🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter : 30
Because I said the bedroom felt stifling, the meal was prepared in the dining hall instead.
While the food was being readied, I washed up thoroughly, changed my clothes, and then left the bedroom under Harten’s escort.
I wasn’t limping.
While I was bathing, Elin was attending me—and she told me everything.
She told him that I was a mage.
According to Elin, the moment Harten learned that I had collapsed, he rushed down like a madman and mercilessly grilled Virt, the physician.
Powerless to resist, Virt confessed everything he knew—and in the process, he also let slip the truth about my ankle.
I could picture it perfectly without even seeing it.
“E–Eaeni-nim collapsed due to mana exhaustion. Mana exhaustion is something novice mages often experience—ah. You already know that, so I shouldn’t explain? Understood. As the young duke said, in fact, Eaeni-nim awakened as a mage after losing her memories. I was extremely shocked at first as well, but when I saw her completely healed ankle, I was certain—eh? …Gah! D–Did I just say something I shouldn’t have?”
There’s no reason to deliberately limp and deceive Harten in this situation.
If anything, limping would only irritate him further now that he knew the truth.
So I walked naturally.
Harten merely stared at me for a moment, showing no major reaction.
What is that man thinking right now?
Maybe he felt dumbfounded. Or perhaps betrayed.
While I was speculating about his reaction, we arrived at the dining hall, and a light meal began.
He didn’t ask me anything while I ate.
It seemed he intended not to touch the subject, at least during the meal.
I don’t really mind.
Even if we talked while I was hungry, I would’ve been fine.
I wasn’t good at being cared for—but I was used to hunger.
Thanks to my blood relatives, not being able to eat became second nature to me.
Still… refusing Harten’s consideration right now wouldn’t be a wise choice.
So I quietly moved my hands and finished eating to some extent.
Naturally, Elin prepared tea time, and in the meantime, Virt entered the dining hall.
“Oh.”
I couldn’t help but be a little startled the moment I saw his face.
Virt’s glasses were cracked—crack, crack—right across the lens.
When my eyes widened, Virt lowered his head with a gloomy expression.
“I’ll check your condition briefly.”
“You’re slow.”
Harten muttered coldly.
Startled out of his wits, Virt hurriedly asked me several questions.
I answered them sincerely, all the while staring straight at Harten.
Harten avoided my gaze and pretended to look elsewhere.
Hmm. Looks like Virt has really gotten on Harten’s bad side.
If this continues, the physician might get replaced before long.
That won’t do.
Virt was competent in many ways.
And I didn’t want more people knowing I was a mage.
So I’ll have to personally improve the treatment of this poor physician.
I’d get him the most expensive pair of glasses, too.
Thankfully, Harten didn’t seem to glare at the three sisters waiting inside the dining hall.
They probably knew how to skillfully avoid his attention.
…Or maybe he’s harsher on Virt because he’s a man.
While I was observing all this, Virt finished the examination and spoke.
“Your body has entered the recovery stage. The symptoms of mana exhaustion are completely gone, and your complexion and other indicators have returned to normal. Your mana should be fully replenished as well.”
“Thank you. You know a lot about mana exhaustion even though you’re not a mage?”
“Ah, that’s because both of my parents were outstanding mages, so—”
He didn’t get to finish.
“Tsk.”
“S–Sorry! I haven’t forgotten! Personal conversation with Eaeni-nim is absolutely forbidden!”
Just the sound of Harten clicking his tongue was enough to turn Virt deathly pale as he leapt to his feet.
“I’ll take my leave now!”
Shouting that, Virt fled the dining hall.
“Please enjoy your conversation.”
Following behind him, Elin, Bellin, and Cellin also swiftly exited the dining hall.
As a result, only Harten and I were left in the spacious room.
“Now I’d like some answers.”
Seated across from me, he looked straight into my eyes.
At that moment, a faint but long-forgotten tension wrapped around my entire body.
I hadn’t realized it because I’d only seen his relaxed expressions lately.
The presence Harten was giving off right now was anything but ordinary.
Only then did I truly feel that he stood at the pinnacle of this empire.
Judging by how fierce his aura is, he must be quite upset about being deceived.
His anger was justified.
Anyone would be angry if they found out they’d been fooled.
I had braced myself for that—but…
Today might turn out to be more exhausting than I expected.
For the first time since seeing Harten, my throat went dry.
Carefully steadying my breathing so my voice wouldn’t shake, I took a sip of the tea before me.
Watching me, Harten asked in a low voice.
“Eaeni Nasel. Did you truly become a mage?”
“…That’s what you ask first?”
Clink.
I set the teacup down and answered simply.
“Yes. I became a mage. And a fairly talented one, at that.”
That was the moment—
BANG!
Harten slammed both hands violently onto the table.
The teacup rattled and rang out sharply.
Startled by the intensity of his reaction, I blinked rapidly and looked at him.
Ignoring me completely, Harten grabbed his head as if struck by a great tragedy.
Then he shouted in a rough voice.
“You’re already far too beautiful!”
“…?”
“So beautiful that you steal everyone’s gaze just by passing by— the most beautiful person in the world!”
“…??”
“Why couldn’t you be satisfied with just that and had to become a mage?! Now everyone will be desperate to get close to you!”
“…???”
“Why do you keep becoming perfect all on your own?!”
“Ghk.”
Oh dear—I was so shocked that a strange sound slipped out.
I covered my mouth, trying to stay composed, and could only stare at the man who was shouting in despair.
What… what is he even saying right now?
The most beautiful in the world? Becoming perfect on my own?
How on earth can he say something so embarrassing so effortlessly…
Could it be that even earlier, when he was putting on that intimidating atmosphere, these thoughts were running through his head?
I stared at him like a scientist observing an unknown creature, then very carefully stood up.
Step by step, I slowly approached him.
Up until then, he had been muttering to himself—
Well, it didn’t really sound like muttering, but still.
“Ha… yes. You’ve done nothing wrong, Eaeni. A gem like you should shine brighter and be loved more. I know that. But I… I’m just… utterly despicable—”
He’s moved from screaming into the resignation phase now.
If I left him alone, he might go on like this all day.
So I placed my hand on his slumped shoulder to stop him from going further off track.
“Harten.”
As if he had known I was approaching all along, he lifted his head without any surprise.
I quietly met the gaze of his eyes as he looked up at me.
It was fascinating.
His clear gray eyes were swirling with countless emotions.
But not a single one of them feels negative toward me.
How was that possible?
Unable to believe it, I asked him directly.
“Weren’t you angry at me?”
“Angry at you? Why would I be?”
“I deceived you. I didn’t tell you I was a mage.”
“Eaeni.”
Harten whispered in a very serious voice.
“That was entirely my fault.”
“…What?”
“I should have given you enough trust so that you could tell me you were a mage. I failed to do that. So the blame is mine.”
“Then what about my ankle? When we first met, I deliberately limped. Even though the torn tendon had already healed.”
I had dozens of excuses prepared in case he asked why.
I was afraid you’d suspect me.
I was afraid your interest in me would fade.
It looks healed on the outside, but it still hurts strangely sometimes.
And so on.
I prepared so many excuses for this man…
“The fact that your ankle healed isn’t something to be angry about either. On the contrary, it’s truly something to rejoice over.”
“….”
“I don’t believe in gods, but when I saw you walk into this dining hall without limping, I felt genuine gratitude. When we return to the capital, I’ll make a generous donation to the temple—”
His voice gradually trailed off.
Because I reached out and pulled him into an embrace.
