‘Originally, this would have been the place where I died…’

But Lady Egritte had died. In a separate building away from the Grand Duke’s mansion. This time, not by the hands of an assassin sent by Inkhart’s political opponents, but for a different reason.

‘Would I have died too if I had been there?’

Did she die there because Lady Egritte had committed a mortal sin? Or was this also a result of the original story’s movement?

If someone had to die in that separate building, am I now free from death?

“Anette.”

Darius grabbed my shoulder, looking concerned.

“I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not fine.”

‘What is he saying? I’m fine.’

He suddenly embraced me. Strongly, so that only he was visible before my eyes.

“Darius?”

“It’s okay not to be strong all the time. It’s alright if you’re startled by blood, and sometimes it’s natural to want to throw tantrums and cry. I’ll protect you.”

His pitch-black eyes were as gentle as a puppy’s, yet showed a firm resolve.

I really should have asked what he was talking about.

Every time he encourages me, my pent-up emotions melt away.

“I’ll become stronger. Even more so that you can rely on me.”

His body heat enveloped me tightly. I could hear his heartbeat in my ear. He was so warm. The male lead shone like the sun. I belatedly realized that my body had grown cold.

My trembling hands, seeking warmth, embraced Darius, who was as bright and warm as the sun.

* * *

“Your Grace.”

After verifying the surprising fact that Lady Egritte, long respected in Inkhart Castle, was actually a witch, the old priest was about to return to his original temple.

“Lady Anette. Have you come to see me off? I’m grateful.”

The priest expressed his favor at the humble gesture of coming alone to see off the clergyman, without even a single maid accompanying her.

“I’m sorry for inviting someone from the temple to the secular world. Since I’ve troubled you to come, I have a request.”

“A request for me?”

“Actually, I’m looking for someone.”

Someone? The old priest’s eyes widened.

“Her name is Evangeline, a friend from my childhood. Though our social status was different, she was deeply religious even then and said she would become a nun. Seeing you today reminded me of that friend I haven’t seen in a long time…”

According to the original timeline, Evangeline should be growing up as a novice in the convent during this period.

Of course, there was never any instance of Evangeline, an orphan taken in by the temple, coming to the south during her life, nor of her being my friend.

It’s just an excuse for the question of why I’m looking for her.

“We met briefly by chance, but that friend’s noble character had a great influence on me. I still wonder if she’s doing well.”

Didn’t I just say that seeing the priest reminded me of that friend? But who cares. Anyway, just be impressed and help me find her.

“It’s not difficult to look into it. Evangeline, that name sounds somewhat familiar.”

Sure enough, the old priest agreed to look into it without any suspicion, smiling broadly. It’s fortunate there are no personal information protection laws here, or this would be a big problem. I’m actually impersonating someone.

“Thank you. I’d be so happy to hear news of that friend. May God be with you today as well, Your Grace.”

I need to know where the female protagonist is to feel at ease, don’t I?

With a bright smile, having resolved another matter with my well-oiled tongue, I headed to the next location. There was much I had to prepare before the female protagonist arrived in the north.

After all, even being an extra isn’t something you just do, you know?

* * *

“Boier. I’ve heard you’re the best blacksmith in the north and the representative of the Blacksmith Guild.”

It wasn’t the rough voice of a man who handles fire and iron, but a woman’s voice.

“I am Anette, the lady of Inkhart Grand Duke’s family. Feeling a heavy responsibility for this incident, I’ve come to see you.”

“Brother, please open the door. None other than the Grand Duke’s lady has come in person,” pleaded Gilbert the gnome, who had been acting as the guild leader’s deputy, in a flustered voice.

‘Why would a noblewoman like the Grand Duke’s wife come here?’

Blacksmithing was by no means a genteel profession. Rather, it was closer to manual labor. And a forge was even less of a place for a noblewoman to visit.

Boier opened the door with a sullen expression. Gilbert the gnome was shocked at the sight of the bottles of alcohol filling the house.

Seeing Boier, flushed with drunkenness, a man who looked like a knight stepped in front of the woman protectively.

The Grand Duke’s wife looked young enough to be Boier’s daughter.

“Come in. Though I’m not sure if it’s a suitable place for a noblewoman, with the strong smell of alcohol.”

Anette stepped in nonchalantly, as if oblivious to the messy state of the house.

