The first half of
The Duke’s Wife
focused not on events, but on emotional development. The latter episodes were filled with all sorts of events designed to balance the overwhelming power of the Duke and the heroine. Whenever they bought land, a mine was discovered. Because of her habit of enjoying tea, when she opened a café, it became unexpectedly popular, leading to a franchise.
Stories related to mages only briefly appeared in passing. There was a line about how “
detection magic didn’t work there, so the Duke had to act personally
.” That was the only time it was mentioned briefly. Ione's attempt to win Seton over was also for that reason — those people weren’t properly referenced in the original story.
So how could they possibly know the value of magic stones?
Ione let out a small sigh at Catherine’s fainting-like behavior. This was troublesome.
“Hmm…”
“Oh! I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
However, Penelope seemed to misunderstand Ione's hesitation. With an embarrassed expression, she took back the magic stone, clenched it in her hand, and began to chant something. Even Ione, who knew nothing, could tell it was a spell.
A clear, low rhythm flowed like a melody along her teeth.
Mesmerized, Ione stared as soft light suddenly burst forth from Penelope’s grasp.
“It’s short-range, but I’ve inscribed teleportation and a shield on it. Within ten kilometers, you can use it about ten times without issue. If you want to leave the territory, you can use it once safely.”
Ione quickly glanced at Catherine, who was still loudly expressing her amazement. It was clear even without knowing the details that this tiny orb was more valuable than 100,000 gold coins.
There was no way Ione planned to
compensate
for it. But she wasn’t the type to turn down a free gift.
“Alright, I’ll take it.”
“I deeply apologize for surprising Your Highness, and for using magic without permission to detain you. I will reflect on my actions and ensure this never happens again.”
“...Can I trust you?”
Penelope, looking almost desperate, stepped forward.
Wearing a voluminous robe, she didn’t seem very tall at first glance, but when she came close, Ione was briefly overwhelmed by an indescribable sense of intimidation.
“I swear on my magic power to Your Highness. If permitted, I can swear right here, right now. May I?”
Although it was clearly in her favor, Ione had a bad feeling about it. She shook her head at Penelope, who looked at her with sharp eyes.
“This time, I’ll trust you with this.”
Ah.
Penelope looked as if someone had just taken the meat from her mouth.
Meeting that expression, Ione realized just how dangerous things had been earlier. A chill ran down her neck.
Meanwhile, in the study, Adrian, who was still talking with Seton, suddenly stopped speaking.
“...Your Highness?”
It wasn’t just that. Adrian stared intently at the closed door — or more precisely, somewhere beyond the door.
Seton called Adrian again when he didn’t answer.
“Your Highness?”
“...”
Adrian remained silent.
Seton, growing anxious, hastily cast detection magic, but nothing registered.
Orgen, who also found Adrian’s behavior strange, asked Seton if anything had come up.
“Is something wrong?”
“No problem at all.”
“Your Highness, what’s the matter?”
Adrian continued to watch the door intently, and seemed to come back to himself when Orgen called him.
“Ah, no, nothing. I just felt a strange sensation.”
“A strange sensation?”
“Strange?”
Orgen and Seton exchanged bewildered looks. They didn’t quite understand what they had just heard.
“Your Highness, do you know how strange that sounds?”
“...I do.”
“You don’t even know what a strange feeling is.”
“...”
Seton’s tone was earnest, though it seemed teasing.
A half-automaton like Adrian couldn’t feel ‘strange feelings’ like that. They might detect strange sounds or suspicious circumstances, but feeling a strange mood? No way.
But here he was, staring into space like a madman and claiming he felt something odd. It was impossible not to be shocked.
“What kind of strange feeling was it?”
A cold sensation stirred deep within his ribs, making him queasy.
At that moment, for some reason, Ione came to mind.
This was new, but Adrian analyzed the information without distortion.
“In short, it felt like the Duchess was in danger.”
“Oh no...”
Seton and Orgen exchanged ‘strange’ looks again.
“Well, whether you like it or not, she is his wife after all.”
“...True.”
Though half-joking, Seton cast a wider detection spell just in case.
Under the gentle spread of his magic, something appeared — wider, denser, and dazzling beyond anything his own power could produce.
“Your Highness? Were you using detection magic just now?”
“...”
Adrian didn’t deny it.
“Wow.”
“I’ll teach you how to use it.”
It had started politely enough, but how did it come to this?
Ione, showing a painful expression, looked at Penelope, who chatted non-stop across from her.
Catherine had long since fled.
“Oh, Your Highness, your skin is so white. May I ask what kind of lotion you use?”
Is my ear okay?
Ione instinctively touched her ear, then dropped her hand. It felt like blood was about to flow, but surprisingly, the human body was tough enough that she was fine.
“I’ve never seen someone with skin this beautiful before. I just can’t contain my curiosity.”
“...”
Even as she babbled, the mage found a new topic to talk about. Until a moment ago, she was asking endlessly about the affairs of the South, and now...
Ione was completely exhausted.
She wondered if it was because the magic stone was precious, but she refrained from sending that thought to Penelope.
Catherine, skilled at expressing herself through facial expressions, looked at Ione holding the magic stone as if she were holding a fortress in her hand.
That must really be valuable.
Soon, Ione would have to leave this castle, and funds were precious.
It would be great if things went well and she could spend the Emperor’s private fortune, but if she had to flee in the middle of the night, the Emperor’s resources would become worthless.
Every penny counts!
But now Ione had reached her limit.
“If you want, I can send the same one to Penelope.”
Please go away.
“Oh, no. I have sensitive skin and can’t use just anything.”
What...?
A snort escaped her lips.
If that’s the case, why ask? Please just leave me alone, I want to be by myself.
“Enough...”
“I’m at my limit, Your Highness.”
Just as Ione was about to issue an expulsion order, a flushed Penelope suddenly got off the sofa and crawled closer on her knees.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes?”
The frightened voice slipped out naturally.
Oh no, this girl is strange.
Swallowing her disgust, Ione saw Penelope tilt her head and place her forehead gently on Ioné’s hand resting on her knee, muttering softly.
“Your Highness, you’re so beautiful it’s dizzying.”
“What?”
Oops, did that just slip out?
“That surprised expression is adorable.”
Then Ione finally understood the source of her discomfort.
From the first meeting, Penelope had been looking at her with a hungry, beast-like expression.
Hungry violet eyes.
Softly flowing pale violet hair.
Ione didn’t know what about her stirred such madness in Penelope...
“Calm down.”
“Duchess.”
“Step back.”
With those words, Ione pressed her back firmly against the sofa.
There was nowhere else to run, and this was the best she could do.
But in the end, it wasn’t a good idea.
As Penelope bent her knees, Ione looked like a cornered animal.
“Your Highness, I can see something special.”
Your energy is clear.
Penelope’s words overlapped with a familiar voice in Ioné’s head.
The ancestral spirit is angry!
Oh no...
Ione was truly terrified.
If this happened in the subway, she could run away. But trapped in a parlor with this person, there was nowhere to flee...
Panicked, Ione rolled her eyes and suddenly remembered the heavy object she had in her hand.
It has teleportation inscribed on it. The magic stone’s power triggers the spell, so even non-mages can use it.
How do you use this again?
No need to recite the spell. Just think of the place or person you want to go to.
Clenching the orb tightly in her hand, Ione desperately shouted,
“Where Adrian is!”
With a soft thud, Ione felt the ground drop beneath her.
She landed exactly as she had been seated on the sofa.
When she opened her eyes, Ione was stiff with shock.
She was sitting demurely on Adrian’s lap.