ISFU 05

Chapter 5

“What are you talking about, you wrinkly old hag! How would you know?”

“I told you, I’m a witch.”

Mia smiled for the first time in a while. The boy, who wasn’t sure whether to believe her or not, slowly began to look worried. Seriously, he was so innocent. A child was still a child.

“Then… what should I do about my mom’s present…?”

“Hmm, since you’re a good kid, I’ll help you. Here.”

Mia took off the silver ring from her finger and held it out. The curly-haired boy’s eyes widened. As if enchanted, he stretched out his hand. Mia gently dropped the ring into his palm. It shined brightly against his brown hand, and his eyes sparkled just the same.

“Wow… it’s pretty…”

“But in return, help me with one thing.”

The boy stepped back a couple of steps, still holding the ring. His face was full of caution.

“Wrink—… no, prisoner lady!”

At least the kid had some conscience. After getting the ring, he upgraded her title from “wrinkly hag” to “lady.” Should she be thankful for that?

Mia quietly sighed.

“Even if you give me a ring, I can’t help you escape!”

“It’s not that. It’s something very simple.”

The boy still looked suspicious.

Now she needed to act. Mia suddenly felt embarrassed, but she had no choice. At least to clear herself from being labeled a criminal, she had to endure it. She lowered her eyelashes and made her eyes look as sad as possible.

“You probably heard… but I actually love the Grand Duke. I want to tell him my feelings one last time. Could you secretly deliver a letter to him for me?”

The boy hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“Okay, trust me, lady! I’ll bring paper and a pen soon.”

Even in a moment like this, the word “lady” bothered her, but Mia forced a pitiful smile. The boy picked up the wooden bucket properly and turned to leave, then suddenly looked back and said one more thing.

“After writing your last letter, give up, lady. You’re not that ugly, but our Grand Duke is special. You don’t stand a chance. Maybe that dark-skinned aide guy next to him… you know what I mean, right?”

“Mm… I understand.”

Mia kept her expression steady and waved her hand. His way of calling her “lady” every time was annoying, but he was still a cute and innocent child. More importantly, he was the only lifeline she had right now.

Unlike the clear morning, dark clouds gathered in the afternoon as if it were a lie.

Assad was sitting at his desk in his office, writing something continuously. Someone entered quietly, like a cat, without even knocking.

“Shuri.”

Assad spoke without even looking up. There was only one person who would enter the Grand Duke Ulliel’s office without permission.

“I told you before, knock first. It’s basic manners.”

“Hehe, thanks to not knocking, how much useful information have I brought you?”

That was true. Assad closed his mouth with a slightly annoyed expression. Shuri was holding a bucket full of firewood in one hand.

“What is that strange thing you’re holding?”

“Ah, I almost forgot about this.”

Shuri opened the stove on one side of the office and started putting in the firewood. After stirring the embers a few times, the fire quickly grew strong.

“It looked like it might rain soon. The maid Sophia prepared this in case you catch a cold.”

Assad glanced at the pale sky outside the window. After finishing, Shuri dusted off his clothes and stood up.

“All done.”

“Then why did you bring it?”

“Well, that’s…”

He couldn’t possibly say, “Because I don’t want Sophia to meet you more often.” Shuri quickly looked away. Among the half-empty bucket, he noticed a familiar cream-colored envelope. With a shocked expression, he picked it up.

“Your Grace, look at this.”

Assad casually took the envelope and read it. A puzzled look appeared on his face.

“It’s that same threat sender. The handwriting is the same.”

“That’s impossible. Mia Lisitsa is locked in the tower right now…”

“There are only two answers. Either there’s an accomplice…”

“That can’t be. The old guard of the eastern tower has served the Ulliel family for a long time. He’s loyal.”

“…Or we accused the wrong noble lady.”

The two looked at each other and sighed at the same time. Shuri spoke first.

“Mia Lisitsa still has other charges like theft and harming a royal.”

“It all came from a childish crush. Pushing me was probably an accident. After a few days in the eastern tower, she has already paid enough.”

“…Can’t we just say she sent the threat too?”

“Shuri… how many times have I told you about chivalry…”

“Yes, yes, I understand. I’ll release her right away.”

Assad looked outside again. The sky had grown darker. It looked like heavy rain would fall soon.

“No, Shuri. Release her after the rain stops. If her family doesn’t come, she’ll have to walk a long way in the rain.”

“Oh my, our Grand Duke is so kind. I’ll do as you say.”

His voice was half teasing, half complaining. Assad gave him a sharp look before returning to his documents. Shuri glanced at the papers.

“You’re writing a handover report? Is it already time to pass the executor duties to the Freydiel family?”

“Yes. I need to finish it properly so that that strict old lady doesn’t complain.”

At the mention of Morin Freydiel, head of one of the four great families, Shuri shivered.

“She’s over eighty, but still sharp and precise. If there’s even a small mistake, she’ll scold you immediately.”

“Exactly. So, Shuri…”

Assad looked like he wanted to stop the noisy visitor.

“With this much work, why aren’t you helping instead of talking?”

“You know I’m busy with the task you gave me. If you’re struggling, you should hire a secretary.”

Assad sighed. Shuri chuckled. It was obvious—his master didn’t like having new people close to him. Knowing him well, Shuri smoothly avoided trouble.

“Oh, right. Even if you’re busy, you need to make time the night after tomorrow. A messenger bird arrived at dawn.”

Shuri’s voice lowered.

“Someone will come from your territory that night.”

Night came. Heavy rain poured outside. Mia lay flat on the stone floor, lost in thought. Even though she looked relaxed, she was very anxious.

“The kid said he delivered the letter this afternoon… so why hasn’t the Grand Duke reacted?”

There had been enough time to release her already. Mia licked her dry lips.

“Did he realize I used the boy to send the threat letter?”

If that was the case, her crimes would increase—now including fraud. That would make four crimes in total. Mia tightly shut her eyes.

“If he found out, he won’t let me go easily.”

She remembered what the prisoner next door had said—his broken legs, his fiancée. Just thinking about it made her chest tighten.

“How did the story turn out like this…”

Mia thought about the beginning of the original novel The Moon That Reflects Your Face. The original Mia Lisitsa was only a minor character. Her role was simply to bring the main characters together. If things had followed the original story, Mia would have become Assad Ulliel’s secretary. By now, Valentina and the Crown Prince would have met by chance at the theater.

“The next meeting was at the debutante ball…”

After three days of heavy rain, public opinion worsens, and the imperial family moves up the debutante ball. Valentina and the Crown Prince meet again there, dance, and fall in love.

After that, Mia’s role becomes almost nothing. She would have lived quietly and later benefited from Valentina becoming Empress.

“No. I can’t let my life end like this after being reincarnated!”

The word “escape” crossed her mind. But this was the Grand Duke Ulliel’s mansion, where even a flying bird couldn’t get out. The garden was large and heavily guarded. And she was trapped in a stone tower.

“The only way out is the stairs… or that.”

Mia looked at the small window in the wall. Strong iron bars blocked the way. At that moment, a drop of water fell from the ceiling onto her forehead.

Mia suddenly stood up. Her eyes turned to the wooden bowl beside her. The soup bowl was empty, but the water bowl was untouched. She grabbed it tightly.

Splash!

She threw the water onto the wall near the window. Outside, the rain was still pouring. As she touched the wet wall, Mia finally smiled.

There was… a way to escape.