cole, she had been the subject of Diane’s baseless scolding for the longest time. Not only that, the other members of the Duke’s household as well as the servants would only look on and laugh at her out of amusement. Leticiel was the very first person to reach out to help her like this.

“I really didn’t do much.. but well, you’re welcome. Do your best at work, okay?”

“Yes..!”

Hearing Drossel’s words, Nicole let out a bright smile.

It hadn’t been long since the girl had started working at the Duke’s household. As a result, she could neither do her job perfectly, nor could she get along well with the others. Her employers would call her worthless while her seniors at work would ridicule her for being incompetent.

Without knowing Nicole’s circumstances, Leticiel would never have known how grateful the maid was for her words and actions.

“..By the way, Lady Drossel. Earlier, you were calling the Madam, Lady Diane..”

“Yes, I did call her that. Was there something wrong with that? I’m certain it’s her name.”

“You’re correct, but.. she’s your mother, isn’t she?”

“Oh my, it’s fine. I’ll be sure to call her ‘Mother’ when it’s appropriate.”

“I.. I don’t think that’s the main issue here..”

To Nicole, the statement that came from Drossel’s mouth was so ridiculous that she couldn’t help but blurt out the first thing on her mind.

***

As the gentle morning sun peeped into the room, Leticiel opened her eyes.

(..Aaah.. I fell asleep without changing my clothes..)

Her realization came as she looked down at her body and found herself wearing plain clothes instead of nightwear.

Leticiel remembered that after she had taken a bath last night, her usual reading time began. However, she had no recollection of what had happened afterward. It seemed that she had fallen asleep somewhere along the way.

Leticiel got up to inspect her clothes more thoroughly. And just as she had expected, it was full of creases. She then invoked Magecraft to remove the wrinkles while letting out a sigh.

Leticiel was suddenly reminded of the fact that unlike Magecraft, Magic couldn’t be used in daily life like this.

(They probably have to do everything by hand..?)

When most of the wrinkles had disappeared, the sound of two knocks resounded throughout Leticiel’s room.

Thinking that it should have been Ruvik visiting her at such a time, Leticiel answered with a ‘Go ahead’, not paying much attention.

“E-excuse me.”

However, the person who entered wasn’t Ruvik. Looking at that unexpected person, Leticiel was frozen in place before she could finish getting out of bed.

The person who had entered the room was Nicole, the maid who Leticiel had saved from Diane last night.

Drossel and Nicole didn’t have a master-and-servant relationship. In the first place, Leticiel had just only met the girl for the first time yesterday. Leticiel couldn’t think of any reason why Nicole would be here at this time.

While Leticiel was still confused about the situation, Nicole stated her reason for coming to Drossel’s room.

It appeared that Diane had reported what had happened to the Duke. And they had decided to sweep everything under the rug, that was to say, they would just pair the incompetent maid with the incompetent daughter.

Furthermore, their motive was also to harass Drossel by sending an incapable servant to take care of her.

“Because of that, I’ll be working as Lady Drossel’s exclusive maid from today on.”

“I see..”

Leticiel gave a half-minded response after hearing Nicole’s side of the story.

In reality, Leticiel had no need for a maid. However, as she also had no reason against having one in the first place, she simply accepted the situation.

Furthermore, unlike the other maids, Nicole held no prejudice against Drossel. Leticiel came to the conclusion that having the girl serve her wasn’t a bad idea.

“I got it. Then I’ll be counting on you from now on, Nicole.”

“Of course!”

After exchanging a few mutual words, the pair promptly began Leticiel’s morning preparations.

Despite having an exclusive maid now, what Leticiel had to do still remained the same. Just like usual, she changed her clothes in the walk-in closet before getting her appearance in order.

The only difference was having her clothes selected by Nicole, who would also do her hair.

“My lady, are you not going to put your stockings on?”

Nicole asked while holding in her hands an article of clothing that looked like black pants. It was the same one Leticiel had seen on her first day as Drossel, those mysterious small pants.

“..?”

“It’s this thing. It’s part of your uniform according to the academy..”

Hearing what Nicole said, Leticiel realized that Mirandalette would always cover her legs with some kind of black pants.?So that thing is called ‘stockings’.

“..I’m not putting that on. It looks troublesome.”

Touching that thing called stockings, Leticiel shook her head. She noticed that the material was elastic and that it would make her legs more slender. However, she also thought they would definitely feel unpleasant to wear. Looking back into her memories, she remembered that some students had them on while others didn’t. In that case, stockings weren’t something required by the rules.

“As you wish!”

Because Nicole accepted her decision without any further questions, Leticiel was reaffirmed in her belief that the stockings were not required.

“Now that I think about it, Nicole. Is there a reason why you didn’t want to be dismissed no matter what?”

Sitting at the dresser in the walk-in closet, Leticiel inquired the maid who was combing her silver hair.

“Hmm, are you referring to yesterday?”

Nicole placed the comb back onto the dresser as she replied. The mirror’s reflection showed her face forming a small sad smile.

