Chapter 8: Couple Bracelets (3)

“There are other functions, but I don’t know if you’ll ever need them. Oh, the shield activates with a keyword. Just shout ‘Shield’, and it’ll work.”

“Thank you, Chloe. I seem to be indebted to you once again.”

“Indebted? Not at all. It’s powered by the mana stones you gave me, so think of it as giving back what I received.”

Though there is a significant difference between mana stones and artifacts, it didn’t matter much. Chloe brushed it off and put on the item she made as a pair on her wrist.

Tehis’s gaze shifted to the black bracelet as she extended her hand to show it off.

“This contains your hair. I made an artifact that guides direction because searching around was cumbersome. I’ll be the only one using it, so it’s fine, right?”

Since it was similar to the item the Crown Prince had commissioned, it was easy to make. As a paired set, it had a generous search range.

Knowing Tehis was frequently attacked, she couldn’t be at ease. This was the best precaution she could take.

“It’s fine, but…”

Knock, knock, knock.

“Sorry for being late, Your Grace and Miss Chloe. It’s Viscount Derahin.”

* * *

Blake Derahin. Having lived on the border of the Winter Forest all his life, he became a viscount immediately upon reaching adulthood 30 years ago, following his father’s footsteps. His father had died heroically defending the walls during a sudden monster wave.

True to the reputation of his steadfast family, Blake quietly protected Derahin territory. This remained unchanged even after unexpectedly becoming part of the Grand Duchy.

‘It’s fortunate the Grand Duke is more humane than I expected.’

Blake had little expectation when submitting reports on the Winter Forest anomalies and requesting support. They had almost always had to survive on their own.

But the Grand Duke brought a Senior mage and decided to explore personally. For someone who had been busy fending off monsters rather than exploring forbidden areas, this was excellent news.

Within two weeks of the expedition’s start, monster invasions noticeably decreased. It was the power of a man with unmatched martial prowess in the empire and one of the few Senior mages across the continent.

When they returned, Blake realized all his worries about how to welcome them were in vain. They declined party invitations and headed straight to the Grand Duchy, exchanging only a few words of greeting.

‘To think they’d settle for slightly increasing the tax rate.’

Blake held the Grand Duke’s nobility in high regard. It was a thoroughly rational decision that Tehis would have shaken his head at.

After all, if the Derahin estate fell, the North would suffer the greatest loss. Seeing there wasn’t much else to gain, it was a move for long-term benefits.

However, the rigid knight felt he hadn’t fully repaid the favor received from his side and insisted on inviting the Grand Duke. Considering the mage known to be his lover, he planned to hand over a certain amount of monster corpses and herbs that hadn’t been fully processed yet.

But on the day they were to arrive, a problem arose. For the first time since the expedition, monsters reached the walls. Though he rushed to handle it before the appointment time, he ended up being late.

‘Useless monsters.’

They were medium to large-sized ones, difficult for ordinary soldiers to handle. To minimize damage and boost morale, he dealt with them personally, returning in a disheveled state.

‘At least they were understanding.’

Blake glanced at the Grand Duke couple dining across the table. Explaining his tardiness, they readily understood, easing his worries.

Not questioning the rudeness of making high-status guests wait showed Tehis’s character. It was hard to understand why he had such a notorious reputation.

“Darling, ahh.”

“Ah…”

…Seeing such a scene, it was even harder to comprehend.

‘He doesn’t look like a bloodthirsty murderer at all.’

Blake quietly cleared his throat and moved his utensils. Though he had seen them from afar during the founding anniversary, witnessing their affectionate acts up close was beyond imagination.

The mage’s attitude, as he had heard, was astonishing. She could so perfectly ignore her surroundings.

Feeling awkward witnessing the loving acts of a young couple, his gaze wandered over the table. 

If they were like this here, how much more so when alone?

‘Do they eat while sitting on each other’s laps?’

No way. 

Shaking his head internally, Blake missed his wife, whom he had briefly sent to her family when the Winter Forest monster attacks were fierce.

Just as he resolved to have a late child upon her return, the Grand Duke spoke.

“Viscount Derahin, have you prepared a list of materials you can provide us?”

“Yes, Your Grace. I’ll show it to you as soon as you finish your meal.”

“Let’s take a quick look and head to the warehouse.”

“As you wish.”

Blake answered politely, careful not to look at Tehis again. He was sweating, trying to ignore the cream on the edge of Tehis’s lips. It was evidence of enthusiastically accepting the dessert offered by the lady.

‘I really can’t get used to this.’

Of course, what he couldn’t get used to even more was the mage, calling the Grand Duke by a pet name and touching him freely.

