The Power of the Devil (3)

A shabby inn.

A woman with a rag covering her face up to her eyes hurried inside.

Seemingly having paid several days' worth of fees already, she went straight up the stairs, and the innkeeper didn't stop her.

"Huff, huff..."

Although she hadn't run, her breath was ragged as if she had been walking quickly for a long time.

The woman entered her room, took out a large bag, spread it wide, and began to pack her clothes first. Then wigs, then masks.

"Why all of a sudden..."

The woman bit her lip. Even as she packed, her resentment burst forth.

A little while ago.

The woman passed by a banquet hall where high-ranking nobles were said to be attending. It was far from where she lived.

She had no intention of entering the banquet hall. She just wanted to see the music, the lights, and the faces of people blooming with laughter inside the luxurious mansion.

...In the past, if it had been her, everyone would have bowed their heads. Recalling those times made her feel even more miserable, but still, she couldn't forget that dream.

Elysia lived like that. Under the Empire's surveillance, she lived the life of a commoner. The knowledge of alchemy and monsters she had learned helped her work in the market.

However, she couldn't work anywhere for very long. Neither the wigs nor the masks were of high quality. If she worked for a long time, she would be discovered.

If she had known this would happen, she should have corrected her habit of going out of the Imperial Palace so often when she was a princess. Regret always comes too late.

And if she were to regret, it would be natural to regret all the crimes she had committed.

But when she turned away from the banquet hall and went home, an incident occurred.

"Aren't you going in?"

Someone approached and spoke to her, perhaps having seen her loitering around the banquet hall.

The voice was gentle, and the man, although not particularly handsome, had a kind impression.

"Ah... I, well, I'm not that kind of person..."

Not knowing what to say in such a situation, Elysia gave a slightly awkward answer.

"I'm not that kind of person." Even as she said it, it felt pathetic.

"Haha, it's alright. Come on in."

At that moment, the man took Elysia's hand and led her.

"Ah."

Elysia let out a short sound. The man moved leisurely but with an air of confidence.

Elysia was currently wearing cheap clothes, a wig, and a mask. She was nothing more than an ordinary, poor commoner woman.

He must know that someone like her couldn't even set foot in such a banquet.

'...Well, whatever.'

Elysia still didn't shake his hand off.

Perhaps it was an attitude stemming from the arrogance typical of nobles. A fleeting dream shown to a commoner, a toy to play with.

Or maybe he was just looking for an easy woman to spend the night with.

Elysia didn't care either way. It had been over a year since she had fallen from the life of a princess to the life of a commoner.

But Elysia still couldn't forget the time when she was at her most splendid and radiant.

Even if it was half of that, even if it was just an illusion, if she could just feel it.

"Come this way."

The man entered the hall with Elysia. Among everyone dressed in fancy dresses and suits, Elysia's attire was too shabby and stood out.

People passing by glanced at the man and Elysia but soon turned back to their own conversations as if they weren't interested.

If this had been a gathering of low-ranking nobles, there would have been an uproar as soon as they saw Elysia's appearance.

However, this was a gathering of such high-ranking nobles that they had more than enough room to accept a single commoner.

It was even possible for them not to even notice her in the first place. More than anything, the man, a noble, was holding Elysia's hand and leading her, so there was even less need to pay attention.

However, there was one person.

There was someone who followed Elysia with their eyes for a little longer.

'...?'

Elysia felt that gaze and turned her head.

At first, she didn't recognize who it was. The first thing that caught her eye was the suit.

──A jet-black suit, seemingly hidden in the darkness, yet making its presence known more than anyone else.

Raising her gaze slightly, she saw hair and eyes as dark as the suit.

His face was partially obscured by a glass, as if he had been drinking, but...

The moment he lowered it.

'...Frondier!'

Elysia barely managed to hold back a gasp. She quickly averted her eyes.

Elysia recognized Frondier, but of course, he wouldn't know who she was. She had completely concealed her appearance with a wig and a mask. He probably glanced at Elysia because of her attire.

'Why is that man here!'

Elysia blinked in surprise. Come to think of it, Roach was a prestigious family among prestigious families. It wasn't strange for him to participate in such a party.

However, as far as Elysia knew, Frondier wouldn't attend such events.

The information Elysia could obtain after becoming a commoner was too meager.

She had only heard rumors that Frondier had made great achievements in the war, but she hadn't even seen the scene on Weegiew.

In other words, Elysia's perception of Frondier wasn't much different from when he defeated the Chimera.

'I never thought I'd meet him in a place like this.'

Elysia sneaked another glance at Frondier. Frondier seemed to have lost interest in Elysia quickly and was conversing with someone else nearby.

'...Frondier.'

Elysia hid her complex emotions. From her perspective, Frondier was like a sworn enemy. He had ruined her plans and made her into what she was now.

But in retrospect, it was easy to see that it was Frondier who had ultimately saved Elysia. Her original actions didn't warrant such a light punishment.

Thinking that way made her feel like it was all her own fault, and ultimately, she felt guilt for trying to kill Philly and Aten herself.

'He has nothing to do with me anymore.'

While Elysia was sorting out her thoughts, the man led her through the hall, up the stairs, and towards one of the mansion's rooms.

'He's in a hurry.'

Elysia watched him with cold eyes.

She had thought she might be able to enjoy the atmosphere of the banquet and the food for a while since he had acted like he was inviting her to the banquet, but the man was eager to get to the main point, which was purely masculine.

'Huh...?'

However, when he opened the door, let Elysia in, locked the door, walked to the wardrobe, opened the wardrobe door, and then opened another hidden door behind the wardrobe, Elysia finally felt something was strange.

'A secret door? A secret passage? There's a hidden room here?'

When Elysia was a princess, she had often attended banquets at this mansion. But she had never imagined there would be such a device.

"Come inside. I'll show you something interesting."

Elysia asked cautiously, a little wary of the man's tone, which had lost its politeness.

"...Something interesting?"