Chapter 22: The Gap Between Happiness and Tragedy (2)

“A few days ago, we were lucky enough to capture a dark mage. Unfortunately, he died before we could interrogate him, but we retrieved an artifact-like object from him.”

Tehis handed the bracelet to Chloe while explaining. She examined the object curiously, turning it over in her hands before asking a question.

“And?”

“Can you determine its purpose? If my memory serves me right, Lucas seemed to wear a similar bracelet. I’m curious if they’re the same type.”

At the mention of the expected name, Chloe sighed. Although nothing was certain yet, the thought of Tehis confronting and killing dark mages made her apprehensive about what might happen when Lucas reappeared.

“The most effective way to identify an artifact’s purpose is to activate it. Most of the time, it’s as simple as channeling mana into it. The problem is, it could be dangerous…”

Artifacts like this typically share similar designs. As she ran her fingers along the inside of the bracelet, her touch found a small indentation, just as she had anticipated.

Pressing the split seam with her nail, the outer layer of the bracelet peeled back, revealing its inner workings. Within, a tangled network of intricate magical circuits emerged.

Since there was no compartment for a mana stone, it was clear that the artifact was purely for magical use.

“If you can directly examine the inside like this, you can roughly deduce its purpose without activating it. But that’s assuming you recognize the type of magic circle.”

“What kind of magic circle is it?”

His question carried an implicit trust that Chloe would know. She chuckled softly and shrugged.

“Usually, it’s not easy to tell at a glance. Especially when multiple layers are superimposed like this. It takes time to separate and analyze them.”

“In that case…”

“However, I’m fortunate to recognize one aspect. It’s a type I’ve worked on recently.”

True to her reputation as a Senior Mage, Chloe didn’t disappoint. Tehis nodded, waiting silently as her explanation continued.

“Communication. I don’t know where it’s connected to, but there’s a magic circle for transmitting sound. It’s similar to the type we use in our pendants.”

As soon as Chloe said this, a scenario immediately came to Tehis’s mind. Chloe seemed to have the same thought.

Closing the bracelet’s outer layer, she calmly voiced a hypothesis.

“This is likely how dark mages communicate with each other. Though I haven’t examined it thoroughly, Lucas’s bracelet is probably connected to this one.”

“Can it track the target’s location?”

“It’d be difficult without activating it. And activating it recklessly would raise suspicion.”

“I see. Thank you, Chloe. This has been immensely helpful.”

“Not at all. Shall I take it and investigate its other functions?”

Tehis’s gaze shifted from the bracelet to Chloe. Her offer to dedicate time to this task filled him with gratitude and guilt.

After all, wasn’t this essentially uncovering one of Lucas’s hidden cards?

“If you’re willing, I’d greatly appreciate it. But are you sure?”

“There’s no reason not to. I’m helping my partner, after all.”

Not a fake partner, but a real one. Someone she liked.

Warmth filled Tehis’s eyes. Her willingness to move for his sake pleased him more than anything.

“By the way, where did you capture the dark mage?”

“Hmm.”

He paused at the sudden question, organizing his thoughts. Unsure where to begin, he gestured toward the sofa.

“Let’s sit and talk. The background is rather complicated.”

***

The tea brought in by a maid had long gone cold. Though it was slightly past lunchtime, neither of them made any move to get up.

Breaking the silence, Chloe finally spoke.

“So, you’ll have to deploy next week?”

“Yes. While the official attack on the Kingdom of Jeren will come later, I’ll be leaving the Grand Duchy starting next week.”

Chloe stifled a sigh. She had wanted to craft another protective artifact for Tehis, but time was far too short.

‘The traces of the Second Prince…’

The sudden escalation of the war, which the Crown Prince had previously postponed, had only one explanation.

Evidence of the missing Illein Harpeon had been discovered near the border with the Kingdom of Jeren.

Other political interests were involved, but the report that his younger brother, missing for over half a year, might be held in Jeren prompted Kaishan to draw his sword. No matter how vehemently Jeren denied it, the evidence was too clear to ignore.

