"This is a scene from Female Soldiers by the Dawn River."
The well-read Duchess recognized it at once. Or rather, among everyone present, only Shade and the Cat failed to recognize where Dorothy's recitation had come from.
She continued to praise her:
"If it weren't for your Detective Hamilton Story Collection, Dorothy, Flora's book would likely have been the best-selling novel across the entire Old Continent in 1853. Now, you've surpassed her."
"No, no, no."
Dorothy shook her head.
"Her book has great literary value. Mine is merely... a very popular sort of work. I still have a long way to go before I can compare to a writer like Miss Winslet. Shade, is that lady in Vesta City now?"
"Yes. Would you like me to get you an autographed photograph?"
Shade joked with a smile. Dorothy considered it for a moment.
"From what you were saying just now, it sounds like you're helping her solve some trouble?"
"We all know that Shade has always been good at helping Witches solve their troubles."
The Duchess teased. Dorothy nodded in understanding.
"Forget the autographed photograph. I think I'll have a chance to meet her in person before long. Flora Winslet... I'm really looking forward to it."
Dorothy seemed to admire that Witch somewhat, but perhaps because of his first impression, whenever Shade thought of that lady, the image of a plump, round-faced owl immediately sprang to mind, followed only afterward by her human form.
Perhaps it was not because of his first impression at all. Her main body was now an owl, and that inevitably changed how people perceived her.
So the curses on the two ladies had to be resolved as soon as possible.
No one else could offer much help with this matter. Most people had never even heard