Through an extremely awkward conversation with Pierre, I had successfully grasped my current situation.
This was the castle of Duke Gilmore Blue Rose, and I was Mitsuba Blue Rose Clove, the heir of the late Lady Tsubaki. Lady Tsubaki passed away due to poor postpartum health shortly after my birth. Moreover, the left-alone infant, me, fell into a vegetative state, all while unconscious up until just now. Despite being born a noble, it was a truly tragic situation. I wasn’t happy at all.
I should have been dead long ago, but the powerful and influential Blue Rose ducal family spared no expense to keep me alive.
Although I didn’t quite understand, they apparently enlisted the help of the Director of the Kingdom’s Institute of Magical Research to perform a ritual called “Magic Infusion” using magic stones and catalysts for a decade. They squandered money and performed dubious rituals, or so I heard. I didn’t want to delve into the details, so I lightly brushed over that part.
Despite Pierre, the butler, having a sincere face, he kept wiping sweat with his handkerchief while chatting away. At first, he tried to dodge the topic, saying there was nothing to worry about, but after I kept pestering him with questions, he reluctantly started answering honestly, groaning along the way. Contrary to his stern face, he surprisingly lacked guts.
“I see. So, you all spent a lot of money on me. It must have been tough for you, right? With your salary and all.”
“Um… I wouldn’t say that.”
“Oh, weren’t the others resentful of me? Like, perhaps they wanted to get rid of me!”
As I spoke with a smile, Pierre flinched for a moment, then vigorously shook his head.
“T-That’s not true! Anyway, please, I beg you to keep this between us and Duke Gilmore! If anyone were to find out about this, I shudder to think of the punishment.”
“Of course, I’ll keep it a secret. So, did my other family members say anything? Because if you were wasting that much money, they’d be furious, right?”
“Um… th-that’s… I wouldn’t know.”
“I see, I see. Yeah, that makes sense. They wouldn’t be pleased about pouring money into a half-dead, illegitimate daughter. I wouldn’t like it either.”
I nodded along, and Pierre’s face turned even paler.
Currently, the one serving as Duke Gilmore’s legitimate wife was someone named Miriane, the second wife. She’s my stepmother. Apparently, my real mother couldn’t bear children for a long time, so under due pressure from those around, my father reluctantly married my stepmother. Their relationship had been rocky from the start, but it worsened with my birth and my mother’s death followed by the enormous expense for my prolonged life. Now they live separately in a nearby mansion.
‘I can’t wait to see her. I wonder what insults she’ll throw at me. I’m getting excited just thinking about it.’
As I involuntarily smiled, Pierre’s complexion turned even paler. He might be anemic.
“B-But… Duke Gilmore has been waiting for you all this time. Since Lady Tsubaki’s passing, people started distancing themselves from this mansion, and Duke Gilmore started avoiding others. …Since then, everything has changed.”
“I see. It must have been tough on you. You’re one hardworking butler, aren’t you?”
“N-No, not at all. I’m inconsequential. However, due to Duke Gilmore’s excessive care… Various malicious rumors started circulating, causing him immense mental stress.”
I dipped the soft bread into the soup that had been brought over to me. It wasn’t very delicious.
“Hmm, now that I think about it…”
“W-What is it?”
I noticed something strange.
I roughly understood who I was, but who exactly was “I”?
I mean, I fell into a vegetative state right after birth, so it’s strange that I can speak. Plus, I possessed knowledge of a different world. There were no TVs here, but I knew what they were. There’s no magic over there, but it just so happens that there is magic here. What on earth was going on?
“Um, who am I, again?”
“You are Lady Mitsuba, madam.”
“Yeah, I know that, but… I still don’t quite get it. I just wanted to confirm.”
“…………”
“Oh, don’t worry, I’m just thinking. Everything’s totally fine, so please relax, okay?”
Pierre looked at me as if he were touching something fragile.
Unfortunately, perhaps I was normal after all or maybe having such thoughts were a sign of abnormality.
Not understanding it well, I muttered, “I’ll go back to sleep” and decided to crawl back into bed.
