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CHAPTER~06
From the moment I stepped into the corridor, I had sensed something unusual.
So this was the reason.
“……”
I stood there speechless, staring blankly at the magic circles drawn all throughout the room.
At the center of them all was, of course, Mela.
Mela was completely absorbed in reading.
More accurately, she seemed to be searching for something inside the book, flipping through the pages so quickly that her hands were almost impossible to see.
“…Mela?”
She didn’t even notice me approaching.
Just as I was wondering why Mela looked so unusually serious—nothing like her usual self—
“A-Auntie!”
Startled at last by my presence, Mela hurriedly hid the book behind her back.
Though with her tiny frame, it was completely obvious what kind of book it was.
“…W-When did you get here?”
“A little while ago.
What were you doing?
It’s already late.”
“Ah… u-um.
Well…”
Mela was so flustered that she couldn’t answer properly and merely mumbled.
She was definitely hiding something.
From what little I could see behind her, the book appeared to be an ancient tome.
I quickly walked over and snatched it from her hands.
Then I froze in horror.
“Oh my goodness, Mela…!
Don’t tell me you scribbled in this?”
The final page was covered with doodles.
If I had to guess, the culprit was undoubtedly Mela.
After all, there was a quill lying right beside her.
Looking closer, I noticed some writing.
Half of it had been erased, but I could still make out the title:
[Things I Want to Do]
1. Hold hands with Daddy and Mommy while visiting a flower garden.
Have a picnic too!
2. Always remember.
3. Find XXXXX!
“……”
I couldn’t even grant the very first wish.
What was I supposed to do?
I felt both troubled and heartbroken for Mela.
As for the third item, it was completely covered in scribbles, making it impossible to tell what she wanted to find.
“Hehe.
I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d draw something.
But there wasn’t any parchment…
Was this a really important book, Auntie?”
Mela twisted shyly as she laughed awkwardly.
Judging by her reaction, she clearly had no idea what kind of book she had written in.
Well, that made sense.
Half of it was written in an ancient language that was difficult to decipher.
There was no way a five-year-old child could read it, even if she was the heroine.
“…It’s alright.
If you need anything, just tell me, okay?
It might be a little inconvenient since we’re staying at the villa, but I’ll do my best to get it for you.”
I deliberately chose not to mention that I had seen the list.
I didn’t want Mela to feel embarrassed or sad.
“Hehe, okay!
Auntie is the best!”
I set the book down and gently patted the back of Mela’s round little head, hoping to reassure her.
She flinched in surprise before breaking into a bright smile.
She looked just like an adorable puppy.
The sight naturally brought a smile to my face.
I was proud that Mela was adapting so bravely to such an unfamiliar place.
But at the same time, I couldn’t shake my confusion.
The room was still filled with mysterious magic circles.
It was as though someone had cast magic everywhere.
Yet Mela was the only one in the room, making it even harder to explain.
“Mela, by any chance…
Have you noticed anything strange around here?
Weren’t you scared when you were alone?”
“Something strange?
I don’t know.”
I casually tested the waters.
But Mela simply tilted her head with her usual innocent expression.
It seemed she hadn’t noticed anything at all.
[Please give this child the name ‘Mela.’
I leave her in your care.]
Then was this really the work of the person who had entrusted Mela to me?
The protective barrier that had surrounded her when we first met was another mystery.
It wasn’t something an ordinary mage could accomplish.
Which meant someone was secretly watching over and protecting Mela.
It couldn’t possibly be the Lopenter Marquis…
Then could there be another transmigrator or reincarnator who knew the future, just like me?
“Auntie…
Are you really angry because of Mela?
You look really mad.”
Perhaps my expression had become too serious.
Mela, who had been smiling until moments ago, began fidgeting nervously.
“Hm?
No.
I’m not angry.”
“You are.
I made trouble by doing whatever I wanted…
And I made things difficult for you, Auntie…”
Her voice trembled as though she might burst into tears at any second.
I hurriedly waved my hands.
“Really, I’m not angry.
Nothing bad happened, did it?
So don’t worry about it, Mela.”
“Really?
Auntie Evlyen won’t abandon Mela, right?”
Mela hurried over and wrapped both arms tightly around my leg.
Seeing her ask again just to make sure made my heart ache.
Even if she remembered nothing, she clearly understood the situation she was in.
