Chapter 047
“Joy. I’m really curious about your true identity now.”
As I stared blankly at the plains and murmured in awe, Joy chuckled and replied.
“Right? I’m dying to know too.”
His cheerful voice had an underlying bitterness that made me turn my head to look at him.
However, Joy was just smiling smoothly, his lips curled up, and I couldn’t find any trace of the bitterness I had felt earlier.
“By the way, this has become a bit of a nuisance. With that amount, it’ll take at least two months to set up the protective magic circles.”
Sensing a hint of annoyance in his tone, I quickly spoke up.
“You know you can’t break the contract, right? If you do, there will be a penalty fee.”
“Hmph. I got it…”
Joy replied, his shoulders slumping in resignation.
It was then that I heard a voice.
“How insolent.”
The voice was so cold it sent chills down my spine.
Turning to see where the sound came from, I found Evan glaring at Joy with a piercing gaze.
“Do you have no respect for your employer?”
In an instant, the air around us became as tense as walking on thin ice.
As I turned my head, Evan’s angry face immediately caught my eye.
“Even if he’s not your employer, the person in front of you is not someone you can treat so carelessly. No matter how skilled a magician you are, I can’t let this slide anymore.”
Evan spat out the words as he stood directly in front of Joy.
Usually, someone like him would exude an overwhelming pressure that could make one’s legs go weak.
Watching this from the side, I took a deep breath.
This was the second time I had seen him angry since the banquet hosted by the Empress.
“Both of you, wait a moment…”
“Hm, how rude. I’m not sure what you mean—?”
I tried to mediate between them before the situation escalated further, but Joy was quicker.
“I’m currently showing the utmost respect I can to my client, so I feel a bit wronged.”
Joy tilted his head slightly and replied, his voice light.
Evan’s expression began to darken as he observed Joy’s nonchalant demeanor.
It wouldn’t have been surprising if Evan had drawn his sword from his waist at that moment.
‘I never thought I would see Joy confirm he’s a magician like this.’
While wizards are generally less bound by power and status, I had never seen someone so openly defiant.
Unable to just stand by and watch the silent standoff between the two men, who exuded completely opposite vibes, I stepped in.
“Evan, stop it. And Joy, you should show some proper respect when you’re in front of others, just like Evan said. You said you didn’t want to stand out.”
As I spoke in a deliberately stern tone, Joy pouted slightly and replied softly.
“…If that’s what the customer wants.”
As Joy took a step back, the tense atmosphere seemed to ease a bit.
After scratching his head, Joy cleared his throat and turned to Evan.
“Ahem, Mr. husband. I’m sorry about earlier. I can be a bit strange at times.”
The smile that broke out beneath his fluffy hair was cheerful, making it hard to believe he had just been engaged in a strange power struggle with Evan.
“We’re going to be seeing each other for a while, so let’s not hold a grudge, okay?”
Joy tilted his head from side to side, urging Evan to respond.
His behavior was surprisingly endearing for an adult man.
Evan’s expression, facing Joy up close, seemed to crumple, and he soon opened his mouth in a chilling voice.
“Enough… I get it, so just back off right now.”
It seemed like he was about to unleash some harsh words, but as soon as our eyes met, he quickly changed his tone.
Having already been trained by Delos, I could remain unfazed by most insults, but Evan seemed to be more cautious with his words in front of me.
I learned from a letter sent by Cesar that absurd rumors about Evan were still circulating in the capital.
They said that his habit of killing people on the battlefield wouldn’t just vanish, and surely he was responsible for several deaths in the duchy.
‘I used to believe all those ridiculous rumors in the past too.’
Looking back now, it seemed that the man was shrouded in so much mystery that all sorts of rumors had arisen compared to his overwhelming power and fame.
It was hard to understand why such terrifying rumors clung to a man who was considerate even in the smallest matters.
Breaking free from my momentary thoughts, I turned to Evan.
“Evan, I’m going to go with Joy now. I just came to introduce him today, so we’ll set up a detailed schedule starting tomorrow.”
Taking advantage of the calmer atmosphere, I thought it would be best to separate the two.
‘I should make sure they don’t end up alone together too often from now on.’
I lightly tapped Joy’s arm, signaling it was time to leave, but he braced himself and urgently spoke up.
“Wait! I still have something to do, customer.”
“What is it?”
“I haven’t shaken hands yet.”
After finishing his sentence, Joy reached out his hand to Evan again.
“Let’s shake hands to signify that we’ll get along well from now on!”
Evan looked down at the hand in front of him with a shocked expression, then sighed and took Joy’s hand.
Even though Evan’s expression was clearly visible, Joy didn’t seem to care and happily shook their hands up and down vigorously.
Now that we had done the handshake he wanted, I was about to suggest we really leave when Joy’s next action made my expression grow increasingly strange.
“Um, um. Hmm…”
I had expected Joy to let go of Evan’s hand immediately, but instead, he began to fondle it as if kneading dough.
“Looks like this isn’t the right one. Then who exactly…?”
He then muttered something incomprehensible under his breath.
Watching him squeeze and stroke Evan’s hand right next to me, I let out a breath of disbelief.
‘He pulled away from me in just one second earlier.’
Noticing Evan’s face turning cold and rotting away, I quickly turned to Joy.
“Joy, I think that handshake is enough now.”
“Oh dear, my apologies.”
It seemed Joy finally snapped back to reality and, with a bright voice, addressed Evan, who was glaring at him fiercely.
With both hands raised and a smile on his face, Joy looked so innocent that I shook my head and approached him.
“Let’s go without any more nonsense.”
I had a strong feeling that if we stayed any longer, a fight would break out, regardless of any protective barriers.
“Evan, I’m really leaving this time.”
I greeted Evan with an apologetic expression.
Just as I was about to turn and head down, I heard his low voice behind me.
“…Please be careful. Dahlia.”
Hearing my name come from his lips, I turned around to look at Evan.
But as soon as our eyes met, he looked away, his face flushing slightly.
“I’ll be going now.”
Before I could say anything, Evan turned and began to walk briskly in the opposite direction.
As I watched his retreating figure with a dazed expression, I finally came to my senses on the way back to the castle.
‘It seems like he really intends to keep the promise from yesterday.’
Could this be the result of my pleading for him to call me by my name?
He finally said my name.
He had avoided calling my name all this time as if something terrible would happen if he did.
“Has he finally decided to get close to me?”
For some reason, I felt like I had finally crossed one of the many walls surrounding him, and a smile naturally formed on my lips.
“Client, when did you get married?”
At that moment, Joy, who had been following me, suddenly came up beside me and asked.
“Why do you want to know?”
“Just curious.”
With such a trivial reason, I answered that it had been about a month.
Then, as if he had been waiting for this, Joy launched into his next question.
“So, how long have you been with your husband? Is your relationship good?”
I stopped in my tracks at the relentless questioning.
midori
thanks! i am kinda suspecting that Joy is her brother? especially with the amnesia! and the ability to be good at magic and potions, just like her mother? the hintssss!
lolol evan is giving off jealous and protective vibes! much cute!