……………
The next time I woke up, it was Father Gilmore’s face again.
After being embraced multiple times and having my head stroked, I received a large number of dolls and toys as presents. There were so many that the room had no more space to walk in. It seemed like they gradually accumulated, filling up a warehouse. The Clove family’s finances seemed quite precarious, undoubtedly their extravagance was one of the reasons for that.
When I casually asked Pierre if the people of Blue Rose Province, under the rule of such a person, suffered, Duke Gilmore mentioned that internal affairs were handled by administrators, and the military was managed by the national army, so there were no problems. Centralization had progressed considerably and it seemed like a somewhat difficult world for the nobles. Nevertheless, they could live a luxurious life without working, so long live the nobles. Surely, they would face consequences sooner or later.
“So, Mitsuba, anything you like? If it’s not here, I’ll immediately purchase it for you.”
“No. There’s just too much, so I’ll play with them little by little. I won’t get bored for a while.”
“…I see. I’ve already bought a lot of clothes for you. From those, brought from your mother’s hometown to the trendy dresses in the capital. There’s everything, and I’ll prepare anything you want.”
“Thank you, um, Father.”
“Hahaha, don’t mention it. I’ll grant any wish you have, as much as I couldn’t do anything up until now. Anything you wish for, I’ll make it happen. Definitely. Just say anything.”
This was just plain parental indulgence or rather, pampering.
According to Butler Pierre, Father used to be a commander of the martial arts faction and was quite influential. As a general in the Kingdom’s army, he ran around in all directions for territorial expansion and colonial acquisition.
Realistic paintings from that time around were displayed in the room. A young Father Gilmore and Mother Tsubaki stood side by side. Gilmore, dressed formally, looked quite elite, while Mother wore something like a kimono. According to Father, she was a foreign sorceress—a Yin Yang Master. They met through magical exchanges, like magical practices, with Gilmore, and I even got to hear their love stories.
“Look, this is your mom. Your hair color is the same as mine, but your eyes and facial features are exactly like your mother’s. In the future, you will undoubtedly become beautiful.”
“Is this… my mother?”
Mother had long raven black hair. I had moon-lit silver hair. Father also had silver hair. I seemed to have inherited my hair from my Father. Other elements were undoubtedly inherited from my Mother. After all, those round doll-like eyes were exactly like the ones I saw in the mirror earlier. If I saw this person in the middle of the night, I would probably be surprised. She looked like a checkerboard doll. I couldn’t become a checkerboard doll because of my silver hair. The servants acting suspiciously around me might be due to these exotic lifeless eyes.
In the album, there were other realistic paintings sandwiched in between. Tsubaki with an unhappy face on the right side of the stern-faced Gilmore and on the left was an unfamiliar woman with blond hair tied up into a high bun. In front of them stood two small children, upright with a tense expression.
“And these?”
“….This is Miriane, who is my wife now. And this is the eldest son, Griel, and the youngest, Miguel. Oh, if only you had been born a little earlier, I wouldn’t have had to welcome such a woman.”
He glared at the painting, openly showing disgust.
“Brothers?”
“Ah, well, in a sense. …Griel is stationed at the nearby garrison as a military officer, and Miguel is in the capital as a senator. You won’t have many opportunities to meet, so don’t worry about them.”
“And where is this lady, my stepmother?”
“Hmph, I don’t know and don’t want to know what she’s doing. No, I really don’t want to know. She’s a woman interested only in wealth and position!”
He spat out in revulsion and pushed the painting to the edge. It was clear that the relationship between the couple was not at all pleasant.
“Now, Mitsuba. Sorry, but could you try holding this?”
From somewhere, Gilmore took out a cane and extended it towards me.
At the tip, a blue crystal was attached, and inside it, a rose was embedded. The grip of the cane had finely detailed carvings, giving it a seasoned appearance.
“A blue crystal, huh. Um, is this a rose wand?”
“Yes, indeed. Quite a beautiful one. It might be a bit early, but let’s call it insurance. Now, go ahead and hold it without hesitation.”
