WFMW 53

Chapter 53

I Want to Keep You by My Side

Grisha tilted his head slightly.

“It sounds like you’ve done some digging into my background?”

“Digging? There wasn’t much to dig into. The Academy only recognized one official mage this year — you, Grisha Granite.”

Diana admitted without so much as a blink that she had looked into him — and even said it as if it were nothing.

‘She’s no easy opponent.’

Well, if she weren’t this shameless, she wouldn’t have had the nerve to scheme against her own sister for an inheritance.

‘She’s here to squeeze information about Nelly out of me.’

To Grisha, Nelly was the most precious person in the world. And this woman — who had tormented Nelly and even sold her off as another man’s wife — was impossible to look at without disgust.

He motioned with his chin, urging her to get to the point.

“So, what brings you here today?”

“Why, to check on my dear sister, of course. You visited her recently, didn’t you? Did you get to meet her? How is she? Is she healthy?”

“……”

Hearing her feign concern for her sister in that syrupy tone made bile rise in his throat.

“Sir?”

Diana’s crimson eyes sparkled as she pressed him for an answer.

Whatever else could be said about her, there was no denying she was beautiful.

And because certain features of hers resembled Nelly’s, Grisha lowered his gaze.

“……I haven’t seen her. My brother wouldn’t allow it.”

“What? That’s terrible! Even to his own brother? How cold!”

As if she’d prepped herself with eye drops beforehand, tears welled up and spilled over. Diana spoke between delicate sobs.

“I truly believed he would make my sister happy. I feel so betrayed.”

‘What a joke.’

Grisha glanced around the café. The customers had left, but since it was open to the hotel lobby, passersby could see them — and they were definitely staring. A beautiful lady crying in public was hard to ignore.

Ah. So spreading rumors wasn’t enough — she wanted to add a visual performance. Maybe she thought that tying Grisha Granite’s name to Cedar Granite’s scandal would amplify the effect.

Perhaps she’d even calculated that, since Cedar’s disgrace didn’t directly harm Grisha, he might play along for convenience.

But that would only be true if Nelly weren’t involved.

Grisha slowly opened his mouth, a bright smile blooming across his face precisely because he despised her so much.

“I used to think Baroness Fairyway was a clever woman. What a disappointment.”

“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”

Diana’s tears vanished instantly, her eyes wide with confusion — the cold tone didn’t match his handsome face.

He spoke smoothly, almost gently.

“You speak as though you had no idea my brother could be so cruel. But if you cared so deeply for your sister, shouldn’t you have chosen her husband more carefully?”

“Are you saying this is my fault?”

“Lady Nelly was unconscious at the time. The responsibility lies entirely with you. You signed the engagement contract, did you not?”

He made the accusation plain and unmistakable. Diana’s face flushed red, then pale again.

‘What is this man talking about!’

That was not something that should ever be said aloud.

The public scorned Cedar because they believed he alone had mistreated Nelly.

But if they found out that Diana had played the key role in arranging that marriage, public opinion would turn on her instantly.

Diana squeezed out more tears, even more pitifully than before.

“That’s so cruel of you to say. The one who deceived us with false promises of love is the real villain. I’m just another victim!”

“Even if you were deceived, that doesn’t make you innocent. You gambled with someone else’s life, not your own.”

“How can you say something so heartless…?”

There was no point in continuing. He’d said enough to ensure she wouldn’t approach him again.

Grisha stood up, leaving Diana sobbing alone in the café, and walked out.

Outside, his attendant glanced toward Diana and asked,

“Have you met the Baroness Fairyway before, sir?”

“Lady Archmage and I studied together at the Academy.”

“Ah, I see. My apologies for asking.”

Even so, it was obvious the attendant couldn’t imagine Grisha and Nelly being on good terms.

As Grisha walked with him toward a quieter place, his thoughts drifted back to her.

Nelly.

He wanted to bring her back to his side as soon as possible.

“Are you interested in magical beasts?”

Cedar asked suddenly. I nodded — because I truly was.

