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The Bomb Comes from an Unexpected Place

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「Tsurugis, son of Marquis Deltrate. ...Is there any discrepancy between your testimony and that of Lady Teresalo Traff?」

When the King posed the question, Tsurugis bit his lip hard.

「...There is not.」

「Apprehend him.」

The King made an immediate decision, allowing no room for excuses. Tsurugis was promptly restrained by guards and escorted from the venue of the evening party.

This was exactly as planned.

The reason being that Tsurugis wore a magical drug as a perfume—a substance designed to manipulate others by lowering their capacity for critical thought and steering their logic in a specific direction.

Anyone affected by that scent who was then skillfully guided by words would come to believe that 「this is the only truth.」

While the fact that Lady Dalistia caused such a scene, and that Teresalo never thought to silence him with her own enchantment, may have been partly due to their natural temperaments, it was largely because Tsurugis had manipulated their thoughts.

Eides had advised the King beforehand that there was a possibility the boy might cause people to give false testimony in a room full of nobles; thus, His Majesty had him removed immediately.

There had been the option of removing everyone involved in secret before the commotion started. However, Wellmy and her allies had chosen to expose the crime here, as it served their original objectives.

Now, both Lady Dalistia and Teresalo had likely been framed in the eyes of the public as victims.

(Ideally, I wanted to bring Lady Dalistia over to our side first...)

Unexpectedly strong-willed, she had rejected Leo’s hand after the wine was spilled on her.

At that time, we were still trying to gauge Prince Tygrim's stance and hadn't informed him of the situation. In the interim, Tsurugis had made contact with Lady Dalistia. Since she hadn't appeared at any evening parties or tea parties thereafter, we had no choice but to inform only Minister Maleficent of the danger and wait for today.

「Lady Traff.」

「...Yes.」

As Teresalo looked up from her kneeling position, hands clasped as if in prayer, Eides added a comment.

「According to the circumstances I have heard from Lady Lyloud, it is believed that the initial purpose for using the enchantment was self-defense. I humbly suggest that this be taken into consideration.」

「Self-defense, Magus Lord Ormirage?」

「Yes. It appears Lady Teresalo's power manifested when she was being coerced into an unthinkable act by Lord Seifahrt Awlgim, son of an Earl, following the annulment of her engagement.」

「...Lord Seifahrt. Is this correct?」

「Yes. It is exactly as he says.」

When addressed, Seifahrt bowed with a gesture that could almost be described as elegant. He was a man of golden hair and blue eyes; the expression on his handsome face seemed somewhat flippant, yet at its core, he appeared brimming with confidence.

(Well, that's just how he *looks*, anyway.)

After inviting him to the party and successfully luring him into the shadows, Wellmy had performed the dispelling. Following the ritual, Seifahrt had stood there for quite some time, looking dazed for some reason.

According to what I've heard, although he is the eldest son of the House of Awlgim, he is an illegitimate child... the son of Earl Awlgim's mistress. The Awlgim marriage was a typical political arrangement, and it seems there was never any love between the husband and wife.

Though it was a cold relationship where they merely tolerated each other, they had produced two sons and a daughter. Afterwards, they both apparently kept lovers...

However, the eldest son, who was the legitimate heir, had passed away from an epidemic.

Seifahrt’s mother had died of the same illness, and the situation became complicated when Earl Awlgim took him in as a result.

This was because Seifahrt was older than the second son.

---And that is why he acted as he did.

「Do you have any defense, Lord Seifahrt?」

「I have no proof, but I have long been close with Lord Tsurugis. During our time together, I noticed an unfamiliar fragrance emanating from him, and before I knew it, I found myself becoming obsessed with Lady Teresalo. It is also true that I was subsequently enchanted by Lady Traff.」

His tone was crisp and dignified. As he calmly listed the facts, he didn't seem at all concerned about being punished.

He had laughed when explaining his situation, saying that if this became public, Earl Awlgim would likely name his younger brother as the heir.

『The weight is off my shoulders, and it's a relief. I'm not suited to be an heir, anyway. I almost feel like thanking Tsurugis.』

...so he had said.

He had purposely established a reputation for being frivolous and scandalous. And despite being talented, he had kept his abilities hidden.

It seemed Seifahrt's younger brother was also a capable individual, and Seifahrt had wanted to pass the title to him all along. Earl Awlgim had apparently been wavering between choosing the son of the woman he loved and the son who held the legitimate right.

『My stepmother treats me very well, even though I'm the son of the husband she doesn't love and we share no blood. Perhaps it’s just her pride, but I’m grateful to her nonetheless.』

In the future, he hoped to receive a barony as a court noble and live a life of leisure. He had even laughed, saying that since he was originally a commoner, he wouldn't mind if he didn't receive a title at all.

He had behaved in such a way—making women fall for him only to have them end up hating him—all in pursuit of the scandal he required.

(It’s selfish, but...)

Hearing his story, Wellmy felt a certain kinship with his behavior and respected Seifahrt's decision.

