TCVOWM 53

Chapter 53

Right after we returned safely to the Clovis estate, I found myself unable to get out of bed for a while.

It was because my body, completely drained of mana after stopping Ethan’s rampage, hadn’t recovered yet.

“Mana forcibly drawn out takes time to regenerate. If you don’t rest properly now, you’ll be suffering for a long while.”

“Waaah, that’s so unfair. This is so unfair… I hate being sick more than anything in the world.”

“Think of it as punishment for charging in without thinking. Be more careful with your body from now on.”

“Hmph! Why do you have to say things so meanly? Do you know who I ended up like this because of?!”

Objectively speaking, the bigger fault lay with me for rushing in recklessly—but Ethan didn’t seem inclined to point that out.

When I sniffled, half in pain and half out of injustice, he spoke in that infuriatingly smug tone of his while gently wiping away my tears.

“…Honestly, that was a little scary.”

Because that mad dog who had recently mellowed could flip at any moment.

“Were you here the whole time until I woke up? Without even eating?”

“Who knows when my unpredictable fiancée might wake up and start scurrying around.”

“…Fair enough. I can’t deny that. But now that you’ve seen I’m awake, could you leave? It’s kind of uncomfortable.”

“I can’t just leave when my fiancée is this sick. So lie down already. Don’t make me worry.”

“It’s a little stressful when you stare at me like that.”

“Do you want to sweat it out, or just lie down quietly?”

“…I’m lying down. Ah, this is nice and cozy.”

Even so, perhaps because I had completely exhausted my mana for his sake, Ethan checked on me far more attentively than expected.

Thanks to that, by the time a week had passed since we returned to the estate, I’d recovered enough to move around on my own.

Still, considering how he’d acted like he’d drag me straight to the Mage Tower at any moment, Ethan was surprisingly quiet.

Of course, I had no intention of handing over the hard-earned rest I’d gotten to that damned Tower Master, so I kept my mouth firmly shut.

“Ha… I really suffered because of him. I swear, I won’t let this slide.”

“Excuse me? You haven’t forgotten you’re communicating with me right now, have you, my dear disciple?”

“I haven’t forgotten. I said it so you could hear it, Tower Master.”

As I recalled the chaotic mess of the past few days, I fixed my gaze on the blue sphere floating in front of me.

The figure reflected inside it was the person I’d been desperately calling for all this time.

“Aww, why the long face? It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other. Do you really have to scowl like that, Eunice? Hmm?”

“If it were Theodor, he’d be smiling brightly right now…”

…He probably would be.

If it were the shameless Tower Master, he’d enjoy my suffering even more. Yes, absolutely.

I pressed my fingers to my forehead and shook my head.

To beat Theodor, I’d need fifty—no, at least five hundred more years.

“If I go back to the Mage Tower, don’t expect things to end nicely. That broom of yours or whatever—once it’s finished, I’ll hand it straight to the Tower’s cleaning staff.”

After everything I went through because of him!

Almost becoming monster food, falling off a cliff with Ethan, and then…

“Our Ethan has changed.”

…That mad dog suppressing his filthy temper and acting strangely.

When I shook my head firmly, Theodor on the other side of the mana sphere put on an exaggeratedly cutesy expression.

“My Eunice is really angry, huh? But come on, forgive me for my face. You like handsome men, don’t you?”

Objectively speaking, the man reflected in the mana sphere was very handsome.

Of course, that changed when you considered his twisted personality and the hellish past few days.

“That face doesn’t calm me down at all, so please close your mouth. You’re just making me angrier.”

I seriously considered how I might destroy Theodor’s so-called masterpiece broom.

Though he spoke playfully, he seemed genuinely apologetic and cautiously watched my reaction.

Since seeing him read the room wasn’t entirely unpleasant, I let out a low sigh.

“Anyway, because of all that, I’ll recover fully before returning to the Mage Tower. If you object to that, you’re truly shameless, you damned Tower Master.”

“Fine, fine. If my disciple is suffering, who am I to stop her?”

“Yes, yes. Thank you so mu—”

“But are you really okay?”

I paused mid-response and looked at him.

For once, Theodor’s expression was serious. Something was bothering him.

“What do you mean?”

“I can see unstable mana leaking from you. The color is… red. A very deep red.”

…That hit close to home.

I couldn’t openly react, so I fidgeted with my hand outside the mana sphere’s view.

I thought all he could do was spout nonsense, but he’s surprisingly sharp.

As expected of the Tower Master.

The mana Theodor sensed belonged to Ethan. Traces of it had remained in my body after I took in his power.

I’d already been struggling to shake it off, and it seemed he’d noticed even through the mana sphere.

Feigning indifference, I replied casually.

“It’s nothing. I must’ve picked it up while fighting monsters because of someone.”

“Be careful, Eunice.”

Though I teased him moments ago, Theodor didn’t play along this time.

