ITHTJ 35

Chapter : 35

A Troublesome Relationship (10)

“Who sent this?”

The moment I tore open the envelope and saw the contents, I hurriedly began preparing to leave.

“Penny, I’m stepping out for a bit. It’s urgent, so let’s eat a little later!”

“Excuse me? Where are you going at this hour?”

“Sorry! I’ll see you soon!”

I left Penny behind and headed straight for Eclipse.

Eclipse had been in his study since early morning.

“You’re early.”

His first words after receiving the letter were brief. That remark made my heart tighten for some reason.

‘Maybe coming this early wasn’t such a good idea.’

Before leaving the room, I vaguely remembered the clock showing around 6:40 a.m.

‘Even if it’s important, it’s not even 7 yet. I probably should have come after 9 at least.’

Thinking about it, I was basically like a junior employee barging in on their boss with work well before office hours.

‘Wow, thinking of it that way, it’s really terrible.’

Today, for some reason, I kept glancing at Eclipse, who looked unusually disheveled. His usually neat black hair was unusually tousled, and he wore a loose-fitting shirt instead of his usual uniform. His expression also seemed strangely dazed.

‘Even like this, he’s handsome…’

I hadn’t known him for long, but seeing someone who was always so meticulous looking like this felt new and surprising.

Then, a thought suddenly struck me.

‘Wait… did I wake him up from sleep?’

Eclipse looked like he had just woken up, no doubt about it. The problem was, he usually suffered from insomnia.

‘What if I woke him right after he finally fell asleep?’

There’s nothing more agonizing than wanting to sleep but being unable to. And imagining that I might have destroyed that rare, precious sleep…

‘Oh no. I should have waited a little longer before coming!’

I felt extremely anxious.

‘Jade told me to come immediately if contacted, and of course, it had to be at this timing.’

Hello, my name is Elsie Blumhayer. My occupation is “sinner.” My crime is “waking a sleeping insomnia patient.” Well then, goodbye.

‘He probably just barely fell asleep, and I’ve stolen that precious sleep. Ugh… what should I do?’

At that moment, while I was drowning in guilt, Eclipse spoke.

“Have something to eat.”

…Completely unexpected.

Before I knew it, I was having a second breakfast with Eclipse.

Soon, a cart carrying simple food was delivered to the study. Compared to my usual twelve-dish breakfast, it looked much simpler.

“Thank you….”

I cautiously ate, my heart heavy as I watched him. I carefully took a bite of the thicker-than-usual sandwich.

‘This is…’

Salty, thick bacon combined with crisp vegetables—a truly excellent meal.

“Delicious…!”

I didn’t even notice that my inner excitement was spilling outward as I chewed enthusiastically. Yet, even after I finished eating, Eclipse’s plate remained untouched.

‘Does he not have an appetite?’

He had woken up because of me, and now he wasn’t even eating. Feeling guilty, I cautiously asked,

“Your Highness, aren’t you eating?”

“I’m not hungry right now.”

Then why did you say we should have breakfast? I thought quietly and asked,

“Did I wake you from sleep, Your Highness?”

“…….”

“Your Highness?”

Eclipse paused for a moment, then nodded.

“Seems like it.”

“Seems like it”? That ambiguous answer made my heart plummet to the depths of the ocean.

“Not feeling hungry must be because of that. Right after waking up, appetite rarely comes immediately.”

Yet, why is it that even when asked about his own condition, he only offered a speculative answer? It was as if he were experiencing something unexpected.

“Blumhayer.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Suddenly, he placed something on the desk. It was none other than my Dreaming Butterfly Powder.

‘Gasp, that’s the result of all my time and effort!’

I quickly snapped my jaw shut before it could gape. Eclipse tapped the glass vial holding my creation with slow, deliberate movements.

“Do you know what this powder is?”

Well… yes, I do know. But I can’t exactly say it out loud, can I?

‘How do I explain that it’s actually mine, that you found it when I tried to scam you and ran off?’

Yeah, no wonder it felt strange. Things had been going too smoothly! I knew a crisis like this would come eventually… just didn’t expect it to be now.

‘Calm down. If I stay quiet, it’ll be fine.’

I chose silence instead of answering. Eclipse glanced at me, then continued speaking.

“This is a type of sleeping powder. Scatter it in the air, and anything nearby falls asleep.”

Yes, thank you for the detailed explanation.

I had no idea how this situation would unfold… or so I thought.

‘Wait, could it be…’

Eclipse had clearly just woken up. Yet he didn’t seem certain of his own state.

‘But he couldn’t have fallen asleep unknowingly. Eclipse suffers from insomnia. If that were possible, he wouldn’t have insomnia in the first place.’

Then there was only one possibility left.

What was it? Eclipse was about to explain.

“I used only an extremely small amount, yet he fell into a deep sleep. Even here, he felt no discomfort, not even stiffness.”

Of course. My instincts weren’t wrong.

‘Of course. Eclipse used my powder.’

Suddenly, I was hearing a live review of the product I had made. Thinking back, it was just after I had finished making the powder. I had tried it once for testing before selling it.

‘I only meant to try a little, but accidentally spilled it all.’

Looking back, it had been a rare and valuable experience. The effect was phenomenal.

‘The only problem was that it was so expensive no one bought it.’

And yet, I had carelessly spilled such a precious item. I had been quite reckless.

‘I was too scatterbrained at the time.’

In the end, that “butterfly effect” caused a huge outcome, so it worked out. Perhaps it was fate that the powder ended up in Eclipse’s hands.

‘He even used it twice.’

That powder was so precious that even I, its creator, had only used it once. The first time had been my own choice, not his.

‘If it were anyone else, I would have charged them… but for Eclipse, it’s fine.’

I couldn’t charge my benefactor who fed me, put me to bed, and even dressed me.

‘Consider it a free service.’

Even though I’m a merchant, I’m not someone who would sell my conscience. Once Eclipse realized the powder existed, it was essentially out of my hands. Pointing out, “Hey, that’s mine!” would have been amateurish.

‘Might as well explain how to use it properly.’

A true master remains composed in any situation. I subtly asked Eclipse for his candid review of the powder.

“Was there any discomfort after using it?”

“Discomfort?”

Eclipse answered without the slightest hesitation.

“None at all.”

Of course there wouldn’t be side effects. It’s a magical tool made by me, Elsie. My skills are, without question, perfect. No arguments.

‘If you really want to argue, beat the Duke and the Saint first. Oh, and the Tower Master too.’

Feeling confident, I said,

“That’s a relief. Unverified magical tools can sometimes have serious side effects.”

“I don’t recall calling it a magical tool.”

“…….”

Ah, mistake. I rolled my eyes silently.

“Ah, hahaha. People like him can see right through something like that immediately.”

“…….”

“…….”

“Indeed. General sleeping powders aren’t used by scattering them in the air.”

Phew, crisis averted! I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Yes, exactly! That’s why I referred to it as a magical tool.”

“And I’ve verified it.”

“Oh, that’s a relief… huh?”

What did Eclipse just say? Verified it?

I stared blankly, and he calmly said,

“I used it myself.”