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He felt increasingly unfamiliar with himself as his unease towards her diminished. Something was definitely off. It was a feeling he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

She had changed overnight, from her speech to her behavior. The Delis of the past and the Delis of the present seemed like completely separate individuals. As if they were merely the same in appearance,

‘…A different person?’

A different person. His eyes widened in realization.

He was not one to believe in the irrational, but he couldn’t help but consider the thought that had just occurred to him. Was there a magic or spell that could switch souls? Could it be that her loss of memory was due to her soul being replaced, and the shock of this change caused her to lose all her memories?

It was a ridiculous notion. But if he applied this absurd idea, it made sense of the situation.

The suddenly kind Delis. The Delis who smiled at him without prejudice, even knowing he was a bastard. The Delis who looked at him with clear eyes.

If she was not actually ‘her’, it made sense.

A dry laugh escaped his lips. He found it absurd that he was justifying her to himself with such thoughts. Perhaps it was because it was nighttime that his mind wandered into such useless imaginings.

He pushed aside his numerous thoughts and fell asleep, struggling against the now-familiar insomnia.

The next day, he heard troubling news from the northern border. An urgent message summoned him to the palace.

“Take good care of the lady.”

He briefly instructed her maid before heading to the palace.

The palace was tedious. The nobles, tasked with resolving the northern issues, debated how they could benefit themselves.

Suddenly, her clear eyes came to mind. Resting his chin on his hand, his lips curled slightly, though he didn’t notice. His subtle change in demeanor drew the attention of the nobles.

“Duke Bannister, you seem to be in a good mood.”

Duke Komnenos, the leader of the noble faction, remarked. He had a well-maintained, long mustache. Roan didn’t particularly like the man’s eyes; they reminded him of a snake.

“…Not particularly.”

He answered indifferently. Duke Komnenos laughed awkwardly, seemingly a bit embarrassed by Roan’s response. But his eyes held a more lingering light than his words.

***

“Duke Roan.”

“Your Highness.”

Crown Prince Cameron called for Roan.

“The situation in the north is concerning. Although it’s currently at the level of raiding border villages, we don’t know how it might escalate. Their brazen actions in front of the Empire are also troubling.”

Roan was well aware of this.

“Indeed. Normally, they wouldn’t act so boldly. I suspect they are hiding something.”

“Right, we need to figure out their cards. I have a bad feeling about this. Duke, you might have to take charge again this time.”

Cameron said with an apologetic smile. It meant they might have to go to war. Roan had anticipated this, so he replied calmly.

“I suppose so.”

“By the way, how is the Duchess? Everyone was worried when she suddenly left the banquet due to illness.”

Cameron asked suddenly, as if it had just occurred to him. He usually didn’t show interest, so why now? Roan felt an inexplicable discomfort.

“…Fortunately, she said it was just because she couldn’t eat much due to her dress.”

“That’s a relief. Her words at the banquet were quite surprising. Honestly, I found her a bit burdensome before. You know how the rumors were, and she seemed… Well, anyway, I felt bad for you, thinking she might be trouble, but it seems my worries were unfounded.”

Roan wished Cameron would continue to find her burdensome.

“Yes. It seems so.”

Roan’s response sounded as if he insisted it must be that way. Cameron tilted his head in confusion.

After meeting with the Crown Prince, Roan visited the palace’s mage quarters. He wanted to confirm his thoughts. His rational mind dismissed the possibility, but his body moved contrary to his thoughts.

“Duke?”

New mage Joshua was startled by the appearance of a handsome man he had never seen before in the thaumaturge.

Amidst the mages, who were usually shabby from their magical research, he was an unusual sight. The handsomest person Joshua had seen was the Crown Prince, who occasionally visited to observe the magical research, but this man rivaled the Crown Prince in looks.

Noticing his black hair and blue eyes, Joshua guessed his identity.

Roan von Bannister. He was often mentioned among the mages who studied offensive magic.

The ‘Aura’ he used was similar in principle to the miraculous power of ‘magic,’ so the mages researched it.

He was nearly the strongest Aura user in this world.

The mages were fascinated by his immense power. Joshua couldn’t help but know about him.

“What brings you here?”

Joshua’s intended greeting disappeared as Roan looked at him.

The mages were fascinated not just by his power.

Joshua found an inexplicable charm in his indifferent face.

…Incidentally, Joshua was a man.

“I’m here to see Sage Samuel.”

Samuel was the most powerful mage in the palace and was nearing the rank of Archmage. To non-mages, he was known as a Sage.

