Chapter 90
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A villainess locked away in a desolate tower—I had possessed her body. Chapter 90 After sending off the Tower Master, I returned to my chamber only to be immediately seized by Bonita and dragged into the bathroom. With an oddly enthusiastic gleam in her eye, Bonita casually dismissed my bewildered protests and launched into a full-scale "doll-making" session. The result was a stranger staring back at me from the mirror.
"Wow."
At my reaction, Bonita's face lit up with the satisfaction of someone who had emerged victorious from an intense battle.
"Ohohoho, as expected, Young Lady, you're naturally so beautiful that it's a joy to dress you up."
"Really?"
I gazed awkwardly at my reflection in the mirror. Indeed, I looked completely transformed from my usual self, just as Bonita had said. 'It's been forever since I've done myself up like this.' My hair, which I usually wore loose and comfortable, was now pinned elegantly high, making me appear far more mature than I felt. The brilliant blue diamond necklace draped around my neck complemented my eye color perfectly. But did I actually own such a large diamond? Though slightly puzzled, I nodded as I examined the expertly applied makeup from different angles. 'It looks nice, but getting ready like this every day would be far too much effort.' Come to think of it, when I met the Empress recently, I was summoned so hastily that I simply threw on whatever dress was available. So the last time I'd dressed up properly was essentially the day of my first audience with the Empress. But what's special about today?
"Bonita, why did you go to such lengths? It's just dinner with the Blaire Grand Duke—do I really need to be dressed up this much?"
"Ohohohohohoho! Young Lady, really!"
Bonita let out a rather ominous laugh behind her hand before her expression suddenly turned serious.
"It's a proper banquet, after all. For a luxurious dinner, a perfect dress code is a basic requirement any well-prepared Young Lady should have!"
"Well, I... suppose..."
Rather than immediately agreeing, I found myself recalling the past. But thinking about it, I'd attended countless meals with the Blaire Grand Duke dressed in rather shabby attire...
"Wait, do I even own a dress like this?"
Dodging the question, I changed the subject. Though I was reluctant to admit it aloud, this cream-colored dress suited me as if tailored to my exact complexion. It was the kind of shade that breathed natural color into skin that could otherwise look pallid. Moreover, with its full skirt and the open neckline at the bodice, it somehow accentuated an elegance I didn't know I possessed, despite my petite frame. I couldn't believe I'd owned such a perfectly fitting dress all this time without knowing it.
"Hohoho, the Blaire Grand Duke sent it to you. This very morning."
"This morning?"
Why on earth? As I looked at Bonita with a puzzled expression, she retrieved a jewelry box I didn't even know existed and spread its contents lavishly before me.
"It seems he was being considerate since you were hosting the Tower Master. Though the Tower Master did end up being unable to attend this dinner..."
"I, I see. Isn't that just wasting money?"
Surely this wasn't being charged to my living expenses... No, stop thinking about it. Since I didn't request it, I'll just stubbornly insist it's a gift! As if reading my desperately churning thoughts, Bonita handed me a letter written on thick, high-quality paper. ...Wait, you're saying this dress and these jewels were picked up while clearing out monsters? But monsters aren't even mobs that drop items, are they? Did that monster perhaps devour some neighboring kingdom's princesses? Doubt flooded through me, but I didn't particularly want to dig deeper. If I did, I had a feeling I'd end up misunderstanding something. 'Delusions... absolutely not allowed.' I quickly chased away the rosy fantasy that had suddenly bloomed in my mind. It was better to think of this as a reward for successfully handling the work, especially since most of the businesses within the Grand Duchy were intertwined with "Safety Guidelines for Goedam Duchy."
In any case, now that I knew it wasn't included in my room and board expenses, I shouldn't think about it anymore. With that thought, I slowly made my way toward the Dining Hall.
"You're here?"
The Blaire Grand Duke was already waiting for me in the Dining Hall, apparently having arrived early.
"Ah... yes."
And I was taken aback. Not because he had arrived before me...
"But the Dining Hall looks a bit... different, doesn't it...?"
It was because of how drastically different this space looked from usual. Certainly, until yesterday the Dining Hall had maintained an antique atmosphere befitting the Grand Duke's Residence, but now it somehow exuded the unmistakable feeling of a proposal venue. 'Why... why is this?' I walked forward, deliberately ignoring the beautiful fresh flowers filling the expansive walls and the candlelight softly illuminating the interior.
"I wanted to change the atmosphere a bit."
"Ah... you personally ordered this?"
"That's right."
Perhaps the Grand Duke had prepared this event as a token of gratitude for the Tower Master's efforts. But what could I do—the Tower Master had been so dazzled by the groundbreaking idea that he'd simply left. As I was lost in these stray thoughts, the Grand Duke spoke.
"Go ahead and sit."
"Ah, yes."
Only after I sat down could I examine the Grand Duke's attire in detail. I knew he had just returned from clearing out the monster wave, but could he really be someone who'd just come back from the battlefield? Whatever wind had blown, the Grand Duke was clearly groomed far more meticulously than usual. And in the midst of all this, the scent of the scented candles lit throughout the Dining Hall was so lovely that... I momentarily forgot my purpose and simply savored this perfect atmosphere. It wasn't until much later that I finally came to my senses—when the appetizers were being served.
"Sigh."
The subtle air permeating the Dining Hall felt unfamiliar. I deliberately pretended not to notice this heavy atmosphere and cleared my mind. I needed to deliver the good news quickly. In fact, amid a string of recent setbacks, the news about developing the "beam projector" was extraordinarily welcome. And on top of that, we'd managed to secure the cooperation of the Magic Tower—something normally as difficult as plucking stars from the sky? Since most of the businesses were intertwined with "Safety Guidelines for Goedam Duchy," if someone deliberately targeted the manga business, the other ventures couldn't escape the fallout either. And at such a moment, the emergence of a new item—one that was nothing short of revolutionary....
"Actually, I was meaning to tell you about something anyway."
"What is it?"
"Well, I spoke with the Tower Master today about a new business venture. It's called a 'beam projector'..."
I recounted the conversation I'd had with the Tower Master verbatim, making sure to weave in additional information about the Mages' inherent desire for invention and innovation. The Blaire Grand Duke, who had been listening intently with his arms crossed in silence, seized a pause in my words to pose a question.
"So you're saying you'll be starting a new business? If so, what about the financial aspect..."
"I've already handled that quite well!"
Hehehehe. I stretched my lips into a broad grin, letting out a sinister laugh.
"I was worried about not having any wish tokens, but the Tower Master said they'd help without asking for anything in return!"
My bright voice echoed throughout the Dining Hall. It was a cheerful tone that clashed somewhat with the gentle music drifting through the space, and I felt a touch embarrassed, but the news was far too wonderful to suppress. Why?
"This means I won't have to worry about room and board anymore! Even if the business doesn't do well, there won't be any major expenses going forward."
That meant I could now save money steadily and, just as I'd dreamed, purchase my own comfortable suite house and gain independence! I was certain the Blaire Grand Duke hadn't thought things through to this point either. And I expected him to express positive sentiment about being able to launch a new business without significant investment. But then.
"No more worries about room and board?"
His reaction seemed slightly off.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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