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Chapter 2
“Here are 3,000 Sloan.”
It was the total value of the magic stones she had created over the past week, working through the nights.
Aileen left the jewelry store with the money in her hands. Standing on the street, she stared anxiously at the pouch she was holding.
“How long will it take me to pay off all my debts with this…?”
There was no way this money could pay off the astronomical amount of debt she had inherited. No matter how hard she worked, she would only be able to cover a small portion of the interest.
‘If only I could create high-purity magic stones…’
Aileen remembered the magic stone embedded in her mother’s keepsake pendant.
A vivid magic stone of the same color as the ones she created, said to have been made by her ancestor.
If only she could create something like that…
Looking down at her palm, Aileen closed her eyes and concentrated her power.
The surging energy gathered in her palm, and just as a magic stone was about to be created—
Thud.
She heard footsteps, and someone bumped into her and walked past.
Because of that, the newly created magic stone rolled across the street.
Aileen glared at the back of the man who was walking away without a care, then picked up the magic stone from the ground.
“No apology either. What kind of person does something like that?”
Muttering complaints, she brushed the dirt off the magic stone.
Then, in the next moment, Aileen’s eyes widened as if they were about to tear open.
“W-what is this…?”
Aileen stared blankly at the magic stone in her hand.
The magic stone was emitting a light she had never seen before.
It shimmered with a vivid purple glow.
The same color as the magic stone embedded in her pendant—it was the high-purity magic stone she had desperately wanted.
Aileen tightly gripped the stone with trembling hands.
Her heart was pounding wildly, but she tried to remain calm.
There were roughly two possible explanations for why a high-purity magic stone had suddenly been created.
The first was that it was purely due to her own ability.
But that possibility was extremely unlikely.
Occasionally, she could create intermediate or slightly higher-grade magic stones, but someone like Aileen could only create low-grade magic stones.
There was no way she could suddenly create a top-grade magic stone.
Then the only possibility left was…
“Excuse me, wait a moment!”
As soon as she finished thinking, Aileen ran toward the place where the man who had bumped into her had disappeared.
Because it was a busy street, she bumped shoulders with countless passing people.
Even so, Aileen didn’t stop running.
Soon, she saw the back of the man she had encountered earlier.
However, he was moving so quickly that Aileen couldn’t catch up with him at her speed.
Eventually, Aileen took a deep breath and shouted loudly.
“Excuse me! The gentleman with the black ponytail!”
Her voice was so loud that everyone passing nearby turned to look at her.
In the meantime, the man stopped walking.
Aileen ran toward him.
Standing behind him, she called out without even having time to catch her breath.
“Um, excuse me for a moment…”
Aileen froze.
The reason was because the man glanced at her, and his eyes carried a chilling coldness like a snowstorm.
While Aileen hesitated, the man turned around completely.
The cold atmosphere she had just seen disappeared, replaced by a smooth smile on his face.
When Aileen faced him directly, her thoughts stopped for a moment.
It was because of his appearance.
The man was incredibly handsome, with a gentle-looking face.
His perfectly smooth smile enhanced his soft features even more.
However, he didn’t look completely harmless.
The slightly raised corners of his eyes gave him an air of charisma.
Anyone would naturally feel drawn to such a face, but for some reason, Aileen felt that approaching him was difficult.
It was because of the sharp gaze she had seen earlier.
That gaze remained deeply engraved in her mind, contrasting with his current gentle expression.
When Aileen said nothing, the man smiled slightly and asked,
“What can I do for you, Lady?”
“Ah, well…”
Only then did Aileen remember why she had stopped him.
She couldn’t believe that after rushing over so desperately, she had ended up simply admiring his face.
She almost let out a helpless laugh but held it back and opened her mouth.
“I have something I want to confirm, so I’d like to ask you for a favor.”
“What kind of favor?”
The man’s kind tone made Aileen feel a little relieved.
But soon, embarrassment washed over her.
Before making her request, Aileen warned him.
“First, before I ask, I want to make one thing clear. Please understand that I’m not a strange person.”
The knight standing beside the man tilted his head.
He looked unsure whether he should stop her or simply let things continue.
Meanwhile, the man maintained his smile and nodded.
“Very well.”
He waited for Aileen’s request.
Aileen took a deep breath, as if embarrassed to say the words.
Then she opened her eyes with determination and spoke.
“Could I… possibly touch you just once?”
The moment she said that, it suddenly felt as if the entire surroundings had gone silent.
Aileen only moved her eyes and looked at the man’s knight.
He was staring at her as if she were some strange creature.
And the man…
“By ‘touch,’ do you mean me?”
He asked back with a serious expression.
Aileen’s face turned red as she nodded.
“Y-yes.”
“May I ask why?”
The man asked without any particular reaction, and Aileen hesitated.
She moved her lips several times before finally lowering her head.
“That’s… a little difficult to explain.”
“Then I suppose I must refuse. A woman who wants to touch me without any reason is rather troublesome.”
The man smiled gently.
“I hope you understand, Lady.”
With those words, he turned around.
Aileen stared blankly at his retreating figure.
She stomped her feet in frustration, then finally decided to take the plunge.
Paying off her debt was important. Being embarrassed didn’t matter!
Aileen spread her arms wide and hugged him from behind.
She could clearly feel the man’s body stiffen.
Just as the knight belatedly reached out to pull her away, Aileen quickly let go.
“I’m sorry!”
Leaving only that apology behind, she ran away.
