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Chapter 77
“Please sit down, Delphine.”
Tiago spoke gently, looking at me with his usual kind, soft eyes.
I hadn’t expected him to act like a strict investigator, but still—seeing the familiar, kind side of Tiago eased my nerves a little.
“This is just a formality. There’s no need to be too tense.”
He gave me a warm smile. I nodded slightly.
When he flicked his fingers, the bottle of truth potion floated up, pouring itself neatly into a wine glass.
“Wow…”
The potion sparkled beautifully. It was transparent, but had a faint bluish glow, glittering like something out of a fairytale.
Tiago handed me the glass.
“This is the truth potion. Please drink.”
“Yes…”
I downed it in one gulp. As Frederic had said, it was completely tasteless and odorless.
But the effect was immediate. My body grew heavy and relaxed, as though lying on a soft cloud. My head cleared of stray thoughts.
Tiago gave me a reassuring nod, as if to say everything was fine.
“Then, let’s begin.”
The questioning was simple. I gave my name and family. I said where I was on the day Michaela died. And I confirmed that I had no connection to her death.
Of course, all my answers were “No.” The quill of truth wrote furiously across the parchment, recording my innocence.
“That concludes the investigation. Thank you for cooperating so late at night.”
The pen scratched down his final words.
Tiago glanced at the window. The moon was already high—my questioning was the last.
Though the process was over, I still felt hazy, like I was pleasantly drunk. A dreamy feeling made me want to linger.
“Is it really finished now?” I asked softly.
“Yes, Delphine. You did well. You may leave.”
With a wave of his fingers, Tiago sealed the ink bottle, the quill slid into its case, and the parchment rolled itself neatly.
“…”
But I didn’t move. The tipsy, relaxed feeling made me want to talk more. Words hovered on my lips.
Tiago interlaced his fingers and looked at me.
“It seems you’re curious about something, Delphine.”
“…Yes.”
Normally I would have said “No” and gone back to my room. But under the potion’s influence, the truth slipped out instead.
So this is how Frederic had felt earlier.
“I do have something I want to ask you.”
Tiago’s lips curved in an amused smile, as if entertained.
“And what is that?”
“Before that…”
I pointed at the potion bottle.
“You drink it too.”
He chuckled lightly.
“I’ve never lied to you, Delphine. I don’t plan to. But if this makes you feel more comfortable, I’ll drink it.”
The bottle floated up again, pouring into a fresh glass.
“Then, here we go.”
Tiago raised the glass, met my eyes, and swallowed it slowly. His cheeks flushed slightly afterward.
“Go on, Delphine. What do you want to ask?”
I was about to speak when he stopped me.
“Ah, wait. If I answer your question, may I ask one in return?”
“…Alright.”
It was fair. I nodded. He smiled, clearly satisfied.
I asked:
“Tiago… do you like me?”
“Yes.”
The answer was instant, firm, without hesitation. His unwavering eyes met mine, and my heart thudded faster.
‘Ah… maybe I should’ve asked something else. That was too direct.’
But it was too late. Now it was his turn.
“Delphine, do you like me?”
“Hm…”
I thought about it. My feelings for Tiago had always been confusing.
“…Honestly, I don’t know.”
A shadow of disappointment crossed his face. The potion didn’t just reveal truth in words—it made it impossible to hide feelings too.
I hurried to change the mood and asked my next question.
“Alright, now it’s my turn again. Tiago… why do you like me?”
He suddenly burst into laughter, his cheeks flushed. In that moment, he looked almost boyish.
“There are so many reasons. But if I had to pick just one…”
His expression grew shy, but sincere.
“Because you’re kind, Delphine. You’re someone who treats people with true sincerity. You’re also brave. And a person who has both kindness and courage knows how to protect the one they love. They know how to truly love. That kind of person is rare… but you are one of them.”
“…”
I was speechless. My cheeks grew hot.
His eyes shone as he continued.
“I remember what you said before. That any man would fall for Charlier.”
“…Yes.”
I nodded faintly. I had said that to him long ago, back at the tavern where we first met.
‘I can’t believe he remembers that…’
Back then, I never imagined we’d be sitting together like this. I had just said it out of bitterness, comparing myself to Charlier as always.
He smiled again.
“I don’t agree with that. Instead—”
His eyes sparkled.
“To me, you are that person, Delphine. The one anyone would fall for. Kind and lovable.”
“…!”
The warmth of his words overwhelmed me.
‘What is this… It feels like all the resentment from the original Delphine’s life is being healed. Always compared to Charlier, always second place, always thinking, ‘I’m not enough for Leo.’ But right now, Tiago’s words make it feel like all that pain is disappearing.’
I looked at him nervously. He gave a small nod, as if to emphasize his sincerity.
A wave of fluttering heat swept through me, stronger than ever before.
Normally I would dismiss him as a flirt, but not now. Not after the truth potion. I couldn’t brush off his words as lies.
‘So… it really was genuine. But… no. Stay calm. He could be saying this to other women too…’
I asked him cautiously:
“Have you said things like this to anyone else? How many women have you truly liked before me? Because… I don’t trust you easily, Tiago. You’re a flirt. You know too well how to win hearts.”
He lowered his eyes and smiled faintly.
“Sorry, Delphine, but right now it’s my turn to ask.”
“Ah…”
I leaned back with a sigh.
‘Does this potion make people impatient too? Maybe that’s why I’m blurting so much.’
Tiago’s next question came.
“Delphine… do you like Frederic?”
“…Ah.”
The words slipped out with a sigh. His question cut straight into my confusion, just like his first one.
‘Do I like Frederic?’
Before I could even think it through, the truth spilled from my lips—truth I hadn’t admitted even to myself.
“I… I like… Frederic…”
For just a moment, I saw sadness flash across Tiago’s face.
But I couldn’t stop.
“…I liked him.”
Tiago nodded, understanding. He didn’t say anything else.
“…”
But that silence only pushed me to say more.
The potion forced me to confront what I had always avoided.
“I did like Frederic. Truly. When I first came here, he was the one who helped me when things were hardest. On the surface he seems rude, but deep down he’s kind, warm. The kindness you say you see in me—I saw it in him.”
As I spoke, Tiago’s face hardened slightly.
Of course. Hearing the woman you like talk about another man’s kindness isn’t pleasant.
But under the potion’s pull, I couldn’t stop.
“With Frederic, I felt safe. And when others mistreated him or looked down on him, I felt so angry. I denied those feelings for a long time—because of Charlier. I knew Frederic liked her. And I didn’t want to suffer from a one-sided love.”
