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The Villainess’s Observations

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*****

Teresalo’s story possessed a darkness deep enough to make my face twitch.

---No, wait a moment.

Just thinking about it, I could already smell the distinct, lingering scent of something incredibly dangerous buried within that tale.

「In the first place, are you sure you should be telling me that you can use the "Sacred Art of Enchantment"...?」

「...Yes. The thing is, I couldn't even talk to Prince Tygrim about this...」

From Teresalo’s perspective, that was likely true.

「Teresalo... does Prince Tygrim know that you can use Enchantment?」

「He does... but His Majesty and Crown Prince Leonir do not... Prince Tygrim said that if I wanted to have a normal school life, I should keep it hidden...」

(I thought as much.)

There was no way the King would know such a thing and simply leave it be. A ruler would never engage in a cover-up that could fracture relations with the Church just to indulge the whims of a single young girl.

---Unless, of course, he was planning to bring her into the royal family.

Even if that were the desire, elevating a girl from a baronial house that had only been ennobled a few years ago to the status of a Prince’s consort was far too reckless. They couldn't welcome her without making use of her greatest merit—the ability to use the "Sacred Art of Enchantment"—but going public with that power would become a seed of conflict with the Church.

(Would they really walk such a dangerous tightrope?)

No matter how one looked at it from the King’s perspective, the risks and rewards didn't balance out. If that was the case, there was a possibility that Prince Tygrim was considering it on his own.

「Forgive me for being blunt, but are you and Prince Tygrim involved in a romantic relationship?」

「N-no! Not at all!! S-such a thing would be far beneath him!」

Teresalo seemed like a perfectly ordinary girl. And not the flighty, daydreaming type, but the grounded sort.

If she tried to resolve this problem with Prince Tygrim’s help, the fact that he had told her to conceal her ability to use the "Sacred Art of Enchantment" would also come to light. Furthermore, as a result of being blackmailed, she had already used it on several young noblemen.

(It’s not forbidden magic, but... wouldn't this be a significant violation of both Church regulations and Kingdom law...?)

However, while the unauthorized use of the "Sacred Art of Enchantment" was prohibited, there were no actual penalties associated with it. This was because there was typically no reason for a Saint residing within the Temple to break those rules.

And Teresalo hadn't officially entered the Church as a Saint yet. Even so, she was interacting with the royal family and training in healing magic through an arrangement with the Church.

「I believe... at the very least, you won't be prosecuted for a serious crime for using the art.」

「Is that... true...?」

「Yes. I get the feeling there isn't actually a law to judge what you've done. Even if they tried to classify it as mental interference, it’s not supposed to cause any negative side effects...」

Wellmy, being poorly versed in such matters, didn't know exactly how the act of manipulating others would be handled. But at the very least, if it could be proven that she was under duress, things shouldn't turn out too badly for her.

More than that, the story about Lord Seifahrt forcing Teresalo to break her engagement, demanding a relationship, and trying to kiss her by force bothered her.

He was certainly a frivolous man with many scandals to his name, but he wasn't the type to force himself on an unwilling woman. Rather, he was the sort who preferred relationships where both parties were on the same page.

(Is it possible that more than one person is doing something to Teresalo?)

If other young ladies were jealous of Teresalo's position—being able to seek instruction from Prince Tygrim one-on-one—there was a chance they were involved. Teresalo herself might not have noticed, but to Wellmy, Lord Seifahrt’s obsession with Teresalo felt like nothing but an anomaly.

(I suppose it would be fastest to ask the man himself.)

She didn't know to what extent the "Sacred Art of Enchantment" bound the target, but she wondered if he would answer her questions honestly.

Lost in thought, Wellmy asked Teresalo:

「Teresalo, can you dispel the Enchantment you placed on them?」

At that, the girl looked as though she was about to cry again and shook her head.

「I... I don't know how to undo it...」

She was only a second-year student at the Academy.

Wellmy herself, partly due to her lineage, was far more adept at curse-breaking than other students because she relied on asking the spirits rather than using brute force with mana. However, for someone Teresalo’s age, she thought this lack of knowledge was normal.

There were supposed to be Sacred Arts that interfered with spirits, but even Prince Tygrim wouldn't be able to teach an art he couldn't use himself.

「...Shall I give it a try?」

「Eh?」

「A curse-break for the Enchantment. If you were to undo it yourself, Tsurgis might notice, but if I approach them and dispel it at a party or a meeting where he isn't present, I might be able to get some information.」

「A-are you sure? But wouldn't that be dangerous for you, Lady Wellmy...?」

「I'll likely be fine.」

She would consult with Eides, and Leo was a Crown Prince well-versed in offensive magic. Aside from young ladies disparaging her with rumors, no one could easily lay a hand on Wellmy.

Wellmy elicited the names of the people Teresalo had enchanted and sent the still-teearful girl back to the party first. Watching her retreating back with narrowed eyes, Wellmy pondered.

(Why didn't Teresalo use the "Sacred Art of Enchantment" on Tsurgis, the witness?)

When Wellmy returned to the party, for some reason Lady Dalistia was glaring sharply at her, but she made a conscious effort to ignore it. That was likely something regarding Leo, anyway.

Pushing the Duke’s daughter to the periphery of her mind, Wellmy layered her thoughts.

Teresalo could have simply silenced Tsurgis the same way she had Lord Seifahrt, yet it seemed such a thought hadn't even crossed her mind. There was a possibility that her own thoughts were being restricted. And as for that floral scent she said came from Tsurgis—a scent she had never smelled before...

(I feel like I remember there being a type of magic drug for manipulating people that smelled like that.)

After returning from the party, Wellmy asked Eides about it. He stopped his hand, which had been stroking her hair, and narrowed his eyes as he confirmed that such a drug did exist.

「Could you let me let him run loose for a bit? There’s a high probability that Tsurgis is just a lizard’s tail (sacrificial pawn).」

「You're clever, Wellmy. I was intending to suggest the same. ...In fact, the Ministry of Magic is currently conducting a joint investigation with the Special National Security Task Force regarding the source of that incense.」

「I see. Then I'll go visit Professor Crates and consult with him on whether I can dispel the Enchantment. If I can, I’d like to release them secretly and get some information.」

「Do it only when either Leo or I am present. So we can notice immediately if anything goes wrong.」

Wellmy looked up at Eides and gave a small smile.

「Are you worried about me?」

「Naturally. You are mine. I will not permit anyone, no matter who they are, to leave even a single scratch upon you.」

Hearing him say that, Wellmy felt a slightly ticklish sensation and leaned her head against Eides’s chest.

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