“If it’s just for a moment, it’s okay.”
Melanie accepted Chase’s request. Then, the two of them drove their own carriages towards the city of Tetris.
“This is pretty. It would suit Miss Melanie well. Would you honor me by accepting it as a gift?”
Chase looked back at Melanie with a bright smile. Unlike the arrogant people of Bedrokka, he respected the culture of Tetris.
He showed interest in the toys of Tetris and ate the street food of Tetris without hesitation.
Chase spoke to Melanie without any awkwardness. He was a witty person.
Melanie, who was initially on guard against him, forgot about it and enjoyed strolling around the city.
At the place where Chase pointed with his hand, a small earring was sparkling.
“If you’re offering it as a gift, I won’t refuse.”
“Thank you.”
He thanked her while giving a gift, which made her like him even more.
Chase consistently smiled at Melanie, and unlike the men of Tetris, he was kind.
He always held the door of the shop until Melanie entered, and he patiently waited when Melanie looked at an item she was interested in for a long time.
At first, it was quite uncomfortable, but by sunset, she felt comfortable with him, like a childhood friend.
Could it be because of that?
When it was time to part, she even felt a sense of regret.
“Melanie, I had a good time, but I’m not sure about you.”
“I didn’t have a bad time either.”
Although she was genuinely pleased, Melanie responded with feigned aloofness.
“Just hearing that it wasn’t bad is good enough for me. Next time, I’ll try to leave a good impression. If there is a next time.”
With that, Chase suddenly held out a small box.
“Oh my, what’s this?”
“It’s a small token of my gratitude.”
“Why would you give something like this…”
Melanie received the box and immediately opened it.
It was the gloves that Melanie had been eyeing in the general store.
“I thought they would suit you well. Do you like them?”
After dropping Melanie off at her carriage and saying he had forgotten something, he must have gone back to the store to buy the gloves.
‘What’s with this guy… Did he fall for me at first sight?’
Chase’s actions led to misunderstandings.
“Melanie?”
“Thank you for the gift. Next time, I’ll return the favor.”
Melanie, who had suddenly come to her senses, made a promise for next time. Chase smiled like a blooming flower. His smile was so bright that it lit up the surroundings, and Melanie almost gasped.
“This is the happiest thing I’ve heard in Tetris.”
Chase kissed the back of Melanie’s hand. Melanie’s cheeks flushed hotly.
****
“Aren’t you going to sleep?”
Although it was well past bedtime, Elise hadn’t gone to bed. Regina looked at Elise’s back, standing by the window.
“I have some things to think about. You go to bed first, Regina.”
“You didn’t sleep last night either.”
Last night, just as Regina had said, Elise hadn’t slept. She had tried to lie down to sleep, but her mind was so cluttered that she had kicked off the covers several times.
“How did you know? You really can’t be fooled.”
Regina chuckled. She had been serving Elise since she was very young.
So Regina knew a lot about Elise that others didn’t.
Only Regina knew that Elise often smiled more on mornings after she hadn’t slept well.
“You should go to bed early today. Shall I bring you some warm water?”
“There’s no need for that. I’ll go to bed in a little while, so you go to your room.”
Elise turned her head and looked out the window. In the dark garden, she could see the guards walking around with their backs to the light.
“Are you waiting for His Highness?”
Regina, who had just finished tidying up the bedding, asked cautiously.
“No.”
Karan had been busy dealing with the accumulated work in Tetris during his absence.
“Should I try to contact him?”
“I’m not waiting. I just have some things to think about.”
“What are you thinking about?”
Regina kept talking as if she wouldn’t leave until Elise went to bed. Elise sighed.
If it was something she could tell Regina, she would have confided in her long ago.
But the worries Elise was having now were not something she could tell anyone.
Only one person, Karan, could listen to her worries, but he was busy.
‘Even if we could talk, I don’t know how to say it.’
There was another problem.
What she was worrying about was Karan’s wound. Bringing up the problem without a clear solution only causes pain to the person involved.
“Miss, is something serious going on? Your face is very dark.”
Perhaps she had become depressed herself, recalling the expression Karan had when he confided his secret to her.
“Regina, I’ll go to bed early today. I promise.”
So don’t interfere with my time, Elise said with her eyes.
Regina, unable to hide her concern for Elise, only left the room after getting her to promise once more to go to bed early.
The room became very quiet. Except for the occasional sound of insects, not even the sound of the wind could be heard.
Only then did Elise wet her lips.
