Calista frowned.
She was quite satisfied after Edmund admitted he was wrong for blaming her for the death of his lover, but something was amiss. Calista just couldn't put a finger on it.
"Are you heading home now, my lady?"
Calista turned to her left and found Count Livnov. She used to think he was the empire's national mascot for Ghost Day due to his perfectly grown white beard. Looking closely at the elder, she realized he looked like an ordinary aging man.
"I'm not sure. I haven't been out since the rumors spread about me being a murderer," Calista replied. "Maybe I should take this time to visit some shops."
The count nodded his head. "I could give you a lift. My carriage is waiting outside," he offered. After protecting the borders for decades, Count Livnov found himself alone. He would like to have a family as well, but it was too late for him to find a wife when he realized he needed one to start a family of his own.
The count thought Calista would be the same age as his granddaughter if he ever had a son. He couldn't help wanting to dote on her, except that he couldn't.
"No, thank you. I came in a carriage myself. I wouldn't want to cause you trouble either," Calista politely declined.
"Well, if that's the case. Have a safe trip, my lady."
Calista watched as the count left. She rarely talked to him, but she didn't dislike him. The elder would always send her gifts on special occasions, especially on her birthday. In return, she would get him something on his birthday as well. The count was like a grandpa from a different bloodline for Calista.
"You're still here. Are you waiting for someone?"
There was no need for Calista to turn around and see who was the owner of the voice. She could recognize people she hated even with her eyes closed.
"What do you think you're doing?" Calista raised her voice with a bored look plastered on her face. "Go away before people start a rumor about me with you."
Samuel groaned. "I don't even want to talk to you," he said in a defensive tone. He couldn't imagine himself being with the lady for an hour. "You're really a bad temper, lass. No wonder the count's son rejected you," he added.
Calista's ears perked. "Who wants your opinion? You're probably saying that now because you haven't been rejected in marriage…" she retorted.
"Oh, wait. You were rejected!" Calista's eyes sparkled in amusement. "Didn't you send me a marriage proposal two months ago? It was all thanks to your reminder that I have to find a husband myself. Otherwise, I might end up marrying someone like you."
Samuel clenched his fists. He always thought it would be nice to marry someone like Calista, but when he read the letter she sent after he proposed to her a marriage—in secret, he eventually regretted it. Since then, he kept questioning himself why, of all the ladies in the empire, he had to have a crush on Calista.
"T-That was a mistake," Samuel blushed. After getting humiliated, he did his best to convince the lady to hide what had happened. Calista agreed, but he had to give up one of the mines under his name.
When Duke Pazelle found out that his son transferred the ownership of one of their mines to Calista, he assumed it was because he offended her somehow and didn't question his son's action.
"Yeah, right? You paid a huge price for that mistake." Calista shook her head. "Just so you know, I haven't touched the mine you gave me yet. And I was only asking for a small percentage, not an entire mine. If people find out about this, they would be calling me greedy, don't you think?"
"That's why you shouldn't let people know about this, Lady Calista." Samuel couldn't believe he had to bow down in front of Calista. The latter didn't mind arguing with him in public, but when there were only the two of them, he could only listen to whatever she had to say.
"You're such a kid," Calista sighed. "If you believe I would tell people about the mistake you made, then you should have given me something better," she joked. "Don't worry too much. I don't want others to find out about that either. Plus, my fiance is quite sensitive so let's forget what happened. You're not getting back the mine, though."
Samuel didn't expect it when the corners of his lips curled up. "Understood…But lady, are you really going to marry Duke Crown?"
Shrugging, Calista replied. "He's my fiance. Besides, if it's him…I won't have to worry about other ladies, right? After all, I want what's mine all for myself." Her expression turned dark when she recalled something.
"Just see what happened when I even considered getting someone with a pretty face. I'm in this mess right now because of it," she complained.
Samuel took a deep breath. "Indeed. It's all thanks to me that your name is clear now. While we're looking for the real culprit, maybe you'd better stay home for a while," he advised.
Calista averted her gaze. "I will try my best. For now, I'll take this chance to go out before going home. You know how scary Duchess La Forte is when her husband isn't around," she mumbled.
"So, even the Saintess is afraid of her mother, huh?" Samuel chuckled. "Then, see you around. I'll be on my way now." He was smiling as he turned around and left after bidding the lady goodbye.
"Huh! We would have been good friends if he was not Samuel Pazelle," Calista commented as she headed outside the palace. "Now, where should I go first?"
"My apologies, my lady. The duchess ordered me to bring you home as soon as the meeting is over," the coachman said while bowing his head. His legs were shaking under Calista's gaze, but working in La Forte Duchy made him realize that the duchess was scarier when mad.
"Really? She had time to do that when she couldn't even see me out earlier." Her frown deepened as she got in the carriage.
"It's okay. Let's go back," she mumbled with a heavy heart.
Calista quietly looked at the sky through the window as the horses pulled the carriage. As much as she wanted to spend the rest of the day in the capital, she couldn't defy her mother's will. It wasn't like she didn't want to, she just couldn't…which was bizarre. The duchess should be just an ordinary human without any gift from the gods, but strangely enough, she confidently displayed authority in the duchy.
"Will I grow up to be like her?" Calista wondered as she leaned her cheek on the glass window. The horses were running slowly, making her ride smooth, unlike when she was leaving for the capital.
"Ah, I want to take a nap," the lady mumbled as she let out a yawn. Her drowsiness faded when she noticed something outside. "Bandits?"
As if on cue, a group of armed men surrounded the carriage.
"A-Ah…Ah!" the coachman screamed as he fell.
"Ugh. Not now," Calista gritted her teeth. All she wanted was to lie in her bed and sleep with Lola singing next to her. Fighting against the bandits and saving the fainted coachman was something she wasn't prepared for.
"They're bandits, right? They'd leave us alone if we give them money. The problem is…" Calista heaved a sigh when she couldn't find any jewels on her body. She wasn't wearing any as part of her 'outfit'. "I should have brought Troy with me," she said, clenching her fists.
"Get out of the carriage if you want us to spare your life!"
'Bullshit. You think I'm going to fall for that?' Calista pursed her lips as she followed the bandit's instruction.
After Astrid's treatment, Calista shouldn't use her ability again for ten days. It had only been a week since she got treated and using her fire element when she wasn't fully recovered may put her life in danger.
"Looks like we caught a big fish this time," one bandit said. His face was covered with a cloth, but Calista couldn't pretend the awful smell coming from his mouth didn't exist.
"Hey! Are all noble ladies like this? Acting all high and mighty when they're surrounded by knights, but when they're alone, they can only act cute in front of danger. Haha!"
Based on her observation, Calista could tell they weren't the typical bandits who would ambush their victims, kill them, and take the loot.
"Hey, stop fooling around." Calista glowered as she lifted her chin to face them. "Bandits shouldn't be using fancy swords," she said, forming fireballs in her hands.
The temperature surrounding Calista went up in seconds. A load of excitement rushed through her veins.
"Tell me. Who sent you?"