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Chapter 24
“For the jewels, I placed additional orders with other workshops, so they haven’t all arrived yet.”
For a moment, Eloise shook her head, thinking nothing else could surprise her, but then she was left speechless upon realizing that these items weren’t the end of it.
“There’s more…?”
“These are some things I had stored separately.”
Unlike with the other items, Alex carefully took a small box from his chest. Seeing this, a sense of foreboding, rather than anticipation, washed over Eloise. The moment the box opened, a dazzling light, so brilliant it seemed to swallow the light of the mansion, spilled out.
“This is…”
Rienna glanced at Alex briefly before explaining to Eloise.
“It’s a magic stone called ‘Eye of the Frost,’ Miss. It possesses the most powerful energy among currently existing magic stones.”
The magic stone, crafted into a necklace, was exquisitely carved. It shimmered subtly in dozens of colors with every slight movement. It was like the vibrant glow of sunlight reflecting off snow piled in the garden. The name ‘Eye of the Frost’ suited it perfectly.
“This should be quite good for your protection,” Kylian said to Eloise, who was staring at the magic stone as if bewitched.
“It seems you like it. I’m glad,” Alex remarked.
“Yes… Ah, yes?”
Having answered blankly, Eloise snapped her head up at Alex’s words. Then, the mountain of piled-up items came back into her view. Ultimately choosing to flee, Eloise started to make her escape.
“Wait, I have something urgent to attend to!”
Only then did Alex seem to realize something was wrong as he looked at the items he had ordered.
“Are you displeased because there aren’t many jewels?”
“Winter is almost over, but all these clothes are winter wear, Uncle. Perhaps that’s why she doesn’t like them.”
“That’s part of it, but it’s also not enough!”
Kylian insisted on more clothes.
Rienna argued that it was insufficient and demanded he order even more goods.
Hearing the voices from behind her, Eloise stopped in her tracks. If she left the situation as it was, she had a feeling things would spiral out of control beyond manageability.
“No, it’s too much! Send it all back!”
Finally, Eloise turned around.
“I thought I hadn’t ordered that many… Sweetheart, is there something you don’t like, perhaps?” asked a flustered Alex.
“Eloise, how do you expect to live if we send all this back!” exclaimed Kylian, raising his voice in disbelief.
“I thought gifts weren’t a bad choice…” Rienna muttered, looking bewildered by the unfolding situation.
“Please, let’s talk with me!”
Looking at them, Eloise felt a dizzying sensation and spoke firmly. They averted their eyes slightly, as if sensing something from her gaze.
Clink. The sound of a teacup being set down echoed in the study. It was so quiet one could even hear the sound of someone gulping.
‘When we run into each other, it’s hard to even speak, and now a private conversation?… How on earth did I manage to speak up earlier?’
After boldly making her declaration and entering the study, Eloise found herself at a loss for words. And Alex was no different.
He stared intently at his teacup, pondering how to start. Then, catching sight of his own reflection in the tea, he sharply turned his head away as if avoiding it.
‘I’ve never looked as pathetic as I have these days.’
He stammered in front of the child, nearly made the recently recovered child sick again… it was a complete mess. Recalling recent events, Alex covered his flushed face with his hand. Startled by his action, Eloise spoke up.
“Um… Your Grace, I’m sorry for raising my voice earlier.”
Her trembling eyes and the way she spoke suggested she had completely misinterpreted his behavior. Seeing this, Alex quickly responded.
“No. It was my fault. I didn’t know you disliked jewels or dresses.”
“No! That’s not it!”
“So, you don’t dislike them?”
His tone softened, seemingly relieved. Eloise, looking as if she was at a loss for words, shook her head. Then the words spilled out.
“I want to become stronger too! I don’t want to be helpless and get hurt like that again. I want to become strong…”
‘Was this what I was trying to say earlier?’
After blurting it out, her mind was already blank. Well, this was still something she wanted to say. Eloise met Alex’s gaze and continued.
“I want to become useful to you as quickly as possible.”
“…So, you want to be useful to me?”
His voice, asking for confirmation, was as rough as parched leaves.
“Yes! You said I have strong magical power. I want to become a mage quickly.”
Alex stared blankly at Eloise as she nodded and spoke. Feeling an inexplicable tightness in his throat, he roughly loosened his tie and finally managed to speak.
“In that… do you think that will make you happier?”
Happier?
It was a word she had never really pondered. Eloise bowed her head as if thinking.
“Hmm… Well, I think I’d feel more at ease.”
How many people in life live feeling that emotion? And how rare is it to choose something确信 it will bring happiness? The most Eloise could offer Alex right now was ‘peace of mind.’
“I see… Well then, I’ll prepare for it.”
Alex’s short reply was heavy, as if he had swallowed several sighs.
“Thank you! I’ll go to my room and prepare right away!”
Beaming, Eloise bowed her head and left the study. The moment she left, Alex let out a deep sigh.
‘Thank goodness. It seems my expression didn’t crack…’
Who would have thought his efforts to not show emotion back when he was the Crown Prince would come in handy like this? He banged his head on the study desk.
“Alex, what did the young lady say? No… why are you like this?”
The moment she opened the door, Rienna frowned as if she’d seen something strange at the sight of Alex with his head on the desk.
“Why are you acting like such a fool? Stuttering, starting to speak then stopping… Sigh…”
Alex couldn’t continue and let out another sigh. The image of the child uttering the word ‘useful’ was painful even to recall.
“Your Grace is absolutely not like that. You are the epitome of a calm and dignified ideal adult. Perfection incarnate,” said Kane, who had followed her in, pushing his glasses up as he answered. He seemed convinced of Alex’s perfection even without hearing what had happened inside.
“See, studying ruins you. You’ve completely lost it.”
Rienna looked Kane up and down as if he were a bizarre sight and shook her head vigorously. Not to be outdone, Kane smirked and retorted.
“Yes, I also think swordsmanship is not worth learning. If I had learned the sword, I might have ended up a single-celled organism like someone else. A true blessing.”
“What?”
“Though, if I hadn’t studied, it would have been difficult to get by in this world with your low-level intellect. And since you were disowned, that paltry noble status wouldn’t have helped either.”
“I wasn’t disowned; I left on my own!”
“Isn’t that the same thing? Even if you had become the family head with that brain of yours, your inadequacies would have been exposed quickly, and you’d have been kicked out anyway.”
Alex tuned out the two’s bickering filling the study, lost in thought with his chin resting on his hand and his eyes lowered.
‘Useful…’
As Alex replayed the earlier conversation, the butler, Rickson, approached.
“Your Grace, your chamomile tea.”
The cold tea leaves settled at the bottom of the cup were cleared from the table, just like Alex’s sunken mood. In their place was a cup of chamomile tea with its subtle fragrance.
“How does he always know… He hands me chamomile tea whenever my mind is troubled.”
A hint of a smile played on Alex’s lips as he felt the warm temperature of the cup. It had always been like this. The chamomile tea offered by the butler—no, the steward—always brought warmth.
“How could I not know, after spending so many years by your side.”
“I suppose…”
“It seems the Advisor and the Knight Captain are arguing again.”
The butler shook his head, looking at Kane and Rienna arguing in the corner of the study.
“Sigh… It’s more accurate to say ‘again.’ It happens so often it’s tiresome to even stop them.”
Alex let out a sigh, thinking of the arguments that had persisted since their academy days when they first met.
