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Chapter 12
“Please Break Off the Engagement Because I Don’t Want to Die, Duke”
“Ah, I’m tired.”
I let out a sigh while looking out the window where moonlight poured in.
In the morning, I had gone to the Romanov ducal residence, and in the afternoon, my father had been injured.
‘And not long after that, my brothers all stormed in.’
It had truly been a day full of events. I felt like I had spent energy meant for several days in just one.
“I’m drained. Completely drained.”
When you’re tired, the right thing to do is sleep quickly. But for some reason, even after tossing and turning for a long time, I couldn’t fall asleep easily. Every time I closed my eyes, I kept seeing the cut running across my father’s forehead.
Even if it was just a minor wound, it would still be uncomfortable. He would likely have to appear in public often, and of all places, it had to be right in the center of his forehead.
Moreover, the attending physician had said that even if the wound itself was small, since it involved a head injury, there could be a mild concussion. He strongly emphasized that my father needed at least a day or two of rest.
“I can’t not worry.”
I rolled around on the bed for a while, then finally threw off the blanket and got up. I put on slippers and started moving.
‘If I’m going to keep thinking about it anyway…’
I decided I would go heal my father’s wound. I was slightly worried that someone might find out I could use healing magic, but…
‘It’s not like I have any reason to hide it. I’m not some hidden-overpowered-protagonist type who needs to conceal my powers.’
I walked through the dark hallway of the mansion and stood in front of my father’s bedroom.
I looked around. It was late, so there wasn’t a single servant in sight.
Quietly, carefully, I stepped inside. My father was lying there with his eyes closed.
After hesitating for a moment, I swallowed nervously and slowly reached out my hand. I brought my hand close enough to almost touch his forehead and began drawing the magic formula.
Soon, a greenish-gray magical energy, similar to the color of my eyes, flowed from my fingertips and rippled into his forehead.
Watching the wound gradually fade away, I couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.
“Hooh.”
It was my first time attempting healing magic on a person, so I was impressed myself. But this wasn’t the time to be careless—I had to stay quiet. I quickly covered my mouth with my hand.
But then—
My wrist was suddenly grabbed by someone.
“H-hek, khhh!”
I nearly fell back in shock. Fortunately, the person holding my wrist supported me so I could stand properly.
“Hazel, what on earth are you doing?”
His voice was calm, but stern. When I met his gaze, his eyes looked like they were burning with fire.
“I-I’m healing him!”
His suspicious look made him seem like he was treating me as an assassin, so I couldn’t think of a better excuse.
“Healing?”
“Your Grace’s forehead wound. I can heal it.”
He lifted his hand and brushed his forehead. Realizing the pain was gone and the wound had healed, his eyes shook violently.
“…How?”
“I can use healing magic.”
“When did you start?”
“I don’t know.”
I really didn’t know. I must have had this ability since I first inherited mana.
“…Ha. Hazel.”
W-why?! I healed him—why does he look so upset?!
Just looking at his face made my heart shrink.
My father’s expression was unusually angry. His voice was cold and stiff.
“Don’t use healing magic with so little mana.”
I tilted my head.
“…So little mana…”
I tried to recall whether my mana was actually that insignificant.
My father continued, shaking his head as if he didn’t expect a proper answer.
“You should know that healing magic isn’t something so simple that anyone can use just because they can cast a spell.”
That was something I already knew. Healing magic required abundant mana and an innate talent. In other words, not just any mage could use it.
‘He thinks I’m forcing myself even though I’m not capable.’
I briefly considered whether I should hide the fact that I was actually quite skilled at healing magic.
I had never healed a person before, but I had been acting as a healer for various animals in the ducal estate’s back garden, so I was quite experienced.
‘Hmm.’
No matter how I thought about it, there was no need to hide it. Revealing this card didn’t seem like it would cause more harm than good.
“It’s not difficult for me at all.”
“…Nonsense.”
Before he could continue, I pointed at my forehead.
“My forehead.”
“….”
“It’s already healed, isn’t it? If it were something beyond my ability, just drawing a simple magic formula wouldn’t have had such an effect.”
He paused for a moment and touched his forehead again.
“How is this possible? I’ve never sensed that level of mana from you before.”
His voice trembled slightly with disbelief.
“What mage openly displays all their mana? I’ve been concealing it.”
I had never revealed my true mana level. The rumors that I only had a tiny amount of mana didn’t matter to me.
Not because I had some grand plan…
‘It’s just that nobody cared about me.’
There was no reason to reveal it. If things had followed the original story, Hazel’s abilities would have remained unknown.
‘So that’s why no one in the novel ever realized she had strong mana.’
No one in the story was close enough to notice her abilities.
Again, the thought of independence soon entered my mind. It wasn’t immediate, but it wasn’t far away either.
“I’m glad I can use healing magic.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means I won’t starve wherever I go.”
“…What?”
His face twisted sharply.
“Where are you planning to go? And why would you ever worry about starving?”
I hesitated.
Should I tell him? This was my father, after all, and I was already revealing my healing magic…
‘But…’
Maybe not today.
“I mean… you never know what might happen in life.”
“Are you saying you might end up starving?”
Without healing magic, self-reliance would indeed have been difficult.
“Maybe.”
“The Lindberg family will never fall so far that such a thing happens.”
Fall that far?
“Well, that’s a bit extreme…”
But if it really did collapse, starvation might be the least of my problems.
When I cautiously looked at him, his expression grew even more serious.
Unlike before, when he had simply frowned, now he looked deep in thought.
His facial muscles twitched slightly. I suddenly felt anxious that he might ask me something I couldn’t answer.
I quickly stood up and rubbed my forehead.
“Your Grace, the healing is done, so I’ll head back now.”
“Hazel.”
“Ah, I’m so sleepy. Yes?”
As I pretended to be absent-minded, he let out a long sigh.
“…Go on.”
“Yes, good night!”
The Next Day
After the Duke of Lindberg’s injury healed as if nothing had ever happened, everyone in the ducal household was shocked. The servants, while diligently cleaning the room, kept slowing down, curious about how their master had recovered.
Standing beside Jeremy, the butler Jordi spoke carefully.
“Um… Your Grace, may I ask how your injury was healed?”
“Cough, cough.”
“…?”
Jeremy’s face looked strangely unnatural as he cleared his throat. Jordi tilted his head.
“What happened…”
“Hazel healed me.”
A brief silence fell.
“…Miss Hazel did?”
“Yes. She seems quite skilled in healing magic.”
Jordi twitched his eyebrows, unable to ask “How is that possible?”
“Even though she has always shown unusual talent… it seems she had such a gift as well.”
