Chapter 048
I squinted and looked at Joy, asking, “You seem really interested in my husband. Like with that handshake earlier…”
“Oh, does it seem that way?”
Joy laughed casually, acknowledging my observation.
His reaction, neither confirming nor denying, made my gaze more scrutinizing.
“Why are you looking at me like that…? Huh, it’s not what you think!”
“What do you think I’m thinking?”
Joy waved his hands frantically, as if he realized why I was looking at him that way, desperately denying it.
“I was just curious.”
“What were you so curious about?”
“Well…!”
Joy opened his mouth, clearly ready to retort, but no matter how long I waited, he didn’t continue.
Eventually, he awkwardly chuckled and mumbled, “I mean, it’s just that knowing your personal information would make it easier to work together.”
“Hm… Well, okay.”
It wasn’t the most satisfying answer, but I decided to let it slide, considering his peculiar personality.
As we walked and talked, we soon reached a fork in the road.
“Oh, a fork in the road. The tower is this way, right? See you tomorrow then.”
“Yeah. See you tomorrow, customer.”
Joy waved goodbye as he stood at the fork.
I reciprocated his wave and headed toward the castle with a light heart.
Despite the ups and downs, I felt a sense of accomplishment knowing we could now install protective barriers in the territory.
As Joy watched Dahlia’s retreating figure disappear completely, he finally let go of the smile that had been hanging on his lips.
“Ha, I don’t know if this is the right thing to do.”
Leaning against a tree, Joy let out a long sigh and groaned.
“Ugh, I’m too busy trying to secure my own future to worry about someone else.”
He muttered to himself, recalling Dahlia’s face as she had left with a proud smile just moments ago.
A strange woman who, despite her unexpectedly high status, never asserted any authority.
“Is she strange, or just foolish…?”
In truth, Joy had no intention of accepting Dahlia’s request from the start.
‘I’ve been here for nearly three months now, and I was planning to leave soon.’
He had momentarily been blinded by the 800 gold and had accepted the offer, but he could always return the money and leave whenever he wanted.
However, each time he considered leaving, something held him back.
“I can’t believe I’m seeing that dreadful curse here again.”
It was the very cruel and poorly crafted curse etched onto Dahlia’s body.
That was what ultimately kept Joy from leaving.
“It didn’t seem to be from her husband…”
Joy muttered softly, his tone troubled.
Her husband, who seemed to have quite the personality, was so busy watching his wife that he couldn’t even get properly angry at him.
To be honest, he was even prepared to take a hit if necessary.
Fortunately, Dahlia had intervened, preventing such an unfortunate incident from happening.
So, who on earth had etched such a curse onto Dahlia?
If that curse ever activated properly…
“Ah! Just stop worrying about it!”
Joy, who had been deep in thought with a serious expression, suddenly ruffled his hair and stomped his feet vigorously.
After all, it was none of his business.
Moreover, if he got entangled in the wrong way, his quiet life up until now could all go up in smoke.
But why!
Why couldn’t he shake off the image of that dull woman?
“Haah, right. I’m really leaving in two months. I need the money anyway, so it’s a good thing.”
After standing still for a while, Joy walked back to his temporary residence, mentally reinforcing that he would leave in two months.
***
Three days had passed since Joy was officially brought into the territory.
After consulting with Evan, they agreed that it wouldn’t be good for Joy’s presence to spread, so they decided not to reveal his identity.
Thus, following Evan’s orders, Joy would erase the kingdom’s magic circle when the knights on the castle walls were absent and would remain by my side as my assistant for the rest of the time.
Of course, he was merely an assistant in name; it was hardly more than a show, and he wasn’t genuinely assisting me.
Most of the time, he would just chat with me briefly or read the books he had brought in a corner.
Knock, knock.
While reviewing documents in my office detailing the progress of the territory’s restoration, someone knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
“Ugh, my body aches─.”
The door opened, and Joy trudged in with groans, burying himself into the sofa.
I set aside the documents I was looking at and sat down opposite Joy to speak.
“Are you struggling a lot? You can go back now; that’s enough for today.”
Usually, I would show the people of the castle a few hours of working together, but seeing Joy so sluggish today made me worry.
‘No matter how skilled he is, it must be tough to erase so many magic circles all by himself.’
Moreover, for some reason, Joy seemed eager to erase the kingdom’s magic circles and expedite the protective spell he had requested.
“Ugh, just a little longer. I don’t even have the strength to lift a finger right now…”
Just as Joy was answering with his face buried in the sofa, there was a knock, knock, knock!
“Milady! I’ve brought some refreshments!”
Lucy’s cheerful voice echoed from beyond the door.
At the same time, Joy, who had been buried in the sofa, jumped up and then came over to my side, standing with his arms crossed behind his back.
I told her to come in, and soon Lucy appeared in the office, pulling a tray.
“Oh! The assistant is here too! Should I go get another teacup?”
To this, Joy, who had just been whining like a child, spoke in a very dignified tone.
“Oh, I’m fine, thank you.”
Knowing his usual demeanor, I couldn’t help but chuckle at how absurd it was.
“Well then, I’ll step out for a bit. If you need anything, just call me anytime.”
Lucy set down some freshly baked raspberry cookies in front of us, smiling brightly as she left the office.
After she left, I turned to Joy and spoke.
“Why don’t you try being like that more often?”
“Ugh, customer. Can’t you see the goosebumps here?”
Joy exaggeratedly rubbed his arms, claiming he was creeped out by his own dignified tone.
Indeed, looking at his arms, I could see clear goosebumps.
Contrary to my worries, Joy was doing a great job pretending to be an assistant in front of others.
I watched Joy as he enjoyed the cookies, lost in thought for a moment.
I recalled the things I had learned from our various conversations over the past few days.
Despite his seemingly carefree and lighthearted demeanor, he was quite a mysterious man.
Even in a situation like this.
“Are you really not thinking of changing that hairstyle?”
I asked, looking at his hair, which seemed like it would easily sink if touched.
While everyone has their own unique style, Joy’s hair stood out even more because of its color.
Although it was just a formality, I had suggested that since he had become my assistant, he might want to style his hair more neatly.
I thought he would accept right away, as he seemed to dislike drawing attention. However, Joy reacted in the exact opposite way I expected.
No one was suggesting he shave his head, yet he tightly grasped his hair and shook his head, firmly saying he absolutely did not want to.
Just as I was about to think he would say something similar this time as well.
“No way. My face is too dangerous for that.”
Unlike the first time, when he just said no, this time he gave a more plausible reason, so I narrowed my eyes and asked again.
“Why is it dangerous?”
“Because…”
Joy paused for a moment, as if contemplating his words.
Could there be some reason he hadn’t changed his hair until now?
As I waited for his response with an involuntary tense expression, he finally continued.
“Because I’m too handsome.”
“……”
“Ugh!”
Joy’s frivolous laughter echoed throughout the quiet office.
midori
thanks! ahhh a curse! that makes sense, no wonder her magic was disappearing!