Drop!! ～A Tale of the Fragrance Princess～ (WN)

Three days later, Cordelia headed with Ronnie to the Zakharov residence at the time indicated by Count Zakharov. For a regular tea party, the offering would be Emina, but Ronnie would not have any problems because she already has acquaintances with Count Zakharov.

The Zakharov residence was a quiet mansion.

Constructed of pruned evergreen trees and stone statues, the garden maintains a beautiful balance and shows splendid variation. I just felt like I was being sued for loneliness by some grass tree.

"... that's a quiet mansion. They seem to be killing people, too."

"Right."

Get off the carriage in front of the entrance while having such a conversation with a suppressed voice.

After being invited to the mansion by a servant, he is guided separately from Ronnie, as is the usual tea party. The squire will wait in a separate room until the tea party is over, and the invitees will wait until time arrives or be guided directly to the venue, but this time there will be no squire because the other person being called is Sherry, and Ronnie will wait alone.

It was rarely the upstairs room that the servant led me to.

It's usually a sunny room or garden on the ground floor, but the conductor said Shelley hoped the taller room in the mansion would have a better view.

Count Zakharov was already waiting in the room.

"Hey, Mr. Cordelia. Nice of you to come."

"Thank you for inviting me, Count Zakharov"

There was a lot of light plunging into the invited room. But on the other hand, I can also feel the loneliness I felt in the garden. That may also have something to do with being a somewhat killer landscape room.

Cordelia felt a little more complicated about the placement that gave the impression that there was a gap than simplicity. It doesn't mean that the more things you have, the better. But if Count Zakharov is the type to look good, as Elvis put it, I think he would decorate just a few more rooms inviting guests. You mean you can't afford that much?

"I sent for a pick up, and it looks like Mr. Shelley's a little late."

"You wish I'd picked you up."

Shelley said she ended up staying at the castle all day, but returned to church.

However, Ishma, the Clyde Raine magician is already in the process of escorting her and performing a magic identification test. However, Ishma said she must be almost certain that she would make it that far.

"We can't let our guests take that kind of trouble. Better yet, I'm glad you hung up and waited."

"Now, if you'll excuse me"

If Count Zakharov visits the church frequently, he will also know that there is already a Clydraine sorcerer in the church. That way, you might be able to guess how things went (whispering), and I don't think Shelly is the type to delude you well in the first place. By and large, it is no wonder that Cordelia's silence is no longer considered meaningful the moment she meets Count Clyde Raine.

"I'm so sorry for the inconvenience that I just asked you out during this time. I'm sorry for what I did."

"No, never mind"

"No, you can't do that. I think Mr. Shelley would have been missing if it weren't for you. Thank you, Mr. Cordelia."

"No, I... thanks to Ronnie for being there"

"Oh, you're Ronnie. I thought you'd be strong enough to be your escort... but I really can't thank him enough either. That's the magician who serves the Pamela family."

Cordelia was uncomfortable with the Earl.

On the other hand, I'm saying I can't thank Ronnie enough, and I haven't invited Ronnie on this occasion. Ronnie herself would be better off with that, but does Count Zakharov, who usually treats civilians frequently, mean that Ronnie will not be invited to this occasion on the grounds that he is a civilian? I don't deny that I was obsessed with Shelley, but if you are a person who has always been active in charity, you have more to do with civilians than any other nobleman.

"... Count, I apologize for suddenly disappearing on that occasion, albeit suddenly. I asked the Knights to give a message to the Count, but did it get through right away?

"Oh, that wasn't a problem. I was a little surprised when I finished my errands, because Mr. Shelley had a lot of interest, and I was wondering if he'd gone near the tent first."

"Really?"

"That's a store I know. They showed me a lot of things."

You said you wouldn't mind Shelly looking around in the first place, but would it be something you'd focus on if you wanted? It's going to be a little different from what the Count looked like thinking about Shelley as a top priority.

"... Was it a gift for Mr. Shelley that was being viewed?

"That's right. But thank you. I'm going to have to celebrate."

After all, it seemed to convey about the Count Clyde Laine family.

"It's a shame, but there's no choice. If you are a child with ties to the Clyde Raine family, you will not be my kin. But if she goes out into the social world, I'll have a chance to face each other, and it's just an honor to let her get along."

"... Really?"

"Besides, she brought me the edge. I know Mr. Cordelia because of her. Like Ronnie, I might ask you to help someone who can control three men in no time alone."

To the Earl, who jokingly tells him, Cordelia tilted her neck with a smile.