But Joshua didn’t think he was dignified enough to be called Sage. Honestly, he was a bit eccentric.

“Sage Samuel isn’t here at the moment. He’s stepped out for a while….”

“When will he return?”

“Well…. He doesn’t usually tell us when he’ll be back when he leaves.”

Joshua wanted desperately to answer his question, but Roan asked about something he also did not know much about.

“Is there any way to contact him?”

“…He rarely answers calls. But I’ll try.”

The truth was that Samuel didn’t “miss” calls; he “ignored” them. When out, he mostly rejected or ignored the mages’ attempts to reach him. Joshua sighed and tried to contact him. As expected, there was no answer.

“No answer, as usual.”

“Then I’ll wait a bit.”

“Please do. Would you like some tea?”

“No, thank you.”

“Haha, alright. May I ask why you’re seeking Sage Samuel?”

“I have a question for him.”

After a moment of silence, Roan spoke.

“Is there any magic that can switch souls?”

“What? Magic to switch souls?”

“Yes. Or maybe some kind of spell.”

“As far as I know, there’s no such magic. Are you planning on doing something like that?”

“No. I’m just curious if such a thing exists.”

“Well… that’s something Sage Samuel might know about.”

Joshua thought that if such magic existed, it would undoubtedly be forbidden, like necromancy or mind control magic.

At that moment, the previously quiet door suddenly opened.

Samuel entered. The sage wore a pure white robe and looked like a complete child.

Samuel raised the staff he was holding and struck Joshua’s head.

“Ouch!”

Joshua rubbed his head, tears welling up. When would that nasty temper ever improve? He figured it never would.

“You fool! If I’m out, I’ll come back on my own. Why bombard me with calls?”

“I’m sorry. I asked him to contact you.”

Roan intervened. Samuel’s golden eyes turned to him.

“And who are you?”

“Roan von Bannister. I came with a question.”

“Ah, the Duke?”

“Samuel!”

Joshua knew Samuel’s manners were lacking, but this seemed overly rude even for him.

Samuel ignored Joshua and asked Roan.

“What is it you came to ask?”

“Let’s sit and discuss.”

Roan and Samuel sat across from each other at a table.

“Is there any magic or spell to switch souls?”

“What?”

Samuel asked, astonished.

“That doesn’t exist, fool. Have you been reading novels?”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course not.”

Roan felt a bit deflated. What had he been hoping for?

“Why do you ask? Don’t even think about trying such things. Even if you could, such things come with a cost.”

“Someone I know has changed too much. I wondered if such a thing was possible.”

“No one just changes like that, and you think their soul switched? Who normally suspects that?”

“Her speech and personality changed overnight. She lost her memory, but that’s not enough to explain everything. She feels like a completely different person.”

“Is it a woman?”

“…Yes, but how did you know?”

Samuel’s eyes narrowed.

“That’s a dead giveaway, fool. Why are you asking me about your love problems?”

“It’s not a love problem; she and I aren’t like that.”

“Then what is it?”

“I just find it strange that someone I thought could never change has changed.”

Delis had changed suddenly. He simply wanted to know the exact reason.

“So, you’re falling in love. Curiosity is the beginning of it.”

“…Nonsense.”

Love? Was it that simple?

The love he had never received properly since birth?

“Talking to a fool who doesn’t even know what he’s doing. Tsk.”

“It’s not like that.”

For the first time, Samuel’s eyes grew slightly serious.

“Love doesn’t follow rules. You could fall in love with anyone at any time.”

“…….”

Roan remained silent.

“The woman changed suddenly?”

“…Yes.”

“There’s really no such magic. But who knows? Strange things happen in this world.”

“…I see.”

“If you come here again for love advice, I’ll kick you out, brat.”

Roan fell into thought again.

Love? It seemed a word entirely unfit for him. He believed he could live just fine without such invisible emotions.

Living his whole life this way, now to suddenly fall in love?

With Delis? Or was it not ‘Delis’? He chuckled.

He admitted he was curious about what changed her.

That much he would concede.

***

Roan returned from the palace to his mansion. As he stepped out of the carriage,

“Ro-an-“

He heard Delis’s voice from afar. Hearing her call his name stirred an indescribable feeling.

She was running towards him. Not sure what she was doing, he stepped aside to avoid her lightly.

“What are you doing?”

Her lips pouted. Her expression almost made him laugh.

“I was just happy to see you, Roan.”

She spoke with a tone that didn’t match her pouting face.

The last light of the day’s sun illuminated her face. Suddenly, he found her beautiful.