Chapter 24
The fierce winter wind cutting across the barren fields scratched Erhen’s cheeks.
Leaning lightly against a large tree, Erhen closed his eyes with a quiet sigh, letting the wind wash over him.
It had already been a month since he arrived here after receiving an urgent message during the interrogation of Dostern.
Though his eyes were closed, her image became even clearer in his mind. Those trembling long lashes, soft as if in a dream; the elegant curve of her nose under the dawn light; and those plump lips beneath it. How he resented the moment he had to leave Charlotte, who had been sound asleep in his arms.
But that was only the beginning. Being forced to stay here, the last image of her he had left behind haunted him endlessly.
I never wanted to become someone irresponsible to you.
As a creeping sense of self-loathing began to rise, Erhen spoke aloud, seemingly to no one.
“Charlotte Rothschild. Charlotte Lintz.”
The surnames Charlotte had gone by, none of which had any connection to him.
None of them pleased him.
After a brief silence, he rolled the final name on his tongue as if savoring it.
“Charlotte Rosenheim.”
The name of hers that he had lost.
He found himself wanting both to forget the past year without her and to remember it vividly.
If she knew how much the anguish of the past year had eaten away at me, would she pity me? Or would she despise me for being pathetic?
Whatever her feelings might be, his resolve to remain near even a sliver of her emotions would not waver.
The wind carried with it the scent of snow.
***
The Vigraz Research Institute, protected by a barrier that prevented any communication with the outside world due to its status as a state secret, was where Erhen had been summoned.
He had been called here after reports emerged about an issue with the magical formulas managing the border defense line. He had assumed it wouldn’t be anything serious, but it had already been a month since he became entangled in the broken formulas left behind by someone.
“I’m sorry. I had intended to reinforce the formulas because the moon of Tyche was about to rise, but…”
On his first day at the institute, a young man who had just come of age bowed his head before Erhen. His name was Hans Kahler, a mathematician who had recently joined the institute as a new recruit.
Since no mages had been born after Erhen, there had been a lack of personnel to maintain systems powered by magic. The border defense line, constructed with magical formulas, was one such system. To compensate, they had recruited a newcomer who specialized in mathematics, the field closest to magic.
During the five days when the second moon, Tyche’s Moon, rose, all mages inexplicably lost their magic. The young mathematician, who only knew magic in theory, had been put in charge of managing the formulas during this period to prepare for possible foreign invasions.
“Director Heinz Brandon.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“No matter what happens, the formulas should have remained under your authority.”
Looking down at Heinz, who lowered his gaze before him, Erhen regarded the man who had once been his respected senior with disdain.
Was it inevitable that even the most passionate individuals, once they reached a position of power, would become blinded by it and seek only comfort?
“Did you find your responsibilities trivial because no wars have ever occurred during Tyche’s Moon, when the continent’s mages are cautious?”
“…‥.”
“If you need a sabbatical, Senior, just say so. I’ll make it happen for you starting now.”
When Erhen first joined the Imperial Research Institute, the predecessor of the Royal Research Institute, at the age of eight as its youngest member, Heinz Brandon had been a scholar and researcher worthy of respect.
A senior who arrived at work at dawn and didn’t know what it meant to leave before sunset.
But after becoming the director of the Vigraz Research Institute, Heinz had begun delegating his responsibilities to his subordinates.
“…I apologize.”
At Erhen’s cold tone, Heinz clenched his jaw tightly, bowing his head.
The Duke of Rosenheim had joined the Imperial Research Institute at the age of eight and, with his extraordinary talent for magic, had completed incomplete research and proposed new theories with every study he conducted.
Despite trying several times harder to compete with his young junior, Heinz had ultimately become the director of the Vigraz Research Institute, while Erhen had ascended to the position of consultant to the Ministry of Magic.
It wasn’t until Heinz assumed his current role that he realized the truth: a lack of talent only served as fuel for inferiority complexes.
“I will take responsibility and restore it. Where should I begin?”
At Heinz’s words, Erhen’s eyes narrowed.
His tone, masked with politeness, revealed his true thoughts clearly. Responsibility? Unless a new mage was born in Rohadin or the border defense lines were replaced with non-magical weaponry, the likelihood of the institute’s director being replaced was slim. Ultimately, he was passing the burden onto Erhen.
