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Chapter 07— His Secret
“Why don’t you just make it obvious already?”
“Make what obvious?”
As soon as they returned to the ducal estate, Spen—who had been called away because something had come up with the knights before he could finish what he wanted to say—came straight to Haydn’s room.
Just thinking about how Haydn had acted toward Serna earlier that day still made his blood boil.
He kept insisting it wasn’t an imprint, but how was anything he did different from a man hopelessly in love?
He might as well have said, ‘I’ve imprinted on you. Please marry me.’
After denying it so fiercely, here he was desperately craving her affection.
Only Spen’s patience was being worn away.
“Please stop making me nag you. You said it wasn’t an imprint, didn’t you? Then what was all that at House Troide today?”
“I was being perfectly professional. Was there a problem?”
“That wasn’t professional at all. It was deeply personal. And although Your Grace has no interest in high society, Lady Troide is in a relationship with Count Pyro. Whether what you’re feeling toward her is curiosity or love, you need to take a step back.”
“Who?”
The moment Kellen’s name came up, Haydn’s brow furrowed beautifully.
He knew perfectly well that Spen wasn’t wrong.
The wolf’s blood that flowed through House Valoran imprinted only once in an entire lifetime, and no one who bore that blood had ever defied it.
It was a destiny that simply could not be resisted.
Imprinting wasn’t something that happened merely because a man saw a woman under the full moon.
It was simply the day when the emotion called love became turbulent.
Haydn, transformed into a wolf, had lost his reason.
His heart had opened completely as he desperately longed for love.
And at that exact moment…
Serna had appeared before him wearing that bright, innocent smile.
Haydn knew better than anyone the destiny carried by House Valoran.
That was precisely why he had locked himself away in the ducal estate, living in voluntary seclusion.
Because he knew just how cruel…
And how miserable…
An imprint truly was.
And yet, all those years of isolation had become meaningless the moment Serna stepped into the Valoran estate—a place no one ever visited.
The emotions he had buried so deeply had finally begun to sprout.
“Everyone in high society knows Lady Troide is completely devoted to Count Pyro. The reason she’s trying to start a business is probably because of Count Pyro…”
Spen trailed off after seeing the terrifying expression on his master’s face.
If he continued, Haydn might very well lose control and tear through the entire forest like a madman.
“They’re lovers.”
Haydn spoke quietly.
“They love each other.”
“Well… rather than mutual love…”
Spen scratched his cheek.
“I think it’s probably one-sided on Lady Troide’s part.”
“It’s only a rumor, but people say House Troide became penniless because most of their wealth ended up in Count Pyro’s hands.”
“So…”
Haydn’s voice sank lower.
“The reason she wants to make money…”
“…is to give it to that Count?”
“I don’t know.”
Spen sighed.
“But Count Pyro talks badly about Lady Troide all the time in high society.”
“Just recently he even bragged that he’d demanded one of her merchant ships.”
“He said everything belonging to House Troide would soon become his.”
Haydn had been slowly tapping the table with his long fingers.
The tapping suddenly stopped.
Even those with wolf’s blood became gentle lambs before love.
It seemed ordinary humans also lost their reason and abandoned everything once they fell in love.
“…Ridiculous.”
“Exactly.”
Spen nodded vigorously.
“So please stop making it obvious in front of the young lady. You keep denying it, but you’re only in denial because—”
“Spen.”
“Y-Yes?”
Spen stiffened.
“Why are you looking at me like that? You’re making me nervous.”
“Investigate everything.”
Haydn’s icy voice echoed through the room.
“Everything about that bastard Kellen.”
“…”
“For every detail you fail to uncover…”
Haydn smiled faintly.
“…I’ll dock your pay.”
Seriously…
Haydn is such a terrible person.
That was all Spen could think.
If compared to the modern world…
Serna had probably been about elementary school age when she first met Orvi.
The child she found in a narrow market alley had barely escaped with his life, his entire body covered in wounds.
Even young Serna had apparently pitied him.
“Don’t touch me!”
“I’m trying to help you.”
“I don’t need it.”
He looked half dead.
Yet he was unbelievably stubborn.
Ignoring the hand Serna offered, he struggled to stand on his own.
Unable to watch any longer, Serna grabbed his arm and draped it over her shoulder.
“You’re hurt.”
She frowned.
“So why do you keep saying you’re fine?”
“…Because I have to be.”
“It’s not shameful to accept help.”
