The Witch and the Doll Swear

Tingna stepped out of the carriage with a stiff expression.

"Miss Von Sia, I wish you a good time."

The gentleman in a well-dressed suit waved his hat to her, drove the golem of the horse with his staff, followed the guidance of the guards, and drove the carriage to the garden next to the gate.

Even in the cold winter, the garden is full of greenery. The ceiling attached by the morning glory is separated from the marble flower bed one after another. The carriage will be parked among the elegant purple and purple, illuminated by bright and warm chandeliers.

And he will wait there for the end of this dinner, and then bring the girl back to her employer's tower.

"Uh-huh……"

Watching Ting Na who had put the books and notebooks beside her, she nodded stiffly. She tidied up her suits as unobtrusively as possible, and followed several gentlemen in tuxedos with their female companions on their arms, to the large hall with marigold patterns. in front of the door.

"Miss, please show your invitation card."

"..."

The girl recalled the etiquette for this time, took out the black envelope from the space storage ring, and handed it to the waiter by the door with one hand.

The young waiter in a white shirt and black coat politely said "Excuse me" when he took the envelope sealed with calendula flowers and gold foil.

But immediately, Na Lili's expression froze slightly.

The waiter opened the envelope and took out the same pitch-black invitation card. After staring at it for a moment, he raised his head and glanced at Ting Na. After confirming the invitation card again, he turned and walked into the small room next to the door and knocked on the door.

After he said something in a low voice with a serious expression, soon a teenager came out of the hut, looked at Ting Na in fear, and then ran towards the big house a little far away with Ting Na's invitation.

"Excuse me, Miss Von Sia."

After the boy ran away, the waiter solemnly walked up to Tina again and bowed to salute.

"Butler Franken will be here soon, please wait a moment."

The waiter pointed to a bench with a canopy next to him. A charcoal iron cage was burning in front of the bench, exuding a pleasant smell of charcoal and spices.

"..."

Subconsciously, she wanted to say "Okay, it's okay", but she stopped in time and just nodded slightly as a response. She quickly searched the meaning of this chair in the etiquette of the Northland in her mind, and then tried to be as natural as possible. Walk there gracefully and sit down.

——Sit on pins and needles.

The nobles who were chatting and laughing with each other...or magicians, or others, Tina couldn't be sure who they were, but Tina clearly felt that when she took out the envelope, the sight around the gate They all gathered together.

The first is to focus on the invitation.

Then, they gathered on the girl who took out the invitation.

"The black invitation card, that is..."

"Is one of the members of the Supreme Council... a deputy, or an apprentice?"

"Flandia's family has some relationship with the seventh seat of Einstein, that one should indeed still be in the city now..."

The gentlemen turned slightly sideways and put their mouths close to the ears of their female companions, while the ladies and ladies either spread out their lace brocade fans, or gracefully put their hands covering their long muffs to their mouths.

They were whispering.

The sights looking at this side also gathered more and more as Tina sat on this bench commonly known as the king's chair.

Originally, this was set up for the honorable guests who needed the housekeeper of the family, or even immediate family members to receive them in person, to wait for them who could not stand in front of the gate all the time to receive guests. In the City of Thousand Towers, those who are qualified to sit here Either the king of a certain country or a very distinguished archmage...

These views are actually very secretive.

Those whispers were also extra light and polite.

but--

But Tina wanted to tell them.

Almost every word they said fell into my ears, and even the skin under the clothes could feel the concentrated gazes keenly, so my skin got slightly goosebumps.

——Calm down, relax, Tingna, you represent Miss Liliana now, and now you are a nobleman with a surname, don't react in a way that will damage Miss Liliana's face!

I meditate in my heart, "The posture is correct and the legs are not crossed, the back is straight and not tense, the hands are slightly put on the legs," "The gentleman takes off his hat and nods, the lady greets with a smile, and does not want to talk and closes his eyes." They heard the mantra that might be especially kind, and felt more and more eyes, Tingna simply closed her eyes.

This kind of implication is that they are not willing to talk for the time being, which can effectively prevent the half-baked aristocratic etiquette of girls from being exposed in the conversations of these nobles who really grew up with golden spoons in their mouths—even though Tina doesn’t know anyone here, and probably won’t either. Someone has come to make friends with her, but who knows?

