Chapter 12
｡･:*:･ﾟ★ Translated by Bree ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆
“Yes?”
Gael’s eyes widened.
Every living being had at least a small amount of magic. Yet he couldn’t read it?
“Is it possible for such a person to exist in the world?”
“Well….”
Luciel lazily murmured as he raised the vial higher than his line of sight.
The light from the hanging lamp on the ceiling shimmered transparently along with the light from the vial.
The clear green light resembled Daphne’s eyes.
Luciel blinked slowly, gazing at that light.
He was curious about the face someone makes when they fail in love.
Would they be in despair? Or perhaps burning with anger?
Maybe, like others, she would ask for a love potion, not knowing that it could be used against her. But contrary to expectations, the woman’s eyes were calm.
As if love had no place in her heart.
And it didn’t end there.
She presented the fact that she was searching for the relic as a condition and claimed that his potion was inferior to the one she had made.
It was normal for him to feel insulted. He was the owner of the Mage tower, and the other party was someone who, blinded by love, had tried to take her own life. Wasn’t that something he inherently despised?
But strangely, he didn’t feel bad.
‘No, rather…’
“Gael, do you know what this is?”
Luciel spoke, gazing at the vial.
“An antidote made by Lady Peregrine herself. Apparently, it’s even more effective than the one I made.”
“What? Huh, that can’t be true.”
Gael shook his head as if it were impossible.
Who was Luciel? He was the one who instantly elevated the Magic Tower, which had been on the path of decline, and established it as the second pillar of the empire behind the temple.
An antidote made by such a lady was better than his master’s?
“That’s an incredible thing to say. It’s more likely to be poison.”
“Yes, I think so too.”
Luciel said and rolled the vial in his hand.
A few drops were reflected in the light and fell into his eyes.
“So to find out what on earth she’s thinking…”
“What? What are you talking about–”
Before Gail could finish his words.
Luciel opened the vial and threw the few remaining drops into his mouth.
“…!”
At that moment, Luciel’s eyes widened.
“Master!”
Gael approached Luciel in astonishment.
Until now, Luciel had used his own body to test the toxicity of potions.
Anyway, he was someone who couldn’t die even if he wanted to, so it didn’t matter how toxic it was.
‘Even so, you’re too defenseless right now! What if you go berserk! My wish is to meet a rabbit-like wife and hold onto her tightly for the rest of our lives!’
Gael suppressed the urge to cry and looked at Luciel.
“Are you okay? Surely not another berserk episode like before… Should I go get some anesthetic herbs?”
When Gael exerted strength in his muscular arms to lift Luciel, Luciel raised his hand to stop him.
“Master…?”
“…I’m fine.”
“Are you… really okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine, no, rather…”
His headache disappeared.
The relentless headache that had been tormenting him vanished with just a few drops of the potion.
‘How is this possible…!’
Luciel, as if he couldn’t believe it, covered his mouth with his hand.
He had taken countless potions throughout his life.
The first time was at the temple.
Unlike the divine power borrowed from the goddess, magic power was classified as ‘artificial power drawn from dead demons.’
However, when their remains seeped into the ground after the goddess sealed the demons and devils, people with magic gradually increased.
Now, although the authority of wizards had grown, there was still an ongoing silent conflict.
Therefore, the emperor sent young Luciel to the temple. He thought that the opposing forces could suppress his son’s power.
But the temple treated magic users like Luciel as heretics.
In the pouring divine power, Luciel crossed the threshold of death several times.
But he revived each time, breaking the necks of the priests who tortured him with their fanaticism. As he found stability little by little, he became the Luciel of today.
The temple judged that further control was difficult.
The terrified emperor sent his son, who was difficult to handle, to the Mage Tower. Since it was an old place no one managed, it was better for him to die there.
But Luciel didn’t die. Instead, he revitalized the Mage Tower, creating various magical products.
The Mage Tower produced items and potions that couldn’t be made even in the temple.
This was thanks to Luciel boldly using his body as an experimental subject.
His magic kept saving him, surviving even if he ingested lethal poison.
If he were to die… everyone would be happy, and he would be relieved from this pain. From Luciel’s perspective, it would be better.
However, the moment he took Daphne’s potion, the constant pain that had haunted him disappeared instantly.
Of course, it returned shortly after, but Luciel, who had lived feeling pain his whole life, considered this small change a miracle.
Luciel looked at the direction she left in and then down at his hands.
The only person he couldn’t read any emotion or thought from.
She created a potion that shouldn’t exist in the world.
‘Is such a thing possible?’
Luciel recalled the woman who looked at him with clear eyes.
Suppressing his rapidly beating heart, he clenched his fists tightly and rose from his seat.
“I’ll be busy for a while.”
“Yes?”
Gael, who was standing awkwardly, asked.
“Are you really going to accept her request?”
“Yeah. Since she helped me, I should repay the favor.”
Isn’t that right?
Luciel thought with an angelic smile.
It was a dazzling smile that seemed to have no other meaning.
‘Something feels ominous…’
Gael wiped his forehead with a handkerchief, trying to dispel his unease.
* * *
When they arrived at the Duke’s mansion, the sun had already set completely, and heavy rain was pouring down.
Despite coming as quickly as possible, this was the best they could manage due to the distance.
‘I feel sick…’
Is this what motion sickness was like in this era?
Daphne thought as she tried to open the door when a faint groaning sound reached her ears.
Peeking her head outside, she saw the coachman sprawled out. He looked like a zombie.
‘Yeah. The longer the journey, the more tired the driver becomes.’
I comforted the exhausted coachman in my mind and opened the carriage door.
“Welcome, my lady.”
As they entered the back of the mansion, the maids and servants she had met before leaving were waiting for her. The woman handed him an umbrella.
“Uncle… No, isn’t the Young Duke here?”
“He didn’t come specifically to find milady.”
Uncle still didn’t know about my departure.
‘Well, it’s natural since we live in the same mansion without any interest in each other.’
While thinking so, a maid added.
“But since you take a garden walk every evening, it would be good to go inside.”
The maid spoke while glancing at the mansion window.
She was thoroughly prepared and had great sense. Smiling brightly at the maid, I accepted the umbrella she was holding.
“Thanks. You must have been worried before I came back.”
“Oh, milady. About the umbrella…”
“It’s okay. I can hold it.”
It could have been an opportunity for Daphne to run away to Roderick.
But the maid took that risk and helped me. I wanted to express my gratitude.
“And, above all, your shoulders are wet.”
Smiling, I put the robe I was wearing around the maid’s shoulders.
“Ah… T-Thank you, my lady.”
As a result, the maid blushed shyly.
“By the way, dinner preparations just finished. Shall I bring the meal to your room?”
The maid suddenly remembered, seeming to have thought of something.
Although one might wonder why they brought meals to the rooms, unfortunately, it was rare for the people in this house to eat together.
Duke Lyas had a lot of work to do in place of Duke Peregrine, and he also didn’t have a habit of enjoying meals.
‘It’s fortunate since there will be fewer inconveniences for me, but… wait a moment.’
Just as I was agreeing, I stopped.
‘Did the preparations for dinner in the mansion just finish now?’
I took out a pocket watch from my pocket to check the time.
The clock’s hour hand pointed to the number 8.
It was somewhat late for dinner.
I was an adult, so the children would be more hungry.
So there were two possibilities.
The children either finished eating separately, or…
‘…Hadn’t eaten dinner yet.’
I hardened my expression.
