Why do I feel unable to bear Raeyan’s gaze as he looks straight at me?

We were clearly indoors, and the window wasn’t even open, yet it felt as if a breeze had passed between us.

I met Raeyan’s gaze without averting my eyes.

Raeyan Vietan.

He was a special existence to me.

The only person who knew all of my secrets that no one else knew.

Having someone with whom I could share secrets I couldn’t tell others made me feel grounded in reality when I felt detached from the world.

I’m not alone.

That alone was enough to reassure me.

To think there was someone whose mere existence could comfort me, I suddenly realized Raeyan’s presence was even greater than I had thought.

Just as Raeyan knew my secrets, I too knew a lot about Raeyan.

Though Raeyan wore an impassive face, he was actually a very lonely person, and at the same time, a kind one.

“Is that all?”

Raeyan readily answered my question.

“Yes, that’s all.”

Just as I found comfort in Raeyan’s existence, it seemed he too needed warmth from me.

A hug was, of course, not a difficult thing to do.

I nodded with a faint smile.

“Alright. But in return, you have to tell me what happened when you come back.”

As if he hadn’t expected me to agree so readily, Raeyan’s eyes widened just a little.

“Yes.”

It probably wasn’t my imagination. Raeyan seemed to be in a good mood.

***

The reason Raeyan couldn’t explain why he was leaving was simple.

Because Elodie would worry.

Basically, Elodie didn’t pay much attention to her own safety or health. She was the type of person who would swallow even deadly poison without hesitation if she thought it necessary.

On the other hand, she cared deeply for others’ well-being.

Usually, he welcomed her concern for him, but not this time.

He just hoped she would be at peace during his absence.

“Do you have to go?”

Mario, who was helping pack his belongings, expressed concern, but Raeyan was firm.

“Yes.”

“You’re being fooled again. How many times has the Emperor strung you along with the excuse of restoration?”

“That was my own will, not the Emperor’s order.”

The Emperor was one of the few people who knew that Raeyan was a Vietan.

When the Emperor secretly summoned Raeyan, who was renowned as a mercenary, he immediately recognized with his powers that Raeyan was a descendant of the Seven Great Houses.

That’s when the peculiar relationship between the Emperor and Raeyan began.

The Emperor, who had recognized Raeyan’s talent early on, entrusted him with various tasks under the pretext of hiring a mercenary.

Each time, Raeyan performed his duties admirably.

That’s how Raeyan came to be called the Wallentian Emperor’s dog.

Mario expressed it as ‘the Emperor stringing him along with the excuse of restoration,’ but that wasn’t true.

The Emperor had repeatedly asked what he wanted, but Raeyan never demanded anything.

Too much time had passed.

The mansion engulfed in flames had long since burned down. The remains of his relatives, reduced to ashes, had long since weathered away.

‘What meaning does a family name have for me, when all my family is already dead?’

Whenever he had such thoughts, his mother’s voice, now faint, echoed in his ears.

“Raeyan. You are the only hope for the Vietans. You must survive at all costs and exact revenge for our family-.”

As if reminding him not to forget his duty.

Like a brand.

But while his mother’s voice kept him alive, it didn’t drive him to seek revenge.

That’s why, despite Mario’s urging, he had always been lukewarm about the restoration of Vietan.

His mother’s last words grew fainter with each passing day, but there was one existence that became clearer day by day.

Elodie Perdia.

As he wandered through dimensions, different versions of Elodie were clearly etched into his inner being time and time again.

At some point, the goal of saving Elodie remained more important than avenging his family.

He couldn’t argue if people pointed fingers at him, calling him a fool blinded by a woman.

It was an undeniable fact.

Raeyan Vietan was obsessed with Elodie Perdia.

That’s why he went to see the Emperor.

“This is unusual. You, who have never demanded payment for your missions, are now asking for restoration.”

“I’ve changed my mind.”

Elodie was an unreachable, distant existence to Raeyan.

All he could do was hover around her, protecting her bright light from going out.

But others were in different positions.

First Prince Adenmir. And Duke Leon Kreundel.

They approached Elodie so easily. Seeing them, people gossiped that they must be Elodie’s former fiancé or potential fiancé.

But the most Raeyan could be was Elodie’s lover.

He didn’t want to care about others’ views, but to stay by Elodie’s side forever, he needed honor.

A position and justification to stand proudly by her side.

Raeyan wanted to obtain that.

The Emperor gave Raeyan one last mission when he demanded restoration.

To clear out the Black Ravine, also known as the Death Ravine, the source of magical beasts.

It was an area where since the appearance of a large rift, magical beasts constantly crawled out, and the most they could do was to subjugate them every year to prevent them from approaching villages.

A place where few returned alive. An abandoned land.

The Emperor gave such a reckless order.

“If you add to your past achievements with a new merit this time, no one will be able to object.”

“Is that enough?”

“It won’t be easy, but retrieving the lost Greed’s seal stone might be a condition if you want to call it that.”

The seal stone had already been recovered. Wasn’t Elodie keeping it safe?

Then there was only one thing left.

“I will reclaim the Black Ravine.”

To achieve merit and return.

***

As I spent a few days in Severes, I realized a few things.

First, Dad is surprisingly very cute.

Second, the chef at Severes has incredible cooking skills.

Third, the vassals of Severes are really annoying!

They were so annoying that they almost canceled out the first two positive points.

I was on my way to take a walk towards the greenhouse because I felt stuffy staying only in the bedroom.

