ITMLBDSML 24

 Chapter 24

Aselt, curious about the unfamiliar object, held up the glasses Kelic had given him.

“This?”

“Yes! That’s it!”

With excitement lighting up her eyes, Maybel confirmed. Aselt asked her,

“I was just about to ask… what exactly is this? Glasses… I guess?”

Although glasses existed in this world, sunglasses did not.

So when he had requested them at the workshop, the owner had given him a look like he asked for all sorts of strange things.

But seeing is believing.

“Try them on,” Maybel said, encouraging him to put them on just like regular glasses.

Though hesitant, Aselt trusted her and wore the sunglasses.

“Oh…”

He had expected his vision to be blocked by the dark lenses, but it was surprisingly clear.

The world seemed just a bit dimmer, that was all. Indoors, it didn’t make much difference, but outside in strong sunlight, it would be quite useful.

Aselt looked around the room with the sunglasses on and then turned his gaze back to Maybel.

“But why are you giving this to me?”

“Well… actually, it was meant as a substitute for the blindfold.”

“A substitute for the blindfold?”

“Yes. I heard that keeping the blindfold on prevents your injuries from healing. But it still lets you see, right?”

If it could show the letters, then the lenses must have pretty high transparency.

“I thought, if a barrier can prevent someone from turning to stone when eyes meet, then maybe these glasses could act as a barrier too…”

What she didn’t know was that this was only possible because Aselt could control his powers.

Maybel wriggled her fingers nervously as she continued.

“But now that you can fully control your abilities… I, well, I hesitated a lot about whether I should even give them to you!”

She worried that giving something no longer needed as a gift might be bothersome.

“But then you got caught by Master Kelic…”

It was almost like she had been robbed, but in some way, it felt right—after all, it was meant for Aselt.

“If you don’t need them, you can just throw them away—”

“Why?”

“Huh? Well, you can control your powers completely now, and the Grand Duke’s household knows it too.”

“But you made this for me. On purpose.”

“Oh, well… yes, that’s true…”

“Then I’ll wear it. And I actually like it quite a lot.”

Aselt smiled while adjusting the sunglasses.

Perhaps it was his high nose and fair face, but even though the design was simple, it suited him perfectly.

“And Maybel, you said the Grand Duke’s household might not fear me anymore, but what about others?”

“Huh?”

“When I go outside.”

“But I heard you don’t really like going outside, Master,” Maybel tilted her head.

Just yesterday, upon hearing that the sunglasses were finished, she had gone out into the inner courtyard with Ella. Hisin was also there. They said Aselt rarely went outside the Grand Duke’s residence.

Maybel had simply thought he was an enormous homebody, just like a snake.

But was that wrong?

“Who said that? I like going out. More specifically, I like basking in the sunlight.”

Adding as if to confirm her thought, he continued, “And the reason I haven’t gone out was because of the blindfold. People kept staring at me.”

“Oh…”

Of course, anyone would stare if a handsome young man walked around in black blindfolds.

At first, one might think he could just take it off when going outside, but Aselt was a disciple of Zikmund.

Moreover, as a legendary species called a Basilisk, he couldn’t go unguarded.

‘He kept the blindfold on for the sake of the Grand Duke’s household who accompanied him.’

Now he wouldn’t need to, but still, who knows?

The fear inspired by the Basilisk species was enormous. Even if Aselt could control his abilities, the intimidation wouldn’t easily fade.

“But with these, I can go outside freely.”

“Definitely… looks less suspicious than the blindfold.”

“Right?”

Aselt took off the sunglasses and chuckled.

His fondness for them wasn’t empty words—he handled the glasses gently, his touch already tender.

After staring at them briefly, Aselt spoke softly, his voice a little heavy.

“Thank you. For understanding… my pain.”

No one else had acknowledged the pain Aselt bore alone.

No one had tried to share it.

They treated it as if it were natural for someone with his abilities to endure such suffering while living among others.

But Maybel was different.

In just a few days, she had recognized the loneliness and lack hidden in Aselt’s actions.

And she wanted to share it, help him.

It was so moving and comforting that Aselt’s white eyes glistened with moisture.

Maybel, noticing this, intentionally spoke more brightly.

“No need to thank me—it’s only natural! I’m part of the Grand Duke’s household too!”

At the emphasis on ‘Grand Duke’s household,’ Aselt let out a small laugh.

He reached out and stroked Maybel’s head, responding warmly.

“That’s right, you are part of the household.”

Even if a bit late, it was a welcome to the Grand Duke’s family.

Meanwhile, Kelic, having dashed into the room, lay on the bed, striking the pillow in frustration.

“You idiot, fool, chicken brain, duck brain, turkey brain, goldfish brain, again, again…”

He attached his only known insult, ‘brain,’ to every animal he could think of.

But he could think of no more animals, and berating Aselt only made him feel worse.

“Damn…”

In the end, Kelic couldn’t properly scold Aselt and sat up, sniffling.

He had often felt frustrated with Aselt’s cynical nature, but never like today.

‘He hated it too, yet he got hurt because of her!’

He had tried to chase Maybel away instead, yet he ended up getting scolded!

‘I was so worried!’

Before he could even calm himself, emotions overwhelmed him again.

“You really are a fool, I hate youuuu!”

Kelic flung his frustration at the pillow, biting it and shouting wildly.

Outside the room, the maids exchanged worried glances at the noise.

“I heard Master Kelic was chased out by Master Aselt?”

“Yes… Master Aselt took Maybel’s side, not Master Kelic’s.”

“Oh my, really? That’s unusual! I thought he didn’t like her.”

“Well… maybe he realized Maybel’s true nature?”

“If that’s true, I hope Master Kelic gets a chance to talk to her too.”

But contrary to the maids’ wishes, Kelic had no intention of doing so.

He clenched his fists, determined.

‘My teacher, Dein, even my brother! I don’t know what she did to charm him, but I’m not a fool. I will never fall for it!’

No matter what Maybel does, he wouldn’t be swayed by that cute, lively face!

Yet, exactly 24 hours later…

‘What, what girl…’

Kelic was utterly shocked.

‘She talks so well?!’

Playing with Maybel was unexpectedly fun!

That morning, Kelic went to Aselt’s room as usual to have breakfast together.

Even though he had cried because of Aselt yesterday, that was in the past.

But shockingly, Aselt wasn’t in the room.

• “Oh? Not going to the dining hall?”
• “Huh? Well, I was going to eat here with my brother…”
• “Oh my! Didn’t you hear? Master Aselt is having breakfast with Miss Maybel!”
• “What?!”

Rushing to the dining hall, Kelic found Aselt indeed eating with Maybel!

How could this happen?!

They were even planning a picnic in the garden after breakfast!

‘And I’m completely left out!’

This was unacceptable.

‘But I, Kelic, am smart and capable of thinking.’

He restrained the urge to throw himself on the floor and cry and began to plan.

‘A picnic, huh? We’ll see about that!’

He had brought a wooden sword with a caterpillar tied to it, intending to cause chaos and make someone leave the Grand Duke’s residence.

• “Hey!”

Kelic deliberately pointed the wooden sword with the caterpillar toward Maybel.

‘Scared? Shocked? Grossed out?!’

He expected her to scream and cry, but Maybel shattered his expectations completely.

• “Oh, there’s a bug on it.”

Without a hint of fear, she grabbed the caterpillar with her bare hands and tossed it aside!