I am just a paper tiger, and paper tigers must never get close to real tigers.

"It's just a new face, Von Sia... Which family is this? Is there such a young descendant following Einstein's seventh seat?"

"Fon Sia... This surname is not a family name. If I remember correctly, it is the honorary title awarded to those who have made meritorious service in the southeast of the mainland. It is not hereditary."

"In other words, is it a civilian?"

"Pay attention to your wording and tone, York, the one who was awarded the title of honor is also a nobleman, and this is a surname that can only be obtained after making great contributions. Even if you are a commoner, you may not be able to make meritorious deeds in your life to get the honorable surname. You have no right to look down on it."

"Maybe she's just lucky!"

"You are just lucky enough to be my child. York, nobles are not noble by calling others vulgar, and nobles are not honored by making unreasonable comments on others. After I go back today, I will have a good talk with Mr. Hymes about you. matter of etiquette."

But as soon as she closed her eyes, Tina regretted it.

After the vision was blocked by the eyelids, other senses became more acute, and more whispers flooded into the ears.

This is also the protection of the wind.

Sylph of the sky and the wind is the oldest messenger on this land, voice, breath... these are messages that can only be heard by those who are attached to the wind.

Maybe this will be the ability that many people wish to have, but for Tingna who can't control it, this kind of excellent hearing, which can sharply sense all the sounds around her after a little concentration, is really a big deal. troubles.

like now.

The nobles and magicians kept passing by, without any reduction in their discussions and gazes. When Tingna felt that she was going to be unable to hold on, cold sweat dripped from her forehead.

"Miss Von Sia, butler Franken has arrived."

The ruts of the wooden wheels and the footsteps from the carriage, accompanied by the voice of the waiter, a slightly old voice called his name.

"Miss Tina von Sia."

Tina opened her eyes.

The boy who ran to the mansion before has returned to the door, taking the place of the waiter and doing the reception work.

A small carriage was parked on the road behind the wooden house. The silver-haired old man leaned on a cane. The waiter wanted to help him, but he pushed his monocle glasses and shook his head to refuse. He walked steadily in front of the girl. The sealed invitation was handed over with both hands.

"Franken Novasawa, allow me to offer you my highest thanks—and welcome to Flandia's mansion."

"It is... an honor to be invited by the Flandia family."

The girl hurriedly stood up and returned the gift nervously, taking the invitation back from the old man's hand.

Perhaps it was possible to see the nervousness of the girl that could not be well concealed. The old man did not extend greetings in a long way. After the slight greetings, he turned slightly sideways and motioned for Tingna to board the small carriage with him.

"Well, sorry to trouble you."

Being the focus of everyone's eyes and whispers is definitely not a pleasant thing for the girl, and the old housekeeper's proposal made the girl ecstatic.

She couldn't wait to get out of this place.

"Then please."

The old butler nodded, turned around and walked back to the carriage.

His strides were big, so it didn't take long for Ting Na, who was following him, to sit in the carriage pulled by two black horses.

Although the main means of transportation in the city of a thousand towers is the golem carriage, the nobles always prefer something more tasteful.

Especially, a big noble with a long history like the Flandia family.

"...?"

Tina looked up.

The driving boy turned his head in fear and ended his sneaky peeping. He raised his whip to speed up the speed of the carriage. The old housekeeper reprimanded him softly and apologized to Tina, hoping she could understand the restless curiosity of the young man. ...

Even peeking at other people's eyes must be in accordance with etiquette, and even curiosity must be in accordance with etiquette, Tina thought, is it necessary to be in accordance with etiquette here, even breathing, otherwise people will chew on their tongues?

This is the world of nobles, and Liliana and Alice are also involved in it—at least, they are part of it.

So Tingna nodded bluntly, lowered her gaze again, and stared at the gold foil on the invitation envelope.

And this...is the cause of it all.

……………………………………………………………………………………

"An invitation to a banquet?"

Afternoon on the third day of Moonless Moon.

Going to the Dragon Academy to find some information that Liliana needs, Tingna, who had just returned to the tower for lunch, saw Akuya put a black envelope in front of Tingna.

"It's an invitation to invite Princess Lily. The Flandia family sent out such an invitation ten years ago. They must be one of the nobles who have a close relationship with Princess Lily."

