Chapter 21

The next afternoon.

There was a knock.

“Come in.”

When the door opened, careful, cat-like footsteps entered.

Once again, Helio approached Sabina with his arms full of thick books. Even today, Sabina sensed a trace of awkwardness in Helio’s movements. Perhaps they hadn’t spent enough time together for him to feel comfortable.

Even though Helio wasn’t a specialty mage, after Sabina declared she wouldn’t reclaim the capital invested in him, every time he faced her, a question lingered in his eyes. Just as Ashton could see right through Sabina’s mind, Sabina could sense the innocent boy’s hidden questions. This was the third time she’d met Helio.

No, two of those times were with ‘the original Sabina.’

Each time their eyes met, Helio silently asked:

‘Why are you doing this for me?’

Until that question was answered, Helio couldn’t fully trust Sabina.

Sabina silently examined Helio’s assignments and thought to herself.

‘First, because it’s dangerous.’

In extreme situations, mages can go berserk. If a fire mage loses control, it’s not so bad—they can douse the flames with water.

But if a rare-attribute mage loses control, things get complicated. If Helio went berserk, no one knew what would happen. The boy might brainwash many people at once and give dangerous orders.

Berserk magic is bad for the mage, too. Every mage’s attribute and mana are engraved in the heart. Mana overload always leads to cardiac overload. If things go wrong, it can cause a dreadful disaster and sudden death.

Sabina rubbed her chest thoughtfully.

‘If I think about it, I went berserk too. Yet my heart’s mana isn’t depleted at all. How did that happen?’

And the second reason she did so much for Helio…

Sabina looked at Helio. The boy had a beautiful face. He looked like a mythic youth loved by the moon goddess. This lovely child had always been by Sabina’s side during her two deaths.

The first death—Helio was the one who told her about Reyes’s plans for rebellion. Remembering that time made Sabina complicated inside. The boy cried behind the bars, saying he would brainwash the king himself. Sabina couldn’t let him take such a risk and went to the guillotine.

The second death—Sabina heard Helio’s voice so clearly. “No!” Just before her breath stopped, she heard a loud shout. It was probably the sound of fighting with Reyes…

Whenever Reyes Brinita tried to use or kill her, Helio always tried to save her.

“Yes.”

Lost in thought with the book open, Sabina snapped back at the boy’s call.

“Hm?”

“……”

Helio nodded slightly and spoke in a small voice.

“You’re dressed to go out.”

Sabina was always well-dressed even at home, but outdoor wear was different from indoor wear. Most notably, she had a folding parasol on her desk. That was only used for going out. Sabina nodded.

“Yes. I have somewhere to go.”

“Are you meeting Mr. Bryant?”

“Yes.”

Sabina’s answer was quick and easy. Helio lifted his head. Sabina was already checking his assignment again, so their gazes missed each other. No one saw Helio’s anxious expression.

“For what…?”

The boy’s question might have been forward, but Sabina answered without a second thought.

“He sent me an invitation to a party he’s hosting. I need to buy a new dress for it.”

Hearing that, Helio was struck by a strange feeling. He hadn’t been at the D’Vialis mansion long, but he could feel Sabina’s wealth. She seemed far richer than Marquis Meolin. The maids spared no expense on supplies or ingredients, and even tore scrolls without hesitation.

Anyone going to the dress shop with Sabina would need to be just as wealthy.

Helio hadn’t meant to compare himself to Ashton, but suddenly he felt small. He began to feel a strange jealousy toward that impressive man.

He didn’t ask anything more and kept his mouth shut. Being so shy, Helio’s discomfort went unnoticed by Sabina.

Helio took his assignments to his room and lingered at the doorway. Suddenly, he heard Sabina’s footsteps in the hall and then on the stairs. Helio impulsively opened the door and followed her.

Standing on the landing, Helio hesitated, unable to go further, and looked at the entrance.

