Chapter 65
Etienne slowly nodded when he heard my question.
“From what I expect… if your mana circuits recover, it’ll likely have a good effect on Eloise too.”
“Ooo! Great, let’s start practicing right now!”
I clenched my front paw with excitement, and Etienne snorted softly, then breathed his mana into my hand.
Etienne’s characteristically cool mana circulated in my palm.
“Right now your mana is only flowing a little, so try learning how to use it by operating with my mana.”
“Is sharing mana like this something anyone can do?”
“No. Only mana resonators can give and receive like this.”
“Ooo! Etienne, you’re an amazing powerhouse.”
“It’s an ability unique to the leader of the wolf beastfolk. It’s not that I’m amazing.”
The eyes Etienne showed as he said that were calmly settled.
I, on the other hand, acted all dramatic and giddy in wonder.
“But still! Others can’t do this, right? Other beastfolk can’t do it either! So you really are amazing!”
“You… you’re strange as always.”
I lost my energy a bit when he said I was strange after I’d given him a compliment.
Tch. I need to practice using mana. I could still feel Etienne’s mana swirling smallly in my palm.
But since I didn’t know how to actually use magic, I just stared at my palm wide-eyed.
“Think of the shape you want. Like making that shape with mana.”
“Anything possible?”
“For now, choose one of the five elements. Water, fire, earth, air, or wood—whichever you want.”
It isn’t like someone who can do magic can automatically wield all five elements, so Etienne’s suggestion seemed too casual.
I thought about what would be best.
Water is used by Marcel, and I’ve seen Raoul use air—so maybe choose one of those two.
“Ugh.”
Like making water droplets that pop up, or making a warm breeze with air.
I tried hard to imagine a shape, but the mana didn’t budge. My expectation turned to disappointment.
‘Useless woman. You really can’t do anything.’
My biological mother’s words from a past life scratched at me again. Was I really no good at anything?
“Not what other people have done—try making what you want.”
Etienne whispered quietly. What I wanted?
Suddenly something flashed through my mind like lightning.
The small blue flame that had once flickered faintly between Eloise and me a little while ago.
I couldn’t forget that light, which had shone clearly even through the pain.
At that moment a flame, a little larger than a candle, bloomed above my front paw—blue.
“Oh! Etienne! Did you see? I succeeded just now, right?”
“Yes. It seems you have talent.”
“Wow! I made a flame!”
It felt strange and wonderful. So this was what accomplishing something felt like.
After a life of repeated failures, I had done something for the first time.
I stared at the small, brightly burning flame.
Like a child, purely delighted and innocent.
“Well done.”
Etienne reached out and tickled my head.
I liked the feeling of being praised and rubbed my head against his hand.
For some reason his hand felt warmer—maybe I was mistaken.
In the garden where spring flowers were in full bloom, only the buzzing of bees could be heard.
Raoul sat between Marcel and Eloise, constantly shifting his gaze.
How had he ended up in such an awkward position, agreeing to a ridiculous scheme hatched by a stray cat?
This quiet tea-time had been going on for several days already.
“Your Highness, is the tea to your liking?”
“Tea from Monclair is always delicious. Raoul, don’t worry.”
Conversation fell silent again. Raoul, who was usually taciturn, was enduring what felt like torture.
Eloise, even in this suffocating space, elegantly drank her tea and gazed at the flowers.
How on earth was he supposed to bring these two together?
A sigh escaped Raoul.
‘Make them naturally notice each other. Young Viscount.’
The cat’s request came to mind, but Raoul had no such talent.
‘I should have just stepped away and left them alone together,’ the cat had said.
“Aha!”
Raoul suddenly realized a good idea without meaning to.
Now that they were inside the mansion, the story wouldn’t leak outside.
After replacing some of the servants, the remaining staff were being more careful with their actions.
Raoul cautiously addressed Marcel, who was looking at him.
“Your Highness, I’m sorry, but something urgent just came to mind. I’ll take care of it and return.”
“Seems the young viscount has many duties. I thought only Hans was always busy under father.”
Eloise’s sharp remark made Raoul pause before he could retort.
A little while ago the cat had advised him to polish his manner of speaking if he wanted to get closer to the lady.
“It’s a personal matter. Hans is working hard, isn’t he? Sister, I’m sorry to have to leave the table. Could I ask you to take my place?”
The results of five days of being scolded by the cat and changing his tone showed.
Raoul smiled at the thought that he’d be able to tell the cat about today proudly.
Eloise watched him silently, then answered demurely.
“All right. Go.”
Her short but gentle reply prompted Raoul to nod and leave the garden.
When the two were left alone, Eloise quietly gave a command to those around her.
“Everyone, take ten steps back.”
Clack, clack, clack, clack, clack.
The servants, including the knights, stepped back in unison.
At that distance, Eloise and Marcel’s conversation wouldn’t reach them.
“Lady, why are you pushing everyone back like this? I’m getting scared a little.”
“You should be scared, Your Highness. You could have secretly sent only Etienne to the ducal house, you know.”
“If Etienne is missing from the imperial palace, everyone would find that strange. They’d say even the next leader has disappeared.”
“You’re not so incompetent you couldn’t hide Etienne’s brief absence.”
Despite Eloise’s pointed comment, Marcel shrugged and popped a macaron in his mouth.
“Princess Monclair overestimates me.”
“It’s already been a week. I’m worried it might interfere with His Highness’s duties.”
“That’s underestimation. There’s no backlog in the work; everything’s being handled fine, so don’t worry.”
“Your Highness.”
Every time Eloise called him that way, Marcel’s heart prickled like a foot asleep.
He reached for another macaron. The melting sweetness calmed his unease.
‘Marcel, have you ever honestly told Ellie you like her?’
That mischievous Lisette kept teasing Marcel after she’d noticed his feelings.
He didn’t like the idea that the woman he liked would become his brother’s wife.
But the emperor’s will had spoken, so he had endured.
For the peace of the empire, one had to let go of petty desires.
‘Seal. Your mother will bring it back to you. Everything.’
Since the empress had put a blade to the emperor, who knew what would happen to the empire’s peace in the future?
It would be better for him to finish things cleanly from his position before it spread into a bigger problem.
The documents in Marcel’s hand were enough to blackmail the emperor.
He didn’t want to be a hated son, but having never been doted on, he decided to take care of his own desires now.
“Ellie, you haven’t signed the marriage contract yet.”
“Your Highness, sudden—”
“Shall I help the cute white devil with a little mischievous trick?”
“What kind of accident did Lisette cause now that you’re saying that?”
Marcel had accidentally overheard Etienne and Lisette whispering and talking.
‘Lisette. The documents we’ve gathered so far are only about restoring the Empress’s territory, preparing for war with the beastfolk kingdom, and the suspicion of Count Lonzbleur poisoning Eloise.’
‘So that’s it. As expected of the male lead. Even if we search thoroughly, it’s only this much.’
‘What?’
‘No. The Empress’s territory could be cited as grounds for a broken engagement, but it won’t move the Emperor.’
‘That’s right. The war with the beastfolk kingdom is only in preparation stage too.’
Caught by Marcel, the two children brazenly asked him to help break off Eloise’s engagement because they couldn’t do it themselves.
Since Eloise was looking at Marcel so prettily, he couldn’t refuse.
“Ellie, won’t you end it with your brother now?”
Marcel had the means to move the Emperor in a way Lisette and Etienne couldn’t find.