Somehow, I hesitated about whether I should take it or not. I sensed a strange presence from this cane. An aura or something, a feeling that’s out of ordinary.
“Is something wrong?”
“Well, this cane feels somehow not normal, and…”
“As expected of our daughter, you’ve quickly noticed the nature of the cane.”
“?”
Gilmore grinned with a wicked look. There was an unusual color in his eyes.
“…Certainly, this is not an ordinary cane. However, it will never do you any harm. So, go ahead and hold it with peace of mind.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Although it felt like I should refrain, it seemed like he wouldn’t end the conversation unless until I took it. Reluctantly, I gripped the cane with the blue crystal. Yeah, it still felt uncomfortable. It didn’t feel like it was mine. The wand also seemed to dislike it. In fact, it felt like it was beginning to show hostility towards me. It might be dangerous to hold it for too long. I was starting to think about throwing it away for now.
──And then, Gilmore started muttering something in a low voice as he stretched out his hands towards me. A bright blue light diffused into my body, coming from Gilmore.
I didn’t feel any pain. At the same time, the discomfort I felt earlier disappeared. Now, it felt like it was mine. The wand was not resisting either.
“What was that just now?”
“It’s a little charm. Just now, I deeply engraved your existence into this wand. Let’s call it a soul imprint. Anyway, with this, it should protect you from all disasters. This is yours now.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Whenever you leave the room, make sure to always carry this wand. It has a bit of a rough temperament, so you’ll need to get used to it gradually.”
It seemed like the overprotective parent intent exploded.
‘He must have given me a high-quality wand as a present. I was concerned about the initial discomfort, but I should properly thank him. I’m still somewhat of a convalescent and despite how much of a spendthrift this father is, he’s currently the only ally I have.’
“Haha, but I never expected it to work well on the first try. Truly my daughter, brimming with dazzling talent. …Who would give this house to those prostitutes? The name Blue Rose should be inherited by our daughter, born of me and Tsubaki. No matter what anyone says, I won’t give it to someone like Griel!!” He roared with a gleam of dark light emanating within the depths of his eyes.
It was probably related to the complicated family situation I learned about earlier. For me, the best scenario would be to lead a peaceful and somewhat elegant life. Writing poetry, enjoying tea, and such elegant activities. After all, I’ve been in a vegetative state for ten years, and being thrown into the intricacies unique to nobility all of a sudden was not something I desired. I didn’t want to die.
“Father?”
“…No, it’s nothing. Well then, how about taking a little walk outside? In the courtyard, there are many flowers that your mother liked to plant. From now on, we’ll plant the flowers you like as well. Once you gain strength, I’ll provide you with the best education, let you lead the finest life. When you become an adult, I’ll find you the best husband. I must make sure you lead a happier life than anybody else, to make up for what has happened until now. This father will surely make it happen.”
What a useless father. It would be nice if there were some assets left, but I wondered how it would turn out in the end. ‘Pierre and the current wife, Miriane, will probably be furious if they heard this.’ While thinking about such things, I casually swung the wand. Gilmore, in high spirits, patted my head and started walking towards the courtyard.
◆
“So, I heard the report that she regained consciousness. Could you tell me in detail about the recent condition of that cursed doll?”
“Y-Yes. Lord Gilmore seems to be very happy every day. Not only does he buy toys, but just the other day, he also ordered a new dress. He even called a painter to create an ever-lasting painting of both parent and child.”
“Oh! My, my, really. It’s absolutely absurd. Creating such a painting would be nothing more than an absolute waste. Don’t you think so too?”
“Y-Yes.”
“But it truly sounds annoying. It feels unpleasant to the very extreme.”
──This was the Blue Rose family’s second residence. Miriane, the current wife of Gilmore, had a genuinely bitter expression as she listened to the report from the butler Pierre.
It’d been a month since the cursed doll had been revived. The cursed doll, who had been continuously administered a potion blended from magic stones and the corpses of children for about ten years, now had a face identical to that woman—Gilmore’s ex-wife, Tsubaki. Moreover, according to the servants, it smiled with a satanic expression.
