TDSM 16

Chapter – 16

After hearing Killian’s words, I paused to think for a moment, then hurriedly thanked him.

Then I quickly retraced my steps back to where I had parted ways with Ignis.

Was he so worn out because he stayed up all night working just to invite me?

If he went that far, he should’ve said something. And here I was, almost leaving without knowing anything.

“Why is giving up so easy? Idiot.”

The more I thought about Ignis, the faster my steps became, until I arrived at the place where I had last seen his face.

Fortunately, Ignis was still there.

I walked up to him and spoke while catching my breath.

“You’re still here. What a relief.”

“How did you come back here again…?”

“Because I want to spend more time with you, Ignis.”

“…Huh?”

“I just really wanted to stay with you longer.”

“…….”

I took one last deep breath and smiled brightly at Ignis.

“So… please let me stay by your side.”

“…….”

Ignis looked slightly surprised at my words, then soon smiled shyly and gently took hold of my wrist.

“Okay.”

With that, Ignis began leading me somewhere.

The place he brought me to was a garden so quiet it could almost be called deserted.

“Where is this place?”

“It’s where I usually read. Not many people know about it, so you can speak comfortably like usual.”

“Oh, really? That’s okay?”

“Yeah. Of course.”

I decided to pretend I didn’t know that he had already finished all his work, and spoke casually.

“Oh, right. Ignis, you still have things to do, so I’ll just read another book beside you.”

“Huh? Ah—yeah, sure.”

“What should I read…”

I’m sick of books about magic now. I should read something else.

Ah… but I don’t have a book.

Thinking that, I smiled awkwardly and made a small request.

“Ignis, could you lend me a book?”

“Yeah! Of course! Wait here for a moment—I’ll be right back!”

“Huh? No, you don’t have to rush—!”

Before I could finish, Ignis disappeared like the wind.

“…He’s gone.”

I awkwardly looked around, then closed my eyes and felt the warm breeze brushing past me.

So the imperial palace has places like this too.

It’s calm. Nice.

After some time passed, hurried footsteps reached my ears. When I opened my eyes, I saw Ignis smiling as he handed me a book.

He really came back fast.

“Thanks. I’ll enjoy reading it.”

“It’s nothing. Oh, Lenia. You can sit here.”

Ignis guided me to the chair with cheerful movements, helping me sit comfortably.

After that, he sat down and looked at me with a face full of smiles, but once I turned my gaze to the book, he finally focused on his own open pages.

The gentle rustling of grass brushing against each other in the wind filled the quiet air.

It’s peaceful and drowsy—perfect for reading…

…No, it’s not.

My eyes keep closing.

Well, I haven’t slept properly in a long time.

There’s a soft breeze, and unlike other places in the palace, it’s quiet here.

It’s the perfect place for a nap.

But I shouldn’t sleep. Not here.

Still, in the end, I couldn’t fight the drowsiness washing over me, and I began to nod off.

“Lenia, are you asleep?”

“N-no… I’m not sleeee—”

Before long, I fell deeper into sleep.

“Lenia.”

“…….”

In my hazy state, I felt my cheek rest against something, and then I completely lost consciousness.

“…What?”

I slowly opened my eyes as light stabbed at them.

And there I saw Ignis, asleep with his head down on the table, his hand supporting my cheek.

…I fell asleep?

I’m insane. Totally insane. No matter how little sleep I’ve had, how could I fall asleep here?

“How much time has passed?”

I looked around to check, but the sunlight was still bright.

Thankfully, it doesn’t seem like much time passed.

Still… his hand must be numb by now.

Feeling guilty, I gently massaged the hand that had been holding my cheek.

“He’s sleeping so well.”

Ignis was in a deep sleep, breathing evenly like a child.

I carefully brushed aside the bangs falling over his closed eyes.

Just as I was about to pull my hand back—

“Mm.”

Ignis grabbed my hand in his sleep, whining softly.

Startled, I tried to gently pull my hand away, but eventually gave up and decided to stay still.

I’ll just wait until he wakes up.

