Chapter 38
Rubiana immediately scolded herself internally.
This was all acting—everything was fake—so why was she getting emotionally invested?
She’d heard stories of drama actors who played lovers, gradually grew close, and actually became lovers after the show ended.
Am I experiencing something like that?
Maybe she was mistaking their relationship for something real—because they had saved each other’s lives, because they saw each other every day, because they conspired together in a lie.
It’s all fake. Every bit of it. So get a grip.
She clenched her molars tight, coaching herself.
Just think of him as a rock. Elion isn’t a person—he’s a rock. A helpful rock that provides mana, nothing more.
No matter how helpful, she had no room in her heart to worry about a mere rock.
Any sane person wouldn’t care where a rock was or what other rocks it sat beside.
That’s right. Elion is a rock. A rock! Elion is a rock! A rock is Elion!
All the way up the stairs toward her bedroom, Rubiana repeated this like an incantation.
Shaa—shaa—
Wow… it’s really pouring.
Fresh from her bath, Rubiana stared blankly at the pounding rain.
Something about it put her in a foul mood.
It felt ominous.
Shivering, she yanked the curtains shut.
But even the thick curtains couldn’t mute the deafening rain.
“Aigo, I’m exhausted! Let’s just sleep. Rain, rain, go away! Come back another day!”
Forcing a cheerful voice, she muttered to herself and slipped into bed.
She had just closed her eyes when she heard noise from the hallway.
Curiosity winning out, she opened the door and peeked out.
She stopped a passing servant.
“What’s going on this late?”
“There’s been a massive landslide in the eastern region. The entire Imperial Knights Order is in emergency mobilization. Lady Stephanie departed just moments ago.”
“My sister went out?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“I see. Thank you.”
“Good night, my lady.”
The servant bowed respectfully and hurried off.
Rubiana returned to bed, but she couldn’t sleep at all.
“If the entire Imperial Knights are mobilized… that means Elion must’ve gone too. I hope nothing happens to him…”
Realizing what she was saying, she bit her lip hard.
What was she doing?
Remembering Elion before anyone else and worrying about him—she felt ridiculous and let out an awkward laugh.
Elion was a rock—how absurd to worry about a rock.
Besides, isn’t Elion the strongest in the entire Imperial Knights?
There was no real need to worry about him.
As a Swordmaster, his blade could reportedly cleave massive boulders in a single strike.
Her energy would be much better spent worrying about other people.
Her beloved sister, Stephanie.
Her destined partner, Chad.
“So why on earth is the first person I worry about the shady Duke?! Why am I fussing over a rock…?”
Scolding herself didn’t change anything.
The relentless rain only made a sense of foreboding grow stronger.
She placed a hand on her chest and took slow breaths.
She needed to sort through the tangled thoughts and dizzy emotions.
Suddenly, she remembered something Elion had told her.
Something Hayley had heard from Omar.
“Even though the young lady is receiving mana, her body remains incomplete until she is fully healed. In that state, suddenly losing consciousness from sharp pain—as happened before—is actually a natural consequence.”
Though he had tried to hide it, Elion’s tone had carried a quiet resentment toward Omar.
“So until she’s completely healed, her body remains unstable… meaning sudden deterioration isn’t strange… Then wouldn’t the same apply to Elion?”
Although transferring mana to her had somewhat stabilized his own, Elion’s state wasn’t perfect either.
Just as she had suddenly felt pain in the marketplace, Elion could experience a sudden resurgence of fever or headaches—or even lose control.
Both she and Elion were in unstable conditions.
“So… it’s not that strange if I worry about him first as his mana exchange partner.”
She nodded firmly at her own logical conclusion.
“…But wait, how did it go in the original?”
She searched her memories.
Nothing came to mind immediately—so it must not have been a major plotline.
“Hmmm…”
She traced the timeline mentally.
“Ah!”
It came back.
She bolted upright.
Elion, who had gone to provide aid at the landslide site, suffered injuries to his head and shoulder.
Already unstable, his mana grew even more unstable due to the injuries.
Saintess Florencia treated his wounds—and gave him large amounts of mana stabilizers.
This… this was the episode where Elion rapidly became addicted to mana stabilizers!
Rubiana’s face twisted in distress.
A wave of panic washed over her, making her eyes sting.
Something hot clogged her throat.
She shook her head violently, desperately trying to chase away the dread.
Maybe it’ll be different now? After meeting me, his mana stabilized… didn’t it?
But she couldn’t be certain.
Even if it had stabilized somewhat, Omar had said his condition still wasn’t complete.
Nothing stopped it from suddenly worsening again.
Rubiana covered her face with both hands.
Haa… A heavy sigh escaped her.
Before the Saintess hears of Elion’s injury and rushes to him, I need to get to him first. I can’t let him take the stabilizers she gives him. Never!
Listening to the pounding rain, she thought through what she could do.
Her eyes fell on the communication bracelet on her wrist.
What if I warn him right now through communication? Would that keep him safe?
She shook her head.
He wouldn’t believe her.
Even if he did, the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Knights wouldn’t abandon a dangerous site.
Right… the only thing I can do is wait.
The most natural way to help him was to arrive at his side before the Saintess.
Elion had never pushed away her hand when she reached out.
This time, she would be the one to save him.
She couldn’t let the Saintess take him.
She couldn’t let him become the villain addicted to stabilizers.
She couldn’t let him become an enemy of the Empire.
This isn’t for some rock—it’s for me. I need him to supply me with mana… so I have to help him. That’s all.
The eastern region of Darrow was over a week’s ride from the capital.
But for emergency military operations, they could use the military teleport tunnels built in each key zone.
At 5 a.m., Elion’s Imperial Knights arrived in Darrow within just three hours.
Count Stoyle, the young lord of Darrow, personally came out to greet them.
His face was pale—his territory had been struck by an unforeseen natural disaster.
Standing in the pouring rain, they faced Mount Zennbaum.
“In the past year we increased our logging. For ten years, rainfall had been scarce, so we never imagined a landslide could occur because of heavy rain.”
The count spoke with a trembling voice.
“We can discuss that later. Which areas were affected?”
“Mount Zennbaum is the largest mountain in our region. There are twelve villages that border it—five have suffered landslides.”
“…Five?”
Elion frowned—more than he expected.
“We’ve dispatched our soldiers to recover the five affected villages. The Imperial Knights may assist by evacuating the remaining seven.”
“Very well. Split into seven units and depart immediately.”
At his command, the captains moved swiftly.
Fred, watching Elion’s complexion, spoke cautiously.
“Your Grace, your face doesn’t look well. Are you feeling unwell?”
“Ah… it seems I have a bit of a fever. And now the headache’s starting. It had been fine for a while.”
“Should I prepare medicine?”
“No. I’m not at the point where I need any.”
Elion waved him off, though Fred’s brows remained tightly furrowed in concern.
“Yes, Your Grace. If your condition worsens, please command me at once.”
“I will.”
Watching the relentless rain, Elion recalled Omar’s warning.
His body was incomplete—his condition could suddenly worsen without warning.
Just like Rubiana in the marketplace.
Once we finish here, I need to return to the capital and check on the young lady first.
Thinking of Rubiana seemed to ease his fever and headache.
Perhaps he had gotten used to exchanging mana with her.
At first, her presence—their bond—had felt like a weakness and a shackle. But not anymore.
Has it… become part of my daily life now?
A faint smile touched Elion’s lips as he thought of Rubiana.
