The morning came and I was asked to have breakfast with my father, the Duke before he leaves for the imperial palace.

I was sitting in front of the vanity table as I saw my reflection in the mirror. I just took a bath and water droplets were sliding down my wet hair while I was thinking about all the events that took place yesterday. My mind was in a gutter. I can't believe what all happened yesterday!

I met the trash prince, found my stalker and lastly slave trading!

I was shaking my head with both hands.

Were these kinds of things mentioned in the book? Crap. I don't even remember any of the plot! If only I could read that novel again...

"Mylady, let me soak your hair" Mary came with a towel and dried my hair. Her face was like a tomato since this morning. Does she have any fever?

"Mary, are you not feeling well?"

"Huh?. No, mylady I'm completely fine" "she replied while still looking quite flustered.

Hmmm? Is it because of Sir Rufus?

Fufufufufu ~~my ship is sailing after all~~

"Ah! I forgot to tell you this, mylady. I heard a few maids gossiping about what happened in the town yesterday" Mary said with a smile plastered on her face.

What's this about? Is it about me?

I was curious and urged her to tell me what it was.

"Mylady, yesterday the crown prince and Lady melody were seen in the marketplace but you should know what happened next" Mary said with excitement and sparkling eyes.

"What happened next,Mary?" I asked while feigning innocence.

"The public went frenzy and everyone threw rotten vegetables at the crown prince" Mary said while chuckling.

I remembered the scene and couldn't contain my laughter as well.

"Apparently mylady, the media already captured photographs of the scene and was published this morning in the newspaper"

"What! Really??!! I must go and buy all the newspapers now itself. I'll cut his humiliated photograph and frame it while keeping it as a family heirloom. Mwahahahahaha" I laughed.

"Well.. About that mylady, the newspapers were already burned down by the imperial knights" Mary said while pouting.

F*ck his royal blood.

I huffed and suddenly remembered my stalker that I had met yesterday in the capital... That guy with blue eyes. He seems oddly familiar. In this empire only Vakaracia dukedom possess those deep blue eyes. He must be someone associated with that dukedom. But then again he knew me! Not the Salvarina me but the past me!

He must be someone I knew who died and got transmigrated here. Then it must be.. my papa?. I remember my papa died due to a car accident so that pretty boy is my papa? No no... I'm overthinking this. How can papa be in this book? Think about it Salvarina the only thing papa used to read was a boring newspaper. That's right he might be in his afterlife now.

Then who is that pretty stalker! Agh!

"Mylady, the Duke is waiting for you" Mary said.

"I'll be on my way then" I rose up from my seat and smiled at Mary.

"While I am away Mary, inform Sir Ballad about father's departure in the morning and ask him to escort father personally" I smiled and winked at Mary who's jaw was about to touch the floor.

"Then I'll be going" I ran away leaving a red-flustered Mary behind.

It feels good to play matchmaker ~

I entered the dining hall and was met with the Duke. I offered him my morning greetings as we both sat down for breakfast.

"Did you finish reading the interrogation papers?" father asked.

"Not really. I still have twenty six more to read" I woke up early to read those reports. There were fifty six reports piled up on my desk!

"Anything to update?"He asked while taking a slice of the pancakes.

"None really. It's just the same thing over and over. How they were abducted from their villages in the Melabour empire, How they were brought to the capital for the auction and a few mentioning about seeing the monster. Everyone mentioned the Viscount but none of them ever saw the Marquis. It's strange." I replied and took a bite of my smooth pancakes.

"He might be pulling strings from behind afterall Viscount Truffaut is just a puppet" while saying this the Duke slide me a sheet of paper.

I put my fork down and examined the paper.My eyes widened upon reading it.

"Viscount Truffaut is dead?!" I asked father.

"yes, It occurred yesterday late night. The Salvair knights found him murdered in his cabin" father said as a cold aura began to surround him.

"It's obvious...the Marquis is behind this"I gripped the sheet of paper and was annoyed that my torture plan went to a waste.

"yes. That is why we'll have to take quick action. I'll be meeting with Reynold and think of a plan to remove that sly old fox for good"

"We should act fast father. It seems like he already knew we were onto him"

"Yes my dear daughter"

After our small chat I asked father if I could use the room at the west wing as my laboratory. The Duke agreed and left for the palace with his escort knight Sir Ballad.

I smirked while skipping to my newly created laboratory. It's not really a laboratory but a room to train my personalised potion maker,my Iglo!

I opened the doors and took out some vials of liquids as I summoned Iglo.

"Master!" Iglo appeared in his cute wiggly form.

"Wow. You've turned back!"

"yes, master."

I took a vial of acid for Iglo to taste.

"Master..... What are you planning?" He asked while slowly wiggling away from me.

"I am actually planning to make you an acid spitting worm!"I said with sparkling eyes.

"Um? Is it safe, master?" He asked still wiggling away inch by inch.

"Iglo, relax and take deep breaths. I'm sure you'll be fine besides if anything went wrong I can heal you with my blood" monsters can be healed with the blood of their contractors so it'll be fine.

"Alright then. Here you go, Iglo"I took the vial to his mouth.

He tasted it and it looked more like he was analyzing it. After a few seconds I asked him to try and secrete it.

"Can you try and secrete it, Iglo?"

"I'm not sure if it'll work but I'll give it a try, master"

"That's my wiggly" I patted him gently while he huffed in response.

"I'm not wiggly -" before he finished his statement a fluid was secreted out of his mouth and was sprinkled on top of a few acids and other liquids placed there.

A loud sound was all I heard. My vision was blinded by black smoke. I began to cough as the smoke began to enter my nose. My eyes watered and began to sting.

I trotted towards the window and opened it. Letting clean air come in and the smoke to go out.

Finally fresh air..

"Iglo, are you alright?" I noticed him squirming around.

"I'm fine, master"

I looked around and noticed that all the vials and glasses were broken. Now I'd have to buy them again. I remembered the pink vial that shopkeeper showed me yesterday.

"Iglo, you can go back" I sent him back to the monsters realm while I went to change my dress.

My incognito clothes! It's the only time that'll be able to get out of these gowns and wear pants. Pants are comfortable.

I cleaned myself with a towel and looked at the mirror. The same brown hood, a plain white shirt and brown pants. It's perfect.

I grabbed my satchel and was about to leave when Mary came in.

"My lady, you are not allowed to leave by yourself." She said standing in front of the door while folding her hands.

"Don't worry Mary. I'll be back soon."

"No my lady. You have to bring an escort with you"

"Mary....Look at what I'm wearing there's no way someone would recognize me. Poeple are busy with their own problems to even notice my red hair and blue eyes."

"Then, I'll be coming with you" Mary was being persistent. There's no way that she'll let me go.

"Mary, fine I won't go at all" I said in an annoyed tone.

She looked guilty and drooped her head down.

"You can leave Mary. I'll be changing my clothes" I turned around and waved her off.

She didn't say anything but bowed and left. She probably wanted to assist me but obeyed my words.

I heard her foot stepsdamping in the hallway.

Now's the time. I took my satchel and opened the door. I ran as fast as I could. Upon reaching a window by the side. I opened it and jumped down to land perfectly on some hay.

I dusted off all the hay on my clothes and scurried off to the market.

I feel bad for Mary but what can I do? I'm more stubborn than her.

🔹