Under Wright's strict surveillance, the dark elf randomly drew two cards from the magic card box and selected one of them to form a deck, and then he put the deck aside.

Tingna looked at the black envelope curiously.

There is no pattern on it.

Gold leaf replaced the common sealing wax, and the coat of arms on it was an equilateral triangle, marigold, lion and scepter.

Except that the marigold is the unique pattern of the family, the remaining three parts on this coat of arms respectively represent that a great magician recognized by the Magician Association once appeared in the Flandia family, who once established Zhuo Yong's meritorious deeds and possessed Royal blood.

The knowledge and experience memorized when she visited the nobles with Elif as a secretary in Salt Sand City came in handy. The girl who was astonished by Liliana's network was unimaginable, and suddenly felt that the elves were watching her.

"That...Miss Knight? Miss Wright? Miss Aqua? Why are you looking at me like that..."

Then, why did Miss Knight reach out and push the envelope in front of her...?

"The black envelope is for the members of the Supreme Council in the City of Thousand Towers. This invitation is for Princess Lily, the seventh seat of the Supreme Council, not the owner of Emerald, Liliana. A. Emerald Cui."

The translucent Water Maiden sat beside Wright, holding her face and explaining to Tina.

"...But, Princess Lily is not available for the appointment..."

Wright also temporarily moved his eyes away from the poetry collection and looked at the ceiling.

Tina knew what the spirit of light was looking at.

Behind the wooden suspended ceiling, stone ceiling, and a log floor, is the room of the owner of the tower.

Now, there should be three people in that room.

Liliana.

Alice.

And... Ai.

Miss Witch's first apprentice.

From a day ago, they almost never stepped out of Liliana's room.

"So, do you want to push it?"

Squeezing out the little jealousy rising up in her heart, Tingna put the deck of cards she had assembled beside her.

"Because of the influence of something, it's not easy to refuse this banquet."

Aqua stared at Tina with watery eyes, and when she heard the girl's question, she shook her head.

"...that is to say...?"

That gaze... no, not just the spirit of water.

Akua, Knight, Wright, they are staring at themselves, these sights make the girl feel hairy for no reason.

"It is Alice's proposal to ask Miss Tina to attend the appointment on behalf of Princess Lily."

"Wow!"

The spirit of the wind suddenly appeared from behind the girl, blowing a gust of cold wind and words into the girl's ear holes.

Ting Na shrank her neck and screamed instinctively. The mischievous little wind spirit giggled, and when she turned her head to face her, she huffed and flew to the top of the bookcase.

"Princess Lily also agrees. Miss Ai is studying without sleep and food every day. As a tutor, she really can't get away from her."

"No, but."

Compared to the elf's mischief, this incident made the girl even more flustered.

Go to the appointment by yourself?

Going to a family that knows how noble and long-standing it is just by looking at the coat of arms is such a formal invitation, by yourself?

No matter how you think about it, it's impossible!

"... There are indeed some problems with etiquette, but the impact is not big."

"Although it's okay to refuse, but is this really okay?"

The elves of light and darkness always maintain a wonderful tacit understanding. Then, after Tina muttered in doubt, "What's wrong?", Akua stood up from Wright's side and handed the envelope to the girl. .

"Hey, Miss Tina, you—"

"Miss Von Sia, we have arrived at the banquet hall."

The old voice interrupted the girl's memories.

Tina looked up.

Across the vast front garden, the flashy building is like a majestic high wall hitting the girl's pupils. The tall colonnades, the walls between the colonnades, and the elegantly curved eaves are dotted with gorgeous sculptures everywhere, embellished with gold and silver. With the shimmer of magic, it looks like a palace.

Magicians love the dark and mysterious Gothic style, while nobles prefer the luxurious and free Baroque. The waiter in the red dress had come to the carriage and stretched out his hand, waiting for the lady to step down from the carriage with his strong arms.

from his mouth. The words "Welcome Miss Von Sia" made Tina wake up from the imposing manner of this mansion.

Then, through the open door, the warm wind drives away the cold winter breath, and the beautiful music is played loudly.

This is a building with a huge dance floor.