“Once a body is tainted by strong mana, it doesn’t fully return to how it was.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

“It means that when you face danger again, you might instinctively seek that power out. It’s a reflex.”

“So… mana addiction?”

“In a sense.”

Addiction, huh.

I mulled over his words.

It was undeniably powerful mana. Still, the idea that I’d crave that pain again didn’t quite sit right with me.

After thinking it over, I lifted my head and stared straight at him.

A faint anger flickered in my eyes.

“That’s rich coming from the man who knowingly sent his disciple into the Forest of Monsters.”

“Oh, come now. I sent you because I trusted the abilities of both of you.”

“Honestly. When I get back to the Mage Tower, I’m going to scold you thoroughly.”

“All right. I’ll be ready for it, so hurry up and recover and come back. It’s terribly boring without you.”

“…I’m sure it is, without anyone to bully.”

“Exactly! So stop playing hard to get and come back soon. And give my regards to Claude.”

“Fine. See you soon.”

With that brief exchange, the blue mana sphere vanished.

I released the breath I’d been unconsciously holding and flopped onto the bed. The soft mattress felt deeply satisfying.

In any case, I’d secured something like a vacation, so I should be able to rest peacefully for a few days.

…Or would I?

The doubt crossed my mind, but I quickly shook it away.

There was no way things could be peaceful while trapped in Ethan’s territory.

“My fiancée being unwell pains my heart as well.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Yes. So don’t think of doing anything stupid and focus on recovering. Once you’re better, we’ll leave for the Mage Tower.”

“That was your real motive all along! Liar!”

Ethan spoke teasingly as usual, yet he took care of me more attentively than expected.

He hovered nearby, awkwardly fussing over one thing or another.

It wasn’t quite nursing, but considering how he usually behaved like a rabid dog, this was more than acceptable.

He’d only just left after being called away by the butler.

For the first time in a while, I was free.

“Don’t wander around unnecessarily. Stay in bed and behave. Understood?”

Even as he left, Ethan issued his stern warning.

Not because he was worried, but rather—

“Don’t go stirring up trouble all over the estate. And don’t even think about doing anything stupid.”

“And if I do stir things up?”

“Well. If you’re curious, feel free to try.”

It was because he never knew when or where I’d cause trouble.

I shook my head at his not-quite-concern.

Unfortunately for him, that concern wasn’t unfounded.

Because…

“Well then. Shall we take a little trip into the capital for the first time in a while?”

I had no intention of staying quietly in bed—and even less intention of confining myself to the estate.

“Ethan needs mana stones, right?”

Maybe I’d do a bit of research while I was at it.

I forced my still-aching body upright.

Just thinking about going out made the discomfort seem insignificant.

Of course… I had no idea how uncomfortable things were about to become because of this brief outing.

“Thank you for your patronage. Please come again.”

I responded to the shopkeeper’s polite farewell and left the store, carefully holding today’s precious haul.

Afraid someone might steal it, I clutched it tightly and walked with light steps.

But then, mid-stride, I felt something poke sharply into my back and turned around.

What came into view was a very familiar estate.

Heh. Did he really think I couldn’t get out that easily?

I stared proudly at the Grand Duke Clovis’s residence.

Thinking back on the grueling and desperate struggle I’d gone through just to breathe in the fresh air of the capital square nearly brought tears to my eyes.

Because…

“Stop right there, Eunice Servita.”

“…I’m not Eunice. Y-you’ve got the wrong person.”

“How unfortunate. I’m not stupid enough to fail to recognize my beloved fiancée.”

“Aaaah! Are you insane?! L-love? What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that—ah!”

“Heh. Right. My fiancée isn’t so indifferent that she’d ignore nonsense like that, is she, Eunice?”

Every time I tried to sneak out of the Clovis estate, Ethan would catch on like a ghost and block my path.

At first, I thought it was just coincidence, so I tried again the next day.

“And where might my sick fiancée be going, dragging herself around like that? Are you planning to let your fiancé suffer watching this?”

“You seem to have forgotten my warning not to take a single step outside your bedroom. Are you determined to make me look like a heartless man who doesn’t care about his fiancée’s health?”

“I’m tired of arguing, so don’t waste your strength. Why not return to your bedroom quietly?”

Every attempt failed thanks to that damned Ethan.

Despite all my experience dodging Theodor’s gaze, I was embarrassingly easily caught by Ethan.

Then, when I finally heard that Ethan would be leaving the estate briefly, I made my move.

And naturally, it was a success.

Escaping Clovis was surprisingly easy today.

Without Ethan, Clovis is nothing.

With a heart as light as air, I strode forward cheerfully.

The capital square buzzed with life as always, filled with people’s lively chatter.

After constantly watching my step beside Ethan and his icy presence, seeing energetic, vibrant people lifted my mood for no reason at all.

“All right. Then back to the estate now—”

I was just thinking of playing around a bit before returning.