Chapter 31
He had promised to return her to her original state only if the research succeeded; he hadn’t promised anything about the situation if it failed, so it wouldn’t be a breach of contract.
The butler, who had left for the drawing room, returned in less than ten minutes.
“My apologies, but you cannot see the Marquis.”
“Huh? Why?”
“He says he has no desire to discuss matters concerning the fairy.”
“…Oh.”
This was a development he hadn’t quite anticipated. Dormi scratched the back of his neck, looking troubled.
“The fairy is unharmed, right?”
“I cannot tell you that.”
“Is it perhaps… dead?”
“I cannot say.”
Did he kill her? The butler’s firm reaction made Dormi momentarily suspect that Hermie might be dead.
Even if Froy had killed her, there wouldn’t be anyone to blame him. Who would prosecute a noble for killing a single fairy? Though the fact that Hermie wasn’t a real fairy was problematic.
‘If she’s dead, does the contract automatically become void?’
Dormi blinked and scratched his chin, recalling the contents of the contract.
‘I will do my best to make the research succeed and return Hermie to her original state.’
He had succeeded in the research, but if the contracting party was dead, it became an unfulfillable clause. And Dormi had come to the Ozette Marquisate within a week of the research succeeding, as per the contract.
‘Hmm.’
At this point, it seemed like he had done his best to fulfill the contract.
He came to see Hermie, tried to get her back, but since her condition couldn’t be confirmed, it couldn’t be helped.
“Then, I’ll be on my way.”
“Have a safe journey, then.”
With steps that felt oddly lighter, Dormi left the Marquisate.
‘What can I do if I can’t meet her?’
Thinking that, he wiped away his own faults.
‘And it’s not bad if she’s alive, right? The Marquis will surely treat her well.’
He thought positively, convincing himself that a life as a beloved fairy, just eating and sleeping well, wouldn’t be too bad.
***
Day 60 of confinement. Hermie, who had been comforting herself and maintaining her sanity, slowly began to feel backed into a corner.
With every breath, her chest felt tight, and she clung to Froy whenever she could. She only felt at ease when he was in front of her.
“Don’t abandon me, Froy.”
“I won’t. Why would I abandon you? You’re so lovely.”
I love you, I like you. I’ll do anything, so please, stay by me. Please let me out. Do something about me. I feel so stifled and anxious I think I’m going crazy.
Pleading words rose to the tip of her tongue. She knew it was still too rash to speak, but they kept rising from her stomach like unbearable, pointless nausea.
“Froy, where are you going again?”
“Sorry, Hermie. I have work today, I need to go out.”
“When will you be back?”
“I’ll be back soon. Go to sleep first, okay?”
Froy spoke softly, as if coaxing a child, and left the room. When he was gone, Hermie was alone.
“Urk!”
The moment she realized she was alone, nausea rose up. The cage felt maddeningly suffocating, and she tore and threw the stuffing wildly. Even that didn’t relieve her feelings, so she sobbed and cried.
After crying for a long while, she called Froy’s name loudly. No answer came back.
Still, she kept muttering. Because even if she fell silent, the surroundings became too quiet and frightening.
If only this were a prison, if she was suffering this pain because she had committed a crime, if she had the certainty that she could get out someday… then perhaps she could have endured the suffering.
‘It’s clear the mage tricked me.’
She was lost in a fog where she couldn’t see an inch ahead. No matter how long she wandered, she was all alone.
For her in that state, the only salvation was Froy. It was Froy who had caged her, but it was also Froy who could save her.
So, her feelings towards him grew increasingly complex. Lovely, heart-fluttering, then infuriating, then desperate.
‘Two months have passed. I can’t wait any longer.’
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