It was only a matter of time before the bad reputation spread. It would be unacceptable for the name “Blue Rose” to be tarnished like this. It’d have been better to let it perish quickly.
“Truly, there’s no saving him. Despite the constant decrease in wealth, he has no self-awareness. I wonder if he even has the qualifications to be the head of the household.”
“…………”
“You’re silent, but it’s not something unrelated to you, either. How will you eat if a bankruptcy were to happen?”
“W-Well, there’s not much we can do…”
“Well, I’m not expecting anything either, but sometimes I feel like complaining.”
Just how much wealth does that man need to squander? Numerous Blue Rose family-owned artworks and armaments have already been sold. To make matters worse, he even tried to touch the land. Miriane immediately intervened behind the scenes and crushed that attempt. Eventually, the land would be inherited by her son Griel. Artworks may not matter much, but the land was absolutely off-limits. It was a matter of pride and prestige for nobility. Selling it was out of question!
“He should have died quickly and followed after her. To be able to live is a blessing. But is it also true that living foolishly counts as a blessing? How enviable.”
Ripping apart the report handed by Pierre, Miriane threw the crumps away casually. Pierre hurriedly picked them up. He might look loyal and dedicated on the outside, but his inner self didn’t align. Sustaining himself was his top priority, and his loyalty to Gilmore was almost nonexistent. Seeing the diminishing assets, he greedily sided with Miriane. With this, Miriane had all of the servants under her influence. The reward was the assurance of continued employment, both the salary and employment, after Gilmore’s death. With just this tactic, all information around Gilmore flew to Miriane.
“Now then, what should I do?”
As someone who married into the Blue Rose family from the Yellow Rose family through a political marriage and having fulfilled her role by giving birth to two sons, Miriane felt that her duty was done. Gilmore’s role was also already over. All that’s left was for him to retire quickly or die of illness, and everything would go smoothly.
The Yellow Rose family was close to the king and was the leading royalist in the parliament. If they managed to bring in the neutral faction, the Blue Rose family, as an ally, it would result in favorable politics for the Yellow Rose family. Negotiations had already been completed by Miriane’s father with the King, and it’s been reported that Griel will inherit the Blue Rose family. No matter how much Gilmore resisted, there was absolutely no way that a cursed doll like Mitsuba would take that position.
“Madam, I have some unfortunate news.”
“Oh dear, what is it? Don’t scare me like that.”
“It seems that Lord Gilmore has already performed the succession of the Blue Rose Wand. The ownership of the wand now belongs to Miss Mitsuba, and she is currently carrying it with her.”
“Well, that’s troublesome. But, by doing such a selfish thing, did he ever think about what would happen to him?”
Miriane chuckled lightly.
The Seven Wands, each representing a different color, was the proof of the heir to the prestigious Seven Wand families. The wand couldn’t even be held without performing the inheritance ceremony. The wand chooses its owner. It is said that those without the aptitude, who try to forcefully grip it would receive the penalty of death. By strictly guarding the wand, Gilmore declared that he was the head of the household and the one to choose the successor.
‘You’re making my workload unnecessarily heavy. Always dealing with troublesome matters, aren’t you?’
However, there’s no particular issue. Whether the wand was genuine or a replica, no one cared. The head of the household no longer led the way into the battlefield. The nature of wars had changed significantly over the past two decades. So, it didn’t matter who held the real wand. It just needed to be within the Blue Rose family.
Miriane turned a blind eye to Gilmore’s extravagance simply because she wanted to smoothly secure the inheritance of the family. According to the doctor, Gilmore, drowning in alcohol, had deteriorating organs. She also knew that he consumed painkillers that could be equated to narcotics, daily. There was also a high possibility of other serious illnesses. So, she overlooked it.
But that was all over now. An insect devouring wealth without a wand. A pitiful man who, as the head of the household, had not fulfilled any role, solely obsessed with the cursed doll. It was undoubtedly pitiful to be considered the wife of such a man, but the takeover of the Blue Rose family had been successful. There was nothing to be ashamed of.
“……Madam?”
“Ah, I was lost in thought for a moment. …Now, according to your report, you’re planning a debut party next month, correct?”
