Chapter 6.1 – A Mature Person

“……What do you mean?”

Brienne’s eyes, staring blankly at Herace, wavered. To say she was the one who cast soul-binding magic—

On the carriage returning from the Harrington Earldom to the capital, Garzen had clearly said, ‘The one who casts soul-binding magic must have the stronger mana.’ But everyone knew Herace was an exceptional mage.

She couldn’t deny she had mana after all that had happened, but being stronger than Herace? That didn’t make sense.

She wanted to believe Herace, but she couldn’t accept this.

“I can’t prove it right now. But once you feel your own mana, you’ll understand, Brienne.”

“…….”

‘So much for honesty—he was lying again.’

Brienne’s expression hardened, and she let go of Herace’s hand. He was lying to her, using her ignorance of magic as an excuse.

“……I really don’t understand you.”

Sometimes he was inexplicably kind, other times suspicious. It was as if he didn’t realize that his polite, skillfully wrapped lies were breaking her trust.

“I just…… can’t believe you.”

“I knew you wouldn’t, so I didn’t say anything.”

“…….”

“From the first time you asked, I knew you’d get defensive if I told you the truth.”

Herace whispered quietly, lowering his eyes and smiling bitterly. Then he gently gripped the empty hand where Brienne’s had slipped away, as if trying to hold onto an unreachable breeze.

“……On Kaiden’s engagement day, I knew why you pushed me away.”

Brienne’s eyes grew confused as she looked at Herace.

“You…… knew everything.”

He was right.

Brienne had never been honest with her feelings and always ran away. If Herace had answered truthfully about magic the first time, she wouldn’t have accepted it. Even now, she was doubting him.

“Yes, from the start.”

Brienne’s gaze trembled. It felt like the person she least wanted to reveal her selfish side to had seen right through her.

“Whatever your reason, I realized you didn’t want to get any closer to me. I thought telling you the truth would push you further away, so I kept it hidden. But that was a mistake.”

“…….”

“I’m sorry for deceiving you.”

But Herace apologized as if everything was his fault. Brienne’s heart sank a little. She had used his feelings in front of Kaiden, pretended not to care, but had always liked him.

Yet she kept searching for reasons to push him away, and that made her uncomfortable.

That’s why—

Unable to sort out her feelings, not even sure who she was angry at, she snapped at him.

“Why…… are you always so sorry? If what you say is true, I’m the one who used soul-binding magic. You should be angry at me.”

“…….”

“You should be mad that I’m so selfish, that I use you and then push you away. But why do you keep……!”

“……Brienne.”

Herace calmly cut her off. His gaze fell on Brienne’s trembling hands.

“I still want to get closer to you.”

“…….”

“You already know I like you.”

There was an unmistakable longing in his calm voice. He looked into Brienne’s eyes as he spoke.

“That’s why I didn’t want to tell you. I was afraid you’d get scared and distance yourself from me again, like today.”

“…….”

“It was my selfish heart that kept me silent.”

So the one who should be angry was Brienne, not him. Whatever blame she threw at him, he would accept it gladly. Herace’s eyes said as much.

Brienne’s gaze wavered as she looked into his eyes.

……He was truly a mature person.

‘Unlike me.’

He could share his pain, admit his mistakes. He was honest with his feelings and could express them. The more Brienne realized how mature Herace was, the less she could push him away.

A strong feeling surged within. The emotion she had tried so hard to deny and run from began to sail across her heart like a ship crossing the wide sea. There was nowhere left to run.

She couldn’t run anymore.

* * *

As evening approached, people began to gather one by one in the once quiet restaurant. Among the guests ordering their meals with anticipation, Herace, now alone, stared down at the steak plate left without its owner.

<……You’re going to Mashern Harbor, right?>

<Yes, that’s right.>

<Then, let’s talk again tomorrow. I need some time to sort out my thoughts.>

Herace hadn’t managed to hold onto Brienne again. But this time, unlike before, Brienne hadn’t run away.

