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Chapter 66
‘That woman won’t bother Delphine for a while now.’
That was Tiago’s plan.
He wanted Charlier’s anger and resentment to be redirected toward Michaela, not Delphine. If Charlier focused on fighting Michaela, then Delphine would naturally be left alone.
This way, Tiago didn’t even need to threaten Charlier directly—she would distance herself from Delphine on her own. And if Charlier and Michaela clashed, Delphine would be the one kept safest in the middle.
‘She’s simpler than I thought.’
With that thought, Tiago turned back toward the Mermaid’s Tear.
‘Hah. Damn Edward, that rat.’
Next to the real Mermaid’s Tear lay a perfect fake copy. Edward had tried to make a counterfeit and secretly swap it for Delphine’s.
Tiago’s jaw tightened, veins pulsing with anger.
“That one on the left is fake.”
He turned. Charlier, who had already switched the rings, was standing there.
When their eyes met, she flashed a dazzling smile—the kind that could melt any man.
“Ah… I’m good with jewels. I saw the one Delphine wore a few days ago.”
Tiago picked up the necklace on the right. Its powerful magic pulsed strongly—Charlier was correct. The right one was real, the left one was Edward’s fake.
“You really do know your jewels,” Tiago said.
Charlier smirked playfully.
“I love jewels. I could probably beat any back-alley dealer at spotting fakes.”
Her teasing made Tiago laugh faintly.
He pocketed the real Mermaid’s Tear, then pulled out his magic staff from inside his jacket.
Charlier sang lightly:
“Oh my, earlier you used no staff, and now you’re bringing it out?”
“I use it when I need more difficult magic.”
He murmured an incantation, and instantly another fake necklace appeared where the real one had been.
Now, Edward’s lab had two fake Mermaid’s Tears on display.
Looking at them, Tiago chuckled.
“Let’s go, my lady.”
They left the lab, and with a flick of magic, Tiago relocked the door.
—Click.
As they descended the main staircase, Charlier asked:
“Will you give that necklace back to Delphine?”
Tiago nodded.
“Lucky girl… being loved by someone like you.”
Tiago glanced at her. Men who had survived as much as he had could usually tell sincerity from lies just by someone’s face. He sensed Charlier meant it.
He only shrugged in response.
Charlier, sounding pouty, pressed further:
“What do you even like about Delphine? Because she’s pretty? The palace is full of beautiful women.”
“Yes, there are many pretty women in the palace.”
“Then why her…?”
Instead of answering, Tiago only smiled.
In his mind, scenes replayed:
—Delphine running fearlessly to protect Frederic against Kerman, even though he himself, an upper-class sorcerer, had trouble facing that creature.
—Delphine standing at her own birthday party, trembling but boldly interrupting her mother’s speech to defend Frederic’s honor, risking her own reputation as a duke’s daughter.
‘Frederic, you don’t even realize how lucky you are.’
Yes, it bothered Tiago that Delphine’s kindness had been directed at Frederic. But still—that warmth, that compassion—he found it beautiful.
‘If someday, that kindness could be directed at me…’
His expression softened at the thought.
Charlier stared quietly at his softened face.
Once they reached the bottom of the stairs, Tiago spoke:
“Don’t be so jealous, Lady Charlier. You have Frederic.”
“……!”
At Frederic’s name, Charlier’s expression froze instantly.
“……”
“Frederic is better than any man in this palace. He’s exceptional.”
Her face turned icy cold. In a low voice, she said:
“I know.”
Tiago gently reached out and patted her head. His touch was firm but tender.
“You need to treasure what you already have.”
The moment his hand brushed her hair, Charlier felt her whole body bristle. It was the same strange shiver she’d felt the night before when she was with him.
Looking up at him—his head a whole size taller, his shoulders twice as broad—Tiago seemed immense.
He saw her wavering eyes and said softly:
“From now on, you should learn how to find happiness for yourself, Lady Charlier.”
At the word happiness, her eyes changed.
—Smack.
She slapped his hand away sharply.