As soon as I felt a gaze from somewhere, the two sins were tattled.

[Some ugly old humans are glaring at you from over there!]

[Let’s gouge their eyes out. Let’s gouge their eyes out… Huh?]

The only ugly old humans wandering around the mansion were the vassals.

“Ugh.”

I quickened my pace, not wanting to encounter those people if possible, but the vassals approached faster.

They would cleverly pick fights when Dad was momentarily absent.

“Are you comfortable staying at Severes, Lady Perdia?”

Among the five vassals, the one who spoke to me was Baron Dorus, the father of Pavo Dorus who had recently been thoroughly defeated.

By addressing me as Lady Perdia, he indirectly expressed his intention not to recognize me as a member of Severes.

But I wasn’t intimidated at all by such disregard.

After all, I had spent a good 20 years being disrespected in Perdia.

This level of territorialism was merely ticklish if anything.

I looked around and smiled brightly.

“Yes. Severes is peaceful and nice. Though it’s a bit boring without man-eating plants or magical beast breeding rooms.”

“…Are there really such things in Perdia?”

“Yes. Even magical beasts can be cute if you look closely.”

Recalling the terrible magical beasts, I looked around at the vassals, and they openly frowned.

I didn’t mind and exclaimed in admiration, looking at the fountain right next to us.

“It’s nice not having to worry about poison splashing even when standing next to the fountain!”

“……”

The vassals all wore disgusted expressions without exception. I shyly suggested to them.

“How about we tour the Perdia mansion together sometime?”

“We decline. We despise Perdia.”

“Ha!”

“Perdia is truly vulgar…”

The vassals who answered as if they didn’t want to associate with me quickly moved away.

‘Cowards.’

I stuck out my tongue at their retreating backs.

Take that, you annoying old men!

***

The day of the next family meeting arrived.

I clung to Dad’s arm and whined.

“Can’t I come and watch too?”

“It will be boring.”

“Is the meeting attended for fun?”

I have something to do at that meeting today!

Dad rubbed his forehead as if troubled, then shook his head.

“No. You won’t hear anything pleasant from the vassals.”

“I already know everything, Dad.”

Although I’m a proper adult, Dad often treated me like a child.

Dad looked down at me with a complicated expression.

“Why are you so insistent on attending, Elodie?”

“The vassals keep opposing, don’t they? Let me try to persuade them.”

To convince the stubborn vassals who were still resisting despite the head of the family’s unilateral decision, I had to step in myself.

But Dad seemed to take it as a lack of trust in him.

“Elodie. Do you not find me as reliable as your father?”

“It’s not that, it’s just that it might take a long time to persuade the vassals.”

“No matter how long it takes, I will gain the vassals’ approval.”

Dad answered firmly. He looked like a very dependable and cool guardian.

While I was admiring Dad’s appearance for a moment, I turned his question right back at him.

“Don’t you trust your daughter, Dad?”

“Elodie…”

“Trust me once. I won’t let you regret it!”

“…Haa.”

Realizing that he couldn’t break my stubbornness this time either, Dad substituted his answer with a light sigh.

Once again, I was the victor.

***

The conference room of Severes had a quite different atmosphere from Perdia’s.

Unlike Perdia, where the head of the family’s seat was at the top and the vassals’ seats were a few steps below, in Severes, the head of the family and the vassals sat equally at one table.

Of course, the seat considered the top seat was reserved for the head of the family.

As Elodie appeared behind Richard, who had entered first, the vassals openly hardened their expressions.

Elodie, unfazed, slipped into the empty seat next to Richard.

Before the meeting began, Richard announced to the vassals.

“Elodie will be observing today’s meeting.”

Naturally, objections poured in.

“Head of the family. You can’t do this. How can you bring an outsider to a family meeting?”

“She is not an outsider.”

“It would be troublesome if internal family matters were leaked, wouldn’t it?”

The vassals looked at Elodie as if she were a spy. Elodie asked with genuine curiosity.

“As you say, would it be that troublesome for Severes if an outsider like me heard?”

Provoked by the implication that the family would be shaken by the mere leaking of meeting contents, one vassal retorted angrily.

“Of course not, but-“

“Then there’s no problem. Please proceed.”

“Even so, a Perdia-!”

“Let’s begin.”

Richard cut off the vassal’s words and unilaterally announced the start of the meeting.

Although still dissatisfied with the situation, the vassals had no choice but to accept the head of the family’s will.

The family meeting started with difficulty.

Throughout the meeting, Elodie just listened quietly with a bored expression.

‘When will it come up?’

As she was listening with one ear and letting out the other to content she had no interest in, that’s when it happened.

“We’ve purchased additional mana stone mines that have come on the market, but it’s far from enough.”

“…!”

Finally, the topic Elodie had been waiting for came up.

“At this rate, all the mana stones the family possesses will be depleted.”

“We might have to import from overseas at this point.”

“Or how about requesting a trade with the Magic Tower?”

Various proposals for securing mana stones started to come out. Overseas, Magic Tower, other families. But while they might put out the immediate fire, they couldn’t solve the fundamental supply problem.

Of course, Perdia wasn’t among the potential trade partners.

Despite being the family that currently owns the most mana stone mines.

That’s when it happened.

Elodie, who had been quiet all along, suddenly raised her hand.

“Mana stone mines.”

“…?”

When puzzled gazes all focused on her, Elodie opened her mouth.

“I have those.”

As she said this, her smile was as fresh as could be.

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