The Serna who later became foolishly obsessed with Kellen had once been a confident, straightforward little girl.
Fortunately for me…
I was benefiting from that now.
“Lady Serna?”
Orvi smiled.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Hm?”
I laughed.
“I was just remembering the day we first met.”
“We were so young back then.”
“You’ve grown a lot.”
“So have you.”
While cutting his chicken with a knife, Orvi quietly exchanged his plate with mine.
His teasing way of speaking.
His handsome face.
Even little gestures like this.
He was definitely the type women would love.
He’d probably made plenty of girls cry after growing up.
“Ahem.”
I cleared my throat.
“Enough reminiscing. Let’s talk business.”
I handed him several sheets of paper.
“I drew some designs.”
“If you can make these exactly as they are, that’ll be enough.”
“Think you can do it?”
“You may not know this, Lady Serna…”
Orvi grinned.
“…but I’m a very capable mage.”
“Let’s see the designs first.”
The drawings I’d stayed up all night making had originally been designs from my days as Kim Yunmi.
I’d simply modified them to suit the style of this world.
Looking through them, Orvi smiled warmly.
“They’re beautiful.”
He looked impressed.
“They make me want to create them.”
“When did you get so good at drawing?”
“Huh?”
I awkwardly scratched my cheek.
“It was just a hobby. I got better over time.”
“How long does it take to finish one?”
He really noticed the strangest things.
That was Orvi for you.
I also handed him the cheap silver I’d bought earlier in the marketplace.
As he studied the design, Orvi lightly brushed his fingertips across the paper.
A brilliant light flowed along the sketch.
The magic extended from the drawing to the silver, wrapping around it in radiant light.
In the blink of an eye…
An identical silver necklace lay before us.
“Orvi!”
I gasped.
“So you really are an amazing mage!”
“If I bring you gemstones, can you set them too?”
I pointed at the pendant.
“The stone goes right here.”
“It just needs to stay secure.”
Although it was only a simple teardrop pendant hanging from a delicate chain, seeing it completed so quickly made me genuinely excited.
Once Duke Valoran sent me the gold and gemstones…
Everything would finally be ready.
I’d replace the silver chain with gold.
For the pendant…
I wanted a gemstone even prettier than the sky.
Aquamarine would look gorgeous.
Or maybe turquoise for something deeper and bolder.
Just imagining it made me feel as though all the Empire’s money was already in my hands.
As I admired the magically created necklace, Orvi chuckled.
“Are you really that happy?”
“Of course!”
I beamed.
“I’m going to collect every last trang in the Empire.”
“For now you’re basically my slave laborer…”
“But just wait.”
“I’ll show you just how sweet money can be.”
“…That’s a little scary.”
Money was frightening.
The more you had, the sweeter life became.
The less you had…
The closer you came to death.
But don’t worry.
I wasn’t the foolish Serna who threw everything away for love anymore.
I was Kim Yunmi…
Living in her place.
My eyes sparkled as I spoke.
Orvi looked completely bewildered and turned toward Anna.
Meeting his gaze, Anna simply smiled.
Perhaps she’d already gotten used to the new me.
“You’ll get used to it.”
She laughed.
“I like the young lady much better this way than when she was hopelessly in love.”
Answering the silent question in Orvi’s eyes.
“Alright.”
I clapped my hands.
“Next we just need to get gemstones that match the designs.”
“It takes you less than a second to make them.”
“We can open our shop immediately!”
“So…”
Orvi leaned forward.
“Can we stop talking business now?”
“Can we talk about something personal?”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“I’m busy.”
“You’ve become cold too.”
“I’ll answer three questions.”
“No more.”
“Go ahead.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Hmm…”
I thought for a moment.
“I do.”
“…But I won’t anymore.”
Orvi tilted his head in confusion.
Technically Kellen was Serna’s official lover.
But I planned to break things off with him.
“So…”
Orvi smiled.
“I’ll take that as a no.”
“Weren’t you happy to see me?”
“…?”
This time I was the one tilting my head.
If I had truly been Serna…
Orvi probably would have faded into a distant childhood memory.
Even with all of Serna’s memories, if it weren’t for business, I probably wouldn’t have thought of him either.
Still…
I couldn’t tell him that.
“…That answer took a while.”
“I missed you.”
I smiled awkwardly.
“I wondered how much you’d grown.”
“I know that’s a lie.”
Orvi laughed.
“But I’ll pretend to believe you.”
