Chapter 31 – I’m Not a Witch
“A witch…?”
Mio’s mouth rounded in disbelief at his words. It seemed he thought her magic had caused him, a man plagued by insomnia, to finally sleep soundly.
I don’t understand why he’s blaming someone else for something I didn’t even do…
If she could actually use magic, she wouldn’t have had to go through all this trouble.
And on top of that, he called her a witch!
She shivered at the thought of someone overhearing. In the Empire, witches were despised even more than beastmen.
Witches eat children and poison wells… or so the rumor goes. So anyone suspected should be captured and killed on the spot.
She didn’t know when those rumors had started, but people believed them without question. Lately, witches had almost disappeared. Being discovered as a fox beastman was problematic enough—but being accused of being a witch would be even worse.
“Duke, I can’t fly on a broomstick. I don’t hold strange festivals on full-moon nights, either.”
“Then how do you explain what just happened?”
His face was so close that Geoffrey’s sharp nose nearly touched her cheek. For someone interrogating her, his voice was surprisingly gentle, and Mio felt flustered.
Why does he have to be so confusing?
To an outsider, it might even look like they were lovers, embracing and sharing a kiss. His firm hand pressed against Mio’s waist relentlessly, and she gasped under his grip.
“I’m the type who doesn’t notice if someone carries me off while I’m asleep. I really don’t know what happened.”
Mio clenched her lips and lifted her chin, glaring at him with fierce eyes. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks.
I don’t want to cry…
Especially not in front of Geoffrey.
It feels like I’m admitting guilt even though I haven’t done anything wrong.
Mio was completely innocent this time. Yes, the mark had triggered a seizure, but she had locked the door and prepared carefully. It was Geoffrey who had approached her.
“Do you think crying will solve anything?”
He snapped at the tearful Mio with icy words.
This is maddening.
It was like facing an unsolvable mystery—what mysterious power did this woman possess that could make a man with severe insomnia fall asleep? He had to uncover the truth.
Yet seeing Mio cry made him almost furious.
It looks like I’m the one who made her cry.
He remembered how his mother used to secretly hide in corners to cry, afraid he would see her. Those blissful days had been short. The bright, sunny smile of his mother quickly faded into shadows.
Our Geoffrey, the Crown Prince of Caspian…
His mother’s voice, always gentle when holding him, trembled now as it did with Mio. Geoffrey remembered his father as fairly kind in his childhood.
I want to become a great emperor like father!
He had said that before his one-year-younger half-siblings appeared. As Katrina and Ben boldly stepped into the world, his mother withered like a flower whose roots had rotted.
Geoffrey, your weak mother cannot protect you.
Her illness worsened day by day, yet she always worried about his future. She wanted to keep her secrets from him until the very end.
My son, happiness isn’t far away. Sometimes the most ordinary things are the most precious.
She said she would do anything for Geoffrey to have a normal life.
Meet someone who cares for you and live happily.
He didn’t fully understand her words then, but her sincere advice was etched in his heart like a tattoo.
At that moment, thick tears rolled down Mio’s delicate cheeks.
Sob, sob.
Her jaw trembled as she stared at him, tears flowing, her lips bitten so hard they bled slightly.
“Stop crying.”
Finally, Geoffrey released his grip around her waist and firmly grasped her chin. A thin line of blood ran down her lips, vivid against her pale skin.
Startled, he let go and quickly washed his face.
Pathetic… it’s ridiculous to feel such emotions.
A strange mix of emotions swirled between them. Mio wiped her blood with her hand, and Geoffrey spoke again.
“You may not be a witch, but I still find this suspicious.”
Otherwise, his severe insomnia could not have been cured so easily.
“Don’t forget that I’m always watching.”
Having said his piece, Geoffrey stepped back. Freed suddenly, Mio swayed like a leaf in the wind.
What a restless dream, and now all this on top of it…
Her waist, still tingling from his grip, she rubbed with her hands.
Unbelievable. Threatening someone so boldly in broad daylight… amazing.
He had even brought her all the way to the pond.
Mio bent her head and muttered endless curses at him.
You terrible man! I’ll make you cry in front of me one day!
