Chapter 21
“The Reason It All Began”
Maybe… Lukas is the only human who didn’t react to a golden arrow.
Even Eros’s ancient messenger bird didn’t know of another case like this. Rosedale began doubting if she had properly shot Lukas in the first place.
“I’ll need to check soon if the arrow’s still in his heart.”
She frowned deeply, lost in thought.
Suddenly—
“HEY!”
A sharp voice cut through the air. It was Phillippe, shouting with all her might.
Rosedale turned quickly toward the sound. She saw Phillippe on the ground, having fallen, and Todd standing nearby, flinching.
“Wh-Who told you to stand there like some beggar?!”
Todd barked, trying to hide his panic.
Phillippe glared at him, eyes blazing. She looked ready to lunge and pull his hair out.
“Here we go again.”
The other researchers sighed. Rosedale approached Liamson to ask:
“What happened?”
“Ah, Lady Rosedale…” Liamson chuckled awkwardly, embarrassed by the scene.
“Todd was playing around again and went too far this time.”
Another member added:
“He accidentally knocked Phillippe over when he tapped her shoulder.”
“And she crushed her herbs when she fell…”
“Todd’s always picking on her. It’s too much.”
Rosedale observed Todd’s face closely. His angry expression didn’t match his pale, panicked face.
She recalled the bird telling her that Todd liked Phillippe—but honestly, she still couldn’t believe it.
Phillippe clearly didn’t either. She stood up angrily and threw dirt at Todd.
“If you hate me, just say it, you jerk!”
Her fists were clenched, her eyes filled with pain.
“I know you don’t like me. That’s why I try to stay out of your way. So at least show me that much respect, will you?”
“N-No, I… I didn’t mean—”
Todd flinched as dirt hit his face, but his shaky eyes locked on her.
“If you really hate me, then pretend I don’t exist. Just act like I’m invisible instead of getting on my nerves every single day!”
Overcome with emotion, Phillippe turned away.
“I wish you’d just disappear.”
Todd stood frozen, unable to stop her. His shoulders slumped as she walked away, her steps loud with anger.
“Ahem. Let’s all get back to work.”
Liamson quickly guided the other members away to give Todd some space.
Rosedale glanced back. Todd stood alone, watching Phillippe’s retreating figure like a man who had lost something.
Her eyes lingered on his hunched shoulders—so unfamiliar and small-looking, they stuck in her mind like a shadow.
“Have they always been like this?” she asked.
“Not really,” Liamson said. “Todd used to be annoying, sure. But he didn’t pick on Phillippe like this at first.”
“He even asked us to speak casually when he joined, even though we’re commoners.”
“Come to think of it… when did he start being so mean to just her?”
“I think it started on that day…”
“Which day?” Rosedale and the others leaned in.
Liamson hesitated, then slowly began to speak.
Flashback: The Day It Began
It was a hot summer afternoon. Cicadas screamed in the background, and sweat clung to every surface.
“Ugh, it’s so hot I could die…”
“I wish we had just one piece of ice like the nobles use.”
“They say 100 years ago you could make ice easily with magic.”
“Wait—you guys never had ice in summer?”
Todd stared in shock, eyebrows raised.
“Wow. I’ve never met people who lived through summer without ice.”
“Oh, how special of you,” someone muttered through clenched teeth.
The others glared at Todd with exasperation.
His expression of pure pity only made them angrier.
“No, no, I wasn’t teasing! I really respect you all—especially for making it into the palace as commoners!”
“Wow. What an honor, my lord,” someone mocked.
They turned to Phillippe, who was reading silently.
“Did you hear him, Phillippe? Isn’t he the worst?”
“If you focused more on reading your book,” she replied dryly, “maybe his voice wouldn’t reach you.”
“…Right. I forgot you were here.”
Giving up, the members returned to their tasks.
Meanwhile, Todd had quietly sat next to Phillippe and stared at her.
“What is it?” she asked, still not looking up.
“Hey, how did you end up here? I mean… commoner girls usually become maids or seamstresses. Why this job?”
She gave no answer.
But Todd kept babbling.
“I mean, I’m a noble’s fourth son, so I can’t inherit anything—that’s why I’m here. But you? You’re different.”
“You know people whisper about you when you walk by, right? Doesn’t it feel too harsh for a girl like you?”
Everyone around them tensed. Even Liamson’s calm eyes were shaking.
Is he clueless? Or trying to provoke her?
“Come on, just answer me,” Todd pushed.
“Why this job? Why not something a ‘commoner girl’ should be doing?”
“Can you please stop calling me that?”
Phillippe finally looked up, her eyes cold.
“My ears are about to rot from hearing it.”
“Oh—did I offend you? I didn’t mean it like that! I’m just curious—because I’m a noble’s fourth son and you’re a—”
“My name is Phillippe. Not ‘commoner girl.’”
Her voice wasn’t angry—it was tired.
“I define the value of my own name. I refuse to let it be limited by my birth or gender.”
“…”
Todd stared wide-eyed.
“I don’t know how far I’ll go in life—but I’m not staying in some box because of a label you gave me.”
“And quit whining about being a noble’s fourth son. It’s pathetic.”
“P-Pathetic?!” Todd gasped.
He clutched his chest, ready to defend himself—but stopped. His words caught in his throat, and he just stood there, hand pressed to his heart, face red.
Phillippe calmly continued:
“You always say that you’re stuck here because of your status. But that’s your choice, not ours.”
“If you’re going to stay trapped by that label, at least stop complaining about it.”
Todd’s eyes grew even wider. He didn’t move. He didn’t blink.
“Honestly, you should be happy you didn’t inherit anything.”
“Why?”
His voice cracked.
“Because it means you have more freedom.”
He could become anything: a great merchant, a top scholar, or someone who brings magic back.
“And among all your options… helping us bring back the age of magic is the most meaningful, don’t you think?”
Her eyes sparkled with passion.
“Just wait. One day, magic will return to this land. And when that day comes, we’ll be standing at the front.”
“Not as commoners. Not as women. But as ourselves.”
Todd stared at her radiant smile. Her words lit a fire in his chest hotter than summer heat.
Meanwhile, the other members were frozen in fear.
She just lectured a noble son…! Are we going to prison for treason?!
Sure enough, Todd suddenly shot up and pointed at Phillippe.
“Y-Y-You! Where do you get that kind of confidence?! This is ridiculous!”
His voice trembled violently. His whole body shook—from his eyes to his hands.
Sweat dripped down his red face like a waterfall.
Phillippe sighed and turned back to her microscope.
“Forget it. Not worth it.”
She ignored him after that. It was clear she didn’t think he was worth her energy.
“Ugh…!”
Todd stormed off, muttering nonsense, nearly tripping over himself.
Wow. He’s really upset, Liamson thought.
Thankfully, he didn’t physically hurt anyone, so the others breathed a sigh of relief.
But from that day on…
Todd became obsessed with teasing Phillippe.
And never stopped.
