‘I don’t know where good ends and evil begins.’

She let out a faint sigh.

Killing the head butler wasn’t allowed, but turning him into a mouse was fine.

‘Does it mean all life holds equal weight?’

Marian brushed her lips with her finger. She couldn’t precisely grasp the god’s intentions. The god’s providence and standards were beyond her understanding.

If only she knew that line, it would be easier for Marian to act.

Cesare and Vanessa, who had been moving their bodies violently, went limp. It was because Marian had withdrawn all magical power. Marian clicked her tongue while looking at them.

Now she thought even hatred was pointless. Hating trash that could barely be called human was just a waste of energy.

Marian stood up. Cesare tossed and turned, repeatedly calling for Ellie.

Marian calmly adjusted her clothes and left the ducal estate. Tomorrow too, Cesare would pour money into the imperial family as enchanted.

It’s time to return now that today’s objective has been achieved.

**

Upon returning to the palace, Marian first removed her corset. Rosette cut the corset strings with scissors while muttering curses. The corset fell to the floor with a thud, and Marian let out her breath.

“Phew……”

She lightly bit her lip.

“Are you alright?”

Rosette stroked Marian’s waist area with trembling hands.

“There are marks, Your Highness. It looks like it might bruise.”

“I’m fine, really.”

Rosette shook her head and took out a medicine bottle, applying it gently. Marian bit her lip hard, exhaling shakily as she squeezed her eyes shut.

“B-but today was fine.”

“You always say it’s fine.”

“Today I really mean it. Because I found the ring.”

Marian pointed to her bag.

“With just that, Madrian is finished, Rosette.”

“……Your Highness. I don’t care about any of that. I don’t mind starving here, I don’t mind never breathing outside air again…… I just wish you wouldn’t get hurt.”

At those words, Marian closed her opened mouth.

What could she say? She smiled bitterly.

‘It’s a life that will disappear anyway.’

Marian changed into comfortable clothes and sat on the sofa. Rosette, with reddened eyes, handed over things like sedatives and recovery potions.

“Please take these with confidence since they’re from Miss Liebe. And Sir Abel said he would prepare nourishing food for dinner. Please rest for a while before eating.”

Marian obediently lay down on the bed. It seemed like the right thing to do now. After all, Rosette’s face looked like it would burst any moment.

**

Vanessa gnawed on her lips.

When Count Yulian heard that Vanessa and Princess Marian had stayed together at the Madrian ducal estate yesterday, he had a nervous breakdown. It was because of the ominous and scandalous rumors that had recently hit society.

“This is so annoying!”

Vanessa stomped her feet. Though she didn’t remember well because she was drunk, she did remember Marian coming.

Count Yulian then said that if Princess Marian got pregnant first, they would end up looking like fools who had been chasing chickens.

“I know, I know.”

Vanessa sighed. However, Princess Marian was in a position that Yulian dared not touch. No one remained unscathed after laying hands on the exalted imperial family.

But there was something even more irritating.

‘Ellie, where are you…… Come out already. Are you trying to punish me?’

This is really ridiculous.

Yesterday, Cesare spent the whole day looking for a woman named Ellie. According to what she found out, Ellie was a maid whom Cesare had met a few times. They said she was a maid he met at the imperial palace but had disappeared.

This was premium information she obtained by bribing the head butler.

“Disappeared, they say.”

Vanessa’s eyes flashed maliciously. While she couldn’t do anything to Marian, she could do anything to Ellie. That was because while Marian had power, Ellie had absolutely nothing.

“Damn wench. You dare to set your sights on the Duke? A b*tch who doesn’t know her place. What’s wrong with everyone living in the imperial palace?”

Vanessa snorted. Of course, the main problem was Cesare himself, who liked anyone wearing a skirt. But Vanessa needed Cesare too much to criticize or attack him. More precisely, she needed everything Cesare possessed.

‘Ellie, they said.’

Having returned to the Yulian estate, Vanessa gave her order.

“Find every maid named Ellie and kill them all! Without leaving a trace!”

So that even if Cesare’s Ellie heard this news, she would be too scared to come out. And if she died, all the better!

