Chapter 74

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 74

Chapter Title: Missing Teeth

-----------------------------------------------------------------

I sprawled out alone on the gazebo bench, staring vacantly into a hand mirror with a dazed look on my face.

No matter how I squinted at it, there were two gaping holes right next to my upper front teeth.

'I'm doomed. Totally doomed.'

Kids my age started venturing outdoors around this time. Not full-fledged tea parties yet, but tagging along with their parents to family social events, just showing their faces.

That was because all their missing teeth would've grown back in by now.

'But mine just fell out...'

On top of that, the two teeth on either side of my lower ones were already wobbling.

'Hang in there, you guys. If you fall out too, I'll look hideous. At least wait until the spring social season's over.'

I was clutching the mirror and praying desperately when footsteps approached. It was the attendant.

"I've brought a letter."

The envelope was from Celia. I held out my hand.

"……."

"……?"

But the attendant didn't hand it over. Instead, he stared at my face for a good while.

"You came to see this."

"May I take a look? Celia insisted I snap a picture and send it—"

He pulled out a large image crystal.

"—so I brought this along."

"Perfect! I was stressing over how to manage it."

I pouted as I spoke, and the attendant shrugged.

"Why's that?"

"It feels weird. I have to concentrate so hard just to speak clearly. Even now, I'm enunciating every word on purpose."

"Then ask the head of House Dubos to make your teeth grow back."

My eyes went wide.

"Is it possible to control human growth? I've never heard of anything like... Oh."

Veronica Dubos, head of House Dubos, had botched her research and stopped aging past her eighties. In other words, she'd halted her own growth.

The attendant nodded.

"She's the foremost expert in that field."

"Let's go."

My grin revealed the gaps in my teeth. The attendant chuckled with a "How adorable," but I was past caring.

'If Veronica can grow my teeth back!'

Dad had said I could go anywhere as long as I took three Iri escorts with me, so I immediately summoned the knights.

***

So why had things turned out like this?

Seated in the carriage, I kept stealing glances at Yohan across from me.

'This is awkward...'

I'd only told the knights to head to the Dubos mansion, but somehow I'd ended up traveling with Yohan.

The Iri were out on spring training exercises, leaving most unavailable. The only ones who could escort me to the mansion were Yohan's guards (or minders, as assigned by Dad for defying him).

[What should we do, little one...? Ah, perfect. Yohan has business at the Dubos place too. Why not go together?]

I'd assumed Yohan would refuse, but for some reason, he'd agreed to take me along.

"Um, thanks..."

As I spoke, Yohan's gaze turned to me.

"For what?"

"For escorting me."

"I have business at the Dubos estate, and bringing you along distracts the surveillance—makes conversations easier. What's there to thank me for?"

Yohan spoke in that impassive tone, so I rolled my eyes.

"Right... Yeah, no need for thanks then."

I nodded brightly, and Yohan's expression grew peculiar.

"Just like my aunt said—you're an odd one."

"Me?"

"Unique."

"How so?"

"Most kids would mumble something like 'Thanks anyway' and keep clinging. Desperately trying to chat."

"Should I say 'thanks anyway' then...?"

I drooped my brows as I asked, and Yohan tilted his head slightly.

"At least you're not a nuisance. That's something."

"Then I definitely won't apologize!"

I giggled, and Yohan shot me a quick glance before looking away.

'I absolutely must not annoy Yohan.'

He never bared his claws unless someone got under his skin.

Like at dinner yesterday—if Henri and Ishak hadn't started the sniping first, he'd been indifferent even to his brothers.

'Dad's the root of it all for him—the source of his irritations—so he lashes out.'

Lost in those thoughts, I felt the carriage grind to a halt.

Yohan and I entered the Dubos mansion amid their warm welcome.

"A pleasure, little one. I'm Melanie Dubos, wife of Viscount Dubos."

A strikingly pale middle-aged woman greeted me.

'She has a good vibe.'

Her smile was kind, and her witty words eased any tension.

"Hello. Beautiful Lady Dubos."

"Oh my, such lovely manners. I've heard so much from my husband. He always speaks of you with such delight."

"Nothing bad, I hope?"

I glanced at Viscount Dubos as I said it. He flinched dramatically, while his wife chuckled.

"If he were that disloyal, I'd have him flogged myself. Now, come along—the head is waiting—"

Her words were cut off by a thunderous clatter from the stairs.

"Little one!"

It was Veronica, bounding down with flushed cheeks.

She seized both my hands the moment she reached the bottom.

"I'm thrilled you came! Your letter had me so excited—I was on pins and needles waiting. And I prepared tons of snacks...! Oh, right—Melanie, where are the chocolate biscuits I asked for?"

