37. In Search of the Female Lead (2)

‘This would have been the place where I died originally……’

But Lady Ygret died instead. In the annex separated from the Grand Duke’s residence. This time not by the hand of an assassin sent by Inkheart’s political enemy, but for a different reason.

‘Would I have died too if I had been there?’

Did Lady Ygret die there because she committed a capital crime? Or was this also a result of the original story in motion?

If someone had to die in the annex, am I now free from death?

“Anette.”

Darius grabbed my shoulder with concern.

“I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not fine.”

‘What is he saying? I am fine.’

He suddenly embraced me. Strongly, so that I could only see him in front of me.

“Darius?”

“You don’t always have to be strong. It’s okay to be startled by blood, and sometimes it’s natural to want to throw tantrums and cry. I’ll protect you.”

His pitch-black eyes were gentle like a puppy’s yet showed firm determination.

What are you really saying? I should have asked that.

Every time he encourages me, my knotted emotions melt.

“I’ll become stronger. So you can rely on me even more.”

His body heat wrapped around me firmly. I could hear his heartbeat in my ears. He was so hot. The male lead shone like the sun. I belatedly realized my body had grown cold.

My trembling hands sought warmth, embracing Darius who was warm and radiant like the sun.

* * *

“Priest.”

After verifying the shocking fact that Lady Ygret, who had been respected in Castle Inkheart for a long time, was actually a witch, the elderly priest was about to return to his temple.

“Lady Anette. Have you graciously come to see me off?”

The priest expressed his appreciation for her humble gesture of coming to see off the clergyman without even a single maid accompanying her.

“I apologize for inviting someone who resides in the temple to the secular world. Since you’ve come with such difficulty, I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor for me?”

“Actually, I’m looking for someone.”

Someone? The elderly priest’s eyes widened.

“Evangeline, a childhood friend of mine. We were of different social status, but she was deeply religious even then and said she would become a nun. When I saw you today, I was reminded of this friend I haven’t seen for a long time……”

According to the original timeline, Evangeline would be growing up as a novice in the convent during this period.

Of course, there was never any instance where Evangeline, an orphan taken in by the temple, came to the South during her life or was my friend.

It’s just an excuse for why I’m looking for her.

“We met briefly by chance, but her noble character greatly influenced me. I still wonder if she’s doing well.”

I just said seeing the priest reminded me of that friend, but who cares. Anyway, just be impressed and help me find her.

“Looking into this isn’t difficult. Evangeline, a name I seem to have heard before.”

Sure enough, the elderly priest agreed to look into it without any suspicion, smiling broadly. It’s fortunate there’s no personal information protection law here, or this would be a serious matter. I’m actually impersonating someone.

“Thank you. I would be truly happy to hear news of my friend. May God be with you today as well.”

I need to know where the female lead is to feel at ease.

With a bright smile, having resolved one task with my well-oiled tongue, I headed to the next location. There was much to prepare before the female lead arrived in the North.

Being an extra is no simple task, I tell you.

* * *

“Boyer. I’ve heard you’re the finest blacksmith in our North and the representative of the blacksmith guild.”

It wasn’t the rough voice of a man who handles fire and iron, but a woman’s voice.

“I am Anette, the mistress of the Inkheart family. Feeling a heavy responsibility for this incident, I’ve come to see you.”

“Brother, please open the door. None other than the Grand Duke’s wife has come in person.”

The gnome Gilbert, who had been acting as guild master in his place, asked Boyer to open the door in a flustered voice.

‘Why would a noblewoman like the Grand Duke’s wife come here?’

Blacksmithing was by no means a genteel profession. Rather, it was closer to manual labor. And a forge was even less a place for a noblewoman to visit.

Boyer opened the door with a sullen expression. Gnome Gilbert was shocked by the sight of liquor bottles filling the house.

A knight-like man blocked the way protectively in front of the woman when he saw Boyer, flushed and drunk.

The Grand Duke’s wife looked young enough to be Boyer’s daughter.

“Come in. Though I’m not sure if this place, vibrating with the smell of alcohol, is suitable for a noblewoman to enter.”

Anette stepped in calmly as if she couldn’t see the messy state of the house.

“I apologize for the disappearance of Miss Ann and for not knowing the true identity of Lady Ygret, who was a servant of the castle. We, the grand ducal family of Inkheart, as guardians of the North, have a duty to ensure the safety of the people in the northern territory. We failed to fulfill that responsibility.”

