Chapter 203
Chapter 203
“Great! Let’s attend this.”
Barristan placed the garden party invitation from the Duke of Manuwell in a luxurious box on another desk instead of the usual tray, and handed me another letter. It was a letter with a familiar black rose seal.
“It’s from the Acrab Artisan Association?” I asked curiously.
Barristan nodded. “It came several times while you were in the North,” he replied.
“Ah? Is that so? Was it something urgent?”
I tilted my head and opened the letter. If it was really something urgent, they could’ve sent a magic letter, so it didn’t seem to be the case.
「Count, I heard that you were not in Heulin. If you see this letter, I’d like you to hear out Acrab as soon as possible. I think we’ve made a great discovery at the estate.
– Haram, Vice President of the Acrab Artisan Association.」
The contents of the letter were simple, but since they said that they had made a great discovery, I wanted to go immediately.
“What could it be… was there news of something unusual happening in Acrab?” I asked, feeling apprehensive.
“I didn’t receive news about that.”
I rested my chin on my hands and shook the letter before rising out of my seat. “I’ll be back. It’s time for me to change my mindset for a while,” I said.
I was sincere in telling Julius to get stronger. If I stayed still like this, I’d lose to Princess Exchetra. She was after Kaichen, and by the end of the fight, I might end up with the same fate as Sheliak.
It’s a terrible ending that I didn’t even want to think about.
I had to change for Kaichen, who now had an achilles heel because of me. In order to do that, I had to face my adversaries.
‘That memory… I have to accept it.’
If that happens, I’ll be able to pour out everything. Kaichen won’t be sad and worried anymore. I firmly believe he won’t leave after knowing my secret… Yes, Kaichen won’t throw me away.
My saviour wanted to save my heart just as he answered the prayer I longed for.
“Ah! Master, where are you?”
I left the office valiantly and searched for Kaichen.
* * *
With Kaichen’s help, I returned to Acrab after two months. It wasn’t much different from before.
“Count!”
During the two years I spent learning magic from Kaichen, the people of Acrab also became very familiar with magic. It was partly because I used magic everywhere, but perhaps mostly due to Kaichen appearing out of nowhere, going ‘Look here! Look there!’ like Hong Gil-dong*.
*Hong Gil-dong is a famous Korean thief from the Joseon dynasty.
They weren’t too surprised even though Kaichen and I suddenly appeared in the garden of the mansion.
I looked at Las, who welcomed us and thought, ‘Aren’t you being too careless?’
They wouldn’t even know that we came in with movement magic. I tried to be polite as I nagged. “Las… why is the commander of the Alshine Knights so unresponsive?”
“Huh?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be surprised if you see someone suddenly appear? It’s different from last time. Acrab may be targeted by many people.”
After the Hoiore incident in the North, I felt that the nobles on Exchetra’s side were evil and vicious. I cautiously looked around. Out of Kaichen, Julius and me, I was, unfortunately, the easiest target. There was a likelihood that nobles were after me and I decided to stay vigilant.
“…There’s a barrier by Mr Kaichen in the Alshine Mansion, so no one can enter with movement magic without permission,” Las said.
My eyes widened. “It’s the first I’m hearing of this.”
“I gave you documents for the approval of barrier magic, though.”
I looked at Kaichen. He spoke calmly, without a hint of remorse.
“When we were rolling on the sofa, I was allowed to do whatever I wanted,” he said.
As I narrowed my eyes at him, I seemed to vaguely remember our conversation. ‘Did you really just casually ask me that you would put such a strong barrier on the mansion…?’
“The documents-”
“You gave your seal very willingly.”
There was a time when it was so busy and hectic that I couldn’t do anything anymore, and I stretched tiredly on the sofa. It must have been that moment. It was two days ago…
‘How could you have asked such an important matter in just those two days?’
I awkwardly smiled and cleared my throat. “Ye- yes. As expected, Master’s barrier is reassuring. There’s no need to be vigilant.”
Thankfully, I was able to squash down my fearful thoughts because of what Kaichen did. I entered the castle, feeling a bit better.
It was different from when we left; Acrab welcomed us with a clear spring. Thanks to the gardener with strong craftsmanship, the garden of the Alshine Mansion was beautiful enough to be envied. Black roses were in full bloom, creating a mysterious and dreamy atmosphere. I thought that black roses would create a lonely and gloomy atmosphere in the castle, but under the sunlight they were elegant and alluring.