Chapter 18
“Come to think of it, we never considered that.”
“That’s true. It’s a little late, but we should still express our gratitude properly, shouldn’t we?”
“How about inviting His Grace to dinner, according to his schedule?”
“That’s a good idea. We should send the invitation right away.”
As the countess was about to rise from her seat, Rubiana quickly raised her voice.
“No, please! There’s no need to go that far. I already gave him my thanks properly today.”
“But Rubiana, your gratitude and ours are completely different things.”
“That’s right. It’s important that you, the person directly involved, gave your thanks, but it’s equally important for us, as your parents, to personally express ours. He saved your life, after all.”
“But still…”
Unable to find the right words, Rubiana’s lips parted and closed soundlessly.
Inviting Elion into her home while keeping their true relationship secret from her family was too dangerous.
She knew well that when she was flustered, her thoughts became tangled and messy.
If she slipped up even once, their secret could be exposed.
And if their relationship came to light, she would also be forced to reveal the truth about her fragile health.
That absolutely cannot happen…
Rubiana racked her brain for one last attempt.
“His Grace is an incredibly busy man. With all the monster outbreaks in the capital lately, he seemed completely overwhelmed. So…”
“So, we should invite him to dinner according to his schedule, shouldn’t we?”
“No matter how busy he is, he must eat every day.”
Ah… her persuasion wasn’t working at all.
It seemed impossible to stop her parents any further.
“Then, I’ll go write the invitation at once.”
“I’ll do it instead.”
Rubiana quickly spoke to Virginia, who was about to rise.
“Will you?”
“Yes, Mother.”
Rubiana nodded with a bright smile.
Rubiana stared intently at the communication bracelet on her wrist.
It had already been thirty minutes.
“What should I even say?”
She sighed heavily.
Glancing at the clock on the wall, she saw it was close to midnight.
She couldn’t let it get too late.
She had to call Elion before he fell asleep.
“Ahhh…”
She collapsed face-first onto the table with a groan.
Her cheeks burned as the memory of what had happened at the ducal residence a few hours ago rushed back.
Never in her current life—or even her past one—had she experienced a kiss that deep.
At first, she had been startled, but only for a moment.
Soon after, she lost all reason and clung to Elion, desperately begging for more of his mana.
At some point, it felt as if the boundaries between their bodies had blurred.
As though their two beings were connected as one.
All of her senses narrowed down to her lips. She could no longer tell where she was or what she was doing.
Only their entwined mouths and shared breaths mattered.
Only the electrifying flow of mana surging through her mattered.
The sensation was burned vividly into her body, as though engraved.
“Ahhh… What do I do?!”
Just then—
Knock, knock, knock.
“My lady, it’s Sophie.”
Rubiana quickly straightened herself up.
“Come in.”
“Forgive me for disturbing you at this hour. A letter arrived this evening, but I completely forgot to deliver it. I’m so sorry, my lady.”
“It’s fine. Thank you.”
Taking the letter, Rubiana checked the name of the sender.
Chad Preston.
Oh my goodness! A letter from Chad!
Her face lit up instantly.
“Rest well, my lady.”
“Good night, Sophie.”
Once she was alone, Rubiana eagerly opened the envelope.
Her heart fluttered wildly in excitement at receiving a letter from the male lead.
“How can even his handwriting look so charming?”
She admired the neat script with a tender smile.
The letter wasn’t long.
To my dear childhood friend Rubiana,
Rubiana, how have you been?
It’s me, Chad.
When we were young, we often exchanged letters like this, but as adults we’ve hardly kept in touch.
How is your health?
I was so shocked when you collapsed at the imperial banquet.
I wanted to send you a letter sooner out of worry, but it ended up being delayed like this.
If you’re feeling up to it, may I come visit? To see you, check on your condition, and catch up on the conversations we’ve missed?
When would be a good time?
Work in the Imperial Knights keeps me busy, but if you let me know a date and time, I’ll arrange it.
I miss you.
I’ll be waiting for your reply.
With long-standing friendship,
—Chad.
Rubiana read the letter again and again, savoring each word.
She gripped the stationery so tightly that her hands grew damp with sweat.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
“Oh my goodness, he… he says he misses me! Chad misses me! Ahhh…!”
She hugged the letter tightly to her chest.
She had thought there’d be no chance to get close to Chad until she became a spiritist and entered the Imperial Knights—but she was wrong.
She had thought she couldn’t become the heroine of a romance fantasy until her health was completely restored—but she was wrong.
Even if I’m still frail and not a spiritist yet… I can still get closer to Chad. I can still start a romance with him. I can still become the heroine!
Overwhelmed with joy, she danced on her toes.
“Wait.”
Ah—right.
There was something she had to take care of first.
