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Chapter 15
Thinking about it, Isabela—who had once intended to kill Yurie—had never actually needed to find a way to解除 the Oath of Dawn.
That was why the novel never mentioned such a cumbersome procedure. In a situation that urgent, there simply hadn’t been room to think that far ahead.
Idiot.
My head rang dully. I bit down on my lip without realizing it, and Austin let out a deep sigh.
“First of all, since the situation is urgent, I’ll tell you the method I know.”
At his words, I immediately brightened.
“So there is another way to break it?”
“Unfortunately, the only method is that one.”
“Then…”
“What I mean is a way to stabilize mana and bring down the fever.”
He reminded me once again that he was the son of a doctor renowned not only in Loxia but throughout the eastern region.
Austin pushed up his glasses and quickly flipped through a book he had brought from the study. I stood beside him like someone being punished.
Soon, as if he had found what he was looking for, Austin pointed to a page.
“This.”
At the tip of his finger was a plant with honey-colored buds. I stared at it and read the name written beneath the illustration.
“…Golden Tea.”
“Right. It’s a plant that only grows in extremely small quantities, infused with strong mana. Brewing and drinking it is famous for stabilizing mana.”
According to Austin, Noah’s condition was caused by internal mana violently colliding with the blood of the Ombre he was born with, resulting in a feverish state.
If stabilizing it could help…
“I’ll go find it. Just tell me where it grows.”
“That’s the problem.”
Just as I was brightening at the sight of a solution, Austin’s expression turned worried.
“Golden Tea is known to grow around here.”
“Then…”
“Yes. The Black Forest. But as you know, it’s currently difficult to approach.”
Now I understood why Austin hadn’t mentioned it from the beginning.
The Black Forest was so dark that everything in it looked the same.
Whether it would even be possible to find something there and return safely was questionable.
“As you may have heard, the deeper you go into the Black Forest, the higher the chance of encountering monsters. Golden Tea blooms in the deeper regions. Going alone would be far too dangerous.”
“Then what am I supposed to do? The fever won’t go down any other way.”
Austin concluded seriously:
“Wait until the young lord arrives.”
“What? You mean Dick from the scouting mission?”
“Yes. If it’s the young lord, he can protect you in the Black Forest.”
The word protect planted doubt in me. It wasn’t even about guiding me through the forest—it was about protection.
A term that felt completely out of place when applied to me.
“I can take care of myself…”
“Isabel.”
Austin, who usually looked half-dazed, now had a rare seriousness in his eyes.
“You can’t go alone.”
“…But—”
“This forest is far more dangerous than it used to be. It’s not the same place we studied before. Especially not for someone inexperienced with magic like you.”
The last words struck me harder than anything else.
“Inexperienced with magic?”
“…Weren’t you the one who said there might be another way to save the child even without the contract?”
“There is. Because you’re from House Werfell.”
“….”
“And honestly, only you would try something so reckless. Just explain everything properly when the young lord arrives. He’ll understand the academy situation too.”
Only then did I realize what Austin had been assuming all along.
“Austin.”
“Yeah?”
“You think I ran away during the semester, don’t you?”
“Of course.”
Originally, I should have been attending the academy as a final-year student.
Well, that didn’t really apply anymore since I had already graduated early as a Grand Mage.
“Was I not supposed to know that? Sorry. But your first semester transcript is something the young lord apparently memorized. Everyone in the estate knows.”
“….”
A place surrounded entirely by the Black Forest, isolated from the outside world for years.
Where even a carriage could barely enter—there was no way news from the capital would reach here.
That first semester he spoke of must have been the time I was surrounded by well-bred noblemen in the capital, unable even to properly take exams.
I pressed my hand to my forehead.
Thank you for your service. The goddess of light must have watched over the young lady.
To the people of House Werfell, I was still just the spoiled youngest daughter.
Austin adjusted his slipping glasses.
“Am I misunderstanding something?”
“…No. It’s close enough. I just have a slight issue with using magic.”
The problem of not being able to feel mana at all.
But Austin, thinking I was simply embarrassed, nodded solemnly.
“Don’t worry. While you were in the capital, there are far more capable mages in Loxia now. Myself included.”
“….”
Compared to Midtown, where people constantly tried to take advantage of me, this place felt strangely different—people treated me gently, almost like I was fragile.
I didn’t correct him anymore and simply nodded.
Austin finally sighed in relief and tore out the page with the Golden Tea illustration, handing it to me.
“Keep this. You’ll need it when you meet the young lord.”
I carefully folded it and tucked it into my sleeve.
“Oh, one last thing,” Austin said.
“What?”
He hesitated for once, then asked carefully.
“That child… what do you plan to do after the treatment is over?”
It had been two days since I arrived at House Werfell.
I was adapting faster than expected.
No one demanded money. No one flirted.
The marquis, despite being busy, always made time for meals, so I saw him twice a day.
The person I spoke with most was Austin, but after our last conversation, I had found myself unconsciously avoiding him.
Because I had no answer to his final question.
I hadn’t thought that far ahead.
I said I would help with revenge, but I had no desire to entangle myself with the people of Rosenberg.
And yet, somewhere along the way, I had grown attached.
Unable to settle my thoughts, I changed into a light yellow indoor dress and headed toward the annex where Noah stayed.
It was called a guest annex, though it had not received guests for years and was practically abandoned.
As I walked quickly, I saw maids coming out of Noah’s room.
They held basins of water, their hands trembling as they shut the door behind them and exhaled sharply.
“What a terrifying experience…”
“He’s an Ombre, after all. I heard they eat human flesh.”
My steps stopped.
Ombre.
In the capital, they were seen as physically superior beings of interest, kept and controlled within boundaries. But outside the capital, ignorance bred fear and rumors.
People who had once shown curiosity toward my red hair had recoiled when they saw Noah.
“A savage race… maybe they use curses too. Maybe he’s bewitched the young lady.”
Before I could step forward, Austin spoke first.
“Shouldn’t you lower your voices, even in the annex?”
The servants quickly apologized and left.
Austin turned toward me.
“Come out now.”
He knew I had been listening.
I stepped out awkwardly, and he opened Noah’s door as if nothing had happened.
Now I understood why Austin had asked that question.
In my relief at being welcomed by someone, I had forgotten about Noah—the child who had followed me here without knowing anything.
If even an unconscious child could frighten people this much, how much worse would it be once he recovered?
Lost in thought, I watched Austin check Noah’s temperature.
“Still uneasy?”
“Hmm?”
“Because I’m not your father.”
Doctor Volke was out on external duties, leaving Austin to watch over Noah.
I shook my head.
“No… I was just thinking it’s strange.”
Austin paused and looked at me.
For a moment, memories of Isabella settled more clearly within me.
And I remembered Austin—who used to follow me around as a small, runny-nosed child.
Seeing him now, grown up and taking care of someone else, felt strange.
“It’s nothing. How is Noah?”
Austin’s expression turned serious again.
“He’s at his limit. He’s strong, so he’s been holding on until now, but he won’t be able to last much longer.”
“…When is Dick arriving?”
Austin looked out the darkening window.
“Tonight, if he’s early.”
