~Chapter 22~
It was an unexpected visitor.
“How did you—no, what if someone sees you here?!”
Apparently, I was the only one surprised.
Peril, completely unbothered, simply looked around the room.
“I heard you were badly injured.”
“I’m not hurt.”
I quickly lowered my voice, worried it might carry outside.
“You could’ve just sent a bird like last time—why use such a reckless method?”
“…Reckless?”
This old man!
That’s what you’re worried about right now?!
Peril leaned in, lowering his head to meet my eyes.
“You’re calling someone who came out of concern ‘reckless’?”
“I just panicked and said nonsense. Here, please, just sit down.”
Flustered, I ushered him onto the sofa.
“I can’t serve you tea. You understand why, right?”
Who knew what kind of chaos would break loose if I called Emily right now.
The Archmage, supposedly in a deep sleep, had shown up at the Marquis’ estate.
In my room, no less!
Even as I stared at him in disbelief, Peril smiled serenely.
How is he smiling right now?!
If he had to come, couldn’t he at least hide his appearance?
While I fumed silently, Peril remained calm. Then, suddenly, he reached out and gently fiddled with a strand of my hair.
“…You’ve changed.”
“I’m exactly the same.”
“You know your eyes twitch when you lie?”
“That’s just because I was shocked!”
“Is that so.”
Is that so, my foot.
My head throbbed.
“I haven’t found the World Tree’s root yet. When the time comes, I’ll come to you. So please don’t show up like this again. Too many eyes around here.”
“I told you that’s not why I came. You really need to learn how to listen to people.”
Peril let go of the strand of hair and stared at his now-empty fingers. Then he patted the seat beside him.
“Lie down.”
“…Excuse me? I’m not rude enough to lie down in front of a guest.”
“Stop talking.”
“Before that, I’d like an answer from you.”
At my stubbornness, Peril let out a dry chuckle. He tilted his head, slightly crooked.
“Should I make you lie down by force? Or will you do it on your own—”
“I’ll lie down.”
“Good.”
I obediently curled up beside him like a shrimp.
Then I heard a tsk from above.
What now? You’re the one who told me to lie down.
A flicker of frustration passed across Peril’s face.
I was about to sit up again in protest when—
“…!”
He gently covered my eyes and pushed me back down toward him.
At that moment, a warm energy spread from his palm.
The heaviness that had been weighing down my body like lead began to lift, little by little.
“Huh?”
Even my foggy, water-logged mind cleared up.
When the warmth faded and my vision returned, I saw Peril’s spring-like face looking down at me.
“…What did you just do?”
“A curse-breaking spell.”
“…”
“Just kidding.”
Peril had a strange talent for making jokes not sound like jokes.
I gently brushed away the strands of Peril’s hair that were tickling my cheek and sat up.
“I’m pretty sure I told you to look after Idette, not to jump into the water with her.”
…Is he mad?
He’s not going to suddenly cancel our deal just because of this, right?
But what Peril said next was quite unexpected.
“Life is precious. I don’t have the power to bring back the dead, so don’t act so recklessly. I didn’t mean for you to sacrifice yourself just to protect that child.”
“……”
“…It was selfish of me to ask that of you.”
He flicked my forehead as if to ask if I understood.
My heart jumped—I seriously thought he was trying to kill me with a flick.
Rubbing my forehead, I glanced at him sideways.
“…Is Lady Idette okay?”
“She is. Thanks to your fiancé.”
Peril tilted his head.
“Ha-ha.”
I gave an awkward laugh and turned my head away.
Seeing that I was avoiding the topic, Peril also changed the subject.
“Well, because of me, you’ve had to deal with all this trouble.”
“No, I was the idiot who fell into the water.”
Peril frowned at my reply, clearly displeased. He let out a small sigh and spoke again.
“Is there something you want?”
“…Excuse me?”
“Something you want, perhaps a gift.”