“Do you think mere words will bring my daughter back!”

“I understand. Apologizing after something has happened must seem detestable.”

“For someone who knows that……”

Boyer snorted. Darius, who had accompanied Anette, silently raised an eyebrow, while gnome Gilbert was anxious about what might happen between the two.

“Lady Ygret has been revealed as a witch. Her appearance as our castle’s kind head maid all this time was a disguise.”

Anette continued.

“Do you know? People who have made contracts with demons cannot be killed with ordinary swords. They use a special power called magic.”

“What does that have to do with my daughter!”

“A dead daughter cannot return. But if there is a craftsman who can work with mithril, you can take revenge on the demons who took your daughter, and on the evil ones who contracted with demons.”

Revenge. Boyer’s purpose, which had been lost, awakened at those words.

“Mithril……”

“God’s silver that destroys evil. As the finest blacksmith in the North, you should be able to refine that material.”

Watching the soul of the blacksmith reignite in Boyer’s eyes, I realized this was the event he needed.

Somehow, when I first met the blacksmith guild at the lord’s office, their refining techniques seemed inferior to the original story. This must be why the country’s finest forge, capable of defeating the demon king, was in the male protagonist’s territory.

“I ask you. The knights of this castle will continue to protect our North from monsters. In return, you create swords that can cut down monsters.”

I bowed deeply. I could feel the gnome drawing in his breath.

“Anette.”

“Your Highness, we didn’t know Lady Ygret was a witch until the end. This man losing his daughter is our responsibility.”

“I am the representative of the North. So I will apologize.”

Darius stepped in front of me and bowed to the old blacksmith.

“No compensation can make up for those who have died, but I promise that Castle Inkheart will never be disturbed again.”

Clunk.

The sound of an empty liquor bottle rolling was heard.

“Haha.”

Boyer, with fire in his eyes, spoke to the gnome.

“How is the forge operation going! Do we have enough iron ore and firepower? Full production starts today!”

“B-Brother!”

“When the noble Grand Duke and his lady bow to this old blacksmith, how could I not believe their words?”

Boyer laughed heartily while wiping something dirty from his beard.

“What do you want? Mithril? Fine, I’ll make it! For the revenge of my daughter too!”

Boyer, without even tidying his messy house, hurried the gnome and disappeared to the forge.

“Let me go alone since you must be busy.”

“It hasn’t even been a day since I told you not to act alone because I worry.”

“Who would dare touch the Grand Duke’s wife in Castle Inkheart of all places?”

I was worried because Darius insisted on coming along, but fortunately things worked out well.

Having encouraged a talented blacksmith who had lost motivation, now I need to move on to the next task.

Darius cleared his throat while watching me.

“Since we’ve come down from the castle, would you like to look around the market?”

Oh, the romance fantasy market tour. A classic. A date course that must be done at least once with the male protagonist.

“I’m busy.”

Do those sweet things with the female lead, please. Not with me.

* * *

After shaking off Darius, I returned to the castle, saying I needed time alone.

I pulled out a book from the bookshelf in my room.

“‘Basics of Spirit Studies for Beginners’.”

Sylph, the wind spirit I summoned for the first time when confronting Lady Ygret last time. How reassuring it was to have even a Sylph at hand.

At the same time, I was embarrassed by my situation of not knowing even a single command, so I resolved to study.

“Spirits are composed of four elements. The wind spirit Sylph, the water spirit Undine, the earth spirit Gnome, and the fire spirit Salamander are the basic spirits of each of the four elements.”

Skipping the pages about other spirits for now, I opened the page about wind spirits.

“There are the spirit king Sylphid, the high-level spirit Sylraion, the mid-level spirit Sylraphe, and the basic spirit Sylph.”

I rolled up my sleeve to check the spirit mark and then summoned Sylph.

“Sylph!”

A refreshing breeze that ventilated the air blew in, and something fluffy like a puppy walked toward me.

“You’re not barking ‘king!’ today?”

Not only that, when I tried to pet Sylph, it turned its head away. It was different from usual in many ways.

“Capriciousness should be a trait of water spirits, not wind spirits.”

I was puzzled for a moment, but I concentrated again and continued reading the book.