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CHAPTER 06
Del, who had just scooped soup into her mouth, immediately started coughing at those words. After gulping down the water Nike quickly handed her, she slammed the glass onto the table.
“What the hell, were you spying on me? How do you even know that?”
“Do you not read newspapers? The conference was covered in the daily papers. And Chairman Brent is quite a famous figure over here, isn’t he?”
Theodore replied with an incredulous expression. Then, staring intently at the suddenly speechless Del, he just had to add one more comment.
“It’s very nice seeing you fully aware of how attractive you are.”
“Ah, it’s not like that!”
“Personally, I’m curious. What exactly did that young congressman offer to try and seduce you?”
“Could you stop phrasing it so weirdly?”
“To think you’d turn your eyes toward another man when you already have such a handsome husband who cooks this well. Isn’t that a little cruel?”
“We’re already divorced, so what husband are you talking about?!”
Seeing the man put on a dejected expression immediately gave her a headache. Maybe she really should throw him out right now.
“You’re awfully cold to the king of an entire nation.”
“Why should I care? I’m a citizen of the Rosa Republic. I’ve never even bowed my head to our own president.”
Even when she first met Erzis, she had never once bent at the waist. Her master had raised her that way, and she intended to continue living that way. After all, if she ever left, the republic would be the one regretting it.
But why does he look so satisfied?
Sensing something suspicious, Del narrowed her eyes. Theodore immediately changed the subject.
“Right. What are you planning to do with the magic I gave you?”
“I’ll handle it. Fine.”
Del answered as if she couldn’t be bothered talking anymore. Theodore stared at her for a moment before finally looking away.
“I told you when I gave it to you, but don’t tell anyone you possess that magic. It’ll definitely become troublesome.”
“Obviously I won’t.”
If she revealed it, she’d inevitably have to explain how he had obtained magic belonging to the Kingdom of Veritas. More than anything, Del was the type to lock away the things she treasured most in a jewel box rather than show them off to others.
The man sitting before her had once rudely compared that habit to a crow hoarding shiny objects…
“You’ve always been particularly curious about that magic.”
“Well, it’s rare.”
Instead of revealing the real reason, she brushed it off lightly. Fortunately, Theodore didn’t press any further.
Only once the dishes covering the table had been emptied did Del wipe her mouth and turn toward Theodore, who was smiling cheerfully.
“But isn’t it about time we stopped having these little meetings?”
“What do you mean?”
Dropping her irritated expression, Del tried speaking seriously.
“Honestly, just tell me the truth. You didn’t move here because of me, right? There’s another reason, isn’t there? Just be upfront and ask for my help in exchange for something. That’d make things easier.”
There was no way this calculating man would linger around her without reason. Rather than constantly staying on edge trying to figure out what scheme he was hiding, it would be better to just deal with it quickly and return to her peaceful life.
Putting aside every complicated emotion she had toward him, Del did not trust Theodore. What trust could she possibly place in a man who had disappeared without a single goodbye and still hadn’t offered a proper explanation even after reuniting?
She could not allow herself to grow used to the sight of this man sitting at the head of her table. The sense of loss from losing her only friend—Del had no intention of making the same mistake twice.
Even though he surely understood her rejection and discomfort, Theodore answered immediately.
“No. I don’t intend to do that anymore.”
Ever since they reunited four years ago, the man had always worn a smile. Seeing his face serious for once made Del feel strangely uneasy. Ignoring the sinking feeling in her chest, she answered sharply.
“Oh, really?”
So I’m not even someone he can rely on anymore.
“If it had been something requiring your help, I would’ve just asked to extend the contract.”
The green eyes staring directly at her were strangely intense. Del flinched slightly, and he soon softened his gaze again.
“You’re not going to ask?”
Ask why I keep coming here.
“Forget it. Do whatever you want.”
Watching Del stubbornly avert her face in silence, Theodore smiled helplessly before reaching out and gently wrapping his hand around the back of hers.
Startled by the sudden warmth, Del slowly shifted her eyes toward the man sitting across from her.
“You know, Del.”
His voice seeped into her ears—soft, gentle, as if carefully prepared in advance.
The skin touched by the fingers lightly stroking the back of her hand tingled strangely. Her head insisted she should just brush it off casually, but for some reason her body refused to move.
“As you said, I’m not someone with that much free time. And yet I keep coming here. Aren’t you really curious why?”
The voice tempting her curiosity sounded unbearably sweet.
