Collector’s Cage - Chapter 50

No way he could forget. Even to Dormi, who possessed not a shred of aesthetic sense, the man who looked beautiful was unforgettable.

He had heard that the Tower had refused Marquis Froy’s visit request, so how had he gotten in? His appearance was nothing short of terrifying.

“What brings you here? And how did you manage to come?” Dormi asked, straightening his posture as if he hadn’t been startled at all, aiming to project an attitude of having nothing to hide.

“I came because I have a question.”
“Yes. But as you can see, I’m currently serving a punishment. I’m afraid I won’t be able to offer any special assistance.”

Dormi raised both hands as if to show his current state. But the other man paid it no mind and continued his inquiry.

“You came to the estate to retrieve the fairy, didn’t you?”
“…Yes. I did.”

“Why?”
“Pardon?”

“Why did you come to retrieve her?”

Why would he be curious about that? Dormi’s heart pounded. But he couldn’t foolishly admit guilt. He had to deny everything.

“I needed her again… but didn’t Your Lordship refuse? It wasn’t that important, so I gave up and returned.”
“Why did you need her again?”
“F-for research purposes.”
“What research?”
“The Fairy’s Potion research recently announced. But I succeeded even without Hermie. So I don’t need her anymore.”

That sounded plausible enough. Dormi silently praised his own quick thinking. Would he understand and leave now? But, belying his hopes, Froy did not depart.

“Where did you catch Hermie?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked where you caught her.”
“Wh-why are you asking that?”
“I’m curious about Hermie’s homeland.”

What should he say to this? Should he vaguely claim he found her in the Heshe Mountains?

But if he did that and they actually went to the Heshe Mountains to investigate, it would be a disaster. Dormi had never even set foot in the Heshe Mountains.

“I received her from someone else, so I don’t really know.”
“From whom?”
“F-from a merchant.”
“What merchant?”

Sweat soaked his palms until they were damp. He felt cornered in a dead end with no escape route.

Was he trying to retrieve Hermie because she had run away? Or was he suspicious of Hermie’s true identity and testing him?

Then, Dormi thought of a brilliant plan. He would shift all the blame onto his accomplice.

Hermie was also a clear accomplice in the fraud scheme. Hadn’t she also pretended to be a fairy? Not to mention, she took the entire 2,000 gold from Froy.

Dormi hadn’t gained a single benefit from this whole affair.

He hadn’t received any money, his research was delayed because Hermie tampered with the experimental potion, and hadn’t he just wasted his time going back and forth to Froy’s estate?

Benefits? He’d suffered nothing but losses. If it came to light that Hermie was a human and not a fairy, he’d have to play dumb and claim he was deceived by her as well.

Let me reiterate: the Tower is the cradle of mages. It’s an ivory tower of knowledge, not an organization that fights for justice.

To protect the Tower’s honor and Dormi’s safety, they wouldn’t hesitate to shift all blame onto the Pumpkin Flower Guild and Hermie.

The contracts exchanged with the Pumpkin Flower Guild would be forged, and the clauses of the contract bearing Hermie’s handprint would also be modified. All to ensure not a shred of damage fell upon the Tower or Dormi.

“The Pumpkin Flower Guild procured the fairy. They are the guild I traded the Fairy’s Tears with.”
“The Pumpkin Flower Guild?”
“Yes. If you are seeking another fairy, why not visit them yourself? Who knows? You might find a new fairy.”

Dormi forced a stiff smile. Froy stared at him fixedly with eyes full of suspicion.

Those icy blue eyes were terrifyingly fierce. It felt like his breath was being choked off. After a long while, Froy finally spoke. His low voice reverberated through the isolation room.