<Chapter 12>

The viscount found the boy before him immensely appealing. His polite demeanor and the subtle air of refinement he exuded drew the eye. Above all, his striking features and the intelligent gleam in those blue eyes were more than enough to inspire fondness.

Sensing the viscount’s gaze, which carried an unmistakable intent to make her his own, Laren subtly averted her eyes. It was awkward. Picking up on her discomfort, Viscount Helian offered a regretful smile.

“In that case… I’ll write you a letter of recommendation for the Reditern Municipal Academy. With a recommendation from a viscount or higher nobility, as long as your abilities meet a certain threshold, admission should be possible.”

“Pardon? Really?”

“It’s extremely rare to gain entry via recommendation, but with your level of skill, you should more than satisfy the requirements. I’ll handle the matter of the enrollment fees as well.”

A recommendation letter and even the enrollment fees! For a moment, Laren felt as though a halo of light shone behind Viscount Helian. Overwhelmed by those blue eyes filled with moved gratitude, the viscount himself subtly looked away.

“You’ve done me a great favor, and this is hardly half the repayment. I’ll do what I can to ensure your admission goes smoothly.”

“Oh… I’m at a loss for words.”

As she expressed her thanks repeatedly, Viscount Helian waved it off. Even that gesture appeared beautifully graceful to Laren.

‘Viscount Helian, I won’t forget you.’

She shook his clasped hand vigorously up and down. After concluding their detailed discussion on the enrollment matter, Laren left the drawing room with a radiant smile blooming on her face.

‘Heh.’

Clamping a hand over her mouth, Laren punched the corridor wall with her fist. Though unintended, encountering Herr Helian at the slave caravan had turned out to be an extraordinary stroke of luck.

Humming a tune, she entered her bedroom, where Naias, lying on the bed and reading a book, lifted his head.

“Ren!”

“Were you reading?”

“Yeah, it’s a picture book! Herr gave it to me as a gift.”

Closing the book, Naias sat up on the bed and patted the spot beside him emphatically. At the invitation to come over, Laren scurried close and took a seat right next to him.

“What about the academy?”

“It looks like it’ll work out fine. The viscount has agreed to help.”

“Really? That’s great!”

Laren gently stroked Naias’s head as he rejoiced as if it were his own good news. With the academy issue roughly resolved, she knew she needed to discuss matters concerning Naias, but the words wouldn’t come. She wanted to stay together, but it was impossible to predict what dangers might sweep them up, and there was no chance the academy would accept a young elf.

“So, about that…”

“I know.”

“Huh?”

“I know I can’t go, right?”

Those calm, pale green eyes turned toward Laren. The young elf often displayed an unnaturally mature gaze. Whenever that happened, Laren felt the storms the child had weathered, leaving her speechless.

“You have to break the curse, and there’s no way a human academy would let me in, is there?”

“Naias…”

It was an unavoidable situation, yet it felt like an excuse even to her, so Laren bowed her head. Having promised they’d go together only to face separation so soon made her mouth taste bitter. Seeing her somber expression, Naias instead smiled even more bravely.

“It’s okay. I followed you because you were a human with good vibes. It’s just for a little while! I can talk to humans just fine now. Earlier, I even went with Herr to see the flowers in the garden!”

‘Who’s comforting whom here?’

He still hid behind her back at the sight of unfamiliar maids, yet he claimed to be fine—sure he was. Laren fiddled with the pouch containing the necklace she’d requested from Herr Helian.

Eden Mercantia—the ring her father had given her—she slipped it off her finger for the first time. It was the ring Duke Mercantia had placed on her finger around the time she first took an interest in magical artifacts. Even Laren didn’t know what spell was imbued in it. Before she could ever try using magic on it, the ring had become a memento.

The index finger that had worn the ring was noticeably slimmer than the others. Gazing down at her hand, Laren threaded the ring onto the necklace.

“Ren?”

“Naias, come here.”

Naias, who had been watching her blankly, approached. Laren draped the necklace with the ring around Naias’s neck.

