Chapter 8
If you simply look at the purchase cost, colored jewelry or diamonds will be more expensive. However, when reselling, gold has the better value for money. Diarin deliberately picked out heavy accessories crafted with shiny pure gold.
The maid's face twitched every time she picked out something expensive. But in the end, she didn't stop her. Diarin was sure that Duke Concel ordered that in advance. Though, it seemed like a bit of a waste to wear it for Ezet.
'It's a good thing for me.'
The castle where Ezet is staying in the Northwestern estate looks luxurious on the outside, but on the inside, it isn't even on the level of a wealthy commoner.
'This palace remained the same as the past, so the castle is probably in similar condition.'
"There are many beauty salons, workshops, and jewelry shops within the Northwestern Estate. They'll be given as assets to you as alimony."
"..."
Limoud, who was standing behind him, had a subtle expression on his face.
Well, it's rare for a noble to resell what they wear for alimony. Ezet only showed a little emotion at first, but now he's expressionless, so it's hard to get a sense of his emotions.
"Wouldn't the castle's servants like it if it was used to repair the castle?"
"... Repairs?"
"Yes, repairs."
Even in this simple palace, Ezet's eyes are too simplistic. Diarin felt that way even though she couldn't see him.
"If it is according to the contract, I won't lose anything, Lady Diarin."
"Well, I've worked hard to prepare for that."
This is the perfect sincerity.
It wasn't long before Ezet looked away from Diarin. His firm hand, a characteristic of a sword-wielder, picked up the quill.
Diarin thought that the number of scars from two years ago seemed to have increased.
His face couldn't be seen, so Diarin would look carefully at other things instead. For example, clothes.
'The clothes are pretty too.'
Today, Ezet was dressed fancily. He must have come from an audience with the Emperor. The black-blue robe, one of the outfits of the prince, was embroidered with gold leaf, rubies, ebony stones, and diamonds, which glistened in harmony.
It was too prosperous and beautiful for anyone to see, so it didn't fit into the White Oak Palace. It was as if the diamond were newly wrapped.
While Diarin was observing Ezet's clothes, Limoud was looking at Ezet with a face, asking if it was really okay to do this. Either way, the quill point grazed the paper.
Ezet Asperk Kirchen.
It is neat handwriting, characteristic of the Akir Imperial family. Ezet put the quill down.
Ezet was at least strict in that he kept his word. As a result, Diarin was able to ride a carriage to the Northwestern Estate. The carriage was ready in less than 30 minutes after Ezet signed the contract.
Rattle, rattle.
The sound of the wheels rolling reached Diarin's ears.
It was a good carriage.
Although it was not a top-notch expensive carriage, there was some magic used. In particular, this magic, which allowed the wheels to give a soft ride like running on air by using force, wasn't so difficult.
Diarin had just changed into new clothes. The high-end dress that Concel's maids had worked hard to decorate had already been taken off in the carriage.
It was very difficult to take off a rich dress without a maid's assistance, but Diarin had obedient servants.
〈Why do I have to listen?〉
〈It's the master's clothes.〉
〈We are divine beasts!〉
〈But, Lor.〉
Ol spoke in the world's purest voice.
〈Should divine beasts never obey orders?〉
〈Damn it! Quiet! Stop pretending to be that abominable naïve!〉
〈What?〉
"Lor."
The red feathers, which were shining brightly as if angry, flinched.
Diarin spoke nonchalantly,
"Throw that shawl and you're dead."
〈Damn....〉
In an instant, the fine mana folded the Berge shawl, which had been floating around, very carefully. The carriage seat was very soft. After the work, Ol and Lor's feathers flew into Diarin's body and disappeared as if absorbed.
Diarin lay down on the seat. There was no fuss, since the person riding was sleeping alone. There were only three people in this hastily packed carriage.
Diarin, the coachman, and Sir Limoud.
There was no Ezet. He had to stay in the capital for another month, as if to prove that the emperor's trust in him had reversed.
Ezet's tight schedule in the capital was the same as the emperor's favor.
'I said I didn't mind going to the North by myself.'
Did that sound like a joke? Unexpectedly, Limoud went to the Northwestern Estate with me. It was Ezet's order.
Just before, it was a trip with the knight who once gave me permission to kill myself.
Limoud looked uncomfortable with Diarin, and the same went for her.
He offered to ride on the coachman's seat, but he never came into the carriage. It'll probably be like this until they arrive at the estate.
'That's fine.'
The disaster that hindered movement for nearly 30 years, the great vampire Schelus, is no longer there. Gates will be laid here and there again, and there will be new gates in the Northwestern Estate.
Diarin, who was thinking about this and that, turned to the well-folded dress.
〈Master, I folded your dress. I folded it well, right?〉
"You can be a maid, Ol."
〈Hehe.〉
Ol asked in a proud voice,
〈But what are you thinking? You keep looking at the dress.〉
"I thought that Concel's people would have a bit of a stomach ache."
The servants of the duke's estate would have been waiting for Diarin to return. A mouth-wateringly expensive dress and sparkling gold jewelry. They're probably just thinking about taking the gold-like hat, reticle, and Berge shawl from her luxury.
However, as Diarin headed to the Northern Territory, everything was in vain. They wouldn't be able to write a letter to the estate, nor would they be able to ask her to return the clothing. In aristocratic society, pride was a rather complicated and tricky matter.
If you send such a letter, you will be kicked out of the Duke of Concel right away.
Because of the problem of unknowingly harming their master's dignity.
"So, all of this is mine."
Putting an economic burden on the duke's budget.
Making the duke's servants have stomach aches.
Now that she has successfully completed her small revenge, Diarin only needs to focus on her original purpose.
No, it's the 'purposes'.
Diarin tilted her head to the side, light purple eyes looking at the carriage's ceiling.
"You're not going to fail with mana this time, are you? Ol, Lor."
It was said that there was a fine line between a genius and a fool.
Diarin changed these words a little differently.
There's a fine line between a genius and a madman.
Wizards were geniuses in the eyes of ordinary people. These so-called geniuses had one chronic disease. It wasn't a physical illness. The wizards had keen desires for magic and exploration.
Their lives depended solely on the desire for improvement.
If they failed once, they locked themselves up for three years. If they failed the Great Magic Circle that they poured their heart and soul into, they fell into deep discouragement and often took their lives.
They're just crazy.
Diarin's cold personality couldn't understand the desire, so she thought it was pathetic.
'It's pathetic.'
I thought I was the only one who was normal among those idiots. What a big illusion that was.
In her first life, Diarin was born into a tribe called 'White Deer'.
The noble White Deer were born to hold the responsibility of light and healing. The wizard Diarin was different, so to speak.
'So it didn't end well.'
Diarin was very good as a wizard, but there were a few other characteristics to consider as a White Deer. The devoted and friendly nature of a White Deer was nowhere to be found in her.
Diarin's cold personality was further contrasted with a child like a White Deer.
Deer Banda.
Another White Deer child along with Diarin.
He was a good kid. Friendly personality and warm nature.
The boy was always worried about others. He was a child fundamentally different from Diarin, who only grew colder and colder by choosing the path of a rational wizard.
In the world they lived in, wars between tribes were fierce. The aftermath of the war was tough for the White Deer, who lived deep in the forest, so Banda's kindness must have been a comfort in many ways.
'But Banda died because of me.'
To be precise, Banda was swept away by Diarin's defensive magic.
To protect the White Deer, Diarin had used a shield, so the enemy tried to destroy it with explosion magic, and Banda was then swept away by the explosion.
In Diarin's arms, Banda died of blood loss.
'I want to live…'
She still vaguely remembered those words from Banda.