Chapter 6 (Part 5)

The Shadow Clan has black blood flowing through their veins. People don’t know exactly why their blood is black. They are nicknamed demons with black blood, but many covet their abilities to hide in the darkness, away from the light.

When mixed-blood children born between the Shadow Clan and humans grow up to a certain extent, there comes a time when it is determined whether black blood or red blood will flow in their veins. At this time, they must drink the alchemical potion ‘Blood Fusion.’

Of course, even if they drink the Blood Fusion potion, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will inherit the black blood of the Shadow Clan.

They might inherit the red blood of ordinary humans.

If they do not drink this potion at the right time, they could lose their lives. Agnita was in such a situation.

If Juan had met Meia a little later, Agnita might not have been alive.

<Your name is Juan, right?>

<Yes…>

At that time, Juan was twelve years old, and Agnita was eight.

<Are your parents all gone?>

<No. They were kidnapped. I don’t know where they were taken.>

<Oh dear… You both must have had a hard time.>

In a harsh world, the young siblings learned how important it was to have a place and person who could provide them comfort. At Meia’s request, Puring obtained the ‘Blood Fusion’ potion from an alchemist friend and gave it to Agnita. After being bedridden for a week, Agnita was reborn with the red blood of a human.

<I heard that Puring brought the potion. Thank you.>

<You can call me Grandpa, just like when we first met.>

<Can I really call you Grandpa?>

Even though they were not related by blood, he truly thought of her as a granddaughter. He always brought her delicious snacks, let her fly with magic, and sent her clothes as gifts every season.

Meryl had touched such a precious granddaughter-like child.

“Grandpa! When are we going to see the lady? These days, Juan seems to be lacking in stamina. He can’t even chase away a single fly…”

“A fly?”

“I’m worried because I heard there’s a big fly following the lady around.”

Puring looked at Juan. Receiving his gaze, Juan shrugged lightly and said,

“Yes, it’s a fly.”

“Juan, it must have been a fly in your eyes.”

“Yes, it does.”

Puring chuckled at Juan’s response.

“Observe carefully whether it’s a fly or not. Sometimes you think it’s a fly and then it stings you.”

Puring had seen Juan trembling several times while looking at Theodore, muttering, ‘How dare a fly like that bother the lady…’

But there was something Juan didn’t know.

Meia also had feelings for Theodore.

“If I can chase away the fly sticking to the lady, I don’t mind getting stung a few times.”

“Haha, that’s the spirit, Juan.”

“Grandpa! I want to go to the lady quickly.”

Puring’s eyes drooped.

“Are you just going to leave after meeting this old man after such a long time? Stay for a day and rest… I’m disappointed.”

“I’m worried about the lady. Please don’t be too disappointed!”

Puring persuaded Agnita and Juan to wash up and rest for a day. Persuaded by him, the siblings decided to stay at the Mage Tower for one night.

“Grandpa, where is the lady staying?”

“In the Sirius Empire.”

“She went far away.”

“Hmph! If Prince Demian hadn’t come to the Mage Tower, she would still be here.”

Agnita clenched her fists and furrowed her brows.

“I heard about it from Juan.”

“Don’t even mention it. You don’t know how much he searched for the lady at the Mage Tower.”

The next morning, Puring packed the request letter sent by Demian to the Mage Tower in his bosom. He didn’t know why the Mage Tower, which had a will of its own, allowed a request to reveal Meia’s location, but looking at the request letter, he could only think of one thing. To show the letter to Meia first.

His request was to find or meet Lady Meia Hatzbellua.

The location of the Mage Tower’s mages must never be disclosed. Mages are precious talents, and many unusual people covet them. Therefore, his request could not be accepted.

But the Mage Tower, which had a will of its own, accepted Demian’s request.

<Grand Mage Puring, you know where my princess is, right?>

<Lady Meia is not your princess.>

<She is destined to be my princess. Look, she was even engaged.>

Puring didn’t like Demian, who coveted Meia with eyes like a hot, sticky swamp.

*   *   *

Hearing that Aethon had awakened, Meia and Theodore went to the room where he was lying.

Physician Worst said that thanks to the holy water used to stop the bleeding when the bleeding was severe, his life was saved.

Aethon kept thanking Meia with tears in his eyes. It felt strange. Aethon wasn’t someone who served her, yet he threw himself to take the sword for her. Even leaving a detailed will…

Theodore asked Worst.

“Is Aethon alright?”

Worst washed his hands in a basin and wiped them with a towel, saying,

“The external injuries are fine. But the problem is what comes after.”

“What problem?”

“No matter how strong a person is, a near-death experience can leave a significant trauma. He needs to rest, Your Grace.”

