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Chapter 65
Spring was arriving. Everywhere, fresh green sprouts were breaking through, and flowers that had already bloomed filled the air with fragrance. A cool breeze made it the perfect day for a walk.
After strolling a little, I sat down on a bench by the pond. Listening to the rustling leaves in the wind calmed me.
“They say watching still water puts the heart at ease… they’re right.”
I spaced out, staring blankly at the water for a while.
“Delphine.”
The calmness shattered when I heard a voice calling my name. My heart instantly began pounding wildly.
“Ah, Tiago.”
It was Tiago.
He was wearing navy trousers and a loose white shirt. The shirt was cut low in the middle, exposing a glimpse of his tanned, muscular chest.
“……”
With a relaxed smile, Tiago spoke.
“Delphine, have you been well?”
“Ah… I guess.”
His eyes flickered to my swollen eyelids. The moment he saw them, his smile vanished, his expression hardening.
But he didn’t ask.
Feeling his gaze, I lowered my eyes.
‘I don’t want to talk about it right now.’
That Charlier cursed me. That Frederic knew it and still pretended not to. I didn’t want to speak of any of it.
Instead, I asked something I had been curious about.
“Why am I here, exactly?”
Tiago paused for a moment before answering.
“Because I wanted to give you a good experience, Delphine. The royal palace’s finest cuisine, the beauty of the coronation ceremonies—I wanted you to see and enjoy them.”
“…Hmm.”
I nodded. Knowing him, I believed his words were sincere. There was no lie in them.
“Then.”
“……”
“Then why are Leo, Frederic, and Charlier here as well?”
“That’s because…”
Tiago crossed his legs and replied.
“…I had something to confirm.”
“Something to confirm…?”
‘He said had. Past tense. So he already confirmed it.’
For the first time today, I looked straight into Tiago’s eyes.
“What you confirmed—was it the identity of the one who cursed me?”
“…Yes. That’s right.”
His eyes softened. It was the kind of forced gentleness adults use when telling a child something shocking, trying to soften the blow—yet, without realizing, only adding another layer of hurt.
“……”
I nodded and turned my gaze back to the pond. I didn’t want to continue this subject, and Tiago seemed to sense it, staying silent as well.
—Splash.
A fish swam near the surface, breaking the calm ripples of the water.
Then Tiago spoke again, voice stiff.
“Delphine.”
I turned to look at him. His face had gone rigid.
“Yes?”
“Where is the necklace?”
“…Ah. The necklace.”
His expression was close to panic.
‘Tiago…?’
He was always so composed, so confident. I never imagined seeing him this unsettled.
Trying to act casual, I answered.
“Oh, I lent it to Edward. He said he wanted to study it for a bit.”
“Edward… you mean Edward Trinity? The magic researcher?”
“Ah… yes, that’s right.”
“……”
Tiago fell silent for a moment, then asked:
“When did you give it to him?”
“Last night.”
“Last night…”
His whole face hardened. He uncrossed his legs, leaning forward with both elbows on his knees, completely lost in thought.
“Why… why?”
Startled by his sudden behavior, I asked.
He shook his head slowly, his expression still grim.
“No, it’s nothing. Could I… retrieve the necklace myself? If you don’t mind.”
“Ah… well, I don’t really care.”
At my reply, his face showed faint disappointment. That disappointment felt eerily similar to what I had felt toward Frederic earlier.
‘Ah… of course. It must’ve hurt him. He gave it to me as a gift, yet I lent it out to someone else so easily… and then said I didn’t care. I meant that I personally didn’t mind, but…’
I regretted my words immediately, but it was too late.
Tiago stood up.
“I’ll go now.”
With only that short farewell, he hurried off toward the main palace.
“……”
Once again, I was left alone, staring at the pond.
No matter what happened, the pond simply returned to stillness.
—Step. Step. Step.
Edward walked out of his research lab. Charlier was hiding around the corner, holding her breath.
‘Around this time, he always goes to the underground storeroom.’
