chapter 46
Surprisingly, Stephanie was sharp in many ways.
Had Rubiana carelessly done something that could be nitpicked in front of such a sister?
She anxiously awaited the next words, and Stephanie opened her mouth with a serious expression.
“Clearly, it’s the power of love!”
“…What are you talking about?”
Pfft, hahaha. The sisters’ laughter resonated through the quiet forest air.
After laughing for a long while, Stephanie spoke again.
“Ah, I remember now!”
“Remember what?”
“Ruby, didn’t your face suddenly brighten up for no reason, and you felt better? Your body felt light?”
“…Yeah. I think so.”
But it wasn’t entirely for no reason. Rubiana nodded, unable to voice her inner thoughts.
“I’ve felt that way too.”
“When?”
“Eight years ago. Just before I met the spirit.”
“Ah…”
Thump, thump—Rubiana’s heartbeat quickened.
She could feel the blood rushing hotly through her veins.
“Maybe soon… I’ll…”
“It’s still too early to conclude, but I think there’s a good chance.”
“….”
Stephanie gently held Rubiana’s hand.
The warmth from her touch made Rubiana choke up for a moment.
Stephanie spoke in an extremely gentle voice.
“Don’t expect too much, but let’s still hold onto hope.”
“…Yeah.”
Wiping the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand, Rubiana nodded.
Stephanie reached out and wiped her sister’s tears as well.
“Oh, my cute little sister, such a crybaby.”
“…Tch.”
The sisters’ gazes intertwined softly.
The swelling hope filled Rubiana’s chest.
Maybe… I’ll meet the spirit soon! I’ll finally become the true heroine!
Duke’s Mansion, Office
Elion was listening to Fred’s report.
“We traced the magical residue left in the magic circle to identify the culprit. It leads to a guild of mages called ‘MacKinnon,’ notorious for operating in the back alleys. They don’t care about means or methods…”
Elion couldn’t focus on Fred’s ongoing voice.
He kept recalling last night’s events.
“Alright. I want it too. I want you, Elion.”
The lingering image of her fervent eyes directed at him flickered before him.
Ha… ah… Elion…!
The faintly trembling voice echoed in his ears.
Haa… ahhh…!
Rubiana, flushed atop the bed last night, was imprinted in his mind, replaying over and over.
Damn it.
It was all because of the magic.
He wanted to release the surging magic within him.
He wanted to escape the endless thirst, the suffering.
He wanted to touch Rubiana more deeply, for longer, pouring more magic into her.
That seemed like the only way he could survive.
It had to be her.
Rubiana probably felt something similar.
As much as he wanted to release magic, she must have wanted to draw it out.
It was just an act of exchanging magic, wasn’t it? Right?
She was right.
There was nothing wrong with her words.
Then why did his chest ache, and why did he feel uneasy when he heard that?
Why did it feel as if his throat were blocked?
It was as if… he’d been betrayed. By someone he trusted.
Damn it. This is maddening.
And he wasn’t even a child.
Could it be that he had attached his own meaning to a meaningless act?
So there was no betrayal, yet he felt betrayed alone.
No… that can’t be!
Obligation… betrayal…
None of it made sense.
What happened last night was simply two people intoxicated by magic, acting on instinct.
Nothing else.
There had to be nothing else. Absolutely.
And he could say with certainty that being intoxicated by magic would be harder to shake off than alcohol or drugs.
“…Your Highness? Are you listening, Your Highness?”
Snapped out of his thoughts by the call, Elion looked at Fred.
“Oh? Continue.”
“Well… I just asked a question, and you need to answer…”
“…Right? What was the question again?”
As expected, he hadn’t been listening. Fred sighed and repeated the same question.
“I asked about publicly listing the MacKinnon group as wanted.”
“You mean putting pressure on the corrupted mages and the forces hiring them simultaneously?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Good. That’s a solid idea. Proceed. One of them will definitely take the bait.”
“Understood, Your Highness. Next—”
“Is there more?”
Elion frowned and asked, and Fred quickly replied.
“This is the last one.”
“…Alright.”
Elion waved his hand vaguely, signaling to wrap it up quickly.
“We’ve received a letter at the main temple. It says the saintess has regained her composure.”
“That’s a relief.”
“How should we respond? Should we send a letter and gift, or—”
“Since she collapsed here, I think it’s proper that I personally pay her a visit.”
“When would you like to go?”
“…This afternoon would be good.”
“Understood. I will send the letter accordingly. That’s all.”
After finishing the report, Fred organized the documents and prepared to leave.
Elion, having taken his gaze off his aide, leaned back in his chair and sighed.
Even now, Rubiana’s image still swirled in his mind.
Her soft skin at his fingertips, her hot breath near his ear—everything vividly replayed.
It was both pleasurable and painful.
I think I transferred too much magic. That left me weakened, letting these random thoughts creep in. Definitely a side effect.
Elion sighed.
“Ah, and congratulations, Your Highness.”
Fred, glancing at Elion, quietly offered his congratulations.
But Elion didn’t understand immediately and asked back.
“Congratulations? For what?”
“The engagement with Miss Payson, sir.”
“Ah… that. It’s just a pretense. There’s no way I’d actually get engaged to her.”
“…What?”
Fred’s mouth fell open weakly at Elion’s indifferent reply.
This morning, he had heard that the Emperor had decided on Elion and Rubiana’s engagement and returned with a satisfied smile.
And last night, news spread that Elion and Rubiana had spent the night together.
So Fred assumed the two’s relationship had advanced rapidly due to the exchange of magic, but apparently not.
Recalling the excited smiles of the housekeeper and head maid reporting the news, Fred was confused, and Elion sighed as he continued.
“The Emperor forced me to agree. That’s all. For now, I have to meet with the lady periodically anyway.”
“Ah… I see. So you mean you’ll just pretend? Is that possible?”
“Do you think it’s possible for me to really get engaged to Miss Payson?”
“Well… that is—”
No, hasn’t His Majesty already made the arrangement!
Fred wanted to shout in frustration but chose to hold back.
“Pretending to be engaged, dragging it out, and eventually making it as if it never happened seems like a more believable story than actually being engaged.”
“…Yes, I suppose so.”
Fred reluctantly nodded.
He wanted to ask how to resist the Emperor’s strong will, but again, he held back.
“Now that the capital’s magical barrier is back to normal, my duties here are complete. I plan to leave the capital once Miss Rubiana’s health is fully restored.”
“Ah…!”
That was welcome news.
The stay in the capital had already stretched longer than expected, and Fred was starting to miss his family and friends in the northern territories.
He asked with a hopeful heart.
“When can we return, then?”
“That depends on Miss Rubiana’s health. It could be next week, next month, or even longer.”
“Ah, yes.”
Not very reassuring. Fred rolled his eyes and pouted.
“I need to meet the healer on Melville Street. Prepare the carriage.”
“Yes, understood, Your Highness.”
Fred picked up the organized documents and left the office.
Elion soon got up as well.
I should ask the healer if there are side effects from exchanging magic.
At that moment, the communication stone on the bracelet began to flash.
It was Rubiana.
Seeing the purple light and feeling his heart beat slightly—a symptom he thought might be a side effect—Elion pressed the communication stone.