“Tess, you have cream on you.”

“Where?”

“Here.”

Before Tehis could do anything, Chloe wiped his lips with her finger. The two pairs of eyes saw her red tongue lick the white off her finger and met each other.

“…”

“…Ahem.”

Blake felt wronged under Tehis’s cold gaze. He had no ulterior motives; he was merely surprised by the mage’s actions.

‘Young people are so…’

Unaware of the middle-aged man’s internal grumbling, Chloe spoke to Tehis.

“I’m done eating, how about you?”

“I’m finished too. Viscount, the list.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

At the master’s signal, a servant handed the Grand Duke a parchment. While he reviewed the list, maids served tea.

They drank tea while reviewing the list, filtering it first. Then they moved to the warehouse, looked around, and filtered it a second time. It didn’t take long for each to take what they needed and leave.

Viscount Derahin politely saw them off.

* * *

Chloe and Tehis returned to the Grand Duchy via the warp gate. The conversation, which had been sporadic, naturally dwindled to match the journey.

After Chloe bid farewell and was about to return to the Mage Tower, Tehis’s question came.

“You mentioned this bracelet has other functions, didn’t you?”

“Oh, right. I set it up with a directional tracking spell like my bracelet… but I doubt it’ll be needed.”

“You mean it indicates your direction?”

“Yes.”

Chloe thought simply. Since she usually went to meet him, she assumed she would be the only one using that function.

However, Tehis’s reaction was unexpected. Looking from the purple bracelet to her, he earnestly requested.

“I’d like to know how to use it.”

“Huh…? Okay, sure. Do you see this slightly protruding pattern? If you twist it to the right and press…”

Chloe demonstrated by holding Tehis’s arm. When the small mana stone hidden in a specific part of the bracelet made contact with the magic circle, it vibrated with a ‘wooong-‘ sound. The artifact, which was moving toward the paired black bracelet, stopped as soon as her hand withdrew.

Chloe looked up with a bright smile after the demonstration.

“That’s how you use it. Easy, right?”

“Yes, Chloe. It’s simpler than I thought. I’ll use it well.”

“I don’t know when you’ll need it, but sure. If it doesn’t activate, it might be too far or the mana stone might be depleted, so let me know.”

Chloe shrugged lightly. She had added the function out of conscience, thinking she was the only one with an artifact to track him. She considered it a useless feature, but if he liked it, she was glad.

“Then I’ll be off. You must be busy, so hurry back, Tess.”

“Yes, Chloe. …But may I ask one favor?”

“…? Go ahead.”

Chloe stopped, puzzled, before leaving.

A rare occurrence. He had never held her back like this before parting, so she looked at him with curious eyes.

Hesitating briefly under her gaze, Tehis soon made up his mind and spoke.

“Even if it’s an act, I’d appreciate it if you refrained from actions that might provoke others’ desires.”

“…What actions?”

Chloe asked, bewildered. She had no idea what he was referring to.

Actions that provoke others’ desires, out of the blue?

Under her puzzled gaze, Tehis pursed his lips and slowly explained.

“Licking your fingers… things like that.”

“Hmm?”

Chloe raised an eyebrow. Reflecting on when she might have done such a thing, his expression was absurd.

‘I’m not some kind of renowned seductress.’

She had merely licked something off her finger, yet he reacted this way.

Chloe let out a chuckle. It was both ridiculous and amusing. Perhaps she even found it endearing.

“That’s all it took to provoke you?”

“That’s not what I meant…!”

Knowing the coachman was watching, Chloe grabbed Tehis’s hand. She deliberately brought it to her mouth and bit his index finger, as if to show off.

Her red tongue slowly traced up his finger from the tip. Adding a slight graze of her teeth was enough to give Tehis a peculiar sensation.

“…!”

The man’s mouth, poised to protest, shut automatically. His hand, unable to pull away, flinched.

His eyes, losing their composure, focused on the lips sucking his finger. A heat rose, one he couldn’t blame on the summer.

“You mean don’t do things like this?”

Chloe released his hand, licked her lips clean, and smiled brightly. Her face was annoyingly fresh.

Tehis, at a loss for words, moved his lips but then bowed his head. His eyes, unable to meet hers, searched the ground. His damp and warm index finger still twitched.

‘Yes, Chloe.’ He could have answered as usual, but the words wouldn’t come.

So. For that reason, Tehis spoke a denial.

“No.”

A deep breath filled the pause. His quietly simmering eyes turned to Chloe.

Instead of the glistening index finger, his thumb pressed against her lower lip. Stopping as if about to delve inward, the movement halted.

A low voice seeped through refined desire.

“This, you can do.”