Chapter 10 Part 2

“It’s such a heartwarming letter… It feels like I’m seeing a glimpse of your childhood!”

“Me? I wasn’t that cute of a child.”

When I was young, I thought I was exceptional. I had saved a failing jewelry store using my wit, and all the scholars who were around me every day praised me as the best, so I grew up believing I was the king of my little pond.

It wasn’t until my debut that I realized that wasn’t true. There were people more beautiful, more noble, and even more brilliant than I was in the one thing I prided myself on. I was forced to gather the shattered pieces of my arrogance and hide them.

It was one of the few painful experiences I had. The memory of that day was so shocking that I’ve spoken less ever since.

“No, no! You were really, really cute, Miss! Of all the children I’ve seen, you were the cutest!”

“It’s just because Garnet likes me so much.”

I responded casually, and Garnet nodded vigorously with eyes that sparkled too much. Her expression seemed to scream, “Of course!” even without words.

“I’ve read the letter, so you can leave now, Garnet. I’ll write the reply later.”

“Yes, Miss. Oh, by the way, are you planning to visit the orphanage next week?”

“Huh? …Why do you ask?”

I immediately wondered if it had already been discovered, so I asked again, but Garnet shrugged nonchalantly, as if it was no big deal.

“At the end of the letter, it asked if you would be coming next week. But next week wasn’t the scheduled day, right?”

“Ah… maybe they just meant they wanted you to come?”

I evasively mumbled with an ambiguous answer, and Garnet seemed satisfied enough as she nodded and left the office. I was left alone in the office, sighing as I rubbed my chest.

Next week, I decided to visit Ten and Tornado. It was my suggestion after he mentioned wanting to see the others in Tornado. When we arrived in Rohan, I heard news about the orphanage, and while I wasn’t particularly worried, it had been a while since I’d seen them, so I understood his longing. That’s why I sent Ten’s letter to the orphanage yesterday and also made plans to visit next week.

Since there would be no benefit in letting others know, I had planned to keep it secret, but I almost got caught by Garnet already. Of course, I don’t think Garnet would betray me, but isn’t it better when fewer people know a secret?

“I’ll need to get a robe ready in advance.”

To match Harten’s height, I would need to get a longer robe. It wasn’t going to be something that could be hidden with a regular women’s robe. I thought it would be best to head to the upper district tomorrow and make arrangements, then I picked up the quill again.”

***

“Miss, Taryn has arrived.”

“Bring her to this room. Did you make sure she doesn’t know where she is?”

“She had her eyes covered from the moment she got into the carriage, and we took a long detour around the villa.”

“Good. Be careful with the titles, and bring her in.”

At the firm command, the woman deeply bowed and left the room, retreating as she did. Daisy Queenie leaned back in her chair, waiting for Taryn to arrive. The door opened, and the woman placed Taryn opposite to Daisy before leaving the room.

“W-where am I…?”

“You don’t need to know. Once you’ve finished telling your story, I’ll send you back. Oh, and the reward will depend on how useful your information is.”

“Ah, I… I…”

Taryn hesitated before beginning to speak.

“I am a maid of the Knight household. I have been working here for nine years…….”

“Spill all the secrets of the Knight household that you know.”

As Daisy Queenie grew impatient and insisted, Taryn remained silent for a moment before cautiously speaking.

“If you turn the jar in the most secluded corner on the second floor of the main house in the mansion in the correct direction, a door to the storage room will open. In the storage room, there is….”

“Whose storage room is it?”

“I heard it’s the storage room of the eldest master….”

“Enough. Anything but that.”

“If, then….”

Taryn stumbled over her words, sharing various tidbits that were nothing more than trivial chatter to Daisy. As Daisy Queenie felt her patience nearing its limit and was about to slam her chair, Taryn’s timid voice echoed through the room.

“To, to Miss Rose…, there was a Clover.”

Her previously rising anger instantly subsided. It was because she recalled who Taryn was referring to—the Clover with silver eyes she had encountered two years ago at the Shammrok event attended by Halo Cart. It was an item she had coveted for its purer eye color than her own. Although she had lost interest now due to the availability of a better substitute.

“The Clover… for some reason, didn’t reveal his face much. Most of the people who were allowed to see his appearance had worked at the Knight household for over ten years. It was as if he were trying to hide something…”

Daisy Queenie leaned forward. Taryn, whose eyes were covered, didn’t realize it, but Rob’s figure, who had been observing the entire situation from the corner of the room, noticed that Daisy Queenie was concentrating on the story.

“When I listened to the stories of those who met Clover, they said he has honey-like blonde hair and mysterious silver eyes. And I heard he has a dot on the nape of his neck…”

“Blonde hair, silver eyes, and a dot?”

“Yes. I can’t say for sure, but everyone described it as ‘an angel’s mistake.’ Like a stain engraved on white porcelain…”

At that moment, Daisy Queenie recalled Prince Endeavor, whom she had met at the party a few days ago. The prince with blonde hair and silver eyes. He had accompanied Rose Knight to the banquet due to some unknown connection. All the letters I sent requesting partnership were ignored! I thought it might be because the ‘enchantment perfume’ sprinkled on the letters was insufficient, but was that not the case?

She quickly recalled the conditions for the perfume’s activation. There weren’t many conditions to nullify the perfume. It had been created through several modifications to ensure that. After going over those conditions about three times, she was certain.

“No doubt about it. The reason Prince Endeavor wasn’t affected by the perfume was because he and Rose Knight are fond of each other.”

If that’s true, it explains why the prince hasn’t fallen for me all this time. Even on the day of the banquet, he approached me eagerly, yet the perfume didn’t work, making me anxious. Considering that the scent didn’t take effect even when he was so close, the final condition must be almost certain. The most stringent and crucial condition:

“When both parties harbor feelings for each other in the same space, the enchantment doesn’t work.”

…This is getting interesting. Daisy laughed like a predatory lion.

“That’s a good story. Do you have anything else?”

“No, not really.”

Daisy Queenie burst into a satisfied smile and clapped her hands twice. The man from Rob, who had been standing behind her, took a step forward.

“You, if you need money again next time, bring me information.”

“Huh? Ah, yes! I will!”

“I’ll bring the reward soon. Get out.”

Taryn’s face flushed with anger. Daisy glanced disdainfully at her own face, which showed a hint of contempt.

Trying to save a dying old mother… Even if she miraculously survived, she would be of no use to her life. Thinking such thoughts, Daisy quickly composed her expression. After all, that point had helped her, so there was no need to make it obvious. She might still be useful until Rose Knight was completely destroyed.

Daisy Queenie stopped paying attention to Taryn as she was escorted out of the room and tilted her head, pondering what kind of reward to offer. It had to be generous enough to make her eager to return here. After all, it wasn’t likely she could buy off a maid with such experience again.