Chapter 7
“Charging?”
“Yes. That alchemist said that if he can’t leave the capital, then before the same symptoms appear again, he should infuse energy that conflicts with the North in advance. He described it as a sort of ‘charging’—a way to replenish what’s lacking.”
Iveerk opened the hand he was holding mine with.
On his palm lay a crystal, covered in blotchy black stains. It looked exactly like the suppressant I had used on Iveerk’s body yesterday.
I roughly understood what was going on.
So I clapped lightly and refuted it casually.
“If it’s that, then you don’t necessarily need me. You could light a fire in a brazier or something to make it more convenient to—”
“No.”
He cut me off firmly, shaking his head.
“The alchemist said using the fire you left behind didn’t cause the same reaction in me. Apparently, the only effective way to suppress the symptoms is to directly come into contact and infuse the energy yourself.”
“…”
I couldn’t keep up with this sudden turn of events.
It seemed Fernando had conducted several experiments while I was away.
That’s probably why Iveerk, even after learning about his condition, made no move to leave. Ah, now I understood why he suddenly brought up ‘sister’ and subtly revealed his identity.
He was using Seren as an excuse to constantly ask for my help.
“Dianta! Oh, Sir Diegoff!”
A familiar voice called from afar.
It seemed she was about to say “brother” but quickly changed it to “Sir Diegoff.” But… my slow-witted brother Hynt didn’t notice anything.
Instead, his eyes narrowed warily as he scanned the unfamiliar man.
“Seren, who’s that?”
“Oh! You haven’t met yet, Hynt. This is Sir Nathan Diegoff from the North. He’ll be staying at the Duke’s residence for about a month to serve as my escort.”
“…So he’s the knight who delivered that letter.”
It was far from a friendly tone.
“Since we’ve all met now, let’s have tea together. Sir Diegoff, would that be alright?”
“Gladly.”
“Then let’s go!”
Above all, Seren was clearly favoring Iveerk.
Before I knew it, we ended up trailing behind the Raphael siblings, and once we arrived at the garden, Seren and Sir Diegoff naturally sat next to each other.
She even said she’d bring desserts herself that he would like and headed to the dining room.
Maybe that’s why…
“If you’re from the North, this must be your first meeting with Seren. Yet you two seem very close. You’re surprisingly friendly despite your appearance.”
When the three of us were left alone, my brother started picking a fight under the guise of a compliment.
Although he wore a smiling face and spoke kindly, his words, if translated directly, meant “You look like a jerk.” Both I and Iveerk seemed to pick up on that immediately.
Iveerk shot back with a counterattack.
“Yes. I’m quite sociable. Unlike some others.”
“…That last comment is a bit irritating.”
“I didn’t say it to irritate you.”
“…”
Their words dwindled, and the two men started a silent staring contest.
It was as if the first to look away would lose. They stared so intensely that even my eyes started to sting.
“Ah.”
Suddenly, a sly smile curved on Iveerk’s lips, as if he had figured something out.
“Don’t tell me you’re acting like this because the lady looked after me? That’s incredibly childish. The Duke said he’d never approve of a fiancé like that for his sister.”
“What did you just say…?”
“If the Duke had seen it himself, you’d be disqualified as a candidate right then and there.”
“And how would you know that? Just because the Duke said so doesn’t mean you can call me childish. That’s your personal opinion.”
Without any change in expression, Iveerk replied firmly.
“I know the Duke better than anyone.”
I knew I couldn’t leave things like this.
No matter how this fight ended, my brother would be the one to lose. Even if his identity was hidden, Iveerk was Seren’s biological older brother.
He should be scoring points, but he was only losing ground. Ugh.
There had to be a way… Ah!
“Maybe I should get my brother to do it.”
The two had been so quietly engaged in their staring contest that they heard my muttering clearly.
“What do you want me to do?”
“…”
Two pairs of eyes locked onto me. Feeling the pressure, I awkwardly smiled and glanced around.
Then I casually shrugged.
“Just remembered a favor a friend asked me for…”
I was referring to the “charging” Iveerk had requested.
A win-win for everyone.
It would lighten my load, and my brother could grow closer to Iveerk. It seemed like a perfect plan, and I nodded to myself in satisfaction.
That’s why I didn’t notice the grey eyes growing increasingly sharp with discomfort.
* * *
Fortunately, the time with just the three of us didn’t last long.
Not long after, Seren returned to the garden with a group of maids carrying heaps of desserts. They brought so much that extra tables had to be added.
Because of that, I could feel my brother’s trembling legs through the table we were sharing.
Rattle, rattle.
“Sir, please try this.”
“Thank you.”
“And this one too. It’s less sweet and has a softer texture than the last—it should suit your taste better.”
“It’s definitely less sweet.”
