Chapter 7.4

‘…This is so uncomfortable I could die.’

Daphne couldn’t even breathe loudly as she sat perfectly still. After all, she was now in the Emperor’s reception room.

The Emperor’s reception room!

On the right side of the entrance hung an enormous painting, so large she wondered where they’d gotten such a canvas. Next to it, countless other works—she didn’t know the artists, but they all looked precious—lined the walls.

All she knew was that just one of those paintings could buy a house. Which meant there were dozens of houses’ worth of value just in this room.

A thick, soft carpet so plush it felt wrong to step on covered the polished marble floor, and every piece of furniture, including the sofas, was gilded.

On the intricately patterned ceiling hung a chandelier so massive she wondered how the ceiling could support its weight. The more she looked around, the more her head spun. Daphne wiped her sweaty palms on her thigh and exhaled slowly, trying not to make a sound.

She had no idea what was happening, and sweat trickled down her back. Meanwhile, Rezan sprawled out comfortably, as if this were his own home.

In contrast, Daphne was mentally exhausted. Just as she was wishing desperately to escape, the Emperor spoke.

“So, what have you been doing all this time?”

There was a hint of reproach in his voice. Whether he noticed or pretended not to, Rezan replied bluntly.

“Well, I raised a kid and wandered around. Same as always.”

“You raised a child?”

Unlike Rezan, who spoke as if it were nothing, the Emperor looked at Daphne in shock. Seeing the confusion on his face, Daphne forced a smile, thinking at least no one could scold a smiling face.

“What is your name?”

“I am Daphne Grey, medical officer of the Imperial Knight Order.”

Praying her voice wouldn’t sound strange, Daphne lowered her gaze slightly and answered the Emperor’s question. Just saying a few words felt like it would drain all her strength.

But the real problem was Rezan. As soon as he heard her introduce herself as a medical officer of the Imperial Knight Order, Rezan exploded in anger, slamming his staff on the floor.

“What?! You stuck such a talented girl in the infirmary?! That damned Frederick must have pulled some strings! This won’t do. Transfer her to the Magic Development Department immediately!”

“I don’t want to.”

“What? Why not?!”

Daphne instinctively talked back, then glanced nervously at the Emperor. But he looked just as bewildered, unable to accept the situation.

“There’s too much work there.”

“Hah… You’re as slippery as ever.”

“You’re the same, Uncle Rezan!”

“Rezan? Did you borrow another name from someone?”

The Emperor joined in, clearly confused by all he didn’t understand. But Rezan didn’t care. If anything, he snorted as if to say, “You don’t even know that?”

“That’s basic survival outside the palace. I suppose you wouldn’t know, living so comfortably in a greenhouse. Really, I taught you all wrong. All wrong.”

Tsk tsk, Rezan clicked his tongue, and it wasn’t just the Emperor who stared at him in disbelief.

“You borrowed a name?”

“This man’s true name is Isaac Avery, the Empire’s only Grand Mage. If you’re a mage, you must have heard his name at least once.”

“Isaac… Avery…?”

“Why? Are you finally starting to feel some respect?”

Isaac—formerly Rezan—boasted as Daphne stood speechless. Daphne, staring straight at him, shook her head firmly.

“So you were just praising yourself, then?”

“…Huh?”

“You asked me if I knew how amazing the mage Isaac was. You said you’d met him once, and that the magic he used was so mysterious it amazed you.”

“Ahem… Well, I found you, a talented kid, at the Baron Lewin’s house, so of course I wanted you to turn out like me. If you were in my position, you’d understand. Your talent was too precious to just stand by and watch!”

As if recalling those days, Isaac cleared his throat and tried to change the subject again by introducing her.

“Lewin?”

At the sudden, thunderous word, Daphne’s eyes widened. Unlike the clueless Isaac, the Emperor’s gaze turned to Daphne.

“I heard the Baron Lewin was recently arrested for fraud.”

Ah, that’s right. I’d completely forgotten something so important…!

* * *

‘Is this a good thing?’

Daphne trudged along, drained of energy. Not that she could walk energetically in a situation like this. She had completely forgotten that the mage from her past was actually the Empire’s only Grand Mage—and even the Emperor’s Master.

What made it even harder was that it took three or four hours just to get out of the Emperor’s reception room. He’d offered her a taste of the new tea he’d gotten, and though she drank it, she couldn’t remember the flavor at all.

‘That Unlce Rezan from back then turned out to be Isaac Avery, the Empire’s only Grand Mage. And just because he called me his disciple, I almost got forcibly transferred to the Magic Development Department.’

Remembering how close she’d come to a disaster gave her chills. Only after saying hundreds of times that she’d become a medical officer on purpose did Isaac finally shut his mouth. Though he still didn’t look pleased.

On top of that, when Isaac learned that all the debts had fallen on her after the Baron Lewin was arrested for fraud, he’d thrown another fit, leaving her utterly exhausted.

“Still, isn’t being an adopted daughter a bit much?”

“What’s so wrong about it?”

“Ah, you scared me!!!”

She jumped in surprise. But she wasn’t the only one startled. When Daphne saw Clyde’s wide-eyed face, she finally pulled herself together and spoke.

“What brings you here, Sir Clyde?”

“That’s what I wanted to ask you….”

At his words, Daphne looked around. Where was she? She was sure it was somewhere in the Knight Order, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall ever seeing this place before.

“I guess I ended up here while thinking things over. Anyway, I’ll be going now.”

“Um, Sir Grey.”

“Yes?”

Evan’s expression changed strangely. Daphne tensed, licking her lower lip, unable to pinpoint exactly what emotion he was feeling.

“If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m always willing to listen. I’m not trying to force you, but… I just want to be able to help….”

His voice trailed off, and his unsettled expression made her uneasy. She had a gut feeling that something he’d been holding back was about to burst out.

His eyes looked as if he was about to say something she shouldn’t hear, and Daphne instinctively stepped back.

“Because I like you, Sir Grey….”

At the faint, wavering confession, Daphne’s body stiffened. 

Wait, what did I just hear? 

Her mind went blank, overloaded by the sudden flood of information. She knew she should say something, but couldn’t find the words.

W-What was that?

First, Daphne decided to confirm the facts. In the end, she chose to ask directly.

“Y-You… you like me?”

“Ah.”

Evan seemed to realize what he’d just said, letting out a short gasp. Then, before she could respond, he shouted a quick apology and ran away.

She reached out to grab him, but she was far too slow to catch a well-trained Imperial Knight. Left alone in a daze, Daphne stared after his disappearing figure, bewildered.

“…I’m the one who got confessed to?”