Chapter 41
For a moment, I panicked—wondering if the miraculous light that had healed Rowin and Lin’s plague was activating again.
But seeing Rixion Luhanes so unfazed eased my worries.
As he began chanting in a low voice, the light grew stronger and stronger. Then, without hesitation, Rixion placed his bleeding hand over the back of mine.
I flinched at the cold, sticky sensation of his blood, but obediently stayed still and let him continue.
“I, Rixion Luhanes, swear that for any reason, I shall never harm Elizabeth Christener nor take her life.”
Blood trickled from his palm, soaking my hand and the magic circle beneath it.
The circle’s once white glow gradually shifted into a deep red.
“If I break this oath, I will pay the price with a shattered heart and death.”
The words alone were horrifying, yet he recited them calmly. The circle suddenly radiated intense heat.
Reflexively, I tried to pull my hand away, but Rixion held it gently but firmly in place.
My palm felt like it was burning. I stared down at the magic circle with frightened eyes, swallowing a painful groan.
A snake-like light shot up from the circle, climbing along Rixion’s arm. For the first time, a flicker of pain crossed his expressionless face.
The glowing trail moved up his arm, stopped near the left side of his chest—and then vanished with a sharp pop. The circle on the table and the scorching heat both disappeared instantly.
Stunned, I stared at Rixion… then lowered my gaze to my own palm.
A red mark—shaped exactly like the magic circle—was engraved there. It covered my entire palm, bright and impossible to miss. I made an awkward face, worried how noticeable it was…
But right in front of me, the mark slowly sank into my skin and faded, as if melting away.
“Huh?”
I stupidly muttered and flipped my hand over and back again, checking both sides.
Nothing. Not a single trace. It was so clean it made me wonder if I imagined everything.
“It’s the Seal of Contract. It won’t show normally, so don’t worry.”
I heard a small, amused chuckle. Rixion kindly continued explaining.
“As long as the seal exists, I can never harm Lady Christener. And the seal will never disappear unless I die.”
I opened and closed my hand in silent amazement.
I’d been in this world a while, but this was the first time I’d seen real magic—and the first time I’d met a mage.
So as long as this seal stays intact, I’ll never have to worry about Rixion Luhanes trying to kill me for the rest of my life?
Relieved beyond words, I unknowingly let out a soft sigh and smiled. Then I felt someone’s gaze. I quickly straightened my expression and lifted my head.
As expected, Rixion was quietly observing my reaction.
Feeling awkward, I cleared my throat—then tilted my head.
From what I knew, a blood contract required both sides to draw blood and mix it before exchanging conditions. But now that I thought about it…
Only one person bled.
Only one person set the terms.
Only Rixion.
“Is… is that it? What about me? Don’t I have to do anything?”
“No. I modified Tayera’s magic formula so only I would be bound.”
Rixion answered casually, as if it were nothing important.
“The seal that seeped into your palm only registers you as the contract’s counterpart. Nothing more.”
He was acting like this was perfectly normal, and that only made me more flustered.
“Are you really okay?”
“My hand? This much is nothing.”
He raised his left hand, now wrapped with his handkerchief. Blue fabric was already soaked with red.
Just looking at it made me hurt. And his complexion seemed paler than before.
I frowned deeply.
“No, I mean—yes, that too. But isn’t this contract way too unfair for you?”
“Ah.”
He finally understood what I meant and smiled.
“If this contract keeps Lady Christener from avoiding me, I’d say it’s anything but a loss.”
…Oh no.
So that’s the kind of person he is.
This man has the face of someone who would be way too easy to scam.
This is how people end up co-signing loans and ruining their whole family.
Not that anyone has the guts to steal his money and run, but still!
I stared at him with the same pity a mouse might have for a cat.
“What if I just disappear? What if I break my promise and pretend I don’t know you?”
“Even then, as long as I don’t break the contract terms, I suffer no penalty.”
The calmer he sounded, the worse my guilt became. Being indebted to him like this made me uncomfortable.
“I still feel like I’m the only one benefiting…”
My gaze wandered to his injured hand.
The red stain spreading across the handkerchief was driving me insane.
“I’m sorry. It must hurt.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve gotten a wound. It’s… noticeable.”
He said it as if he were remembering the pain rather than feeling it. I grimaced. He was way too calm.
That was it. I couldn’t stand it anymore—I shot to my feet.
“I’ll call our family doctor.”
“No, there’s no need.”
I tried to run out of the room, but Rixion gently stopped me.
He caught my wrist, guided me back to the sofa, and made me sit down. The sudden touch startled me, and I sat without resisting.
“As I said earlier, the children miss you terribly.”
He hid his injured hand behind the other, probably to stop me from staring at it.
“Please visit the mansion again when you have time.”
“I’ll go.”
I didn’t even wait for him to finish before nodding quickly.
“Invite me anytime. I’ll come.”
Last time, I barely spoke to the kids because I was busy crying like an idiot. I’d been hoping for a chance to redeem myself someday.
If visiting could repay even a fraction of what happened today, that would be ideal.
“Then I should thank you. Every day they ask, ‘When will Lady Christener visit?’ and all I can say is ‘later’. It’s exhausting.”
He pushed himself up using his uninjured hand.
H-huh? Was he leaving already?
I scrambled to stand as well.
“I only came to apologize for yesterday. So I’ll go now.”
He turned toward the door, moving faster than he normally did. Strange—almost like he was in a hurry.
Was something urgent going on?
I anxiously followed. He opened the door and waited for me to step out first.
Feeling awkward, I walked through.
The butler and Melitsa, waiting right outside, bowed deeply. Rixion spared them no glance and just stared at me.
I wondered if he had something else to say—then his hand suddenly reached out.
His long, elegant fingers moved toward me. I startled, but didn’t avoid them.
I guess I really believed he wouldn’t hurt me anymore.
His fingers brushed the hair that had fallen over my cheek and tucked it gently behind my ear, then withdrew.
I assumed my hair had simply been in the way.
“Today, you didn’t slap my hand away.”
He smiled.
Not the practiced, polite smile he always forced, but something genuine—soft, almost happy.
Was he happy I didn’t recoil from him?
I wasn’t sure why that would matter so much to him, but…
Without another word, he turned and left.
Unlike the butler who hurried after him, I stayed behind and watched him disappear down the hall.
After Rixion left, I quickly turned and headed to my room. I flopped onto the bed—sleep nowhere in sight.
I lay face-down, staring out the window, when suddenly my left cheek started to itch.
It was the spot where his fingers had touched.
I scrunched my face and scratched it hard.
Then my right hand—the one with the contract seal—began itching too.
Still lying on the bed, I rolled over and scratched at it furiously.
Staring irritably up at the ceiling, I came to a conclusion:
This is definitely a side effect of Rixion Luhanes’ fancy modified magic formula.