"Count, maybe Mr. Shelley won't be here today?

"Why not?

"Which one did you hear about that? The only number of men Ronnie has captured should be me and Ronnie, and then the knights in the investigation. If anyone has spilled it, it is a matter that must be reported to your brothers."

Count Zakharov opened his eyes to a cordelia with a smile on his face, and laughed peacefully.

"You're really smart, aren't you? No, I guess I was just a detour. It seemed a little floating."

"Can you float?... It was a situation where I couldn't tell which, but you still have something to do with it, too? Why are you doing this?

Still, there was no way to panic to Count Zakharov.

"I also know that there are people who are looking for Mr. Shelley. I had more to do with her, and I had a man who offered me a reward for success."

"So..."

"But I didn't find it appealing. I did have a big forehead, but what I was looking for wasn't money, and I didn't think that was just the amount I could buy"

Cordelia asked Count Zakharov, who was in no hurry.

"What do you want?"

"It's a compliment. But the praise that can be bought with the offered amount will disappear in an instant. So I wouldn't have gotten this story either if I hadn't been told that I would have had the opportunity to talk to you and Mr. Cordelia."

"I?"

Cordelia frowned at her name, which was suddenly put out, but Satisfied Count Zakharov continued eloquently.

"I always knew your story. It's a reputation within our people to be a daughter who thinks about educating her children less than ten years ago and brings together aristocratic children for charity. So... you know how comfortable it is to be praised, too, right? No, there's no point in my life without that."

……

"The more you give, the more thankful you can convey, the harder that joy is to substitute for anything"

"And what does it have to do with talking to me?

"This is it."

Saying so, Zakharov put his first potted plant on the table.

"What's this?

"It's a herb that fascinates people. You'll get pleasure, you'll have fun hallucinations, no, even dreams"

"... drugs, are you"

"It's just grass as it is, it needs to be processed."

Cordelia had also examined drugs in knowing dangerous herbs, but what was now in front of her was something she had never seen. The shape is similar to hemp, but the color of the leaves is red and other non-hemp characteristics can also be seen, so where might it be a new breed made from?

"It was originally a northern plant, but it looks like this air will fit. It's just hard for me to raise you on my own. I was hoping Mr. Cordelia could help me. Someone told me you'd be interested in grass like this."

Hearing the word North, Cordelia glanced at Count Zakharov.

"I wonder if you are from the Dark Alliance of the North."

"Oh, yeah. He said that Mr. Cordelia was a favorite, so if you heard rumors of an impending crisis on Mr. Sherry, he would surely come out. If Shelley had been kidnapped like that, it would have been one stone and two birds, but I'm not even too disappointed because you were there. He just gave me a piece of gold to hang out with, and it's a shame to let go of the kid who connects me that far."

"Wasn't it for her?"

"He's cute, but if we don't stop talking, we'll talk extensively, because sometimes he's a little loud."

Count Zakharov, who said so, had an unchanged grin from the beginning, and had no evil at all.

(I see, the ghost may not have lied, but you hid the best part)

It's impossible that I trusted everything, but I just didn't expect that I was destiny.

(But that's what the ghost enjoyed going on about, too.)

Then I'm angry, but I'm also convinced.

It may certainly have been inconvenient for the ghost for Sherry to come north, but I was wondering if he was looking forward to where Cordelia was going to be targeted trying to protect it.

"When the ship ran out, didn't you think about buying it again?"

"Do you know what it's like to lose a lot of money that's been piling up in an instant? You wouldn't know. Plus, I can turn a pity on you. That's unbearable. Then you'd give up the ship. But you couldn't stop acting like a street until then. Fortunately, there was wealth. I was hoping I could find another business soon, but it was a miscalculation that I couldn't find"

"If you made the wrong choice, it wouldn't have been miscalculation or anything, it would have made sense."

But Cordelia's words did not reach Count Zakharov.

"This herb doesn't exist in this country yet, so I'm sure there won't be any competitors"

"Don't you think it's unethical?"

"Is it something you care about? Sell what you want to the customer you want and be happy. Spend that money on charity and get further praise. No one's going to hurt you."

Count Zakharov seemed to get more and more excited about his words.

"He said in the north. I'm sure Mr. Cordelia will cooperate, too. I'm sure you don't have enough money to do what you want, either. Unlike your brother and the Count, you can't get caught up in the things you already have."

……

"Mr. Cordelia is the daughter of the Pameladia family. He would also be good at encouraging the growth of plants. This is as much a gold-growing plant as it is. You know how great it is? Of course, publicly, some may hate it, but it's not forbidden, and it's not reprehensible. More importantly, if you let them know, they could make the same money."