Edward headed down there, where he often stayed for hours. No one knew what he did, and no one dared to ask.
‘The Trinity family.’
The most powerful priestly family in the Kingdom of Pignon. Dukes from their line had served as high priests for generations, giving them immense influence within the empire.
They were responsible for maintaining the kingdom’s magical barrier, and there were even rumors they sometimes used black magic at the imperial family’s request.
Some dismissed it—“Priests using black magic? Impossible.” But Charlier knew better.
‘The Trinities are more than capable of it. Especially Edward.’
Edward was extremely popular at court. Among women, he was even called “the most desired man.”
When he first announced he would take priestly vows, noble ladies had wept openly. Even now, as an unmarried man, countless women sought his attention.
But not Charlier. Never once had she considered him.
‘Because I know what he really is.’
Her grip tightened on her ruby ring.
Edward was allied with Michaela.
Winning the trust of the future empress was something everyone desired. But Edward had gone further—doing anything and everything to secure her favor.
‘He got curse orbs and delivered them to Michaela. Then gave her this ring to keep her safe.’
Every one of Michaela’s atrocities had Edward’s help behind it.
And all the while, he masked it with that angelic smile.
‘He’s no ally of mine.’
Looking at Edward filled Charlier with disgust. Perhaps because, in some ways, he resembled her.
Willing to do anything for his goals. Never blinking an eye, even if others bled for it.
That similarity made her hate him even more.
She unclenched her fist. A deep imprint of the ruby ring was left on her palm.
Smiling faintly, Charlier checked the hallway was empty, then tried the research lab door.
—Clack.
‘Damn it!’
She shook the door in frustration, but it was locked tight.
‘So he locks it now… I’m stuck.’
“……!”
Just then, footsteps echoed from the far end of the hall.
‘Don’t tell me Edward’s already back?!’
Charlier quickly ducked behind a pillar.
As the footsteps drew near, she peeked to see who it was.
Tiago.
‘Tiago?’
He stopped in front of the lab door. Charlier stepped out and spoke.
“It’s locked. I already tried.”
Walking toward him, she revealed herself.
Tiago smirked.
“As I thought—it was you hiding there, Lady Charlier.”
She joined him at the door. He placed his palm against the keyhole and whispered a short incantation.
—Click.
With a metallic sound, the lock opened.
Charlier’s eyes widened in surprise.
Tiago chuckled and gestured for her to enter. Swallowing nervously, she followed him inside.
The research lab was like another world.
The front wall was all glass, letting in streams of bright light. In the center hung a massive clock, ticking steadily: click, click.
In one corner, a pot bubbled on a burner; in another, bookshelves stretched to the ceiling.
Most striking of all was the enormous desk that dominated the room, cluttered with magical instruments, stones, and artifacts.
Charlier gazed around in awe. Tiago gave her a moment, then spoke in a smooth voice.
“Lady Charlier, you came to switch the rings, didn’t you?”
Snapping back to herself, she nodded.
“Let’s see…”
Closing his eyes, Tiago focused on the flow of magic. Something as powerful as the Mermaid’s Tear would radiate energy unmistakably.
When he opened them again—
“……!”
For a moment, Charlier felt her heart stop as she looked at him. A flicker of excitement, almost romantic, passed through her. But she quickly regained herself and hurried to search for the ring.
“You’re quite clever,” Tiago said. “You realized Edward was crafting Michaela’s ring and came straight here to replace it.”
“……”
Charlier’s cheeks flushed faintly at the praise.
“The ring is right there.”
With a snap of his fingers, Tiago made a jewel box on the desk open like a clam.
Inside lay the same ruby ring Michaela always wore.
Charlier’s eyes sparkled. Pulling out a pair of white gloves, she slipped them on, carefully polished her own ruby ring, and swapped it with the one inside the box.
‘Perfect… Now Michaela won’t be able to resist the curse orbs anymore.’
A satisfied smile spread across her face. Tiago grinned as he watched her.
