Smoke And Flowers

"Is today's exhaustion due to insomnia, or because of the Master?"

Lamia asked playfully as I sat nodding off by the window since early morning.

I greeted her without even managing to open my eyes properly.

"Don't say strange things this early in the morning..."

From my listless tone alone, Lamia quickly deduced—with her peculiar intuition—that nothing particularly eventful had happened between Callius and me the previous night. She claimed she could tell just by reading the atmosphere.

"Don't be so stingy with the details. Well, it wasn't just yesterday, was it?"

I didn't have the energy to deal with Lamia's teasing. I simply waved my hand dismissively.

Undeterred, she offered me a cup of warm milk tea sweetened with honey.

"Ta-da! I thought you might need this, so I brought it."

I accepted the cup from Lamia and drank it down eagerly, as though it were the elixir of life itself.

Only after the warm, sweet liquid had been consumed did I finally feel somewhat revived.

"Thank you so much, Lamia."

"You should be grateful! The chef kept complaining about how difficult it is to obtain honey in the North. I valiantly fought for this cup on your behalf, you know."

Lamia truly might be perfectly suited to the role of lady's maid.

This was the first time in my life I'd encountered a maid who served with such genuine passion and sincerity.

'I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't met Lamia when I went to steal from Kavala's treasure vault.'

Then Lamia poked my cheek gently, her expression shifting to concern.

"Your face looks more gaunt than before."

"Does it?"

"Are you feeling ill anywhere?"

"The physician examined me recently and said I was healthy."

Lamia tilted her head, unconvinced.

"Strange..."

"Don't worry. Just help me get ready for the day."

I had become quite proficient at managing my own preparations now.

When Lamia brought water, I washed myself. When she laid out clothing, I dressed myself. Each new task I could accomplish independently filled me with quiet pride.

Granada had remarked that watching me was like observing a child taking her first steps forward, declaring with determination that she would try anything.

After finishing my preparations for breakfast, I shook off my lingering drowsiness, straightened my posture, and stepped out of my chambers.

Granada, who had been ascending the stairs, spotted me and approached.

"Today, you'll finish touring the East Wing, which we were unable to complete yesterday, and then proceed to inspect the West Wing."

"What about the accounting work?"

"In the afternoon, Mainz will have prepared materials related to the castle's internal management."

"When will my personal aide be appointed?"

"About that..."

Granada, who had been speaking fluently without hesitation, sighed softly.

"Due to personnel shortages, I'm afraid I'll need to serve in that capacity for the time being."

It seemed common practice in Ronheim Castle for individuals to fulfill multiple roles simultaneously.

'There's nothing to be done about it.'

I nodded readily.

I wasn't particularly dissatisfied—Granada seemed capable of excelling as both my lady's maid and my competent assistant.

'Yes. In this life, I will properly fulfill my responsibilities without delegating everything to others.'

I was determined.

In my previous life, as Countess Pelsus, I had done nothing and been capable of nothing. But now things were different.

At the Pelsus estate, I had always been treated like a burden.

But I had no intention of living that way in Ronheim.

Together with Callius, I would establish myself as a leader who moved Ronheim forward.

"I was taught these things as a child. I can manage them all."

Until the age of seven, when my mother had still been alive, I'd received intensive training as a potential successor to the throne.

'I didn't learn anything extraordinary when I was young, but I possess sufficient knowledge to serve as a Marchioness.'

As I began putting that education into practice, knowledge I hadn't used in years came flooding back.

Lamia whispered to me as I burned with renewed determination:

"Don't push yourself too hard."

"I'll be fine."

I answered firmly and strode forward with purpose.

There was much work to be done.

Time passed swiftly.

Over the following days, I toured a considerable portion of Ronheim Castle and learned the names of every staff member.

I had finally grasped how Ronheim's finances operated, what welfare provisions were in place, what immediate needs existed, and which matters required urgent attention.

Despite spending my time so hectically, I didn't neglect my personal affairs.

'Time to begin.'

