Chapter 9
“May the blessing of God be with you.”
“Thank you, Father.”
The priest had just left Luna’s house. Thanks to the fee she had received from her client, everything had gone quickly.
She had hired new servants and brought in a priest to cure her grandfather’s long illness. The money that had briefly filled her purse was already gone. She would have to take on another commission.
For other middle-class noble families, the amount wasn’t a burden. But for Luna, it was a painful expense. Even so, she had no regrets.
After years of being unable to treat her grandfather’s disease, just seeing him regain his health completely was enough to satisfy her.
“Luna, I’ll never forget your kindness. I’ve regained my strength, so leave the rest to me. You mustn’t purify any more curses.”
“……”
“And… won’t you meet Count Mond? You already promised before you left. Just this once, I ask it of you.”
Baron Alonzo Aderet, now healthy again, persistently urged his granddaughter.
To him, marriage was a far better path than letting his only remaining blood relative continue to suffer while cleansing sinister curses.
“Grandfather, I’ll tell the count we’re breaking the engagement.”
“If you dislike the count, then I’ll find you a fine groom from the East.”
“I don’t want to marry! You saw it yourself—I solved it. From now on, you’ll only eat meat dishes. No—forever, I’ll only feed you meat dishes!”
“That makes me anything but happy, you foolish girl!!”
“Grandfather…”
His sudden fury made her voice tremble. She had never heard such harshness from him, and even her eyelids quivered.
Looking at her shaken face, Baron Alonzo sighed deeply.
“Think of my age, child. If I die, there will be no one left to protect you. I want you to find someone you can trust and rely on. Marriage is the closest thing to that.”
“You can stay healthy for a long time. And even so, I don’t want to marry right now. I… I just don’t know.”
Truthfully, she didn’t want to know.
She understood her grandfather’s intentions, but her heart resisted marriage.
She had only just resolved the Crow Guild incident—how could she be expected to wed so soon? Why should she extend her hand to another family already, when there was still work she could do?
Because purification left her body in pain? Was that really enough reason?
“I’ll get some fresh air.”
“Luna.”
“Go to bed first.”
It was a relief she hadn’t eaten dinner. Otherwise, she would have only ended up throwing up all the good food she’d worked so hard to enjoy.
The cold night air pierced her warm heart. Like fallen leaves crumbling underfoot, her heart was breaking into pieces.
All the struggles and efforts she had piled up now seemed as fleeting and hollow as a handful of coins that had already slipped away.
Luna walked aimlessly. Tears stung at the corners of her eyes, only to be dried by the wind as she wandered until she reached the plaza.
She dropped onto a bench, slouched her shoulders, and tilted her head up at the sky. The violet twilight was beautiful—yet it brought her no comfort.
“…?”
Just then, a cloak draped over her shoulders. She had been so lost in thought that she hadn’t even noticed someone approaching.
“Did I not tell you to recover fully? What is this pitiful sight?”
“Client…?”
Startled, Luna lifted her head. Behind the blazing sunset stood a towering figure, and in its shadow, eyes the color of the heavens gazed down at her.
It was Khalid.
She stared blankly at him. For the first time, he was properly dressed. Despite his noble appearance, his clothing resembled that of a dark wanderer, as though he had just returned from the mines.
As Luna looked him over, she realized she herself had run out without even a shawl. For some reason, the cloak he had draped over her shoulders felt unusually warm.
With a slight frown, he sat down beside her. Luna seized the chance and suddenly grabbed his hand.
“What are you doing?”
Khalid frowned, caught off guard by her unexpected move.
“Since we’ve run into each other, won’t you accept purification? Don’t you need it?”
Yes, you need it. And I need you. You’re the patron who can refill my purse—what does my sulking heart matter compared to that?
Luna smiled sweetly, her eyes curving softly as if her earlier gloom had never existed.
“That’s quite a tempting offer. But I’d rather you speak of it when your body has truly recovered.”
He wasn’t easy to sway. He gently pulled his hand free and instead drew her cloak tighter around her.
