Chapter 7 – Trauma (Part 9)

“I’m sorry… for suddenly hugging you.”

Once she calmed down, Ellerdin pulled away with a flushed face.

As if regretting the loss of warmth, Fernan clenched and unclenched his empty hand with a smile.

“You can hug me anytime. Give me a chance to comfort you.”

Fernan gave a brief kiss on the back of Ellerdin’s hand.

Her heart tingled, and it felt like heat was rising from where they touched.

Ellerdin quickly dashed back into the sea.

The initial fear was short-lived, and feeling the vast freedom, she began to swim leisurely in the sea, moving her fins.

In fact, even though she was just circling a few meters around the island.

Yet, she felt immense happiness.

The fearful trembling from earlier was gone, and seeing her joyful appearance, Fernan unknowingly clenched his fists tightly.

He couldn’t get the image of her crying out of his mind.

She was so happy just by entering the sea.

He wanted to kill all those who confined and abused her.

His anger caused his magic to fluctuate.

Sensing the sharp wave of magic, the fish circling Ellerdin started to panic and move erratically.

“Huh?”

Seeing this, Ellerdin tilted her head and poked her head out of the water.

Fernan waved his hand with a bright smile, as if nothing had happened, at the sight of her peeking out.

The smile felt like it reignited the heat that had cooled down. This feeling was new, and every time she saw Fernan, the heat kept rising.

Ellerdin, with a flushed face, went back into the sea.

Completely relaxed, she began to swim freely, fully feeling the sea with her whole body.

Every time she flicked her tail and swam, the corals glowed, and the fish followed her.

Dolphins, sensing the presence of a mermaid, squealed from afar and swam over.

Seeing her roaming the sparkling sea with the fish and dolphins, Fernan felt like he had fallen for her all over again.

Even after some time had passed since Ellerdin returned to her human form, the sea still held a faint glow.

She sat on the sandy beach, gazing at the sea with a peaceful expression.

The blazing sun had already set beyond the horizon.

Fernan, speechless at the picturesque scene, stared at her back.

He was watching in a daze when Ellerdin suddenly turned around, perhaps sensing his presence.

Their eyes met through her fluttering hair.

‘Ah…’

He would never forget this feeling or that scene for the rest of his life.

“Fernan, look over there. The sunset is beautiful.”

Ellerdin said with a smile, her eyes curving.

Her eyes, reflected in the sunset, were lightly tinged with orange.

How could he not love her?

For some reason, feeling his body heat up, he fanned his collar unnecessarily.

“…Do you like it?”

His voice came out slightly trembling.

Ellerdin looked at him quietly, then tilted her head and smiled.

“Thank you. This is the first time I’ve received such a gift in my life.”

“I’m glad you like it. I can give you this anytime. As long as you want it.”

Fernan cleared his throat and sat next to Ellerdin.

Ellerdin quietly looked at him, then touched his bangs and said.

“By the way, Fernan.”

Fernan flinched and stiffened at the sudden touch.

His tense eyes wavered as he looked at Ellerdin.

“Is it because your hair is light? It’s turned orange.”

Ellerdin smiled brightly.

At that radiant smile, Fernan involuntarily drew in a breath.

And he had a premonition.

He would love this person for the rest of his life.

The pleasant sea breeze brushed past their hair.

The sunset had already sunk below the surface.

The blue night arrived, and white stars floated above.

Ellerdin leaned her head on Fernan’s shoulder. At this moment, she didn’t want to hide her feelings.

The familiar scent of him and the smell of the sea mingled together.

“Aren’t you cold?”

Fernan asked, and Ellerdin lightly shook her head.

After manifesting the power of a mermaid, she didn’t feel the cold easily.

After a moment of silence, Ellerdin slowly spoke.

“Fernan, I want to go to the Imperial Palace.”

At the sudden words, Fernan’s eyes widened.

“The Imperial Palace?”

“Yes. Specifically, the library. I’ve been to the one in the Duke’s domain and Parin’s nest, but I want to see the one in the Imperial Palace last. Maybe I can find something else.”

Hearing her words, Fernan smiled and kissed the back of Ellerdin’s hand.

“If that’s what you want. Sometimes the temple folks hide things that are occasionally found, so it might be useful. But… I can’t go into the library with you, is that okay?”

His words sounded as if he wanted to go in with her but couldn’t.

“You don’t have to come in. But it’s not because you want to and can’t, right?”

“That’s right. The temple folks are lying down, opposing my entry, saying I’m cursed by a demon.”

Fernan smiled brightly.

Those who claimed to serve God always said he was under a demon’s curse and blocked his entry into the palace.

Of course, everyone knew it was nonsense, but the temple’s power was so strong that the Imperial Family couldn’t do anything about it.

‘Especially, it’s gotten worse since the birth of the Saintess.’

A few years ago, after a child raised by the temple manifested as a Saintess, the temple’s power grew even more.

The Saintess healed the dying and heard the voice of God, announcing future events.

Surprisingly, her foresight had never been wrong so far.

The problem started with the Saintess’s words.

‘The Keallad Duchy is cursed by a demon. Although it hasn’t been said until now, I can tell. God said we must eliminate the Keallad Duchy.’

Hearing those words, the temple and the people shouted that the Duchy must be eliminated, but they were stopped by the former Emperor.

In fact, the former Emperor had received much help from the previous Duke and Duchess of the Keallad family and knew that if the Duchy fell, monsters would invade.

The nobles also insisted on abandoning the Duchy but couldn’t say anything about the monsters the Duchy was blocking.

“How could they do such a thing…”

Ellerdin clenched her fist with an angry expression.

She couldn’t understand their actions of recklessly excluding people.

Seeing this, Fernan’s eyebrows twitched.

He liked Ellerdin getting angry for his sake.

So he opened his mouth once more.

“And there’s a magical barrier that blocks me, so I can’t enter. Ellerdin, I’m pitiful, aren’t I?”

Fernan made a sorrowful expression and hugged Ellerdin tightly.

He buried his face in her shoulder.

“It must have been tough.”

“Yes, it was really tough for me. You’re the first to approach me like this. I can’t live without you now.”

Fernan rubbed his face on her shoulder.

“Don’t worry. I’m here now. I’ll be by your side.”

At those words, Fernan laughed softly.

“Thank you for saying that.”

***

Back at the castle, Ellerdin soaked in the bathtub. The warm water enveloped her body.

The refreshing sea was nice, but she also enjoyed this moment, which could only be felt here.

Ellerdin hummed a tune and relaxed her body.

Meanwhile, Fernan, who returned to his room, called for Mollek.

“You called?”

Mollek appeared, hanging upside down in the air.

“How’s the situation in the capital?”

At Fernan’s question, Mollek grinned.

“Well, it’s the same. By the way, is your body okay, Master?”

Fernan took off his shirt and looked at his back in the mirror.

Black spots spread from his shoulder to his wings.

The side effects of violating causality in the black market were still continuing.

Enduring the pain in his throbbing shoulder, Fernan let out a short sigh.

“I won’t be able to use my strength for a while.”

He had felt his power being blocked when he used magic today.

With time, the restriction would be lifted, but the problem was that anything could happen in the meantime.

“Are you sure it’s okay to go to the Imperial Palace in that state?”

“I’ll just ignore it. You keep an eye on the outside of the castle for a while. Tell Nisroch to guard the inside.”

“Yes, yes, understood.”

Mollek grinned and disappeared.