“My happiness is for me to decide. Honestly, Tiago, I like silent men. You meddle too much.”
Her tone was sharp, her attitude completely different from her shy one just moments earlier.
Tiago, surprised, let out a loud laugh.
Without another glance back, Charlier stormed off toward the east wing, her heels clicking down the hall.
—Click, clack.
Tiago stroked his chin, smiling faintly.
‘Frederic, good luck handling that woman. Hah.’
15. The Dawn Incident
—Knock, knock, knock.
I put down the book I was reading.
“Come in.”
Paella entered, bowing lightly.
“My lady, a note has arrived.”
She handed me a small folded note with both hands.
“Thank you.”
She bowed again and left my room.
—Rustle.
I unfolded it right away. The handwriting was familiar.
Delphine, can you meet me now in the east garden? —Tiago
‘Now? Must be something urgent.’
I quickly wrapped a cloak around my shoulders and stepped out.
“Ah.”
Just as I shut the door, I ran into Frederic leaving his room.
“……”
Our eyes met—and I immediately looked away.
‘Haa… yeah, I know I’m being petty. But I don’t want to smile and greet him like nothing happened.’
“……”
Frederic also stayed silent.
We passed by each other as if we hadn’t seen one another at all.
The entire walk to the garden left me unsettled.
‘I don’t want to see Frederic for a while.’
The disappointment still weighed on me. I didn’t want to pretend nothing had happened or go back to chatting with him like before.
“……”
With my heavy heart, I entered the garden.
Tiago was already sitting at the pond-side bench where we’d met last time.
As I approached, he noticed me and turned his head.
—Thump.
The moment our eyes met, my heart skipped.
“Delphine!”
He greeted me warmly. I smiled faintly and answered:
“I got your note, so I came.”
As soon as I sat beside him, Tiago held out his hand.
“I wanted to return this to you.”
In his palm was the Mermaid’s Tear. It glowed brighter red than ever before.
“Huh? The Mermaid’s Tear…?”
He nodded.
“That’s right, Delphine. Look at how it burns brightly. That means there’s a curse nearby. You must be careful whenever it looks like this.”
He unclasped the chain.
“I’ll put it on you.”
“…Thank you.”
He leaned closer, his arms circling around me to fasten the clasp at the back of my neck.
For just a split second, it felt like my heart stopped.
“Ah…”
I felt his warm breath against the back of my neck—gentle, comforting. His scent was sweet, and it reached the tip of my nose.
‘Whew, whew. Get a hold of yourself.’
My ears flushed hot red. He smiled knowingly, as if he had seen everything.
“Delphine. Never lend this necklace to anyone again, alright?”
He said it like soothing a child. And though I wasn’t used to being treated like one, I didn’t really dislike it either.
“Edward said studying the Mermaid’s Tear might help protect others from curses. That’s why I lent it… to help people.”
I spoke defensively. After all, it was mine to do with as I pleased. But still, it wasn’t just any necklace—it weighed on my mind.
Tiago nodded with full understanding.
“I know, Delphine. You did it with good intentions. But this necklace is rare and delicate. If mishandled, it can easily be damaged. That’s why it must be treated gently and carefully.”
“…Alright, Tiago.”
My lips jutted out in a little pout without me realizing.
‘What? Am I crazy? Why am I pouting? Is this… my version of acting cute?’
Around this man, I always found myself acting unlike me. Shocked at myself, I quickly straightened my lips and turned back to the pond.
Tiago chuckled softly and leaned toward me.
“And one more thing, Delphine.”
I turned to him.
“What is it, Tiago?”
“Edward Trinity. Is he an old friend of yours?”
“Well… I knew him long ago. But after that, we hardly kept in touch.”
“Then… you don’t know him well, do you?”
His gaze sharpened. I shook my head.
“No… not really. We aren’t that close.”
“I see.”
His face clouded with concern.
“Why, Tiago?”
“Delphine, what I’m about to say… it won’t be pleasant to hear. You might even misunderstand me, or feel disappointed. But still—I’ll say it, because you are more important to me than anything else.”
