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Chapter : 23
Ripples
After parting ways with Leon in the marketplace, Lowell finished buying everything she needed and sat down on a bench at the entrance to the shopping street.
“Haa…”
Bending backward, Lowell stared up at the sky. Unlike the turmoil in her mind, the sky above her was a spotless blue. Winter would arrive soon, yet the sky still felt strangely high and warm like late autumn.
Lost in thought for quite some time, Lowell finally opened the bundle of herbs beside her when the breeze began to feel a little chilly.
“Six bundles of blue herbs, ten sprouting mushrooms…”
Thankfully, it seemed like she had bought enough. Before, when she wasn’t confident, she had only bought small amounts, but now that she and Leon had agreed to actually take the herbs, there was no need to hold back.
Though I was a little flustered when Lady Louise asked why I needed so much.
Remembering the shopkeeper’s suspicious stare as she packed the herbs, Lowell let out a small laugh.
Come to think of it, in another timeline Lady Louise had helped her a great deal when Lowell made a clarity remedy for Aria.
But that’s something that never happened now.
Perhaps because winter was truly settling in, Lowell felt unreasonably sentimental.
Crash!
Just then, something heavy collapsed nearby.
Startled, Lowell jumped to her feet. She spotted a pile of boxes scattered across the ground, dust rising hazily under the afternoon sun.
“What the—?”
A shrill sound escaped her mouth.
“Ugh, damn it. Why does everything have to fall over?”
A loud, grating voice followed, and Lowell turned toward it—only to find someone sprawled awkwardly atop the fallen crates.
“Viscount Davis?”
It was Andy. Aria’s former lover—no, that piece of trash—who had failed in his attempt to break into her room.
“…”
Andy froze; Lowell stiffened in surprise. Their eyes met for barely a moment.
“Damn it.”
Andy cursed again, and a giant question mark appeared in Lowell’s mind.
What is that man doing here?
Before she even finished the thought, Andy scrambled to his feet and bolted, climbing back over the wall he had apparently come from faster than anyone could react.
“Wait—!”
Lowell moved on instinct. She had to follow him. She ran straight toward the wall Andy had disappeared over.
But the wall was far too tall. Lowell bounced anxiously in place, then glanced around with sudden resolve.
Once she confirmed no one was around, she spoke a teleportation spell.
“Aaah!”
Thanks to the spell, Lowell appeared right in front of fleeing Andy. Startled, he toppled backward.
His flailing was so pitiful Lowell almost laughed—but she resisted and forced her voice steady.
“What were you doing?”
“Doing what!?”
Andy scrambled backwards, palms on the ground, shouting.
“Why were you running away?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he glanced around—and flung dirt upward toward her face. Cheap, dirty trick—just like him.
“Eek!”
Lowell staggered back, covering her eyes with her sleeve. Andy sprinted away in the opposite direction.
Thud!
But his escape ended almost immediately.
A magic circle flared under his feet, pulling him straight to the ground.
“I asked why you’re running.”
Lowell approached, expression hard. The sun behind her cast a long dark shadow over Andy’s cowering form.
“I—I don’t care anymore! Aria’s mana—take all of it if you want! I’m done!”
His voice was loud, but he was shaking. Lowell ignored his pale face—her mind snagged on the name he had spoken.
Aria.
“What about Lady Aria?” she demanded.
Her voice wavered—just enough that the spell under Andy flickered. He seized the chance and bolted.
“….”
This time, Lowell did not chase him. She merely stood there, replaying his words again and again—forgetting entirely that she had just used two spells back-to-back without thinking.
A few days later at night, Lowell was doing what she always did—studying magic from Leon and offering him mana in return—when she suddenly leaned forward.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
Her hands tightened over Leon’s, curiosity bright in her eyes.
“…I wasn’t staring at you. I was watching the flow of mana around you.”
“Oh—sorry. I thought you had something to say.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re the one with something to say.”
“Huh?”
Her eyes widened. Anyone could see she’d been hit dead center.
“You’ve been sneaking glances all evening. If you have something to say, spit it out. You’ve been so nervous the mana you’re channeling into me keeps wobbling.”
Leon frowned irritably.
Lowell stared at him for a long moment, amazed at how sharp he was.
“You’re right. I do have something to say.”
“Then hurry up. Whatever it is.”
“But first—just know one thing.”
“What.”
“That I’m not asking this just because you can’t run away while I’m supplying you with mana.”
“…I hadn’t thought that, but now that you said it, it does sound like that might be the reason.”
Lowell ignored him, bit her lip, stared at the floor, and drew a deep breath.
“I need something investigated. Please assign someone to it. Someone skilled, someone who can move quietly. Someone you trust would be best.”
She spoke rapidly—without stumbling once.
“…Investigate what?”
Leon needed a beat before the surprise left his eyes. Honestly, he was impressed he even understood her—she talked that fast.
“I think something has happened to Lady Aria.”
The mana between them rippled wildly the instant she said Aria’s name, carrying all of Lowell’s fear straight into Leon.
“Because of that letter from before?”
“That, and… things I’ve seen and heard lately. I’m sure we need to look into it.”
“Hmph. Even so—why ask me? There’s little I can do. There’s no one like that here.”
“That’s why I’m asking you.”
“What?”
“Call in the Liefmann Marquisate’s agents.”
Her earnest gaze did not waver. Leon winced.
“You do remember I left my family?”
“I know. That’s why I’m asking.”
“How do you know there’d even be people like that left?”
“Any imperial marquis family has information gatherers. You know how fierce the information wars are among nobles in the Khan Empire.”
“…”
“Please. Go home and bring them.”
Lowell spoke slowly this time—like she feared he might miss how serious she was.
Leon suddenly understood why she’d made that comment about preventing him from running away. Liefmann. His own surname—and a name he despised.
He intended to refuse. It made no sense to comply. Walking into the house that disgusted him and asking for help? Impossible.
And it wasn’t in their contract. He had no obligation.
“I—”
But the refusal vanished in an instant.
Moonlight glinted in Lowell’s eyes—a violet shimmer like polished gems.
Ripples…?
Something faint and trembling in her gaze rippled through him, all the way to his chest.
Leon forgot what he had meant to say.
And that was the first moment Lowell’s violet waves washed right into him.
