Given the nature of my father and stepmother, it was easy to imagine that things would have been more difficult for me if I had mastered my skill. For example, they might have duped His Royal Denseness...sorry, Theodore—into trying to take the throne. I could even hear the argument they might have used. “Our daughter’s rare skill proves that she has been blessed by the heavens. If she were to become Queen Consort, the country would be afforded a divine protection that would surely see it flourish even further!”
Well, perhaps they wouldn’t go quite that far. While those with skills might have been seen to be blessed, my father and stepmother would likely have considered an ability that comprised ordering food to be lacking. Besides, without Teiren’s memories, I would certainly struggle to explain what the items I was capable of conjuring even were exactly. On the other hand, they might have value as otherworldly rarities, even if they were just foodstuffs.
“Whatever the outcome might have been, I think I prefer this one.”
I wiped the ashes off my palms over the trash can and cast some cleansing magic on the spoon before sending it to my infinitory—an infinite storage of sorts.
Then, I sat on my bed and pulled my knees up to my chest, listening as the sounds of activity gradually faded within the estate. Though I knew it wasn’t especially ladylike of me, my mind was far more occupied with machinations of how I could deal the harshest blow to those who had wronged me rather than the terror of my situation or the dejection of abandonment. Meanwhile, Teiren’s memory was demanding compensation for my broken engagement, my “education” that had bordered on abuse, and all the work I’d done... So forgive me for being a bit of a tomboy.
“Let’s see... Yes, I ought to begin with these ‘points’...”
I would make a move once the servants had retired for the night, which would be fairly soon. After that, the whole estate would be asleep.
The moon still had some way to climb in the sky, and I gazed at it for a while as my thoughts revolved around what I was about to do. Then, I slowly closed my eyes. I thought I felt something warm trail over my cheek, but it must have been my imagination.
Now the only one awake in the estate, I was standing in the family vault. The door and windows were enchanted to prevent intruders, but such magic had no effect when one just teleported inside. While I might not have been able to use my skill until recently, I had always had plenty of mana. That had allowed me to become more proficient in magic compared to the average person. I could teleport (albeit only over short distances), and I had my infinitory too. Constructing that with subpar mana levels would’ve been impossible.
Ah, I didn’t mean to brag. The reality was that I could have all the mana in the world and it would still do nothing to change this country’s perception of me. I didn’t have a skill—therefore, I wasn’t blessed.
“Considering what I have been through at others’ hands, I should think that I deserve what currently lies before me. Theoretically speaking, that is. But I do need to consider my survival...”
This vault was filled with more than just money. Anything that could be considered valuable was here: gemstones, jewelry, weapons, armor... All things that had been passed down through the generations of the House of Vaielindt. It was a literal treasure trove.
I was also grateful for my perception magic, which allowed me to see my surroundings despite the lack of light.
I mustn’t forget my soundproofing magic either! I wouldn’t want anyone to hear me from outside.
I used appraisal magic on the items that made up the mountain of treasure before me, picking things out at random until I had amassed plenty of valuable stones and jewelry. I didn’t overlook the bags of coins either. Then, there were the hideous, old-fashioned dresses—but since they were amply adorned with precious jewels, I stored them in my infinitory. As ugly as they were, they were made with the finest silk, and the jewels themselves were of superb quality. They’d surely fetch a good price for the materials alone.
Even though I’d secured a fair amount of riches, a quick glance wouldn’t be enough for someone to notice that anything was missing. This vault really was packed. I was again grateful for my abundance of mana. The infinitory had proven itself invaluable.
That reminds me: I ought to snatch up the furniture in my room too. It might just prove useful at some point.
Just then, thanks to Teiren’s memories, I was struck with an idea that could help me survive for as long as possible. I dubbed the plan One Thousand and One Nights! Before the dastardly dragon could eat me, I would promise it something even more delicious than human flesh and order something from the other world to pacify it! Filling up the beast’s belly before it could get to me would help ensure my survival, and if it developed a taste for my otherworldly delights, it might decide to keep me alive, seeing as I would be the only one capable of delivering them.
What’s that? Why wouldn’t I simply run away before becoming a sacrifice? If I were to do that, they would simply choose another girl to take my place. That would be awful. Meanwhile, my skill had slight potential for fighting back, and I was capable of magic on my own, to a certain extent. Though it was only by a fraction, I was confident that my chances of survival were above average.
“My plan may well end up in shambles, but it’s better than nothing.”
Finally, I took and stored a ring and a dress that were keepsakes from my late mother. After letting out a sigh of relief, I then released the vault from my soundproofing magic. All that was left now was to teleport back to my room. I closed my eyes, focused my mana, and by the time I opened them again, I was back in that dreary space. The room looked rather plain after the glamor of the vault. Plain? No, make that decrepit.
“This room truly is representative of the way I have been treated!” I said with a sigh, and I had to admit that I was almost astonished. I lay down on the bed, which was hard, but not so much that it prevented sleep. “Fluffy” was far from how I would describe it, and it did its fair share of creaking too. It certainly wasn’t something I’d consider suitable for a duke’s daughter. Perhaps just yesterday, I would have thought it more than befitting for the useless girl that I was, but with my new perspective, I felt that even a “useless” girl deserved more than this.
I closed my eyes and heard another voice echoing in my head.
“I didn’t realize you had all that mana! You could’ve at least argued back!”
Truth be told, I agreed. If only I’d had the chance, I would have loved to tell my past self that she should’ve objected to how she was spoken to. But I knew that, since she’d just lost her mother, she had sought my father’s affection to the detriment of her own voice. She had believed that her obedience might just win her his praise, if not his love. However, it really was clear to me now that only my mother and my grandfather had truly ever cared for me.
What about now, you ask? Well, I’ve long since given up on seeking affection from my family. The world was full of people who were a waste of the hopes you pinned on them. They were free to play happy families if they wanted to, but I was ready to carve my own path.
I was just about ready to nod off as an urgent task popped up in the back of my mind.
“That’s right! I must let grandfather know what is going on!”
Fortunately, I had plenty of my favorite stationery stored in my infinitory. Jumping to my feet, I began to pen a letter on my wobbly desk. I started by spilling out my boundless gratitude for everything he had done to raise me up until now, and then I told him that I had finally learned to use my skill. I then wrote about my rescinded engagement and how I had come to be chosen as the flower to be offered this year in as much detail as possible. Knowing my father, he wouldn’t have mentioned a single thing to my grandfather.
Having said that, even if I were to send off this letter this evening, my grandfather wouldn’t be able to make it here in time to stop anything even if he wanted to. Nevertheless, I wished for him to know everything. Thinking back, nothing had ever made me happier than my grandfather’s affection. He had seen me for who I was, and that had always been so comforting.
Forgive me, grandfather. I was so busy lamenting my family’s...no, my father’s lack of love that I didn’t allow myself to fully appreciate yours. Though I know it won’t make up for my ingratitude, I shall be going to the dragon’s lair. I am going to conquer it so that no one will have to face the devastating prospect of being chosen as a sacrifice ever again!
Imbuing the letter with magic, I let it loose into the air. It transformed into a white bird and flew toward the capital against the backdrop of the dark night.
Please don’t grieve for me, grandfather. If I go down, it shall be fighting!