Theodore’s right hand slowly brushed aside the loose strands of hair by her face and tucked them behind her ear before gently cupping her left cheek.
Gone was the teasing expression he usually wore. Instead, his serious gaze lingered over her face.
“I want to keep being with you from now on too. Not through some contract, but in a different way. For example…”
The moment Theodore tried to continue, Del coldly slapped away the hand holding her cheek.
The forceful strike clearly expressed her rejection.
Only then did Del’s tightly shut lips finally release the words of refusal.
“I’m not curious.”
And I never will be.
The smile vanished from Theodore’s face, leaving only bitter eyes behind. As the strange tension between the two thickened, Nike awkwardly shouted:
“I-I’ll go wash the dishes!”
Letting out a sigh, Theodore stood up and helped Nike stack the plates neatly.
After gathering up the larger dishes, he said to her:
“I’ll help too.”
“It’s okay! Master said you shouldn’t make guests do the dishes!”
“Just make him do it, Nike! Since when is he a guest?”
“Del’s right. We’re family, after all.”
“Shut up before I throw you out.”
Despite Del grumbling with all her might, the man didn’t even twitch an eyebrow. After watching her for a moment, Theodore turned back toward the kitchen as though he had no regrets whatsoever.
Watching his retreating figure, Del briefly considered using magic to trip him, but abandoned the idea after glaring at the dishes he was effectively holding hostage.
Ugh, this was seriously awkward.
“What exactly is that bastard planning?”
Perhaps because it was the weekend, downtown was crowded with people. Del and Nike walked along the neatly paved white brick road.
Nike perfectly understood Del’s contextless muttering and answered brightly.
“Maybe surprisingly enough, he doesn’t have any ulterior motive. At least not when it comes to you, Master.”
“You know something?”
Nike smiled mischievously and placed her index finger against her lips.
“It’s a secret. Theo told me not to say anything yet.”
“Oh? Since when were you close enough to call him Theo?”
“Theo asked if he could call me Nike first! And since Master said names aren’t something you let just anyone use, I said I’d call him the same way too!”
Watching Nike beam innocently, Del was newly reminded of Theodore’s absurd social skills.
The old friend she had reunited with felt completely different from the boy she once knew—from his personality to his attitude—and it constantly left her feeling awkward and unsettled.
Thinking of the boy who, despite his rough words, had once been honest with his feelings and kindhearted only made her emotions grow more complicated. So naturally, Del decided to blame poor innocent Nike instead.
“Nike, haven’t I always told you to stay wary of people no matter who they are?”
“But he’s your friend, Master.”
“Friend? Hah! Maybe in the past, but…”
“Ah, then is he your husband?”
“Who’s my husband?!”
Del snapped without thinking before immediately catching herself.
Why was she wasting her precious weekend agonizing over this nonsense instead of simply enjoying herself?
“Anyway, classes start again tomorrow… Ugh, I hate it.”
“Then why not quit?”
“No way. It’s not like I want to become a complete shut-in.”
As Del referred to her pitifully small social circle, Nike tilted her head.
“Isn’t it already a little too late for that?”
“You’ve really started talking back a lot lately, huh?”
Why had this child become so corrupted? It was all because of that lazy bum Theo. Seriously, maybe I should contact Zephyr sometime soon—
“Ah, that one, that one! Let’s go in there, Master!”
“Huh?”
Grabbing Del’s hand, Nike pointed at a bookstore directly ahead of them.
The quiet little bookstore looked, at first glance, like it barely had any customers. Seeing the flowerpots faintly visible through the glass door made Del chuckle.
“You really do love places like this, don’t you?”
Maybe because she was a divine beast, Nike had an uncanny talent for finding places with clear, pleasant energy.
Since they had plenty of time anyway, Del willingly entered the bookstore with her.
“See anything you want? You can pick up to three books.”
“I’ll look around slowly. What about you, Master?”
“Me? Hmm… I just want to see what new releases came out over the last three years.”
Del walked slowly toward shelves packed with thick books. While seriously examining academic texts on various branches of magic, she noticed a single thin book tucked lower down.
The moment she pulled it out, large letters on the cover caught her eye.
The Three Dragons.
As she silently stared at the cover for a long while, Nike peeked over her shoulder.
“What are you looking at, Master?”
“…Nothing.”
“A fairy tale?”
“Yeah. More accurately, it’s considered a classic piece of continental history. Though most people treat it like mythology.”
