“Oh, Black!”

It was greed, my savior, no, my saving sin!

 ‘I felt like I forgot something important! And it was you!’

For the first time since the contract, I had left him behind during my outing, but fate had a cruel sense of timing, as we ended up parting ways. As if lamenting my solitude, Greed made peculiar whining noises and buried his head in my embrace.

 “Miyok. Kiyu!”

 “Yes, yes. I missed you too.”

Truth be told, I had completely forgotten, but I’ll keep that as my little secret. Anyway, avoiding the burdensome Jansi, I turned my attention to Greed.

 “Lili. You should let go of that fox; its fur might get into the food and-“

“I’ll eat later.”

Pretending to be occupied with Greed on purpose, I answered casually and heard an amused chuckle.

You have to eat something, okay?”

 “Yes.”

Fortunately, Jansi withdrew his plan to spoon-feed me. As I ate again, Greed clung tightly to me, whispering sorrowfully into my ear.

 [You abandoned me! You’re a terrible owner]

‘When did I ever say I’m not your master?’

 [Anyway, you abandoned me! When is that human leaving? I want to talk! It’s frustrating!]

 ‘Just bear with it for a little while…….’

But I wasn´t sure how long that “little while” would be. After collapsing, an overwhelming level of overprotection set in. Since I had been lying around so much, I decided to crack the window open a bit to relieve the stuffiness.

“No! Do you realize how cold the winter wind is?”

“Uhh…?”

“Come on, get back under the blanket. Hurry!”

 “Ugh.”

The previously soothing cold air had suddenly turned into some kind of plague, forcing me back into bed. Not being able to contact Raeyan and Isis bothered me, so I decided to go the annex to retrieve a communication magical device.

“His Grace’s orders are for you to stay in the main mansion for the time being!”

 “No, it’s not that, I’m just going to get some of my stuff-.”

 “Ah, miss……!”

Frustrated by the servants begging me as their life depended on obeying the duke’s command, my attempt ended in failure.

 Was this what it felt like to be in a windowless cell? The next day, and the next, it was the same story.

Whenever I tried to step out of bed, the servants would rush at me frantically, as if I was about to do something dreadful.

 I sat at my desk and picked up a quill to write to Raeyan and Isis because I had no communication tools.

“Isn’t the pen a bit too heavy for you?”

“Why would it be…?”

“If you need a ghostwriter, please let me know.”

“No, I just need to have some tea.”

“Oh my, Miss! You should call us when you want tea.”

I was so overwhelmed by their sincere eagerness that I eventually raised both hands and feet in surrender.

Feeling defeated, I rolled around on the bed, unable to muster the will to do anything.

 “Kyuu.”

Due to the servants who stuck to me like glue, Greed had no choice but to cosplay as a black fox. I secretly beckoned to Martha, unable to escape the prying eyes of the mansion, using my fingers.

“Martha. could you please bring me my communication device from my room?”

 “Both of them?”

 “No. Just the regular one.”

The only people who knew of the existence of the special communications tool were Martha and the very few who knew I was Lili Arcel.

Since I didn’t want to arouse suspicion by showing that I had special magical devices, I asked for a regular one.

Unlike me, who had become a phantom in the bed, Martha, free to move, quickly brought the regular communication device.

Seizing the opportunity when the servants were distracted, I was about to connect with Raeyan when it happened.

 “Sister! Sister Lili!”

Carlot burst into the bedroom, followed by Jansi.

“You almost died because of me! D*mn it!”

Carlot, who was kneeling beside my bed, sobbed as he slammed the bed in frustration. The fragile bed squeaked under Carlot’s pounding fists.

 “Carl. The bed is making noises.”

“Ah, I-I’m sorry.”

Carlot’s head was still adorned with a crow’s nest of hair, as if he had rushed over the moment he woke up. I don’t know what he was thinking, but his face was covered in tears.

 “Don’t cry.”

“But my sister tried to save me…… the beast’s poison……. sniff…….”

“It’s not exactly because of you, you know?”

