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chapter 12
Miren, and Miren
“So, to be precise… there’s also another person’s mana mixed in.”
“…What does that mean?”
“It means two kinds of mana are flowing within one body.”
Hegel, unusually serious, stroked his chin as he spoke.
Unaware that Miren had tensed up, he continued laying out his theory.
“One of them is incredibly thin. So thin it feels like it could snap at any moment… The other one is just ordinary—about the level of a normal person’s mana.”
“What happens if someone’s mana gets cut off?”
At that question, Hegel blinked.
Then he gave the obvious answer.
“They die.”
He shrugged.
Then, as if trying to explain it in a way even a non-mage like Miren could understand, he spoke slowly.
“Some people are born with mana, others aren’t. Most are, though. But that doesn’t mean everyone becomes a mage. Still… if someone has mana and it disappears, they die.”
“Always?”
“Yeah, most of the time. That’s why mages say people with fading mana are basically on death’s door.”
With a worried expression, Hegel reached out and pressed his palm to her forehead.
Like he was checking for a fever.
Then he poked her cheek.
“Are you sick?”
“…Me?”
“You look perfectly healthy, but… your mana is faint. Do you have some illness? If you’re hiding something, now’s the time to say it.”
He stepped closer, inspecting her face.
There wasn’t much to see—just her soft cheeks—but he leaned in close enough that Miren could hear his breathing.
Startled, she took a step back.
When she did, Hegel frowned under the moonlight, clearly dissatisfied.
“Can’t you tell just by looking? If I’m unhealthy, then who in this world is healthy?”
“Answer me properly.”
Unlike her joking tone, Hegel’s reply was sharp and cold.
His expression darkened instantly, making Miren flinch.
“…Pardon?”
But Hegel stepped closer again, as if trying to trap her.
He bent forward, looking straight down at her face.
They were very close.
“I asked if you’re sick.”
“…No. I’m not.”
Even after her answer, he kept staring at her suspiciously.
Finally, he stepped back first.
Only then did Miren realize how fast her heart was beating.
“If you’re not sick, then fine.”
“But what if I were? What if I had a fatal illness?”
She hadn’t meant anything by it—just trying to ease the awkward mood.
But Hegel frowned deeply, thinking seriously.
Then he reached into his coat.
He pulled out a finely wrapped cloth.
“Here. Take this.”
“…Isn’t that Artemis?”
“Yeah.”
Inside the fine fabric was the very item they had spent so long searching for.
Hegel casually shoved it toward her.
“…But someone hired us to find that.”
“So what?”
“Isn’t it important? How much were you getting paid?”
“About a million gold.”
A million gold… and it’s not important?
Miren nearly said it out loud.
That much money could buy land in the capital.
When she hesitated, Hegel grabbed her hand and placed Artemis in her palm.
When she just stared at it blankly, he flicked her forehead.
“A million gold isn’t much to me.”
“…Then why did you even take the job? You went through so much trouble.”
“The client looked desperate,” he said quietly.
“…Reminded me of myself, a long time ago.”
His expression darkened.
Seeing that, Miren quickly pushed Artemis back into his hand.
“I’m really not sick. I’m perfectly healthy.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. Truly.”
But Hegel still looked doubtful, so Miren finally wrapped the cloth again and pushed it into his coat pocket herself.
Then she lightly tapped his chest.
“Give it to the person who needs it. You said they were desperate, right?”
“Yeah… actually, Artemis can be poisonous to healthy people.”
“…You were going to poison me?”
“That’s not what I meant!”
His panicked denial made her laugh.
And soon, he laughed too.
It was almost time to part.
“Hegel, take care.”
“…Yeah.”
He hesitated, then finally turned away.
Miren watched his back until he disappeared inside his house.
After he left, Hegel suddenly turned around.
He could see her entering her brightly lit home.
“…What a strange girl.”
A million gold, and she didn’t even flinch.
You’re really strange.
Later
Lately, something about Miren had changed.
Or rather—something about the empress’s body had.
Just days ago, even breathing had been exhausting.
But now, she could move easily, and her head felt clear.
With the peach harvest finished, winter had arrived.
With nothing to do, she slept early and often—which meant Miren Edgar spent more time awake.
She didn’t know why, but her body felt lighter.
And she could finally have breakfast with Ryan again.
“…Ryan?”
She woke unusually early that night.
Because she’d fallen asleep right after dinner, she awoke just as the moon rose.
Ryan should still be working.
No servants were around either.
She got out of bed.
“Maria?”
No response.
Maybe she had stepped away.
Should I go meet him?
The thought struck her.
Usually, Ryan was the one waiting for her.
Maybe tonight, she could be the one to go to him.
Deciding that, Miren slipped on her slippers and stepped outside.
Her body felt light enough to walk without support.
“…Was the garden this way?”
She had lived here eight years, yet still didn’t know her way well.
She hoped she wouldn’t miss him.
Eventually, she reached the garden.
The night was warm, and the air calm.
She wasn’t sure if this was the main garden or the outer one.
It was dark.
As she walked, hoping to meet a servant—
“Hey.”
A low voice stopped her.
She turned.
A tall man stood there, nearly as tall as Ryan.
She assumed he couldn’t see her clearly in the darkness.
After all, no one would address the empress so casually.
“Me?”
“Who else? Can I ask for directions?”
Rude—almost insulting.
But something about his voice felt familiar.
His face was hidden behind long branches, but his hair fell to his chest.
Long hair…
Hegel?
She stepped closer—
“Miren!”
Someone grabbed her from behind.
A familiar scent.
She looked up.
Ryan.
His face was tight with worry.
“Why are you out here? Where’s Maria?”
“I came to meet you. You always wait for me.”
“…When I didn’t see you in the room, my heart nearly stopped.”
He exhaled slowly, pressing his face to her neck.
Then—
“Miren?”
The man from before spoke again.
Ryan lifted his head, his expression hardening.
He could see the man clearly now.
“You. Why are you here?”
“I got lost. Where even is this place?”
The man muttered.
Ryan gestured to a knight behind him.
“Escort him out.”
Then he hugged Miren tightly again.
The man paused before leaving.
“…Miren, was it?”
Ryan’s arm tightened.
“No need for you to know.”
“Well… it’s just that someone I know has the same name.”
Ryan’s grip tightened further.
The man raised his hands.
“Relax. The Miren I know isn’t her.”
“Do not speak the empress’s name lightly.”
“…Ah. So she’s the empress? The terminally ill one?”
In an instant, Ryan drew his sword and aimed it at him.
“Do you wish to die, Karner?”
