“How did you know they were Baribe items?”

“You can tell just by looking.”

When Reibella answered as if it wasn’t a big deal, the man looked at her as if she was quite something. His gaze was now friendly, unlike before.

“Did you come alone?”

“No. I came with adults. What’s this? Is it for self-defense?”

Reibella brushed past his question and asked while pointing at an item, pretending to be a curious child. The man answered.

“Yes. You’ve got good eyes. You blow it with your mouth. Like a whistle.”

“I see. Then what’s that?”

“It’s an item that glows when you shake it.”

It seemed like something similar to a flashlight. It was an unnecessary item in this world where magic was used to create light.

All items here were like that. Useful, but everything could be replaced with magic. That’s probably why this store was uniquely quiet.

Meanwhile, the man seemed quite happy with his rare customer. He excitedly talked about the items that caught Reibella’s attention.

When he was in a good enough mood, Reibella picked up a suitable item and handed it to him.

“I’ll buy this.”

The item Reibella picked up was a round bead that tasted sweet. The difference from candy was that it only ‘tasted’ sweet but was actually an ‘item’ so it couldn’t be eaten.

“Hmm, yes. Since elderly people need to be careful about what they eat, this isn’t bad. But do you have money? It’s quite expensive despite its appearance……”

“How much is it?”

“2 large gold coins?”

A large gold coin was worth 100 gold. Since 10 gold was the average monthly living expense for common people, this useless thing was extremely expensive.

‘It’s amazing this store hasn’t gone bankrupt.’

Although it was very expensive just to lay groundwork, she had quite a bit of money from working at the palace. Reibella decided to invest willingly for her future.

While handing over the prepared money and observing his reaction, Reibella waited as the surprised man wrapped the item, then casually asked.

“Have you been to the Kingdom of Baribe?”

“Yes, I have. It was a good country.”

“Really? Then did you bring all these items from the Kingdom of Baribe?”

“Not exactly. These items were requested from merchants who regularly travel to and from the Kingdom of Baribe.”

“There are merchants who go there? I heard the road was long and dangerous.”

“Well yes, but items invented there are that valuable. What you just bought is enough money for common folk to live on for two years.”

The man handed over the wrapped item while answering. It seemed there were quite a few nobles who bought such useless items as a hobby.

“But for a child to have that much money……”

Cutting off the man’s words, Reibella continued questioning with sparkling eyes.

“Are there such merchant groups often?”

“No. Once or twice a year. As you said, it’s far and dangerous.”

“Then are these items from this year?”

“Yes. The next items will be brought by the merchant group departing in two months, so it’ll take at least 6 months. Both the merchant groups and schedules change each time, so it’s not exact.”

“I see!”

She answered naturally like a curious young girl, but her hand gripping the bead was tense.

‘In two months.’

To cross into the Kingdom of Baribe, one had to move by land through Louvindisi. There was a sea route, but it was rarely used except for urgent matters due to pirates making it dangerous.

So when she had decided to escape before, she was at a loss about how to get there, but fortunately luck was finally on her side as she was going to the Vicheravali territory.

‘In two months, I can escape from this cursed novel.’

As the possibility of achieving what she had so desperately wished for increased, overwhelming joy welled up. Holding back the urge to shout, Reibella left the store after giving the customary farewell saying she would come again.

Looking at the moon in the dark sky, she couldn’t help but smile. She giggled. She became so happy that laughter occasionally escaped her lips before she could swallow it.

But that was only for a moment.

Pretending to be a lost child, Reibella, who returned to the Vicheravali mansion after finding a carriage, could only break out in cold sweat.

“You took quite a long walk.”

Because she ran into Duke Vicheravali the moment she entered the room quietly.

“……How are you here?”

In her surprise, the words she was thinking came out. Startled by this, Reibella’s eyes widened and she bit her lip. The girl’s eyes drooped downward.

Duke Vicheravali watched these n*ked changes in expression while seated in an ornate chair. His voice was indifferent.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to meet me even if it was late?”

“Ah.”

Damn it. Why did I say that?

Reibella hurriedly apologized.

“I’m sorry. It wasn’t anything important. I just wanted to say…… thank you for accepting me.”

“I see.”

“I’ll be helpful, Duke, as much as your difficult decision.”

Although it was certainly startling to be adopted into Vicheravali overnight, she didn’t hate it. Probably because she had good memories of Duke Vicheravali.

Moreover, she could escape the palace using that adoption as an excuse, and because of that, the possibility of escaping this crazy Empire increased.

So she intended to return as much as she received.

That’s why she sincerely said she would be helpful. But what she got in return was Duke Vicheravali’s sneer.

“I wonder what’s inside Felicity’s head.”

“……Pardon?”

Duke Vicheravali, who had uttered these incomprehensible words, slowly got up from his chair and approached Reibella. Then he roughly ruffled her hair as if messing it up. His touch was rough but not painful.

After messing it up for quite a while to make it disheveled,

“Go to sleep.”

He left after leaving just those brief words.

Bewildered by the sudden contact and exit, Reibella stared at the door he had left through for a long time, but it never opened again.

It seemed he just left like this.

……What was that?

‘Was it a dream?’

Reibella touched her head with a puzzled expression. He had disappeared, but the warmth and sensation left on her head still remained.

It was a very warm and gentle warmth. 

 * * *

 The Emperor was truly an evil person.

‘What kind of mild cold is this.’

He said the poison’s side effects were like a mild cold. The actual symptoms were closer to severe flu. She had a raging fever, her throat was swollen, and breathing became very difficult.

Although hurriedly swallowing the antidote reduced the pain, since it wasn’t magic or holy power, the symptoms wouldn’t improve quickly. Even now, aboard the carriage heading to Louvindisi, mild cold symptoms persisted.

‘Can I make it to Louvindisi in this state?’

Although the carriage was as comfortable as the imperial one, a carriage was still a carriage. The world seemed to spin even when staying still, so could her young body endure when the carriage wheels started rolling?

Moreover, her traveling companion was Duke Vicheravali himself. Although she didn’t hate him, since they weren’t close, it was truthfully a bit burdensome to travel together.

It’s suffocating from the start, and she had to continue acting as a spy!

‘What does this Emperor want from me anyway.’

How am I supposed to hide this!

‘Should I just tell everything?’

That she was ordered to become a spy.

The urge to burst out everything rose with the surge of irritation, but she gave up with a sigh.

If she did that, she would die without anyone knowing.

From the moment she heard the proposal to infiltrate Vicheravali, she was no different from a puppet dancing in the Emperor’s palm. Although she wasn’t actually dancing to his tune, she had to appear that way on the outside to survive.

So it was better not to try any foolish tricks. After all, he was the victor of this world, so there was nothing good about catching his eye more.

‘Yes, suffering from rebellion once is enough.’

Hadn’t she resolved ‘not to live like Father’ in front of her father’s grave? To survive, she couldn’t go against him.

You, who liked him thinking he was a daughter-obsessed fool while reading the novel, reflect a bit. He wasn’t daughter-obsessed, he was just a psychopath.

While reflecting on the past with a small sigh, there was a commotion outside the carriage, then the door burst open and a sturdy man appeared.

It was Duke Vicheravali.

“Have you arrived?”

She greeted him with a bright smile as if she had been waiting.

He lightly nodded, then sat down across from her with elegant movements and met her eyes. His gaze was persistent.

‘……What is it?’