Chapter 83
“What’s this about sweet romance now?”
Maybe because she had transformed, Orb’s personality was starting to resemble hers more and more.
I often scolded her not to confuse reality with novels, but perhaps Orb needed that kind of nagging too.
“Why? When the protagonist gets captured, there’s always supposed to be some touching moment, right? Like overhearing someone’s secret feelings that make their heart pound, or suddenly noticing someone they never cared about before.”
As expected, she was anticipating some romantic situation.
“Phew, stop saying weird things. Rohan and I aren’t like that, and I have no hidden feelings to confess.”
“…Hmm, are you sure about that?”
Orb rolled her eyes toward Rohan.
Curious why she was staring at him, I also shifted my gaze to Rohan—who, in a hard voice, scolded Orb.
“Nonsense.”
See? He said it firmly like that, so why was she so desperate to tie us together?
“Hm, Wilhelmina, you really don’t get it? Why do you think Rohan came here?”
Was she really continuing with this?
I sighed and clamped Orb’s mouth shut.
“Mmph—what are you doing, mmf.”
“I don’t care to know. And even if there were secret feelings, they’re not something I should hear from you.”
And besides, whatever feelings there were, they wouldn’t be the sweet little romance Orb was imagining.
It wasn’t like Rohan and I had even spoken much.
Honestly, a more convincing story would be if Rohan were an assassin sent to kill me, or a debt collector chasing me down.
‘…Wait, that’s oddly specific.’
I’d never felt threatened while living at the ducal house, but thinking about it, it wasn’t impossible. Especially the debt collector part—that felt way too real.
I was mulling this over seriously when Orb slumped her shoulders in boredom.
“Ugh, fine. No point trying to set the mood. Hey, wolf, you’ve got it rough.”
“….”
For some reason, Rohan didn’t deny it.
After that little exchange, the atmosphere softened compared to earlier.
Rohan no longer showed hostility toward Orb, and Orb herself seemed drained, sagging with fatigue.
“Alright, let’s get back to the point. Orb, you had a reason for provoking Rohan, didn’t you?”
“…Why?”
“If you want something from him, say it here and now. Isn’t it a deal you’re after?”
Orb’s eyes widened as she looked at me, then she let out a disbelieving breath.
“Now you tell me to negotiate? You don’t even have a hostage.”
This brat—did she really have to say “hostage” out loud?
I held back the urge to flick her forehead.
“Would you give up on your demand just because there’s no hostage?”
“That’s…”
“You wanted the chance to talk, right? Then ask. He might grant your request even without payment.”
“….”
“We can’t read your mind like you can. If you want something, say it directly. No tricks. You call yourself a king? Even if you’re a little rude, no one will hold it against you.”
Orb gaped at me, speechless.
‘Why is she so surprised?’
While I was replaying my words in my head, wondering if something sounded off, Rohan suddenly chuckled.
It was the first time I’d ever heard him laugh.
“Some things never change.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
Well, that was anticlimactic.
I turned back to Orb.
She had buried her face in her knees, trembling slightly.
“Orb? What’s wrong?”
“Ah… maybe I should just take you with me. Not since Titania has anyone….”
“What are you mumbling about?”
“If only you’d shown up 500 years earlier. Guess I was wrong to curse the wolf back then.”
I had no idea what she was going on about.
Thinking she was just messing with me again, I narrowed my eyes.
But then she suddenly lifted her head.
“Well, too late now. What’s done is done, no use regretting the past, right?”
“Y-yeah.”
I didn’t understand what she was realizing, but I nodded anyway.
“Fine then, you there.”
“How about you use his name?”
Why was she always so curt with Rohan?
When I cut in, she cheerfully corrected herself.
“Right, Rohan—” she nearly slipped, “—Rohan!”
“…Yeah.”
For some reason, Rohan ground his teeth even though she used his name.
“I want you to stop the Empire’s southern ruins excavation. That’s under the crown’s authority, isn’t it?”
It seemed too excessive a request to make of Rohan, but he didn’t look particularly fazed.
