Even though I desperately wanted to go my own way right then and there, I couldn’t change my mind now after seeing Matthias’s sparkling eyes.

‘Well, a person who is the guild leader wouldn’t be idly guarding a bookstore.’

Moreover, he was also working as an attendant, so he must be quite busy. There would be the red-haired clerk, though.

I followed Matthias, who said he knew where the Rallia Fabric Shop was. And when I finally found the place I was looking for, I let out a hollow laugh. It was a place I had passed by countless times.

‘Damn it, if it’s located in the corner of an alley like this, ordinary people wouldn’t be able to find it!’

Matthias, who was looking at the store without even a signboard, spoke.

“Her Highness Floria seems to have a discerning eye. I heard that Rallia’s lace is so exquisite and beautiful that it’s renowned even in other countries.”

“Is that so?”

I didn’t have much to say on the way to the fabric shop, and to avoid being suspected later when I asked about magic, I rambled on with praises about Floria. Matthias seemed to think that I liked her very much.

I just smiled at his face, which clearly thought I would be pleased if he complimented Floria.

“Yes, so although it’s not easy to obtain, I’m sure Madam will somehow help with the processing of Her Highness Floria’s wedding dress.”

Matthias’s words about it being not easy to obtain were true. It was so true that Matilda had already received the pre-ordered lace delivered, taking that into consideration.

“I already had it delivered to the castle three days ago, did you not receive it?”

The clerk at the Rallia Fabric Shop said, even showing the confirmation document with the maid’s signature.

‘These people.’

I got even more upset because what they did was so childish. I’d rather they curse at me outright or harass me. Thinking about wandering the streets all day long, drenched in sweat, anger surged up from my belly button. How should I deal with these people?

“There seems to have been a misunderstanding.”

As I was trembling with anger, Matthias looked at me carefully.

“…I guess so.”

When I answered through clenched teeth, he flinched.

Matthias, who was looking around, picked up a handkerchief from the counter.

It was a pretty handkerchief with delicate lace on the edges. After paying for it, he handed the handkerchief to me. When I looked at it in wonder, he stammered with a flushed face as if making an excuse.

“It’s a small token of appreciation for helping me twice.”

“Ah, it’s fine.”

“And you lent me a handkerchief at the library last time, didn’t you?”

Ah. I had forgotten. When I nodded, he narrowed his brows with a troubled expression.

“Well… I’m afraid I won’t be able to return it because it wasn’t cleaned properly.”

“That can happen. It’s okay.”

“I know this isn’t much of a replacement, but please accept this at least.”

I wanted to tell him to find a book that had a way to break my magic spell rather than a handkerchief. But seeing him cautiously gauging my reaction, afraid I might refuse, I accepted it without hesitation.

“Then I’ll gratefully make good use of it. The lace on this handkerchief is so pretty. I like it.”

When I smiled, Matthias’s face brightened.

“But didn’t you have your wallet stolen?”

“What?”

Matthias, whose face instantly turned red, fidgeted in embarrassment.

“Th-that, when I thought about it, I, I remembered that I had put some e-emergency money inside my sleeve.”

Why is he making excuses so desperately?

I don’t know how this man, who is so shy and has his emotions written all over his face, is surviving in that brutal aristocratic society. Of course, it’s cute though.

As we left the Rallia Fabric Shop, Matthias pointed in a direction with his hand. His cheeks were still flushed.

“The Carrot Carrot Carrot Bookstore is this way.”

I followed him reluctantly.

“You must frequent the Carrot Carrot Carrot Bookstore quite often.”

“Yes, they have many rare books that are difficult to find elsewhere. They somehow procure them for you if you just order.”

I thought it was just a front for disguise, but it seems they are running the bookstore properly more than I expected.

I walked, listening to Matthias explain about the books he was able to obtain thanks to the Carrot Carrot Carrot Bookstore.

“Welcome.”

The Carrot Carrot Carrot Bookstore, which I visited again after about half a month, hadn’t changed.

The red-haired clerk, smiling so brightly that it dazzled the eyes, was also the same.

I quickly turned my head towards the bookshelves so that he wouldn’t recognize me. Of course, I didn’t even glance at the place where the book “I Hate Carrots” used to be.

“I’m here to pick up the book I ordered.”

“Is that so? May I have your name, please?”

While listening to the conversation between Matthias and the red-haired clerk, I browsed through the bookshelves.