It's not uncommon for a mansion to have a room dedicated to banquets, but Tina never thought that aristocrats would be so extravagant that they specially built a gorgeous house for the guests to dance.

When the old butler led Tingna in, he reached out his hand to stop the waiter who was about to announce the arrival loudly, and led the girl directly along the stairs with a white carpet on one side to an empty balcony on the second floor.

Looking down from here, you can clearly see the whole picture of the banquet hall.

The pattern of snowflakes is the most expensive marble in the north, velvet curtains are hung between the columns, and huge chandeliers hang from the ceiling like upside-down crystal mountain peaks, illuminating the silks, satins and furs of men and women on the dance floor.

Long tables are arranged around the dance floor, the pre-dinner fruits and cold dishes are arranged with golden candlesticks, and the wine glasses filled with red wine are stacked to form a glass pyramid, from which anyone can pick up a glass to enjoy the unique red frost wine of the Northland. When one of them disappears, the beautifully dressed maids will push a silver cart, stack a new pile of goblets into a hill, and pour bottles of red wine from the top glass.

During this process, of course, it was unavoidable that some fine wine would spill from the gap between the cups on the base of the ice sculpture, but the maids did so indifferently, and the spilled wine was not wasted at all—— On the clear ice seat, the luminous magic circle is spreading a thin cold mist, allowing the mellow aroma of wine to permeate around the long table.

"Miss Feng Xia, please wait for a moment, Miss Sephanny will be here soon."

"Uh-huh……"

She nodded casually to show her understanding. Tingna, who was leaning on the railing and looking down at the banquet hall, couldn't hold back her expression anymore.

It was the first time she came to such a luxurious building and the first time she saw such a luxurious banquet, and she felt extremely shocked.

Is this the world of nobility?

"...Miss Tina von Shea."

The butler, who was walking down the stairs, stopped suddenly.

"……Um?"

"In my own name, I would like to express my highest gratitude to you who saved Miss Sephanny. Really, thank you very much."

Even the girl's voice changed a bit, but the old man didn't care at all.

After speaking these words to the girl in a slightly hoarse voice, he leaned on his crutches and left slowly.

"……ha."

Tina was alone on the terrace.

The tense body was completely relaxed, and sitting at the round table on the terrace, Tingna picked up a piece of thinly sliced ​​cantaloupe from the sterling silver tray, hesitated for a while, and ate it in the way she was most familiar with.

Even a paper tiger will relax when no one is watching.

Anyway, no one is here, no one is looking here, and no one knows anyone—just when the girl thought so.

"The Kingdom of Olympian, Princess Charlotte Fanzan is here—"

The waiter called out the new visitor's name loudly.

"..."

Ting Na, who was picking up her wine glass, was slightly taken aback.

Beside the blond girl who came through the door onto the dance floor, there were other people she had seen during that bewildering commotion, all dressed in rich gowns, and no sooner had they reached the long table than attracted a lot of attention.

She really deserves to be a real princess, and I don't know what happened to the flood in her motherland.

They obviously didn't notice Ting Na who was sitting in a corner on the second floor, and Ting Na didn't plan to go down to greet them. The mere identity of [the spokesperson of Einstein's Seventh Seat] made her extremely reserved. 】It will only bring unnecessary trouble.

Without any hesitation, Ting Na sat back a little, picked up the goblet and drank the slightly sour and sweet pre-dinner wine slowly.

Well, it's delicious.

...Speaking of which, do you have a special fate with the princess? Liliana used to be a princess, and later became a famous queen in history. The Charlotte she met by chance was the princess of Olympian, and then.

Does even the little girl I met in the tower of the grassland have the line of succession for a country?

...Speaking of which, they are spies, right? Should I remind Sephanny? Speaking of which, should she accept her invitation to go to the embassy...

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, Miss Von Sia."

Just thinking about the girl who washed her body with cheap drinking water regardless of the cold of the grassland in winter and her own cold, a slightly proud voice came from behind her.

Before Tina put down the glass, she had no time to turn around. Wearing a two-piece light blue dress covered with lovely lace, Sephanny had already walked straight to the opposite of the small table on the balcony.

"Long time no see, Miss Sephanny...do I still want to call you Your Highness the Princess?"