「I do not know what Lord Tsurugis was thinking when he coerced me into those actions. ---However, that fragrance is likely a type of magic drug that affects the mind. Lady Lyloud has dispelled those effects for me.」

After bowing, Seifahrt continued further.

「---Just like me, Lord Schizolda and Lord Zumiano were the same. The reason we neglected our fiancées to attend to Lady Wellmy was due to those circumstances. We did not want to involve them.」

As Wellmy looked around, she saw three young ladies simultaneously covering their mouths with their hands or fans. They were the fiancées of the three noblemen.

(Now the misunderstanding is cleared up, right?)

I have heard that all of them... even the fiancée of the "unfaithful" Lord Seifahrt... harbor genuine affection for the young lords. If they didn't, it would be strange for there to be no talk of breaking the engagements despite such impossible behavior, regardless of how much it benefited their houses.

Once the enchantment was broken, the men had all cooperated, blaming themselves for being susceptible and saying 「it couldn't be helped.」 Wellmy hoped this would help mend their relationships, even if only a little.

「I understand the situation. Lord Schizolda, son of Duke Langley. Lord Zumiano, son of Marquis Olbrun. Do either of you have anything to say?」

When the King asked, the two exchanged glances before Schizolda spoke. The serious son of the Chancellor, wearing a monocle and his blue hair neatly slicked back, dropped a further bombshell.

「---The mastermind who incited Tsurugis to orchestrate this entire affair... was me.」

End of Excerpt

### **Character List**

* **The King**: The monarch of the kingdom who presides over the judgment at the evening party.

* **Tsurugis Deltrate**: Son of Marquis Deltrate. He used a mind-altering magic drug (perfume) to manipulate several high-ranking noble heirs.

* **Wellmy Lyloud (Wellmy Ernest)**: The protagonist and expert curse-breaker. She dispelled the enchantments and drugs affecting the noblemen to expose the conspiracy.

* **Eides Ormirage (Magus Lord)**: Wellmy’s fiancé and the Kingdom's Magus Lord. He assists in the investigation and advises the King.

* **Teresalo Traff**: A baronial daughter and Saint candidate who used "Sacred Art of Enchantment" for self-defense, later exploited by Tsurugis.

* **Dalistia Abacam**: A high-ranking noblewoman who was manipulated by Tsurugis's perfume to cause a scene.

* **Seifahrt Awlgim**: An Earl’s son (illegitimate) who acted as a "villain" to escape his inheritance. He was the first to be dispelled by Wellmy.

* **Schizolda Langley**: Son of Duke Langley and the Chancellor. A serious young man who wears a monocle and claims to be the mastermind behind Tsurugis.

* **Zumiano Olbrun**: Son of Marquis Olbrun and heir to the nation's breadbasket. One of the noblemen manipulated by Tsurugis.

* **Maleficent Abacam**: The Special Task Minister and Dalistia's relative, who was warned of the danger by Wellmy.

* **Tygrim Lionel**: The Second Prince, who was previously being gauged for his involvement or awareness of Teresalo's power.

* **Leonir Lionel (Leo)**: The Crown Prince.

* **Mia Hopewell**: (From provided list)

* **Clein Augusta**: (From provided list)

* **Barbaril**: (From provided list)

* **Leon**: (From provided list)

* **Segrus Warren**: (From provided list)

* **Mia’s Father**: (From provided list)

* **Vanessa**: (From provided list)

* **Alice**: (From provided list)

* **Zeel Voitos**: (From provided list)

* **Catarina Medic**: (From provided list)

* **Guild Master**: (From provided list)

* **Duke Wolfwood**: (From provided list)

### **Terminology List**

* **Mind-Altering Magic Drug (精神操作の魔薬)**: A drug used by Tsurugis in the form of perfume to lower a target's willpower and guide their thoughts.

* **Sacred Art of Enchantment (魅了の聖術)**: Teresalo's holy magic used to bind others' will, originally used for self-defense against Seifahrt.

* **Curse-breaking / Dispelling (解呪)**: The process of removing magical influences, performed by Wellmy on the affected noblemen.

* **Mastermind (首謀者)**: The person behind the plot; Schizolda Langley claims this role at the end of the excerpt.

* **Formation (形成)**: (From provided list)

* **Enchantment (付与)**: (From provided list)

* **Compounding (調合)**: (From provided list)

* **Field Deployment (領域展開)**: (From provided list)

* **Magic Tool (魔道具)**: (From provided list)

* **Magic Item (魔装具)**: (From provided list)

* **Bracelet of Power (力の腕輪)**: (From provided list)

* **Mana Stone (魔石)**: (From provided list)

* **Sacred Mana Stone (聖なる魔石)**: (From provided list)

* **Holy Water (聖水)**: (From provided list)

* **Purification Potion (浄化ポーション)**: (From provided list)

* **Miasma (瘴気)**: (From provided list)

* **Capital’s Barrier (王都の結界)**: (From provided list)

* **EX-Potion**: (From provided list)

* **Sacred Alchemy**: (From provided list)

* **Order of Knights**: (From provided list)

End of Excerpt

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