Chapter 38
Inside a darkened mansion.
Something writhing and black and dimorphic cried out.
“Don’t move.”
A sound that would have been a blow to the soul to anyone who heard it. But it seemed to have no effect on the man who had so easily subdued the creature.
“Tsk, tsk.”
The man’s eyes glowed golden as he stared down at the monster, which was still moving even after being chopped into tens of thousands of pieces.
Finally, the monster’s movements slowed.
It was the result of three long days of battle.
【….】
The man sneered as he watched the creature lower its tail.
After the last struggle, the black smoke from the man’s body consumed the giant monster’s body. Every last bit of it.
“Hmph. What was she then?”
As the man watched smoke ravenously devour the creature, he remembered a child he had encountered here.
“How did he not bounce off my system? I’ve sent out everything that’s alive. How did you know where this one was? My heart would stop at the sight of something like that.”
An intriguing kid he’d only met briefly.
“Interesting.”
The corner of the man’s mouth arcs.
***
A warm, soft aura enveloped her body.
In the dimness of consciousness.
She saw the silhouette of a woman.
Platinum hair that cascaded gently like a waterfall. And sparkling eyes that seemed to be painted a pale rose color.
‘Who is she?’
She was so beautiful and lovely that she didn’t seem like a human being at all.
Suddenly, she realized that the woman looking at her so fondly looked like her.
[My dear].
A delicate voice whispered in her ear, as if singing.
[You are ───].
What?
She opened her eyes before she realized what she had heard.
“Huh?”
Consciousness returned. And the familiar ceiling.
…Was it a dream.
As soon as her sense of reality returns, the memory of the dream melts away like snow.
She frowned and tried to recall the details of the dream, knowing she shouldn’t.
“Arellin.”
Her eyes locked with Pession’s, who was crying.
‘Why is he here?’
The answer was simple.
“I didn’t go back to the palace until you woke up.”
“Are you crazy?”
***
Headache.
“You didn’t go back until I woke up?”
“Yes.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Yes, but how am I supposed to go back when Arellin is sick!”
“Nonsense, you should have gone home.”
“Arellin is wandering the streets!”
Pession cried.
Anyone would think she was dead.
“I was just asleep. I wasn’t wandering around! Will you stop making this into a death crisis?!”
“You couldn’t wake up, you slept for two days straight, I couldn’t hear you breathing, Arellin, do you know how worried I was?”
It was hard to scold him anymore as she stared into his tearful, glassy eyes.
Ugh.
“That’s why you don’t go back?”
“But.”
“But!”
“What if something happens to Arellin when I get back…?”
She was speechless for a moment.
The worry in her jewel-red eyes was so unfamiliar and warm. She fought back the urge to cry.
“What could happen? This is my home.”
“It could happen.”
“It didn’t.”
“You don’t know.”
“I don’t know what.”
“I said you don’t know people’s business.”
Pession snapped back. His handsome face crumpled in frustration. She couldn’t help but chuckle at that.
Oh, what can I say.
Her stomach is tickling.
She feels unnecessarily embarrassed.
“Does Arellin not like me being here?”
“I don’t hate…”
“So, do you like it?”
Such a polarizing question, huh?
She looked into his expectant eyes and found herself stammering, unable to say the word ‘yes’.
What’s so hard about that?
“No?”
She hears the disappointment in his voice and feels a pang of guilt. She deflected.
“It’s not that, it’s just, well, what would the Empress think of me if you stayed here, huh?”
“Eh?”
Pession’s eyes widened.
“What’s with all this talk of my mother?”
“What if the Empress doesn’t like you because of me, that I am bad?”
“Why is Arelin bad, Arelin, you’re not bad.”
“What if Empress won’t let you play with me because I’m making you weird?”
“…!”
Uh-uh-uh.
Pession stammered, looking somewhat shocked, as if he hadn’t thought of that side of things.
“Oh, no, no, no!”
“How do you know that, did you hear it from the Empress herself?”
“Because…”
Pession grew serious.
She looked at him, wondering if she had said too much.
“I think that’s all you need to know.”
“Mehen.”
“I’m sure His Highness, the shrewd Crown Prince, understands.”
As if on cue, Mehen entered the room, looking tired and running a hand through his hair.
Mehen, looking even more disheveled, looked relieved to see her.
“You’re awake, Young Lady.”
Everyone had apparently been drawn in by the commotion caused by Pession’s argument.
She could see the faces of the Nurturing Group peeking into the room through the cracks in the door.
“Young Lady…”
“Phew.”
Mehen examined her face carefully.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes. I woke up well.”
“Do you feel any pain anywhere?”
“Nope. I’m fine.”
“Good.”
His eyes were puffy from lack of sleep and worry, dark circles under his eyes.
Mehen touched my forehead.
“You don’t have a fever.”
“Were you worried?”
“Yes.”
His eyes narrowed for a moment at her quick answer, then he smiled.
“I didn’t get any sleep.”
She didn’t expect Mehen to be so honest.
He’d always been so distant from her.
‘Maybe it’s because he’s a mum.’
From that day on, Mehen was so sweet and gentle, she loved him so much.
She was smiling and wrapped up in his arms when she heard a squeaky voice from somewhere.
“What’s your relationship?”
Pession, who had now wrapped his arms around her, looked blatantly uncomfortable and glared at her and Mehen.
Why does he suddenly look so bad?
“What kind of relationship do you have?”
“You don’t look like a normal employee and master.”
She can’t tell if he’s being patronizing, sarcastic, or concerned.
Pession’s words, which sounded like a judgement, made Mehen’s expression change. Just as he was about to explain that he was Moorish.
“Mum.”
“…?”
“Like …”
She beat him to it.
“Mehen is like my mum.”
She laughed out loud, hugging her tightly, and Mehen, who had been tense for a moment, looked at her with an unreadable expression.
“Uh…”
Pession blinked at her.
“Well, then I’ll be like a father figure to Arellin!”
Pession suddenly threatened the faceless father figure.
***
Even after Arellin woke up, Pession had no intention of going back.
“I’m going to make sure Arellin is okay and then I’m going back.”
“…Yes, please do.”
At Pession’s unprecedented stubbornness, Graham looked like he’d given up altogether.
“Don’t you think you should go back?”
“It’s fine.”
“You can’t be okay.”
“I’m fine!”
Where the hell does his confidence come from?
Regardless, the people in the mansion did what they had to do.
“What is her condition?”
After a comprehensive examination by priests, healers, and doctors, Arellin was in good health.
“Thank goodness you are well!”
Now a breath of fresh air.
She should have been able to rest easy, but Mehen’s mood still wasn’t any better.
‘My fault.’
An unexpected and unwarranted feeling of guilt creeps in, as he wonders if he shouldn’t have asked her to go out with him.
“It’s not your fault, Mehen.”
“Keep your traitorous mouth shut, Dylan.”
“No, I’m here for the lady…”
Dylan cringed in frustration. Mehen glared.
“When on earth did you become so friendly with Sir Graham?”
“I didn’t become friendly. I felt sorry for the young lady, and I was trying to help.”
“And you spilled the beans?”
Hmmm.
According to the rules, Dylan should have been heavily reprimanded, but there were a number of mitigating circumstances.
“You didn’t receive any personal payment, and you’re not accused of taking any other advantage, so I’m giving you a six-month reduction in pay as a mitigating circumstance in recognition of your loyalty. Do you have any complaints?”
“No.”
“Really?”
Dylan replied, looking somewhat relieved.
“Well, I can’t spend what I earn anyway. I’m like you, Mehen, I haven’t had a day off in a long time.”
“Hah….”
Both men sighed deeply.