Whether by coincidence or not, there were a lot of books related to fairies. As I was looking around in a daze, Matthias, who had come to my side at some point, asked.

“You have a great interest in fairies and magic, don’t you?”

“Yes, well. They are romantic beings, after all.”

“You said the same thing last time too.”

“Did I?”

Matthias nodded and asked.

“Did you finish reading all the books you borrowed?”

“Almost.”

When I answered half-heartedly, Matthias pushed up his glasses.

“Perhaps they weren’t the books you were looking for?”

“They were interesting, but not the content I was searching for.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, what kind of content are you looking for? Despite my appearance, I’ve read quite a number of books. Especially when it comes to magic or fairies, it’s a topic I’m interested in and have even written a thesis on, so I’m sure I can be of help.”

I found it odd that Matthias was being so proactive, but he didn’t seem to have any ulterior motives. He just had a face that wanted to be of help to me somehow.

I glanced at the back. Matching seemed to be busy organizing the ledger as if we weren’t even in the bookstore.

It seemed he didn’t remember me. Or was he pretending not to know? I thought, but then our eyes met, and he tilted his head.

His expression, as if asking if there was anything he could help with, didn’t seem to recognize me.

Still, just in case, I lowered my voice.

“Actually, I’m curious about the magic that fairies use. To be precise, magic used on humans.”

“Most of the magic that fairies use towards humans is well-intentioned. There is an underlying desire to help those in trouble.”

Matthias, who had lowered his head to match my height, spoke in a lowered voice.

“What about magic that harms humans? For example, using a part of a person’s body as collateral or something like that.”

“Hmm. There probably wouldn’t be any fairies who use such magic. Fairies are only supposed to use benevolent influences. That’s the minimum control and pride they have in coexisting with humans, from what I’ve heard. If there is actually a fairy who casts such magic, they would have been expelled from the fairy realm.”

“But it means it can be used anyway, right?”

“Yes, as far as I know. However, a fairy expelled from the fairy realm becomes weakened and can’t use even half of their original power. Their lifespan is also drastically reduced.”

Upon hearing Matthias’s words, I recalled the conversation between Floria and Shana in the backyard.

It seems Shana can use the magic that uses my heart as collateral without hesitation because she has been expelled from the fairy realm. Seeking an object that can amplify her power must be due to her magic being cut in half as a result.

“What should a weakened fairy do to regain their former power?”

“Well. Since the fairy realm doesn’t take back those they have expelled, there is only one way.”

“What is that?”

“Stealing the source of power from another fairy. But it won’t be easy. With half the power, it’s impossible to defeat an ordinary fairy, and fairies have a habit of moving in groups. Unless there is a dead fairy’s source of power somewhere.”

Thanks to Matthias, I was able to grasp a clue about what Floria and Shana were looking for. It wasn’t certain, but there must be a fairy’s source of power within the castle.

In the latter part of the original story, everything went smoothly for Floria to the point where it felt lacking in plausibility, and perhaps she had found that source at that time.

“What does that source look like? Is it like a jewel?”

“I don’t know either since I’ve never seen it before. But in a book I read a long time ago, it said that originally, when a fairy dies, the source disappears with them, but if a fairy kills themselves and materializes the source, it becomes the most similar existence to nature.”

…What does that even mean? I tilted my head at the incomprehensible words. But it seemed that was all Matthias knew as well. I hesitated for a moment and asked.

“Then do you also know how to break a magic spell cast by a fairy on a human?”

At my question, Matthias stared down at me. Based on the flow of the conversation, I seemed to be giving off the nuance that I was under a fairy’s magic spell, so it must have sounded strange.

After all, I had been constantly asking about fairies since we first met at the library, so he might have noticed.

“Is there someone around you who is under a fairy’s magic spell?”

“What? Ah, that’s…”

As I was contemplating how to answer, an unpleasant voice intervened from behind.

“You two seem quite close.”

My head turned reflexively. Cal was looking down at us with a grin.

“I’m curious what you’re talking about, sticking so close together like that.”

No, when did this person approach from behind?

I stared at his smirking face in disbelief.

“Why are you here?”

“Isn’t it natural for me to be in my own store?”

That’s not it, I’m asking if you have time to spare even as a guild leader.

‘Is being an attendant such a leisurely job?!’

At that moment, I saw the red-haired man beyond my field of vision, smiling and looking this way. Judging by that smug face, he must have recognized me long ago. Damn it.