“Give it back when I return.”

“What’s this?”

“Hmm, my most treasured possession?”

“This ring?”

With a slight smile and a nod, Naias touched the ring hanging at his neck. A peculiar flow of mana stirred from the ring.

“It’s my father’s keepsake.”

“What? Your dad’s? Is it okay for me to have something like this?”

“Yeah, it’s a token of our promise. Can you hold onto it until I get back home?”

“…Okay, leave it to me!”

At the word “promise,” Naias adopted a profoundly serious expression. The way he thumped his chest with a tightly clenched fist was so valiantly endearing that Laren couldn’t help but laugh.

“If anything dangerous happens, just shout ‘activate’ in your mind. But only when it’s really dangerous.”

The activation method for the magical ring. Laren recalled the moment Duke Mercantia had advised her as he slipped it on.

“Then what happens?”

“I don’t know. You’ll have to activate it to find out.”

“What—!”

Naias puffed out a disappointed snort, but his hand caressed the ring with utmost care. He seemed to feel a strange sense of duty about being entrusted with such an item.

‘It should be fine.’

Herr Helian had offered to take care of Naias while she attended the academy. Though Naias had grown quite fond of Herr lately, Laren decided it would be better to send him to Kana.

The place he needed to live from now on was the Mercantia ducal estate, and there was nowhere safer for Naias than by Kana’s side. Suddenly informing her about Naias via correspondence might raise suspicions, but Laren had no doubt that Kana would rush here in person if needed.

“And there’s one more mission for you, Naias.”

“My mission?”

It was truly an important duty. Perhaps because he now had a role to play, Naias’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“Yeah, someone from my home will come to pick you up in a little while.”

“So, from now on, I’ll be staying at your house?”

The thought of going to an unfamiliar place alone seemed to make him nervous, as Naias’s throat bobbed visibly. Overwhelmed once more by the guilt of not being able to stay with him, Laren gently smoothed his hair.

“I’m sorry; we were supposed to go together. It’ll probably be that half-elf I told you about who comes to get you. I’ll send word, but show her the ring on the necklace. And…”

“And?”

“Hmm…”

As she deliberately paused for effect, Naias clutched at the hem of her clothes, urging her on. This next part was the most crucial.

“The fact that I’m cursed—only you know about it, Naias.”

“Not even that half-elf?”

“No, it’s a secret just between the two of us.”

As if grasping the implication, Naias brought his hands together and clapped them with a sharp smack.

“My mission is to keep your secret!”

“Exactly, Naias!”

Laren thrust out her thumb in approval. Delighted at having guessed correctly, he mirrored the gesture with equal enthusiasm, looking utterly adorable.

There was no doubt he’d receive abundant love once he arrived at the Mercantia ducal estate. His straight, pale green hair that seemed to capture the light of the forest, and those round eyes with their double eyelids, were incredibly endearing.

It was easy to picture the maids—and even the duchess herself—doting on Naias. She just hoped he wouldn’t be so showered with affection that he’d forget all about her.

“Hey, when we meet again, will you call me Laren?”

“Is that your real name?”

“Yeah, it’s Laren. Laren Mercantia.”

* * *

A full day had passed since receiving the letter of recommendation from Viscount Helian and sending word to Kana. Kana would arrive by tomorrow at the latest, so today, Laren had no choice but to set out for the Reditern Municipal Academy. Nothing could be more awkward than running into her face-to-face.

The mere thought of encountering Kana turned Laren’s face ashen as she hurriedly packed her bag. With a few changes of clothes, the gratuity from Viscount Helian, and a modest supply of snacks tucked inside, the bag bulged comfortably.

“I… I need to make a quick escape.”

“Ren, escape? What do you mean?”

“Oh, it’s just… something like that.”

Herr Helian and Naias had kept pleading for just one more hour, then another, but now it was truly time to depart. At the entrance to the manor, the two of them gazed at Ren with faces full of reluctance.

“Naias, wait for me. I’ll write letters often!”