Erhen responded with a derisive smile.
“Do I have to explain that to you as well?”
He should have said something.
If he had known it would come back to haunt him like this.
What he thought would take two or three days at most had shown no signs of resolution even after a week. It was only after Erhen personally took charge of the restoration that progress began to be made.
“Your Grace!”
Hearing Philip call for him from a distance, Erhen stood up.
Today was the day the formulas, which Erhen had reorganized, would yield results.
“It’s done! The problem is solved. We can finally leave this dreadful place!”
The dry wind, which had carried the scent of snow, now blended with the refreshing and crisp aroma of oak.
It was time to return home.
***
At their reunion after a month, Charlotte silently looked up at him.
Sensing the subtle atmosphere between them, Ras slowly stepped back and quietly disappeared.
As she remained silent, Erhen spoke again.
“How have you been?”
Though his tone was calm, his greeting sounded faintly cheerful, causing Charlotte to clench her teeth momentarily.
She felt foolish for still being unable to define the emotions that had boiled within her over the past month.
Charlotte admitted to herself that she was wavering toward Erhen. But she couldn’t determine whether this feeling stemmed from pity for someone who had faced death or lingering attachment to a failed first love.
However, her wavering heart and her pride were entirely separate matters.
“Of course. Have you been well, Your Grace?”
Charlotte smiled faintly, as if nothing had happened.
But she couldn’t hide the chill in her voice. The formal title she used only added to the distance she was trying to maintain.
At her reaction, Erhen sighed lightly before speaking.
“Charlotte.”
“…….”
“In the time I was away—”
“I know. I heard you were at the Vigraz Research Institute. You must be tired from your long journey, so please rest.”
Charlotte interrupted him, bowing slightly.
The memories of the past month, when she had anxiously waited after being told he would return soon, flashed through her mind.
Had I waited in vain?
Her mood had swung wildly throughout each day.
But now, seeing Erhen caused a mix of relief and an unexplainable surge of anger. She felt that if she looked at him any longer, she wouldn’t be able to contain herself.
As Charlotte tried to pass by him, Erhen’s low voice stopped her in her tracks.
“Are you angry?”
Angry? Angry, he said.
“I’m not.”
But her pride came first.
She tried her best to sound composed. But her voice betrayed her.
In response, Erhen spoke in a subdued tone.
“I’m sorry for being late.”
“…….”
“You must have waited a lot.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened at his sudden apology.
Waited a lot? How much I…!
“I didn’t wait.”
Without even having time to process the sudden relief washing over her, her pride once again burst forth.
Erhen smiled faintly, bitterly.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t contact you in advance.”
“…….”
“I wanted to come back sooner, but something urgent came up, and I couldn’t.”
He apologized again.
Considering their past marriage and the circumstances that had brought him to stay here, he didn’t need to go this far to seek forgiveness.
After all, their relationship had been contractual, and now they were living together temporarily under royal orders.
Charlotte pouted, stomping one foot lightly.
“…Well, it’s not like we’re in a relationship where we report every little thing.”
“Hm.”
Erhen chuckled softly at Charlotte’s grumbling, which had slightly softened.
“If I’d known I’d hear this, I should’ve just woken you up and taken you with me that night. Or maybe I should’ve kidnapped you while you were sleeping.”
Without any warning, he brought up that night.
Caught off guard by the unexpected turn of conversation, Charlotte quickly covered Erhen’s mouth with both hands, worried someone might overhear.
Due to the force she applied without realizing it, Erhen staggered momentarily and was pushed against the wall.
“What on earth are you saying right now? It was just a drunken mistake we both made!”
Charlotte blurted out whatever came to mind, hurriedly glancing around.
No matter how famous Heringen was as a beautiful port city and travel destination, there wasn’t a single local who didn’t know this place was the residence of Viscountess Lintz!
Thankfully, it seemed Ras had tactfully left earlier, and the street in front of the house was empty.
As she let out a small sigh of relief, Erhen slowly removed Charlotte’s hands from his mouth. His voice, lowered to a near whisper, carried a faint chill.
“Mistake?”
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midori
thanks! yeah, i really don’t like the author’s way of writing uninteresting things after a cliffhanger. who does this???
dang it, charlotte just got swept by the flow. come on charlotte! don’t let him have it easy!!