Chapter 78
My steps, which had been moving toward him, came to a halt.
That man?
Was he talking about Siren?
The unexpected phrasing made my thoughts freeze for a moment. His tone, stripped of all formality, carried a clear sense of wariness.
‘Well… that’s understandable.’
Even if hugging was considered a common Elcasic greeting, it must have looked suspicious from Denok’s point of view when I suddenly embraced someone.
I took a few steps closer to him and said,
“There really wasn’t any special conversation in the garden.”
Then, I carefully continued—telling him how Siren had asked about magic, so I had told him about Marcarna Street, and in turn, he had told me about Elca’s magic.
But then I remembered something Siren had said—how he thought I would “fit in well with Elca.”
‘…I probably shouldn’t mention that.’
I swallowed that part down. Mentioning it would only heighten Denok’s suspicion.
He might even oppose the idea of me visiting the villa.
“I was surprised when he said he wanted to invite me to his villa, too.”
“…He’s not someone you can trust. He could be dangerous.”
As expected.
I knew he’d say that.
“He’s a prince of another country. If he acts recklessly here, it could easily turn into a diplomatic problem.”
“…”
He didn’t respond. His lips pressed tightly together, and his expression was filled with discontent.
But I knew it was because he was worried about me.
After a brief hesitation, I finally said,
“This is just my hunch, but… I think he knows who I am.”
“What?”
His eyes flickered sharply.
“So if an invitation comes, I think we should go.”
“Even though you don’t know his intentions?”
His question made me pause.
It was true—he knew my identity and was inviting us as a couple, but there was clearly something he wanted from me.
Caution was natural. Suspicion, too.
But—
“…You’ll be with me, won’t you?”
I looked at him quietly as I said it.
It might sound irresponsible, but… I trusted that he would protect me.
When I met his gaze with that quiet belief, his chest rose and fell slightly.
“If that’s how you see it…”
“Yes?”
While I blinked in confusion, his head slowly lowered.
“Haa…”
A sigh, half resignation, escaped him—laden with a tangle of emotions I couldn’t quite read.
Then, the tension drained from his shoulders.
I stopped, unsure of what to make of it.
“Denok?”
“Then promise me this. Once we go to his villa, you will not leave my side.”
“Mm…”
My hesitant hum made him raise his head again. His brows twisted faintly.
And in the next instant—
His arm wrapped around my waist, and I was pulled toward him in one swift motion.
“…Denok?!”
I reflexively reached out, but my back already met the soft give of the mattress.
His eyes, shadowed and intense, locked onto mine.
“If you don’t promise, I can’t let you go.”
“But…”
What if there’s something we must discuss privately—especially if it concerns the merfolk?
‘That’s the very reason for meeting him in the first place.’
I had never imagined I’d meet another merfolk besides my mother.
They were so rare that most of the world believed they were extinct.
This could be the only chance I’d ever get.
There might be others like me. Maybe I’d learn something that would help me survive if I ever had to live apart from Denok.
But as I hesitated, Denok leaned even closer.
It was the first time he’d ever pressed me like this.
My breath caught.
This posture—it was exactly like that day.
Every part of me brushed against him, too sensitively, too closely.
The heat of his body made my eyes squeeze shut.
His breath came closer, brushing across my lips.
“Promise me,” he whispered, voice soft and damp with emotion.
Even with my eyes closed, I could feel his gaze.
“…Ah…”
I swallowed hard.
My heart pounded violently, my mind spinning until all thoughts scattered.
Finally, reluctantly, I nodded.
“…All right.”
Denok immediately closed the distance and pressed his lips to mine.
A light kiss—but the sensation crashed over me like a wave.
My consciousness grew hazy.
Every time his tongue brushed against mine, a ticklish shiver ran down my spine.
I was the one who was supposed to suppress magic, but it felt like I was the one being swallowed instead.
His hand slid up my back, pulling me tighter into his embrace.
My body sank deeper into the mattress beneath him, pressed against his warmth.
Our tongues tangled, breaths mingling in the heat between us.
That night, it took an unusually long time for his magic to finally calm down.
A short while after the banquet—
The sunlight grew stronger by the day, and with it, the air in Marcarna buzzed with feverish energy.
The narrow alleys overflowed with people.
Nobles who had attended the banquet—or those who had heard about it from them—were now all lining up to commission work.
Of course, the “golden bird that flies alone” everyone had coveted was considered exclusive to Luciano, so it couldn’t be sold.
“Tch, if it can’t be made, then forget it.”
“…Hmm, seems like you’re looking for a gift for your wife?”
“H-how did you know?”
“Come closer, my good man. Since you seem familiar, I’ll show you something special. This here—when you activate it, cool wind blows out on hot days!”
The streets brimmed with magical wonders that dazzled the eyes of visitors.
Even those who had clicked their tongues and turned away ended up stopping, wide-eyed at the magicians’ brilliant demonstrations, only to find themselves ordering commissions without realizing it.
After forming their guild and working together to prepare for the banquet, the magicians had grown closer than ever before.
They had always acted like solitary scholars, but this was the first time they had joined forces toward a single goal.
Through heated debates, shared research, and experimental exchanges, they had each surpassed their limits.
As a result, the magicians of Marcarna had achieved astounding progress in just a few short weeks.
And surprisingly, the one who earned the most money on the street wasn’t Arbel.
“Hahaha! Look how the bugs gather—”
“Oh my! It burned up!”
“Phew… that’s one flashy send-off.”
It was none other than Wizard Cecilio, who had created a spell specifically to kill insects.
Many others had helped bring it to life—
From the one who brewed a potion to lure the bugs in, to the one who created a temporary shield to prevent the heat from spreading when the bugs were incinerated inside the circle.
It was an advanced spell that required three separate magic stones.
The trio even merged their workshops into one and gave it a new name, taking the first syllable of each of their names:
Secilio, Sicania, and Copeln.
Thus was born The Sesico Workshop.
Their fame spread quickly beyond Marcarna to the nobles of the imperial capital, and soon enough, people began to covet them.
Those who had previously smuggled magicians out of cities for profit were especially eager.
“If you come to my estate, I promise you’ll be well rewarded.”
“I’ll build a special tower just for you!”
“You’re far too talented to stay in a small place like this.”
The secret offers came one after another—
But every time, the answer was the same.
“…Hmph. What do you know about magic?”
“Here, take my research notes. Can you tell what’s missing? Hah—His Grace the Grand Duke would have seen it right away.”
“Hahaha! You clearly have no idea how important knowledge is to a magician.”
These were people who had refused to leave Marcarna even when others did.
Now that they were finally experiencing a golden age, there was no way they’d abandon it.
“So, our answer is no!”
And so, those making the offers had no choice but to watch the doors slam shut right in front of their faces.
