Hopefully, at Your Mercy - Chapter 19

Chapter 10.2

“This is a refined spirit stone. When you go to the mine, you’ll probably see raw stones that just look like ordinary rocks. Focus on your power and try to sense them.”

Then Iskan crushed the gemstone in his hand like it was nothing.

Crackle— A mysterious energy parking, forming shimmering currents that spiraled through the air.

“Once you’ve identified the stone and made sure it’s genuine, crush it like this. Even raw stones will react like this.”

Delinda marveled at the light swirling in the air. Iskan’s actions seemed helpful, yet there was something unsettling about them.

Why was he suddenly here at the mansion, questioning her identity, and then offering her all this information about spirit stones when she didn’t even ask?

Was it because she’d mentioned before that she was investigating spirit stones and had ended up at that murder scene by accident?

But even so, why? Why offer helpful information? His expression didn’t exactly scream “kindness.”

Right now, he was staring at her with the same emotionless gaze he might give to a pebble on the side of a street.

Delinda’s lips moved silently before she took a deep breath and finally asked,

“You’re not just pretending to help while driving me in a corner like a helpless mouse, are you?”

This felt like a maze. A trap. A mouse trap he had set, for reasons she could not understand.

That’s what it felt like. Even his attempts to get closer to her seemed calculated.

“Not at all. The ground you’re standing on now isn’t even close to being a trap.”

Delinda bit her lip.

“Then, do you have any interest in me?”

He reached into the air and grabbed the swirling electric current with his bare hand. Crackle! The energy seemed to writhe in pain, violently flickering and sparkling in the air.

Iskan squeezed harder, until it burst in his grip. Delinda’s eyes screwed shut, and the white shards of light scattered through the air like snowflakes.

Amid the swirling fragments of light, Iskan remained expressionless as he gave her an answer she hadn’t wanted to hear.

“I do. However, I can’t say whether it’s the kind of interest people would normally expect.”

* * *

After that, Iskan completed his tour of the entire garden and left.

Having shown him around a grand mansion she herself was barely getting familiar with, Delinda went straight to see Philip, the chief steward, as soon as he left.

Walking down the wide corridor, she replayed Iskan’s words inside her head.

I can’t say whether it’s the kind of interest people would normally expect…

Typically, when a person shows “interest” in someone, it is accompanied by attraction or some sort of positive pull toward the other person.

But he had implied his interest was different from the usual.

What kind of interest could it be? Curiosity? Idle fascination? Or perhaps something darker?

Could it be murderous intent?

…No, of course not.

“Ugh, this is giving me a headache.”

He looked every bit the handsome prince, but his words and actions were beyond confusing.

By the time these thoughts had played out in her mind, Delinda found herself standing in front of Philip’s door. She knocked.

“Philip, it’s me.”

A prompt reply invited her in.

She opened the door, cheerfully stepping into his room, only to find that the papers stacked on top of his desk were piled so high they made Philip’s head barely visible.

From behind the mounds of paperwork, he called out.

“My lady, I apologize, but I’ll be right with you as soon as I finish this.”

“Sure, take your time,” she said, settling onto the sofa.

From this angle, she could see Philip’s face through the gap between the papers. His neatly trimmed hair was tied back, and he wore silver-rimmed glasses, adding a perfect touch to his elite, dignified look.

Philip Renschler.

He was one of the few remaining loyal aides in Duke Schultz’s household. He also happened to be quite the nagger, much like a grandfather would.

Thankfully, his nagging came from a place of affection, so it wasn’t all that bothersome.

A couple minutes passed by when Philip finally stood up with a welcoming smile.

“Now that that’s over and done with, what can I do for you, my lady? Might you need my assistance?”

Like he was caring for a child, he set down a plate of almond cookies in front of her.

“Here, have one. They’re a little less sweet than usual. Will that be okay? Would you like a drink as well?”

It really did feel like he was treating her like an eight-year-old.

He was the chief steward, but he was responsible for managing the duke’s business affairs, as well as overseeing the few remaining servants. He was overwhelmed with work due to a severe shortage of staff.

Looking at the dark circles under his tired eyes, Delinda felt a pang of guilt.

Ah… Should I really be burdening him with more work when he’s already so busy…?

But she had no one else she could ask, so she hesitated before finally speaking up.

“Phillip, could you help me find someone?”

“Yes, of course. Who would you like me to find?”

Philip, loyal as ever, didn’t even ask why. He immediately agreed and simply asked for the name of the person he needed to find.

Delinda, still unsure, paused for a moment before biting into a cookie.

“Ruyan. I’d like for you to look into someone named Ruyan.”

Ruyan. That was her name during her first possession.

And the name that Prince Kislin Lu Crozan had once called her with affection.