I retrieved a considerable number of treasures from the teddy bear and cushion, dividing them evenly into several pouches.

'I'll keep a few items back, just in case.'

What remained were pieces that were unknown and unnamed—items that wouldn't attract significant attention.

Among the treasures I'd left concealed within the bear's stuffing was a fragment of the Holy Grail, which I'd taken purely to infuriate Kavala.

'There's no point displaying items that wouldn't cause much stir on the black market anyway.'

I gathered several bags of treasures and went to find Callius.

"You intend to sell these on the black market?"

Callius looked somewhat surprised as gemstones flashed before his eyes.

He clearly hadn't imagined I possessed quite so many jewels.

Seeing his expression made me even more proud of having taken the risk to infiltrate Kavala's vault.

"Why not have them appraised and sell them through legitimate channels, rather than putting them on the black market?"

I smiled mischievously and lowered my voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

"These are all stolen goods."

"What?"

"Do you remember when the Empress's warehouse burned down in the capital?"

Even though I'd only said that much, Callius's eyes widened dramatically.

"You can't mean—"

"Yes, exactly that."

How delightful and thrilling it was to tell Callius that I was the thief who'd robbed that warehouse!

I couldn't control my pride. My chin lifted with satisfaction.

"That was my doing! I took all these treasures! And I brought them all the way to Ronheim without anyone discovering me!"

Seeing Callius's expression of utter disbelief made me even more excited.

I wanted to show off just how magnificently I'd succeeded.

"It was no simple feat. Sneaking into the Empress's palace, finding the key, stealing the treasures within—it would have been a daunting task even for legendary thieves who've made their mark on history."

My nose was practically pointing at the ceiling with pride.

"But I accomplished it."

I used to keep silent about this because I hadn't trusted Callius as completely as I did now. But circumstances were different.

He and I were in the same boat now—perfectly aligned.

Besides, it was time to liquidate these assets.

I hadn't brought them here to use as ornaments for personal adornment, like Kavala would.

To convert them into currency, I needed Callius's help regardless.

'If people see my silver hair, many will recognize who I am.'

Callius examined the treasures seriously.

"Wouldn't it be somewhat risky to put these on the black market at a time when the Empress is circulating wanted posters and searching for the thief?"

"That's precisely why I brought this to you. We need to employ a smokescreen operation."

"A smokescreen operation?"

I was certain that by now, the Dragon's Eye had passed through multiple hands and ultimately ended up in Kavala's possession.

When a famous gemstone surfaces in the world, the market becomes abuzz with activity.

Kavala, who had already been searching for her stolen treasures, couldn't possibly have remained unaware that the Dragon's Eye had come to market.

'They're probably already tracing the trail backward.'

Once the Dragon's Eye had opened the floodgates, it was better to quickly dispose of the remaining jewels.

"Can you forge identification documents?"

"That's not particularly difficult."

"Good. Prepare fake identification for multiple individuals. And..."

I leaned closer and whispered the plan I'd devised to evade Kavala's pursuit.

"...You understand what needs to be done?"

"We can attempt it."

"Excellent. Please handle it carefully. No mistakes—understood?"

"Don't worry."

Callius, when he said that, looked thoroughly dignified and capable.

I was about to leave his office, satisfied with our arrangement, but paused at the door.

"Oh, there's one more thing I need you to do while you're arranging that."

"What would that be?"

"This is separate from the treasure matter, but I need you to spread a rumor that Restio is in season in Ronheim right now."

"Isn't Restio a plant used in medicinal preparations?"

"Exactly. It's an unusual plant that blooms in winter."

Callius tilted his head, puzzled.

"Restio is always blooming in Ronheim. It's not particularly in season now. Is there a reason to spread word about it?"

I smiled with meaningful satisfaction and nodded.

"Outsiders often don't realize that Restio perpetually blooms in Ronheim. It's a flower that will bring us... welcome guests."

False identities to scatter the trail.Winter blooms to lure the unwary.A trap set with flowers and smoke—waiting for those who hunt her to follow false scents north.

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