Just like the morning when breakfast with Sabina had ended on a strange note, Ashton was waiting for her at the entrance. Despite the hot weather, Sabina was perfectly dressed, while Ashton wore his shirt unbuttoned and sleeves rolled up. As soon as he saw Sabina, he smiled and took her parasol, intending to shade her.

Helio knew the man’s true nature. He’d seen Ashton snarl at Don Slafd in a beastly tone and knock him down with just a touch. But in front of Sabina, Ashton acted as if nothing had happened—just a cheerful, playful man.

To Helio, Ashton’s mask was intolerable. After much thought, he decided he should speak up. When Sabina returned from her outing, he resolved to tell her the man’s true nature.

Ashton produced a bouquet from behind his back and handed it to Sabina. It seemed cliché, but Sabina felt differently.

Helio watched blankly as Sabina buried her face in the fragrant roses, then lifted her head. As if snapping out of it, she raised her eyebrows and turned away, walking back to her room with the stride of a soldier rather than a cautious cat. Helio opened his book with a sense of battle.

* * *

“Have you ever really explored the capital?”

Sabina asked, holding the bouquet. Ashton, who shaded Sabina with her parasol, was exposed to the sunlight himself. The sun broke through his hair and lingered on his lashes.

“No. Been too busy.”

Ashton smiled with a furrowed brow. Sabina understood. He hadn’t been in Brinita for even a month.

“Let’s walk a bit.”

“Your legs will hurt.”

“I cast a lightness spell on my shoes.”

“And your clothes must be hot.”

“If they were unbearable, I wouldn’t wear them.”

Ashton exaggerated a sigh. She didn’t bat an eye and kept walking. Her arm holding the parasol followed. The scent of Gracie Rose lingered at her nose.

All the roads in Brinita’s capital, Ridblon, were neatly paved for carriages. The streets were narrow, making it hard for the wealthy of Retona to drive their four-horse carriages. In fact, four-horse carriages weren’t common in Ridblon. Those with enough money preferred to hire mage knights over horses.

It was a lively city. Ashton had visited Ridblon before. He’d even lived there once. A country where tradition was synonymous with dignity—Brinita. The city hadn’t changed at all since then. The only thing different was Ashton himself.

“Do you see the Brinita Bridge over there?”

Sabina suddenly pointed to a large bridge. The Brinita Bridge, spanning the canal through the city, was so iconic that anyone with sense would be drawn to it. At night, it was a place for lovers, lit by magical streetlamps. But Sabina’s explanation wasn’t romantic.

“Ridblon’s canal and Brinita Bridge divide the capital into four districts. The Brinita Palace faces east, against the mountains. Water flowing from there creates a moat in front of the palace. The original stream was supposed to flow elsewhere, but they built the canal so boats could travel.”

Ashton watched Sabina’s lips move with her fluent explanation. Suddenly, she looked up at him. Ashton hid his embarrassment with a smile. Fortunately, Sabina was slow to notice such things.

“If you cross Brinita Bridge and go one more block, there’s a shoemaker I like.”

“Shall we go?”

“Yes. But don’t go too far past that. It’s not very safe beyond there.”

They walked across Brinita Bridge. Even with the lightness spell, Sabina wasn’t used to walking long distances. Her feet and calves quickly grew tired, but she pretended not to mind. Her limited expressions helped in times like this. But when she finally sat down at the shoemaker’s, she couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

Ashton, watching her offer her small foot to the shoemaker, folded his arms and asked abruptly:

“That canal is where Marquis Meolin was found dead, right?”

“Yes.”

“White shoes, with emeralds on the instep.”

He quickly told the shoemaker, who nodded and disappeared into the workshop, probably to select some sample designs.

Sabina nudged the wooden box under her feet aside and swung her legs lightly.

“It worked out well for King Kenneth.”

“How so?”

“Their property was all seized for the treasury, so it all became King Kenneth’s, didn’t it?”

