Chapter 55

“She once said something similar to what you just said to me. She told me that if even one person liked me, then the world was quite worth living in.”

“Have you ever had thoughts similar to mine as well, my lord?”

“Similar thoughts?”

Blink.

Damian was reflected in Reina’s eyes. For some reason, it almost looked like he smiled for a moment.

“I’ve thought far worse things than that.”

“What kind of thoughts, for example?”

“I was the one asking questions, yet somehow I’m the one answering again.”

He didn’t answer that question.

After confirming that tears were no longer falling from Reina’s eyes, he stepped back a few paces.

“It’s late. I’ll take you back to your room.”

In the end, he took the glass from Reina, the one she hadn’t taken a single sip from.

He set the glass back on the table and took the lead.

Reina followed behind him and stole a quick glance at the table.

‘It doesn’t look like he drank from the other glass either.’

She continued walking while looking at Damian’s back as he led the way.

In the empty mansion, the sound of two sets of footsteps echoed softly.

“We’ve finished investigating the other families who colluded with Count Embron. All support and investments given to them will be withdrawn.”

“Is it really okay to clean up that much all at once?”

“If they were the kind of families that would collapse over something like that, they’d have fallen apart long ago.”

His reply was dry, as if it were obvious.

“They’ll be grateful just to keep their lives and tuck their tails between their legs. Everyone knows what became of Count Embron.”

Damian continued sharing various small updates.

What classes Reina would be taking next.

What kind of tests would be done once the mage arrived.

Reina listened quietly to what sounded important yet oddly trivial at the same time.

‘Is he being considerate?’

Usually, even when he showed her consideration, it was limited to a few short words or a handful of actions.

He wasn’t someone gifted with words, nor someone who paid attention to others’ moods.

Aside from Estelle, it was extremely rare for him to speak while actively considering someone else.

That was why Damian talking nonstop like this felt strangely out of character.

Reina gently curved a smile that would fade into the darkness.

When they reached her door and Damian was about to leave, Reina spoke.

“I-I have a request.”

“A request?”

“Yes. It might not be difficult… a request.”

Most people would say it might be difficult. Damian thought so as he looked at her.

“Go on. I’ll listen.”

“…If I receive a title in the future…”

Reina took a breath in and out, then spoke.

“If I let go of excessive greed.”

“…”

“And if I start wanting too much, and because of that everyone ends up in danger, then please cast me aside.”

“That’s hardly something worth calling a request.”

“And if a moment comes when you have to kill me… please spare Boni at least.”

A flicker of disturbance passed through Damian’s eyes.

‘What did Reina Botn just say?’

He wondered if he’d misheard, but Reina’s expression didn’t waver even slightly.

“Are you not afraid of death?”

“I’m scared.”

“Then how can you say something like that?”

“If I don’t do this, I feel like one day I’ll really cross the line.”

Then I’d end up creating my own unhappiness with my own hands.

Reina added softly.

* * *

“We’ve reviewed all the systems and products Reina Botn proposed.”

“Are they bad?”

“No. They’re not bad.”

Peter read through the documents Reina had brought.

“But it’s hard to count them as achievements. In this case, the method Reina suggested is basically a revision of a proposal from two generations ago that was rejected by the imperial council.”

“Mmm, that’s tough.”

Reina frowned and rubbed the back of her neck.

“Still, you thought of a lot in a short amount of time. Especially this product. It wouldn’t be bad to proceed with it later.”

“It’s not something we need right away.”

“Preparing things you can use later is important too.”

As he spoke, Peter crossed out several documents.

It meant they weren’t useful at all.

While reading a neatly written passage Peter had penned, Reina spoke.

“I’ve always thought this, but you write your F in an unusual way.”

“Do I? I’ve never really thought about it. I guess it’s just a habit.”

“The lower stroke curves to the left. Usually it’s to the right.”

“Is that bad?”

“No. Not bad. Just… that’s how it is. You don’t need to worry about it.”

“…”

“…”

After a moment of silence, Peter spoke first.

“What exactly happened between you and His Grace?”

“My lord?”

“Yes. I’ve never seen His Grace avoid people this much for nearly four days straight.”

Reina looked at Peter, then asked.

“Is it really okay to talk so freely about my lord like this?”

“You’re not an outsider, so it’s fine. And this conversation is only with Reina Botn. If rumors spread, wouldn’t that put you in an awkward position?”

“You’re not wrong.”

“…Don’t change the subject.”

Peter let out a deep sigh again.

“His Grace was never one for active social interaction, so most people probably haven’t noticed yet. But there are many eyes watching.”

“Usually, people would think the problem is being especially close to a single servant.”

“If it were a regular servant, yes. But Reina Botn is different. You’re in charge of the young lady.”

Peter sighed deeply as he looked at Reina’s blank expression.

‘This is a headache.’

Reina wondered if it was really okay for him to say things like this, but Peter had already sorted out what could and couldn’t be said.

“Botn’s condition seemed strange.”

“Reina Botn? Or Bonita Botn?”

“Reina Botn. She’s been stranger since returning from the underground. Since you’re teaching her, check on her condition from time to time and report it.”

But to Peter, Reina seemed the same as always.

Yesterday and the day before, she had been her usual self.

If anything, the one acting strangely after that was Damian.

It wasn’t that strange for Reina and Damian to miss each other.

They hadn’t promised to meet every day.

‘After that, whenever he went to see the young lady, if Reina Botn was there, he avoided them.’

And it wasn’t just Reina. He subtly avoided Bonita as well.

It was fortunate that Bonita didn’t visit the office every day.

“I’m not saying it’s beneficial to maintain a close relationship with His Grace. With the Count Embron incident and all, there are people outside the mansion eager to learn more about Reina Botn.”

“So if word spreads that my lord is distancing himself from me, another faction will approach me.”

“Exactly.”

“That would be troublesome.”

“Very troublesome.”

Peter thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Since you’ll have to meet His Grace today anyway, clear up any misunderstandings if there are any.”

“There isn’t really a misunderstanding… and why do I have to meet him?”

“Did you forget?”

Peter tucked his stack of documents firmly under his arm.

“Today is the day the mage returns.”

“What time?”

“I’m not sure. He didn’t say. But you’ll know when he arrives.”

Boom!

Just as Reina was about to ask how she would know, a massive boom shook the entire mansion.

The explosive sound was so loud it made her whole body tingle.

Reina froze in a daze, while Peter merely shrugged as if used to it.

“He must be here.”

“He really makes a… very dramatic entrance.”

“Extremely dramatic.”

“Is he always that loud?”

“No. Normally, he’s so quiet it’s like he’s not even there. No presence at all.”

“Then why…?”

Peter hesitated, thinking how to explain it.

“There was a time when no one knew whether he’d come or not because his presence was too faint. After that, he started making a point of being loud when he arrives. To announce, ‘I’m here.'”

“Ah…”

Reina thought he was quite a strange person.

Just as she wondered if mages or magicians were all a bit eccentric, Peter spoke quietly.

“Not everyone is like that. He’s just a bit unusual.”

“Did I say that out loud?”

“No. Everyone who meets him for the first time asks the same thing.”

“I see…”

Following Peter toward the main gate, Reina saw a crowd gathered.

“Everyone, long time no see! I’m back! Well, I’ll be leaving again soon!”

Even from afar, she could clearly see beautifully flowing, water colored hair.

‘Beautiful.’

If Reina’s eyes were a bright golden yellow, his eyes were like glittering gold itself.

He shone so brightly that it was hard to believe Peter’s claim that he had no presence at all.