Chapter 13
“Ignis…”
As my small voice echoed through the dark room, flames suddenly flared up, and a snake wreathed in fire appeared.
Ignis, floating right in front of my face, rolled his red eyes.
[Master, you’re not going to use me as a magic lamp again, are you?]
Ignoring Iggy’s grumpy tone, I pulled him into my arms.
He squirmed, annoyed, but when he saw my gloomy face, he quietly rested his small snake head on my shoulder.
[Tell me what’s wrong. I’ll listen.]
“Hmm… it’s just… I really made a mess, and I can’t fix it.”
[What kind of trouble did you cause to lock yourself in your room with the curtains drawn in broad daylight?]
I had cast black magic on the Grand Duke. Now, he’s totally enchanted and now clings to me obsessively.
That day, when his intense feelings trapped me at the Emperor’s garden, I barely remember how I got home.
I remembered Havel didn’t say a word while escorting me to my office. My last memory was absentmindedly nodding when he said he couldn’t come by that evening because of Knight Order training.
After that, on my way home from work, all I could think about were the shackles Havel had placed on me.
Even though I was told not to avoid him, I wanted to avoid him so badly I called in sick and locked myself in the mansion.
I just couldn’t handle it.
Not the situation itself, nor Havel’s feelings that felt so real, even though they were fake.
“I just… made a really big mistake.”
My voice was heavy, and Iggy made his flames burn even brighter. My shoulder felt hot, like a heating pad.
The warmth was nice for a moment, but then the constant heat made me too hot.
“It’s hot…”
As I muttered in a small voice, Iggy spoke in a blunt voice.
[Master, I don’t know much about human society, but if there’s no other way, use me to escape. I once heard a story about a spirit contractor who committed a crime and survived by going to another continent. Even though I have a foolish master, I have a duty to protect you, so I’ll use all my power for your sake.]
“Ig, you really are the best spirit…”
Ah, I was so touched. When he’s grumpy, I want to smack his little head, but I can’t help but love Ignis when he’s so sweet.
I hugged Ignis’s small, long body with both hands and rubbed my face against him. Once, twice, three times. Iggy, who only put up with it for three rubs, slapped my cheek with his long tail.
[Stop it, you foolish master.]
“Alright, stop hitting me. It’ll leave a mark on my face.”
When I moved my face away, Iggy finally stopped his tail and coiled up in front of me.
What should I do now…? I had a tiny bit of hope, but neither yesterday nor today did the center send any message about grandma returning.
I was staring blankly at Iggy when I suddenly remembered the Emperor’s request.
“Oh, Ig. I have a question. Can I undo a seal that was placed by another spirit user of the same attribute?”
[A seal? Hmm… if that spirit user contracted with a spirit lower rank than me, you can unseal it.]
So, I probably can. I’m a high-ranking spirit user… Come to think of it, I don’t know what level of spirit that person contracted with. But it’s probably not a Spirit King…
“What if they’re also a high-ranking spirit user? Is it impossible then?”
[If they’re on the same level, it depends on how strong the seal is.]
“I see. I was asked to unseal a family heirloom. Can you help me with that?”
[If it’s my master’s command, then I must do it.]
“Between us, it’s a request, not a command.”
[Gross. Master.]
My smile made Ignis’s face twist. A snake’s displeased expression wasn’t exactly pretty to humans.
We were looking away from each other, both a little grossed out, when a knock sounded at the door.
“Miss, I’m coming in.”
The person who entered was none other than Hilda.
“Oh, Miss, the sun has been high for ages, and you’re still like this!”
“Ack, sunlight! I hate it!”
Hilda pulled open the curtains with a whoosh, scolding me as she let light flood into the gloomy, dark room. I quickly hugged Ig and pulled the blankets over us.
“Miss, how old are you to be acting like a child! Get up right now!”
I couldn’t even put up a fight as Hilda yanked off the blanket and forced me out of bed.
“Whyyy… I want to stay like this all day… Can’t I just stay like this for a little while longer?”
I even whined and shook Hilda’s arm, but she firmly, almost embarrassingly, pushed me into the dressing room. Liche was already there, holding an everyday dress.
“No, you can’t. We have a guest in the drawing-room.”
“A guest? No one’s supposed to come? No one said they were coming.”
I hadn’t invited anyone, and no one had asked for permission to visit. Then, I remembered Havel, who had suddenly showed up last time to hand over the carriage.
Could it be the Grand Duke? He wouldn’t need my permission.
“Young Master Rayon is here.”
Ah. So it wasn’t him. With all the things that had happened to me the past few days, I’d completely forgotten about Rayon for a moment, but he was also one of those who didn’t need my permission to visit.