[I can’t have a child…]
Although she pretended to be unaffected when she heard Karan’s confession, Elise was actually greatly shocked.
Knowing how passionate Karan was at night made it even more shocking.
‘So that’s why. Even though we spent many nights together, there was no news.’
Elise stroked her lower abdomen.
Karan and Elise had never used contraception when they were in bed.
Since she intended to marry him, Elise didn’t make it an issue. She guessed that Karan’s lack of caution was for the same reason.
Yet she thought it was not easy to get pregnant.
But there was another reason.
Elise let out a deep sigh. In her sigh, which felt like the ground was collapsing, her worry and regret for Karan were mixed.
“How hard it must have been.”
God was particularly cruel to him.
He was given plenty of talent as a magician, but he was made unable to use magic, and although he was born as a passionate man with a strong body, he was made unable to have a child.
It was a punishment.
She thought she understood why Karan had fought on the battlefield to establish his merit. If he didn’t even establish that merit, his position would be precarious.
She also guessed why he had been unable to sit in the crown prince’s seat for a long time despite establishing so much merit.
‘Maybe His Majesty knows this fact.’
Tyllo, who considers it his destiny to continue the Lysandro dynasty.
Is there no solution?
Elise had been rummaging through her past as if she were catching a fish. That’s why she stayed up all night.
But she couldn’t find the answer.
‘Should I tell Leber?’
Elise quickly dismissed the thought. It wasn’t a good idea. She trusted Leber, but people are unpredictable.
If Karan’s secret were to leak out, it would pose a great threat to him.
‘For the time being, let’s keep it to myself.’
Elise sighed again.
That didn’t mean she was going to sit still. Elise finally left the window.
She placed her palm on the very last drawer of the bedside table. A small light flashed and disappeared.
The lock that Elise had engraved with a magic circle was unlocked.
Elise opened the drawer and took out a leather bag. She sat down at the table, hugging the leather bag preciously.
Afterwards, she lit a small lamp and laid out the contents of the bag.
On the paper, which was so dry that it rustled, a magic circle was drawn.
It was a page that Elise had torn from the forbidden library of Bedrokka.
Elise placed a sketchbook next to it. In the wide-open sketchbook, a magic circle identical to the one in the ancient book was drawn.
It was the result of Elise restoring the magic circle from the ancient book over time.
The more she restored the magic circle, the more confident Elise became in her thoughts.
‘With this magic circle, His Highness might be able to use magic.’
When she looked closely at the magic circle, she thought so. Although the ancient magic circle was quite different from the current one, there were parts that could be interpreted.
‘It must be the original form of the magic circle currently in use.’
Even if time changes its appearance, it cannot erase even its traces.
The ancient magic circle contained many magic circles of healing, restoration, and purification. In addition, a character with the meaning of ‘forgiveness’ was written.
The character with the meaning of ‘forgiveness’ is engraved when lifting a curse.
Although that part bothered her, Elise was engrossed in restoring the magic circle.
Now she had obtained everything she could from the ancient book. Yet, 1% was still lacking.
Although one might say that such a small amount could be filled in any way, that 1% could prevent the magic circle from functioning properly.
‘It’s better not to start it casually.’
The worst thing is when the magic circle works in reverse.
The functions of recovery and healing could also lead the other to death.
So, Elise repeatedly picked up and put down the engraving pen.
“What should I fill this empty part with?”
Elise prided herself on knowing more magic circles than anyone else. She studied hard to fill in the gaps, and she collected and learned the magic circles floating around the world to help Chase.
Among them were frivolous magic circles that turned back her own time.
Elise had the skills to create simple magic circles on her own.
It was an excellent ability, even if it was not recognized by others.
But she couldn’t think of a piece to fill this magic circle.
She tried combining various magic circles, but there was nothing that said, ‘This is it!’
‘Only the ones that say, ‘This isn’t it,’ come to mind.’
She told Regina that she would go to bed early, but she couldn’t go to bed early today either.
Elise’s research that day lasted till daybreak as well.
****
“Miss, the budget is out!”
Elise, who was dozing off, opened her eyes wide. Regina, who had met James, had a budget in her hand.
It was a budget for preparing for the engagement ceremony. Elise quickly took a look. Her face hardened.
“Why, Miss?”
It’s small.
It was ridiculously small compared to what she expected.
“We can’t have an engagement ceremony with this money, Regina.”
It was an amount that would make commoners dance. But it was a small amount to prepare for the engagement ceremony of a prince of a country.
Elise sighed.
“I need to borrow some money.”
Elise jumped up from her seat.
