Chapter 47
Ruviana and Elion stepped into the toy repair shop on Melville Street and were asked to wait for a while in the reception room.
“They’re treating another customer right now. If you wait about thirty minutes, it’ll be your turn.”
After the employee set down a teapot and teacups and left, the small reception room held only Ruviana and Elion.
It was Elion who broke the awkward silence first.
“Did you tell your parents about the engagement? They must’ve been shocked.”
“Yes, they were. But they already knew we were… seeing each other, so they accepted it without much difficulty.”
“That’s a relief. I’ll try to delay the engagement ceremony as long as possible. Hopefully, before then, your condition will return to normal.”
“You think that’s possible? His Majesty’s determination yesterday was overwhelming…”
“…I really am sorry about what happened yesterday.”
Elion apologized with a troubled expression.
“Well, since we agreed to the engagement, His Majesty should feel reassured. He’ll probably allow us to delay the date at least a little.”
“…”
Ruviana wasn’t convinced.
The will she had seen in the Emperor’s eyes was far too intense.
In the original story, the Emperor’s sense of indebtedness toward Elion had been mentioned only briefly, in passing.
But seeing it herself, the heat of the Emperor’s emotions far exceeded her expectations.
“It would be nice if we could postpone the ceremony, but don’t push too hard. Otherwise, you might raise suspicion.”
“…”
“Engagements break off sometimes. It’s much better than divorcing after marriage. So I’m trying to be thankful that things aren’t at their absolute worst.”
After finishing her words, Ruviana lifted her teacup and took a sip, her expression serene.
Yesterday, when she had barely managed to agree to the engagement in front of the Emperor, she had felt as though her world were shattering. But now, she didn’t.
Ruviana knew well that life was never easy.
There was nothing simple in life, and stopping the Emperor—who was surely thrilled about their engagement—would be nearly impossible.
A hard life required choosing wisely what to abandon and what to hold onto firmly.
And right now, what she absolutely needed to secure was a way to meet Elion daily, exchange magic with him, and do so without arousing anyone’s suspicion.
“If that’s truly what you wish, then I understand.”
“Yes. Avoiding suspicion is the most important thing. We need to seem like two young lovers deeply in love.”
“…Right.”
Ruviana hesitated, then gathered her courage and spoke.
“Um… about that night.”
Even though she tried to think of it strictly as an act of exchanging magic, bringing up that night was still embarrassing.
“How has your body been since then?”
“My body…? Why?”
Elion was startled by the question.
Was she experiencing the same symptoms he was?
Just as her heated, flushed face on the bed kept replaying in his mind, was she also remembering how he had devoured her like someone who had lost control?
“Well… ever since that night, I’ve felt really good physically.”
“…What?”
The exact opposite of what he expected—Elion was dumbfounded.
“I used to get tired easily, but yesterday I wasn’t even that tired. Usually I don’t sleep deeply and dream a lot, but last night I slept soundly without dreaming at all. And I woke up early feeling refreshed.”
“I… see.”
Meanwhile, he had barely slept or eaten properly, his mind constantly replaying images of her.
They had exchanged magic the same way—yet their physical reactions were completely different.
Elion was confused.
“What about you, Your Highness? Did you feel the same?”
“…No.”
Elion shook his head.
“I felt… the same as usual. At least I didn’t have a fever or headache.”
“I see.”
Ruviana nodded slowly, and Elion quickly looked away.
He couldn’t bring himself to say that the real problem was that the events of that night kept replaying in his head.
His suspicion that his symptoms might be side effects of exchanging magic dissolved halfway.
‘Maybe I’m just… a beast who finally awakened to lust.’
It was ridiculous.
He had planned to ask Omar about these symptoms—but that plan would need to be postponed.
Holding back a sigh, Elion took a long sip of his tea.
Right then, the reception room door opened and the employee returned.
“Thank you for waiting. I’ll guide you to the treatment room now.”
Ruviana and Elion followed behind.
They entered the treatment room together, and Omar immediately greeted them excitedly as soon as he sensed their magical energy.
“Welcome! I’ve been waiting for you both.”
“It’s been a while, Omar.”
Ruviana sat down and greeted him lightly. Elion sat silently beside her.
Omar’s eyes were covered with black cloth, but his lips were curved into a wide smile.
“Whatever you two did, your current physical conditions are excellent. You felt it too, didn’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“…”
Ruviana nodded with round eyes, while Elion kept a blank expression.
Without further delay, Omar used his crystal sphere to examine their internal magic in greater depth.
Moments later, he raised his voice, practically shouting.
“Yes! It’s certain. Your magic is incredibly stable now. Did you perhaps exchange a large amount of magic yesterday?”
“…Yes.”
Ruviana hesitated a moment before giving a short answer.
“Oho. I thought so. In your case, it seems exchanging an excessive amount of magic—not just a moderate amount—is more beneficial for stabilizing your magic.”
Omar smiled broadly.
“How about continuing whatever method you used yesterday and maintaining this state for several days? I expect your health to improve dramatically.”
“…”
“…”
At his words, the two of them stiffened awkwardly.
Their cheeks and ears flushed red.
Both kept their mouths shut, but their minds were racing.
Ruviana’s red eyes sparkled faintly.
‘Still… the fact that my condition is at its best—this is the best news I’ve heard in my life!’
She remembered Stephanie’s words about meeting a spirit on the day her condition was unusually good.
‘If I maintain this state for several days… maybe my body will fully recover, and then I might be able to meet a spirit and form a contract right away.’
Then she could finally become the true heroine.
She would become a Spirit User, join the Imperial Knights, and stand proudly beside the male lead, Chad.
The original storyline would finally return to its proper path.
‘This time, I’ll really become the heroine!’
Warm and delightful fantasies filled her mind—
—but only for a moment.
‘Ah… but to maintain this state… I’d have to keep sleeping with Elion. We’ve already slept together once, which is unbelievable enough—doing it again and again? I can’t do that. I absolutely can’t. But…!’
Ruviana pressed her hands together tensely and remained silent.
Since neither of them spoke, Omar continued.
“Just a week. Try continuing the method for only that long, then return here in a week. How does that sound?”
Ruviana and Elion swallowed and exchanged uneasy glances.
Sensing the awkward air between them, Omar elaborated.
“I told you from the first time we met—you both have gaps between body and soul, causing magic to leak. As royalty with dragon blood while also awakening as Swordmasters, your magic surged uncontrollably.”
“…”
“You both suffer from symptoms so rare there is no precedent. Therefore, the only advice I could give with confidence was that you must regularly exchange magic.”
Ruviana and Elion quietly nodded.
“And it’s the same now. The only advice I can confidently give is to continue, for the next week, whatever stabilized your bodies this perfectly.”
“…”
“…”
Although Omar spoke with certainty, his patients remained silent as if their mouths were glued shut.
Their troubled eyes wavered.
“Of course, whether you follow my advice is entirely up to you. Please consider it carefully.”
With that, the consultation ended.