**

Yesterday evening, Abel wasn’t particularly happy even after seeing the signet ring Marian brought. Abel very precisely expressed his dissatisfaction.

‘I would have been fine even if you hadn’t brought this ring, I just wish you hadn’t gotten involved with that bastard.’

Abel’s hatred toward Madrian and Cesare was so natural that no words of rebuttal came to mind. Regardless of Abel’s dissatisfaction, the signet ring Marian brought would clearly show its effect.

Time passed very quickly.

The beauty product that Marian and everyone made together was named Magic Essence. The efficacy of the essence began to spread by word of mouth among noble ladies, and Lucerta started earning money through the essence.

The head of Lucerta merchant guild demanded three times the amount of the first essence delivery, and Marian and Rosette had to focus on producing additional essence for a while.

And finally…

“Hello everyone, I am Terius, who will be hosting this fighting tournament!”

The fighting tournament began.

The person chosen as the host this time was one of the most renowned storytellers in the capital. People shouted with excitement. The arena was filled with voices calling out the names of the contestants they supported.

“The winner of this fighting tournament will receive the right to request anything from His Majesty the Emperor! It’s called a wish right! If you want to become the richest person in the world, ask to become rich! If you want to become a duke, ask to become a duke!”

Waaaaaah!

And Marian was there among them. Next to Marian was Cesare, and beside him were Benjamin and Helena. Marian gripped the handle with a tense face.

“Is there someone you’re cheering for?”

Cesare asked while holding a water glass with his smooth fingers. Marian slightly shook her head.

“No. I don’t even know who’s competing.”

Cesare pressed himself against her. The power of magic was so strong that Cesare believed the illusion to be truth. Cesare subtly rubbed her wrist.

“Did you get home well that day? I was surprised when I woke up and you were gone.”

“……Yes.”

Marian swallowed a sigh. How could he be so calm even after losing the signet ring? Benjamin patted Cesare’s shoulder.

“Duke.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Have you found the head butler? It’s troublesome that there’s no one to look after the estate since he disappeared.”

“That’s true…… but we can’t just entrust the Madrian ducal household to anyone.”

Cesare answered with a sigh. Marian shook off her wrist. Then she focused her attention on the arena. Today, Abel would step onto that stage.

“Fortunately, he didn’t take anything with him.”

The missing signet ring seems to be a secret. Well, if rumors spread that the head butler stole the family head’s signet ring and ran away, Madrian’s dignity would hit rock bottom. She thought Cesare would hide it.

According to Liebe, people from the Madrian ducal family were secretly searching the capital.

‘Search all you want. As if you’ll find him.’

Unless they search the sewers and sort through mice, they’ll never find the head butler. Magic isn’t perfect. If one could find the holes in the magic, they could break it.

The hole in this magic is someone else recognizing the head butler first.

‘Who would recognize that rat.’

Marian swallowed her laughter. The voices of Benjamin and Cesare grew distant. People fell, were dragged away, and winners were determined.

The same actions repeated.

People shouted whenever their favored fighters gained the upper hand.

And finally,

The person Marian had been waiting for stepped onto the stage.

He wore a silver mask, with common brown hair and green eyes. In his rough hands, he held a massive greatsword.

Marian could see the face hidden beneath.

‘Abel.’

The very person she had bid farewell to today.

‘Come back safely. I’ll be waiting. Don’t get hurt. And absolutely don’t lose.’

Marian bit her lip slightly. Her heart began to pound fiercely. Marian widened her eyes. At that moment, Abel turned his gaze toward where she was. She felt their eyes meet across the distance.

In the blink of Marian’s eye, Abel’s first fight ended.

With a perfect victory.

Abel’s opponent rolled on the ground, coughing blood. Marian swallowed a breath of relief.

“Who is that one?”

“I don’t know.”

Cesare shook his head and gestured. A servant went out briefly and returned to announce the winner’s name.

“His name is Urta.”

It was the name Marian had given him. A very common farmer’s name.

“Strange that we haven’t seen someone like him until now. What did they say he used to do?”

“They say he was a miner. That’s why his body is so burly from working in the mines.”