She had given her honest reason and asked him to wait.

<Can you wait until I’m ready to talk?>

<I will, I’ll wait as long as you need.>

Knowing that holding onto someone who needed time alone could be burdensome, Herace quietly let her go. He could wait. Waiting for her was something he’d always been good at.

But the fact that Brienne was entering the Academy made him feel strangely……

“Herace! You’re here……! I woke up and you weren’t in the room, I was so surprised. When did you leave…….”

Just then, Aaron appeared behind Herace. Aaron’s hurried eyes went to the plate on the table. He tilted his head.

“Herace, don’t tell me…….”

“…….”

‘So he’s finally here.’

Herace looked up tiredly at Aaron, who was about to sit down. Aaron, his features softening, spoke with emotion.

“Were you waiting here for me to wake up?”

“……What?”

“I can’t believe you even prepared my meal, Herace…… I’m truly honored, after I forgot my duties and just slept……”

Aaron, eyes glistening with tears, plopped into the chair. Before Herace could deny it, Aaron rolled up his sleeves and grabbed a knife and fork.

“Well, thank you for the meal!”

Herace watched Aaron wolf down the food with a slightly perplexed expression. 

‘Should I clear up the misunderstanding now?’

After a moment’s thought, Herace sighed and ordered some wine.

Sometimes it’s better to let things be.

Aaron was so pleased—Herace didn’t want to disappoint him. Sometimes, a harmless lie brings more joy than the truth. Before long, Aaron had cleaned his plate and glanced at Herace’s.

“Uh, but…… Why aren’t you eating, Herace? Weren’t we supposed to eat together?”

“I’m not really hungry.”

With that, Herace slid his plate toward Aaron. Aaron’s eyes widened, but only for a moment.

“Th-then, may I eat it?”

“……Go ahead.”

Aaron’s eyes sparkled as he eagerly moved his knife and fork. Herace, having finished his wine, rested his chin and watched him intently.

‘……He must be about twenty.’

Aaron, eating with such excitement, looked quite young. In terms of age and skill, he was nowhere near fit to be anyone’s official escort.

On the day Herace returned to Rontiano after graduating from the Academy, he realized immediately that Aaron was not a bodyguard, but a watcher sent by his father. Not just a watcher, but also a messenger to relay words from a father who wouldn’t meet his son.

So Herace had purposely kept his distance. But thinking back, there was no real reason to dislike him. Aaron had broken the order not to reveal Herace’s destination at Ford Castle, but in the end, it gave Herace a chance to get closer to Brienne.

“……Aaron.”

Herace, having sorted out his thoughts, leaned back in his chair. Only empty plates remained on the table now. Aaron wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked up.

“Yes?”

“Earlier, you said my father told you something about the trial—what was it?”

“Huh? Why…….”

Aaron’s eyes widened, then he realized and closed his mouth. He had almost answered, forgetting that his master had strictly forbidden him from relaying even a single word.

What sort of attendant would question his master’s orders? Aaron braced himself, sensing he was about to get scolded.

“P-please, when you go to the trial, don’t say anything……! Unless they present clear evidence, admitting to anything will only put you at a disadvantage…….”

“Does that mean they’ll strip me of my mage status?”

“Yes, but after reviewing previous trial records, he said it probably won’t go that far. Rather, more than that…….”

Aaron desperately tried to recall.

“Oh, disciplinary action! He was worried about the disciplinary action the Academy might take!”

“……Disciplinary action, huh.”

‘That’s a good idea.’

Herace’s eyes narrowed slightly. He tapped the table, then nodded at Aaron, who was watching for his reaction, as if to say he’d done well.

“Sometimes, my father can be helpful.”

“Pardon?”

A familiar smile appeared on Herace’s lips.

“In that case, Aaron, there’s something I’d like you to handle separately…….”