On the other hand, after the intense confrontation with Callion, I was introduced to a guest room instead of his bedroom. When we arrived at the largest room on the second floor, Callion listed three rules I had to follow for the next three days.
“First, I’ll assign only one maid to you.”
“It’s an honor to serve!”
“I was worried, but fortunately….”
I subtly gestured towards a caramel-haired girl who introduced herself as ‘Laila’ and bowed with a bright smile. For the next three days, she would be the dedicated maid who would accompany me wherever I went.
However, Callion clarified that this was not to restrict my actions.
“Second, meals should be eaten with the whole family on time.”
“Three meals a day…?”
“This is for Dante. He’s been lonely for a long time.”
“Ah, I see.”
I immediately nodded my head.
I was about to ask if it would be bothersome for each other, but quickly agreed with the mention of Dante’s story.
The child was innocent and young.
Despite being caught up in involuntary confinement, it didn’t seem like a bad suggestion.
It was a proposal that subtly considered my well-being, and the mention of family-like rules was somewhat comforting.
“Third, cooperate with the investigation of magical fluctuations. The steward will come to check for magical changes once a day.”
“Um, why is that?”
“Why? Because you lost all your magic. You even lost all your memories.”
“But what if my magic was originally weak?”
“That’s manipulated.”
Kallion cut him off firmly.
The missing magic and the wiped memories must be connected.
‘Then it sounds like my past self was a powerful mage.’
“Creating magic that induces fear is difficult to design, for sure.”
I had suspected this after encountering a bizarre warning spell in front of the mirror. In any case, my past self had left something behind in this place. As for marriage and a child… I still wasn’t sure.
While organizing my thoughts, I looked up at Kalion.
“Okay, I’ll follow all three rules. But I have about three requests as well.”
Kalion blinked silently.
“Go on.”
“First, there’s a powerful warning spell on the mansion, and it’s created using none other than my magic. So, please accompany me every time I search for it during these three days. I might get hurt if I’m alone.”
I mentioned that a strong warning spell, created with my magic, was set on his mansion. However, he seemed almost expecting this, just tilting his head in response.
“Would you help me find evidence that I left?”
“Aren’t you surprised?”
“Should I be?”
His response was chilling.
Kalion remained composed, not showing any signs of surprise, and his demeanor appeared even calmer.
I thought he would be pleased to have suspicious evidence from the mansion within a day, but it turned out to be evidence that I left because I disliked him.
‘Does it really connect in that way?’
I interpreted it as a suggestion to run away, given that it was linked not to denial but to the fact that it wasn’t his wife.
“I did suggest running away.”
“Because you dislike me.”
“Well….”
As I hesitated in surprise, the atmosphere became as heavy as frozen air. However, Kalion quickly softened his lips and asked.
“Alright, what’s the next condition?”
“The second is to try to match our memories for the next three days. And the third is… to show as much evidence as possible that we are married.”
“That’s simple.”
While Laila withdrew from the conversation to tidy up the bedding, Kalion and I sat at a small table on the carpet. Other servants also began to appear, arranging snacks and preparing teacups. Perhaps they anticipated our conversation would take a while.
“Well then, I’ll leave it to you.”
At that moment, Kalion extended his hand for a handshake, using the hand that was resting on his chin. Offering a handshake while standing up from the table felt like the final step in a formal negotiation.
I stood up and accepted Kalion’s handshake with a formal nod.
“Yes, I appreciate your cooperation.”
“But for the evidence of marriage, can’t we use our bodies instead of tangible (something that can be touched or felt) proof?”
“Huh? No, we can’t.”
“Well, then, how about a deep hug to commemorate the agreement?”
“Um…?”
My vision suddenly darkened. Forget commemorations; the real reason was that he skillfully pulled me into a hug, arms full of personal motives. I should have recognized it from the moment he pressed his hand against my back while shaking hands, a not-so-innocent gesture!
Startled, as I struggled, he whispered into my ear, lips brushing against my neck. The low and deep tone was audible only to me.
