~Chapter 97~
Fabian froze and looked down at Irene.
She was smiling faintly as she looked up at him.
“…Thank you, Fabian.”
After hesitating a little, as if gauging his reaction, she slowly continued.
“Thank you for making me want to live. For giving Albert that advice.”
“…”
“Thank you for understanding my heart. For recognizing my despair and speaking on my behalf.”
Fabian stared at her quietly.
From her gaze and the low tone of her voice, he could read it.
Her feelings for him.
He couldn’t deeply accept that gratitude, tied with affection, but he understood it.
In that moment, Fabian realized—at the very least, he could “read” the hearts of others.
It was only possible because he had listened to Irene’s heart for such a long time, right by her side.
“So… I’ve decided something.”
At her next words, Fabian’s eyes widened slightly.
“I’ve decided I’m going to make you want to live too, Fabian.”
“…”
“Just as you made me feel this way, I… I want to rescue you from your despair. I want to save you.”
Irene wiped her moist eyes with her sleeve, then spoke again in a firm but tender voice, holding out the box once more.
“So please accept it. If you won’t, then just throw it away. But don’t ever return it to me.”
She smiled up at him, her eyes shining with tears at the corners.
Even with tears, her smile was radiant—looking more beautiful than ever as she gazed at Fabian.
“…”
For the first time, Fabian’s eyes wavered.
“Fabian, Fabian.”
After that day, I followed Fabian everywhere.
On training days, and even on days without training. Rain or snow—it didn’t matter. I always went to the Magic Tower.
Anything I thought might spark his curiosity, I placed before him.
One day I left a cute trinket in his dark office. Another day, I invited him to watch a play.
Whatever it was, I just wanted to create some change in his life.
Like he had done for me—I wanted to give him a reason to live.
Not just time that slipped away meaninglessly, but moments he could enjoy with real feelings.
At some point, whether Fabian liked me or not stopped being important.
…Maybe this was how Albert felt.
Just knowing the person you cared about might live a better tomorrow—that alone was enough.
If that was possible, then your own feelings for that person no longer mattered.
How big… how powerful must that kind of heart be?
Fabian never wore the cloak I gave him. But strangely, he didn’t strongly reject my following him either.
He just quietly watched what I did for him—like an observer, watching from the side.
His vague, unreadable reactions might have been tiring, but I didn’t give up. I kept going.
And then one day—
“Fabiaaaan!”
I burst into his office, my voice cheerful.
“I brought something amazing today! Something you’ll definitely like!”
“….”
Fabian looked at me with that same expression, as if to say, Again? You came again?
With full confidence, I set something down on his desk.
“Do you know what this is? It’s amazing. You’re going to love it!”
Excitedly, I pushed forward a small box.
‘He won’t be able to resist this one, no matter what.’
I watched him with bright, eager eyes, urging him to open it quickly.
He stared down at it for a while, sighed faintly, then opened the box.
Inside was—
“…Chocolate.”
“It may look like normal chocolate, but it’s not.”
Leaning forward playfully, I whispered,
“It has whisky inside. Hehehe.”
Because I lived in a duke’s household, merchants often visited to sell rare goods.
While browsing for something suitable for Fabian, I had asked for something unusual, and they had shown me this.
Chocolate and whisky combined.
Whoever came up with this brilliant pairing…
“Isn’t this the perfect dessert for you, Fabian? Right? I did well, didn’t I?”
And then—I saw it.
Fabian’s eyes sparkled. Different from before.
He tried not to show it, but I could tell.
He was caught, hooked by a strong curiosity for this dessert.
“Though I think you shouldn’t eat too many. It might be too stimulating. After all, until now, you’ve been using whisky and chocolate to give yourself artificial stimulation, haven’t you?”
What I really wanted was for him to find natural, healthy joy in daily life—not just forced stimulation.
But for now, even this was fine.
‘Anyway…’
I crossed my arms and looked at him with a smug expression, as if to say, Well? What do you think?
His eyes were full of curiosity, but he just stared at the box, as if taking it would hurt his pride.
Hmm. Time for a little push and pull?
“What’s wrong? Don’t want it? I thought you’d like it.”
“….”
“Then I’ll just take it back. I wanted to try it too, you know.”
I pretended to pick up the box, turning away—
Thump.
I felt resistance. His large hand pressed down firmly on top of the box.
“…Thank you. I’ll try it.”
“Really? Then I’ll leave it here for you?”
When I asked with a smile, Fabian gave a small nod.
“…Fine. But stop coming here so often. I’m not that free.”
‘Liar.’
I chuckled softly.
The fact that he had responded at all made my heart race.
A few more days passed.
After training with Eric, my body was wrecked. I was gulping down some herbal medicine when I suddenly shot up.
“Ah! Come to think of it—”
I stared at the medicine in my hand, my eyes widening.
There was actually a perfect way to spark Fabian’s curiosity.
‘I just have to use my past life experience!’
No matter how long Fabian had lived, he had never experienced the culture from my previous world.
Just like this herbal medicine—it was something unusual in this world.
And lately, Fabian had started showing small signs of change. That made me even more motivated.
If I used the culture of my past life to introduce him to new experiences—
Maybe then, Fabian could finally open his senses wide to life itself.
‘Wow. Am I a genius or what?’
My head had been filled with Fabian so much that I ended up coming up with this brilliant idea. Good job, Sehee!
‘But what exactly should I let him experience?’
That was the next question. There were many choices from my past world.
Which one would truly awaken his senses?
It didn’t take me long to decide.
‘Yes… that one will be perfect.’
Smirking to myself, I let out a mischievous little laugh.
After finishing all the herbal medicine, I called for Sophie.
“Sophie, I need to go into the capital. Please prepare for me.”
Back then, I had no idea who I would end up meeting there.
