TMLAM 24

Chapter 24

Did I eat too much yesterday? My stomach felt a little bloated, so I ate lunch slowly in the dining hall. Unlike me, Kristan and Aidan said they’d just grab sandwiches for lunch.

Aidan, fine. But Kristan? That well-built man—can a sandwich really count as a proper meal for him? His shoulders are as wide as the Pacific Ocean, and his frame is huge. Well, no. It’s not something I need to worry about.

Still, the good thing was that Kristan seemed to be in a much better mood than yesterday. It was a relief that he was generous enough to shake off his temper with just a glass of beer. If not, my work environment today would have been pretty hellish.

To be honest, the appearance of Prince Chase and Rentro was also putting me in a position where I couldn’t remain unaffected.

In the original story, it was Rentro who persuaded Roella, promising her a large sum of money and a chance to leave this place if she poisoned Kristan. At the time, Roella had already backed herself into a corner—and so she fell for Rentro’s words.

Did she really fall for it?

She pretty much agreed immediately.

And then, just as the female protagonist—who had been staying at the grand ducal estate as a guest while waiting for her compatibility test results—saved the poisoned Kristan…

That was when the original story truly began.

Hmm. By now, the female protagonist should have arrived.

Why is there still no news?

And perhaps because I had been waiting so intently—

“Miss Roella! You’re here!”

A maid came running toward me, her face flushed. She had been standing at the entrance of the dining hall, catching her breath, before rushing over.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you because there’s something I had to tell you, Miss Roella. Well—apparently, someone new claiming they can save His Grace the Grand Duke has shown up today! I think her name was Elisha.”

“I knew it!”

“Y-Yes?”

I shot up from my seat. The maid stared at me with wide eyes.

Elisha—so that’s why she hadn’t shown up yet!

“Ah, no, it’s nothing. Thank you for bringing me the news. Where is the new compatible now? Is Lady Rosette meeting her in person?”

“I heard they sent someone to the temple first since she needs to be tested. But, Miss Roella.”

“Yes?”

“I’m on your side.”

The maid spoke solemnly. Suddenly, she clasped my hands with both of hers, as if in prayer. After taking a deep breath, she continued.

“My name is Chloe, Miss Roella. Thanks to the bonus I received because of you, I was able to contribute to my younger sibling’s wedding! I’ll never forget that kindness. Actually, you know, there are quite a few people in the estate who owe you because of that.”

“Ah… yes.”

Well, I mean… It’s just better when coworkers help each other out. Maybe I thought about things a little more from the perspective of a fellow employee. Thankfully, the grand ducal estate had enough leeway for that.

“So please stay strong, Miss Roella! You’re the real compatible! Don’t pay any attention to some fake like her! We’ll protect you!”

“Huh? W-What?”

I stared at Chloe, completely dumbfounded.

“Uh… that’s really not necessary…”

I was the one who would be leaving, and Elisha was the one who would be staying. If you were going to choose sides between me and Elisha, you should obviously choose Elisha’s side.

I tried to stop Chloe, but as if she’d said everything she wanted to say, she hurried out of the dining hall. The other maids who had gathered near the door also shouted words of encouragement toward me before disappearing.

What… is this situation?

I swallowed, still dazed.

Had I ended up creating factions against my own intentions? Me—being that line?

Haha. Amazing. Truly an amazing work life at the grand ducal estate.

With news of a new compatible appearing, Lady Rosette, Aidan, and Kristan all gathered in one place.

In the House of Acrasia, a compatible was considered just as precious as royalty. Normally, when magical intoxication caused by dragon mana manifested, a compatible might appear once every generation—if at all. Yet this generation had produced two.

Moreover, this woman named Elisha claimed that only she could save the Grand Duke of Acrasia.

Upon hearing the news, Lady Rosette immediately sent people to the temple. Since compatibility tests alone took more than three weeks, it was best to hurry as much as possible.

Absorbing Kristan’s mana without a compatibility test could result in death. Only those who scored over 80% in compatibility could help someone suffering from magical intoxication.

If the score exceeded 95%, it was even possible to cure the condition entirely.

Among them, Roella’s compatibility score was 88%—a very high figure. Kristan’s complexion improving day by day proved that fact.

After offering Elisha—who was looking around the reception room—a glass of cool tea, Lady Rosette closed the door.

Kristan and Aidan, who had been waiting outside with serious expressions, turned toward her.

“What do you think, Lady Rosette?”

“…I can’t say yet. That woman claims she can see the future. And in that future, she says she cured His Grace the Grand Duke.”

Lady Rosette let out a short sigh, pressing her slender fingers to her temple.

With her vacation just around the corner—what a situation to arise now. Lady Rosette lightly bit her lip.

It was regrettable that Roella’s compatibility score was just a little short, but the grand ducal estate had been stabilizing. And now this Elisha had thrown everything back into chaos.

“If there are two compatibles, what happens then?”

“It’s simple. The one with the higher compatibility score stays by His Grace’s side at night. If Elisha’s claim is true and her score is higher, then she’ll take that position. Roella can continue assisting as she has been doing. I don’t see any issues with that. However…”

Lady Rosette rubbed her throbbing head. Unable to finish her sentence, she trailed off—until Kristan spoke in her stead.

“The problem would be Prince Chase and Rentro, who are on their way.”

“Yes, exactly. Variables are always exploited. Before as well…”

Lady Rosette glanced around and lowered her voice.

“When we learned that Miss Roella’s compatibility exceeded 80%, didn’t something serious happen? There was an assassination attempt, and Miss Roella was placed in grave danger. We can’t guarantee something like that won’t happen again.”

“And since the culprit was never caught… But we were all suspicious of Sir Rentro, weren’t we? He may have accomplices even in the North.”

“Haah.”

Kristan ran a hand through his hair. Lady Rosette and Aidan were right. Once the compatibility results were out, they could assign roles accordingly. As long as both women were protected, there shouldn’t be a problem.

And yet—there was something else bothering Kristan.

‘The one staying by my side at night… not Roella, but Elisha.’

That troubled him the most.

He remembered the warmth of the small hand that used to burrow into his large one. The peace and comfort that hand had given him.

Kristan clenched his jaw.

Roella always fell asleep before he did. As if she’d completely let down her guard by his side, she slept with a relaxed expression.

How could someone be so carefree? Did she sleep like that in front of others too? A pointless thought. Of course, Roella wouldn’t sleep like that in front of anyone else.

Her round, delicate nostrils. Her pale face, white as if dusted with pearls. Slightly parted pink lips and a smooth, rounded forehead. Soft, cherry-blossom-colored curls scattered across that forehead.

Watching all of that, Kristan would eventually grow sleepy as well.

Just like the hand loosely holding his, those sights had become familiar.

But now, the last thing he would see before falling asleep—and the person beside him—would change.