Chapter 46
Stephanie was unexpectedly sharp in more ways than one.
Had she done something careless—something her sister might pick up on?
Rubyana anxiously waited for her next words when Stephanie, wearing a serious expression, opened her mouth.
“Yep, it’s definitely the power of love!”
“…What are you even talking about?”
Pffft—ahaha.
The sisters’ laughter rippled through the quiet forest.
After laughing for a good while, Stephanie spoke again.
“Oh, I remember now!”
“Remember what?”
“Ruby, your expression suddenly brightened for no reason, right? You felt better, didn’t you? Like your body felt light?”
“…Yeah. I think so.”
But it wasn’t actually without a reason.
Unable to confess her true thoughts, Rubyana simply nodded.
“I’ve felt that before too.”
“When?”
“Eight years ago. Right before I met my spirit.”
“Ah…”
Thump, thump.
Rubyana’s heartbeat quickened.
She felt her blood heat up as it coursed through her body.
“Then maybe I’ll soon…”
“It’s too early to be sure, but I think there’s a good chance.”
“…”
Stephanie gently took Rubyana’s hand.
The warm touch made Rubyana’s eyes sting for a moment.
Stephanie spoke in the kindest voice imaginable.
“Don’t get your hopes too high… but let’s hold onto some hope.”
“…Yeah.”
Rubyana wiped away the tears gathering at the corner of her eye.
Stephanie reached over to brush away her sister’s tears as well.
“Good grief, my cute little sister. Such a crybaby.”
“…Tch.”
Their gaze intertwined with gentle affection.
Hope swelled, filling Rubyana’s chest to the brim.
Maybe… I’m really going to meet a spirit soon! I’ll finally become a true heroine!
The Grand Duke’s office.
Elion was listening to Fred’s report.
“By tracing the magical residue left on the magic circle, we managed to identify the perpetrator. A mage guild called ‘MacKinnon’, known to be a particularly nasty group operating in the back alleys. They’ll use any means necessary and—”
Elion couldn’t focus on Fred’s continuing explanation.
His mind kept drifting back to the events of last night.
All right. I want it too. I want you, Elion.
The memory of her heated gaze shimmered in front of him.
Ha… ah… Elion…!
Her trembling voice echoed in his ears.
Haa… aaah…!
Rubyana’s flushed figure on the bed—he couldn’t stop replaying it in his mind.
Damn it.
It was all because of the magic.
He wanted to rid himself of the magic raging inside him.
He wanted to escape from the unending thirst… from the agony.
He wanted to touch Rubyana more deeply, for longer—
and pour even more magic into her.
He felt like that was the only way to survive.
That only she could do it.
Rubyana must have felt something similar.
Just as he wanted to shed magic, she must have wanted to receive it.
It was just an act of exchanging magic. Nothing more, right?
She was right.
Not a single part of her words was wrong.
So why had his chest ached when she said it?
Why had his mood plummeted?
Why had his throat felt tight, as if something were stuck?
It felt almost like…
like he’d been betrayed.
By someone he trusted.
Damn it. This is insane.
He wasn’t some naïve kid.
Had he seriously attached meaning to something that meant nothing?
Is that why he felt betrayed… even though no one betrayed him?
No way… impossible!
Meaning? What meaning?
Betrayal? Ridiculous.
Last night was nothing more than two people intoxicated with magic acting on instinct.
There was nothing else.
There should be nothing else. Absolutely.
And magic intoxication was—without question—far harder to shake off than alcohol or drugs.
“…Your Highness? Are you listening, Your Highness?”
Elion snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Fred.
“Huh? Continue.”
“Well… I just asked you a question, sir. I need your answer…”
“…Did you? What was it?”
As expected—you weren’t listening.
Fred swallowed a sigh and repeated the question.
“I asked about issuing a public warrant for the MacKinnon group.”
“You want to pressure both the corrupt mages and whoever hired them?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Fine. A good idea. Proceed. One of them is bound to take the bait.”
“Understood, Your Highness. Next—”
“There’s more?”
Elion frowned, and Fred quickly answered.
“This is the last one.”
“…All right.”
With a dismissive wave—hurry and finish—Elion gestured for him to continue.
“A letter has arrived from the Great Temple. It says the Saintess has regained stability.”
“That’s good news.”
“How shall we reply? Should we send a letter along with a gift, or—”
“She collapsed here, so it seems proper that I visit her in person.”
“When would be good for you, sir?”
“…This afternoon.”
“Yes. I’ll send the response accordingly. That is all.”
Fred gathered his documents and prepared to leave.
Elion leaned back in his chair and exhaled.
Even now, Rubyana’s memory churned in his mind.
The soft feel of her skin under his fingertips,
her hot breath against his ear—
everything returned vividly, without fail.
The memories were… both pleasant and torturous.
I must’ve transferred too much magic. That’s why I’m feeling weak—letting useless thoughts slip in. Definitely a side effect.
Elion sighed.
“Oh, and congratulations, Your Highness.”
Fred, watching Elion carefully, added his congratulations.
But Elion didn’t understand at first.
“Congratulations? For what?”
“Your… engagement to Lady Fayson, sir.”
“Ah… that. It’s just a ruse. There’s no way I’d actually get engaged to her.”
“P—pardon?”
Fred’s mouth fell open.
This morning, he’d heard that the Emperor left with a satisfied smile after deciding on the engagement between Elion and Rubyana.
And last night, Elion and Rubyana had spent the night together.
So Fred assumed their relationship had progressed rapidly along with the magic exchange—
but apparently not.
While Fred struggled with this revelation—recalling the excited smiles of the butler and head maid who’d relayed the news—Elion sighed and continued.
“I only agreed because His Majesty kept hounding me. For now, I just need to meet the young lady periodically.”
“Ah… I see. Then… you mean you intend to pretend to be engaged? Is that even possible?”
“Do you seriously think it’s possible for me and Lady Fayson to truly be engaged?”
“T-That is…”
But… you already promised His Majesty!!
Fred wanted to scream,
but chose not to.
“It makes more sense to pretend for a while and eventually call it off, rather than actually follow through.”
“…Yes, that does seem more realistic.”
Fred reluctantly nodded.
He wanted to ask how Elion planned to overturn the Emperor’s iron will,
but swallowed the question again.
“And now that the capital’s barrier is restored, my business here is done. Once Lady Rubyana fully recovers, I plan to leave the capital.”
“Ah…!”
“Prepare accordingly.”
“Understood, Your Highness.”
This was a welcome change.
Fred had been growing homesick, missing the family and friends back in the northern territory after their stay in the capital became longer than expected.
Heart lifting, he asked:
“Then when do you think we’ll return?”
“I told you—it depends on Lady Rubyana’s condition. It could be next week, next month, or even later.”
“Ah. Yes.”
So much for that.
Fred rolled his eyes and pouted slightly.
“I need to visit the healer on Melville Street. Ready the carriage.”
“Yes, sir.”
Fred carried his stack of documents and left the office.
Elion rose from his seat shortly after.
I should ask the healer if there are any side effects from magic exchange.
At that moment, the communication stone on his bracelet began to flash.
It was Rubyana.
The moment he saw the violet glow, his heart thumped softly—
another side effect, he told himself.
Elion pressed the stone.
