ITYVA 38🔐

Chapter 38

“U-ugh… mm.”

I asked Hisha to go inside through the window I had just pointed out.

Then, in order to avoid being too conscious of Akes behind me, I forced myself to recall the unofficial audience we had just had with the emperor.

That audience, which had turned into a four-way discussion, revolved around two major topics.

The first was “How to resolve Akes’ curse”, and the second was “What to do about Grand Duke Baharman.”

Of course, the ultimate reason this party had been formed was to overthrow the nobles of Belzesti.

But since urgent matters had appeared right in front of us, it was only natural that our focus had to shift to them.

First, how to resolve Akes’ curse.

To completely undo the curse placed on Akes, cooperation from the caster, Dante, was necessary.

More precisely, either the caster had to die, or a part of the caster’s body, like hair, had to be used in order to break the curse.

‘But Dante will never willingly help us undo it.’

If he had been willing to help, he wouldn’t have cursed Akes in the first place or tried so persistently to kill him.

It was safe to assume that Dante was fully aligned with Grand Duke Baharman.

‘Which means, the important thing now is Baharman’s next move.’

Since Dante was Baharman’s vassal, the cleanest solution was to eliminate him together with the duke.

According to the emperor, Grand Duke Baharman was still relentlessly coveting the throne.

Kidnapping Akes and cursing him had been part of that scheme.

No noble in Elberk was unaware that Akes was the emperor’s right hand.

But because Akes’ curse had made him younger, that weakness must not be exposed. They couldn’t use the curse as a pretext to pressure the duke.

That didn’t mean there was no way.

Unlike the Belzesti nobles, Baharman was sloppy at hiding his weaknesses.

That’s why he was just a petty villain, after all!

But hunts always had to be approached with caution, so it was decided to quietly observe the duke’s household for now and set the stage to use the cards we had already gathered.

“What are you thinking about so seriously?”

Suddenly, a low voice came from behind me.

Before I could even be startled, two strong arms reached out and lightly lifted me up.

“We’ve already arrived home, and you didn’t even notice.”

Thud.

Still holding me, Akes leapt lightly down beside Hisha.

Dazed in his arms, blinking blankly, I only came to my senses after he set me down on the ground.

“Ah—ah, we’re… here already? Ha, ha…”

My head spun as though the warmth I had just felt pressed all around me was still lingering.

I hurriedly sent Hisha away and, moving stiffly like a wooden doll, looked around the room.

The room we had entered through the window was a bedroom.

Though no one was inside, it was softly lit as if occupied, decorated neatly with a white base.

The interior was so much to my taste that my eyes were stolen away.

I was staring around in admiration when I caught Akes watching me with a pleased expression, and only then did I snap back to my senses.

Ah, I should mention that right now Akes had used nullification magic to return to his adult appearance.

The fact that he had been cursed was top secret, known only to a few in the ducal house—like the head butler and the steward.

If too much time passed without Akes showing himself, needless rumors could spread among the uninformed staff.

So, he had returned to his normal form to prevent that from happening.

“Do you like this room?” Akes asked with a smile.

My heart was pounding so loudly I could barely nod in response.

“Y-yeah… I like it. It’s pretty.”

“I’m glad. I’m even happier because this will be your room, Einra.”

“…What?”

Did I just hear something unbelievable?

When I looked up at him stiffly, he tilted his head with an innocent look.

“Einra, you promised to let me sleep, remember?”

“……”

“If you’re going to let me sleep, of course we’ll be using the same room, right?”

“…Uh…”

Well, that was true… but why did it feel like I was being tricked?

‘I swear I remember hearing there were plenty of guest rooms in the ducal mansion…’

That was why I had thought it would be fine to stay here!

While I was sinking into thought, Akes added with a troubled expression:

“And remember, Einra, your stay here is a secret.”

“…Right.”

Of course.

“If food starts going into an unused guest room and bathwater gets heated, it’ll be suspicious. So, even if it’s a little inconvenient, please understand. Okay?”

“…Okay.”

It made too much sense, so I had no choice but to nod.

When I did, Akes, who had been waiting for my answer, smiled radiantly, like sunlight.

“Thank you, Einra.”

He reached out and tucked my hair behind my ear.

“I’ll do everything I can, so you won’t regret it.”

Somehow, the way he whispered that sounded like words spoken after someone accepted a proposal…

“……”

In an instant, my face burned red.

The heat was sharp, like being scalded.

Einra, you’re insane!

Imagination might be free, but what on earth was I thinking, standing right in front of Akes himself…!

“Um, I-I think I need to wash up!”

Not because my thoughts were impure—no, just because I had worked hard earlier and was sweaty and sticky!

At my sudden exclamation, Akes paused for a moment.

Then, with an even gentler smile, he said:

“Do as you wish, Einra. There’s nothing here that you cannot do.”

He added that he would call the stewardess to assist me, then left the room.

Watching his back as he left, I scratched my cheek.

“…Feels like I just kicked the host out of his own room.”

I couldn’t help but feel guilty.

After hesitating, I slowly went into the bathroom attached to the room.

When I came out, washed with the help of the stewardess, dusk had begun to settle.

“His Grace is currently in his office. Please rest comfortably here, my lady,” said Madam Semelda, the head stewardess, politely.

Her respectful treatment was exactly as it had been five years ago, and I nodded awkwardly.

“O-okay, thank you.”

This kind of formality… I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.

With a click, the door shut.

I was alone in the room.

Taking a deep breath, I summoned Ilaie with spirit magic.

A massive amount of natural affinity surged out of me, almost suffocating in its intensity.

It materialized as a vivid blue glow in the air, gathering the water droplets present in the atmosphere and gradually forming the figure of a tall, handsome man.

Finally, Ilaie opened his eyes slowly and looked down at me.

“Einra, what is—”

“Ilaie!”

I jumped up and threw my arms around him.

Strictly speaking, it hadn’t been that long since I’d last seen him, but I was overwhelmed with relief and joy.

‘Is this what it feels like to see your parents after surviving something terrible?’

I pressed my cheek against him, and while he looked stunned at first, Ilaie eventually let out a small laugh.

“You’re not a child… what is this—”

His drowsy voice suddenly stopped.

As if finally noticing his surroundings, his water-colored eyes swept slowly across the bedroom.

The more he looked, the colder his eyes became.

“Don’t tell me… did that dark-hearted bastard lay a hand on you?”

“…Huh?”

I blinked blankly, not understanding.

But seeing my reaction, Ilaie simply took it as confirmation, his lips twisting coldly.

“Hah. I knew it. That damn bastard deserves to be torn apart—”

A chilling killing intent burst from him, filling the room.

Streams of water surged violently around him, as if ready to destroy everything at any moment.

I had no idea why he was so furious, but it was obvious that if this went on, something catastrophic would happen.

Panicking, I grabbed his arm and shouted:

“I don’t know what you think happened, but it’s not like that! It’s really not!”

“Silence. Don’t stop me. I’ll erase that wretched creature from existence itself.”

He raised one hand high.

I had no choice but to play my strongest card.

“I—I was almost kidnapped!”

The effect was immediate.