Episode 35
Even though Melody had changed their first meeting, the main story was likely still on track.
“Minor things probably shifted the moment I started knowing the future.”
She had hoped to stop the future where Deonis, heartbroken by unfulfilled love, started a rebellion…
But that wasn’t something she could fix on her own.
“He’ll fall in love with her… won’t he?”
She pictured the two of them together. It was a future she already knew, but still—her mind felt cloudy, as if something was stuck.
“It’s just because if he doesn’t fall in love… I’ll die. That’s all.”
So what she needed to do now was clear: finish the magic-nullifying device as soon as possible.
“Haaah…”
A light sigh slipped from her lips.
Anna, who had been flipping through a spellbook beside her, suddenly stopped and quietly closed the book.
“Is something not working?”
“Yeah. I can’t find the answer. What about you? How’s the magic formula book?”
“It’s… okay. But the rest is a problem for tomorrow’s Anna.”
“You don’t have to save it—there are plenty more books to read. Here’s one proving sacred power can spread in waves—”
“Tomorrow’s Anna will want to hear that too,” Anna said, hugging her book.
“Instead of that, can you tell me a love story?”
“Love?”
“You and the Duke… you’re in love now, right?”
Melody froze.
“What? No. Why do you think that?”
“You hugged him that night.”
“I was helping him walk.”
“I didn’t hear much, but it looked like the Duke and Crown Prince fought over you.”
“It was just a contract negotiation!”
“And you see the Duke every day.”
“That’s for magic tool work.”
Melody’s firm answers made Anna’s bright eyes dim.
“That can’t be… I really thought you were going to become the Duchess and I’d be your lady-in-waiting…”
Melody gently patted Anna’s back.
“If I ever meet the future Duchess, I’ll make sure to recommend you.”
Anna clutched her book to her chest and sighed.
“Would someone really fall in love with the Duke? He’s the most handsome man in the Empire, sure, but he’s cold and has a bad temper—everyone in the capital says so.”
“Then why did you think I’d fall in love with him?”
“Because you love good-looking faces. Just like me!”
“Well… that’s true.”
Melody couldn’t deny it. She always melted a little when she saw Deonis’s face.
“You’re not falling for the Crown Prince instead, are you?”
Melody’s instantly scrunched-up face made Anna nod confidently.
“Good. But the maids are saying worse things now. They think you betrayed the Duke and chose the Crown Prince. No one listens to me. Maybe you should explain it?”
“I don’t care.”
Melody shrugged.
“A magic tool maker proves herself with skill, not gossip.”
“I don’t think that’s what they’re worried about…”
With her curiosity satisfied, Anna returned to her sewing kit and started picking thread.
Melody turned back to the unsolved puzzle on her desk. Among the dust and crushed stones, one gem remained.
She picked it up carefully. A blue gem—Celestine.
This one hadn’t been on Rohan’s list.
“Awhin must’ve given it to me.”
It was the only gem able to hold pure sacred energy while also withstanding the magic inside the core.
The temple had once sold it as a portable healing charm, but it was no longer available.
To get more, she’d have to go to the temple.
Melody hesitated… then picked up a pen.
[I’d like to see you. Would it be alright if I visited the temple? – Melody]
She tied the letter to the bird’s leg and sent it flying. Not even half a day passed before the white bird returned to her window.
[You’re welcome anytime. – Awhin]
The moment she read the letter, Melody jumped up.
“I have to go. I can’t wait until tomorrow.”
“Going to the Duke’s room?”
“No, the temple.”
Anna’s eyes widened as she pointed out the window.
“The sun’s about to set!”
“Wanna come with me?”
“Of course!”
Anna stood up as if she’d been waiting for that.
“I hope I can return before Deonis wakes up.”
As they left the mansion, Melody glanced up at his room. The curtains were still drawn tight. The room remained wrapped in shadow.
A massive building made of pure white stone shone dazzlingly under the sunlight.
Colorful stained-glass windows sparkled as the light passed through, and statues of the goddess stood atop endless rows of pillars.
“This is my first time at the Grand Temple,” Anna said, eyes wide in awe. “It’s even bigger than I imagined!”
Melody smiled at her excited expression.
“Be careful not to wander. The way to the prayer room is straightforward, but everything past that is like a maze.”
Anna nodded quickly and walked closer to Melody’s side. As they moved down the long hallway, Melody explained what they saw.
“If you go that way, there’s a garden. It has the largest fountain in the capital and fields full of herbs.”
“Then why are we going underground?” Anna asked curiously.
“It’s a shortcut,” Melody replied.
The two of them passed through the prayer room where visitors gathered, then headed to a hidden staircase at the end of the corridor. The lanterns on the walls lit their path, but the underground still had that damp, musty smell.
At the bottom of the stairs, a wide underground space opened up before them.
Melody led them toward a corner area — the magic tool production department.
Even though night had fallen, the place was still buzzing with activity.
Materials for magic tools were scattered across the worktables, and the workers were deeply focused, carving spell formulas into their tools.
“This is where I used to work.”
“Wow… it’s full of people like you, Miss Melody. Oh! That ugly outfit! I thought it was just your taste, but it turns out all magic tool makers wear them?!”
Anna froze, realizing what she had just said.
“I mean—! I didn’t mean your outfit was ugly! It just looks really… practical… like it’s made from leftover leather. You know, kind of… cool in its own way?”
Her voice got smaller with every word.
“It looks sturdy… very functional…”
“I know. It’s weird,” Melody replied calmly.
Anna blinked in surprise and looked at her.
“You… wear it even though you know it looks strange? I thought it was your style!”
“Your dress is pretty. It suits you well. My sense of style is perfectly fine.”
“Oh…”
“But with clothes, performance matters more than looks. This outfit’s made from goblin leather — it doesn’t burn easily. The lining is made with Trier shell, so it doesn’t scratch. Even a gargoyle’s claw wouldn’t leave a mark. You could run it through fire and it’d still look brand new.”
“…Was there really no way to make it functional and pretty?”
Anna frowned and tugged at Melody’s clothes to get a better look.
“There’s no need to touch mine. You’ll be wearing one soon anyway.”
“Me?! This thing?! Why?!”
“We’re going to meet someone. This outfit will get us there faster.”
To meet Awhin — the captain of the Holy Knights — there were usually several procedures.
You had to book an appointment, get temple approval, then obtain a visitor’s pass just to reach the knights’ building.
But if they pretended to be magic tool workers, they could skip all that.
Melody headed over to the supply shelf and pulled out an extra work outfit.
“By the way, the person we’re going to meet is very handsome. Like… Duke-level handsome.”
Before Melody had even finished her sentence, Anna had snatched the clothes.
“I’ll change right away! Please wait here!”
