Chapter 10
Meia politely said to the black-haired man.
“I’m sorry. He’s a child who protects me. Whenever a stranger approaches me, he becomes extremely sensitive. I would appreciate it if you could understand.”
“It’s fine.”
The man, who did not even blink or dodge Ju-an’s fast sword and instead looked down at Ju-an as if he had already expected it, made Meia feel that he was not an ordinary person.
The man, unaware of Meia’s thoughts, smiled and began introducing himself.
“I apologize. I am Theodore of House Florence from the Sirius Empire, Mage-nim.”
House Florence was the surname of one of the ducal families in the Sirius Empire.
For some reason, Meia had thought he must be of high status from the way he casually spoke without showing respect even to a viscount—Marhaba or Marava—and now it turned out he was of an even higher rank than she had expected.
“It seems by your expression that you already know who I am.”
“Is there anyone who wouldn’t know the name Florence of the Sirius Empire?”
“Then I will speak plainly.”
The corners of his mouth lifted into a sly smile.
Meia watched him, curious about what he was about to say.
“I would like you to come with me.”
Her heart dropped with a thud.
“I want you.”
Meia felt her pupils shake. As she quietly exhaled to steady herself and tried to understand the meaning behind his words, the man smiled again and said,
“I would like you to come with me to the Grand Ducal House of Florence.”
Meia blinked and stared at Theodore without answering.
A brief silence passed. Theodore smiled brightly, waiting for a response, but Meia could not answer.
A man she had just met had confessed to her. It was a shockingly sudden confession.
Moreover, he was not just any man, but someone from the Sirius Grand Duchy! She had to carefully refuse.
Had there ever been a moment in her life this awkward? Absolutely not.
As Meia smiled and tried to think of how to refuse, Theodore cautiously spoke.
“Perhaps… are you already contracted to another place?”
‘What contract is he talking about?’
“If you are already under contract, we will pay a large penalty fee to the other party and meet all the conditions you desire, Mage-nim.”
The man named Theodore continued speaking words different from what she had expected. He was not confessing—he was making a scouting offer as a mage.
She barely suppressed a dry laugh. And relieved that it was not a confession, she said brightly to him,
“I refuse.”
Seeing his disappointed expression, Meia stood up.
As soon as Meia stepped outside, Theodore also followed her out.
Even though she deliberately wandered through alley after alley, he persistently followed her.
At first, she thought their destinations were the same, but seeing him follow like this, it was clear he was doing it intentionally.
“Please stop following me.”
Meia said to Theodore, who was trailing behind her.
“I’ve been caught.”
“What is there to be caught about when you’re following so blatantly?”
“I was keeping a reasonable distance while tracking you.”
Theodore smiled brightly.
At that smile, Meia thought he was handsome.
About 190 cm tall, perhaps?
“Could you stop smiling and dodging the question?”
“I was worried you might run into something unpleasant like before, so I followed you.”
“Even if something dangerous happens to me, I am capable of protecting myself, so you don’t need to follow me.”
At Meia’s composed words, Theodore’s eyes began darting around.
“The reason I followed you is because I thought I might not see you again. I apologize if I made you uncomfortable.”
Meia did not take his answer badly.
He could have simply said they were going the same way, but Theodore had been honest.
She did not dislike honest people.
“Mage-nim, are you staying at the hotel above the restaurant you were eating in?”
She hesitated. Should she say it? Or not?
Theodore was not as rude as that Viscount Marhaba she had blown away earlier, but she still had to be careful—very careful.
“Answer not available.”
The moment she avoided answering, he shouted,
“I am staying there.”
“I see.”
“If possible, I would be grateful if you could have tea with me sometime.”
Meia glanced at Theodore, who was flushed red and speaking with all his strength.
“If we happen to meet by chance, then I will tell you my name and have a cup of coffee then.”
At her words, Theodore looked very disappointed.
“Then I’ll be going.”
A few hours earlier.
Theodore had just arrived at Elrn Harbor and immediately felt hungry.
“I’m hungry, Aton.”
Theodore said, looking down at Aton, who was slightly shorter than him.
“Since there is a hotel right in front of us, shall we eat at that restaurant?”
“Let’s do that. Teleport usage?”
“You may use it immediately.”
“Then we’ll move after eating.”
Aton nodded.
Entering the restaurant, Theodore was satisfied with the interior that looked as good as the hotel exterior and the kindness of the staff. His seat was by the window, offering a beautiful view of the sea, and the seafood dishes were excellent.
“I want to recruit the chef here to the Grand Ducal House.”