She had to invite Elion to dinner.
Setting the letter down, Rubiana raised her wrist with the communication bracelet.
Gazing at the violet stone, she murmured to herself with determination:
“There’s no reason to feel shy. No need to be embarrassed. That wasn’t a kiss—it was just… just an exchange of mana. Nothing more than treatment.”
Yes, treatment. Nothing more, nothing less.
Resolving herself, Rubiana tapped the crystal.
Elion had gone to bed an hour ago, but sleep wouldn’t come.
Instead, he poured himself whiskey and stepped out onto the balcony.
The cool night air brushed against his forehead.
But neither the whiskey nor the air could clear his mind.
The memory of his fierce kiss with Rubiana continued to torment him.
Normally, when plagued by restless thoughts, he found relief in physical training.
But tonight, he didn’t want to.
He didn’t want to waste any more mana.
Drawing too deeply on his power only worsened its instability.
I cannot afford to make that mistake again.
With a heavy sigh, Elion recalled the kiss they had shared hours earlier.
Once had been more than enough.
Even if it was simply an exchange of mana, it had still been an intimate act between a man and a woman.
He needed to be careful.
He had to rebuild the walls of reason and suppress his primal urges.
He must not covet.
He must restrain himself.
But in an instant, all of that had crumbled. He had cornered her like a beast blinded by greed.
Even telling himself it was natural to lose control the first time didn’t ease his self-loathing.
He still felt like pathetic trash, unworthy of his title as a knight.
“Haa…”
He exhaled a bitter sigh and downed his whiskey, praying for the liquor to rescue him.
But no such luck.
The violet crystal began to glow.
The communication stone he shared with Rubiana.
At this hour… why?
For a moment, he wanted to ignore it.
He was already tormented enough by insomnia—if he spoke with her now, he’d surely spend the entire night wide awake.
How weak I’ve become…
Elion shook his head in self-reproach.
But she was someone he would have to endure and coexist with from now on.
Not someone he could simply avoid.
Taking a deep breath, Elion tapped the crystal.
“Lady Payson?”
— Your Grace, you’re still awake. I’m relieved. I was worried you might already be asleep.
“So, what is it?”
— Ah, um… My parents would like to invite you to dinner. They wish to thank you for saving me.
Dinner? There was no need to think twice.
Elion answered immediately.
“I only did what was necessary. Tell them there’s no need.”
— … I already said that, but they won’t listen.
“As you know, the capital is under emergency. I’m busy.”
— But still…
Her hesitant, faltering tone made it clear how troubled she was.
But I cannot afford to be seen growing close with a noble family of the capital…
Elion’s blue eyes turned cold.
The courtroom became tense once again.
The presiding judge leaned forward, his voice low but firm.
“Ser Haldric, Priestess Elendria… your testimonies will be weighed with utmost seriousness. What you say here may change the course of this tribunal.”
Haldric placed a hand over his chest, as though swearing an oath.
“I do not speak from rumor, nor from hearsay. I speak only from what I have seen with my own eyes. On that night of the Sea Moon Humiliation, treachery was committed against our people.”
The nobles stirred uneasily, their whispers filling the chamber.
Elendria stepped forward, her silver hair glimmering faintly in the torchlight.
“The gods bore witness as well. I was there when the sacred vows were broken. When the betrayal struck, I felt the divine blessing shatter within me.”
Her words struck the nobles harder than any sword. For a priestess of Varthas to declare such a thing was no trivial matter.
The presiding judge turned toward Arwen.
“Lady Arwen, are you the one who summoned these witnesses?”
“Yes,” she answered without hesitation. “The truth must be heard, even if it cuts deep.”
The chamber fell silent again. The weight of the revelations pressed upon all present.
Then, from among the nobles, one rose to his feet. His voice rang with indignation.
“This is outrageous! Are we to believe the words of two scattered survivors? And a woman who abandoned the priesthood long ago? Where is the proof beyond mere testimony?”
Haldric’s scarred face hardened.
“Proof? The scars upon my body are proof enough! The blood of my comrades spilled that night is proof! Must we dig up their corpses for you to believe?”
His voice thundered across the hall, silencing even the most skeptical.
Elendria’s eyes narrowed as she raised her hand. A faint light shimmered at her fingertips—divine power, untainted and pure.
“The gods themselves bear witness through me. Though I turned away from the temple, the divine has never turned from me. Do you doubt even this light?”
The noble who had spoken paled and sat back down, his lips pressed tightly shut.
The presiding judge finally struck the gavel.
“Enough. The tribunal shall weigh this testimony alongside the scrolls. Until then, none shall dismiss the words spoken here.”
Arwen exhaled quietly, but her gaze remained sharp.
The tide was shifting—but the true storm had only begun.
