~Chapter 41~
Relshiz Baltain, the Chief Mage of the Royal Magic Department, was known throughout the kingdom as a former orphan who had grown up with the support of the Willovis family.
“If she showed up with a kid… could it be she and that guy…?”
“Weren’t they known to not get along?”
“Well, you never know with people. But let’s not jump to conclusions—that would be rude.”
Nasha glanced at Felix’s face to check his expression.
“Anyway, Captain, I think it’s time you stop picking on Lady Relshiz. Just imagine how bad you must’ve looked to her kid, growling at her mom like that.”
“Yeah, seriously. Grow up, Captain.”
They’d worked together long enough to know Felix Guffero quite well.
Even if he hated mages, somewhere deep down… he might have a warm heart.
‘Might… have?’
The three detectives all shared that same doubtful thought at once.
While the tavern remained loud around them, Felix, who had been completely silent until now, suddenly raised his beer mug and drank it down like water.
He was deeply confused—more than anything because he couldn’t figure out what exactly he was feeling.
From the moment they first met, Felix hadn’t liked that mage.
He had always hated the uncomfortable feeling that came from being near mana—and 1st-class mage Relshiz Baltain gave off especially strong energy.
Even inside the royal palace, Felix could tell when she was nearby without even seeing her.
‘And she’s from Willovis too.’
Everything about her rubbed him the wrong way.
Her cautious green eyes, the way she always stepped back when they crossed paths, even the way she looked off into the distance to avoid his gaze…
So he had always believed he simply hated her.
Just seeing her made his chest tight and hard to breathe.
‘But then… what is this feeling now?’
Surprise? Confusion? Guilt?
Why was he so shaken to learn she had a child?
Felix couldn’t find a single answer.
“C-Captain?”
Felix finally placed the empty mug down and stood up.
“I’m going to bed.”
“O-Okay… Good night, sir.”
His team’s voices grew distant behind him.
***
“Why did you bring Shiz?!”
As soon as we arrived back at the estate, I started scolding Aska.
His answer was absolutely ridiculous.
“She said she was scared to be alone.”
“That’s it? You were with her!”
“That’s not a small thing. You’re gonna hurt her feelings, saying it like that.”
I looked over at Shiz. Sure enough, she was behind him with a trembling, tearful expression.
Alright. Fine. I’ll admit it.
I had left Shiz alone for too long.
She’d probably been in the house all morning before Aska came. Alone in a strange, unfamiliar future world, with no one she knew—it had to be scary.
“But still! You didn’t have to bring her straight to Felix Guffero!”
“What was I supposed to do? She ran off the moment she saw you.”
“That scary man looked like he was going to hurt Mommy…!”
Shiz burst into the conversation, sniffling.
“Ash said I could do whatever I wanted, so… I wanted to protect Mommy…”
“You little squirt, protect who?! You don’t even know how dangerous grown-ups can be—protect yourself first!”
“That’s so mean…!”
Shiz’s lips trembled as she started crying. Her little pout and watery eyes made my heart clench.
I let out a long sigh.
Felix was pretty terrifying. I almost pulled out my staff on instinct when I first saw him.
It was the worst possible situation, but… one small thing had gone well.
Because Shiz had kicked his leg and drawn his attention, he hadn’t noticed the diary I had hidden under my coat.
“She really ran at him without hesitation. That’s some courage… or total lack of fear.”
“So what now?”
Aska asked, as if I had started all this. I glared at him.
“How should I know?! We just have to hope Guffero keeps his mouth shut!”
“But don’t you two not even get along?”
“You knew?”
“I’m a mage too. And I lead the Dawn Tower, remember?”
Magic, as powerful and convenient as it was, came with strict rules and limits.
Forbidden spells were banned outright. Large-scale spells required prior approval from the towers.
‘Come to think of it… this guy too.’
I remembered how Aska had frozen an entire building not too long ago. Whether he got permission or not, I didn’t know. If he hadn’t, he was probably fined.
Anyway, when a mage broke those rules, it was the Investigation Bureau’s job to step in.
That’s why the Bureau and the Magic Department had always had a tense relationship—one that grew worse when new power figures took control.
‘The emperor backs the mages, the crown prince backs the investigators.’
In that royal power struggle, Felix Guffero became the perfect attack dog for the crown prince, cracking down hard on mages.
‘Even I had conflicts with him over all those inspections.’
That’s why so many mages hated him—including me. And why his bad reputation even reached Aska’s ears.
‘Now think. What are the chances Felix Guffero just lets this slide…?’
None. Let’s be real—absolutely none.
He hates mages. And me most of all.
So if he found out I broke the “dignity clause” that all royal employees are held to—he’d never keep quiet. That rigid investigator couldn’t stand injustice.
‘Should I have lied then?’
But Shiz already shouted “Mommy” in front of everyone. There was no taking that back.
In the end, it meant I’d have to face him.
Whether I begged, bargained, or threatened, I had to stop this secret from spreading.
“Rel. You can’t keep Shiz locked up at home forever.”
While I was drowning in worry, Aska suddenly spoke.
“Now that you’re working with the crown prince, you’re going to be away a lot more often. Shiz will be left alone every time.”
“What’s your point?”
“You need someone to help you and Shiz when something happens.”
I couldn’t deny that…
Rifts would keep appearing. I’d have to leave home to retrieve more diary pages again and again.
I couldn’t take Shiz every time. And Aska couldn’t always be available to babysit either.
‘But what am I supposed to do, then?’
As I fell silent, Aska pulled something out of his coat. It rustled softly.
It was a familiar envelope.
“The invitation from before.”
The invitation to the spring banquet hosted by the Willovis family was held up in front of me again.
“Why are you showing me this?”
“Because the banquet is the day after tomorrow.”
Didn’t I already say no to this?
I frowned at him. He added:
“Take Shiz with you. And tell them the truth.”
I stared blankly, replaying his words in my head.
“…You mean… confess everything? And ask the Duke and Duchess for help?”
Aska nodded seriously.
He was insane.
I couldn’t even say anything. I just twirled my finger beside my head like, “You’re crazy.”
“I’m serious. The crown prince already knows. It’s better they hear it from you than through rumors.”
“I know that, but still!”
“Don’t worry too much. They won’t be disappointed in you.”
“That’s not the problem!”
She’s not really my child! She’s proof of a messed-up timeline—something I can’t explain to anyone!
I was on the verge of screaming from frustration when a terrifying thought crossed my mind.
‘Wait a second… did this bastard bring Shiz on purpose?’
To force me to go to the Willovis estate and confess?
A chill ran down the back of my neck.
