12 O’Clock Marionette

Chapter 21

Gavotte’s momentum suddenly died.

“I can’t summon it. I’ve tried so many times.”

“Just try… Wait a moment.”

I left Gavotte and went to fix a few areas of the ritual circle.

Since I couldn’t change the already written symbols, I added some new ones instead.

It looked a bit like a patchwork, but as long as the meaning was clear, it should work.

“Alright, it’s connected.”

“Do you still think I drew it wrong? This is an ancient rune. Even scholars can barely interpret it. Fortunately, our family has preserved many materials, but if we mess with it, the spirits will—”

“Just try.”

“…You should listen when people speak.”

“I feel good about this, that’s all.”

Since Gavotte kept hesitating, I got impatient.

I grabbed both of his cheeks, pinching them sharply, and added a hint of divine power to my voice.

Trust +1.

“Try.”

“…If it doesn’t work, I won’t be held responsible.”

It can’t not work.

I was confident because I already knew the answer, so I folded my arms and urged Gavotte.

He reluctantly began the ritual.

There didn’t seem to be much hope, but those are the moments when the outcome can be the most dramatic.

“The mighty nature that makes up the world, I ask…”

The wind began to stir, though much weaker than before. A faint scent filled the air.

Gavotte’s expression started to shift, and the more it did, the straighter my posture became.

“…And I ask for a breeze to remain by my side.”

Whoosh!

At the peak of the ritual, the wind swept through the space.

Though we were indoors, my hair and clothing were whipped about, and the ceiling lights flickered and swayed.

Amidst all that, I could feel the presence of a free wind spirit.

Where could it be?

I glanced around.

Wind spirits typically take the form of birds when they materialize.

What could Gavotte’s spirit be?

An albatross? A harpy eagle? Not a thunderbird, surely?

As I searched in vain, a sound caught my attention.

Flap.

Hmm?

It sounded strangely like a winter lynx.

That can’t be right, but I turned toward the source of the noise anyway.

Gavotte was already staring in that direction, blankly.

In the center of the ritual circle, not the air, but the floor…

Bloop!

A round shape, like a seed sprouting.

Two black dots, like little beans, were stuck on top.

It had light green fur, puffed up, and it looked like…

A chick.

“Sorry, Gavotte.”

I quickly apologized.

It had felt ominous ever since I’d heard the cry.

After causing all that chaos, this tiny creature appeared. I really can’t do anything right.

For the first time in my life, I learned what it felt like to be defeated.

Just then, something glinted in Gavotte’s eyes.

Huh?

“Gavotte, you don’t mean…?”

“Huh.”

Tears began to trickle down from his green eyes.

No way. He’s really crying.

What do I do?!

“No, sorry. I never expected something so tiny to come out. I thought at least it would be a spirit as big as an adult’s fist—”

Beep?

“Shh. Don’t say anything. You’re making it upset, and it’s crying.”

“It’s not crying because it’s upset… Ugh.”

“Then what? It’s not crying out of happiness, is it?”

“Yeah, ugh.”

…It’s crying out of happiness? Really?

At that moment, someone burst through the door.

It was Minuet.

“What’s this?”

Did she sense the energy and come running?

Her gaze immediately landed on the chick.

Minuet opened her mouth.

“Bati, you…”

“Minuet.”

What’s going on?

Why does the atmosphere feel like it’s supposed to be an emotional moment?

Minuet quickly composed herself and walked slowly toward Gavotte.

She looked like she was about to embrace him.

But instead, she slapped Gavotte hard on the back.

“Ugh! Minuet!”

“Hurry up and form the contract! Do you want to wait until the energy dissipates?”

“R-right!”

Gavotte hastily reached out to the spirit.

The chick tilted its head a few times, then bumped its head against his finger with a pop.

And just like that, their energies connected.

“…Wow.”

He really made a contract with the chick. He actually did it!

Unbelievable.

If it were me, I wouldn’t. I’d rather raise a real chick.

Could Minuet’s spirit be like that too?

I heard that spirit magic had declined over the generations… Maybe this is a sign of that?

I couldn’t help but look at the two siblings in pity.

Minuet nervously brushed her hair back with trembling hands.

“Well, congratulations, I guess. But what happened, Bati?”

“I don’t really know. Siora….”

Gavotte trailed off, as though realizing he should keep it a secret.

Well, what's the point of being secretive after saying all that?

Minuet’s eyes widened as she turned to me.

“Did you help him?”

I thought she would start asking how I knew, but her expression didn’t seem like that.

I nodded without hesitation.

“Don’t ask about the details. I’ll just say—”

“You’ll say you don’t remember.”

“Mm, it’s true.”

“…I see. Anyway, since you helped, I’m not going to question it.”

“Exactly, exactly. It wouldn’t be right to question it now.”

“Put the debt on Gavotte, not me.”

“Huh?”

“He’s not going to be of any use anyway.”

That was an unexpected result.

Of course, that’s true.

I nodded enthusiastically.

