Chapter 8: Couple Bracelets (2)

[Chloe,

Even the North is experiencing a hot summer. I wonder if you’re taking care of your meals, as it’s easy to feel drained.

I have contacted Viscount Derahin. If you’re available, I’d like to have dinner together the day after tomorrow. Would that be alright?

Feel free to suggest another day if it’s more convenient for you.

Reflecting on our meetings.

Tehis Escalante]

The day after tomorrow evening. From today, it was tomorrow evening.

Having already sent her reply, Chloe folded the letter and moved on. She was relieved to have finished the artifact in time, but the effort had left her exhausted.

‘I really need to get a good night’s sleep today.’

She planned to relax leisurely until the appointment, which was a day away. Just as she felt a sense of déjà vu from the recurring pattern, a knock interrupted her rest.

Knock, knock.

“Chloe.”

“Riel?”

Chloe opened the door at the sound of her friend’s voice. Before she could ask why Riel had come, she handed Chloe a small vial.

“Try applying this to the Fairy Egg.”

“What is it?”

“Um… something good.”

Chloe narrowed her eyes at the vague answer. Riel was great, but this was her one flaw. Instead of lying, she would often be evasive about things she didn’t want to discuss.

“What are the ingredients?”

“…Vitality and nature?”

What more could I ask for? 

Chloe simply laughed at the half-expected answer. Riel had been a consistent friend for over a decade.

“Alright… Thanks, Riel. I just need to apply it to the surface, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll let you know if there are any changes.”

Chloe carefully took the vial. She trusted that, whatever it was, Riel wouldn’t give her anything harmful.

With her innocent apricot-colored eyes blinking, Riel was as pure as a blank slate. She was also a secret disciple whom the Mage Tower Master had isolated from external influences.

“But Chloe…”

“Yes?”

Chloe showed curiosity at the rare sight of Riel hesitating. After a moment of thought, Riel glanced at the red bird beyond Chloe and asked.

“Did you show Ray to Master?”

“Of course, I showed him before I showed you.”

Chloe recalled the event from a few days ago. Right after introducing her familiar to Tehis, she had informed Isrion of the hatching. She had also shared the news with Riel afterward.

“…What did he say?”

“Master?”

“Yes.”

Chloe tilted her head at the unexpected question. When she introduced Ray, Isrion…

“He simply coveted it like usual.”

She remembered how Isrion was eager to pet Ray, expressing admiration no matter what the Phoenix did. He even prepared various things, thinking they might be beneficial for the Phoenix.

‘As expected of a rare species collector.’

He still occasionally inquired about the Fairy Egg, as if he hadn’t let go of his attachment. Despite already raising several rare species, including a unicorn.

“Why do you ask about Master?”

“Uh, it’s nothing.”

Chloe shrugged at Riel’s response. 

How typical. 

It seemed like one of those times when Riel asked meaningless questions. Given that Riel rarely showed her feelings, it was hard to guess what she was thinking.

“Well, I’ll be going now.”

“Alright, Riel. Thanks for this. If the Fairy hatches, I’ll make sure to repay you.”

“Okay.”

After Riel left, Chloe went to check on the Fairy Egg. Applying the gifted potion made its color slightly more transparent. It was a subtle change that could easily be missed.

‘It’s still growing steadily.’

Since the Phoenix had awakened almost immediately, the months-long stagnation of the Fairy’s hatching was frustrating. But she knew there was nothing more she could do, so she sighed.

Without Riel’s help, she would have had little progress by now, so she was grateful nonetheless. She wasn’t sure how Riel had learned about the Fairy, but she was thankful.

Chirp!

“Ray, come here. Let’s go rest.”

The Phoenix, pecking at the window, flew to its owner at her call. With her familiar perched on her arm, Chloe left the lab, and the lights naturally went out.

The room, now devoid of presence, saw a faint movement from the Fairy Egg. It was a subtle shift, almost as if a breeze had blown.

* * *

Chloe leisurely sipped tea in the drawing room of the Escalante Grand Ducal residence. Instead of sitting, she wandered around, admiring the art pieces until Tehis entered.

“I’m sorry, Chloe. I wanted to wait for you at the warp gate, but I had a backlog of work…”

“If you’re busy, take care of your tasks. I can go by myself.”

“No, let’s go together.”

Tehis adjusted his attire and added an unnecessary comment.

“I can always make time to spend with you.”

Caught off guard by his sudden remark, Chloe didn’t know how to respond and simply nodded. She often thought about it, but he sometimes threw unexpected curveballs.

“Shall we depart immediately?”

“Yes, Chloe. The carriage should be waiting.”