“To tell you the truth, I have a sick mother at home. My father passed away too soon, so I began working in the capital the year I turned twenty. After moving from job to job, I ended up getting hired by this residence. I’m the main source of income for my family, so if I’m dismissed, I’ll be unable to pay for my mother’s living and medical expenses..”

“..My apologies. I shouldn’t have asked that.”

“No, no! You don’t have to feel sorry at all! Nobody has ever asked me before, so I’m happy that I was able to share my story with someone.”

“Are you.. sure?”

“Yes. I also escaped my dismissal because I was assigned to my lady. I’m truly grateful for that.. Okay! Thank you for waiting!”

Nicole had finished styling Leticiel’s hair while they were talking.?How fast.. wait.

Leticiel was staring at her reflection in the mirror.

The person in the mirror was an unequaled beauty whose features contained both the beauty of a mature woman as well as the cuteness fitting her age.

Even before Leticiel’s transmigration, the original Drossel’s looks towered above even the other members of the Duke’s household. And on such a beauty’s face was now a thin layer of makeup that further accented her features.

Her perfectly straight and glossy silver hair was braided into a half-up and decorated with a simple ribbon.

“Your facial features were so perfect that I.. ended up going all out!”

“R-right.. Th-th-thanks..”

Leticiel, who was stuttering, thought that it wasn’t bad at all.

For someone who had lived in the age of chaos, Leticiel was indifferent to being fashionable. She had neither had the time for it, nor could she set aside the time for it.

And even after she had become Drossel, because it had been too bothersome, Leticiel would only wear the bare minimum amount of clothes, put no makeup on, and just let her hair flow straight down.

“Things like hairstyles and makeup.. Females are quite intricate..”

“Um, you’re one as well, Lady Drossel..”

Leticiel murmured as if deeply impressed, and in turn, a smile emerged on Nicole’s face.

“Nicole.. Perhaps you have high fashion sense?”

“Oh, no, not at all.. I once worked at a barbershop.”

“So that’s how you’re able to do this.. You’re quite talented after all.”

“Th-thank you very much..”

Having her skills recognized for the first time in the Duke’s household, Nicole’s cheeks turned slightly red. The pair then enjoyed their idle talk.

While their conversation was taking place, a knock sounded through the room. It was Ruvik, who had come with a cart that carried Leticiel’s breakfast.

“That really suits you, my lady.”

Noticing Leticiel differed from her usual appearance, Ruvik did a double take before immediately forming a smile and complementing her.

Leticiel’s morning routine then continued as always. She read while she had her breakfast, and when the time came, she grabbed her bag and prepared to go to the academy. Leticiel told Ruvik when she planned to return home before invoking Transference.

That morning, Lucrezia Academy was in total chaos.

The entrance hall was blocked by students standing in a daze as gasps of wonder and amazement spread throughout the crowd.

Their eyes were all focused on a single female student with waist-length silver-hair done in a half-up. In stark contrast to their reactions until then, both male and female students were bewitched by the exquisite beauty of the ‘Ice Demon’.

Her thin makeup along with her simple hairstyle like that of a commoner’s didn’t detract from her beautiful and elegant looks in the slightest. In fact, they further elevated her features to an awe-inspiring level.

The current state of the hall was simply a natural reaction.

“Hmm.. Where should I go today?”

Within that chaos, only one single person.. the main subject of attention paid no heed to her surroundings. Without a sign of slowing her steps, she voiced such a carefree thought to herself.

In reality, Leticiel could somewhat feel the stares directed at her. However, while they were harmless, the stares showed no sign of decreasing so she decided it was best to just ignore them.

“Okay.. Yesterday was the Swordplay Training Hall, so today will be the Great Library..”

As she became lost in her thoughts, her long eyelashes sloped downwards, her ethereal beauty turned both male and female students into statues.

Without batting an eye at the entranced students, Leticiel maintained her act of a disinterested bystander.

Invoking her masterclass ignoring skill against the students who were all frozen in place, Leticiel weaved her way through the crowd.

***

“Damn it! She, how dare she humiliate me like that..”

Rochefort spat out his frustrations. He was stomping around the lake behind the main school building.

While classes were in session, Rochefort was in no state to learn anything. His mind was consumed with rage from the disgrace he suffered the other day.

“If only Drossel didn’t exist, I would be engaged to Christa.. Why? Why is that bitch my fiancée..!”

Rochefort continued as he swung his leg and kicked a small rock. It flew violently through the air before splashing into the lake.

Rochefort and Drossel became engaged due to an imperial decree. It was announced out of the blue three years ago, when Rochefort had been summoned by the king.

Back in those days, Drossel’s reputation wasn’t particularly good. The fact that her family mistreated her behind closed doors was an open secret. While many nobles valued her high intellect, an equal amount of nobles mocked her for her status as a Magic Powerless.

“Your engagement to the daughter of Duke Filiaregis, Drossel, had been decided.”

