The Witch of Paitan — Chapter 9

I...

I DESERVE TO DIE!!

DARING TO DO THIS WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING YOU WERE HERE...!

YOUR HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUCHESS..!

YOUR HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUCHESS.

...WHAT'S GOING ON?

PLEASE FORGIVE ME!

PL-PLEASE, HAVE MERCY—

I UNDERSTAND... NOW GO AND DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.

LAST NIGHT... YOU WENT TO THE GRAND DUKE'S ROOM?

YES, HIS HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUKE CALLED FOR ME, SO I WENT.

WHAT FOR?

THAT IS...

...IT'S HIS HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUKE'S PRIVATE MATTER, SO I CANNOT SPEAK OF IT CARELESSLY.

A PRIVATE MATTER...? THEN WHAT ABOUT OFFICIAL MATTERS?

IF IT'S AN OFFICIAL MATTER, I CAN SPEAK OF IT, AS HIS HIGHNESS LEFT A MESSAGE.

...WHAT IS IT?

"I AM GOING ON AN INSPECTION STARTING TODAY."

"I PROBABLY WON'T BE BACK FOR A FEW DAYS."

"SO-"

"DO NOT COME TO MY ROOM."

IF YOU HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES.

BARON GILLIAN IS SCHEDULED TO VISIT THIS AFTERNOON.

HE WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH YOUR SCHEDULE AND WHAT YOU NEED TO LEARN MOVING FORWARD.

I'VE BEEN WONDERING THIS FOR A WHILE... WHAT KIND OF ABILITY DO YOU HAVE?

ASIDE FROM YOUR TALENT FOR MAKING MEDICINE-

IF I KNOW SOMEONE'S FULL NAME, I CAN PEER INTO THEIR PAST.

I CAN ALSO TELL WHO HAS MAGICAL POWER AND THE ABILITY TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN LIES AND TRUTH.

...I SEE.

SO... ASLA SENT YOU TO SPY ON ME?

PARDON?

YOUR HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUCHESS.

EVER SINCE COMING TO THE DUCHY... YOU'VE CHANGED A BIT.

...YOU TOO.

TEN DAYS FROM NOW, A WELCOME BALL FOR THE GRAND DUCHESS WILL BE HELD.

UNTIL THEN, YOU MUST KNOW THE MANAGEMENT AND FINANCES OF CORNWALL CASTLE, AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE OF THE CASTLE.

THE SPACES YOU USE MAINLY ARE FIXED, BUT-

W-WAIT A MOMENT!

DID THE PREVIOUS GRAND DUCHESS... ALSO TAKE CHARGE OF ALL THIS WORK?

NO, THE PREVIOUS GRAND DUCHESS DIDN'T GET INVOLVED IN THE KINGDOM'S AFFAIRS TO THIS EXTENT.

THEN WHY... ARE YOU GIVING ME THIS KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY?

IT IS AN ORDER FROM HIS HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUKE; HE WISHED FOR YOU TO LEARN THE KINGDOM'S SITUATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

AH...

ARE YOU ALRIGHT?

YES... WELL...

I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU'RE ALRIGHT.

After that, you need to learn the history of the Paitan kingdom, you see!

Good luck, Your Highness the Grand Duchess!

YOUR HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUCHESS?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW?

WILL I BE ABLE TO DO WELL?

BACK AT THE ROYAL PALACE, I JUST HAD TO STAY STILL LIKE AN ORNAMENT...

IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN STAY STILL JUST LIKE YOU DID AT THE ROYAL PALACE.

EVERYTHING IS THE GRAND DUCHESS'S CHOICE, HOWEVER...

I... SINCERELY HOPE THAT YOUR HIGHNESS WILL BECOME THE MOTHER OF THE KINGDOM.

HERE IN PAITAN.

HA... SINCE YOU PUT IT THAT WAY, I HAVE NO CHOICE. IF IT'S A TASK GIVEN TO ME, I SHOULD NATURALLY DO IT.

DO YOUR BEST! NOW THAT YOU'VE BECOME THE MISTRESS OF THIS CASTLE, YOU MUST EXERCISE THE "AUTHORITY" BEFITTING THAT POSITION.

DID YOU JUST SAY AUTHORITY?

YES... IS THERE A PROBLEM...?

THEN CAN I PERSONALLY CHOOSE THE PERSON WHO WILL OFFICIALLY ASSIST ME?

OF COURSE, DO YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE SOMEONE IN MIND?

I DO, SOMEONE I DON'T WANT TO KEEP BY MY SIDE...

PARDON?

SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THE KINGDOM'S SITUATION WELL, KEEPS THEIR MOUTH SHUT,

AND HAS A STRONG RESOLVE-PLEASE SEND ME A FEW CANDIDATES.

I WILL CHOOSE MYSELF!

THEY SAY HALF THE VILLAGE WAS BURIED DUE TO A LANDSLIDE OCCURRING ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CAPITAL.

IMMEDIATELY ORGANIZE A RESCUE TEAM WITH THE ELITE PERSONNEL.

I'M GOING TOO.

GOT YOU, YOU DAYTIME THIEF.

JUST BECAUSE YOU SHOT A FEW ARROWS, YOU DARE TRY TO GET REVENGE ON ME?

STAY STILL, IF YOU DON’T WANT YOUR HEAD BASHED IN.

CLAIMING TO BE A SPIRITUAL BEAST YET FAILING TO RECOGNIZE WHO I AM...

HOW CAN YOU BE THIS STUPID EVEN AFTER BEING REBORN, PEPE?

YEAH... IT'S ME.

NOW THAT YOU KNOW, DON'T GET IN THE WAY AND GO CHECK ON YOUR MASTER.