Because of Duke Seymour's support, I was able to quickly obtain a 'Letters Patent', as soon as the fact-finding meeting was over.
And thanks to the many people that came to observe the fact-finding meeting, I was able to secure early customers more quickly.
'I don't know why the Epsilon executives came to the fact-finding meeting, but it sure was a good thing for me.'(*^^*)
Arin told me that the 5th Princess, who was one of Epsilon executive and a fire mage, was particularly excited that day and went around telling everybody about my improved formula.
"The 5th Princess said that the formula that Princess Deborah improved is more beautiful than Sir Isidor, the most handsome man in the empire."
Arin Oslot concluded, using a metaphor that I was not particularly fond of.
'But, even though she seems to be very scared of me, she says everything she has to say.'
When I looked at her, Arin's face turned red and she lowered her head.
"Good job Arin."
I lightly tapped her on the shoulder.
"Aaaaaa!"
Arin was startled by my touch like a squirrel who was bitten by a snake.
"Princess Deborah, I am going to w-work now! I need to do the research you requested!"
"Alright, go."
When she heard my answer, Arin shut her mouth tightly and ran out of the campus of the Department of Magic.
'She really was uncomfortable.
Haaa...I feel like a villain tormenting a cute little child.(ToT)
I am sorry... but I have to live as the cold villain.
I extort people, 7 silver and 99 copper coins every month, and because I made an example of the Lemont family, most people think that I am showing mercy.
I can do what I want because people think that this behavior is normal for me who is a wicked woman.
I liked it so much...that I can't stop.
I am going to live up to this image.'
.................
"Whoa,whoa... What do I do!"
Arin grabbed the shoulder that Princess Deborah had touched and her face turned red again while she jumped like a crazy person.
"So coooool! She is sooooo amazing!"
'I will never wash these clothes, their were touched by the divine touch of Princess Deborah, I will keep them as an heirloom for the rest of my life.
But...I don't have many clothes.'
Arin's family has fallen to ruin, all because of her father's gamble habbit.
Arin looked at the tip of her old shoes with a sullen face, but she cheered up when she recalled the contents of the fourth clause of the contract brought up by Princess Deborah.
"Arin Oslot is working as Seymour's librarian as of April 23."
The position of Seymour's internal librarian was temporarily vacant, so she decided to work there as a temporary employee.
'I can't believe it...I am Princess Deborah vassal!'
"Kyaa!"
Arin was so happy that she let out a shriek.
Princess Deborah was a very compassionate master.
As the Seymour's librarian, she will be able to read whatever books she wants and she can do her schoolwork at the same time.
'And the salary is quite high, I can buy new clothes right away.
But, above all, it is an honor for my family to be able to breathe in the same space as Princess Deborah.
I am so happy. It feels like a dream.'
Actually, Arin was really scared at first. Her first impression of Princess Deborah, was very bad because of all the horrible rumors about her.
And because of Princess Deborah's appearance, with dark circles and dark red eyes, the impact was even more brutal that day when she stopped George's bullying. Arin was so scared when she saw Princess Deborah that she was about to faint.
But to her surprise Princess Deborah, with her bloodshot eyes and a gloomy atmosphere, struck George with the truth, that he was ugly.
'How can she be so straightforward like that?'
Princess Deborah, who was rumored to have a bad temper, may not have stepped in to help her, but in the end, Arin was able to escape George's bullying because of her.
Arin wanted to thanks her, then, for stopping George, but Princess Deborah began to punish George for his carelessly behavior before she could gather up the courage to speak.
And strangely, that night, Arin couldn't sleep properly because she kept thinking about Princess Deborah.
'"The absurd theory you claim to be true."
Why wasn't I able to refute him so confidently like Princess Deborah?'
Arin was slowly losing confidence because of the ignorant words her father and brother habitually uttered.
Like George, her father, the Earl of Oslot, also belived that women were naturally bad with magic, and his belives where passed down to his son.
And since childhood, the high quality education was monopolized by her older brother, and Arin received only the basic education
However, Arin liked to read and was smart, so she was able to qualify for the program for gifted people run by the Wizard Association, on her own.
Because of her father's gambling and a series of failed trading businesses, magic was Arin's only hope.
But recently, even that hope was fading...because of her body constitution it was troublesome to build up mana, and the habitual disrespect from those around her and the lack of support from her family, she felt like she couldn't bear it anymore.
But amid all those hardships, Arin felt her mind clear when, George, who constantly picked fights with her whenever he had a chance, was beaten to her heart's content.
Moreover, there was something about Princess Deborah, that could make a woman's hearts flutter.
The denial she had, that she was becoming a fan of Princess Deborah, was brief.
After that day, Arin started to make a gift to repay Princess Deborah.
'Whatever her intentions where, Princess Deborah stepped in, and George's bullying disappeared because of that...so, I have an excuse to give her something, and I want to give Princess Deborah a gift as a fan to. I know that it's an insignificant gift and there is no helping it if she throws it away...'
As she was fiddling with her magical crafted gift, Arin approached Princess Deborah, who was sitting on a bench on the campus behind the magic building.