“Y-Yes.”
“Hmph. That man probably intends to announce Mitsuba’s succession to the family headship there. Fufufu, that would be interesting in its own way. Then, let’s settle it there.”
“S-Settle it?”
“Yes. Griel and Miguel will be busy, and it’s pitiful to have them criticized later, so let’s have them absent from the party. As usual, I’ll have to clean up everything by myself.”
In any case, whether actions were taken or not, some degree of bad rumors were certain to circulate. Miriane planned to use Gilmore’s past actions and crush him with his own deeds. But as a mother, she was prepared to bear any baseless bad reputation, all for her children. She wanted Griel to be an excellent head of the family and hoped that Miguel would work splendidly as a senator. If they did well, she believed she would be rewarded too.
“Now then, Pierre. I’ll give you something later, so make sure to mix it into that man’s drink. Your extra reward is a million. It’s a challenging task, but do you want to give it a try?”
“……T-That’s, surely not.”
“Yes, indeed. This is also a test of your loyalty. Of course, you can refuse. It’s an undoubtedly sinful act. Either way, in case you mess up, there’s no need to worry. I’ll have several undercover agents among the guests, so the outcome won’t change at all.”
Pierre, after a brief hesitation, kneeled down and nodded.
“You have good obedience, which is helpful. Despite the various troubles, everything seems to be going well in the end. Now, we need to decide what to do with that cursed doll. It would be nice if we could get rid of her as well, but that woman is keeping an eye on her.”
Miriane toyed with her hair, lost in thought for a while.
Killing Gilmore was a must. Mitsuba would also be better off eliminated. However, the Royal Magic Research Institute was involved in this matter. Those abnormal people were the ones who forcibly kept that thing, which was in a vegetative state, alive. If it were treated as an experimental subject for magic rather than a sacrifice, it would cause trouble later.
Especially, she wants to avoid conflict with Director Nicoreinas. That woman changed the course of modern warfare, contributing to the kingdom’s advancement. It would be more advantageous to cooperate than to oppose her.
“Let’s subtly inquire about it. Pierre, send a messenger to Director Nicoreinas. Tell her I want to meet her daughter urgently due to some matters.”
“Understood.”
After Pierre left, Miriane tapped on the desk as she issued an order. There was no one in front, but she sensed multiple presences behind her back.
“Spread rumors about the cursed doll. Say that it’s a monster revived by sucking blood from corpses, killed its mother, and is now trying to curse its father. Also, mention that Gilmore’s health has rapidly deteriorated.”
The bad reputation would spread anyway. It was better to take the initiative and manipulate it. Let the blame seep in without any direct involvement from her side.
“……….Which areas are the targets?”
“Spread it not only in the Blue Rose estate but also in the vicinity of the capital. If you scatter it there, it will spread as rumors throughout Roselia. Claim the expenses from the Yellow Rose family. Since their benefit is substantial, they won’t refuse.”
“Understood.”
The presences behind her disappeared. They were her own trusted spies, brought from the Yellow Rose family, skilled in everything from violence to clandestine operations.
‘By next month’s debut party, the rumors should be buzzing with delightful tales. How will Gilmore react when he hears about it?’ Miriane chuckled happily.
“The Blue Rose faction will link arms with the Yellow Rose and Green Rose faction. If we increase our momentum within the royalists, we can further prosper. The king won’t be able to ignore our power. Long live Roselia, long live parliamentary politics.”
There were significant restrictions on owning private troops due to the formation of the national army. In exchange, the acceptance from the parliament was considered to be influential. At one point, the fate of the nobility seemed uncertain, but it appeared that their world was far from over. Roselia has become one of the continent’s leading powers, with the monarchy restricted and the nobility’s influence even stronger. Perhaps becoming a parliamentarian wouldn’t be a bad idea after all. The potential was certainly there.
Miriane decided to surrender herself to the surging ambition within her.
◆
—Blue Rose Family Mansion.
The usually quiet grand hall was bustling today, with many tables set up and luxurious dishes prepared. Well-dressed guests chatted away. However, Gilmore, the head of the household, naturally noticed that all their expressions were stiff.
