As she set about her preparations, Euphie watched in interest. My guest probably wasn’t familiar with these Thermal Pots that we used here. My Thermal Pot was a magical device designed to be placed atop a specially crafted base and served to keep water at a suitable temperature for tea, so it could be prepared instantly. “…Is this hot water? But there’s no fire. How does that pedestal work?” “It’s a magical device that uses a fire stone to keep the water warm. It’s set to maintain a constant temperature, so there’s hot water ready whenever you feel like a cup of tea or whatnot.” With this, there was no need to boil fresh water each and every time. Using this system, the detached palace was designed so hot water could be accessed through taps and faucets, just like in my past life. “It’s a bit of a hassle to set the temperature, though,” I explained. “But once you’ve got it calibrated, you can use it over and over so long as you have a fire stone. It’s good for more than just tea, too. We use them to warm up baths, for example.” “And thanks to this, I don’t have to dip my hands in cold water when I wash the dishes,” Ilia added. “I see…” Euphie nodded in admiration. I swelled with pride. My Thermal Pot was another successful result of my magicology research as I attempted to re-create my memories of conveniences from my past life. My father enjoyed using some of the magical tools I had invented during the course of my research, too. The Thermal Pot was one of his favorites, and he used one to boil water and brew tea for himself whenever he was working late or didn’t want to trouble one of the maids. “Here you go, Lady Euphyllia.” “Thank you.” Euphie sipped at the cup of tea Ilia had hastily prepared for her and let out a sigh of relief. Once my cup was ready, I took a drink, too. Delightful. “This Thermal Pot does appear very convenient,” she remarked. “I can imagine quite a few other uses for it, too.” “Indeed,” I responded. “We’re using them all throughout the detached palace here.” “It certainly is convenient,” Ilia added. “A little too convenient, or so I think at times.” “Oh? How so?” Euphie tilted her head to one side in puzzlement. “I’m sure I don’t have to explain that tools like this are unavailable outside the palace. If you get too used to the comforts we have here, you may miss them dearly once you go somewhere else.” “You’re my personal maid, Ilia, so you don’t have to worry about anything like that.” “Yes, I can’t hope to be reassigned to another job. I’m trapped here.” Ilia pretended to cry, yet her expression remained uncannily vacant. If she was going to playact, she could at least make it a little more convincing… “I’m glad to have had you taking care of me all these years, you know, Ilia?” “That’s quite a thing to say, given you’re the one who ensured I could never escape.” “Ha-ha-ha! What a terrible thing to do, right?!” “Yes, indeed. I’m still amazed that such a devilish person walks among the rest of us humans.” “I am human, Ilia. Do you need your eyes examined?” This kind of back-and-forth always happened with Ilia. And she was the one who benefitted most from my magical devices. It was thanks to our long years together that we could engage in this friendly banter. She had always been one of my favorite women, and I felt comfortable talking to her since I was a child and she a maid working at the royal palace. Perhaps that was why my father had asked her to be my chaperone. We had been through a lot since then, and now we could exchange all manner of light conversation, peppered with a little irreverence here and there. Her attitude was exactly what I wanted, too. I wasn’t fond of stiff formalities, and I knew she really was a nice person at heart. That being said, it was only natural that others considered us strange. Such as Euphie, who was watching us in shock. It was little wonder. Even if Ilia was my personal maid, it must have seemed quite out of the ordinary for her to speak so frankly with someone of such a vastly different social status. “So, Princess. What is Prince Algard’s fiancée doing here?” “Well, Allie basically broke of their engagement in public, so I kidnapped her for her own protection.” “…I still don’t follow. What were you doing there? Why would Prince Algard break off his engagement in public? If that’s meant to be a joke, I fail to see the humor.” Ilia’s expression was quizzical as she came out with more questions. Her reaction wasn’t at all an unreasonable one, though. Euphie was the daughter of Duke Magenta, the kingdom’s anticipated future queen, and so the expectations people had for her were immense. And in spite of all that, her fiancé had called everything off. It must have given my father quite the headache. “I’m afraid it’s the truth. Reality often unfolds in ways beyond our wildest imagination, don’t you think?” “I see. Of course, your imagination is especially wild, so I wonder if anyone would be convinced of that?” “How rude!” Disrespectful though that comment was, this was how Ilia and I normally interacted. Our conversations were practically banter. Meanwhile, Euphie seemed to shrink the friendlier Ilia and I were with each other. Realizing that she seemed uncomfortable, Ilia cleared her throat. “And? So why did you bring Lady Euphyllia here, exactly?” “I hatched a plan to hire her as my assistant! That way, we can offset any damage to her reputation from the engagement fiasco!” “…Are you being serious?” Ilia stared at me with eyes as expressionless as those of a dead fish. I nodded back at her. With that, Ilia turned her gaze to the forlorn girl sitting with us. It was as though she were staring at a cow about to be