CHAPTER 65…………….
* * *
The next day.
Having run into yet another obstacle without solving anything, I sat alone in the lab with my arms crossed.
“How on earth are we supposed to catch a dragon…”
I half-heartedly sketched some oversized throwing weapons on a blank sheet.
But any of them would disappear with just a single blast of dragon breath.
Knock knock.
“Come in…”
I answered lazily while slouched in my chair, but the glimpse of pink hair through the doorway made me hastily sit upright.
‘Right, I told him to come by the lab!’
Remembering my conversation with Julian belatedly, I quickly stood.
“Excuse me. Is this Countess Jacqueline’s lab… oh, it is!”
The way he stepped cautiously inside was like a small animal.
I promptly pulled out Ignis from the safe.
“You came to touch this, didn’t you?”
“So that’s Ignis, the essence of the volcano.”
Julian gazed at it with fascination.
But he only stared silently.
“You’re not going to touch it?”
“Oh, then… excuse me.”
The way he laid his hand on Ignis was as careful as could be.
The deep red stone that fit into his palm just glowed faintly without any reaction.
“How is it? Can you make out faces now?”
I spread a newspaper wide and held the portrait section in front of him.
“No.”
It seemed he expected as much—there wasn’t even disappointment in his face.
“If touching this alone could cure me, that would mean any illness could be healed by a holy relic… which makes no sense, really.”
Then why did he come here?
That question naturally crossed my mind.
Sensing it, Julian smiled gently.
“I just came because the only face I can recognize is here.”
At this point, I had to ask:
“Is my face really that distinctive?”
I never thought my features were particularly unique.
At best, maybe slightly upturned catlike eyes?
A little prettier than average?
Ugh, I sound like I’m bragging.
“No, but… I could recognize you. That you’re Clemence Jacqueline.”
His violet eyes held me.
“I wondered if I’d still be able to, but… I can.”
His whole face lit up with joy.
It was strange, a man smiling just from looking at me—but I understood soon enough.
If I were the first person he’d ever truly recognized, then of course it would feel that joyful.
‘But why me, of all people…’
This was a bit burdensome.
Just then, the door swung open without a knock.
Bang.
I frowned instantly, already knowing who it must be.
“Alfeo! I told you to knock—”
But the person who entered wasn’t Alfeo. Realizing the unfamiliar face, I was taken aback.
“Ren?”
I hadn’t expected to see him here today.
As far as I knew, his special training wouldn’t be over until two days later.
Thankfully, he didn’t appear injured.
Ren stood rooted to the spot, his eyes fixed solely on Julian, full of wariness.
I broke the silence.
“Ren, this is a guest. Wait—did your training already finish?”
Only then did his gaze shift from Julian to me.
“There’s something important I need to tell you. Do you have a moment?”
I quickly read between the lines—he wanted the guest gone.
But dismissing a guest so soon would be impolite.
“If it’s that urgent, maybe a little later—”
Julian waved his hand with a smile.
“Oh, it’s fine. I’ve finished what I came for anyway. I’ll take my leave.”
Somehow, I felt guilty watching him leave empty-handed after coming all this way.
Any other noble might’ve shown displeasure, but Julian just left with a bright smile.
‘Could he be an angel?’
Truly a rare, good man.
Watching him go, Lennox muttered:
“That guy was handsome too.”
Then he turned to me.
“Was he important to you, Professor?”
Facing him directly, I belatedly realized something about Ren seemed off—
Not only barging in without knocking, but also his frozen expression.
Assuming he was embarrassed about his own breach of manners, I explained:
“Not particularly. Just a guest who came to see a relic.”
As I expected, his face relaxed at that. Time for the carrot, then the stick.
“Still, next time, knock first, okay?”
“Sorry, I forgot.”
“As long as you don’t repeat it, it’s fine. You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
I approached, scanning him carefully.
‘From the neat way he’s dressed, it must’ve been a while since training ended.’
But I couldn’t relax—memories of him hiding injuries in the past flashed through my mind.
Without thinking, I checked him over with my hands. He turned crimson and stepped back quickly.
“S-sorry. That made you uncomfortable, didn’t it?”
“N-no…”
He stammered—a rare sight. That told me enough.
‘Yeah, he definitely felt uncomfortable.’
Nobody likes being touched without warning. I was about to apologize again, but he spoke first.
“I’m not injured. Thanks to you.”
“Thanks to me?”
At first I didn’t understand, but then it clicked.
“Oh, the magic tool. I’m glad it was useful.”
A faint smile spread across his still-flushed face.
“You really are like my guardian angel, Professor.”
“It’s not that big a deal…”
I scratched my cheek, embarrassed.
Feeling the awkwardness, I cleared my throat to change the subject.
“Ahem, so what brings you here?”
“I have a gift for you.”
Ren handed me the box he’d been holding.
I naturally assumed it was dessert—but the wrapping didn’t have the usual tulip pattern.
“I thought this might help with your research, so I brought it back from training.”
“What is it?”
I opened the box as I spoke.
Inside was a gem—unlike the rough red Ignis stone, this was a smooth orb, glowing intermittently with blue and gold light.
“…This is…”
I stared, dumbstruck.
‘I’ve definitely seen this before somewhere.’
Yes—there’d been a picture of it in Deborah’s grimoire.
A low voice came from above me.
“A dragon’s heart.”
Yes, that’s right. A dragon heart.
Wait—hold on. What?!
Julian, leaving the lab, looked around the academy.
Since childhood, he’d only ever received heir training within the ducal household.
So a place like this amazed him—
A school where children of similar age could gather, outside of the social world.
He wondered what it would be like to study alongside peers.
While gazing at the plaza, he bumped into a girl running past.
She fell with a yelp.
“Ow!!”
The books she’d been carrying scattered across the ground.
“Ah, are you alright?”
“Gasp—sorry! I’m late for class…”
She frantically gathered the books. Julian quickly helped, handing some to her.
As he did, his eyes caught the name written on the cover.
Mellin Jacqueline
Jacqueline?
That familiar name made him ask without thinking:
“Do you know Clemence Jacqueline?”
Mellin’s face lit up.
“Oh, that’s my sister! You know her?”
‘See? Nobody doesn’t know my sister!’
She felt a strange pride, her shoulders lifting high.
“We’ve met a few times.”
Julian replied with a gentle smile.
Watching him closely, Mellin easily noticed—he had feelings for her sister.
“Are you dating her?”
“…What? No!”
Julian flailed his hands, flustered, his face turning red.
“Definitely not!”
“Hmm, got it!”
Only then did he relax, cooling his tomato-red cheeks.
But watching him deny it so desperately, Mellin became certain of one thing.
‘If Ren finds out, it’s going to be chaos.’
She was sure—Lennox would be sharpening his blade the moment he laid eyes on Julian.