"...It's just a princess with no blood. It seems that it was the right choice for Grandpa Franken to bring you here. This lazy commoner's appearance will tarnish Einstein's reputation as the seventh seat."

Seeing acquaintances made the girl feel a lot easier. This seems to be the same for noble girls. She looked like she just ran out of some exhausting meeting with an excuse. After sitting opposite Tina, the girl He also picked up the wine glass and drank it in one gulp.

Even so, the actions still don't look vulgar. For nobles, elegance and etiquette are deeply rooted in their bones.

"How are you doing recently? Is this the effect of magic?"

Although the relationship between the two is far from being friends, at least it is better than those strangers whose names and faces are hard to match. After casually asking the girl, Tingna looked curiously at the girl's appearance which was different from the last time she met.

The most conspicuous, of course, is the lower abdomen exposed by the two-piece dress.

With the small navel as the center, a coat of arms covered the girl's entire lower abdomen, like spread wings, flickering like embers of an embers, and sparks flickered at the end of the girl's golden hair.

"Ah, it's magic, but it's just the devil's secret method."

Sephanny looked down at the coat of arms on her stomach, and sighed softly.

"This is the price of my arrogance and carelessness. When I signed a contract with Mr. Chalisperger with Mr. Goy's knowledge and magic, I was deceived by it with cunning terms. As expected of a devil..."

"Hey? Did that demon do something to Miss Sephanny?"

"No, although I was cheated of almost everything I could lose except my own soul when making the contract, but it knows very well that if it does too much to me, the elders of the family can make it completely annihilated, so although I won A lot of terms, but the price is only..."

The girl with eyes that didn't match her age and appearance silently pointed to the coat of arms on her stomach.

"Have to show my belly all the time, and if I can't find a way out of this bond after I'm 20, I'm going to have a baby for it... that's all."

"...Need to tell Miss Liliana?"

The girl who was so much younger than herself talked about giving birth to the devil with a calm expression on her face, because she didn't know what expression to show, so Tingna simply let the shock and bewilderment in her heart show on her face.

Sephanny is indeed completely different from the one she saw a month ago. At that time, she was still like an ordinary, pure noble girl, but now she is.

Already, he is a magician.

"Maybe it's the drawbridge effect. I still like Mr. Chalisperger, and this is also a valuable experience and lesson, no matter how much money you spend, you can't buy it."

But Sephanny was really indifferent.

She shook her head faintly, stroked her lower abdomen, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. Only in this smile, there is still the last innocence of this age.

"The price of this level in exchange for the right to serve a great demon and the ability to control the chaotic flames gave me the ability to say 'no' to the family's arrangement. I woke up laughing from my dreams in those days, maybe I would say it for thousands of years. More than half of the summoners in the Tower City can't wait to lie down in front of Mr. Chalisperger and beg for pregnancy. Magicians without integrity will always live longer than those with integrity, which has been proved by countless people."

"..."

"Changing the subject, Miss Tina, what do you think of the banquet?"

"Ah, it's really luxurious... I feel like I can meet a duke or an earl if I talk to you casually."

"It's not that exaggerated, but it's about the same. After all, this is all prepared for you, Miss Tingna."

"……What?"

Ting Na, who had already turned her head away, suddenly turned her head back.

Bad feeling.

The particularly bad premonition made all the hairs on her body stand on end.

"Didn't you post it? [The Flandia family would like to express their highest gratitude to you who saved the blood of the family], this is an occasion to show the friendship between the family and the seventh seat of Einstein, of course you can invite Invite as many people as you want."

"...Isn't that a scene talk?"

"It was decided to hold an event at the banquet... See the little platform in the middle of the dance floor?"

Now it was Sephine's turn to be dumbfounded, she couldn't help but burst out laughing, and pointed to the center of the dance floor.

"In the middle of the banquet, my father and I will invite you there to express our highest gratitude and give thanks to Einstein Seventh for saving me from the grassland."

"...but Miss Liliana wasn't here, so I didn't do anything at that time!"

"Now you represent the seventh seat of Einstein, Miss Tina."

"..."

Even without a mirror, Tina could still see her livid face from Sephanny's eyes.

She suddenly wanted to turn around and leave, immediately, immediately.