He smiled unconsciously at the sweet juices of meat and lobster.
Then he stopped eating as murmurs from the surrounding people caught his attention.
‘What is it?’
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the entrance. He also looked toward where their gazes were directed.
A stunning silver-haired woman with blue eyes was walking in, guided by the manager.
Her elegant gesture as she lightly held the hem of her flowing dress made her look like a noble young lady.
Her grace was so refined it was impossible to look away. She was overwhelmingly beautiful.
Looking around, men and women of all ages were staring blankly at the silver-haired beauty.
It would normally be burdensome to be the center of attention of the entire restaurant, but she remained completely calm.
Rather, she seemed used to such gazes.
He turned his eyes away from the silver-haired beauty seated not far from him and resumed cutting his food, taking bites.
But his gaze kept drifting back to her.
‘Because she’s sitting in front of me…’
The silver hair swaying in front of him shimmered under the light like starlight cascading like a waterfall.
Unconsciously, Theodore kept glancing at her.
He had clearly been satisfied with his meal, but at some point, he could no longer taste the food as his attention was fully drawn to the silver-haired lady in front of him.
That was when it happened.
“A pretty young lady.”
A drunken nobleman approached the silver-haired beauty and began speaking to her. The irritation in her voice at having her meal interrupted was evident.
‘Even that is a noble? Tsk tsk.’
Theodore couldn’t help but intervene.
“Is it common for Zentas nobles to harass a lady who has clearly said no?”
At his voice, the silver-haired woman turned her head.
Their blue eyes met.
His heart suddenly dropped with a thud.
‘What is this?’
He felt embarrassed to maintain eye contact with her. His fallen heart returned to place, only to drop again with another thud.
Unable to control his pounding heart, Theodore looked away and instead addressed the Zentas noble.
Then something incredible happened.
The Zentas noble was suddenly blown away as if by wind and collapsed at the entrance.
‘Magic?’
“Mage?”
A mage—here?
His heart, which had been pounding earlier, began beating wildly again.
Then a clear, melodious voice reached him.
“Thank you for stepping in like a righteous knight.”
His gaze naturally drifted to her soft, cherry-like lips as she spoke elegantly.
Her voice was also very beautiful.
A strange feeling of embarrassment crawled over his entire body.
Without thinking, he blurted out,
“Are you a mage?”
“Yes, as you can see.”
When their eyes met again, his left chest thudded strangely.
“Then…”
The moment she turned her back to him, he felt an overwhelming urge to stop her and gathered his courage to approach.
At that same moment, a terrifying killing intent washed over him.
A shadow emerged from behind her and placed a blade against his neck. Theodore stopped moving toward Meia.
“Juwan, put the knife down. He is the one who helped me.”
Juwan immediately lowered the blade but continued to glare at Theodore with murderous intent.
“I’m sorry. He is a child who protects me. He becomes very sensitive whenever a stranger approaches me. I appreciate your understanding.”
“It’s fine.”
She apologized on behalf of her subordinate.
Even that seemed responsible and gentle.
“I am Theodore of House Florence from the Sirius Empire, Mage-nim.”
After hearing his name, her expression turned slightly strange.
As if drawing a line.
Still, Theodore kept smiling brightly to leave a good impression.
But she left without even telling her name.
‘She didn’t even pay for her food…’
That meant she was a guest staying at this hotel.
The corner of Theodore’s lips twitched upward.
Even if he knew where she was staying, there was no telling when she might leave the hotel.
So, in haste, he followed her. He was rejected. He asked to have tea—rejected again.
She had said that if they met again, she would have tea and even tell him her name.
His heart beat irregularly.
Aton, who had belatedly paid for the restaurant meal and chased after him, found Theodore and called out anxiously.
“Your Grace the Grand Duke!”
Aton approached Theodore.
“Aton, I want to stay here for a few days.”
Aton, who had seen Theodore approaching and following the beautiful woman, asked with suspicion,
“Did you perhaps fall in love at first sight with that woman?”
At those words, Theodore’s cheeks turned as red as a ripe plum.
“No. She just happens to be a mage. I want to recruit her to the Grand Ducal House.”
“I don’t think that’s true. Your face is red right now, Your Grace.”
“Find me a room here, Aton.”
“We must return to the Grand Duchy quickly! We already have enough trouble with the pirates…”
Aton’s desperate plea did not reach Theodore.
Right now, he only wanted to know the name of that silver-haired woman who had left such a strong impression on him.
So he decided he had to meet her again—by chance, if necessary.