Rochefort couldn’t deny the fact that Drossel’s abilities were a cut above the rest. However, the thought of someone with no Magic Power being a member of the royal family was something he couldn’t accept.

Not only that, when they had met each other during the marriage interview at the Duke’s household, Rochefort’s impression of Drossel was the worst. Despite it being a marriage interview, she barely talked or changed her expression. Instead of being with a person, there was an uncanniness to her, as if he was speaking to a breathtakingly beautiful doll.

In the Platina Kingdom, five households were granted the peerage of Dukedom, and were collectively referred to as the Five Houses. The prince’s fiancée could have been chosen from any of the Five Houses. But instead, the king had chosen a Magic Powerless for Rochefort.

With just that one sentence from the king, Rochefort understood everything. That his own father had no expectations for him.

“That old bastard treated me like I was worthless..”

Rochefort had heard that one of the reasons Drossel was chosen was her red eye.

Red eyes were exceedingly rare in this kingdom. It was said that people with red eyes would undergo a great change after they turned thirteen. When that happened, their future would split into two paths. One path would bring misfortune to the world. The other would bring salvation to the world.

Instead of choosing an ordinary noble daughter, the king believed that Drossel, who had the potential to change his son, was a better fit. However, Rochefort didn’t believe in such a baseless legend, and only saw it as an excuse.

‘If my father doesn’t expect anything of me, then I don’t have to meet his expectations’ With such thoughts, Rochefort began to act however he pleased.

Despite continuing his relationship with Drossel out of obligation, the distance between the two drifted further and further apart as Drossel’s uncanny behavior didn’t change in the slightest even after becoming his betrothed.

As a result, Rochefort’s feelings were easily swayed toward Christa. Every time he made the required visit to the Duke’s residence, he would end up meeting Christa too. As Rochefort had already began to harbor feelings for Christa from his marriage interview with Drossel, it was only natural that they would grow close.

Drossel’s sudden change in personality was also around that time. She would throw a tantrum at every little thing. However, once she calmed down, she would nestle close to him and whisper in a sweet voice.

Using that revolting behavior as his opportunity, Rochefort further distanced himself from Drossel. Away from the person who he had hated from the start, he was completely absorbed in fooling around with Christa.

“I’m the first prince of this country. Nobody can oppose me.”

Drossel hadn’t even once dared to defy Rochefort, even before or after her change. And yet, she had made use of her Magic to oppose him. Moreoverー

“..Wait a minute? She shouldn’t have any Magic Power at all..”

Realizing this, Rochefort suddenly felt a sense of discomfort.

He was certain that Drossel had used Magic at that time. Thinking back on it, such a feat was impossible for someone with no Magic Power like her.

“And.. She has been acting very strangely this past month. It’s like she’s another person..”

Letting that sense of discomfort take over, Rochefort began to question it further.

She had stopped losing her temper as of late. And at around the same time, she had begun to stop showing up to class. Finally, even though she would have followed him everywhere in the past, these days, she wouldn’t so much as look at him and Christa.

Rochefort thought that she had reverted to her original personality, but that wasn’t the case. The original Drossel would always care about what others thought of her. However, the current one showed not the slightest sign of concern for others. Not only that, she seemed to show no awareness that how her actions were unbecoming of a Duke’s daughter.

“..I see, so she must be a witch..!”

Having thought it through, Rochefort arrived at a single answer.

A sudden change in personality, the absence of awareness as a Duke daughter, and using Magic even though she shouldn’t have been able to. Trying to make sense of those peculiarities, Rochefort couldn’t come up with an explanation using his common sense.

Furthermore, the person responsible for this miserable state of him, the country’s first prince, was none other than Drossel. He was certain that she was a calamity that brought misfortune to everyone associated with her.

“Actually.. I think the Museum has a sword that was used to kill witches..”

As someone who loved weapons, Rochefort had deep knowledge about the arms and armor in the Museum.

Because of the incident from the other day, Rochefort knew that Drossel was strong. He believed that he wouldn’t be able to fight her without the Witch Slayer that had the saint’s divine protection.

Having made his decision, Rochefort immediately set out for the Museum. He had to strike down that witch as soon as possible.

“You, the person standing over there! Bring me the Holy Witch Slayer in this Museum!”

“Eh? Ehh?? I-I need to report to the director first..”

“That’s not needed! I told you, bring it out at once!”

Rochefort seized the curator in the entrance hall and shouted. Unable to go against the orders of the first prince, the curator guided him to the vault.

“This is, the Holy Witch Slayer..”

Rochefort snatched the long rapier presented to him by the curator.

“I will gain the saint’s divine protection with this sword in hand, right?”

“Y-Yees.. You need this incantation to receive the divine protection..”

“Then tell me that right away!”

Grabbing the small scroll from the curator’s hand, Rochefort immediately went through its contents before raising the corners of his mouth into a smirk.

“Hmph! With this sword and incantation, I can..!”

Without an ounce of doubt, Rochefort believed that he could take revenge on Drossel.