“Do I look like someone who would be bewitched by a mere witch?”Whether it was the alcohol he had drunk while making rounds at the party, or simply exhaustion from being harassed all day—strangely, those words kept irritating Edgar.He remembered Angela perfectly, despite having seen her only once. A woman of small frame and modest height, whose voice was just as small.If she truly had such a terrible reputation, then she should have acted vicious in some way. Yet the way she had trembled, unable to do anything even when hit by an egg—that image was still vivid. That was why, uncharacteristically, he had stepped in.Even then, he had felt it: she was someone incredibly poor at dealing with people, clumsy and alone.“But Edgar, that witch uses strange sorcery. No matter how impressive you are, you can’t win against spells.”“Yes, unless you bewitch the witch first, avoiding her will be extremely difficult.”In the atmosphere where everyone was chiming in, the drunkenness from all the alcohol he had had rose sharply.Bewitched? Edgar de Grace?By no one else but that woman—she, with the same black hair, the woman they called a witch?“Then I should simply make the witch fall for me.”The intoxication blurred even the calm and rational judgment Edgar was known for.“Well… I mean, but is that even possible?”“If it’s Edgar, it might be.”“Hm….”At Edgar’s uncharacteristically provocative remark, the group stirred with excitement.Nobles were always in search of novelty. For those who could have anything simply by commanding it, genuine entertainment was harder to find than one might think.In that sense, this topic stirred great interest among them.“If you succeed in making the witch fall for you, I’ll invest heavily in the business you’re planning. How about that?”“That sounds amusing. I’ll join.”“Me too!”As Edgar suddenly shifted to a bold stance, the atmosphere overheated in an instant.The unexpected rewards offered for the bet made Edgar smile, intrigued.After several successful ventures, he had set his sights on a new business using the recently invented technology called electricity. The trials for commercializing it had repeatedly hit obstacles—and here was a chance to secure blind investment money. It was too tempting to ignore.“Don’t forget that promise.”For stakes like these, seducing the witch was more than worth it.***“Ugh… my head.”He couldn’t remember how the party had even ended.Edgar slowly sat up in his bedroom, massaging the dull ache from his hangover.“How much did I drink…”Enough that his memory was foggy, that much was certain. If he counted everything—from the drinks taken politely during greetings, to those shared with that ambiguous group who weren’t quite friends—“Ha… damn it….”As he retraced the night, the wretched bet he had made under the influence surfaced.Then I should simply make the witch fall for me.He had said that—of his own accord. No one had forced him.If I fail to make the witch fall for me, I’ll return double the investment you wagered.Hah! As expected of Edgar de Grace! Magnificent confidence!Then how about bringing the witch as your partner to the New Year’s gala next year? If she’s clearly smitten with you that {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} day, we’ll call your victory.Fine. That much won’t be difficult.Oho—giving yourself over half a year? Isn’t that too generous?Generous? You should consider it an honor His Grace is even participating in this amusement at all. And given the challenge, time is needed to make her presentable enough for a royal gala.Ah, fair enough. Even if it’s for a bet, bringing someone of low standard to a gala of that scale would not be tolerated by the palace.Bring paper! We’re drafting the agreement now!When the vivid memory of signing a written agreement while drunk came back, he was filled with the desire to put a bullet through his own head.Knock, knock—“Your Grace. Are you awake?”As he wrestled with the memory he wanted erased, Timothy entered with a knock.“What is it?”Because he always reserved the day after parties for rest, Edgar was irritated to see his secretary arrive early—someone who knew that habit better than anyone.“Your request to investigate Angela Faber. You ordered it suddenly last night.”At Edgar’s sharp response, Timothy, looking aggrieved, shook the documents he held.“Ah. Right. Sorry. I’m on edge.”Admitting fault, Edgar took the report from Timothy and began reviewing it.“Angela Faber, of age this year, rank of baronet, occupation dollmaker. Fortunately single, no fiancé. No family….”A gradually satisfied smile curved Edgar’s lips as he read.“Timothy.”“…Yes?”That expression was unsettling enough for Timothy to rub his arms before replying.“Find a natural way to make contact with her.”“…Excuse me? With the witch?”“Is something wrong with your eyes? The report said it. She’s a baronet.”“Well, yes, but still….”Prejudice was a frightening thing. Even though Timothy was not the type to be easily swayed by rumors, the city-wide perception still colored the way he viewed Angela.A witch, truly? In an era of trains, trams, and telephones that could communicate across distance, who believed such things?She was merely a small, fragile woman who had lost her family and had no one to lean on.“She makes dolls. Commissioning one could be a way. Just find a natural pretext to meet her.”“Yes. Understood.”This electric business was the greatest gamble of Edgar’s career. He firmly believed electricity would expand beyond Eclaire, to neighboring countries, to the entire continent.He had conviction, but lacked capital. That made this bet a usable opportunity.If he successfully commercialized electricity, the profits would be beyond anything he had earned so far.“I can’t waste this opportunity.”Seducing a naive young woman who couldn’t even blend among people would be easier than breathing for Edgar.So even if it made him feel like trash—he would do it well.Ignoring the faint guilt lodged somewhere in his chest, Edgar rose.***“She refused…?”Unfortunately, Timothy had failed to uncover the most important detail.“There’s a two-year backlog of commissions. The witch—no, the baronet—seems to be far more skilled than expected.”Contrary to rumor, Angela was an unrivaled dollmaker. All talk of curse dolls was nonsense.“Ha…”Her dolls were purchased entirely by collectors—not as toys, nor as tools of curses, but as true works of art.Their craftsmanship was so exceptional that collectors praised her endlessly. Even the imperial family of the neighboring Solmira Empire had placed requests.“And with talent like that, she still has those rumors…”Truly ironic.No matter how brilliant her talent, the stigmas branded onto her had isolated her.“And Your Grace, one more important note.”“What is it?”“Baron Pierre is a well-known doll collector. He has also attempted to commission dolls from Baronet Faber numerous times—and was refused every time.”“Is that so…?”The information only heightened Edgar’s interest in Angela.What kind of doll did she make that left people desperate to possess even one?“I’ll have to ask her myself…”“…Sir?”“We must meet the baronet. Find a way.”Now there was yet another compelling reason to seek her out.The more he learned, the stranger and more intriguing she became.Edgar’s eyes gleamed like those of an explorer who had discovered a rare treasure.

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