shipped off to the hinterlands. Euphie seemed quite bewildered by that stare. Ilia released a sigh and turned back to me with visible sympathy and disdain. “You’ve finally lost your mind. I’m very sorry, Your Highness. I always knew you had a penchant for unknowingly bringing misfortune down on those around you, but I never suspected you would purposefully try to drive others to ruin.” “Huh…? But it’s the other way around!” “Ah, so you do mean well. But the road to hell is paved with good intentions, you know? Lady Euphyllia, please allow me to express my deepest condolences…” With that, Ilia bowed her head, truly remorseful. Euphie could only glance back and forth between Ilia and me in consternation. “Ilia?” I said, my lips twitching. “You really are terrible, you know that?” “Ah… Are you sure, Your Highness? I know for a fact that I will never be able to escape this place, so I know more than anyone what this will mean for Lady Euphyllia. I speak only from experience.” Her attitude, her tone of voice, the way her shoulders wilted—it was as though I was a child who wouldn’t listen. Ilia cleared her throat before continuing. “Have you finally gone mad, Your Highness? No, you’ve been this way since the beginning. I feel very sorry for you.” “It’s your own remarks you should feel sorry about!” I protested. “Why do you think so little of me?!” Despite my complaints, Ilia turned away in disinterest. Truly, she had tremendous nerve. But then again, that was why I liked her so much. The next moment, Ilia turned her gaze devilishly toward Euphie. “Lady Euphyllia, please don’t be too hasty.” “E-excuse me?” “Don’t let this devil seduce you with her sweet words. Do you understand what I’m saying? Once you take her hand, it will all be over. She’ll drag your soul down into the abyss, and there will be no coming back.” “Wh-what…?” “Ilia, your perception of me seems a bit low. Can we discuss this later?” I fixed her with a cold glare, but Ilia expressed nothing but heartfelt disappointment. I just couldn’t decipher her. “…Is she really so dangerous?” Euphie asked, glancing furtively—and doubtfully—my way. No, my reputation was in freefall! Ilia let out a deep sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose. “In the end, yes. But there are quite a few complications.” “So you don’t recommend I stay?” “Well. If it’s what you truly want, Lady Euphyllia, and so long as you understand the risks, I have nothing more to say. On the other hand, can I assume that she didn’t explain everything to you?” Ilia said, motioning toward me. I averted my gaze. I—I didn’t mean to leave anything out, you know? “…No, it’s just, well… I was thinking about how to say it all properly. I mean, I can show her everything in person here in the palace. That’s the easiest way to explain, right?” “Oh, you do give me a headache with your rash, thoughtless actions.” “But I did give it some thought!” “Yes, yes, of course you did. In any event—Lady Euphyllia? Do you understand how the princess can addle the senses? She’s like a powerful drug.” “…Yes. I can’t deny it.” So I was addictive, was I? Well, I wasn’t about to deny that. After all, I realized that well enough myself, so I could understand Ilia’s apprehensions. “Lady Euphyllia. First and foremost, I can assure you that the princess’s offer is in good faith. Her intentions may not be purely altruistic, but she is acting out of consideration for you.” “Yes, I realize that…” “But that is beside the point. The question is whether you understand just how potent a drug she is.” “…What do you mean exactly?” Euphie frowned. She didn’t seem to fully comprehend what Ilia meant—yet her reaction served as proof that Ilia’s fears had been well-founded. “The princess’s study of magicology and her inventions, too, are wonderful things. Even considering only her Thermal Pot here, I’m a sure a great many potential uses spring to mind, yes?” “Yes, it does seem like a wonderful invention.” “Indeed. If it came into general use, it could greatly improve people’s lives. But that’s where the problem lies.” “…Hmm?” Euphie was lost now. Well, Ilia did have a point there. As wonderful as my magical tools were in and of themselves, there was no denying how addictive they could be. Watching Euphie’s reaction, Ilia breathed a gentle sigh and closed her eyes. “Once you’ve used it, you’ll never be able to forget that comfort. You won’t be able to go back to how things were before. In other words, it’s a one-way street.” “That’s going a little too far, don’t you think?” I protested. “It’s like asking if you can take fire back from a civilization after teaching them how to use it,” Ilia responded, completely ignoring me. Euphie fell deep into thought, cupping her chin in her hand. Finally, seemingly having made up her mind, she glanced back up. “…Ah, I see. Hence a ‘one-way street.’ Experiencing these tools is a kind of point of no return to life as you knew it before.” “Yes, precisely. Magical tools are too convenient. The world that the princess envisions is difficult for us to comprehend, and once you arrive there, it’s even more difficult to leave. By that time, you’ll know for yourself just how wonderful it is.” I could understand what Ilia was trying to say. My inventions, the products of my magicology research, were based on ideas and concepts that didn’t exist in this world. But civilization had developed in a different way here due to the existence of that magic. It was also the reason the authority of the noble and royal houses would never decline. But at the same time, the existence of magic meant that other technologies hadn’t developed as far as in my past life. That was why my inventions attracted so much attention—and why many considered them heretical. Just as how they had insisted no one could use magic to fly. There were things that were common sense in the context of this civilization. Here, the knowledge I possessed was alien. I brought concepts and ideas that no one here had ever before seen. That was why I had argued that my magicology had the potential to overshadow any negative rumors about Euphie’s broken engagement. “So I don’t recommend going down this path lightly,” Ilia concluded. Meanwhile, Euphie still seemed unsure. The mood was getting dark, so I clapped my hands together. “Well, we can think about all that later. You’re tired, aren’t you, Euphie? Let’s get some rest!” I rose to my feet and picked Euphie up once more. My guest must have been deep in thought, as her reaction was delayed by a split second. She began to resist only after falling into my arms. “L-Lady Anis! This again…?!” “Good night, Ilia! See you tomorrow!” “Yes, good night, Princess. You too, Lady Euphyllia.” I ran through the corridors of the detached palace while Euphie was still flailing indignantly in my arms. At first anyway. Realizing that her efforts were futile, she soon fell quiet. I adjusted her position and flashed her a smile. “Don’t worry, really. I won’t do anything.” “…” “You really don’t trust me, do you…?” If I had asked Ilia, we probably could have had an extra room prepared right away. She was so frustratingly capable. But I didn’t want to leave Euphie by herself right now. She had caught my interest. While I was thinking, I arrived at my room. I set Euphie down and moved to open the door. My bedroom was luxurious, as to be expected for royalty, with a bed more than large enough for two people to sleep in comfortably. The table was piled high with books and other papers, while a set of huge clothes-filled closets and miscellaneous magical tools like Thermal Pots stood out, too. Those magical devices were all re-creations of everyday items I remembered from my past life. For example, there was one called a Hair Dryer. I usually let Ilia take care of maintaining my appearance, but when she wasn’t available, I had to see to it myself. Euphie was staring around at those magical tools, her curiosity piqued. “Now, Euphie. Let’s get changed! I’ll help you get undressed!” “No, uh, I can’t let you do that, Lady Anis…!” “Come on, it’s fine.” I knew how difficult it was to take off a dress by yourself. That was why I didn’t like wearing them myself, although a member of the royal family just had to grin and bear it sometimes. On other occasions, I usually wore custom-made clothes that combined features from the uniforms of knights and maids. The end result was almost like the military uniforms I remembered from my past life. Regardless, that was why I had to help Euphie get changed. She resisted at first but reluctantly let me get to work. I had to take care so as not to wrinkle her dress. The fabric looked expensive and was wonderful to the touch, as befitting a member of the House of Magenta. “Ah, here. This is one of my nightgowns, but you can use it. It might be a little small on you, though.” I was a little on the short side, and Euphie was slightly taller than I was. She had a breathtakingly beautiful figure, with modest breasts that were actually perfectly proportioned to her slender frame. Was she the personification of the golden ratio, perhaps? As for me? Ilia often teased me for being so short. Not that I cared, though… “All right. I’ll get changed, too; why don’t you get into bed?” “…All right.” Now that she was dressed for sleep, Euphie made herself comfortable. Maybe she was tired of resisting my suggestions. I quickly changed into a nightgown, too, a different color than the one I had lent Euphie, and turned off the lights. The room was plunged into darkness all at once, and I poured some magical energy into a device I had installed near the bed. Shortly afterward, a faint light illuminated the room. Once the light was working, I turned to Euphie, who was lying in bed and squinting at me warily. Flashing her a smile, I crept under the covers and beckoned her over. “Come on, make yourself at home, Euphie!” “…Excuse me.” Euphie was lying down on the mattress at a distance. The dim light was enough to illuminate both of our faces. I studied her features once again. Her face was truly beautiful, the kind I could never grow tired of. Only then did I notice that she seemed uncomfortable under my gaze. “Sorry, sorry. Bet it’s hard to sleep with me staring at you like that.” “…What…?” “Hmm?” “…What are…you?” Euphie asked in a small voice. It was an abstract question, and I wasn’t entirely sure how to answer. Her expression was tinged with anxiety and consternation. I forced a smile. “I’m me. An eccentric princess and the kingdom’s troublemaker. A crazy, outlandish, unsolvable mystery.” “…There is much I could say, but I shan’t.” “Is it really that strange? I mean, I’ve been shamelessly kind to you, don’t you think?” Perhaps I had been on the mark there, as Euphie fell silent. Nonetheless, she didn’t lower her gaze, as though she were trying to peer through me. I felt like letting out an instinctive chuckle. “I guess there’s a lot of reasons why I’m doing this. I like you as a person, but I’m also pretty shrewd. I could string together all sorts of explanations, but none of them seem important to me right now.” “…They don’t?” Euphie whispered back uncertainly. I nodded, before averting my gaze and staring at the ceiling. “I think people are driven by emotion, mainly. We laugh, we get sad, we get angry. That’s why I can’t just leave you.”
Chapter 5
16 min read