I Sought Out the Tragedy’s Scheming Mastermind

“It’s hard for me to speak casually,” Mary admitted, looking perplexed.

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Mary was very conscious of others.

Although she was a member of the royal family, she was not used to speaking informally, so she treated her subordinates well.

“Is she an inconvenience for you?”

Kallius watched Eliana sternly.

Eliana did not shy away from Kallius’ gaze but rather had a social smile.

She wanted to shoot him, “What are you looking at?”

However, she could be thrown into prison for insulting the nobility, so she held back.

Kallius caught Eliana’s smile and tsked before turning away with a frown.

‘What’s with that petty look in your eye?’

Eliana’s smile widened to an extent it had never gone before.

Mary praised Eliana with a bright smile, perhaps not noticing Kallius’ expression.

“No! She’s been the opposite.
It’s thanks to Eliana that I’ve learned how to be myself these days.”

“How to be yourself?” 

Kallius’ expression showed he did not understand.

“Uh… how do I….”

Mary looked around for something to help explain easier.

Moments later, she slammed her fist into her palm and lifted the hem of her dress.

“Ah! For example, this dress is exactly what I mean.”

“What does your dress have to do with anything?”

Kallius still didn’t understand.

“It’s the first dress I’ve chosen for myself.
I always wear dresses that are given to me, but now I get to make choices—although we had to start over.
It’s more fun, even if it’s hard.
I’ve never felt this way before.”

“You’re enjoying this trouble? Did she hand over her duties to you?”

“No! I’m the reason why Eliana had to start over! She probably would’ve gotten it done faster alone.“

At Mary’s protest, Kallius glanced at Eliana.

Judging by his expression, he seemed to think she was more useful than he realized.

It was a compliment she didn’t want to hear.

Eliana shrugged.

Kallius returned his attention to Mary and held out the veil.

“Is this accessory okay? Is it the one you wanted?”

“Yes! I was thinking of a veil.
I just couldn’t find the right word for it.”

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Mary spoke with excitement, and it was time for her to accept the veil.

But Kallius did not give her the veil.
Instead, he placed it on Mary’s head.

The veil obscured Mary’s vision with a rustling sound.

Kallius’ head bent down and instantly captured Mary’s lips in a kiss.

“It’s beautiful.”

Mary’s face turned red as she saw Kallius’ beautiful smile.

Eliana, who witnessed the whole scene, felt her hands cringe.

At that moment, Kallius and Eliana’s eyes met.

He gazed at her coldly and signaled for her to leave with a jerk of his head.

‘What the, I was going to leave anyway… But I don’t wanna leave because I was ordered to.’

Eliana was there first, to begin with.

He was literally trying to *get rid of the stone that rolled in.
Of course, Kallius was supposed to be the stone, not Eliana.

[ *T/N: an idiom meaning the new replaces the old.
]

Her defiance crept up.

As Eliana refused to move even though she received his signal, Kallius opened his mouth.

“Are you just going to stand there?”

“I still have unfinished business with the princess.”

“You’re cocky.” Kallius let out a short chuckle.

The atmosphere quickly darkened.

All the windows were closed, but a small gust of wind began to hover around Eliana.

Then the doors opened by themselves.

‘You’re going to use magic now, aren’t you?’

Eliana gritted her teeth, remembering that Kallius was a wind mage.

But this wasn’t just the wind.

It was Kallius deliberately using his magic to kick out Eliana.

Eliana struggled to fight against the push of the wind.

‘This is not a fight of pride.
What is this?’

She didn’t want to be kicked out like this.
If she had to leave, then she’d walk out on her own two feet.

Eliana instantly imagined soaking Kallius in water.

What if he turned into a drowning rat?

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It was liberating to just imagine the thought.

Because it was something she could not realistically do.

It took her a moment to conjure up something else, and Eliana tried to build an ice wall to block the wind that was pushing her.

‘I’ve been practicing quite a bit, so I’m going to show you just what I’ve been doing.’

Eliana opened her mana core.
And…

Splaash.

“Gasp!”

“Kyaa!”

“…”

It was silent.

Eliana looked at Mary and Kallius’ stunned faces, who’d been doused in water.

Kallius’ eyes were penetrating Eliana through his soaked hair, glaring hard.

His gaze was fierce as if he were going to kill her that second.

S-She only imagined it!