The cause was the numerous disturbing rumors about Mitsuba. Rumors of her cursing her mother and now afflicting her father with illness. When he heard them, he was momentarily overcome with anger.
‘Thanks to these absurd rumors, the debut party has been marred. But that doesn’t matter. Let that vixen frolic around as much as she wants.’
Gilmore glared at Miriane, who was fanning herself next to him.
Whether she noticed his gaze or not, she turned to him and laughed. It was undoubtedly this vixen who had spread those unpleasant rumors. He wanted to kill her right away, but behind her were servants with concealed weapons. Although they appeared as elegant female servants, they were actually spies from the Yellow Rose family. This mansion was filled to the brink with such people.
“Oh, what’s the matter with you?”
“…It’s nothing. Don’t talk to me, it’s annoying. There’s no need to try to please me now.”
“You’re really cold. Honestly, how did it come to this?”
“Don’t spout nonsense. I’m well aware of everything you’ve been doing behind my back. I’ll clean it up soon. Be prepared.”
“Oh my, that’s scary.”
She shrugged her shoulders, but she wasn’t afraid at all. After all, behind Miriane stood her family, the Yellow Rose.
The Blue Rose family maintained neutrality within the royalist factions. The two major factions were Yellow and Green, followed by White and Black, and then the smaller factions of Red and Pink, which had recently formed a tolerant faction, or so it seemed. The Blue faction inherited by Gilmore had a history of maintaining neutrality to promote reconciliation among the various factions within the monarchy. This woman was trying to change that, all for the sake of her family, the Yellow Rose.
“You and I are like water and oil, that much was clear from the beginning. My biggest mistake was accepting you under pressure from the royal family and relatives. If only Tsubaki had a child sooner, who would have accepted you!”
Gilmore had intended to refuse until the very end. However, pressure was applied to Tsubaki from all sides. They used thugs to hurl abuse at her, harassed her at parties, and finally, when it threatened to escalate into an inter-state conflict, the King threatened Tsubaki, who was forced to kneel down and beg. Her expression remained unchanged, but she must have been the most disappointed.
After that, Miriane, who became the second wife, took charge of the household, and they had two sons. Despite hardly interacting with each other. It was questionable if they were really his children. But it didn’t matter now.
“I understand your feelings. Tsubaki-sama’s situation was truly pitiable. Even now, I feel sorrowful about it.”
“Silence, you sly fox!”
“Even if you tell me to be quiet, It seems like you’ve been the loudest one since earlier.”
Miriane chuckled. When he shouted at her, the surrounding gazes focused on them. After clearing his throat and nodding perfunctorily, the situation returned to its original state.
“Pierre, bring some water. This fox has made my throat sore.”
“Y-Yes, right away.”
Feeling thirsty, he accepted the water glass and drank it all in one go. For a moment, a refreshing sensation ran across his parched throat. It tightened and lifted up his spirits. The magically chilled water felt pleasant. The aftertaste was also refreshing, and there was a somewhat sweet fragrance. Perhaps his tongue was acting strange due to his frantic alcohol consumption.
The amount of alcohol and medicine had naturally increased, up until Mitsuba woke up. He hadn’t greeted a large crowd for a long time. He had to remain focused and conduct today’s gathering splendidly.
While he contemplated this, Miriane spoke to Mitsuba, who was sitting next to her.
“You must be Mitsuba. I heard you woke up, and I couldn’t wait any longer. Truly, I’ve wanted to meet you for so long.”
“……Nice to meet you.”
“Yes, nice to meet you. Those doll-like eyes really resemble Lady Tsubaki. Oh yes, you can call me Mother. Since we’re becoming family, there’s no need for formalities, right?”
“Mitsuba. Stay away from this woman from now on. We don’t know what she might do. This vixen is a woman who can poison with a smile. And don’t accept anything from her. She’s the source of the curse that brought misfortune upon our family.”
“You, I’m going to be this child’s mother, you know? Please refrain from such rude language. It’s disgraceful.”