“Magical beasts! I’ve always wanted to see one up close. At the Academy, we only ever saw corpses or tiny cubs.”

“So you’ve seen one before.”

“Only from afar. They’re so rare that even specialists hardly ever encounter them.”

“I see.”

Cedar nodded, seemingly pleased with my answer, and then declared decisively:

“Then you’ll come with me. As a mage.”

“What?”

Go with him? Where? To a subjugation battle? To hunt magical beasts?

Wasn’t that dangerous?

But at the same time, my heart began pounding faster.

If it was something grand enough to be called a “subjugation,” that meant a place filled with magical beasts — perhaps even kinds I’d never seen before.

I could finally study real ones up close…!

Not every curious person becomes a mage, but every mage is curious.

And I was no exception. My desire to observe the creatures in person easily drowned out my sense of danger.

I wasn’t the only one surprised by Cedar’s decision. Hyle, his aide, looked horrified.

“M-My lord, didn’t you say Lady Nelly’s awakening was a secret?”

“It is.”

“Then how can you bring her to a subjugation? How will you keep that a secret?”

Cedar’s reply was as sharp and simple as ever.

“That’s why you’re staying behind.”

“What?”

Hyle’s face froze in disbelief — his eyes and mouth perfectly round. I couldn’t help laughing quietly, then covered my mouth a beat too late.

I wasn’t one to laugh at someone else’s misfortune, but honestly, my reaction must’ve been just like his a minute ago.

Hyle turned desperate eyes toward me, silently pleading for help.

I didn’t intend to stop Cedar, but I did realize there were a few problems if I left right away. I raised my hand slightly.

“I have to sell the Charm Water. Magic potions have an expiration, and if we’re away too long, it’ll lose its potency.”

Magic never stays bound in one place for long. The potion was infused for now, but its power would fade with time.

Grisha helped me make it — I can’t just let it go to waste.

“And the herb garden, too. There aren’t any that need immediate harvest, but I can’t let the plants die.”

With so many reasons to stay, I found myself torn between my curiosity and my responsibilities.

Cedar watched me carefully, then turned to Hyle again — as if he’d read exactly what I was thinking.

“You’ll stay and sell it. And tend to the herb garden. You’re better at fieldwork than I am, anyway.”

“But, my lord! I’m the one who’s been preparing for this subjugation. You’re leaving me behind?”

Cedar crossed his arms and frowned with one eye half-shut.

“If I take you, it won’t be a day before you let slip that Nelly’s my wife.”

“I—I can’t deny that my tongue’s not the most disciplined…”

Honest man that he was, Hyle confessed his weakness himself. Cedar nodded approvingly.

“Good. Then stay here and sell the Charm Water.”

“But my lord! I don’t even know what it is! How am I supposed to sell it?”

At that point, it was clear I was going with Cedar.

Excited, I explained to Hyle what he’d be selling.

“It’s a magic potion that makes the user appear more attractive.”

His eyes widened, immediately intrigued.

“That actually exists? Does it work on the opposite sex?”

“Not just the opposite sex — anyone who looks at you.”

“Including the opposite sex?”

“…That seems to matter most to you, so yes.”

I sighed as I confirmed it, and he eagerly waved his hands.

“If it really works, I’d buy it all myself! How strong is the effect?”

Cedar leaned closer to me and murmured softly,

“You marketed that well.”

“Apparently so.”

I hadn’t expected such enthusiasm.

I’d assumed beautiful women would be the main buyers — but judging by Hyle’s reaction, men might end up being the real market.

Maybe I should just sell him the entire batch at once. It’d make inventory easier.

But Cedar disagreed. Stroking his chin thoughtfully, he said,

“If that’s what it does, Hyle shouldn’t be the one to sell it.”

“Why not?”

“You can’t have someone unattractive selling a potion that makes you attractive. It ruins the image.”

Apparently, potions of beauty needed to be sold by beautiful people — just like how the prettiest clerks always work in cosmetics shops.

Once Hyle finally caught on to the implication, his face twisted in outrage.

“Th-That’s just cruel, sir!”