Chapter 09
Just a moment ago, Irtis had been hovering on the brink of death.
At times, he heard someone’s voice, and he could feel the cold.
“Ugh…”
But for the most part, he was unconscious and unable to understand what was happening.
How much time had passed?
Suddenly, something touched his forehead. It felt cool and soft.
Then that sensation spread throughout his entire body.
It felt as though someone was taking care of him.
What was going on?
But his consciousness remained sunk deep in that pitch-black abyss, with no sign of rising.
It’s cold. But it feels nice.
Just a little longer… I want to sleep like this a bit more.
Then—
Something touched his chest.
Tap.
At that moment, his submerged consciousness surged upward.
Irtis’s eyes snapped open.
Instinctively, he grabbed whatever was touching his chest. It was someone’s wrist.
As he recognized the owner of that wrist, he blinked.
“…What are you doing right now?”
It was Prodia.
When their eyes met, Prodia was startled and dropped the towel.
“I-Irtis?”
Without a word, he looked down at himself.
His upper body was bare.
And Prodia’s hand was on him.
Alright, stay calm and think this through. So right now, this situation is…
In a trembling voice, Irtis asked,
“Don’t tell me… you were trying to take advantage of me—”
“Are you insane?!”
“Then what is this situation?”
“Well…!”
At that moment, Irtis felt the dampness of the bed sheets and pillow against his skin.
“Huh…?”
Coming fully to his senses, he looked around.
An unfamiliar bedroom.
He slowly released Prodia’s wrist and asked in disbelief,
“Was I… sick?”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“About half a day.”
“Where are we?”
“At an inn near the Grand Temple.”
“An inn?”
Prodia then explained what had happened with the old woman.
As she spoke, she carefully observed his condition.
Just then, as Irtis tried to sit up, he suddenly grabbed his head.
“Ugh.”
It seemed the headache hadn’t fully gone away.
Prodia hurriedly said,
“Lie back down and rest. We’re staying here tonight anyway.”
“What are you talking about? I’m conscious now, so we should leave right away.”
At that moment, a voice came from behind them.
“Oh my, do you even know what time it is?”
Both of them turned in surprise.
The old woman stood at the doorway, smiling.
“I heard some noise and came to check. As expected, you’re awake.”
Irtis asked,
“Are you the innkeeper?”
“Judging by that arrogant tone, you really are a great mage from the Magic Tower.”
With that, she flung open the curtains.
Outside, it was already dark.
“It’s late. It’s dangerous to travel now, so stay the night as planned.”
Irtis called out to her quietly,
“Innkeeper.”
“Hm?”
“…I’m in your debt. I’ll repay you.”
“What did I even do? Just come downstairs and have a meal.”
With that, she left the room.
Right after, both Prodia’s and Irtis’s stomachs growled.
They looked at each other at the same time.
‘Right.’
‘We haven’t eaten anything…’
As Irtis slowly got up, Prodia handed him a set of clothes.
“Wear this.”
“Hm? I can just use magic to—”
“She lent these to you personally.”
At that, he silently accepted them and put them on.
Soon, the three of them went downstairs to the dining area.
There, a homemade meal prepared by the old woman awaited them.
“Help yourselves.”
“…Thank you for the meal.”
“Thank you.”
Hungry, Irtis picked up his fork and knife like he was ready for battle, clearly aiming for the meat first.
But Prodia pushed a bowl of soup toward him.
“You’re still a patient. Start with something light.”
“I’m fine now.”
“You’re not, from what I can see. Eat this first.”
“…Haa.”
Though he looked dissatisfied, he obediently took a spoonful of soup.
Watching them, the old woman smiled warmly.
“So, what brings you two to the Grand Temple?”
Prodia dabbed her lips with a napkin and answered,
“We’re going to perform a ritual.”
The old woman looked surprised and asked Irtis,
“Don’t tell me—you’re entering the prince consort selection?”
“Yeah.”
The old woman stared at Prodia in shock.
“Then you two really aren’t a couple?”
“I’ve told you several times that we’re not.”
“Then why did you come all this way with him?”
“I’m his private tutor.”
“Oh dear…”
The old woman muttered regretfully,
“You two look so good together, yet you’re wasting it.”
At that, both Prodia and Irtis spoke at the same time,
“We don’t match at all.”
“Not at all.”
The old woman chuckled.
‘They’re so in sync, yet they claim they’re nothing…’
After a while, the meal ended.
The three went upstairs to their rooms.