“Of course.
Never.”
Instead of saying anything more, I bent down and embraced her.
Her small, fragile body fit perfectly in my arms, making my chest tighten even more.
“But Auntie, I have a question.
What’s your relationship with that Duke from earlier today?
You even rode in the same carriage!”
“…H-Huh?”
Mela pulled away from my embrace and looked up at me with a mischievous grin.
“You looked super close with the black-haired Duke!
His eyes were practically overflowing with love!
Are you really, really close?
Did you maybe used to be married or something…?”
“W-Well…
I mean…”
“You looked sooo perfect together!
Just like a married couple who had been together before!”
“U-Uh?”
I couldn’t bring myself to ignore the sparkling curiosity in the child’s eyes.
As I desperately searched for an answer, his voice suddenly echoed in my mind.
‘Don’t even think about deceiving me.
I’ve never been fooled by an enemy’s lies.’
The moment I remembered those words, my fists clenched on their own.
Who in the world called his own ex-wife an enemy?
I had no lingering feelings for him, yet the more I thought about it, the angrier I became.
I finally forced the thought away and spoke through gritted teeth.
“From now on, absolutely…
Never…
Ever again…
We’ll never meet again.
So you should forget everything that happened today too, Mela.
Got it?”
“O-Okay!
I got it…!”
Startled by my unusually fierce reaction, Mela nodded vigorously.
Leaving behind the clearly bewildered little girl, I renewed my determination.
No matter what happened, I would never cross paths with Frezen Decart—that damned ex-husband—again.
* * *
“To victory!”
Meanwhile, the 64th Monster Subjugation Campaign concluded in complete success under the command of the Decart Black Knights.
To celebrate the victory, a grand triumphal parade was held, followed by an imperial banquet.
This battle was especially remarkable.
Without suffering any major casualties, they had effortlessly seized one of the monsters’ primary strongholds, earning an enormous amount of spoils.
“……”
While everyone else washed away the scent of blood with rich food and strong liquor, Frezen Decart alone remained apart from the festivities, silently gazing up at the night sky.
Before long, another shadow stretched beneath the gentle moonlight and came to stand beside him.
Sensing the newcomer’s presence immediately, Frezen merely glanced sideways before returning his eyes to the moon.
“I was wondering where you’d disappeared to.”
A smooth, lazy voice finally broke the silence.
The man beside him possessed brilliant golden hair that gleamed like finely polished gold.
It was none other than Crown Prince Mikhail.
Though Frezen was three or four years older, the two had forged a close friendship after fighting together on countless battlefields.
Mikhail was also the only person who could casually stand beside the otherwise unapproachable Frezen.
“The hero of tonight’s banquet doesn’t even bother showing up and just stands here looking all serious.
You’re no fun.
Too stiff.
No wonder women don’t flock to you.”
Mikhail clicked his tongue teasingly and stuck out his lips in exaggerated disappointment.
His playful gestures matched his handsome face and soft voice perfectly.
When he tilted his head with a grin, the extravagant crimson earring dangling from his ear swayed lightly.
“I have no need for such things.”
Frezen answered calmly.
Despite the unexpected interruption, he didn’t seem particularly displeased.
“Hmm.
Still as boring and stubborn as ever.
Well, that’s exactly why I trust you.
There are already far too many people around me who are like me.”
Mikhail grumbled as he received no reaction whatsoever.
“I’m glad you’re aware of that.”
At that reply, Mikhail burst into amused laughter.
A mischievous gleam soon appeared in his eyes.
Just imagining teasing Frezen was enough to make him smile.
“Come to think of it, I heard something rather interesting happened during today’s victory parade.
Apparently, a certain guest who knows you quite well made a surprise appearance.”
“……”
“Ah, what a shame.
I missed seeing it with my own eyes.”
“……”
Despite Mikhail’s relentless teasing, Frezen remained completely silent.
It was as though he had decided to ignore him entirely.
That indifference only made Mikhail even more interested.
Internally, he clicked his tongue again.
He hadn’t expected Frezen to be this much of a stone wall.
“So, how did it feel seeing her again?
Your wife—the one you deemed useless and cast aside.”
The moment those words left Mikhail’s lips, Frezen’s expression turned icy for the first time.
His face looked terrifying enough to kill someone on the spot.
