Collector’s Cage - Chapter 51

“If it turns out to be a lie,”

Dormi gulped.

“It would be wise for you to never leave the Magical Tower again.”

It was a chilling warning. If Dormi left the tower, he would have to fear for his life. After all, he had provoked the famously tenacious and obsessive Froy.

“It’s the absolute truth. Why would I lie?”

Froy, who had been watching Dormi stubbornly cling to his lie to the end, turned his back.
The sound of footsteps faded down the underground corridor. Froy had left.

Dormi resolved not to leave the tower for several years. The look in Froy’s eyes as he had glared at him was anything but normal.

What was it about a fairy? What had Hermie done to drive him that mad? A cold shiver ran down Dormi’s spine, making him tremble.

Was this why you shouldn’t mess with nobles? Cleaning up the aftermath was incredibly difficult.
Dormi hastily got up and called for a guard. He shouted loudly, but the guard only appeared after a considerable delay, looking as if he had just been woken from a deep sleep.

“Yes, what is it?”

You useless guard. He clearly had no idea Froy had been here. But that wasn’t important right now.

“Fetch the Grand Mage for me! Something has come up that I must discuss. It’s extremely urgent.”

He had to fabricate the evidence before Froy discovered the whole truth.

***

Finally returned to her daily routine, Hermie gazed out the window with a somewhat forlorn expression.

Below, she could see the workers moving about busily. The Pumpkin Flower Guild, which had been struggling financially, quickly got back on track after receiving the owed money.

They resumed purchasing goods and rehired the workers they had laid off. As promised, she was even promoted.

Not only that, she had suddenly come into a fortune of 2,000 gold. Her pockets were now so full she could go live in a cheap area and never work again, or buy property in a prime location and start a business. Yet, for some reason, she just felt unsettled.

It felt like she had become a thief who had swindled money from Froy. The fact that Froy had been so genuinely kind to her only made the guilt grow stronger.

“Maybe I should take a vacation…”

This was the ordinary life she had longed to return to, but she felt no motivation at all.
Was it because she now had enough security that she didn’t need to work? Or was she just exhausted from such a shocking experience?

Hermie glanced at the apple pie on her desk. She couldn’t bring herself to touch the apple pie she used to crave.

It reminded her of Froy, who would soothe her with an apple pie whenever she sulked.

She could find out how he was doing if she wanted to, but she deliberately didn’t. Holding onto a pointless attachment would only trouble Hermie.

He knew her as a fairy, and now he probably thought of her as a wicked fairy who, after being treated so well, had run away.

Hermie was now in a position where she must never encounter him again. Drawing his attention could arouse suspicion.

In truth, leaving the capital without any lingering attachment was a good plan.

‘But… surely he wouldn’t recognize me?’

The thought crossed her mind. She was person-sized now; could he possibly still think she was a fairy? It was far more likely he’d just think she was someone who looked similar.

As long as she didn’t set foot in places nobles frequented, she would never run into Froy.

She had lived in the capital for over ten years but could count on one hand the number of times she’d seen a noble up close. That just showed how strictly the domains of nobles and commoners were separated.

“I should just get to work.”

She steeled her troubled heart and opened the ledger. Froy’s face kept flickering before her eyes at every turn, but she believed time would resolve this, too.

So, if she just endured and held on, the memories of the past two months would fade like a dream, the adoring gaze that seemed to love her to death would be forgotten, and the affectionate voice and warm body heat would evaporate like steam.