“Even if you say it so coldly, I know sister Lili’s true feelings… sob…”

“Haah…”

I let out a sigh and pressed my hand to my forehead. My head was throbbing.

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He was already annoying, but now he’s even more of an annoyance.

 ‘I didn’t expect you to be such a crybaby.’

 It’s impossible to tell whether I’m taking care of a younger sibling or raising a child. I tossed the towel I had used to dry my hair earlier onto Carlot, who was sitting beside me on the bed, with a hasty gesture.

“Wipe your face. It’s a mess right now.”

“Thanks… sniff.”

Even so, Carlot’s continued sobbing continued to grate on my nerves. Jansi, who had been observing the situation behind Carlot, spoke firmly.

“Carlot, that’s enough. Lili isn’t comfortable with this.”

In response, Carlot retorted sharply without even looking back.

“Mind your own business, Jansi. This is a conversation between Lili and me.”

 “…….”

I don’t think Carlot could see it with his back to him, but I did. Jansi’s smile deepened! Oh, my God.

‘Carlot, do you have two lives?’

Carlot, who used to follow his older brother’s words so well, answered back so defiantly. But the only one who caught on to this was me, the third party in their conversation.

Regardless, Carlot leaned his head back against the bed and looked up at me. His gaze trembling as if he was about to cry.

“Sister.is there something you’d like to eat? That chocolate something? Where was it sold? It was something Blanc, right?”

“It hasn’t been that long since you woke up, and you’re already thinking about going out. Just go back and rest.”

“Oh… sister Lili, are you worried about me?”

 “Ugh.”

Carlot looked up at me, his eyes moist again. I scowled and pulled away. If I make him another antidote, he’ll be like a slave by then.

“By the way, Sister Lili. When did your power manifest? The power to destroy toxins? Impressive! As expected, you’re the best!”

Hearing praise for abilities that I usually dismissed as nonexistent was quite a change. Overwhelmed by my annoyance, I narrowed my eyes and said.

 “Carl. I’m tired. Can you please leave now?”

“Ah. They mentioned that the price you pay for your power is pain……. I understand…….”

Carlot staggered to his feet, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

 “Get some rest, sister. Sorry for bothering you…….”

“Take care!”

Waving my hand without hesitation, I was about to bid farewell to Carlot and Jansi when someone knocked on the bedroom door.

Instead of answering, Jansi opened the door and saw two familiar knights on the other side. I didn’t know their names, but I had seen them before.

As soon as our eyes met, the two knights immediately kneeled as if in reverence.

“We’ve come to express our gratitude to you for saving our lives!”

Thud!! The sound was so loud that I worried they might have shattered their kneecaps.

 “Wh-what?”

I asked in surprise, only to be met with the knights’ enthusiastic response.

“We owe our lives to Lady Elodie!”

“Please allow us to swear our loyalty as knights to Lady Elodie!”

It appeared that these two knights, who had recently accompanied Carlot on a mission, got poisoned in the process and had survived. It was only a simple detoxification procedure, but receiving such gratitude left me feeling rather awkward.

Furthermore, the knights’ oath was no small matter. It was a significant ceremony where the knights pledged lifelong loyalty to their chosen master.

It was usually given to a lord or the lady of their heart, but to swear it to me, who was about to leave the family, would be to ruin the career of a promising knight.

I descended from the bed and stood before them. Then, with a serious expression, I offered them some advice.

 “My lords. I think you should be more careful about your knightly oaths.”

 “Oooh……!”

 “We are grateful to you for thinking of us, Lady Elodie!”

They didn’t even seem to hear me, completely absorbed in their fervor. Fearing that they might truly go through with it, Carlot stepped in front of me.

 “Hey, what are you guys doing?”

“Eh? Master, is that you?”

 “What are you guys doing?”

 “What do you mean, we are…….”

Carlot declared, raising his head arrogantly.

 “Get in line. I’m first.”

“…..Ugh.”

Another wave of headache hit me, and I sighed deeply, pressing my forehead.

***

The youngest lady of Perdia was a person of interest among servants. A sensitive, picky illegitimate daughter.

