Episode 30
Snore. Snnnore. HACK. Rrrrnnnkk.
I thought I was a heavy sleeper. Once I was out, I rarely woke in the middle of the night.
But Kallen’s snoring…
It sounded like a giant bear hibernating deep inside a mountain cave.
When he inhaled, it was like a fierce storm forcing its way through a narrow rocky crevice. When he exhaled, it was like a firework going off—“Pfffffuuuuh.”
Every time his lips went “Pffft-pffft,” I swore the entire bed shook.
…This won’t do.
Eyes wide open in the dark, I finally sat up.
Since I couldn’t sleep anyway, I figured I might as well enjoy the night air and look out the window.
I carefully opened the door and stepped into the hallway.
But then I heard a metallic rattle beneath the doorknob.
A tin container with a lid was hanging from it. It looked quite full.
“What’s this?”
I picked it up and opened the lid—an inviting, buttery aroma wafted up immediately.
Inside was a slice of bread slathered in rich butter and toasted to perfection.
The smell alone made my stomach grumble. I hadn’t finished my lentil soup earlier because the atmosphere had been so tense.
Maybe just a small bite.
I tore off a corner and popped it into my mouth. It melted on my tongue, spreading warm buttery flavor throughout.
“Delicious… I’ll save some for Polka.”
Polka had decided to sleep outside, saying she wanted to explore the surrounding trees and would return in the morning.
Nibbling the bread slowly, I looked out past the window toward the buildings across from the inn.
A crescent moon, shaped like a silver fingernail, cast pale light on the orderly triangular rooftops. It finally hit me that I was far from the imperial palace—someplace unfamiliar.
Creak.
A door opened from somewhere down the hall. I turned my head, thinking it might be another guest stepping out.
I couldn’t see their face, but the silhouette was large.
“Why are you out here?”
“Antonio?”
“You should be getting a good night’s sleep if we’re leaving early tomorrow.”
As he came closer, his features came into focus in the moonlight. I felt a bit relieved—it wasn’t someone I didn’t know well, but him.
“Ah, I just… couldn’t sleep.”
Snnnooore. Kallen’s heavy snoring filled the silence from behind the closed door.
Antonio chuckled.
“Kallen’s snoring isn’t something everyone can survive.”
“…I didn’t expect it to be this bad.”
“Is the bread good?”
“Yeah! Wait—did you leave it for me?”
“You stopped eating dinner halfway through, so…”
“Thanks. It’s really tasty.”
So he had even noticed how much I ate. For someone who acted so aloof, he had a surprisingly attentive side.
“But what about you? Why are you out here?”
This time I asked. If he was out past midnight, it meant he hadn’t been able to sleep either.
“…The bed was too small. Woke me up halfway through.”
Ah, that made sense. With how big he was, an average bed must’ve felt cramped.
“Then maybe you should switch to a room with a larger bed?”
“There aren’t many beds that actually fit me. But what about you? You okay? I should apologize for the way the others treated you earlier.”
“No, it’s the others who must be uncomfortable. Some girl with a Vessel mark shows up out of nowhere saying she’ll receive your magic. I’m worried I’m just a burden.”
“A burden? I don’t recruit anyone I don’t believe will be an asset.”
Even though his tone was blunt, it strangely felt warm.
“…Thanks. Even just hearing that means a lot.”
“Do you think I picked you just because we knew each other?”
He reached out and lightly flicked my left cheek with his finger.
It was a small, casual touch, but why did my face always burn up when he did that? Good thing it was dark—my blushing cheeks wouldn’t show.
“Never underestimate your role again.”
“…”
“You’re like the key to a mystery. The only reason I even understand why I was summoned to this land… is because of you.”
Antonio said this as he softly brushed my cheek with his fingertips.
He was referring to the prophecy now—the one he’d told me never to ask about.
The soft moonlight flowed down his profile, tracing his deep eyes, sculpted nose, and sharp jawline.
Even the curve of his lips looked calm and graceful—very unlike his usual stern demeanor.
Something about it made me feel good. Maybe that’s why I decided to take a chance.
There was something I wanted to ask him, something related to the prophecy.
“Hey, Antonio… if, just maybe…”
“Hm?”
“If there ever comes a time when you decide to set everything right…”
“Yeah?”
He seemed curious, repeating my trailing words.
I hesitated, lips trembling. Was it really okay to say this aloud? But if I didn’t say it now, I might never get another chance.
“I just… I hope nothing happens to my parents or my little sister.”
“Ah, so you’ve already figured out what the prophecy means?”
He chuckled. It felt strange to have him laugh when I’d finally spoken so seriously.
A part of me suddenly wondered—maybe the reason he kept me close was to control the risk that I might reveal the prophecy.
“…I wouldn’t say I know. More like I figured you wouldn’t let me stay clueless forever.”
Antonio was quiet for a moment before answering.
“If you want an honest answer… I’m not sure.”
“Huh?”
My heart sank. It sounded like even if he took the throne, he couldn’t promise the royal family of Iote would be safe.
“A guy who was just a mercenary on the Great Continent—do you really think someone like that dreams of fixing the whole world?”
He wasn’t refusing my request—he just didn’t have an answer.
But I must have touched a nerve. The smile on his face had vanished, replaced by a bitter, almost self-directed sneer.
“…I was just asking, on the off chance—”
“Don’t waste your thoughts on useless fantasies. I’m not the kind of man who harms his knights’ families.”
Antonio added firmly.
He was saying he’d never hurt the families of those who served under him.
And maybe… maybe that meant I had to stay in Scorpio, for the sake of protecting my country.
One day, he would marry someone else. And when that day came, I wouldn’t be able to receive his magic anymore.
That thought ached bitterly. But I realized something.
I didn’t want to receive magic from anyone but him.
It was a foolish, fleeting desire to have him all to myself.
“Any new powers awaken recently? Usually even a bit of magic infusion brings out something.”
Antonio was changing the subject. He clearly didn’t want to talk about this anymore.
“Ah… yeah.”
“Tell me in detail.”
“I can see this light surrounding birds. Like threads of light wrapped around them. And the color changes—birds that like me have a soft milky-white glow, while random passerby birds look yellow.”
I had never seen anything like it before. I didn’t know if it would be useful in battle, but it was worth mentioning.
“So you can essentially tell whether a bird is friendly toward you.”
“Seems like it. I bet I could tell if one were hostile too, though I haven’t met any yet.”
“I doubt there are any birds out there who’d be hostile toward you.”
“…Huh? Why?”
“These kinds of abilities—communicating with other creatures—they usually evolve to the point of commanding them.”
“You mean I could get birds to follow my commands?”
“You might already be doing that. I’ve seen it firsthand.”
“You did? When?”
“The day you jumped into the lake to save me. I saw you behind the tree, giving orders to the birds.”
