built beside it. Opening the door and stepping inside, I saw a cutely organized interior.

On one side, a garden was cultivated with various vegetables and medicinal herbs arranged. Behind the house, cows, pigs, and chickens made their respective sounds from a small barn that had been built.

‘It’s truly beautiful.’

I became satisfied with the scene that exceeded my imagination.

“I really like it, Julia. You’ve worked so hard. There must have been countless things to pay attention to.”

“You flatter me. I’m just grateful that you’re pleased.”

Julia slightly bowed her head with a smile.

She was a maid who had joined when we increased the staff last year. Originally from a poor minor noble family in the provinces, she had been a widow with nowhere to rely on.

I made her the caretaker after deciding to cultivate this villa. This was because I knew Julia was skilled at handling flowers. Moreover, being familiar with country life, I thought she could create the farm atmosphere I wanted.

My prediction was accurate. The world she created was beautiful as if directly implementing the scenery in my mind.

Julia explained the names of each flower, vegetable, and herb one by one. While carefully observing the plants her finger pointed to, my gaze caught the corner of the vegetable garden.

“What’s the name of this flower?”

There, a small wildflower with grayish pointed petals bloomed modestly.

Julia answered as soon as she saw the flower.

“It’s the Steel Flower. Rather than a flower, it’s often used as a medicinal herb. I don’t remember being told to plant it…… there must have been a mistake while cultivating the field. Should I pull it out?”

I shook my head.

“If it’s medicinal, I think it’s fine. How is this herb used?”

“It has hemostatic effects, so people dry the petals, grind them, and sprinkle them on wounds.”

“You know so much.”

“Households raising children often keep and use it. For large wounds, they sometimes make and use boiled extract. But be careful, my lady. You mustn’t touch it with bare hands.”

“Why?”

To my question, Julia touched the flower wearing white gloves. I could see the petals instantly becoming stiff.

“When touched, the edges of the petals become sharp like this and release a slight powder, which makes hands turn red and swell. The same happens with powder or extract, so you need to be careful. The swollen area stings quite a bit, and if you touch it carelessly, it easily lasts a week.”

“How fascinating. How do you know all this? I made the right choice entrusting this place to you, Julia.”

“You flatter me.”

Julia held a soft smile.

After returning to the mansion in the capital, I highly praised to Rashid how the old mansion and garden overgrown with weeds had transformed into such a wonderful place.

Though I could feel Rashid responding somewhat perfunctorily to my excitement, I was happy that he listened patiently until the end.

「Rashid smiled as he watched Alisa’s smiling face.」

I think I tried harder to show my happiness because I liked seeing him smile at me.

‘Originally, I meant to show off being wasteful and extravagant.’

Now that there’s no particular need for that, what should I do?

However, it seemed wasteful to leave the carefully decorated mansion unused, and remembering what I said at the recent imperial palace banquet, I decided to hold a tea party. I also greatly wanted to share the mood this scenery gave with others.

I sent out invitations casually. I thought I should accept it if people declined since it was somewhat far from the capital.

“My lady, here are today’s letters.”

Macy brought letters filling a silver tray.

There were more replies accepting attendance than expected. They were responses saying ‘Since you are so delighted with it, I really want to visit once.’

‘I should contact Jeanne too.’

I slowly began preparing for the tea party. Two weeks passed in an instant while doing so.

During that time, the summer dresses I bought from Madame Kruger arrived. I wore a light blue dress that came down to my ankles with a straw hat decorated with lots of flowers when visiting the villa occasionally. It was a bit tiring having to go and return at dawn since Rashid would be too displeased if I stayed overnight there.

It was when the tea party had finally approached to next week that Macy brought a letter.

“My lady, a letter has arrived from House Limnike.”

“Limnike?”

I raised my body from where I had been lounging on the long chair at this unexpected news.

“Miss Patricia sent it.”

* * *

The symbol of House Limnike was the gladiolus. That lush flower blooming on blade-like stems was gorgeously decorated throughout the ducal residence.

In the firmly closed drawing room, under the portrait of the first Duke Limnike standing with gladiolus, sat a silver-haired man.

It was the current Duke Limnike, Livius.

Tap tap tap, he drummed on the table and sighed.

“Gallard keeps bothering us.”

“It’s because of the Imperial Princess. She’s been close with the Magic Tower lately.”

His daughter Patricia answered her father’s words.

“That woman probably urged him to observe the flow of magical power.”