“Yeah, but come back soon!”

His response was brave and strong, but his face had flushed red, and his eyes were on the verge of bursting into tears. Afraid that lingering any longer might make her turn back, Laren averted her gaze.

“I hope you take care as well, my lady. I look forward to seeing you again.”

“…I’ll never forget your kindness, Sir Ren.”

This might well be the last time Laren and Herr Helian ever met. Once the curse was lifted and she returned to being a woman, they’d be complete strangers. Even now, it would be presumptuous for a commoner man to seek out a meeting with a noble lady.

“I’m really going now. No—I’ll be back!”

“Ren, be careful!”

“Ah…”

Laren turned away, resolutely ignoring the expression that looked ready to dissolve into sobs at any moment. As she quickened her pace to leave through the main gate, someone suddenly yanked her bag from behind. Caught off guard, her body lurched backward, but she barely managed to regain her balance.

“What… Lady Helian?”

The culprit who had grabbed the bag, Herr Helian, stood there with tears welling in her eyes, her nose flushed a deep red. Startled by the unexpected tears, Laren’s shoulders jerked in surprise.

“…you.”

“Pardon?”

“I like you.”

So, this meant she liked her—as in, romantically? Laren’s eyes widened, and her mouth fell open in shock.

‘This can’t be.’

Only then did Herr Helian’s behaviors start to make sense. The way she couldn’t meet her eyes, the sudden blushes, the excessive consideration and attention—it had all felt a bit much for how one might treat a mere benefactor.

Laren had lived her entire life as a woman. Though she’d felt puzzled, she hadn’t even considered the hypothesis that Herr Helian might have feelings for her.

Now that everything clicked into place, Laren found herself in an extremely awkward position. Well, even looking in the mirror, it was a handsome face. If such a man had rescued her from a slave caravan, she’d probably fall head over heels herself.

“I’m a commoner.”

“…That doesn’t matter to me!”

Herr Helian shouted, gripping the hem of her dress tightly. For days, she’d agonized over it. She’d wrestled with conflicts like their difference in status, but in the end, she’d followed where her heart led.

She couldn’t contain the feelings that grew stronger by the day. His white hair floated in her mind like a haze, and her heart trembled whenever those blue eyes looked her way. Laren had no choice but to gently pry Herr Helian’s hand away and express her reluctance.

“I… can’t accept your feelings, my lady.”

It pained her deeply to unintentionally wound her heart like this. At the rejection, a single tear that had been clinging to Herr Helian’s eye finally spilled over.

If she were truly a man, there’d be no reason to refuse like this. A clever, beautiful woman with a gentle exterior and inner strength—who wouldn’t want her? The biggest issue lay with Laren herself.

“Sir Ren, may I ask why?”

Herr Helian had anticipated the rejection. The way he looked at her wasn’t with romantic interest but simple goodwill. Still, she had no intention of giving up. Whatever refusal came, Herr Helian was prepared to rise above it.

‘Hmm.’

Not wanting to hurt her but knowing she had to refuse, Laren found herself in a bind and rolled her eyes in thought. What excuse would be best? After a long pause, Laren’s mouth slowly opened.

“It’s not about you, my lady—it’s me. I…”

“…”

“I… like men. Very handsome men, in particular. Especially those with long hair; that’s my type.”

Herr Helian could only stare blankly at the retreating figure after that shocking revelation. The pain of first heartbreak wasn’t so much excruciating sorrow as it was a profound sense of emptiness.

“Men…? Long-haired beauties…? That’s not even something I can try to become…”

As Herr Helian stood there in dazed futility, Naias looked up at her with pity.

Though Ren seemed completely oblivious, Naias had sensed Herr Helian’s feelings to some extent. He’d noticed the subtle envious glances she sent whenever he and Laren chatted amiably. That’s why he’d stayed put instead of following further.

Since the distance wasn’t too great, Naias had overheard their conversation.

‘Is it wrong to like human men?’

Human love was still a bit complicated for young Naias.