‘So he really is nobility. I thought as much.’
Only nobles carried themselves with that kind of ingrained decorum.
Since I had half-expected this, I quietly listened in on their exchange.
“Digging there is dangerous. For the Empire’s sake, it should be halted.”
“Why?”
“Because that ruin was once where I lived. My writings are still there. They can’t fall into human hands.”
In this world, ruins referred to buildings from ages so ancient that proper records didn’t even exist.
Hearing that, I felt the weight of Orb’s true age.
But writings…?
“Is it like a diary?”
“Something like that.”
So she was trying to keep her old diary hidden.
“…So basically, black history?”
“….”
Maybe that phrase was too modern.
But Orb seemed to understand the meaning anyway—she squeezed her eyes shut and muttered,
“Hold it in… hold it in….”
I figured I shouldn’t push further.
Otherwise, those tree roots that had attacked Rohan might turn on me.
Ignoring me, she forced herself to keep her composure and spoke to Rohan again.
“…That book is cursed. If humans read it, catastrophe will follow. Whatever treasure might be there, tell them to give up on that site.”
“Massive sums of money have gone into this project. Without proof, they won’t abandon it.”
“Then leave them. If disaster befalls humans, it’s none of my concern.”
Rohan propped his chin on his hand and pondered.
After a while, he asked in a skeptical tone:
“No, if it truly had nothing to do with you, you wouldn’t be asking me to interfere. Is there something in that diary you don’t want revealed?”
“….”
Orb frowned and avoided answering.
‘So it is black history….’
“Wilhelmina, that’s not it.”
I told you—stop reading my thoughts.
“…Fine, I’ll explain. That book doesn’t just have curses. It also contains a great deal of knowledge about fairies. I don’t want my mistake to bring harm to other fairies. That’s why I was going to ask.”
“You won’t handle it yourself?”
“I won’t step foot in the filthy human world again. Though maybe I’ll send my ‘toys.’”
Rohan smirked crookedly, as if something came to mind.
“…I see. I’ll try to persuade them to stop. But I can’t promise. I don’t have that much power….”
He glanced at me briefly, then coughed and added,
“I only happen to know someone on the excavation team.”
He clearly wanted to maintain his guise as a merchant’s guard.
I had no intention of pressing him either, so I kept quiet.
“…Really? You’d actually agree?”
Orb looked genuinely surprised by his quick acceptance.
“You do realize what treasures lie there, don’t you?”
“Yes, I heard from the preliminary reports.”
“Those aren’t ordinary. They’re treasures that could spark wars—beyond the worth of mountains of gold and jewels.”
“They did say they’re rare.”
“And yet you’d let it go?”
Rohan sighed.
“I said already—I can’t guarantee it. They may go ahead regardless of what I say.”
“But still….”
“No matter how great the treasure, it can’t outweigh the lives of Imperial citizens.”
Even with his eyes shadowed by hair, his words rang true.
And Orb, who could read hearts, would know if he was lying.
Seeing her eyes waver, I could tell Rohan’s sincerity was reaching her.
“Have humans really changed so much while I was away? Passing up such a chance….”
‘No—it’s just Rohan who’s unusual.’
Any ordinary person would mouth noble words while secretly longing for the treasure.
But not him.
Orb sat silently, deep in thought.
Finally, she sighed and spoke.
“…So sincere. I must look like the villainous fairy here. Never thought I’d be in a human’s debt.”
She looked lighter, as if a burden had been lifted.
‘Well, diaries—especially embarrassing ones—are important.’
“I told you it’s not like that, Wilhelmina!”
But I’d only meant it as a joke, so we both laughed.
“See? Speaking directly worked, didn’t it?”
If she had only read his mind, no such agreement would’ve been reached.
She frowned at me.
“…You’re right. Seems I should actually take my teacher’s advice. Really… if only I’d met you sooner.”
“…You know that almost sounds like a love confession, right?”
“That’s what it is. If it had been 500 years ago, you’d have been queen.”
I froze at her words, unable to reply.
And Orb let out a long, mischievous laugh.