The joke amused her. Sabina knew Kenneth was a collector. She bowed her head and chuckled. Ashton, who made her laugh out loud for the first time, straightened up with a proud look.

Before Sabina could ask the shoemaker to put it on the D’Vialis account, Ashton handed over his card. The shoemaker accepted it eagerly.

“Put it on the Bryant estate.”

“Of course.”

“Let’s go.”

Ashton gently pushed Sabina’s back. His skillful left hand opening the parasol was almost annoying. Sabina tilted her head to look at him.

“Why are you paying? I’m probably richer than you.”

“Of course, I know your wealth, Lady D’Vialis.”

He clearly wasn’t listening. Sabina realized Ashton wouldn’t take her words to heart and felt a bit sulky.

Next was the dress shop. Sabina sighed in relief again as she entered. Her feet ached a bit.

She was a regular at this shop. She used to come here with Walter as a child, and even after Walter passed away, she insisted on this place. So the owner knew Sabina’s tastes perfectly.

“Would you like to start with the fabrics, Lady D’Vialis?”

Sabina nodded.

Her tastes were obvious. She liked designs that looked calm and preferred achromatic colors. She judged herself coolly—colors didn’t suit her much. With colored lips as a premise, the light purple Ashton chose last time was an exception, but she didn’t want to repeat her carnival outfit. If she had to match something she already owned, black was best. Accessories could handle the color.

While Sabina chose fabrics, Ashton craned his neck and glanced at the cloths. After a while, he spoke.

“What is this, are you going to a funeral?”

Sabina flinched.

“The wardrobe is already full of black, and if you make another black dress, what’s the point of a new one?”

Offended, Sabina spun around.

“They’re all different fabrics and designs.”

“Oh, sure. I’m sure you see it that way, Lady D’Vialis. Anyway, black is forbidden.”

“What?”

“I’m the host of the party.”

“Ashton, you’re being too arrogant.”

Sabina clenched her fist and trembled, while Ashton looked down at her with a cocky expression, arms crossed.

After a moment of trembling, Sabina slumped her shoulders. She couldn’t find a way to argue. It was true she had a lot of black dresses, and Ashton was the host…

But she felt a bit unfair at the same time.

“Then you pick.”

“Excellent idea. Show me that one, please.”

Ashton snapped his fingers and pointed to one side. Madame Bla quickly went to the direction Ashton pointed, lifted a sample, and asked with a glance, “This one?” Ashton replied with his eyes, “That one.”

Sabina’s expression turned serious.

“I don’t like it.”

“Why not?”

“It’s… too blue.”

She was right. The fabric was ‘too’ blue. It was a vivid, striking blue.

“And… it’s shiny.”

That was true as well.

“It’s a fabric with a wonderful inner sheen,” the owner of the dress shop said cheerfully, not even glancing at Sabina.

Sabina trembled again. She had never worn a dress made from such flashy fabric. Well, she had, but that was when she was single-digit years old…

“It’s just… a bit much.”

“I’m set on this one.”

Ashton acted as if he didn’t notice Sabina’s trembling.

“It’s my dress!”

“I’ll make a tie out of this fabric too.”

“Just do yours!”

“Show me the design samples.”

Unfortunately, both Ashton and Madame Bla were tall, and Sabina was small. Sabina looked up at the two exchanging glances above her head in disbelief.

Once again, Ashton naturally had Sabina’s dress put on his own account. Sabina was frustrated that the process of tailoring the dress didn’t go her way. The only ones excited were Ashton and Madame Bla. Madame Bla already had a mannequin fitted to Sabina’s measurements, so she told her not to worry and to come back in three days for a fitting.

She couldn’t let herself be the only one to suffer.

“Go to the tailor shop.”

“Why?”

“You should get a bright red suit tailored too.”

Sabina walked so briskly that her body kept slipping out from under Ashton’s parasol shade.