My brother’s eyes were fixed on the two across from him.
When Seren first arrived, she briefly looked after Hynt, but since then, she had been entirely focused on Iveerk. His plate was stacked high with bread, forming a tower.
Thankfully, she had dismissed the maids after setting everything up. If anyone who didn’t know the situation had seen it, they might have gotten the wrong idea.
Like my brother, Hynt.
“Right? So I specially prepared black tea with a bitter finish for you. If your tastes haven’t changed, I thought you’d like this pairing.”
“Yes. It suits me well.”
“I’m glad.”
Clink, clatter.
His leg shaking worsened. Every time I set down a teacup, the liquid rippled uncontrollably.
My brother’s eyes were practically triangular with jealousy now.
Based on past experience, if I let this continue, he’d leave without accomplishing his goal, fuming with jealousy over a stranger.
I had no choice but to intervene.
“Hey, Seren.”
“Hm?”
“I’m really sorry!”
Before getting into it, I just blurted out an apology.
I had to break their strong sibling bond before anything else. And I genuinely owed Seren an apology for vanishing during the engagement ceremony yesterday.
“You’re apologizing about yesterday?”
“Sorry. I just said I needed some air and disappeared. That must’ve surprised you, right?”
“It did, a bit… but you sent me a letter that afternoon, so it’s okay. I totally understand. You said you didn’t sleep and felt unwell. Then to hear such shocking news—of course you’d be shaken.”
Seren only smiled gently and shook her head.
She didn’t even get angry—instead, she worried about my health. She was so kind I wanted to hug her, but I had to focus on this conversation for now.
“It’s not just that. Actually…”
“Hm?”
“I’ve been hiding something!”
A hush fell over us at my sudden outburst.
I glanced between Seren and Iveerk. Seren blinked her big eyes, while Iveerk repeatedly furrowed and relaxed his brows.
Then he lifted the glasses on his nose.
Not because they were slipping, but to obscure his mouth with his arm—so that only I could read his lips.
Iveerk mouthed silently:
“Don’t say anything about the illness.”
And while I was decoding that message—
A lot was happening outside my field of view. Seren began biting her lower lip nervously, sensing something serious from my silence.
My brother tapped my foot, clearly urging me to stop stressing her out.
“Ah! So, um…!”
That finally brought me back.
I quickly looked away from Iveerk and continued what I had started.
“In the letter, I said I returned because I was suddenly unwell, but actually, I went after him.”
“Him?”
“Yeah. Sir Diegoff.”
Seren looked utterly stunned.
Then she began frantically looking between me and Iveerk. It was clearly a confusing situation—especially if she suspected I had discovered her brother’s identity.
I tried hard to maintain a calm tone.
“I saw something, and there was no way I could just sit still. Maybe I was meddling, but I couldn’t help it. So I chased after him and spoke up, asking him to deliver my message to the Duke.”
I paused for a breath.
Then continued in a more careful tone—signaling that this was the key point.
“Thankfully, he listened. We talked longer than expected, which is why I didn’t make it back before the ceremony ended. I passionately insisted Seren must not be taken to the North.”
“Dianta…”
Seren looked at me with teary gratitude.
But she also glanced at Iveerk with a complicated expression. My words had clearly made her mind spin.
Now was the time to play the final card.
“You don’t have to worry. Sir Diegoff was so moved by my friendship that he said he’d deliver my message and convince the Duke not to take you away.”
“…What? He said that?”
“Yeah. Really.”
I nodded emphatically and smiled brightly.
Then I turned to look Iveerk in the eye, still smiling. His black eyes seemed to ask me what nonsense I was spouting, and I flinched a bit…
But I carried on and delivered the line I’d prepared.
“Isn’t that right, Sir?”
“…”
“We even continued the conversation today, didn’t we? I thought it was all settled.”
As soon as I finished, Seren’s widened eyes locked onto Iveerk.
Her blue eyes still carried unease. She said nothing, but guilt toward her brother and hopeful anticipation flickered across her face.
Iveerk stared at her a moment—then finally opened his mouth.
“Conversation, huh.”
His black eyes flashed sharply as he looked at me. He was trying to read my thoughts.
A chill ran down my spine.
Thankfully, he was wearing magical eye gear that mimicked human eyes. If it were his raw gray eyes, I might’ve buckled on the spot.
As I secretly breathed a sigh of relief—
“…Ah, yes. Now I remember.”
“…”
“Yesterday was such a blur… It’s only now coming back to me.”
Contrary to my expectations that he’d deny it, Iveerk readily took the bait.
Which meant: he had effectively admitted to being the Duke of Raphael himself—by saying he wouldn’t take Seren.
Whether I had tricked him into saying it or not.
‘What are you really planning…?’