If I’d known he would grow into such a handsome mage…
I really might have missed him.
As the meal came to an end, Orvi stood first.
“I’m heading to Quiln today.”
“I’ve got something to take care of.”
“It won’t take long, right?”
I stuffed the remaining chicken into my mouth.
“You signed a contract.”
Watching me chew with puffed cheeks, Orvi burst into laughter.
“Of course.”
“Don’t worry, Lady Serna.”
Just like the day he’d silently appeared at my bedroom window…
He disappeared from sight in an instant.
Ever since beginning my new life in the Ether Empire…
Magic remained the most fascinating thing I’d seen.
Well…
Duke Valoran turning into a wolf was pretty incredible too.
I’d only ever read about such things in fantasy novels.
After finishing my meal, I took a sip of water.
As if she’d been waiting for the opportunity, Anna’s eyes sparkled again.
What’s she going to say this time…?
“I think I like Sir Orvi better…”
“I knew you were about to say something strange.”
“Strange?”
Anna puffed out her cheeks.
“I’m talking about choosing your future husband!”
“Who decided I need a husband?”
I snorted.
“I’m living alone.”
“Lady Serna!!”
Anna smacked me loudly across the back.
Wait.
Wasn’t I a noblewoman?
Could she really treat me like a daughter getting nagged by her mother to get married?
“You’re the only heir of House Troide!”
“If the Count heard you say that, he’d be heartbroken!”
“Love is pointless.”
“It really is.”
“I think either Sir Orvi…”
Anna clasped her hands dreamily.
“…or His Grace the Duke could teach you what true love is.”
“Do either of them even love me?”
“Of course they do!”
Anna looked horrified.
“You’re so oblivious!”
“Honey practically drips from Sir Orvi’s eyes whenever he looks at you!”
“Anna.”
I sighed.
“Be honest.”
“What?”
“You don’t actually know what ‘honey dripping from someone’s eyes’ means, do you?”
“What?”
Anna pouted.
“The one who doesn’t understand is you, my lady!”
Ignoring her entirely, I left the dining room.
If I stayed any longer, she’d only say more ridiculous things.
Why would two men who lacked for nothing fall for someone like me?
This was the Ether Empire.
There were countless women prettier than me…
Higher in status…
And richer.
Anna really did have wild dreams.
Dear Duke Valoran,
I hope you have been well.
Please find enclosed the list of gemstones I would like to request.
- Aquamarine: 50 ct
- Turquoise: 50 ct
- Tourmaline: 50 ct
- Blue Topaz: 30 ct
- Diamond: 100 ct
- Emerald: 50 ct
- Rose Quartz: 50 ct
- Gold: 100 ct
I look forward to your reply.
Thank you.
Serna Shube Troide
I sent the list of gemstones needed for the first jewelry collection I’d launch after opening the shop to the Valoran Ducal Estate.
But…
I had sent the letter only that morning.
So why?
How?
Already?
Before I knew it, by evening, several wagons bearing the unmistakable Valoran crest were lined up in front of the manor gates.
The emblem depicted the fierce eyes of a beast and a long sword wrapped by a serpent between them.
Anyone could recognize it as the symbol of House Valoran.
Spen, the red-haired knight I’d met before, climbed down from one of the carriages and smiled at me.
I instinctively smiled back.
But…
What was all this?
I was certain my list hadn’t contained nearly this much.
There were four entire freight wagons loaded with wooden crates.
“Sir Spen…”
I blinked.
“What is all this?”
“The gemstones you requested, my lady.”
He smiled politely.
“His Grace instructed us to deliver them as quickly as possible.”
“It certainly was fast.”
I stared blankly at the mountain of crates.
“I don’t think even a full day has passed.”
“But… this is far too much.”
“I don’t think my entire order would even fill one of those boxes.”
“Ah…”
Spen suddenly became awkward.
He glanced nervously at me without answering.
Watching the workers carry endless crate after crate inside, I couldn’t help wondering how I’d ever repay all of this.
If my shop failed…
Would I have to sell these gemstones just to pay off the debt?
“The mines in Valoran territory…”
Spen hesitated.
“…Well…”
“Hm?”
“Well…”
“Yes?”
“…His Grace said…”
Spen coughed.
“…that he wanted to show you…”
“…show me?”
“…that our mines contain gemstones far finer than someone else’s.”
“…Far finer?”
“…That’s what he said.”
I blinked.
“…Why?”
Why would he go out of his way…
To show me that?
