“Did you say Dorothea? I appreciate your help with the rescue mission, but I can’t just ignore what you just said. Are you seriously trying to insult my entire bloodline?”
Gisel’s sharp gaze pierced through Dorothea.
Her chilling tone and expression radiated a sense of authority that was enough to intimidate anyone in her presence. Yet, Dorothea simply scoffed.
“I just spoke the truth as I see it. If you want to call that an insult, go ahead and knock yourself out.”
“I, too, based my judgement on facts.” Gisel’s gaze shifted to the girl who was slumped on the floor.
“We promised a life of abundance. We guaranteed protection and healing for her family. We discussed the reconstruction of the territory and are actively working on it. What more do you want from us?”
Dorothea wore an incredulous expression.
“You’re asking that while someone took all her clothes and belongings and then stacked up money you didn’t even ask for next to her, saying, ‘Here, I’ve compensated you, this is enough, right? Just eat this and get lost’—and you think that’s acceptable?”
“That’s quite an exaggeration. It’s not a fitting analogy for the current situation.”
“In terms of being one-sided, it’s not so different.” Dorothea stood her ground against Gisel.
As she listened, the girl began to regain a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
What sprang to her mind was a fairy tale she had read in childhood.
A heroine oppressed by a stepmother and stepsisters, aided by a mysterious and magical witch.
Indeed, these people were the helpers sent from the heavens to assist her…
“Of course, this little girl does seem a bit slow.”
…Huh?
Wait a sec, didn’t something weird just slip by?
“You’ve said plenty about almost getting sold off by those thieves, so I’ll let that slide, but there’s also quite a bit more wrong here.”
Dorothea continued her sharp remarks, seemingly oblivious to the shock she was causing.
“For the days it took to get from Albert to Friedel, I’ve never seen that kid do anything right. She can’t hunt, can’t prepare a campsite, and on top of that, she’s picky enough to freak out over something like roasted caterpillars. You’d think we’d discuss a concrete rescue reward during the trip, but she didn’t even open her mouth. Instead, she just stared wide-eyed at that rusty magic of hers. Honestly, I feel like if you tossed her into a troll’s nest, she wouldn’t last half a day before dying.”
Isn’t it normal not to eat caterpillars? And wouldn’t anyone thrown into a troll’s nest end up dead?
Most of those present (excluding a certain battle-crazy tin can) shared similar thoughts, but they kept their mouths shut.
After briefly glancing at the vacant-eyed girl whose nobility seemed to have melted away, Gisel spoke.
“Then doesn’t that make her completely unqualified? According to your evaluation, she lacks competence, making her unsuited to be the lord of this territory. Thus, we intend to manage it ourselves.”
“Why wouldn’t it be a problem? You’ve been packaging this like it’s all fine and dandy, but in the end, it means you want to gobble up the land her parents have worked hard to cultivate.”
“That’s—” Before Gisel could retort, Dorothea spoke up again.
“You even admitted it yourself. The reason for the lord’s departure was a deal struck between your main family and the royal family of this country. So, by your request, you supported only to watch the lord and his army get annihilated, leaving this territory in shambles. And now you’re telling the last survivor, ‘You’re too incompetent to manage this territory, so we’ll take it over, just enjoy the money we give you’? Isn’t that just a scoundrel’s act?”
A cold smirk graced Dorothea’s lips.
“Or is this part of your management strategy? Request a dispatch to other cadet families, and when the lord dies or his military is weakened, send in supplies and people as ‘support’ to scoop up the land grown by the cadets? Talk about a masterful harvest—you’d do great as a farmer.”
“Don’t speak nonsense!! Do you honestly think the honorable bloodline of the Lion Duke would engage in such despicable tactics?”
For the first time, Gisel raised her voice and flushed with anger, having maintained her cool demeanor thus far.
Dorothea shrugged her shoulders and replied.
“Well? That’s not for me to decide, it’ll be up to the others who hear this story.”
At those words, Gisel’s eyebrows twitched noticeably.
A and B are different things.
