Chapter 7
“This one should be easier for you to read, my lady.”
“Thanks for finding it!”
I carried the book over to a sunny window and opened the first page.
“…What on earth is this saying?”
It was full of words I couldn’t understand. Feeling a little deflated, I stared at the page.
“Are you already returning it?”
The librarian, who was busy arranging new books, asked curiously when she saw me heading toward the door with the book tucked under my arm.
I shook my head.
“No, I’ll read it in the garden. The weather’s nice today.”
“That’s a wonderful idea. A warm sunny spot is the perfect place to read.”
In truth, I just couldn’t read the thing at all.
But I couldn’t say that, so I simply smiled quietly.
My footsteps echoed down the hallway. I greeted the maids I passed with a cheerful smile and headed straight for the garden.
I dropped the book beneath a large, shady tree and sprawled out on the grass.
“The weather’s so nice…”
If only things could stay this peaceful forever.
I sighed, gazing up at the perfectly clear sky.
Over the last few days while I was bedridden, more memories had returned. Thanks to that, I realized a few important things.
At first, I thought about seeking out Nox—the man destined to be Aria’s lover. But remembering the story, Nox hadn’t even appeared in society yet at this point in time.
The reason was simple.
He was the illegitimate child of Count Kainel.
“How ridiculous, tormenting him just for being born outside marriage.”
After all, Nox only existed because Count Kainel cheated. The count had no right to blame him.
But of course, the person leading the bullying was Count Kainel himself.
I couldn’t understand it at all. How could a man torment his own child?
Even now, Nox was probably being mistreated for no reason. I worried about him, but in my current state—sickly and weak—I had no excuse to step in.
How could I explain that I even knew him, when his name wasn’t even on the family registry?
‘I’ll need a natural way to approach him somehow…’
But it wasn’t easy to think of one. I was only ten years old, and on top of that, diagnosed as terminally ill. No one would just let me wander around freely.
“I’d need to ‘happen’ to meet him while strolling through the shopping district.”
“With who?”
“Ah! You scared me!”
I jumped up like a fish on a spear.
It was Daniel.
My heart pounded wildly as I shouted at him. The shock even made my chest tighten painfully.
‘Why is he sneaking around like some thief?!’
I didn’t know if he’d teleported here with magic, or if I’d just been too lost in thought to hear him. Either way, I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
“Did I scare you that much?”
Daniel looked up at me with a face like a drenched puppy, all sad and droopy.
Is that even a question?!
I pressed my forehead, sighing.
‘He’s just a kid. Calm down. Just explain things to him.’
Daniel smoothed his messy bangs and stood before me, his shadow falling long across the grass.
“I was really startled, so don’t do that again. If you see I’m thinking, make some noise or call my name first.”
Don’t just blurt things out all of a sudden.
I swallowed the last part and said only that. Daniel pouted.
“Okay. I’ll be careful next time.”
He looked up at me with slightly hurt eyes.
“You were supposed to be at the Magic Tower for lessons. Already done?”
“No. I just came back ‘cause it was boring.”
“…Is that okay?”
“Of course not.”
“Then why?”
“Because it’s more fun being with you than sitting in lessons. Isn’t that reason enough?”
…Was that allowed?
Back in my old life, I’d spent my childhood being dragged to piano, writing, and taekwondo lessons. Then in middle school, it was cram school, and in high school, late-night self-study.
So hearing him say that was baffling.
Actually, that’s not true. I did understand. Of course playing was more fun than studying—it was as obvious as the sun rising in the east.
But back then, even if I hated it, I went anyway because tuition fees were expensive.
He, on the other hand, simply didn’t do what he didn’t want to.
Still, “student” fit him well enough.
Daniel tilted his head, leaning closer as if puzzled by my silence.
“Are you running a fever?”
His hand touched my forehead. His jewel-bright eyes shone even more blue than the sky, and all the complicated thoughts in my mind vanished.
‘Past life is past life. This is now.’
His hand was cool against my skin. I smiled.
“I’m fine.”
“…Really?”
“Really. Aria should be done with her lesson soon, so let’s wait for her and play together.”
The instant I said that, Daniel’s brow furrowed for just a second.
“…Sure. Let’s do that.”
But he quickly smiled, scrunching up his nose playfully.
My chest throbbed at the sight. I had to press a hand over it.
Flustered by the smile of a twelve-year-old boy…
I must really be hopelessly weak to good looks.
***
“Hey.”
Daniel had a lot on his mind. He couldn’t stop worrying about Riela, who had been acting strangely these past few days.
“Are you ignoring me?”
No adult knew how to cure her illness, so how could he?
She looked a little healthier after he’d given her the mana stone necklace, but he couldn’t rest easy.
He’d even gone to the Magic Tower for lessons, hoping to find a way to heal her.
But instead, all he did was practice attack magic and study efficient casting methods.
None of that would help Riela.
‘Still, at least it’ll give me the strength to protect her.’
That was his only comfort. If not for that, he would have quit the Tower right away.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
He sighed and put down his pen.
“What is it?”
His irritated tone made Leonit chuckle.
“I called you so many times! Why didn’t you answer?”
“I was thinking about something.”
“What about?”
“Not something you need to know. Anyway, did you finish what Master told you to do?”
Leonit answered immediately.
“Nope.”
His shameless honesty made Daniel shake his head.
“Hey, I don’t do chores. I give the orders, you follow them.”
Annoying as it was, he wasn’t wrong. Daniel held his tongue.
And yet that guy had the nerve to try and win Aria’s attention? Not a chance.
Daniel ignored his rambling about becoming a great emperor one day and picked up his pen again.
‘I have to hurry and develop a cure.’
The fate of the empire meant nothing compared to Riela’s health.
Leonit, meanwhile, was still lounging around. The expensive chair he sat on—worth more than a commoner family’s yearly expenses—creaked under his careless posture.
“Anyway, tell me what Aria likes. From what I’ve seen, she’s not into fancy, expensive gifts. She’s… different from other noble girls.”
Daniel just gave him a withering look.
Leonit twirled his pen and then pointed it at him.
“So, what should I give her to score some points?”
Clearly, he was thinking about the mana stone he’d given Aria before.
Daniel could have said, “My sister actually does love expensive things. She just hates you.”
But instead, he just stared at him with pity.
For now, he had to play along—the adults wanted him to stay close to Leonit. And besides, he didn’t want Leonit lashing out at Aria out of spite.
“She likes gifts with sincerity in them.”
Better to give her a thousand roses than a mana stone. Even if she’d probably dislike that too.
Leonit’s face lit up like he’d just heard the best advice in the world.
“You should’ve said so earlier! I’ve already got a few ideas. Listen and tell me what you think.”
He climbed onto the chair like it was a stage, about to make a speech. The chair groaned again.
Daniel barely listened, scribbling notes with his pen.
If it came down to saving Leonit or Riela, the choice was obvious. Always Riela.
“…How about a ring made from rare gemstones found only in the western valley?”
“Leonit.”
“Oh? You think that’s a good one?”
Daniel stared at him, exasperated.
“Does it really have to be Aria? There are other noble girls. Like Lady Garcia.”
Leonit’s expression twisted instantly—but only for a second. He snorted and lifted his chin arrogantly.
Of course he did.