At that moment, Geoffrey pulled out a piece of paper from his coat and handed it to her.
“What’s this?”
Her voice, sharp and displeased, escaped her lips.
Even if this paper is a land deed, I doubt it’ll make me feel any better.
Mio read it carefully.
“…A certificate of nobility?”
Her expression changed instantly. Her name was elegantly written on an expensive-looking paper.
“From the Duchy of Urceka, Mio Lagopus Urceka.”
The long, unfamiliar name sent shivers down her spine. Where was the Duchy of Urceka?
Blinking, she looked at Geoffrey, who replied casually:
“The hunting tournament is only for nobles.”
“Oh… I see.”
Her face flushed a deep red, like freshly squeezed pomegranate juice.
Did Geoffrey really make this for me?
Creating official noble documents was possible but quite difficult.
Even if he pretends otherwise, he’s seriously smitten with me.
Having misread too many signs in the past, she decided to stay cautious this time.
“This wasn’t necessary.”
She wanted to be by Geoffrey’s side instead of the annoying Lavinia…
When she hesitated, Geoffrey spoke coldly:
“You’re mistaken. This isn’t because of your request.”
Slightly offended, he turned his back. Straightening his crumpled collar, he ignored Mio, who chuckled quietly behind him.
I wanted to question him about last night…
But seeing her tears made it hard to interrogate him further.
I just claimed I don’t remember everything.
She had avoided giving concrete answers about her actions.
“Duke! Where is the Duchy of Urceka? I haven’t traveled much, so I don’t know where it is.”
The sorrowful woman from before had vanished. Fluttering like a butterfly, Mio’s voice tickled Geoffrey’s ear.
“Does that mean I’m a noble too?”
“Really annoying.”
Geoffrey waved his hand as if swatting a fly near his ear, a crooked smirk tugging at his lips.
Crash! Bang!
A loud noise echoed down the hallway, and Mio hurried to the kitchen. The chef, holding a frying pan, looked pale with fear.
“I will catch it no matter what!”
“What’s the matter?”
Despite his intimidating build, the chef had a warm heart. He often made snacks for Mio when she seemed too thin.
“Well, a little rat has entered my precious kitchen!”
Mio expressed sympathy as he complained about missing ingredients and dishes over the past few days.
“I’ll grab it by the tail and throw it straight into the stove.”
His eyes blazed as he stared at the roaring fire.
“The kitchen’s a mess.”
Frustrated, he rummaged around, sending potatoes and carrots rolling across the floor. Mio picked up a potato and noticed a pair of yellow eyes glinting between glass jars.
With that bushy tail, it must be a squirrel. If Kay catches it, there’ll be trouble…
To Kay, a rat and a squirrel were probably the same.
Yet Mio felt sorry for the small creature. Though it had made a mess, it was probably just hungry.
She focused and tried to communicate with the squirrel.
You need to leave here immediately, or you’ll be in trouble.
The little ears twitched behind the jars. Convinced the squirrel understood her, Mio continued:
“The strange noises seem to be coming from that flour sack over there.”
Pointing to a distant spot, the chef charged like a bull. Mio quickly opened the window.
Now! Hurry!
She signaled the squirrel, which scurried down and headed for the open window. But it was too small to climb up.
Ride on me.
Mio turned her back to the window. The squirrel quickly climbed up her dress.
“Miss, there’s nothing here.”
Kay, still swinging the frying pan, looked disappointed.
“Is that so?”
“Why are you holding a potato?”
Kay was puzzled seeing her clutching one in each hand.
“Ah, it looked delicious.”
His expression brightened, and he set down the pot.
“Then today, we’ll prepare steak with mashed potatoes.”
“That sounds amazing!”
Perhaps forgetting about the squirrel, Kay busied himself with cooking.
Mio turned slightly and saw the squirrel’s bushy tail as it climbed the tree.
…Thank goodness.
Both the chef and the squirrel were satisfied.
Maybe I’m not entirely useless after all.
Leaning on the window sill, Mio tilted her chin into the gentle afternoon breeze. It was sweet, soft, and ordinary—a perfectly peaceful day.