Eliana faltered and took a step back. 

Kallius’ voice was cold.
“…What do you think you’re doing?”

‘That’s what I should be saying!’

Eliana silently protested to her body.

What are you doing?

Do you want to get your master killed?

Of course, she wouldn’t receive an answer.
Her body can’t speak.

Cold sweat trickled down her spine.

She thought she’d manage her powers quite well since she’s been taking lessons from Verkley, but unfortunately, she was overconfident.

Eliana sweated profusely, having the worst possible situation unfold in front of her eyes.

“T-There… S-So…”

She had to think of some excuse to get Kallius off her back, but she couldn’t get the words out.

‘I only imagined it!’

Eliana felt mortified.

She thought she’d feel better if she imagined drenching him in water, only for a second.

However, the problem is that she’s still inexperienced in magic, so she cannot properly control when she casts magic mentally and visually.

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Her previous thoughts worked first, causing this chaos.

This is why magic shouldn’t be used on people if you can’t control it, and now she’s struggling simply because of her frustration.

‘Kallius intimidated me in front of the princess, so I was ignorant…’

Then, Eliana’s skirt flapped violently.
The wind blew hard around her.

As Eliana slowly crept back, Kallius moved closer.

D-Don’t come over here!

With every step Kallius took, he left a wet footprint.

A squelching noise mixed with the sound of a violent wind.
As he dripped water, he glared with his cold eyes.

She experienced fear itself.

Eliana’s back touched the wall.

Her eyes screwed tightly shut as she had nowhere else to retreat.

At this rate, she was going to get killed by Kallius before Verkley.

Still wondering if he was going to kill her, she opened her eyes.

And then immediately closed them.

No way.
He really was going to kill her.

Eliana was terrified of Kallius, who was extremely angry.

She guessed this was where fate ended.

Yeah.
Maybe it’s a miracle that she’s survived this far.

A clear laugh broke the silence as Eliana awaited her death.

“Ahaha!”

Mary, who’d been quiet the entire time, suddenly burst into laughter.

The melodic sound stopped Kallius in his tracks.

Eliana opened her eyes and turned her gaze to Mary.

Why was she laughing all of a sudden?

Eliana stared at Mary, wondering if she’d gone mad out of shock from being drowned in water.

She couldn’t believe she was laughing when she should be angry.
Her laughter wasn’t mocking at all.

It was bright as if she witnessed something really funny.

“…Mary?” Kallius called her name as if stunned.

He looked as surprised as Eliana.

Mary kept laughing, holding onto her stomach, not bothered by the two watching her closely.

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Her laughter rang through the room clearly, which broke the terrifying silence.

But unlike her, the other two couldn’t smile.

No, to be precise, Kallius was the only one not smiling.

Eliana immediately came to her senses and smiled with Mary.

Then she quickly rushed to Mary’s side, avoiding Kallius’ stupid face.

She had a hunch that Mary would take her side.

At least Kallius wouldn’t be able to reach her while she was next to Mary.

“Where—!”

As Eliana hid behind Mary, Kallius approached with a frown.

It was then that Mary said to Eliana.

“Ah, really, Eliana.
You’re the best.”

Mary barely managed to stop laughing and wiped the tears from her eyes.

Eliana relaxed at the sound of her voice, which was more higher-pitched than usual.

She didn’t know what it was, but Mary definitely was not angry.

At Mary’s words, Kallius stopped the wind.
He seemed to have sensed Mary’s emotions to some extent.

“Are you okay?”

Kallius tried wringing the water out of Mary’s hair, but she waved him off.

Mary’s expression showed her delight.
Like someone who’s completed a useless fun task.

She was full of excitement as if she’d been playing in the water.

“I’ve never gotten soaked like this before!”

“I-I’m sorry, princess.”

Eliana bowed her head at Mary’s words with an apologetic look.

It was because she released water from the dry sky.

She must’ve been very surprised.

When Eliana hurriedly apologized, Mary reassured her with a bright face.

“I’m not trying to blame you.
It was really fun.
It feels strange being with you, Eliana, because I always experience new things.”

“You’ll catch a cold,” Kallius said with worry and again glared at Eliana.

His face said he’d rip apart all four of her limbs if the princess fell ill.

Only then did Eliana place her hand on Mary’s collar.

“I-I’ll get you dry right away!”