Thus, a one-sided war was declared, with a very brief preparation period.

Unfortunately, Duke Fernand, the appointed Supreme Commander, had summoned Tehis earlier than expected.

‘I really don’t like him.’

Chloe found Duke Fernand deeply unpleasant. While he claimed to be gathering key figures for strategic meetings before the war began in earnest, she was certain there were ulterior motives.

‘He’s probably planning to discuss the rebellion.’

Or perhaps arrange a meeting with the Prince leading it.

Either way, it was clear that Tehis was being worked to the bone.

He had barely slept, busy organizing the northern region and preparing to leave. Traveling to various cities to secure supplies, he had also taken the opportunity to clean up known crime organizations, during which he had encountered the dark mage.

‘What are you plotting, Luke?’

Chloe felt a headache coming on. It seemed Lucas had been carefully preparing to strike at Tehis’s back.

Though it was fortunate they had managed to preemptively prevent it…

“Did Duke Fernand say anything about your clean-up efforts?”

“He didn’t interfere at all. There wasn’t even a mention of it in the invitation.”

Even though he had allied with dark mages.

This only made Chloe and Tehis’s thoughts more tangled. The relationship between the Duke and Lucas seemed more tenuous than they had initially thought.

‘Or is he aiming for something else?’

The identity of the rebellion’s mastermind remained unclear. Whether the evidence of the Second Prince’s traces near Jeren’s border was staged or genuine was also uncertain.

Tehis would likely learn more after meeting Duke Fernand, but for now, the situation felt overwhelmingly uncertain.

‘How did I end up entangled in all this?’

Chloe let out a bitter laugh. She had thought she would live her entire life without ever being involved in something like war, but life was truly unpredictable.

Unless one had the ability to foresee the future, like the current Mage Tower Master…

“Ah.”

“Chloe?”

Tehis called out to her, but she couldn’t respond. Her breath and movements froze momentarily before she consciously steadied herself and turned back to him.

Her anxious gaze darted between Tehis and his surroundings. Her pale face and trembling lips prompted Tehis to press his thumb against her mouth, stopping her from biting it.

“What’s wrong?”

“No… it’s nothing. I just remembered something I’d overlooked.”

Chloe knew Tehis was looking at her with concern, but she couldn’t explain anything.

Grand Mage Isrion. How could she have forgotten about him?

He had shown interest in her since childhood, even foreseeing the Second Prince’s whereabouts at her request. It made sense that he would have noticed her strange condition.

Isrion must have known about her relationship with Tehis and what lay ahead for them.

‘Why hasn’t he said anything?’

In hindsight, it had always been this way. He couldn’t have arranged their initial meeting without knowing they would enter into a romantic contract.

Though the limits of his foresight were unclear, he might have even predicted how their relationship would evolve.

And yet, if he had allowed it…

“…”

“Chloe, is this something I can’t help with?”

Tehis’s earnest voice made her wince. She lowered her head, not wanting him to see her like this.

If Isrion had allowed her relationship with Tehis, it could only mean one thing.

They were destined to part ways. She would never leave the shadow of the Mage Tower.

Perhaps Tehis had been used. Without the fairy he had gifted her, her promotion to Senior Mage would have been significantly delayed, making her all the more suspicious.

He might have been nothing more than a tool for her benefit, destined to be discarded once she left…

“Chloe.”

His rough hand touched her face. Only then did she realize she had been crying, as Tehis gently wiped her tears.

Silent sorrow blurred her vision.

“Even if it’s beyond my abilities, I’ll do everything I can to help. So please…”

“Tehis.”

Chloe grasped the hand that had been wiping her cheek.

If she wanted to avoid hurting him further, she needed to push him away now. She had to let go of his hand, draw a line, and return to their contractual relationship, ending things this spring.

She had to.

“Yes, Chloe. I’m listening.”

But at the sound of his polite, kind, and concerned voice, only more tears fell.

It had only been two days. Two days since they started dating, and just one day since his birthday.

Ah, she truly didn’t want to part with Tehis.

The mage had learned what it meant to love.