Don't be kidding, once Miss Liliana's spokesperson's identity is exposed, it must be followed by most of the people here...or the greetings and greetings of every prominent personage. Ms. Yana is just a commoner with a glorious surname, how can she have the ability and stamina to handle such a big scene.

Although Tina had never experienced such a battle, just thinking about it made her sweat profusely.

……idiot.

It seemed that even Miss Alice's cold scolding was ringing in my ears. I was so nervous that I had auditory hallucinations, ha, ha ha...

Looking at the girl who almost saw the end of the world, Sephanny sighed slightly.

"In this case, Miss Tingna, it's better to come with me first."

"Hey...where are you going..."

"my room."

Pulling back her long golden hair, the girl turned and walked downstairs.

"...According to this, Miss Tingna should not have much energy until the end. I will accept my personal thank you gift, so it's better to give it to Miss Tingna as early as possible without the noise of the banquet. Ms. Tingna is also better at tidying up her mood and getting ready."

"……Yes."

No matter how you think about it, it is unlikely that the banquet that has gathered so many people will be cancelled.

It's also unlikely that I'll just walk away. Compared to the inevitably noisy banquet scene, having a quiet place to prepare myself... doesn't seem to be bad.

So Ting Na sighed distressedly, and followed behind the girl.

………………………………………………………………………………………

"Please come in. Although I have moved to the Mage Tower, the maids still clean the place very clean."

Sephanny's room is in another mansion different from the banquet hall.

It is somewhat similar to Liliana's room - a big bed in the center, some tables, chairs and cabinets placed against the wall, without Miss Witch's favorite hot spring, so there are a lot of bookcases.

"First let me ask a question."

After Tina and Sephanny sat down on both sides of the small round table used for the tea party, the girl directly started the topic.

"What does Miss Tina want?"

"...what do I want?"

Tina thought she had heard wrong.

"That's right, this is a thank you gift to Miss Tingna in my personal name rather than in the name of my family. I have almost never had contact with people other than nobles and magicians, and I don't know much about ordinary people's preferences. The maids in the mansion They cannot be used as reference objects. So, I would like to ask directly, what would Miss Tingna be happy to receive?"

The girl explained frankly.

Although it sounds wrong to Tina, no matter how you say it, but...

Reminiscent of Liliana's terrible consumption concept, maybe these princesses who grew up with golden spoons in their mouths really don't know the lives of mortals who are not in the same world as them.

... a little feeling, a little pitiful.

"Even if you say that, I don't know what to ask for..."

"Anything within my ability."

Sephanny shrugged and raised her hand slightly.

A pitch-black hand reached out from the shadow of the girl's palm on the brown wooden table, and grabbed the nearby teapot and cup.

Ting Na stared blankly at the noble lady who skillfully put the tea leaves into the teapot, then chanted in a low voice, calling for boiling hot water from the water-blue magic circle.

After a while, a cup of hot black tea and a small pot of brown sugar were handed to Tina by that black hand.

"Do you want to add sugar?"

"Eh? Just one"

It was even more flexible than a human palm. The black palm picked up the tweezers and squeezed a piece of brown sugar from the small pot into the steaming black tea, without even fainting the slight water ripple.

After serving all these, Sephanny held up the teacup in front of the girl, as if quietly waiting for her answer.

"Hey...Miss Sephanny, was that...magic just now?"

Tina felt her voice tremble.

magic? No, that feeling, that movement, no, it can't be wrong... It's exactly the same feeling as the few times I've seen it.

In Salt Sand City, Miss Liliana's castle.

In Bike City, in the dark and oppressive heretic interrogation room.

"Magic? No, this is Shadow Demon. After I made a contract with Mr. Chalisperger, I summoned and controlled the first monster according to Mr. Goy Kewell's notes, and it was also the first monster for most summoners. Although the monster is a very low-level Shadow Demon, and can't even understand orders without training, it is still very convenient for daily life."

Saying that, the girl put down her teacup, put her hand on the table, and then.

With the other hand, lift the shadow of the hand.

— Shadow Demon.

Tina took a deep breath. The warm air in the room passed through her lungs and reached her beating heart.

The embers that had long been extinguished seemed to be rekindled at this time.

"...Miss Sephanny."

Ting Na paused every word and spoke slowly.

"Can you please teach me how to control Shadow Demon?"