Chapter 27
This happened five minutes ago.
Didier was examining the silver gem Adrian had given him. It was shining even more brightly than before.
Then…
“It’s similar to Erika’s energy.”
Had it grown stronger?
That was why Didier’s eyes had widened in surprise the first time he received the gem. If it had been an ordinary jewel, he wouldn’t have been shocked or even blinked. But this one was extraordinary.
It carried energy almost identical to Erika’s.
So, despite his suspicions about Adrian, Didier had accepted the gem eagerly. He lay on the bed, held it up to the light, and a transparent golden gleam reflected from it.
At the sight, Didier suddenly sat up.
“…Is this a magic stone?”
Yes, it had to be a magic stone.
His eyes sparkled as he slowly poured his own magical energy into it. The gem began to emit a brilliant light. His guess was correct.
Having discovered the answer, Didier grabbed the glowing silver gem and headed for the door to find Adrian.
“…I’ll just ask him where he got it.”
His curiosity about a gem that carried energy so similar to Erika’s drove him. Even though he hated dealing with Adrian, the information was too tempting. Didier bit his lip, then flung the door open with enthusiasm.
One step, two steps.
The moment he fully crossed the threshold…
“…Where am I?”
Didier blinked in confusion. The scene before him had changed. Just moments ago he had been in a room at the Hydra caravan, and now he was somewhere completely different.
‘It wasn’t magical teleportation. Why did I move here…?’
Magical teleportation required coordinates of the destination. There was no mage here, no coordinates, and none of the usual dizziness that came with teleportation. It was truly baffling.
Didier nearly dropped the gem. He clutched it tightly and looked around the unfamiliar room.
A warm room filled with a familiar scent. Decorated with old but beautiful furniture. A room of just the right size that reminded him of someone.
Despite inspecting the place, Didier stood blinking, unable to comprehend the situation.
‘…Did I unconsciously use magic?’
No matter how much he thought, he found no answer.
As he analyzed the situation, his confusion only grew. All he had done was open the door and take a few steps.
Why had he moved somewhere else? There was only one possibility.
Didier looked at the silver gem in his hand. It had been glowing brightly moments ago, but now it was dim. Perhaps injecting it with magical energy had caused this.
But the bigger problem…
“…How do I get back?”
He didn’t even know where he was…
And he couldn’t use magic to return to the Hydra caravan because of Adrian. Unless he could recreate this strange phenomenon, there was no way back.
Didier sadly spread his magical energy to figure out his location and find a way to return. But the more he spread it, the deeper his frown became. There were many people, and he sensed disturbing magical energy similar to Adrian’s.
Didier frowned and sent out even more energy to trace the source of this strange power, thinking it might reveal something about Adrian.
He concentrated so intensely, forgetting he didn’t know where he was, and failed to notice someone at the door.
The door suddenly burst open!
Didier was completely exposed. Startled by the sound, he froze in place.
“…Lady Erika?”
He faced the owner of the room.
* * *
Back to the present moment.
I was still staring in shock at Didier, who was sitting calmly on the bed. He had explained everything that happened, looking at me with concern.
I couldn’t say anything. I understood his feelings, but my heart still hadn’t calmed from the shock.
‘My heart is still pounding…’
How could I not be shocked when Didier—who was supposed to be at the Hydra caravan—suddenly appeared in my room?
I hadn’t shown my surprise outside because of watching eyes, but the moment I entered, how stunned I was!
Didier and I had stared at each other in silence for nearly a minute, then calmed down a little, and he explained everything to me.
I immediately realized who was behind Didier’s transfer.
‘Only Adrian could do something like this.’
There was no doubt Adrian had deliberately given Didier that gem. The Hydra caravan was full of treasures—how could they not have a teleportation magic stone?
‘They even have the rare World Tree sap…’
Didier had fallen right into Adrian’s prank. I clenched my fist tightly, then relaxed it when I saw how anxious Didier looked.
But the situation wasn’t entirely bad. I had been planning to bring Didier here before the regular meeting, but time was tight.
I would have barely found the time to fetch him and had sent a message through the Owls to Adrian. But thanks to Adrian’s joke, Didier had arrived suddenly, and I couldn’t help feeling grateful.
I calmed my shock and reached out to gently pat Didier’s head.
“…Anyway, Didier, were you very surprised?”
“…Yes, Lady Erika. Can I stay here?”
Didier’s face was full of worry, thinking he had caused trouble before I came to get him.
“It’s fine. In fact, I’m grateful. I was going to come get you soon anyway.”
“…Really?”
“Of course. So don’t worry.”
“…I thought I was getting in your way.”
“That’s not true. Don’t worry.”
At my reassurance, Didier relaxed and smiled happily. His red eyes sparkled especially brightly today. I gently touched his cheek, then lowered my hand.
Having Didier by my side was good, but it was also dangerous.
No one must know he was here until the day of the regular meeting.
‘Hiding him in my room might be possible…’
Ril is on guard duty, and Mary comes and goes, but she’ll pretend not to know if I tell her. But there’s one problem.
‘Kendrick might visit my room again.’
Kendrick is skilled at sensing presence and would detect Didier. And there’s no guarantee he’d stay quiet.
So Didier had to be hidden perfectly.
It would be easy if I called Kob to cover him in darkness, but…
‘Calling Kob right now would be a waste…’
At this critical time, while I’m monitoring Father and Beyran’s conversations, I can’t pull Kob away from Father’s office. I bit my lip and spoke.
“…Didier, no one must discover you’re here right now.”
“…Okay.”
“It looks like you’ll have to hide in my room.”
Didier looked at me for a moment, then cautiously took my hand and said,
“I have a way, Lady Erika.”
“What is it?”
“I have a familiar like you do. If I call Ris, I can hide well. Ris is very good at hiding.”
“Really? But you didn’t bring Ris with you.”
Didier had left his little white nightingale friend at the cabin because he was shy and hated crowds.
When he said he would call Ris, I looked at him in surprise.
“Ris and I are connected by magical energy. If I call him, he’ll come to me. And I can hide with him.”
“…How?”
“If I accept Ris, I become small like him… but I’m not sure…”
Didier’s voice gradually weakened. Though he was a mage, his abilities hadn’t fully blossomed yet, so he lacked confidence.
“It’s okay, Didier. If it’s difficult, you don’t have to.”
“…No, I’ll try.”
Didier looked at me with strong determination and nodded firmly. At that moment…
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
“…I wasn’t told about any visitor.”
I had finished today’s entire schedule. If it were Mary, she would have announced herself along with the knock.
‘…So it’s not a scheduled visit.’
Who could it be?
I frowned and looked toward the door. Didier whispered to me.
“…I’ll hide under the bed, Lady Erika.”
I looked at him in surprise.
Then…
“…Didier?”
He had already hidden—or rather, vanished.