Was he offering me a reward?
My eyes widened at the unexpected gesture.
***
〈Can I tell you later?〉
Peril’s gift was put on hold. A gift from the Tower Master—I needed to think carefully and choose wisely.
Thanks to him, though, my body had fully recovered.
I was heading to see Grandfather, feeling much lighter on my feet, when I ran into Cedric.
His lips parted slightly.
That was… a sign of nagging incoming.
I quickly spoke up.
“I’m all better now!”
“……”
“I just felt stuffy being cooped up in my room.”
“…I see.”
I thought he was going to tell me to go back.
I blinked, stunned, and turned toward Grandfather’s room.
“Is he inside?”
“He’s at the Imperial Palace.”
“…What?”
What Cedric said next shocked me even more.
Ever since Grandfather’s health declined, he had been avoiding outings.
No way.
“…Because of me?”
“No, it’s for another matter.”
Cedric sighed softly.
“Bianca.”
“Yes?”
“…The cancellation letter will be delivered to Hessen within the week.”
I wasn’t even surprised anymore.
I had somewhat guessed it when I spoke with Grandfather, but I hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly.
“Thank you for everything up to now.”
Cedric reached out toward me but hesitated.
After a moment’s pause, he lightly patted my shoulder.
Cancellation.
It was what I’d wanted all along. I was sure of it.
But maybe because it was so sudden, all I felt was a dazed confusion.
“…Shouldn’t I meet with the Duke?”
“There’s no need. It was a matter between families—you don’t need to concern yourself.”
So this is the end.
I parted my lips and hesitantly spoke.
“I’d like to see the Duke, if that’s okay.”
“Is that really necessary? Like I said before, I’d rather you spent your time on something more worthwhile.”
Cedric’s gaze was persistent.
But when I didn’t answer, he closed his eyes tightly.
“Would seeing him bring you peace of mind?”
“…I’m not sure. I think I’ll only know once I see him.”
After a long silence, Cedric finally replied.
“…If that’s what you need, I won’t stop you.”
“Thank you.”
I gave Cedric a faint smile.
After we parted, I fell into thought.
…Why did I say that?
It’s not like I even have anything to say to him.
Just then, I overheard the maids talking from behind a door.
“Why does she want us to burn this? It looks perfectly fine.”
“Exactly. Out of courtesy, she could’ve at least read the letter…”
They were burning something in the fireplace.
…A letter.
A bouquet of flowers.
And the chocolates I used to love.
**”
Cedric followed through on his word immediately.
He arranged a meeting with Ricardo for the next day.
I stood in front of the mirror in a modest dress, blinking vacantly.
Was I excited? Or still in shock?
I couldn’t quite grasp what I was feeling.
That remained true even as I arrived at the garden where we were to meet.
From a distance, I saw Ricardo.
Sensing my presence, he turned his head toward me.
Clutching my dress hem tightly, I walked up to him.
“…It’s been a while.”
At my words, Ricardo clenched his fists.
Blue veins bulged on the backs of his hands.
He looked thinner than before—worn out, even.
“…Shall we sit?”
Once again, it was me who spoke first.
Even after we sat and the maids brought tea…
Ricardo remained silent.
He just sat there, eyes downcast, not saying a word.
Was time even passing?
There were no signs of Ricardo obsessively checking the time, like he used to.
So I couldn’t even guess how long we’d been sitting there.
Then, I noticed the stopped watch on his wrist.
The hands had ceased moving entirely.
By the time the tea had grown cold, Ricardo finally spoke.
“…Are you feeling better?”
His voice was rough, the edges faded.
Trying to ease the mood, I shrugged lightly.
“I’m fine.”
“…May I ask why you wanted to see me today?”
“The cancellation papers will be sent this week.”
Ricardo froze at my words.
…I think I finally understood a little.
Why I had wanted to see Ricardo again.
“I just wanted to bring things to a proper end.”