Seeing Theodore’s serious expression, Aethon shook his head and said,

“Now is not the time to rest. There’s the human trafficking incident in Florence, and the embezzlement case…”

“Physician Worst is right. Aethon, you should rest for a while.”

“But!”

“Think of it as a vacation.”

“There is too much work, Your Grace.”

“Sigh… Lady Nordic, who used to manage the household, isn’t well, and I also need to rest like this.”

Aethon mumbled and glanced at Meia.

“Lady Jasmine also needs to leave soon for her daughter’s childbirth… It’s hard to find a reliable person to take over immediately… Is there anyone who can manage the household until I recover?”

Aethon looked at Meia with sparkling eyes.

If she temporarily managed the household and Hemann was sent out for external affairs, she would be alone with Theodore in the study! He had already discussed this plan with Venable.

Meia, receiving Aethon’s gaze, thought deeply. She had been bored, repeating days of walking with Theodore, eating meals, and drinking strawberry tea. In other words, she was bored.

Should I pretend to give in to that gaze and offer to help? Or should I pretend not to know? But the idea of having some work to do was slightly tempting.

<Your Grace, when can I start working as a mage?>

<Do you want to work…? The scroll workshop is not yet complete. Are you uncomfortable staying at the Ducal residence?>

His anxious face showed impatience.

<It’s not uncomfortable, but I feel like I’m just idling.>

Theodore said it was fine and that she could do whatever she wanted. But what she wanted was work.

It would be nice to have some work, but there wasn’t any.

Aethon’s sigh grew louder.

“We should entrust the household management to a noblewoman from another household… But whom can we trust? Sigh.”

If he asked outright, she would answer, but… it seemed he was just hinting, so she pretended not to notice.

As Meia stared at him silently with her mouth closed, Aethon grew anxious.

“Aethon, take good care of yourself.”

“Yes…”

“Thank you for saving me. I’ll give you a nice gift once you’re fully recovered.”

“I don’t need a gift. I just did what I had to do.”

Aethon looked at Meia earnestly.

“All I want is for someone to take care of the household affairs of the Grand Ducal residence in my place. For example, someone as intelligent as Lady Meia…”

Meia smiled. If this wasn’t a blatant request, then what was?

“I would like to help, but I am a princess from another country and am only here as a mage.”

At Meia’s words, Aethon seized the opportunity like an eagle snatching its prey.

“Lady Meia, please just look over the documents that come up! Anyway, the Grand Duke will be the one stamping them. Right, Grand Duke…?”

Venable had repeatedly told Theodore that good things would happen if he agreed with Aethon’s words.

However, Theodore thought that although it would be a chance to spend half a day alone with Meia, he couldn’t bring himself to make her work.

“I am opposed to it. Lady Meia should rest comfortably. How can I ask her to work? Isn’t that right, Aethon?”

Of course, it would be very happy to work together, but he couldn’t imagine making her work for his own happiness. Meia just staying comfortably at the Grand Ducal residence was enough.

It was already good now. He wanted more, but too much greed would inevitably turn into obsession.

“Grand Duke Theodore, if I said I wanted to help, would you still oppose it?”

“If you want to do it, Lady Meia, I will not oppose it. However, I hope you can rest comfortably and make scrolls while staying at the Grand Ducal residence.”

“Lady Meia, I would be grateful if you could help.”

“Aethon! How can you ask Lady Meia for such a favor!”

At Theodore’s scolding, Aethon began to gasp, clutching his stomach where he had been stabbed.

“…!”

Despite his pained expression, Aethon continued to speak.

“Argh!”

Physician Worst quickly approached Aethon’s bed to check his condition and said urgently,

“He needs to rest!”

“Worst, the affairs of the Grand Ducal residence are more important than my life. How long must I lie in bed like this! Cough, cough.”

Worst urgently wiped the sweat from Aethon’s forehead with his hand.

“First, you need to rest! Breathe deeply! In, out.”

“In… out… in… out.”

“Lady Meia… in, out… please help… cough!”

Worst brought a handkerchief to Aethon’s mouth as he coughed. When the coughing stopped, there was blood on the handkerchief.

“You need to rest.”

Worst wiped Aethon’s mouth and forehead with a wet cloth, looking worried.

Meia also frowned at Aethon’s serious condition.

“No. I… want to work. Ugh… I want to work, ugh.”

Aethon gasped for breath and then collapsed onto the bed as if he had fainted.

Seeing this, Worst said,

“It seems he has lost consciousness due to extreme pain.”

Theodore asked Worst,

“Is his condition very bad?”

Worst answered gravely,

“It is not good. He must rest.”