Chapter 6
At first, I had only planned to head to my brother and then to the Duke of Raffaello’s estate.
But earlier that morning, I ended up visiting Fernando’s lab alone first. Since I had left early yesterday, I was worried whether Iverc had woken up safely.
“He seemed totally fine. I just wanted to ask how he was doing, but I ended up getting thoroughly grilled instead. And then he suddenly told me to make a magic device for him…”
It seemed Iverc wasn’t exactly cooperative; Fernando grumbled endlessly.
He went on and on about what kind of research he was doing, how he needed more information, and so on. I had no time or interest to listen, so I left immediately.
Anyway, I could just go to the duke’s mansion and check on Iverc there.
“I’ll just bring up whether that knight I saw yesterday is around and see how it goes.”
Feeling somewhat lighter after dealing with one of my concerns, I returned home.
But I couldn’t rest right away. It wasn’t that my brother was worried because I had disappeared early in the morning—he was more anxious I wouldn’t keep my promise. As soon as he saw me, he rushed over, eyes blazing.
Almost dragged by the scruff of my neck, I got into the carriage heading to the duke’s estate.
“Yawn…”
I was so tired.
I yawned endlessly. I tried staring blankly out the window, hoping the cold breeze might wake me up a bit.
The scenery that passed by was all too familiar.
After a year of coming and going day and night, I could probably navigate this road with my eyes closed. Right here—then straight, then left…
And finally, just a right turn, and we’d be there.
“Young master, young lady. We’ve arrived at the Duke of Raffaello’s mansion.”
The moment I mentally noted our arrival, the coachman announced it.
As I stepped out of the carriage, a vast estate surrounded by a black, iron-like fence unfolded before me. The mansion, lacking in decoration and full of muted tones, stood solemnly.
“It hasn’t changed.”
Most mansions have at least a few flowers in the garden, but here, there was nothing but grass.
Normally, the changing seasons would alter a house’s atmosphere too, but this place looked the same all year round. As if time itself had stopped ever since Iverc left.
To put it nicely, it was serene. To put it bluntly, it gave off a creepy vibe.
“Are you okay, brother?”
“No. Not at all. I’m really nervous.”
As soon as he got off the carriage, my brother fixed his eyes on the main building with a tense expression.
“If you’re that nervous, how about talking outside instead of in the sitting room?”
“Outside?”
“Yeah. The front might be a little barren, but there’s that glass conservatory in the back. If you talk there, the mood might soften up a bit. It could help with the conversation.”
“…Sounds like a good idea.”
He nodded seriously.
“Then off you go.”
“Huh?”
I pushed my brother’s back.
Then I turned my feet in the opposite direction. In short, I was telling him to go fetch Seren by himself.
“Chat about everyday stuff on the way, loosen up a bit.”
I shrugged and tilted my chin slightly.
It was like saying, I’m giving you a big hint here, so be grateful. My tone and expression made my brother, Hynt, let out a helpless chuckle and shake his head.
“I’ve got a great little sister. Thanks.”
And so, we split up in front of the mansion.
In the back garden stood the estate’s only burst of color—the glass conservatory. Built with care by the former duke and duchess, it was Seren’s favorite place, one she tended with great affection.
I headed there with familiar steps—until…
“Huff…”
I heard a heavy breath.
Nearby, in a clearing close to the conservatory, a man was swinging a sword with great intensity. He wore a black wig—of much better quality than yesterday’s.
Most notably, he was wearing what looked like magical glasses, probably made by Fernando.
“He looks like he could kill someone right now.”
I instinctively felt like I should sneak quietly into the conservatory.
But I paused for a moment, watching Iverc. Hearing it from Fernando and seeing it with my own eyes were two different things.
Perhaps because he was wearing a thin shirt, I could see every move clearly. His movements were so swift that my eyes couldn’t keep up, and every swing of the sword seemed to send shockwaves, even from where I stood.
Maybe I had been staring too openly.
“…”
Our eyes met—no longer the gray of yesterday, but a deep black.
“Hello?”
“…Not exactly feeling ‘hello’ today.”
“R-right. Then, um, please carry on.”
I had confirmed he was alive and well, so I figured it was time to leave this awkward situation.
Fernando had likely told him the basics about magic addiction. There wasn’t anything else I needed to say. He cherished his sister most of all—there was no need for me to beg, “Please don’t take Seren.”
Surely, he had already decided not to.
“That’s probably why he’s swinging his sword with that terrifying aura.”
Satisfied with my conclusion and having confirmed his condition, I turned to leave quickly. But my escape failed.
Because Iverc spoke my full name out loud.
“Lady Dianta Valerian.”
Before I knew it, he had closed the distance with long strides. A tall shadow cast over me.
My body creaked like a broken machine as I barely turned to face him.
“Yes?”
“I’ve heard the gist from the alchemist.”
His voice was dangerously low.
While I stood stiff as a rock, Iverc ran a hand through his sweat-drenched hair and stared silently down at me.
He looked as if he were constantly scanning for hidden traps.
After a long, intense gaze, his wary eyes finally softened a little.
“Those words—you weren’t lying, were you?”
The sudden shift in tone made me swallow dryly.
“…Pardon?”
“I’m grateful for your kindness toward my sister. But if you lied to me—even just once—I will never forgive it.”
“Sister…?”
My lips trembled as I barely forced a smile.
It wasn’t just that he’d dropped honorifics or suddenly demanded explanations.
He had clearly, without hesitation, referred to “my sister”—while looking me directly in the eye.
“Pardon me.”
Then he suddenly grabbed my hand.
Between our joined hands, I felt a cold, hard sensation. And more than anything, even though it was better than yesterday, there was still that chilly energy creeping up my arm.
The cold made me flinch.
“Ugh… Cold…”
“It’s warm enough.”
We reacted in complete opposite ways.
Though faint, the same flames as yesterday flickered between our hands. Fortunately, less than 24 hours had passed, so the reaction wasn’t severe.
I looked around with wide eyes.
“What if someone sees us like this?”
“…So it wasn’t a lie.”
“Of course not! I have no connection to you outside of Seren, so why would I want to hurt you? Besides, I chased you to the stables yesterday just to ask you not to take Seren.”
I puffed up my chest proudly.
Still, I cautiously glanced at Iverc. Even though I’d just shouted my innocence with full confidence, he gave no reaction—no words, no gestures.
Instead, he muttered to himself in a pressuring tone.
“You don’t ask who my sister is. And even when I speak informally, you accept it like it’s natural.”
“…”
That’s when it hit me—I had completely slipped up. My eyes darted nervously.
But before I could come up with an excuse, Iverc spoke again, as if it didn’t matter.
“Well, it doesn’t matter.”
“…It doesn’t?”
“Yeah. I might have to see you as often as Seren over the next month. Wouldn’t it be better if we were on familiar terms? Of course, if you tell anyone about this…”
“Never! I swear I won’t!”
I shouted my innocence with everything I had.
“I’m Seren’s friend. I wouldn’t welcome anything that might trouble her either. I’ll keep the secret, I promise. But… there is one thing I don’t understand…”
My voice trailed off.
I was honestly scared. This man—this monster of a man—was just as terrifying in person as I had heard. I wanted to shut my mouth and just nod like a frightened puppy. But I couldn’t.
There was a thorn stuck in my throat—a question I just couldn’t let go of.
“Why… would you need to see me as often as Seren? May I ask that?”
“Didn’t the alchemist tell you?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
All Fernando had done was complain—how uncooperative Iverc was, how he suddenly demanded a magic device, and so on. Just frustration.
When I continued to look puzzled, Iverc finally let the word slip:
“Recharge.”