However, after her role in the recent incident, as a temporary servant, the talk of Elodie’s true character had taken root. Rumors spread that she was not as difficult as once thought, but rather a kind and gentle lady. Her reputation had improved.

Yet, the longstanding servants in Perdia’s capital mansion, many of whom had worked in the manor for many years, shrugged it off.

 They knew that kindness didn’t erase one’s true nature. However, recently, a new rumor concerning Elodie had emerged.

“Did you hear? Miss Elodie has saved Master Carlot’s life this time!”

“What? Elodie saved Lord Carlot’s life?”

“What did she do to save him?”

“Rumor has it that Miss Elodie is a pharmacist in Perdia. She made the antidote.”

“Oh no! Did she faint while making the antidote?”

“That’s right. Everyone knows that the young lady has a weak constitution, right?”

 “Even if it weren’t, the two knights who went to her insist on swearing a knight’s oath.”

And just like that, the rumors about Elodie went wild. Tales of her powers were kept at bay, but rumors that she was a pharmacist could not be stopped.

When the two recovered knights heard that it was Elodie who had saved them, they questioned the doctor and found out.

 Moreover, Elodie hadn’t displayed any ill temper recently and had been kind even to the mansion’s staff.

Unlike the exclusive servants attending to Elodie directly in the annex, the mansion’s staff hadn’t interacted much with Elodie before. Because of this, their perception of her had changed positively in no time.

The fragile young lady, who worked tirelessly all night to create the antidote that saved master Carlot and the knights despite her weak constitution, was like an angel!

The background of this overprotectiveness was to ensure that the delicate lady would recover quickly. This was how the rumors, unknown to the subject, were born.

***

Although it wasn’t a formal banquet today, the members of Perdia had gathered in the dining room. They mentioned that it was for both the meal and to discuss my abilities.

 ‘Leek…….’

Once again, the menu was full of leeks. Carlot seemed to share my thoughts as he grumbled while setting down his utensils.

“What’s this? Is the chef crazy? It’s all leeks? Are we supposed to eat this?”

“Lili likes it.”

In response to Jansi’s words, Carlot picked up his utensils again.

 “I guess I love leeks.”

What a stubborn guy… My wish for Carlot to boycott leeks had crumbled to pieces. I sighed somewhat disheartened and chewed on the fresh leeks. Then the duchess sitting across from me asked.

“Lili, how’s your health?”

“I’m fully recovered now.”

“Good thing the aftereffects didn’t last too long.”

Carlot alternated his gaze between the Duchess and me, as if he had seen something he couldn’t believe. It was surprising to hear her use a nickname for me.

‘I’m surprised too, you rascal.’

The meal continued smoothly. As we finished the dishes with leeks and moved on to the next course with leeks, Jansi brought up a topic

 “Father. About Lili’s power.”

“Hmm.”

“Shouldn’t we officially report it to the royal court?”

I stopped in the middle of cutting with the knife.

 ‘Ah, no, but……?’

I was in a dilemma.

In principle, when a member of the Four Great Houses develops an ability, it was customary and obligatory to report it to the royal court.

 But if during the public declaration process, someone realized that my ability wasn’t related to Perdia’s destructive attribute, it would be disastrous.

Especially considering the rumors I’ve heard about someone in the royal family who possesses the ability to assess others’ abilities once they come in contact with them.

Originally, since I didn’t have an ability to begin with, I couldn’t be sure whether this was true or not. I was prepared to be exposed, but now that the situation had come, fear suddenly gripped me.

 What face am I making right now? I looked up, unsure if I was even managing my facial expressions, and locked eyes with the Duke of Perdia.

 “…….”

The duke glanced at me briefly, then took a sip of wine from his glass before asking.

 “What do you wish to do, Elodie?”

“I would prefer to let it pass, as I don’t want unnecessary attention focused on me.”

I said it expecting it not to be accepted, but Duke Perdia gave an unexpected response.

“Do it that way.”

Huh?

‘I can just let it pass like this?’