Chapter 21
“Are you perhaps looking for this?”
On her small hand was the handkerchief I had been desperately searching for.
I was so stunned by Lucy’s beauty that I could only nod blankly.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
Again, I just shook my head.
Even though I said I was fine, maybe I didn’t look fine at all. Lucy frowned slightly.
At that very moment, an unbelievable illusion appeared behind her—bright flowers bursting like fireworks!
‘…There’s no way real flowers are falling, right?’
The absurd sight made me rub my eyes hard. Then I heard her worried voice.
“There’s a medical tent nearby with a healing mage on standby. Please come anytime. If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, we’ll treat you right away.”
Lucy reminded me once more to visit the tent if I had any problems, then left.
My legs, which had been frozen as if rooted to the ground, only started moving after she disappeared into the distance.
“An angel…”
Her face was like an angel’s, and so was her heart. She called me “sir knight” without hesitation, even after seeing a beast like me!
There wasn’t a trace of prejudice in the way she looked at me. For a moment, I almost felt like a normal human being.
‘What a powerful rival.’
I dropped to the ground like a tragic heroine.
“There’s no way Valentin would fall for me when Lucy is around…”
All the determination I had built up so far wavered like a candle in the wind.
This is unfair. If a beauty and a beast fight over one man, who would obviously win?
‘The beauty.’
I don’t even know when this turned into some love triangle battle story between a beauty and a beast over one man.
Feeling hopeless, I crouched down and thought hard. After a long while, I realized something very important.
Why I had been looking for Lucy in the first place.
“You idiot!”
I should have asked her to join the subjugation!
I screamed in the middle of the road and grabbed my hair. It didn’t suit my large build at all, but I couldn’t help it.
The tent was so clean it looked like not a speck of dust could exist inside. It was so plain that it felt cold.
Valentin sat at the table, moving his pen over documents, not even glancing at the man who had just entered.
The man, used to such treatment, casually looked around the room.
“Hm.”
He snapped his fingers, and a flower suddenly appeared in front of Valentin.
Valentin stared silently at the full red rose before finally looking up.
“Remove it.”
His voice was calm, but his green eyes showed irritation. The man quietly tucked the rose into his sleeve.
“The room is too empty.”
“That’s none of your business, Baron. If you have time to waste, look at this again.”
Valentin coldly pointed with his chin at a black crystal placed on the table, shining under the light.
The crystal was still filled with an evil energy, just like when Caleb had spat it out, though it had grown slightly smaller.
Baron, who had already been informed about the crystal by letter, touched it with glowing purple eyes.
Crackle.
His face twisted in disgust.
But deciding it wasn’t dangerous to him, he wrapped his hand around the now finger-sized crystal.
“Well?”
“It’s filthy and sinister. Definitely black magic.”
The more powerful and complex the black magic, the harder it was to detect—almost impossible. It usually emitted no aura at all.
But the impure energy from this crystal was clear and strong. Baron let out a dry laugh and wiped his hand with a handkerchief.
Interest flashed in Valentin’s green eyes.
“Are you saying the sudden increase in monsters might not be natural?”
“The biggest reason is probably that the power of light that had been purifying the Black Swamp for so long disappeared…”
Baron looked up briefly, then put the crystal away.
“But black magic may also have influenced the strange increase in numbers over the past few years. Can I take this? I’ll investigate and tell you the results.”
Valentin raised the corner of his lips lazily, as if to say, You already took it, so why ask?
Even though Valentin clearly didn’t bother answering properly, Baron smiled happily.
“Can I go now?”
“Go.”
“Really?”
Baron frowned in disappointment. Valentin simply pointed to the exit.
Then Baron pulled out his secret weapon.
“Want me to introduce my disciple?”
“If you have ears, you must have heard the rumors about my disciple—!”
“No.”
“That’s harsh.”
Valentin, knowing from experience that responding would only drag things out, tried to return to his documents—
“But I already told her to come here.”
He frowned.
