Chapter 81
“I don’t recall ever asking about such preferences.”
“Even that coldness suits my taste. You did end up making me kneel, after all.”
“…Are we really that close?”
“Of course we are. You said you’d treat me.”
For some reason,
I could almost see the words he swallowed in his eyes.
Right.
You wouldn’t know the reason.
I let out a quiet sigh and spoke.
“…Are you curious why I’m helping you?”
“It’d be a lie to say I’m not. If I ask, will you tell me? I thought it was a secret.”
“It’s not really a secret.”
Because the reason was truly simple.
That he was a hero who would save countless people.
“I just… want to help because I want to believe you’re a good person.”
“…Not that you know I am, but that you want to know?”
Sharrit tilted his head slightly. I looked down at his face calmly and nodded.
“Yes. If you don’t keep living, there is no future to know.”
I slowly took his hand.
“The future of the person I save could be one where you kill many people—or save many. I’m simply betting on the possibility that you’ll save people, Sharrit.”
“……”
“So I’ll treat you. If this completely selfish expectation feels burdensome, pull your hand away now.”
I waited several seconds, but Sharrit didn’t withdraw his hand. Instead, his lukewarm warmth crept up as he pressed his lips—not to the back of my hand, but to my palm.
“Not at all.”
“…Then.”
My palm tingled. I closed my eyes.
I needed to focus. The mana extending from my hand began reorganizing the inside of his body.
In this life, it was only my second attempt—but considering all the times I’d treated him in my previous life, it was just one of countless experiences. It felt familiar.
Sharrit must have realized long ago that I was the only one who could treat him like this.
He must have gone around seeing all kinds of healers and mages during the time he didn’t come to me.
In this world, I know his illness better than anyone.
“……”
How long had I been concentrating?
Sharrit’s treatment was nearing its end.
As I was releasing mana at full capacity, my senses sharpened—
And I felt someone approaching.
‘…Huh?’
Like many others in the salon, it wasn’t just someone passing by the curtains.
These were footsteps headed decisively toward the open terrace. Who?
With no choice, I scraped together every last bit of mana—existent or not—and layered it thickly over Sharrit’s mana scars.
“…Hah.”
It wasn’t a perfectly orthodox treatment, but as long as it didn’t worsen, he’d recover naturally. Pushing myself too far, a warm taste of blood filled my mouth.
“Sharrit.”
I called his name softly and brushed his cheek. He slowly opened his eyes.
“Just now… something inside my body…”
I immediately lowered my hand, gripping his shoulder firmly.
“The treatment is almost complete.”
“…What?”
“If you don’t overexert yourself for a while, the rest will heal naturally.”
“How on earth… so quickly…”
“More importantly—would you be fine if you jumped down from here?”
“…Pardon? Probably…”
“Then hurry and go.”
Tap—
I pushed his shoulder.
Only then did Sharrit seem to notice the presence as well. He frowned slightly, then without complaint swung himself over the terrace railing.
After hesitating for just a moment, he left me with a brief remark.
“I’ll repay this debt soon.”
“No need.”
And then he disappeared over the railing. I didn’t even hear the sound of his landing.
Left alone, I quickly turned to the thick tree branch hooked over the terrace railing. The moment I poured all my strength into my grip and snapped it—
Shrrk.
The sound of heavy curtains being drawn open echoed.
An elderly woman with sharply cut black hair and piercing blue eyes straightened her posture and surveyed the terrace.
Though her gaze clearly passed over me, it didn’t stop until she’d thoroughly scanned the entire terrace.
‘…The Duchess of Agnes.’
I put on a flustered expression and slowly bowed.
“My respects, Duchess.”
The Duchess of Agnes acknowledged me with a slight nod.
“Just now, here…”
Once again, her sharp gaze swept past me and across the terrace. It was piercing.
“I sensed a considerable amount of mana. Was that you?”
“…Yes. It was.”
I thought she wouldn’t come up the stairs until the performance began. Why was she here already?
“I heard Lady Giselle caused a disturbance, so I came up to see.”
“……”
So that’s why. I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment.
Her gaze, filled with interest, slowly traced me from head to toe.
“What made you use that much mana?”
“…A bird flew off and broke a tree branch, so I tried to fix it.”
“You can use regenerative magic?”
“I’m not yet proficient. I believe I failed to control my mana properly.”
I stepped back slightly so she could see the branch I’d snapped and instantly restored with regeneration magic.
As the Duchess narrowed her eyes at the branch, she strode closer.
The Duchess of Agnes was no longer a mage. Her aged body could no longer wield magic.
Yes—no longer.
Before time had worn down her body, she had been one of the most powerful mana wielders of her era. Now, she served as an honorary professor of magic at the Academy.
There was a reason so many students chose her salon as a substitute for a debutante ball—and why Camilla selected this salon for my debut among countless others.
It was hosted by a former professor and current honorary professor.
Both the justification and the backing were solid.
Though the Duchess could now barely sense strong mana, her theoretical knowledge still surpassed that of any active professor.
I myself had studied under her several times.
“……”
She extended her hand.
As I slowly placed mine atop hers, the Duchess gripped my wrist with strength unbelievable for her age and grinned.
“Pleased to meet you. You must be this generation’s Academy genius.”
…Ah. I really didn’t want to stand out.
With no choice, I returned a faint smile and accepted her handshake politely.
“…You flatter me.”
“Don’t you hear the word ‘genius’ often?”
“I do, yes.”
“Then it’s not incorrect.”
Despite how firmly she’d held on, she released my hand surprisingly quickly. Her wrinkled yet sharp eyes gestured toward the hall.
“You should head back down. Your partner has been looking for you.”
“…Ah.”
It seemed even the Duchess had heard that Ethan escorted me. I bowed to her once more.
“Thank you. I should have greeted you earlier…”
“It’s fine. I got to witness the rare sight of a first-year Academy student using regeneration magic. In my day, that would’ve been unthinkable.”
“……”
“Haha.”
…Is that sarcasm or praise?
It’s still hard to tell what elderly people mean.
Even though I’ve lived long enough myself.
Perhaps it’s because the flow of time I experienced was different.
I looked quietly at the Duchess. Indeed—far harder to read than a child like Giselle.
‘…Does she dislike me?’
Before I could fully grasp her intentions, the instruments began tuning, signaling the start of the first piece. Light, playful melodies tickled my ears.
I really should head down. If what the Duchess said was true, Ethan would be waiting.
“…Thank you for your consideration. Then.”
I bowed deeply and drew the terrace curtains closed, returning inside the castle.
I had to descend the stairs alone.
Grabbing the smooth hem of my dress, I hurried my steps—
Toward where Ethan would be waiting.
***
Finding Ethan in the hall wasn’t difficult.
Among the crowd, he stood out the most.
Seeing that not a single strand of his hair was out of place, he must have followed my request perfectly.
Unlike him, I’d rushed down the stairs and needed a moment just to catch my breath.
Ethan took my hand and gave me ample time to breathe. I felt a bit guilty.
“Feeling better now?”
“Hah… yes. I’m ready.”
I straightened up and faced him.
Right on cue, the first piece began—a lively waltz.
Only then did it occur to me.
I’d never danced with him before.
But without much hesitation, I placed my hand atop the one he offered.
‘As if Ethan would be bad at dancing.’
I might be—but—