“Don’t make me laugh, Miriane. Once this is over, you’ll all be expelled. Be thankful you’re not being killed right away.”
“Well, you really do love your jokes.”
“Laugh as much as you want. I’ll make you regret it later.”
Mitsuba, with her usual expression, observed the exchanges between him and Miriane. Similar to Tsubaki, she didn’t show much emotion. Her words were calm, but lately, he could understand what she wanted from her subtle gestures. That, too, resembled Tsubaki.
‘I probably don’t have much time left. So, until then, I must leave behind as much as I can. The most important task is to eliminate the pests infesting this family.’
Attached to Mitsuba’s waist, adorned with a dress, was a staff with a blue rose on top. It was designed to catch the eyes of the guests. Everyone in the upper class here knew what it symbolized. In other words, it indicated that Mitsuba was the next successor of the Blue Rose family.
Miriane, perhaps to hide her frustration, didn’t attempt to remove her smiling facade. Even Pierre, standing by Gilmore’s side, was said to have turned pale. He could be considerate but was a cautious man. He was likely shocked to learn that the next heir wasn’t Griel!
“……Pierre, let’s start preparing for the toast soon. Serve the guests a commemorative drink.”
“Certainly.”
“You really went all out, didn’t you? I wonder where you’ve been hiding it.”
“There’s no need to tell you.”
“This is it. You never tell me anything important.”
“There’s no mercy for a fox sniffing around like a stray dog.”
Prepared for this day, was a high-quality wine from Plumenia. One of the spoils bestowed by the former king when Gilmore triumphed in a battle he commanded. It was taken away from the Plumenia Emperor when the war ceased and peace was established. A wine representing Gilmore’s glory. A gem that had been aged to this day.
Pierre poured that wine into Gilmore’s glass. From the jewel-like purple liquid, a fragrant aroma wafted. It was different from the usual drinks. On the contrary, Mitsuba’s small glass was filled with apple juice.
“You might find it a bit too early to drink wine, so endure it. In a few years, we might be able to drink together.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Good response. Also, today is the farewell with this woman. Say your goodbye.”
“…………”
When he spoke to Mitsuba, she just slightly furrowed her brows for a moment and then maintained silence.
“Oh, you’re a clever one. Even at such a young age, you understand that words can bring you trouble. Truly, you haven’t even received proper education yet. Such a smart child. “
“Hmph, it seems you never understood until the end. Your own words will be your downfall.”
“Hehehe. Today you are exceptionally harsh. Your words are so eloquent. “
“Ah, that’s true. I’m enveloped in a sense of liberation today. Just thinking that I won’t have to see your face anymore makes me want to dance with joy.”
“Oh, you agree on that too. We surprisingly share similar sentiments today!”
“Well, well. If that’s the case, there’s no problem. It’s truly a joyous occasion. I might even toast with you now.”
“Hehe, it’s a lovely proposal, but let’s not. It’s too late for that now.”
“I fully agree.”
Gilmore declared, looking around. Among the guests were those employed by the Seven Wands families and Nicoreinas from the Royal Magic Research Institute.
‘I’ll have to consult with Mitsuba about this later. If I can entrust her with a guardian, everything will be secure.’
Standing up, Gilmore took a glass and began hosting the party.
“To everyone gathered here today, on this special occasion for my daughter Mitsuba, I, Gilmore, the head of the Blue Rose family, express my deep gratitude.”
Starting with expressions of gratitude, he introduced Mitsuba, gently denying the rumors circulating in the town. Aggressively denying would only fuel these gossip-lovers. Gradually letting the rumors die down was the right way to approach.
Everything was going smoothly up to this point. All that was left was to let Mitsuba greet the guests and announce that she had inherited the staff with the blue rose. Just a bit more. —Yet, for some reason, an intense thirst overcame me.
“To… today, as a celebration of Mitsuba’s recovery, I have an important an… announcement…”
It was followed by a coughing fit. Mitsuba, sitting next to him, looked up at him. ‘It’s okay; no need to worry.’ He conveyed that with his eyes. The coughing intensified. Thirst overwhelmed his and it felt like it was burning. The coughing persisted until crimson blood spewed out.
