Stay by my side? She wondered if he had misspoken, but the Master’s expression remained unchanged. Why did he say that to her? It was a remark that could be misunderstood if someone overheard it. Moreover, the way he looked at her. It felt like his gaze was sticking to her entire body, it was too persistent to just be normal.

Amelia quickly turned her head to look elsewhere, feeling the strangeness. She should have turned around and left right away.

“Stop.”

It felt like she would be swept away by this inexplicable weirdness if things continued. This was not a good sign. Amelia turned her head away and did not look at the Master.

“I won’t leave. Don’t look this way.”

“……Yes.”

She wouldn’t have felt this way if the Master hadn’t forcibly held her. It was as if he had targeted her weakest spot. She always had trouble ignoring people in distress. She really didn’t want to, but she couldn’t help it. She ended up helping without realizing it.

As if someone had asked her to. Thanks to that, she ended up doing all sorts of tasks. After becoming Amelia, she thought things like that wouldn’t happen anymore… Because there was no one else who would ask the reckless Amelia. After all, being a grand duchess, she wasn’t in a position where she was supposed to take requests from others.

“Why were you like that?”

So that’s why he hadn’t been in touch. The Master was usually prompt in his communications, so it was worrying when he didn’t respond. That’s why she visited today, although she had other requests too.

“Don’t say ignorance is bliss.”

“Really? I hate that saying too.”

He said he hated saying it, so why did he do it? Occasionally, Amelia frowned slightly at the Master’s incomprehensible way of speaking. He was never someone who spoke his mind clearly.

“But can’t we talk face to face?”

“No, we can’t.”

She might not be able to bear it if she encountered that strange gaze again. It wasn’t because the Master looked like Raphael. In fact, his blurry appearance couldn’t even compare to Raphael’s. Raphael had a beauty that made it impossible to look away, even knowing the danger.

“The reason you weren’t in touch… Was it because of that?”

But interestingly, their gazes were similar. Not exactly the same aura, but similar in the sense that it was hard to look away. Sometimes, for different reasons, she didn’t want to meet his gaze.

“That’s one of the reasons.”

“You still can’t tell me?”

“Do you think you can handle my secret?”

Anyone would think she was going to take responsibility for him.

“It’s something difficult for Your Highness to handle.”

Difficult for me to handle?

“I decide what I can and cannot handle.”

She had already been involved in this nonsensical book, which was difficult enough.

“So you have to tell me exactly what’s going on.”

I don’t want to change the business partner I’ve just acquired.

***

Whether her threat worked or not, a small laugh could be heard from in front of her. She wanted to turn her head and look even now, but she couldn’t. What if he had that gaze again? She didn’t know how to react.

Amelia knew why she was reacting this way.

“I don’t know the exact name of the disease.”

“That’s… what…”

She was about to say it was nonsense but ended up looking at the Master.

“You’re finally looking at me.”

At the Master’s faint smile, Amelia tried to look away, but soon realized there was no need. The persistent gaze that had clung to her until a moment ago was gone, and he had returned to his usual self.

“It’s not something that can be called a disease.”

“……”

Was it a problem with his mana core, like her? In fact, she didn’t really have a disease either. It was a rare case that even physicians, priests, and magicians had never seen before and shook their heads at.

“Is it some rare disease?”

At her question, the Master continued laughing and then shook his head in denial. To think he’d mock her concern like that.

“If it were just a disease, it wouldn’t be painful.”

It wouldn’t be so painful. She felt like she understood what he meant. When she first arrived here, the Master seemed to be in pain. He had high fevers and strange symbols rising on his skin that a normal human couldn’t endure…

“It’s a sort of chronic condition. Due to a curse.”

“A curse?”

She still had a lot to learn about this world. She couldn’t keep her mouth shut upon hearing there were curses too.

“What are you imagining, Your Highness?”

“Eh?”

“Don’t tell me… you thought I’m frequently involved with witches?”

Wasn’t that it? He was teasing her ignorance. She felt her face flushing red.

“No, it’s not that.”

She wanted to appear calm, but couldn’t stop her lips from trembling. Why did the Master feel so close today? It was because of this strange atmosphere.

“It’s hereditary. Passed down through blood…”

A hereditary disease? If it was a hereditary disease passed through blood, it could be called a curse. But what about his appearance? It definitely didn’t seem human…

“Then the Master’s children too…”

“It seems Your Highness really likes children. You’re even worrying about my child whom you haven’t seen.”

It was a bit off-track. Sometimes, when she touched on the Master’s sensitive topics, he reacted this way.

“I’ve shown you something unsightly. I must have seemed like a monster.”

That appearance… was indeed monstrous. She almost screamed several times but held it back. But Amelia wasn’t shameless enough to directly call him a monster.

“Is it… like that every day?”

“Fortunately, there’s a cycle. If it were always like this, I might have gone mad and died.”

It’s so easy for him to say he would have died. Amelia knew that wasn’t a joke. While others might not understand, the Master really was someone who could do it.

“Now, shall we hear the reason why Your Highness came?”

“We haven’t talked properly yet.”

“That’s all there is to it.”

He never intended to talk properly from the beginning. But she knew this was her place. If she went any further… it wouldn’t just be a simple business partnership.

“I came to ask how the redevelopment of the old downtown is going.”

There was something she didn’t like. She found herself frowning as she spoke.

“The redevelopment will take some time.”

“Why?”

“The emperor’s response is lukewarm.”

Lukewarm. To think that the redevelopment of the old downtown, his lifelong project, would receive such a tepid response? She had a rough idea of the situation.

“It’s that paranoia again.”

Can’t he just accept what’s served on a platter? It’s not that difficult. She thought using the emperor, who’s obsessed with the legendary brooch, would be easy.

“There is a way. It just might take some time.”

“If the Master says so, then it must be. And I came because I have another request.”

Today’s goal was different. The paranoid emperor couldn’t be dealt with right away. If necessary, another stimulus should be provided, so there’s no need to worry too much. She realized from the last auction how sensitive the emperor was to competitors.

“Find out the weaknesses of the high nobles attending the founding festival.”

“What?”

“Research something that smells fishy just by hearing about it.”

She was different from the original Amelia. It means she won’t accept it and won’t run away. In this world, there’s more than just taking a straightforward approach.

“Are you thinking of blackmailing?”

“If possible?”

If they won’t accept her, she’ll make them accept her. She had a competent ally. As a grand duchess, she didn’t need to beg to be accepted.

“They could become enemies.”

Amelia’s life was full of enemies anyway. Even if it’s not the high nobles, she was in a position to be kidnapped by a head maid.

“This time, I realized. It’s better to have a public enemy.”

Nobles wouldn’t stoop to grabbing someone by the hair. They wouldn’t openly kidnap someone like that, either.

“So, you’re asking me to find blackmail material?”

“Very certain ones.”

“Things that would make one shut their mouth just by hearing them.”

Amelia turned her head away at the sight of the Master laughing, trying hard not to keep thinking strange thoughts.

It felt like… she was having an affair with him.