“What?”
“I told her to come to the Duke of Berenice’s tent.”
Valentin stared at Baron, briefly considering whether he could kick the Magic Tower Master. But Baron would probably enjoy it.
Annoyed just imagining it, Valentin turned his head away.
It took me a long time after parting with Lucy to come back to my senses.
For a moment I had been dazed by her beauty, but soon despair took over.
‘A way to make him love me instead of Lucy…’
There was no such thing. Anyone could see that Lucy was the type everyone would fall in love with.
I wanted to slap my past self for even having a little hope that Valentin wouldn’t fall for her at first sight.
In romance fantasy stories, even when the heroine is described as “ordinary,” it’s always a lie. And Lucy was described as beautiful!
Thinking lightly of her beauty was something I deserved punishment for.
While grumbling to myself, I somehow arrived at Valentin’s tent.
He had told me to come anytime I wanted, so I opened the door without hesitation.
It was my small revenge for how he always barged into my room.
“Uh…”
“Oh my.”
The person inside wasn’t Valentin.
If my eyes weren’t mistaken, the person standing there was—
‘Wait. Is this the right place?’
Panicking, I stepped back outside.
On the white cloth above the entrance was clearly written: Valentin Junoah Berenice.
‘Lucy is in Valentin’s tent.’
The realization struck me like lightning, and I covered my mouth.
How? Why?
Because they’re the main characters? Even if they stand at opposite ends of the earth, are they bound to meet?
Then do I even stand a chance? Have they already fallen in love?
The one who saved me from drowning in questions was Valentin.
“Nathan, what are you doing? Come in.”
Thankfully, his calm voice cut through my storm of thoughts.
I stepped inside, facing reality. Only then did I notice someone besides Lucy.
A man with black hair tied back stood there. His skin was so pale it looked like he had never seen sunlight. His long, narrow eyes revealed purple irises, giving him a mysterious aura.
With that appearance, there was only one person he could be.
‘Baron Hilberg.’
The second male lead of Cliff Flower and the Magic Tower Master. Extremely talented, but a bit eccentric—a nerdy character.
He was known for always keeping his eyes half-closed and opening them dramatically at key moments. He had a strong fan base.
Among his many traits, the most memorable was his obsession with handsome faces.
‘He loved—no, worshipped—Valentin’s face.’
Yes. Even though they were rivals, Valentin’s face perfectly matched Baron’s taste.
Baron’s one-sided affection had connected the two.
“Hello. We meet again.”
Lucy waved at me.
I waved back. Valentin tilted his head.
“You two know each other?”
“Yes.”
Her simple answer made Valentin’s gaze turn hot with unspoken questions.
‘Did he already develop feelings for her?’
Why does he care so much?
Feeling slightly annoyed, I ignored his look and decided to use this situation.
“Since the mage is here, I suppose she’ll be joining us for the subjugation?”
“…What?”
Valentin stepped closer, confused.
In the original story, Lucy joined the subjugation because Valentin was curious about her. He even used his authority to bring her along.
‘But right now, he has no reason to.’
I tapped my foot, thinking of a way to get Lucy included.
“Nathan, she belongs to the medical team and will stay in the tent in case of emergencies.”
“But what if you’re in danger, Your Grace? Wouldn’t it be safer to have such a talented mage with you?”
“…You don’t trust me?”
Valentin smiled slowly, intrigued.
His reaction felt dangerous. I couldn’t answer.
Then, unexpectedly, permission came from someone else.
“Fine. Take her.”
It was Baron.
“I’ll take Lucy’s place here. I have things to do anyway.”
Without waiting for an answer, Baron turned to Lucy and gave her a simple order through gestures.
‘Valentin. Face. Protect. No injuries.’
Anyone could understand it. Why not just say it?
Valentin didn’t even react. Lucy simply smiled kindly and said she understood.
‘…Well, there’s no sharp love triangle here at all.’
Things were unfolding very differently from what I had expected.