“No matter what you seek, you won’t be able to escape.”
“…?”
“Think about it. You’ll understand later.”
It was an utterly unexpected turn of events. He had said he would send me home if I lost interest!
It happened at that moment when I, taken aback, unintentionally cleared my throat in response to his husky, mysterious voice.
Clang!
Thud, thud, thud!
“Oh my, I-I apologize.”
“Oh dear, I’m sorry….”
Heads turned abruptly. It was towards the male attendant placing down teacups and Laila, who was carrying a new blanket towards the door. They blushed and quickly averted their gazes.
“It’s been a while, so we were startled!”
“Get used to it. It will become a familiar sight again.”
His commanding tone, devoid of any hint of laughter, was truly ironic.
‘No, what’s going on with these people?’
“…Mom?”
It was because Dante, standing behind Laila, locked eyes with me! Although it was just a moment, the call of the child’s face peeping through the curtain of bangs made Kalion’s shoulders twitch involuntarily.
But Dante, holding Laila’s hand, calmly said,
“Let’s go, Mom and Dad are in love. Let’s go.”
“Yes? Okay!”
“Step aside, Lilac.”
“My name is Laila, sir.”
The attendant following Dante and Laila quickly vacated his seat. With a slight sound, Kalion and I, who had just released from the hug, awkwardly spoke in the tense silence.
“…You know Dante?”
“He’s always been good at talking.”
* * *
“It’s already evening. Shall we go down for dinner later?”
“Yes. It’s already been half a day since Madam returned, I’m glad!”
Laila giggled, not only introducing various parts of the mansion but also sharing little anecdotes (an interesting story about a real incident). As we came out into the garden after touring the library and studying, the sunset-painted scenery caught my eye.
I stopped exploring my surroundings meticulously and stood still, looking up at the sky. Right, I was dragged out around the morning.
As usual, I was digging the field with a pickaxe when, unexpectedly, the guy who had deceived me in the past appeared and abducted me to this place.
“My magic-modified pickaxe…”
You should have been safe…
Thinking about the farming tool that would probably be lying on the field, I closed my eyes with a wistful feeling.
Laila, perhaps thinking I was engrossed in the scenery, spoke with a romantic expression on her face.
“Yes, Madam you enjoyed watching the evening sky! you often had tea time in the garden.”
“Isn’t that someone else’s story? I don’t have any such hobbies.”
“If you say that, I should answer that it’s manipulated memories, as the Mistress ordered.”
In various ways, she was an upright girl.
‘Manipulated memories…’
I heard this from Kalion in the room, but it was still a word that didn’t quite fit. What exactly got tangled up and how?
‘I should discuss it over dinner.’
My conditions were to share our memories and confirm evidence of marriage. Although Kalion seemed reluctant to find the warning spell, he didn’t refuse, probably because it was dangerous for me to do it alone.
He seemed subtly angry, but he maintained decorum well. Given his personality, he wouldn’t present unfair conditions or negotiations; he wouldn’t even propose them.
Perhaps there was a time when I sincerely liked him enough to call it my first love.
‘Even though it ended in complete failure.’
Well, whatever. Three days under the same roof, face to face, and a conversation after a long time would be enough.
Let’s consider this a fleeting gift of destiny.
Since I planned to find only clues and leave this place in three days.
“Laila.”
“Yes, Madam.”
“By the way, who is that person who appeared in the sky and overturned the dust?”
“Huh? Oh my.”
Laila, who stopped walking beside me in the garden, squinted her eyes. She rushed towards a man wandering in the center of the garden like a wanderer and grabbed his wrist, saying,
“Lord Melos, are you okay?”
“Oh, this gentleman is called Melos.”
I followed Laila, who was walking towards me, and gave Melos a cursory glance.
Even though he claimed to have turned over dust, he must be a magician if he appeared in the air. Moreover, his eyes were cloudy and unfocused, as if he were a lost person, which bothered me.
‘Who would do such a thing…’
Usually, when caught in a mental magic, people often end up looking like fools.