“I apologize for the recent disappearance of Miss Ann, and for not knowing the true identity of Lady Egritte, who was a retainer of the castle. We, the Inkhart Grand Duke’s family, as the guardians of the north, have the duty to ensure the safety of the northern territory’s people. We have failed in that responsibility.”

“Do you think just saying sorry will bring my daughter back?”

“I understand. It must feel abhorrent to receive an apology after the incident has already occurred.”

“A person who knows that….”

Boier fumed. Darius, who had accompanied Anette, raised an eyebrow silently, while Gilbert the gnome was anxious, worried that something might happen between the two.

“Lady Egritte has been revealed to be a witch. Her appearance as the kind housekeeper of our castle all this time was a disguise.”

Anette continued.

“Do you know? People who have made contracts with demons cannot be killed by ordinary swords. They use a special power called magic.”

“What does that have to do with my daughter!”

“A dead daughter cannot return. But if there’s a master who can handle mithril, you can exact revenge on the demons who took your daughter, and on the evil ones who made contracts with demons.”

Revenge. Boier’s goal, which had been lost, opened its eyes at those words.

“Mithril…?”

“God’s silver that destroys evil. You, who are called the best blacksmith in the north, should be able to refine that material.”

Watching the spirit of the blacksmith, which had waned, reignite in Boier’s eyes, I realized this was the event he needed.

No wonder the blacksmith guild’s refining techniques seemed inferior to the original when I first met them at the lord’s mansion. This must be the reason why the country’s best forge, capable of defeating the Demon King, is in the male protagonist’s territory.

“I beg of you. The knights of this castle will continue to protect our north from magical beasts. In return, create swords that can cut down those beasts.”

I bowed deeply. I could feel the gnome inhale sharply.

“Anette.”

“Your Grace, we didn’t know until the end that Lady Egritte was a witch. It’s our responsibility that this man lost his daughter.”

“I am the representative of the north. So I will apologize.”

Darius stepped in front of me and bowed his head to the old blacksmith.

“No compensation can make up for a lost life, but I promise that Inkhart Castle will never be in such turmoil again.”

Thud.

The sound of an empty bottle rolling was heard.

“Haha.”

Boier, his eyes lit up, spoke to the gnome.

“How’s the forge operation going now? We have enough iron ore and heat, right? From today, we’re going into full production!”

“B-Brother!”

“How can I not believe the words of the noble Grand Duke and his lady who have bowed so deeply to this old blacksmith.”

Boier chuckled, wiping something dirty from his beard.

“What do you want? Mithril? Alright, I’ll make it! For the sake of avenging my daughter too!”

Boier, without even tidying up his messy house, hurried the gnome to the forge and disappeared.

“You must be busy, don’t leave me alone.”

“It hasn’t even been a day since I told you not to act alone, Anette.”

“Who would dare touch the Grand Duke’s wife in Inkhart Castle?”

I was worried because Darius insisted on coming along, but thankfully it worked out well.

Now that I’ve encouraged a talented blacksmith who had lost his motivation, it’s time for the next task.

Darius cleared his throat, watching me cautiously.

“Since we’ve come down from the castle, shall we take a look around the market?”

Oh, the classic romance fantasy market tour. A must-do date course with the male protagonist at least once.

“I’m busy.”

Do that sweet stuff with the female protagonist, please. Not with me.

* * *

After shaking off Darius, I returned to the castle, saying I needed some time alone.

I pulled out a book from the bookshelf in my room.

“‘Basics of Spirit Magic for Beginners’.”

Sylph, the wind spirit I first summoned when dealing with Lady Egritte last time. How reassuring it was to have even a Sylph at hand.

At the same time, I was embarrassed by my situation of not knowing even a single proper command, so I decided to study.

“Spirits are composed of four elements. Sylph the wind spirit, Undine the water spirit, Gnome the earth spirit, and Salamander the fire spirit are the basic spirits of each of the four elements.”

Skipping the pages about other spirits for now, I opened the page about wind spirits.

“There are the spirit king Sylphid, high-level spirit Silion, mid-level spirit Silafe, and basic-level spirit Sylph.”

I rolled up my sleeve to check the spirit’s seal and summoned Sylph.

“Sylph!”

A refreshing breeze that ventilated the air blew in, and something fluffy like a puppy walked towards me.

“You’re not barking ‘woof!’ today?”

Not only that, when I tried to pet Sylph, it turned its head away. It was different from usual in many ways.

“It’s the water spirits that are capricious, not the wind spirits.”

I was puzzled for a moment, but I focused again and continued reading the book.