* * *

‘Look, did you see?’

Pointing to my right wrist, I watched Cardien’s reaction.

Cardien was just staring at my wrist with a frozen expression.

Eventually, he turned around abruptly and went inside without a word.

“Phew…”

Only after he disappeared could I breathe out the breath I had been holding.

‘It’s not like I fell into a beast’s cage.’

It was just a brief moment, but the pressure was so chilling that even breathing was difficult.

‘No, this is my fault.’

I should have kept it well-covered, but I let my guard down.

‘I should ask Chelsea for something to cover my wrist.’

Like an arm wrap, or if nothing else, a thick bracelet or something.

By the way…

“What on earth is this?”

I paused as I checked the card.

[Baptism Ceremony Invitation]

“If it’s a baptism ceremony, isn’t that where the female lead and male lead fall in love?”

Female lead Celestina, male lead Hysterion.

The two of them fall for each other at first sight here, at this baptism ceremony.

‘The section where the original story really begins.’

Not only that, but a big event also occurs at this baptism ceremony.

But well.

‘Cardien won’t go there anyway.’

I shouldn’t need to worry about it.

‘If I had known this would happen, I should have just let him take it.’

Pointlessly checked it out, and now I’ve only exposed the trace of my magic disease.

I let out a deep sigh.

As always, regrets come even faster than one can anticipate.

* * *

Cardien returned to the room with brisk steps, took a deep breath, and walked towards the window.

Livia was still standing there.

He caught a glimpse of her sighing deeply while looking down at her wrist before she went inside.

Magic Disease.

He mentally repeated the name of the disease Livia was suffering from.

A disease that occurs when the magic flowing in the body becomes distorted.

Its main characteristic is,

“Flower-shaped spots appear, and as they increase, the lifespan shortens……”

The shape of that spot on her wrist was undoubtedly a flower.

“……What a damn useless disease.”

It’s not even mocking, but what else could it be but a curse to have flower-shaped spots appear every time your lifespan decreases?

‘At most, 3 years left……’

Moreover, during that time, the spots will continue to appear, and Livia will have to endure pain similar to, no, even greater than last time with each occurrence.

“……The family heirloom.”

According to Livia, if they have the family heirloom, they can cure the disease.

He didn’t know how she knew this method that even doctors and the Information Guild Master were unaware of, but that wasn’t important.

Livia was always right, after all.

“Ha……”

Cardien let out a self-deprecating laugh.

The family heirloom.

In fact, it might have become the easiest cure in a way.

All the previous heads of the family had possessed the family heirloom.

Only Cardien was the exception.

Because he hadn’t inherited the complete Mercedes.

‘What a mess.’

He ran his hand through his hair with a tired expression.

When his eyes were revealed again, his face had returned to its original cold expression, as if it had never wavered.

He pulled the bell rope.

Winston immediately entered the room.

“Yes, Master.”

“Bring that bastard here.”

At the words “that bastard,” Winston briefly wore a puzzled expression before accepting the order and leaving the room.

Ten minutes later, ‘that bastard’ came to see Cardien.

* * *

When Lemon just woke up from sleep, Livia wasn’t by his side.

He thought it was fortunate.

He noticed traces of tears remaining in his eyes.

‘It was real.’

Of course, when Livia first demonstrated her ability to him, he saw the image of his mother waving her hand and smiling right in front of him.

It was a somewhat younger appearance as it had been such a long time, but it was undoubtedly his mother.

However, that moment was too brief.

He couldn’t even see her face properly.

So Lemon asked for it once more.

This time, to engrave his mother’s face in his memory.

But until then, he didn’t really trust Livia’s ability that much.

Of course, since he actually experienced it, it wasn’t a lie, but he thought she might have used some kind of illusion magic.

However…… the moment he woke up, Lemon retracted all his thoughts.

She clearly possessed the ability to manipulate dreams.

‘Is that even possible?’

As the head of the Information Guild, he holds almost all the information in the empire.

Of course, there are certainly unknown pieces of information like private personal matters or ancient temples, but those are just special cases.

But nowhere in his information was there an ability like Livia’s.

What on earth was it in the first place?

It’s not even magic.

‘Divine power?’

If categorized, it seems close to divine power, but that doesn’t make sense either.

‘How can an ordinary tutor use an ability that even a saint can’t use?’

Lemon knows well about the saint.

Of course, he should be familiar with her as one of the empire’s key figures, but he investigated more closely while playing hide-and-seek with Livia.

He collected information through guild members attached to the temple and even seduced her attending priest to dig out information.

But Saint Celestina only had strong healing power, which is basic for divine power, and no other special abilities were discovered.

Is that possible?

‘It would make more sense if the tutor was the saint instead.’

After all, her ability to manipulate dreams seemed almost divine.

‘I’ll have to investigate more.’

A smile brushed Lemon’s lips.

He started to get excited at the thought that he might discover completely new information.

‘Before that.’

Livia isn’t his only special guest.

‘Now it’s about time to go visit. I’ve found an important clue.’

It was around the time he was thinking this.

Winston visited the library.

Winston bowed his head towards Lemon, who was staring blankly.

“The master is looking for you.”

Thinking the timing was curious, Lemon nodded.

“I’ll go right away.”

And so now, Lemon, unaware that he was being referred to as ‘that bastard’, stood before Cardien.

Looking at Cardien’s cold face, Lemon inwardly flinched.

As expected.

“Master of the Information Guild.”

“……Yes?”

“I heard it’s the empire’s best information, but it’s not much. The case from the Kingdom of Rounded Hill wasn’t Magic Disease. I hear it was just immune individuals to divine power showing similar symptoms.”

“……Ah……”

Lemon felt a bit wronged.

As if he wouldn’t know that.

‘I was just trying to buy time.’

Being condemned along with the guild, he couldn’t feel more wronged.

But unable to reveal the truth, Lemon pretended as if he knew nothing.

Cardien, as if that wasn’t his main purpose, immediately got to the point.

“How’s the tracking of the family heirloom going? It’s been quite a while since I commissioned it, but there’s still no news.”

He shot a reproachful look at Lemon.

However, Lemon’s answer came promptly.

“I’ve found it.”

“……What did you say?”

“I’ve found a clue to the family heirloom. To be precise……”

Trailing off, Lemon wore a meaningful smile and continued.

“I’ve found a clue about the previous Duke, that is, Your Grace’s brother who disappeared with the family heirloom.”

“……”

At that moment, Cardien’s movements stopped.

Lemon quietly observed Cardien’s reaction.

Soon, Cardien’s lips slowly parted.

A rough voice scraped through his throat as it came out.

“……Continue, speaking.”

‘Wow, how intense.’

Lemon let out a dry laugh.

An immense pressure weighed down on him.

The air that was supposed to help him breathe instead constricted his throat.

Just from Cardien’s aura alone.

“That day, the day the previous Duke, His Grace, disappeared.”

“……”

“His Grace headed towards the temple.”

The corners of Lemon’s mouth curled upwards.

It was embarrassing, but the person who helped him find this clue was none other than Livia.

After learning that his mother’s cause of death was divine power, Lemon focused his investigation on the temple.

And by chance, he discovered traces of the disappeared previous Duke at the temple.

Looking at Cardien’s purple eyes, which had now turned pale, Lemon delivered the final blow.

“The trail ends there.”

After Lemon left, Cardien was lost in thought.

A while later, he called for Winston and quietly ordered.

“……Prepare the baptism ceremony invitation.”

Startled by the order, Winston soon acknowledged it and left the room.

Only silence settled in the quiet room.