“Ou… Our Blue Rose… f-family’s…inheritance is…”
The glass slipped from his hand, and the wine stained the tablecloth with scattered red marks. His body collapsed onto his knees and the table toppled forward from the impact. A scream erupted. Nicoreinas and familiar faces from the guests approached. Mitsuba stood nearby, looking worried. And there was Miriane’s face in his field of vision. —She was smirking.
“Mi… Mirianeee…!!”
“Y-You did this!! Miriane, you witchhh!!”
“Pull yourself together! If you’re gone, what will happen to Mitsuba?!
“You!!”
“Gu… Ggg… Guuuaaaaahh!!”
Miriane tightened her grip on his hand. He seized her left hand and squeezed it with all his strength. Miriane’s face slightly contorted in pain, but her expression remained unchanged.
“Oh, God! What on earth is happening!! On the day of celebrating Mitsuba’s recovery, what a cruel turn of events! Oh, God!”
Miriane, with an exaggerated tone, shed crocodile tears. Pierre’s face turned dark, as he hurriedly covered his mouth.
“This is a curse!!”
“Terrifying!”
“Indeed, the work of a demon!”
The guests started whispering that it was the cursed doll’s doing and that the father was cursed to death, that her ice-like expression and lifeless eyes hinted at a demon lurking deep within.
‘That’s not it. Everything is the doing of this vixen. Someone, please notice. Please, protect Mitsuba. I can’t die yet. I have left nothing, done nothing. I can’t face Tsubaki with nothing to show. Someone, help me!’
“Father, are you okay?”
“M-Mitsuba. I-I’m sorry. It shouldn’t have been like this.”
“…………….”
“F-Forgive me.”
“…………Goodbye, Father.”
Fading vision, a scorching sensation in his throat, cold droplets on his cheek and endless darkness. Somehow, a sense of relief as if being freed from all the suffering so far enshrouded him. There was no pain at all. In the end, all Gilmore felt was the touch of Mitsuba’s small hand.
……………….
Gilmore Blue Rose Clove, the head of the Blue Rose family, a skilled soldier and mage who achieved many merits in the wars with the Plumeria Empire and the Lilya Kingdom. However, he was weakened mentally by his love, Lady Tsubaki’s death and his daughter’s illness and was finally met with a tragic death. His soul was sucked by his beloved cursed doll. That was what the people rumored.
Acting as the head, Miriane Blue Rose Clove took over. With military matters settled, she announced her intention to pass the position to her eldest son Griel who was once approved by the king. Since she was already a nominal head, there was no widespread confusion nor protest within the state.
Mitsuba was confined to an isolation tower until various suspicions steered clear. Regarding the Blue Rose Staff, it would be stored in the mansion until the official head was to be proclaimed.
◆
“Pierre is dead?”
“….Yes. What shall we do?”
“As expected, we have no choice but to consider it a suicide. We should be thankful that he reduced our workload. Still, it feels a bit unpleasant.”
“Shall we investigate?”
“It’s fine to take it casually. Just report that there was no suspicious activity around Pierre or any unusual ways to how he obtained the poison. Anyways, it’s all needless.”
“Understood.”
—The day after Gilmore’s death. Butler Pierre’s body was discovered in the mansion’s butler quarters. An assassin sent by Miriane, to silence Gilmore, found the body. Pierre’s cause of death was by the same poison that killed Gilmore. His face at the time of death showed terror as if he had seen something otherworldly.
The poison Miriane gave Pierre was only enough to kill Gilmore. It would be impossible for Pierre to arrange for the same thing. If he had made a move to obtain it, it would have surely been detected.
Spies thoroughly investigated around Pierre, but there were no particular suspicious points. The information gathered was that he was in a good mood due to increased income, and he was boasting of how he planned to indulge in luxury. In the end, Pierre’s death was registered with disdain as a suicide following the main head, Gilmore’s fate.
But this left a slight, fleeting ominous suspicion in Miriane’s heart.
Credits:
Manager/Translator: Kirtax
Editor: Siren
Next chapter this week or the next!
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