When she saw Princess Deborah's gorgeous jewelry and luxurious dress, Arin felt intimidated, but surprisingly, Princess Deborah spoked first.
"Hey! You there, is there something you want to say to me?"
"Ahhh...that! Here, I was grateful for what you did last time."
Arin's hands and feet trembled as she met Princess Deborah's red eyes.
She felt like she was going to throw up because of the tension.
"What is this?"
"It is a violet that has been enchanted with a preservation magic and scent amplification.
The scent will last for a long time and it will remain in the same shape for more than a month, you can use it as a table decoration."
"You can cast attribute magic on a flower?"
"Yes."
"It looks good."
A faint smile appeared on Princess Deborah's lips.
After Princess Deborah softly tooked the violet from Arin's hand, with her pale hands, she opened her mouth.
"What is your name?"
"Arin Oslot."
After her conversation with Princess Deborah, Arin couldn't sleep all night long.
'I can't believe that Princess Deborah accepted my gift.'
Then the next day something happened that made Arin even more excited.
Princess Deborah came to Arin with a contract.
"Do you want to work as my vassal?"
"What?! Me?! Working as your vassal?!"
'How could I, when I look so shabby?'
"There is no need to be afraid. There is something I want to make with your abilities."
Arin's face lit up when she heard Princess Deborah's words, that she needed her insignificant abilities.
Arin was so happy that her whole body was trembling.
"You need money, right? And as you know, I have nothing but money, so we will get along well."
Princess Deborah fluttered a piece of paper that was caught between her index and middle finger, with a wiked smile, signaling to sign it right then.
'I think I am going to have a nosebleed!'
Arin Oslot, who had a preference for bad men, signed the slavery contract without hesitatitation.
And she hasn't regretted her choice, not even once.
..........
In the meanwhile... there was another person that wanted to get closer to Princess Deborah, besides Arin Oslot.
The 5th Princess. Vivienne Hystch.
The only younger sister of the Crown Prince Behonik Hystch, and also one of the Empire's fire wizards.
On the day of the fact-finding meeting.
The 5th Princess reluctantly attended the fact-finding meeting at Isidor's request.
Since it was the request from the man her brother cherished the most, there was nothing she could do but to accept.
'Seymour's ruffian has gotten in trouble again.'
The 5th Princess leaned against the wall with an annoyed expression and folded her arms.
But, the fact-finding meeting began to develop in a completely unexpected way, and the 5th Princess lax attitude gradually changed.
'How can she solve that formula so fast?'
She started to concentrate on the fact-finding meeting with her fists clenched tight.
"I am...in love."
The 5th Princess, who was looking at the improved formula, suddenly rubbed her hot cheeks.
Thierry, who was standing next to her, was surprised by the fact that the 5th Princess, who usually calm, had such an intense reaction.
"Your Highness, for who on earth did you fall for?"
"I fell in love with the new method of approach.
She broke all the conventions set by the Archmage."
"Honestly, I have no idea what Princess Deborah is talking about. What is x and what is y? Are they two lovers or are they enemies? Why are they suddenly sticking together and falling apart like that, causing a commotion?"
"Stop talking."
Looking at Thierry, who was uttering only nonsense, the 5th Princess got angry.
But like Thierry, the others executives who were amateurs in magic looked at Princess Deborah formula confused.
'And they were appointed as executives.'
After the turbulent fact-finding meeting, Isidor smiled proudly.
"Didn't I say it would be fun? Your Highness."
"I have no idea what you are talking about, but I can see that Princess Deborah isn't a Seymour for nothing. To the point that she even surprised me, the 5th Princess."
Thierry muttered with a gloomy face.
"It was a really great performance, if even the 5th Princess gave her the thumbs up in admiration."
"The improved formula announced by Princess Deborah was a shock, and the way she fought against the Academy and Lemont by herself without feeling discouraged was impressive."
Princess Deborah is the most talented person that the 5th Princess has seen recently.
"Isidor, since you made my heart race so much, you are responsible for bringing Princess Deborah to Epsilon."
Thierry was surprised when the 5th Princess suddenly insisted, to bring Princess Deborah to Epsilon.
"But, won't Princess Deborah go to Omicron unconditionally?
There are a lot of vacancies, and above all, Sir Philap is there."
When she heard Thierry's words, the expressionless 5th Princess frowned slightly.
"Why would Seymour, an orthodox imperialist, go to such a place?"
Since Omicron was a club dominated by the senate forces the enemy of the imperial power, the 5th Princess was even more displeased with him.
"Because of Sir Philap...of course. "
"No problem, Sir Isidor can lure her with his beauty. He definitely can do it."
5th Princess cut off Thierry's words and stared at Isidor's beautiful face.
"Hmmm...Now that I think of it, it may be possible. Our Epsilon leader is much more handsome than Omicron's leader. He is our pride."
Thierry nodded his head in agreement.
"That is right. It is very much possible."
Isidor, who had already used the handsome guy strategy to the point of exhaustion, turned pale.
"Sir Isidor, do your best and bring her
to Epsilon."
The 5th Princess left the auditorium, leaving behind her firm order.
............................