Chapter 14: The Clay Puppet’s Secret and Zanto’s Soiree
I spent the remainder of my summer vacation in Eisberk training the female cavalry unit alongside Wolfe.
On my way back to the academy, I decided to drop by our town house. Upon entering my room, I noticed a blank, white envelope sitting on the desk. I opened it, and a shiver ran through me when I saw that the letter inside started with “Marlena, hngh”.
He must’ve missent it. Actually, wait, are they sharing a diary and sending each other letters on top of that? I thought in surprise, only to shudder again upon reading my name:
“Dear Bern. Come to my place, alone. And if you tell anyone, well…we both know what happens.”
My breath stopped. He’s blackmailing me. My fingertips froze over the parchment. Do I tell someone? Do I ignore him?
I recalled Zanto’s purple, enigmatic eyes. Elfen had said I could trust him, but I wasn’t fully convinced. I crumpled the letter, my mind set. I’ll go. Maybe everything’ll go fine, and if not, well…I might just have to get a little rough.
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WHEN I arrived at Zanto’s estate, I noticed his servants were scurrying about in a massive rush. The lack of a threatening atmosphere lessened my unease, if only a little. I was haphazardly escorted to Zanto’s private study, where he greeted me with a great big smile. “Bern, what brings you here?”
“You brought me here.”
“Feisty, aren’t we?” Zanto remarked casually, brushing off my annoyed response. “I have a favor to ask you, Bern.”
“Out with it.”
“M-Marlena’s c-c-coming to my soiree tonight. I say ‘my’ though she’s the one making me throw it. How forceful.”
“How nice for you,” I said dryly.
“There’s n-n-nothing ‘nice’ about it! I can’t, Bern, I can’t. It’s too much for me! I don’t even have a hostess, just butlers!”
“Good luck,” I replied in a monotone voice. Why did he call me here again?
“I-I need your help Bern!”
“Uh-huh.”
Zanto’s eyes filled with tears. “You can’t leave me alone with Marlena, you can’t. The crown prince is escorting her, so please, stay with me, if only for introductions!”
“What do you mean?”
Zanto began explaining. Apparently, he wanted me to act as his hostess—adding that of course, he wouldn’t introduce me as one—in order to avoid one-on-one interaction with Marlena. Thus far he had kept his perverse urges concerning Marlena a secret from most of high society (only the maidservants and knights were privy to what happened the other day), and I just happened to be the most convenient tool to maintain his ruse.
Nuh-uh. I want nothing to do with this. “I’d blow my disguise if I accept, so I’ll have to politely decline.”
“I’ll mask you with my magic! No one’ll know it’s you! You have my word!”
Pervert or not, Zanto was the kingdom’s greatest grand mage. His word carried weight. I sighed while the same grand mage desperately clung to me on the verge of tears. I suppose it can’t hurt to indebt him to me.
“I’ll do it.”
Zanto smiled. “Put out your left hand.”
When I did, he drew a magic circle on the back of my hand as he chanted an incantation. The light purple ink took on a weird shape.
“What’re you—”
“It’s camouflage magic; it’ll make your eyes and hair look different. No one’ll know it’s you, not a single soul. You’re my clay doll now. I’ll introduce you as Puppet—the evening’s entertainment.”
I looked into the mirror Zanto had just handed me. My reflection had light brown hair and eyes. Her tresses were soft and wavy, unlike my own straight hair. She was even dressed in a girl’s typical townwear. We looked like completely different people.
“Don’t make a sound or else the spell will wear off. There’re maids waiting for you in the next room. They’ll help you get dressed,” said Zanto, handing me a pair of gloves, which were presumably to hide the spellmark on my hand. I slipped them on and entered the indicated room. There I was met with fancy gowns and a group of eager maidservants, none of whom recognized me. Forbidden from speaking, I had no choice but to let them do with me as they pleased.
“Clay doll? No, you’re a doll, hon! A doll! Beautiful!”
Finding the overly enthusiastic maid a tad intimidating, I glanced at myself in the mirror only to see a gorgeous young lady. Is that me? I had yet to debut as a woman, so there was something exciting about the whole experience.
The dress was lightweight and just lacy enough to look extravagant without coming off as tacky. A ribbon trailed from my half-up hair. I curtsied, receiving satisfied nods.
“Don’t let Master down now, Puppet!”
I nodded in turn. Their energy might’ve rubbed off on me a little.