Chapter 39
“What?”
The torrent of water that seemed like it would sweep through the entire room vanished in an instant.
Ilyae, whose expression had disappeared, slowly turned to look at me.
“What did you just say?”
“I was almost kidnapped. Although Asga took the hit instead…”
I told Ilyae everything that had happened to me today.
Just recalling it made the back of my neck tingle.
Without saying a word, Ilyae listened intently, then twisted the corner of his mouth coldly.
“How dare some worthless human vermin set their sights on my daughter?”
“…”
Um, Your Majesty, the Spirit King of Water, but I’m also human vermin according to you.
I murmured that inside my mind with blurry eyes.
“A spirit suppression spell… Who would have thought there’d be such vermin that can block all the mana of a child born with natural affinity.”
Ilyae muttered gloomily, then reached out his hand toward my forehead.
The moment his hand touched my forehead, a bright light flashed, and something clear and cool seeped smoothly into my skin.
“I’ve inscribed my power onto your affinity, so from now on, no pitiful little tricks like those spells will be able to suppress your natural affinity.”
Ilyae muttered in a subdued voice, then sighed and gently stroked my head.
His indifferent yet kind voice came softly beside me.
“You must have been very frightened.”
“…”
“You must have been really scared.”
At those simple words, a wave of sorrow welled up inside me.
My eyes grew hot.
Without realizing it, tears began streaming down.
“…Huh.”
The sobs burst out.
The guilt that Asga had been almost endangered because of me.
The fear that maybe I could have been taken too.
The despair that if I hadn’t had spirit magic, my life might have been ruined.
All those tangled feelings melted helplessly in front of the comforting words of my protector.
I covered my face with both hands and cried my heart out.
Ilyae silently embraced me and comforted me.
After a long while, once I had released all the feelings inside me, my crying slowly subsided.
“…Thank you, Ilyae.”
Still with my face buried in his chest, I mumbled.
Ilyae continued stroking my head silently, then gently pressed on my reddened, swollen eyes after pulling me away.
A refreshing sensation spread over my puffy eyelids.
“From now on, no one will be able to stop you. If you ever don’t want to use your hands, just call me anytime. I’ll take care of everything.”
“Okay, I will.”
I nodded with a bright smile, and Ilyae’s eyes softened even more.
He withdrew his hand and spoke.
“By the way, since you’re here, I guess you finally found out who that kid is, huh?”
“…It really felt like everyone knew who Asga was except me.”
Well, Asga’s appearance definitely reminded anyone of Akes.
I was the strange one for deliberately ignoring that fact…
I pouted and slumped my shoulders, and Ilyae frowned as if displeased.
“What’s so lacking about you that you get upset because of him?”
“That’s not it.”
“The reason you’re upset is a hundred percent related to that guy. So don’t say it’s not.”
He muttered harshly, scanning the room with sharp eyes, twisting his mouth.
“You’ve got some nerve, daring to bring him into my bedroom.”
His blunt words made my face flush bright red.
“Ilyae, that’s…”
“You don’t even need to explain. I’m sure you gave every plausible excuse to lure him here. Even though there were other options, you insisted on this one.”
“…”
I wanted to retort, but no words came to mind.
While I silently rolled my eyes, as if expecting it, Ilyae sighed.
“I still hate that guy. I hate seeing you troubled because of him, and I hate that he shows his dark side to you.”
“…”
It’s not dark, though.
Well, Ilyae had hated Akes from the moment he first met him.
I lowered my head in sadness.
“But if you’re so obsessed with him, what can I do?”
At those words, I suddenly looked up and stared at Ilyae.
Crossing his arms, he looked down at me with a half-resigned face.
“If you hate him so much, but you’re still so flustered over him.”
My face instantly burned red.
I pressed my hot cheeks with both hands.
“Did Ilyae see me as being unable to let go of Akes?”
If he said that, maybe others saw me that way too?
No way, even Akes…?
The thought made my face burn furiously.
“Ugh…”
I covered my face with both hands and moaned, collapsing where I sat.
Ilyae looked down at me, seeming to want to say more, his lips moving slightly.
But suddenly, another presence interrupted.
“Ilyae. So you were here. Ainra, it’s been a while.”
At the gentle voice unlike Ilyae’s, I jumped up in surprise.
Loose braided red hair, fiery red eyes.
With a kind smile and a slender masculine figure, the one before me was none other than Anit, the Spirit King of Fire.
“Oh, Anit-nim, hello!”
“Hey, Ainra. How have you been?”
Anit asked kindly, eyes gently sweeping.
As I nodded to answer, Ilyae frowned coldly, clearly displeased.
“What brings you here, Anit?”
“I came to pick up a certain overbearing father.”
Anit replied softly.
Ilyae’s face contorted horribly.
“Have you ever thought you’re the one who’s overbearing? I don’t need you here, so leave immediately.”
Ilyae growled, but Anit didn’t bat an eye and calmly ignored him, turning to me.
“Ainra, Ilyae’s meddling was too much, wasn’t it? Sorry about that. I’ll apologize on his behalf.”
“Oh, no! I’m actually grateful he’s looking out for me!”
I quickly shook my head.
Anit smiled gently and skillfully stopped Ilyae’s harsh words.
Then, he dispersed the affinity that was still maintaining his spirit form.
“Ilyae, you…!”
Ilyae’s angry face disappeared.
Anit clapped his hands, refreshed, and turned back to me.
“Ilyae’s advice is good, but in the end, the one who knows you best is you, Ainra. If you have no regrets, then that is the right choice.”
He said kindly.
Because of his kindness, I smiled brightly.
“…Yes, Anit-nim.”
“You’re a smart girl; I’m sure you’ll make the right choices. I believe in that.”
Anit smiled warmly, gently ruffling my hair.
“Well then, I’ll be off. See you next time, Ainra.”
Before I could reply, Anit’s figure vanished without a trace, flickering like a flame.
It felt like a storm had just swept through.
The silence hanging in the room felt oddly unfamiliar.
Feeling a little awkward, I played with my still damp hair and looked around the room, spotting a mirror in the corner.
I got up and approached the mirror.
My chestnut hair looked darker with moisture, and my round silver eyes clearly gave me a puppy-like appearance.
The dress I wore was clearly an indoor dress made of the finest silk.
A dress perfectly fitted to my body.
“There shouldn’t be any women in the Serenia family…”
When did they even prepare this?
I muttered, slightly blushing.
Playing with the soft, creamy fabric, I tore my gaze away from the mirror.
I slowly walked around the room, exploring here and there.
I had come to the duke’s mansion a few times, but this was my first time entering Akes’ private space.
At first glance, I thought it was a simply and neatly decorated room, but on closer inspection, the fine details and ornaments were quite luxurious.
Perhaps the overall silvery-white tone made them less noticeable at first.
“Truly, a great noble is a great noble…”
Just as I was about to shrink from the intimidating atmosphere, something caught my eye.
“…A cabinet?”
A luxurious cabinet on the wall beside the table.
Inside, neatly arranged glassware and glass bottles filled with various liquids.
Some bottles even had labels of notoriously strong liquors.
I blinked blankly.
Why is there alcohol in Akes’ room?
‘Akes can’t even drink…?’