"A servant rushed out to buy some. But Head, perhaps we should head upstairs to talk?"

Melanie suggested gently, and Veronica beamed. "Yes! Of course!" She tugged me along.

"I'll show you my lab. It's full of fun things."

The Dubos household seemed a bit flustered, but I followed her up the stairs without hesitation.

The moment we entered the lab, Veronica launched into explanations.

"This is a lightning-struck Elza tree root, this is an ironclad dragon fossil, and, and...!"

"Hey!"

She blinked at me, eyes wide.

"Hello?"

I smiled warmly. Only then did Veronica blush. "Ah, greetings..." she mumbled.

"Welcome to House Dubos, little one."

"Thank you. For showing me your amazing lab."

She fidgeted with her hands, mumbling.

"Everyone calls it creepy... Oh! Sit here—we can chat."

The table she pointed to was piled high with treats.

She heaped donuts and cakes onto my plate the instant I sat and asked,

"So, what brings you here today?"

"I have a favor to ask."

"Anything at all."

"My teeth fell out. I want them to grow back fast!"

"Why? They're so cute like this. I've been sneaking peeks because you're just too adorable."

I drooped my brows and covered my mouth with both hands.

"A dignified young lady doesn't have gaps...!"

"Hmm, I prefer cute over dignified, but solving your problem is no trouble at all."

My face lit up.

"You'll make my teeth grow back quickly?"

"I can accelerate tooth growth, of course. But anything forced to grow artificially is fragile. Your new teeth might snap right off again."

New permanent teeth. If they broke, I'd be stuck like this forever.

'They might call me the gappy-toothed lady!'

The horrifying thought drained the color from my face.

"Then what should I do?"

"We'll create illusory teeth to tide you over until the real ones grow in. You'll pronounce words perfectly, and no one else will notice the gaps."

"Please do it!"

It was exactly what I needed. Veronica beamed.

"For you, anything. Um... could you pay me somehow?"

Of course. I pulled out the pouch I'd brought from the castle.

"I brought plenty of money!"

"Well... not money..."

She fidgeted, glancing around shyly, then cupped her cheeks and twisted bashfully.

"I want to braid your hair. Haaaa...!"

...Veronica really wasn't normal.

'But that's a small price.'

I nodded vigorously.

"Sure."

"Yay! Let's start right away!"

"Is making illusory teeth difficult? Will it take long?"

"No. I just infuse information into a medium and refine it. Turn it into an accessory you wear, and done. Not that hard. Though other mages and priests can't manage it."

Veronica rummaged through her desk, tossing items aside.

"I don't get why it's so tough for them. Young folks these days are all idiots. No real hardship, so no desperation."

Her youthful face flashed with the cynicism of an eighty-year-old.

I recalled the attendant's words.

[You pity Veronica Dubos for being called the Witch of the West? I think there's a misunderstanding...]

[Isn't it because her unchanging appearance makes her seem even scarier?]

[Not at all. No one's as thrilled about a failed experiment as Veronica Dubos. She's obsessively into cute things. She got the Witch title after some lord snubbed her at a party—she razed the entire northeast region over it.]

[...And the capital just let that slide?]

[Of course they arrested her—she did a long stint in prison. But no one dared suggest executing her. She's a genius mage. No one matches her knowledge or skill even now.]

I clasped my hands, resolving to get along with Veronica no matter what.

She was still digging through her desk.

"None here. Guess we'll improvise. Little one, let's use that one."

I stared blankly at the stone she pointed to.

Wasn't that the ironclad dragon fossil she'd bragged about earlier?

"But that's super valuable...!"

"Not as valuable as braiding your hair."

She placed the fossil on the desk with firm resolve and said,

"It needs a few drops of blood, but you have holy power—shall we use that instead? I can't bear to nick your cute little hand."

I nodded and infused a bit of holy power into the fossil.

That was when it happened.

Guuuuong—!

The world trembled faintly, a ringing piercing my ears.

Veronica muttered "What was that?" and flung open the window to peer outside.

"Doesn't seem like an earthquake."

Meanwhile, I stared blankly into empty space. Veronica tilted her head at me.

"Little one?"

"...I-I need the bathroom! Quick!"

"Second door on the right in the hall."

I bolted into the corridor and slammed the door of the room she'd indicated.

Then I stared into the void again. More precisely, at the entity floating there—a breathtaking figure with waist-length hair. Not quite a person.

"I am the ninth pillar, Paimon. Was it you who summoned me?"

All I'd wanted was my teeth to grow back faster. And yet, I'd called forth a new demon.