Rudbion and I also had to stop in the narrow corridor.

Staring at us, the Master curtly asked, “Who’s your reference?”

“Re, reference?”

‘Was that needed?’

Upon hearing my awkward question, the Master’s face hardened.

Something was going wrong.

‘I thought it was too easy!’

In the original story, just giving the password would lead the Master to guide you through the basement labyrinth.

However, that was the story of the princess and Elysium, who already knew each other. I was not the protagonist.

“Ah, yes! I have one!”

When I belatedly nodded, suspicious eyes followed me. I was treated like a very shady person.

“Then speak.”

The Master reached for the axe hanging on the wall.

‘Why is that even there?’

It was already strange enough that a weapon was affixed to a perfectly good wall, but now he acted as though he would kill me.

Rudbion also reached for his sword.

A hairtrigger situation.

In desperation, I shouted his name.

“…It’s Duke Kashar Vladis!”

In my urgency, I’d sold out my contractual lover’s name.

And then there was silence.

“…Vladis, the Duke?”

The Master’s eyes sparkled.

Did he have some personal vendetta I wasn’t aware of?

“How dare you!”

Ironlike hands lifted the axe.

The only thing I could do now was run.

‘I have to flee.’

Just as I prepared to turn, Rudbion’s eyes sharpened.

It was clearly a moment when a fight was expected to break out.

From the door at the end of the corridor, a blue light began to spread.

‘Magic circle?’

Even to someone like me, who knew nothing about magic, the overlapping intricate symbols looked complicated.

And from that door came Freesia, the person I’d come to meet.

“Your Highness Halren!”

Freesia ran towards me, her long hair flying, and tightly grasped my hand. She was smiling brightly as if she had met a cherished friend.

“Um, Princess El?”

“Oh, please call me by name. May I call you Aileen as well?”

“Ye, yes.”

Drawn into her smiling face, I nodded.

Freesia didn’t stop there; she kept pouring out words.

“I’m so happy to meet you, Aileen! Even if you’d come to the upper level, I would’ve run right out to you!”

“Princess El… I mean, Freesia?”

This haughty secret toplevel person knows me?

When I asked with widened eyes, Freesia sighed.

“Of course. Do you know how hard I’ve searched for you, Aileen? How many letters and people I sent to your residence… Ah, it’s not your fault. Your lover must’ve intercepted them.”

What was she talking about?

While I had been inflating my dream of becoming a doctor, many things had happened behind my back.

“I heard you were moving residences… and it turns out to be the Duke’s castle. The journey was fraught with danger, and on top of that, the castle is surrounded by a barrier. Ah, I could break it, but I didn’t have the confidence to sneak out. The Duke’s disposition is… rather pleasant, you see!”

Freesia heartily laughed and patted my shoulder.

‘…She even tried to sneak in?’

She was a lot braver than I had thought.
There was also much to say about Kashar, whether it was criticism or praise, it was impressive.

“Please come inside instead of standing here. Thank you for guiding the guests, Robert!”

“……Yes. I’ll take my leave now.”

The doorman retreated, as if he’d never touched his ax.

It was fortunate to meet without a fight.

As Rudbion and I approached, Frigia opened the door.

“Come in.”

Beyond the door was not a labyrinth, but her study.

The room, filled with hundreds of books on the shelves and various plants, looked clean and cozy.

“I’ll excuse myself.”

“Feel free to sit! And you too, sir!”

“I’ll stand by on the side.”

“Do you insist?”

Frigia poured tea for both of us without pressing the matter.

A pleasant orange aroma wafted from the steaming tea.

Just as I was about to touch my cup,

I felt Frigia’s eyes on me, looking at me with intrigue.

“How did you know about that passage? And that I’m the head merchant… You don’t seem surprised.”

“I have my sources.”

“Truly an unexpected person!”

Frigia clapped her hands.

Pretending was embarrassing, but it was better than being underestimated by the business partner.

I decided to get straight to the point.

“You said you were looking for me. Is it about the auction item?”

“Oh my.”

Frigia put down her teacup and smiled enigmatically.

It was the face not of a beautiful princess but of a secretive head merchant.

“Indeed. Your liquor hit the highest price ever in auction history, you know?”

“I’ve heard.”

It was a moment when our homemade liquor triumphed in a winemaking empire.

‘It’s good to be recognized, but,’

The auction proceeds were all registered as donations, so not a single coin could be touched.

I hoped it would be used well, but it was still too much to let go.

“We’d like to exclusively sell your liquor as head merchants. Considering the highest bid at the Olloje auction and your reputation as Elbitor head merchant, it’s bound to sell like hotcakes, and for a huge price at that.”

‘Normally, I would do business with the Countess.’

But the Count of LeMang was an enemy, and he was currently detained, awaiting a royal trial.

In the end, it would all go to donations, leaving me with nothing.

“There’s only a small amount I can supply.”

“Even better. Scarcity adds value. Do you have any particular sales direction?”

Frigia’s eyes twinkled.

As she guessed, I had thought of something.

“I’d like to set up a building. A boutique selling only exclusive liquors.”

Highend items were secured by word of mouth in this place. Even if you had the money, you couldn’t get them without complex connections and guarantors.

It’s best to eliminate such cumbersome intermediate procedures.

Frigia’s eyes lit up at this.

“A truly wonderful idea!”

I was glad she felt the same.

Afterward, Frigia and I continued to discuss business matters.

Lastly, she made one more suggestion.

“Could you also sell that?”

“What is it?”

“The round, black pie that was wrapped in plastic!”

Round and black?

I recalled the chocolate pies I had given to the children.

“Did you try it?”

Strange.

I vividly remembered the son of the Count making a mess of it.

“Yes! I found one behind a pillar. I picked it up and tried it. I’ve never tasted such sweetness! Sweet yet slightly bitter… What’s that white stuff in the middle?!”

Even though she’s a princess,

Eating something she picked up, she was an impressive person.

Frigia stood up and slammed the table.

The speech wasn’t over yet.

“How did you come up with such amazing recipes…! Aileen, you’re not human!”

“What?”

“You must be an angel. Clearly, you’re an angel sent to propagate heavenly flavors!”

Because of homemade liquor and chocolate pie, an odd situation had unfolded where I was hailed as an angel.