Then suddenly, Prodia remembered something important.
‘Wait… she said there’s only one room left, right?’
Which means…
I have to spend the night in the same room as Irtis?
The color drained from her face.
What should she do? Should she ask to sleep with the old woman instead?
No, that would be rude!
As she hesitated, the old woman spoke from the end of the hallway,
“Have a good night.”
“Wait—!”
But the old woman had already gone into her room.
Prodia felt like she was going insane.
‘We’re really not a married couple or lovers!’
Then how are we supposed to sleep in the same room?!
Still, she entered the room with Irtis.
“….”
She glanced at him, unease flickering in her eyes.
Reading her thoughts, Irtis sighed inwardly.
Sigh.
‘Funny. Who was the one calmly undressing me earlier?’
He flicked his finger in the air.
In an instant, he changed into black loungewear. His previous clothes neatly folded themselves onto the table.
With another flick, the messy bedding became perfectly clean, as if freshly washed.
Pointing at the bed, he said,
“Prodia, you sleep here tonight.”
“Then where will you sleep?”
“On the roof.”
“What?! Are you crazy? Absolutely not.”
“Why not? I’ve done it plenty of times.”
What kind of life does someone live to be used to sleeping on rooftops?
“What if you get sick again? It’ll mess up our schedule. No way.”
“I told you, I’m fine now. And you don’t want to share a room with me anyway.”
“Ugh.”
Did he really have to say that so bluntly?
“Anyway, I’ll find somewhere to sleep. You stay here. Good night.”
As he turned to leave, Prodia grabbed his sleeve.
“What?”
“…You sleep here too.”
“There’s only one bed.”
“You can just make somewhere to sleep with magic.”
“You’ll be uncomfortable if I stay here.”
That was true, but…
Looking straight at him, Prodia said,
“Yes. But I’d be more uncomfortable worrying about my contractor getting sick again.”
After a brief silence, Irtis turned back to her.
With a flick of his finger, a luxurious sofa appeared.
“There. Happy?”
Prodia nodded.
With a smirk, he flicked his finger again.
Suddenly, her clothes changed into pure white loungewear.
“…!”
Her whole body felt fresh, as if she had just bathed.
She looked at herself in amazement.
“You can even do this with magic…”
“You couldn’t exactly change clothes comfortably with me here. So just wear that tonight.”
He’s surprisingly considerate.
She felt a bit guilty for being so wary of him.
Hesitantly, she said,
“Um… good night.”
“Yeah, you too.”
Irtis lay down on the sofa.
As soon as Prodia lay on the bed, the lamp went out.
Moonlight streamed in through the window.
Neither of them could fall asleep for a while.
Breaking the silence, Irtis spoke first,
“Thanks for today. And… sorry for making you worry.”
“If you know that, don’t get sick again.”
“Alright, I won’t.”
Silence fell again, then Prodia spoke,
“I’m sorry too.”
“For what?”
“I’m supposed to be your contractor, but I feel like I didn’t take proper care of you.”
“You did more than enough.”
“I did?”
“Yeah. So go to sleep. You couldn’t rest because of me.”
“…Alright. Good night.”
Prodia turned over.
Moonlight settled over her.
For some reason, Irtis couldn’t fall asleep.
For a long time, he couldn’t take his eyes off her back.
So absorbed was he that he didn’t notice Prodia was also looking at his reflection in the window.
The next morning.
Unable to sleep properly, both of them came downstairs looking exhausted.
The old woman watched them and smiled silently.
‘So they really aren’t nothing, after all.’
After a while, Prodia and Irtis finished preparing to leave for the Grand Temple.
Prodia held out the lodging fee, but the old woman shook her head.
“Your stay is free. Just go.”
“What? But—”
“Consider it payment for keeping an old woman company. And you—”
She turned to Irtis.
“Great power always comes with a reason. Be careful.”
“…Alright.”
With that, they left the inn.
Inside the moving carriage, Prodia sighed.
“I should have forced her to take the money. We owe her a lot.”
“Oh, that? No need to worry. I already gave it to her.”
“What?”
Back at the inn—
On the luxurious sofa Irtis had created the night before, a pile of gold coins sat.
The old woman, having discovered it late, sighed.
“I clearly said I didn’t need it…”
Beside it were the neatly folded clothes he had borrowed.
On top of them was a note.
[I’ll come visit again.]
The old woman picked it up and smiled.
Meanwhile, the carriage carrying the two of them continued on—
until it finally arrived at the Grand Temple.
