DNCTFB 17

<Episode 17>

“He believed he had wronged the late Empress. He wouldn’t even look at the portrait again. When His Highness ruined the painting, he didn’t get angry—he just said it was better if he was erased instead.”

All of it had happened because Deonis awakened as a mage, but the chief attendant didn’t know that. He believed Deonis had stepped away from the throne because he blamed himself.

Melody’s face grew somber.

“No child would not want to see their mother’s face. At least, I always wanted to.”

“Did you lose your mother early?”

“She’s probably… still alive.”

In Melody’s memories, there was always a blank space where her mother should be.

Her mother left right after she was born, and her father, always on the run from mage hunters, raised her alone. Whenever she asked about her mother, she always got the same answer:

‘Mel… your mom loved you very much. She believed the happiest place for you was by your father’s side, so she left you with me.’

Even as a child, Melody thought her dad was a bit naive. If her mom had loved a mage knowing what he was—and still left—there was probably only one reason.

‘She was afraid I’d become a mage too… And I look a lot like my dad.’

Her eyes, nose, lips—everything was just like him. That’s why she couldn’t find a trace of her mother in the mirror.

‘Though… he said I had her green eyes.’

Someone else with green eyes like hers. Even if that person had abandoned her, Melody couldn’t help but want to see her face at least once before she died.

‘Even if it’s just a glimpse from far away…’

When she looked up, the chief attendant was gazing at her with a kind expression she’d never seen before.

“If you’re meant to meet, it’ll happen— as long as she’s still alive.”

“…As long as she’s alive.”

If Melody could change the story and survive, would she get to see her mother?

She drifted off into thought, until the chief attendant—now back to his usual serious face—spoke again.

“When His Grace finishes his current tasks, would you be willing to make some tools for the estate? I’ve heard some of your inventions are quite useful.”

“Of course.”

“But… please care more about the appearance next time.”

His firm expression left no room for argument.

“…Got it.”

Melody mumbled, her voice small.

“You stayed up again?!”

Melody quickly looked up at Anna’s voice. Morning sunlight was pouring through the windows. She slowly unfolded her stiff body.

“I just wanted to check one more thing before sleeping…”

But that one thing wouldn’t work out. It had been three—no, four days now.

“There’s no place for the magic to escape. So how do I reduce the number of magic cores? I can’t walk around carrying a whole bed. The device can only handle up to double the released magic!”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Also, you didn’t even eat dinner?!”

Melody’s face had grown pale, and there were dark shadows under her eyes. Her already fair skin looked ghostly white—like someone who had never seen sunlight.

“Now that you mention it, I am kind of hungry. Still, even using light magic formulas, it’s hard to—ugh.”

Anna placed the food she brought in front of her, ignoring the mumbling.

“Eat first. You can rant after.”

“The magic core has limits. A monster’s core can only hold so much power—”

“Eat first. Talk later.”

“…Fine.”

The smell of soup made her stomach growl. Melody stuffed some bread into her mouth.

“Slow down!”

“I can’t believe I actually made something like this work. I must’ve been way smarter in the future. The magic cycles by draining the energy and refilling it… But the draining part’s causing too much stress on the core…”

“That sounds… very serious.”

Anna replied halfheartedly. All she really knew was that a magic core was a monster’s heart.

“What am I missing? I need to finish this soon—to survive and help the Duke fall in love.”

“…Love?”

Anna suddenly shot up. A boring conversation was about to become interesting—and she wasn’t going to miss it.

“Do you love the Duke?!”

“No, not like that…”

“Does he love you? Is it the whole social status thing?”

“No, that’s not it either—”

“So there is love involved!”

“…That part’s true.”

Melody corrected herself—it was about Deonis’s future love for the heroine, Riheline, who hadn’t even appeared yet. But Anna wasn’t really listening anymore.

She babbled about how Melody had been trying really hard lately, and in the background, Melody thought she heard a knock.

“Since she hadn’t returned to her quarters for a while…”

“You’re meeting His Grace.”

Anna bowed, clearly excited. She’d never seen Deonis up close before.

Melody blinked at him, then tilted her head.
Something felt… off.

“There was something I wanted to say if I saw the Duke…”

Then suddenly—she clapped her hands loudly.

“Oh, right—my vacation!”

“Vacation?”

Deonis frowned.

“According to my contract, I still have two days left this month.
Can I use them now?
I got caught up in research and didn’t get to visit home.”

His face didn’t look thrilled.

“Three days off per month, was it?”

“Yes.”

“Who added that clause?”

Rohan answered for her.

“It’s a standard item in employee contracts, Your Grace.”

Deonis seemed to think for a moment—then gave a small nod.

“I’ll have a carriage prepared.”

At the front entrance, a carriage was waiting—and Deonis stood beside it.

“What are you doing out here?”

“You said you were going home.”

“Yes…”

Was he… seeing her off?

Just as she thought that, Deonis held out his arm.

“I’m hurt.”

“How did that happen?”

“The training grounds. There was an accident.”

The answer came from Rohan, not Deonis.
Melody tried to remember if he had any wounds in the workshop—but couldn’t recall anything.

“It bothers me.”

Deonis walked forward and silently handed her a roll of bandage.

Rohan was right there.
So was Anna.
And six more staff members stood nearby.

“…You want me to do it?”

“Who else is here?”

Behind Deonis stood Rohan.
Behind her was Anna.
And everyone else.

“You said you’d keep caring about me.
From now on.”

“I did say that…”

She had—but did he have to say it in front of everyone?

Anna gasped.
The servants exchanged awkward glances.
The atmosphere turned weird.

Melody bit her lip.
Still… she couldn’t just ignore a wound.

“Come inside.
I’ll take care of it.”