Her condition was fine enough, so what did he not trust?
Perhaps he was simply being cautious because she had once collapsed during purification. But still… it left her feeling unsatisfied.
“Where are you wandering without even eating dinner?”
“Then buy me dinner. Something happened.”
He had seen right through her, and her pride was pricked. She ended up blurting out the words in irritation.
“Very well.”
“…What?”
“Let’s eat. You’ll recover faster if you do.”
Luna blinked in astonishment, then decided to take it at face value.
He needs my purification as much as I need his money, doesn’t he? This way, we both get what we want.
She nodded firmly.
At the restaurant, course after course of rich, nourishing food was set upon a white tablecloth. Each dish looked exquisite, designed to tempt the appetite.
“Eat plenty.”
“I’ll eat until your wallet is empty.”
“For a mercenary mage, your words are quite crude.”
“What does it matter?” Luna said, slicing her steak with elegant grace. If casual words could hide her identity, then so be it. That was far better than letting anyone discover the truth.
If her identity was exposed, she would be helpless. She had nothing—her status too low to withstand the consequences.
She gripped her fork tightly, resolved to never let it slip.
And then—
A broad shadow suddenly fell over the table.
“Luna Aderet? What a surprise. Did you come here to see me?”
“…Arne Obis…?”
Luna froze at the sight of a large man with brown hair.
Why of all people was he here? And worse—he had said her full name aloud.
She darted a glance at her client. At some point, Khalid had pulled a black mask up over his nose and mouth.
“You didn’t know? This restaurant belongs to my family. Though… it’s a shame your business isn’t with me. Having dinner with another man, are you?”
“What’s it to you? If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come here.”
“It’s very much my concern. My future wife is already meeting another man.”
“Did you forget? I already rejected your proposal. How can you shamelessly say that?”
“I haven’t given up on you yet.”
Luna’s face twisted in disgust, but Arne only found her reaction delightful. He licked his thick lower lip.
“Just accept it already. No other eastern noble will take on your mountain of family debt. I’ve said it again and again—the only one willing to marry you is me, the heir of the Obis Merchant Guild.”
“Keep spouting nonsense, and see what happens.”
She almost mentioned the marriage her grandfather had arranged with Count Mond. But whether it was an old noble from the capital or this crude, persistent merchant, both prospects were equally dreadful.
And now this insolent man was airing her private affairs right in front of her client. Clearly, he was doing it to humiliate her.
Things were not going well. Against her will, everything about her was being exposed.
Arne looked her over leisurely. Watching the blood drain from her face gave him perverse satisfaction. The more she was shaken, the more entertaining it became.
He leaned closer, resting one hand on the table.
“Luna, whatever you do with this guy—it’s just for tonight, right?”
His voice dripped with sleazy arrogance, as if he were granting her some grand indulgence.
Luna’s eyes widened in outrage. Was he insane? She had been clear that she despised him, yet he still treated her like a possession.
“I’ll say it again—I can’t stand arrogant men like you who think they’re better than everyone else. I have no intention of marrying you, not now, not ever. So get lost!”
Her chest rose and fell as she shouted. But her angry reaction only thrilled Arne more—it was exactly the response he wanted.
“Oh my. Did I make my sweet Luna angry? I’m scared~. Fine, I’ll let you off tonight.”
He smirked, narrowing his eyes as if mocking her. Then he reached out, clenched his fist, and opened it again. Flames suddenly erupted over her steak. The meat charred black in seconds.
“Now that looks more like a meal suited for the two of you. Enjoy it.”
Luna stared between the burning steak and Arne, who had revealed himself as a mage. Normally mischievous, he had never been this blatantly offensive. Tonight, he truly seemed deranged.
She was so stunned that all she could do was gape, her lips moving soundlessly. If she could, she would have smacked him across the head to bring him to his senses.
Crash—!!
Suddenly, his huge body crashed to the floor with a thunderous noise.
All eyes in the restaurant turned toward them.
Luna’s own eyes went wide as she saw what had happened.
Her client had quite openly tripped Arne.