When Gisel had led the conversation, the charity extended by her house was seen as compassion and benevolence.
But if you followed Dorothea’s narrative, the actions of Gisel’s house amounted to betrayal and a vile conspiracy.
Of course, a mere wandering witch’s words would never hold weight against the esteemed Duke Lenart family known across the continent.
Given the significant disparity in status, even if “seditious rumors” spread, the damage to the duke would be minimal.
However, for Gisel von Lenart, as an individual, this could result in considerable harm.
After all, the power held by the Lion Duke’s bloodline was immense, and the internal power struggles among them were fierce.
Should the witch spread this tale among the cadet families, it was certainly plausible that rivals could use this incident to turn against Gisel.
Gisel couldn’t help but be conscious of the sword at her waist.
She was a capable individual, and her prowess included ‘might’ as well.
If Gisel had been in the place where the girl had been abducted, she could have easily slain the attackers single-handedly, regardless of how poor her escort was.
Eliminating this impudent witch would undoubtedly resolve matters simply.
“…Hmph. Very well. State your demands.”
Yet Gisel chose not to take that path.
Regardless of her personal grievances, the witch before her had indeed accomplished the feat of rescuing one of the Lion Duke’s kin.
To overlook that and slay her purely for rudeness felt dishonorable to Gisel.
“Is it money? Or should I write a letter of recommendation to another noble family for you? Speak your desires.”
“I’ll take the money. But that’s payment for rescuing the girl, and the silence fee is separate.”
“What?”
“Give that kid a chance.”
At Dorothea’s words, the girl looked shocked.
“You also agreed that she lacks any abilities.”
“That’s true ‘currently.’ Things might be different later.”
Dorothea took a step back, surveying the room.
Then she spoke, as if addressing everyone present rather than just Gisel.
“In any case, the one who nurtured this territory was that little girl’s father, right? Isn’t it reasonable to ask for one chance to prove himself?”
“…….”
No one dared to speak, but Gisel realized something.
The atmosphere among the vassals had shifted.
The guilt they had been suppressing for the territory, the loyalty to the deceased lord—
Those feelings were merging into a single surge, creating ripples in their hearts.
-Wouldn’t that actually be okay? The lord had done so much already; can’t we just give that kid a chance?
-If the lady transforms and proves her capabilities, that’s a good thing; even if she fails, we’ve done our part, so there’s no longer a reason to feel uneasy.
Gisel looked at the girl.
It was a setting where her own destiny was being discussed, yet she couldn’t even voice her thoughts and was instead being tossed about like a feather. Gisel evaluated her worth.
Even if they granted a short grace period, she didn’t think this dull child could grow to challenge Gisel’s position.
‘…If I can completely win the hearts of the vassals and create an event that spreads good tales around this, it wouldn’t be a bad strategy.’
Having calculated her moves, Gisel spoke up.
“Very well. I will allow a grace period of one year. By then, it will be impossible for her to claim that she couldn’t contribute because she was too young.”
“Isn’t that a bit short? Even after a year, she’d still just be a kid.”
“By imperial standards, she’s already considered an adult. Even by the kingdom’s standards, which are slower in coming of age, she’ll still be of age a year from now. Isn’t that sufficient time?”
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
Both Dorothea and Gisel found themselves abruptly surprised.
Dorothea glanced at the girl.
“I thought she was about three or four years younger than me?”
“Ah, indeed. Was that something you misunderstood? The Lion Duke’s bloodline grows slower than others. However, their lifespans are longer, and they retain their prime longer.”
Having learned something new, Dorothea nodded.
Then, suddenly, she took a better look at Gisel.
A beautiful woman with an intelligent aura. Thinking that she must be quite young for someone about to assume the position of new lord, if what she had said was true, in reality, she might be older than she appeared.
“My looks and age aren’t that different.”
“I didn’t even ask.”
“Be quiet.”
Thus, the earnest yet slightly vacant discussion came to an end.
![[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come](https://i3.wp.com/darkmtl.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1737407792-8993-TS-The-end-of-magical-girls-has-come.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come")