I sent Ignis back to the spirit world and nodded to Hilda as I put on the dress.
“I’ll be down soon.”
* * *
“Rayon, what brings you here?”
He was sitting in the drawing-room. When I called him, Rayon stood up from the sofa and came over.
“I went to the Spirit User’s office to have lunch with you today, but Sir Chent said you weren’t feeling well and couldn’t come. I was worried, so I came as soon as I left work.”
“Oh… I’m fine. It’s nothing big. I just wanted to rest. The subjugation team hasn’t been back long, right?”
Rayon knew how good my stamina was, but I didn’t have any other excuses besides this. I couldn’t honestly tell him about Havel…
If I did, Rayon would blame himself and go to Havel to beg for forgiveness, which would only make things worse.
That kind of disaster must be avoided.
Rayon looked at me with concern, but thankfully, he nodded as if he accepted it without much suspicion. But looking closer at him, he didn’t seem to be in a state to worry about me. Rayon’s usually neat face looked particularly worn out today.
“Have you eaten?”
I asked if something was wrong, and Rayon shook his head.
“No, I haven’t. You weren’t there, so I didn’t really feel like it.”
Something really must be wrong. Could it be related to Lady Mary? I hope not…
It bothered me now that I had left the party that day without seeing what happened between Rayon and Mary because of the love potion.
No, my problems are more complicated. Don’t ask. I tried to ignore him and looked away, but with Rayon’s repeated short sighs and his shadowed expression, I finally couldn’t hold back and asked.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen”
“Well… can you listen? I’m afraid I’ll just add to your worries when you’re already tired.”
Rayon’s head snapped up as if he had been waiting, but he still looked at me, as if his conscience was bothering him.
“It’s fine. It’s not like this is the first time. And you always listen to my troubles too.”
In fact, if it weren’t for the Mary situation, Rayon would have listened to my worries much more often.
He had been a mess after breaking up with Mary, but considering the help he gave me before I saved up money… I could forgive him.
“I haven’t eaten yet either, so let’s talk while we eat.”
“Thank you, Sera.”
Rayon smiled, but his eyes were sad.
I was almost certain. This was about Lady Mary.
“Butler, please prepare a meal.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Just as the butler was about to walk to the dining room, a servant entered the drawing-room and whispered something to the butler. Whatever he heard, a look of surprise flashed across the butler’s face.
“What’s wrong?”
At my question, the butler turned to me.
“Miss, His Highness the Grand Duke has just arrived at the estate entrance.”
The Grand Duke? Havel is here?
As soon as I heard the butler, his low voice saying “Don’t turn away from me” echoed in my ears.
I wasn’t ready for this yet… I didn’t even know how not to turn away!
“His Highness the Grand Duke, no, why has the Commander-in-Chief come here…?”
Rayon, instead of me, stiffened with surprise, answered the butler. The butler also looked at me with an expression that showed he didn’t understand Havel’s frequent visits.
“I don’t know either… Just open the door for him, Butler.”
“Ah, yes! Of course, open the door for him immediately.”
The servant, following the butler’s instructions, quickly ran out the door. I wanted to run and escape with him. The thought of Havel’s intense gaze falling on me again made my heart strangely pound.
It wasn’t because I was scared. It’s strange. Everything feels strange when it comes to him.
Beside me, Rayon asked if I had made dinner plans with the Grand Duke, but I couldn’t even think of an answer and just walked towards the entrance.
With the butler, Hilda, Liche, and a few servants and maids, I stood by the door, waiting for Havel.
After a short while, the Grand Duke’s carriage, engraved with a golden hawk symbolizing the imperial family, entered the mansion’s front yard and came to a stop. The carriage door opened.
Havel, not in his usual uniform but in a white shirt and pants with a long coat, stepped out of the carriage.
Even though we were some distance apart, it felt like our eyes met as he stepped onto the ground. His deep violet eyes looked directly at me, then shifted to the side.
One step, two steps. He, radiating a presence that couldn’t be ignored, quickly walked towards where I was standing.
“Greetings, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
“We offer our respects to the Commander-in-Chief.”
My voice, as I slightly lifted the hem of my dress, and Rayon’s voice, as he bowed, echoed almost at the same time.
“Rise.”
At Havel’s immediate command, Rayon and I straightened up. I was at a loss for words, but Rayon spoke to Havel first.
“Commander, what brings you to visit here?”
Havel’s gaze, which had been on me, shifted to Rayon. But the moment his gaze turned to Rayon, for some reason, its intensity sharpened, like a piercing ice spear.
I could clearly see Rayon falter in confusion and discomfort by Havel’s suddenly ominous presence.
No, why is he acting like that?