I see, have you been fooled by the sweet words of the ghost?

(No, you're not. Would I be more right to jump on a mud boat myself)

Cordelia recreated the look that had gotten tough to smile again.

Then he stood up slowly and then lifted his arm to the shoulder position, pointing his palm towards Zakharov's plant. The plant withered away in an instant.

"Nah..."

"I like to do things that please me. However, I do not agree with your ideas. Count, no, Zakharov. You suck."

Cordelia's behavior was such that Zaharov couldn't keep up with his understanding, but Cordelia continued.

"Can you buy praise with money? That's not true. Sometimes I can't do it without money, indeed. But all you get now is curse. I don't think you can, but I have no reason to miss this."

The face I was grooming had to change sharply at the end.

Ahead Cordelia glanced, Zakharov slowly raised his face from the dead bowl.

But he had already returned the look he had lost for a moment, had a much more spare look on his face, and seemed to have not enjoyed it at all, such as being turned down.

"- That's a lot different from his story. But I'm going to ask Cordelia to help me in any case."

"So far, you think I'll cooperate?

"If I had to, it would be different. Mr. Cordelia is smart, but that's why he seems a little proud."

Yet Zakharov slowly rose.

"I have as much power as a magician does. I may be inferior to your father or brother, but I have a taste for martial arts. If it were to be a carriage, there would be no carrying you or building you. It's upstairs so we can get out of here. I said no, and Mr. Cordelia has to help."

"... If I disappear from this mansion, Ronnie will find it unnatural. Mostly, you know your father."

"Just like when Mr. Shelley did, you just have to decide that a suspicious person raided the mansion. The truth is, even then, if Cordelia had sent Ronnie alone, it wouldn't have been such a hassle, but Cordelia was different then."

I see, is that what happened?

I thought it was a roundabout hand when I did it, but it didn't all seem like Zakharov was on schedule. Still think you're in a vantage point now, Zakharov's margin has never disappeared.

But Cordelia wasn't in a hurry either.

"Then let me say it too. I'm also the daughter of the Pameladia family. Think you didn't consider the possibility of a trap?

Cordelia, who said so, quickly scattered seeds.

"That's what you're good at, I hear you too!

The sword is swung aside, the cordelia is susceptible and the grass is swept away, but again the grass soon grows to the same height and strikes Zakharov as if he were willing. But does Zakharov's sword also possess magic, and he will not give in to it?

(If you compare the roots of magic, you won't lose. But you're not doing that now)

Cordelia, however, gave a small grin at the way it looked.

At the next moment, a single thick twat stretched from behind Zakharov wrapped around his neck.

"I'm told to remember my degree of protection."

"Gu."

"If your carotid artery tightens, your consciousness... and if your neck squeezes before it, your breath will also be painful, won't it? I was not at all alert behind it, so I did not hesitate to take it."

With that said, Cordelia took another snare from Zakharov's arm, where the movement stopped, to start the sword, and at the same time to strengthen the restraint of his hands and feet. Zakharov's expression looked even more distorted. But to be honest, it was Cordelia who surprised me.

(... worked better than I thought)

I couldn't help but be surprised at my witchcraft, which I was working out, just because I thought it would be enough to buy a little time. Sometimes Zaharov's alarm has passed, but Zaharov's alarm may be due to Sherry's usual behavior. If Zaharov's standards for a child in his mind were hers, even tension would fade. Then I have nothing to thank Shelley for.

"Nah, I'm coming...!

You mean he was just referring to himself as a magician, or Zakharov broke the restraint on his left half with his own magic. But Cordelia never panicked about it.

Yes, we've already bought too much time.

"Zakharov, you've missed one more thing."

"What..."

"Ronnie is more dependable than you think. Because if it's not a fairly powerful junction, I'll find out as quickly as I can. On the contrary, it only results in suspicion, doesn't it?

The moment Cordelia said that, the door to the room was broken rampantly.

But Cordelia didn't move at all to the sound.

"You said that too, didn't you? Ronnie is very dependable."

"Also -... lady. I told you to give me a signal if anything happened, but suddenly you didn't tell me to fight."

To Zakharov rounding his eyes, Ronnie sighed scratching his head.

"We'll talk about it later. For one thing, I know it's not convenient for a lady to do this."

And sometimes the self-proclaimed sorcerer had shackles, but he couldn't resist the real sorcerer in any way, and was quickly skipping consciousness.