Chloe and Tehis smoothly transitioned from the drawing room to the carriage, then to the warp gate, and finally to the Derahin territory. A servant waiting for the Grand Duke couple guided them to the Viscount’s carriage, where they waited once more.

Inside the moving carriage, Chloe observed the outside. While there were no drastic changes, the reduced monster attacks seemed to have brightened people’s faces. Most traces of death that had been present were also cleared.

“It looks much better than before.”

“It’s thanks to your efforts.”

“You were the one who got me involved.”

“I worked hard too.”

Chloe looked at Tehis, his voice serious.

‘Is he joking now?’

Ignoring her blinking gaze, Tehis stared straight ahead. After a brief silence, a woman’s laughter filled the air.

“Yes, my dear, you’ve worked hard. How should I reward you?”

Chloe, smiling sweetly, hugged Tehis, who was seated beside her. Resting her chin on his shoulder, her warm breath reached his ear.

“…There’s nothing in particular you need to do.”

“Nothing? Nothing you want from me?”

Tehis found himself cornered. He wasn’t in a position to ask for a reward, but with her phrasing, he couldn’t not answer.

Yet, he couldn’t be greedy, knowing it was a joke.

‘No.’

Instead, he seized the opportunity from her teasing. Holding the arm around his waist, he turned to Chloe, meeting her eyes up close.

“If I do, will you give it to me?”

Their noses were close. So close that their breaths tickled each other’s fine hairs.

Chloe’s slightly widened eyes reflected Tehis. His expression was as stoic as usual. However, there was a slight tension at the corners of his mouth.

“…”

“…”

“We’ve arrived!”

The suffocating atmosphere was broken by the servant’s shout. They heard the sound of him jumping to the ground from the front seat with the coachman.

The grip on Chloe’s arm loosened. She lifted her chin from Tehis’s shoulder, exhaling the breath she had been holding.

“…It’s closer than I thought.”

“Indeed.”

There was a hint of irritation in Tehis’s voice. He swallowed a sigh and quickly dispelled any trace of emotion.

Soon, the carriage door opened, and Tehis stepped out first. Taking his hand, Chloe slowly calmed her inexplicable bodily reaction as she exited.

“Welcome, Grand Duke Escalante, and Mage Chloe, to the Viscount Derahin’s residence.”

A man, presumably the butler, greeted them courteously. Following his lead inside, they observed the modest mansion. It suited the lord of a territory fighting to survive.

‘Even so, offering to share the monster carcasses shows integrity.’

Of course, having received support from two top-level individuals, ignoring the matter entirely would also be an issue. Chloe walked through the corridor, observing, before entering the drawing room they soon reached.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

“Certainly.”

Though the maid served tea, only the two of them could converse. After a brief eye contact with Tehis, Chloe lowered her gaze naturally as she picked up her teacup.

“…”

“…”

Silence lingered in the drawing room. She couldn’t understand why the air, which had been comfortable until recently, had become awkward. Clearing her throat, she subtly initiated conversation.

“It seems the Fairy’s hatching isn’t far off.”

“That’s good news. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No. Giving me the egg was already more than enough.”

Though the topic was somewhat abrupt, Tehis responded smoothly, and Chloe felt relieved. They continued a light conversation while sipping their hot tea.

“Are you not bringing the Phoenix around with you?”

“Actually, Ray wanted to come along, but I persuaded him to stay in the room. It draws too much attention.”

“It is a rare species, after all.”

It’s more than just rare; it’s a legendary species thought to be extinct. As a mage stepping out as the Grand Duke’s lover, attracting further attention by bringing along a Phoenix wasn’t her intention.

“About the hair I took last time.”

“Yes.”

“I used it as a material to create an artifact. I’ll keep that one, but I’ll give you mine instead.”

“Pardon?”

Instead of explaining in detail, Chloe took Tehis’s right hand. She unbuttoned his sleeve and gently pushed it up, revealing the veins on his skin. Fascinated, she traced her thumb over the prominent spot and spoke.

“I made it in just a week, so its performance might be slightly lower. But the basic protection magic should work, so use it in emergencies.”

“Protection magic… you say?”

“The one I used when you were attacked.”

Though Tehis asked as if he didn’t know, he nodded quietly. Knowing that she had taken the time and resources to create an artifact to protect him stirred a strange emotion. Having rarely felt protected in his life, it was even more so.

A feeling somewhat unreal, ticklish, and awkward.

Tehis quietly gazed at the purple bracelet on his wrist. With its geometric patterns and overall vibe, it reminded him of its creator.

Whether he used it or not, he had a premonition that it would remind him of someone every time he saw it.