*****

My Light Magic is a public secret. Even after getting engaged and marrying Lord Cloud, and having the Ducal House as my backing, there were still scoundrels who tried to get at me. These past three years have been mostly peaceful, but not completely.

If you include attempts, there have actually been quite a few kidnapping incidents. This is just the first time it has been carried out so perfectly.

「So, you used Dark Magic just to kidnap me?」

「That's right.」

「Then... does that mean the reward for my kidnapping is high?」

「...Why do you sound a little happy about that?」

Well, I feel kind of like a VIP? I'm blushing.

「No, it's different. This time, it wasn't anyone's request.」

「Huh? Meaning?」

To my tilted head, the silver-haired beauty, Nonnalie, gave a light laugh. She looks beautiful no matter how she smiles, I envy her, her chest is big and I envy... No, I don't, absolutely not.

「This time, I snatched you on my own initiative. The Dark Magic user is my partner, so he moves even without payment if it's what I want. Because I said I wanted you.」

「Oh, excuse me, I am a married woman and I have a husband.」

If a silver-haired beauty like her fell for me, I'd be dancing with joy if I were a man... no, I'd be happy even as a woman, but unfortunately, I have Lord Cloud. If he weren't around, I might have been Nonnalie's bride, you know.

「What kind of misunderstanding do you have? You're a Light Magic user, aren't you?」

Bish.

If the air were made of glass, it would have cracked. Yes, I definitely heard the sound of the air cracking. The shock was that intense.

「Uh, um, what are you talking aboot?」

「What's with that tone? You're someone who can't lie, aren't you?」

「No, no, I'm not a lie-teller, nor am I a stander. I'm just a measly little girl...」

「When you jumped into that mansion, you blatantly used Light Magic!」

Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh...

Was it that time...?

So, she saw me clearly.

That's seriously the worst!

Inwardly, I wanted to hold my head, but doing that would be the same as admitting I'm a Light Magic user. I don't intend to hide it forever, but it's a public secret I don't want to tell villains.

So, if the choices were:

▶ Remain Silent

▶ Speak

I would definitely choose ▶ Remain Silent.

「I didn't use any magic. I did use a magical tool I received from my husband, though.」

How's that for a perfect answer? That should sound reasonably convincing, right?

The biggest source of income for sorcerers belonging to the Magic Church or Magic Tower is the creation of magical tools imbued with magic power. These are deeply rooted in people's lives and sometimes help in battles against monsters.

The Ducal House, being what it is, can obtain expensive and amazing magical tools.

When I said that, she just laughed, 「Hahaha.」 I got a seriously dry laugh.

She doesn't believe me at all. Now what should I do?

Should I just use Light Magic and escape? She already suspects it anyway, so it wouldn't be a problem if it was revealed now. But then things get complicated later.

This kind of underworld has its own information network. If it gets out among them—who are sometimes enemies and sometimes secret allies—that I am a Light Magic user... what would happen?

(Yes, peaceful days would definitely become a distant memory.)

It would be extremely bad for something that was previously "just a rumor" to become "the rumor was true."

No matter how much they are involved in the underworld, they cannot easily lay hands on the Ducal House. That's why no one had ever investigated whether I was truly a Light Magic user.

...Though there were those who tried to kidnap me to find out.

I was sometimes asked directly, but I flatly denied such questions. You see, it's a public secret after all. I wouldn't go around spilling the secret.

I have no choice but to consistently 'deceive'.

Just as I thought that, Nonnalie leaned closer to my face.

「You've been kidnapped before, haven't you?」

「Eh...」

「Do you think I don't keep track of what the underworld folks are up to?」

「W-well, I don't know?」

「Fine. Anyway, you're going to grant me a request.」

Saying that, Nonnalie looked outside through a gap in the curtain. Her eyes seemed to be looking much further than the scenery outside the window, which worried me.

「What is your request?」

I could somewhat guess that it involves procuring a Light Magic user. But I don't know the details. There's no way I can figure out what her circumstances are.

In response to my question, Nonnalie simply flashed another sly, beautiful smile.