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I was happily enjoying my days of being buried in cats—that is, until one morning I woke up, stretched out in bed, and suddenly remembered something very important.
“Oh! I was supposed to find out why Lord Felix was cursed so that I could figure out how to help!” I was so shocked by this lapse in memory that I couldn’t help but yell.
I know I was busy dealing with the disease, but how could I have forgotten such a serious matter?
At any rate, I was still lacking clues. I wondered if the (suspected) current Champion of Destiny, Great Sage Elios, would be willing to grant me an audience. According to Lady Alice, he was an eccentric fellow who lived in a tall tower and hardly ever appeared in public.
What should I do? He’s really the only lead I’ve got. I have no idea how to get any more information!
As I was bemoaning this, a reserved knock sounded at my door.
“Lady Lucille, are you awake?” came Sarah’s voice.
I granted her entry to my room and noticed the tray she carried held an envelope.
“Good morning, Lady Lucille.”
“Good morning, Sarah. Is that letter for me?”
“Yes!”
How unusual.
This was my first time receiving a letter since arriving at Leeuwenhoek. After all, I hadn’t had any good friends in the capital. Noble ladies had often crowded around me, obviously coveting the benefits that came hand in hand with a connection to Prince Bernard’s fiancée. However, after his infatuation with Lady Mina became apparent, these ladies had all casually distanced themselves from me.
Remembering those traitorous noblewomen, whom people had once called my entourage, made me feel glad that I’d been able to move to Leeuwenhoek. In that sense, I was truly fortunate.
Thinking about it that way, I should be grateful to Prince Bernard!
Much to my surprise, the envelope Sarah delivered bore the seal of the Gustelanola family. My father had to have sent this; the same man who had flown into a rage, shouting, “You’re worthless now that Prince Bernard has broken off the engagement!” and shipped me off to Leeuwenhoek with pleasure. What could he possibly want to talk about?
After I spent some time debating whether or not to read the letter, I realized it didn’t matter what awful things my father wrote to me. Should I disappoint someone I was fond of or who was fond of me, I’d be troubled, but if it was someone who already hated me, it’d hardly come as a surprise.
I decided to skim the letter even though I had no interest in it...
Despite the conclusion I’d come to in my internal debate, I still found myself concerned by its contents.
✦ ✦ ✦
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After my morning routine, I went to the main manor to speak with Lord Felix.
I’d been given permission to come to the manor whenever I liked. It so contrasted my initial reception, when I’d been taken to that all but hidden detached house. Before, I’d been treated as though Lord Felix hadn’t ever wanted to see my face again.
It’s hard to believe how well we’re getting along now!
Sir Kain guided me to Lord Felix’s office.
“Excuse me,” I said.
“Lucille!” Lord Felix’s face lit up as he stood to greet me. The happy smile adorning his face made him look like a big dog.
Incidentally, while I adored cats, I also loved dogs. Back when I’d been boss of the strays, I’d gotten into a huge scuffle with a dog that often passed through my territory on his walks, but after that, we’d become best friends!
“This is the first time you’ve requested to speak with me,” Lord Felix said. “Do you finally feel comfortable coming to the manor?”
“Yes! I’m here to chat!” I replied with a smile, glad to be welcomed.
“Um, I didn’t mean it in the visiting sense, but rather moving into a room here...”
“Oh! No, that’s not it! Actually, I’d like to consult with you about something!”
“I see...”
For some reason, Sir Kain burst out laughing behind me. “Pfft! Poor Felix, ha ha ha!”
Was it really so funny that I’d forgotten the main purpose of my visit and had inadvertently acted as if I were here for a casual chat? Even Lord Felix was making a strange expression.
How rude! Everyone makes mistakes, you know!
“Then again, you asking me for advice is a welcome change in its own way...” Lord Felix murmured. “What is it that you want to discuss?”
“Um, I received a letter from my father...”
“What? From Lord Gustelanola?” His brow furrowed.
Oh? Why is he reacting that way when I haven’t yet told him what the letter says? Does he dislike my father?
I held out the letter, figuring it’d be faster for him to read it himself.
His frown deepened as he scanned the words. “The unknown disease that spread through Leeuwenhoek has made its way to other regions, including the royal capital?”
“Yes,” I said. “Since Leeuwenhoek was the only place that didn’t suffer damages from it, he’s demanding I immediately return to the capital should I know of a countermeasure.”
To be precise, it wasn’t that we hadn’t suffered damages. We’d simply cured the disease before everything had escalated.
“How convenient for him,” Lord Felix said, annoyed.
True as that might have been, I couldn’t possibly deny the request if people in other regions were suffering.
And going there would be better than having them accuse me of something ridiculous again, like inventing the disease myself. I may be grateful to have come to Leeuwenhoek, but I’m still outraged that I was falsely accused at all!
There was another thought on my mind: According to Lord Felix, my engagement to Prince Bernard had been the reason I hadn’t known about the Champions of Destiny and the Great Sage Elios. He’d said that the royal family had likely shielded me from such stories because they believed that no other special entities were allowed to exist. But in order to manipulate my access to that information, they had to have been aware of it in the first place, right?
In other words, if I inquire with the royal family, will I be able to learn something about the Great Sage Elios?
The issue was whether they’d tell me the truth. I had a feeling they’d claim not to know anything, even if they really did.
I brought this up with Lord Felix, and after some thought, he said, “Actually, I was thinking it’d be best if I delivered the panacea to the capital myself, concealing its origin.”
“Huh?”
“The city must bring back painful memories for you, no? Unless it’s of your own volition, you shouldn’t have to go back.”
I had no idea Lord Felix thought that way. But to be honest, although I was still angry about how I’d been treated there, it didn’t weigh on my mind at all, so visiting the capital wouldn’t cause me any suffering. Even so, I was happy that he was showing concern for me.
“That said, I assume you’d want to ask about the great sage yourself,” he continued.
Wow! He knows me so well!
“Yes, that’s right,” I replied. “Even if the royal family tries to lie to me about him, I might be able to discern the truth from the way they’re acting. So if possible, I’d like to go with you.”
I could even use the panacea as leverage. Not that I had any intention of truly withholding it, of course.
There was no denying that I had a bad reputation in the capital. Even if it’d been established that the accusation leading to my canceled engagement had been false, many people still thought of me as an evil woman because they believed Prince Bernard’s words.
Until now, I’d been frustrated by their ability to believe such blatant lies. But now, I could use my notoriety to my advantage by making them think, “The evil Lucille Gustelanola might really abandon the people suffering from the disease if she doesn’t get what she wants.”
Hmm, it still won’t sit well with me, though!
“Let’s go together, then,” Lord Felix said. “I’ll let you decide whether or not to reveal that you were the one who created the panacea. Either way, I promise to prevent anyone from causing you grief.”
“Oh my.”
What a firm assurance. Lord Felix is so dependable!
I beamed happily. “Thank you! With you by my side, I have nothing to fear!”
“Y-Yes...you can count on me.”
And so, it was decided that Lord Felix and I would bring the panacea to the capital.