***

Helping Gavotte summon his spirit made my life much easier.

First, the allowance that had been given under the guise of maintaining my dignity was doubled, and I even got two personal bodyguards.

It was clear that Minuet was the real power in this mansion.

Though, I had to keep in mind that the Count was absent—still being investigated at the royal palace.

I was deep in a book when I suddenly glanced out the window and froze.

It was pitch black outside.

How did it get so late?

Tomorrow was the day I was supposed to meet Cruello, so I’d better sleep now.

As I closed the book, the window suddenly flew open.

A thief?

“Hello, Sweetpea.”

I blinked a few times and rubbed my eyes.

“Did I fall asleep already?”

A rogue had climbed through the window and into my room.

I couldn’t help but ask.

“What’s ‘Sweetpea’?”

“Ah, as expected. You’d ask that first instead of why I came through the window.”

“So, what is it?”

“My pet name felt a bit too simple lately, so I tried expanding it. Sweetpea, Sweetheart, My Oasis.”

“Good grief. Do you even know what time it is?”

“I do, that’s why I’m here.”

Cruello flashed a bright smile and pointed at the clock.

12:02 AM.

“We agreed to go on a date three days from now, didn’t we?”

Ah. Since it was past midnight, three days had officially passed.

So he came here just for that?

I was at a loss for words.

“I thought our minds were in sync since you’re still awake. I’m a little disappointed.”

“Do you know what manners are?”

“Is it more important than security?”

“You went through all this trouble to avoid being seen, just to come in here?”

“Of course. What would people think if they saw Darling’s bedroom without Darling?”

Cruello snapped his fingers.

A gate connected the two of us to another location.

He elegantly extended his arm.

“Shall we go, Lady?”

Though I was hesitant, there was no other choice.

I reluctantly took his arm, and my vision flipped upside down.

When I blinked a couple of times, I found myself in the dining room of the White Desert Duke’s residence.

The banquet spread across the table was lavish.

Is this really not a dream?

Cruello, completely unfazed, pulled out the chair in front of me and took his seat.

"Shall we start with the meal?" he asked.

"At this hour?"

"I’ve been starving all day," he replied.

Does he still do this?

I’ve lectured him so many times to stop skipping meals.

I furrowed my brow and said, "Skipping meals when you’re focused..."

Then I realized I shouldn’t have said that in front of Siora.

Quickly, I shifted the direction of the conversation.

"Are you alright? It’s not healthy."

"...."

Cruello stared at me, his gaze unwavering.

Relax, I keep making mistakes.

Did he catch on? No, that’s not possible.

Even with a vivid imagination, could someone imagine a dead person wearing a different face and standing before them?

He smiled again soon after.

"If I'm busy, I tend to eat all at once. It’s a shame that you're not interested in the meal. How about reading the newspaper over there instead?"

Whatever it is, it would be more productive than watching someone eat.

I unfolded the newspaper nearby.

Cruello’s face took up the entire front page.

"I saw this morning," I said.

"Did you see the third page? The Recanon poison incident."

"I did."

When Cruello mentioned the incident, I felt uneasy again.

He didn’t do something, did he?

He elegantly picked up a slice of meat and ate.

"It was our Elder Council who turned holy water into poison."

Huh?

"The signs were strange, so I followed the trail and found it."

"Wait… you mean they framed someone? Why?"

"The Elder Council's predecessor was a necromancer organization."

I gulped involuntarily.

The blatant confession caught me off guard.

I tried to cover my mouth, but my surprised eyes betrayed me.

Why would he tell me this?

I had braced myself for something, but this doesn’t seem right.

"It’s an old history, and they had many issues with the ancient sect. One by one, they disappeared under the Council’s hands."

The Elder Council hunted down the ancient sects too?

This was a new story to me, but it sounded very plausible.

"Pebula is no exception. Darling is the Council’s enemy."

Cruello said this with certainty.

I didn’t deny it, and he squinted at me.

"Then maybe you can become an ally."

"What are you asking for?"

"I don’t know. Someone with no superiors, a capable priest?"

He was about to take another piece of meat but then set his fork down.

With a single clap, the entire banquet disappeared from the table.

After starving all day, that was all he ate? I almost couldn’t hold back from commenting.

"Originally, I was thinking of bringing Recanon into the fold, but a more certain option appeared right in front of me."

He spoke indifferently, wiping his mouth.

"Are you asking me to fight the Elder Council?"

"That’s something I’ll handle. But there’s something only a priest can find. I need you to locate it."

"Something?"

"Morion."

Ah. Really...

I didn’t want to react, but my face betrayed me.

The root cause of the world’s destruction, the impure power accumulated by the Elder Council over centuries.

Cruello probably hoped I would never find out that name.

He laughed, clearly amused by my reaction.

"I knew it."

"What are you going to do if you find it?"

I hadn’t meant to, but my voice sank heavily.

My head felt foggy.

"Destroy it. Such power shouldn’t exist in this world. We can’t just leave it be."

"You think lying will do you any good?"