This time, unlike before, I let Ignis hold my hand and shifted my gaze to the open book.

…I haven’t even read a single page?

If this was going to happen, I shouldn’t have asked him to bring me a book.

While thinking that, I casually skimmed the pages.

About ten minutes later, Ignis suddenly started fidgeting.

“Mm…”

Oh, he’s waking up.

As he opened his eyes and stared at me blankly, I leaned closer and smiled softly.

“Did you sleep well?”

“…Lenia?”

Ignis just blinked, staring at me in a daze.

As I met his gaze, the wind blew again, his bangs falling over his eyes, and I gently brushed them aside once more.

“Looks like we were both really tired. We fell asleep here, facing each other.”

“…….”

“Ignis? Your nose—!”

As Ignis slowly sat up, blood suddenly started flowing from his nose.

I quickly moved closer and wiped the blood with my sleeve.

Ignis, his face bright red, tried to stop me.

“It’s dirty, Lenia! I’ll do it myself!”

“What do you mean dirty? It’s not dirty at all.”

“…….”

“But you must’ve been really tired. What should we do?”

“I-it’s not because I’m tired—”

“It’s bleeding a lot. Let’s go get it treated.”

Since we’d been alone the whole time except for when I first arrived at the palace, there was no one else around.

So I dragged Ignis, who was still bleeding, out of the garden.

“Please get plenty of rest. Don’t overdo it for the rest of the time.”

“Y-yeah… I will.”

For some reason, Ignis still couldn’t meet my eyes.

Is he embarrassed about the nosebleed?

Honestly, he’s so cute.

The bleeding had completely stopped now, and he didn’t seem unwell.

Relieved, I greeted Ignis.

“We’ll see each other again soon at the academy.”

“Yeah.”

Since he still wouldn’t look at me, I stepped a little closer.

“I had a really nice time today. Being with you, Ignis.”

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

Ignis widened his eyes and lifted his head, then spoke shyly.

“I’m glad you felt that way. Thank you for thinking today was a good day.”

“No, I’m the one who’s thankful.”

“And…”

Finally meeting my eyes, Ignis smiled warmly.

His face was still flushed.

“I also had a really great time today, being with you, Lenia.”

At his words, a bright smile bloomed on my face, and it stayed there all the way until I got home.

Miar noticed immediately and smiled as she spoke to me.

“You seem happy today, Miss. You look in a good mood.”

“Yeah. It was comfortable. Nice.”

“That’s good to hear. I’ll prepare your bath, so please rest and drink this tea in the meantime.”

“Okay.”

“You haven’t been sleeping well lately, so I prepared it especially.”

“Thank you always, Miar.”

After Miar left the room, I lay down on the bed with my tired body.

Spending time with Ignis was comfortable, but it was only natural to feel the most at ease in a familiar place.

“Ah… this is nice.”

As I lay there, blinking slowly at the ceiling, a sudden, inexplicable sense of anxiety and urgency wrapped around me.

Wait. I shouldn’t be like this right now.

I need to hurry and combine the magic from that book.

As if possessed, my body moved urgently.

“First, write my name somewhere…”

I looked around desperately for something I could write my name on.

But finding nothing, I ended up biting my finger and writing my name on the floor with my blood.

“And then, on that…”

I recalled the contents of the book.

Activate the third spell in order, then finally use black magic.

The book said black magic would explode in a deep purple light when activated.

At that moment, in my frantic movements, a teacup fell from the table.

The sound of shattering glass echoed, and a sharp question surged in my mind.

Wait. Black magic?

I… have no talent for magic at all. How am I supposed to use it?

And black magic, of all things—something I’ve never even learned?

This is strange. How am I even…?

Why did I suddenly feel like I had to do this right now?

Yeah. It was strange from the beginning.

Finding a book about memories so easily.
Understanding the spells written in it the moment I saw them, even though I barely knew anything about magic.

I need to stop.

No—I have to stop.

But despite my thoughts, my body began chanting the spell without hesitation.

It felt like sleep paralysis—my mind awake, but my body moving on its own.