~Chapter 102~
“Oh? The cloak.”
I tilted my head, eyes wide open.
In front of me stood Fabian. But instead of his usual black, he was wearing a purple cloak.
‘Wait—that’s the cloak I gave him…?’
It was definitely the cloak I had gifted him.
I had ordered it specially from the tailor, choosing the design, fabric, and color carefully—made only for Fabian.
‘Fabian… actually wore the cloak I gave him?’
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
As I stared blankly, Fabian tilted his head and asked.
“It’s just surprising. You never wore that cloak before, so I thought you threw it away…”
After all, Fabian had never worn the custom-made cloak, not even once.
I had honestly thought, ‘Ah, he must’ve tossed it.’
But it seemed I was wrong.
Fabian, looking a little embarrassed, turned his head without answering.
I quietly smiled as I watched him.
It felt like a good sign.
Fabian was finally starting to open his heart, even just a little.
It was only a small change, but surely this would grow into something bigger over time.
‘At least all my effort chasing after him wasn’t wasted.’
It felt rewarding, as if I was finally receiving the results of my hard work.
‘But still…’
I turned my head slightly. Standing beside Fabian was another person—his assistant, wearing glasses.
This wasn’t the Magic Tower, but the ducal mansion’s office.
And Fabian was here, together with his assistant.
‘Why would Fabian bring his assistant here, to the office?’
Just as I was wondering, the office door opened and a man entered.
“Good afternoon, Lady.”
“…Eric?”
I tilted my head again.
It was Eric—so suddenly.
Today wasn’t even a training day. Why had he come all of a sudden?
“What’s the matter, Eric? Today isn’t training day.”
“Albert told me to come. He said it was something important.”
Important?
My brow twitched. Something felt strange.
Fabian and his assistant showing up at the ducal mansion’s office.
And now the people from the ‘Save Irene Project’ arriving one after another.
‘Don’t tell me…’
I turned to Fabian with wide eyes, almost not believing it.
Fabian nodded, confirming my suspicion.
“Yes. Today we’re going to check your magic.”
“…!”
My mouth slowly dropped open.
The ducal mansion’s office.
One by one, people gathered. After Fabian and Eric, Albert arrived. Then my parents, the Duke and Duchess of Hartmann.
Harry, being a commoner, didn’t join this meeting.
“Today, I’ve called you all here to check Irene’s magic power.”
Albert, sitting at the head of the room, looked around as he continued.
“After today’s examination, we’ll discuss again how to move forward with treatment.”
“Yes, yes. Let’s do that. We need to know her condition to decide the direction.”
Eric nodded.
Albert exhaled softly, then gave Fabian a signal.
“Well then… shall we begin?”
Fabian’s assistant bowed slightly and came toward me with the equipment.
It looked a bit like the device used to measure blood pressure. He attached it to my arm.
I swallowed nervously as the familiar device tightened around me.
“I really hope this time shows some progress, after all the effort…”
“Don’t worry, Duchess. I’m sure we’ll see good results.”
My parents held each other’s hands tightly, watching with anxious faces.
Honestly… I had worked very hard.
At first, it was just, ‘let’s give it a try.’
But as time went on, my determination grew, and I put my whole heart into the treatment.
And when you give your heart to something, of course you also start to hope for results.
Fabian knew better than anyone how hard I had worked.
I glanced at him, but he just stood there with his arms crossed, wearing an unreadable expression.
“We’ll begin the examination now.”
The assistant finished preparations and announced to the room.
Whirrr—
The machine whirred. I closed my eyes.
My heart beat quickly.
Would it show improvement? Even just a little?
Lately, I had collapsed less often during magic practice.
Could it mean I might survive?
Would God allow me even a small piece of hope?
Beep, beep. The machine beeped, and the sound of paper printing filled the air.
The assistant held up the paper with a serious expression, adjusting his glasses nervously.
“Hm…”
“Well? What does it say? Tell us the results.”
My parents urged him. I bit my lip and stared.
The office filled with heavy tension.
“I’m sorry, but…”
The assistant spoke carefully, glancing around.
“There is no change. The results are exactly the same as before.”
“…Ah.”
Eric let out a quiet sigh.
And then silence fell.
A silence heavier than death itself.
“Sigh…”
I sat by the window, looking out at the garden.
A glass of whiskey sat before me.
Today was one of those days when I wanted to drink, so I sat alone in the dark, slowly sipping.
“It doesn’t even make me drunk…”
I put the glass down with a tap.
On days like this, the alcohol never seemed to work.
Another sigh escaped me—when suddenly, a voice spoke.
[Saint, why do you have so many worries?]
“Huh?”
I turned my head. A little yellow chick was pecking forward, talking to me.
[You’ve been so busy you don’t even play with me anymore.]
“Yeah… it feels like it’s been a while since we talked.”
Because I had been away from my room so often, it really did feel like a long time since I’d spoken with my divine beast.
[Ever since you started liking that man, you’ve ignored me even more. Hmph.]
“Heheh… You noticed? So you even know that I like Fabian.”
[How could I not notice? You call him with that ring all the time, talking about liking him or not.]
“Ah… haha.”
That’s true.
I had summoned Fabian with the ring more than just once or twice.
And every time… the divine beast was right there, watching and listening.
Embarrassment rushed over me, but I soon smiled.
“Still, I like you too, you know. Honestly, you’re the easiest one to talk to.”
[That’s my role. To listen to the Saint’s worries as her closest friend.]
At his shameless words, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Yes, even in the novel, Emily’s divine beast had been her best conversation partner.
Whenever she struggled with the male leads, the beast was always there to talk.
‘Thinking about it like this… it really feels like I’ve become the Saint myself.’
[Anyway, what’s your worry? Tell me.]
“Hm… I want to live, but it feels like I won’t be able to.”
I took another sip of whiskey.
I wanted to live. But it didn’t feel possible.
Even though I tried so hard, today’s test results were hopeless.
I remembered the silence when the results came out.
Albert, Eric, my parents… and me.
Everyone had frozen.
That silence was pure despair.
I knew it well—it was despair gathered from everyone in that room.
[I told you before. You shouldn’t expect too much.]
Fabian’s voice cut through that silence like a sharp blade.
And he was right.
From the very beginning, Fabian had predicted everything.
While the rest of us, weak humans, expected too easily—
And then despaired just as easily.
