TMLOH 98

Chapter : 98

Light flickered into the communication orb.

— “Arellin!”

“Pession.”

— “Wow, it’s Arellin.”

Seeing Pession’s image through the orb was fascinating.

A video call in this era? As expected, magi-engineering was truly great.

“Can you see me well?”

— “Yeah. Can you see me clearly too?”

“Yes.”

Maybe because it was our first call, my heart fluttered for no reason. Somehow it felt even more nerve-wracking than meeting in person.

Was I really showing up well?

— “Thanks for accepting the gift.”

That’s right. This communication orb was the gift Pession had sent me.

He had it custom-made, saying he hated that we couldn’t see each other when we were apart.

Mana communication orbs themselves weren’t that expensive since they’d been commercialized, but inside the Imperial Palace, magical interference from the wards meant only specially crafted orbs could work.

He’d ordered it after he couldn’t come to see me every day anymore.

— “Ordering it was the right call. I’m so glad we can at least see each other like this.”

With a satisfied look, Pession nodded.

— “Arellin, did you eat breakfast? You’re taking the elixirs I sent you, right? Did you exercise? Cardio too?”

…Wait a minute. Did this guy send me the orb not because he missed me, but to monitor me?

“I ate breakfast, took the elixir, and exercised… I am exercising.”

— “So you didn’t.”

“I am!”

My protests didn’t work. Pession crossed his arms and nagged.

— “Keep walking even when I’m not around. Every single day. That’s how it’s effective.”

“Ughhh.”

— “Just stick to the exercise plan exactly. Got it?”

Are you really trying to turn me into a Sword Master?

— “You need to be healthy.”

“Ah…”

Normally, I’d have been so unmotivated that my determination would’ve crashed through my core, but strangely enough, today his persistence didn’t feel so unpleasant.

Yeah, I should exercise.
I need to be healthy.
I need to live long.

Though whether that was actually possible was another question… Still, maybe trying wouldn’t hurt.

“What about you, Pession? What did you do?”

— “I ate breakfast too, trained in the morning, and now I’m on a short break. Later, I’ll be meeting a delegation with Her Majesty the Empress.”

He explained that the Emperor and Empress were each holding audiences with different delegations, and today it was with Empress Azeni. He smiled as he said it.

“You’re busy.”

— “This much is basic!”

His schedule was more packed than a corporate chairman’s. Then again, he was the Crown Prince. Most of the time I forgot, but moments like this drove it home.

— “I’m really happy just to see you like this.”

“Me too.”

— “Arellin, I miss you.”

“But you’re looking at me right now.”

— “Not like this. I want to really see you.”

That pout didn’t sound like Pession at all, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Do you like me that much?”

— “Yeah.”

“What do you like so much about me?”

— “Well… Arellin, you’re pretty… warm, soft, alive, breathing… and you smile at me…”

“?”

Warm, soft, breathing—doesn’t every living person have those traits?

I wasn’t sure if that was even a compliment when suddenly, from the other side of the orb, Graham’s voice called for Pession.

— “Ah, I don’t want to go.”

I felt reluctant too, but I couldn’t exactly hold him back.

“They’re calling you. You should go.”

Pession looked a little sulky but quickly set our next appointment.

— “See you tonight.”

“Okay.”

— “You absolutely have to call me tonight.”

“Got it.”

— “Then, see you this evening!”

“Mm.”

The orb’s light went out.

Left alone in my room, I blinked absentmindedly, then thought quietly to myself.

As expected.

“I… miss you too.”

✦ ✦ ✦

The second day of the Founding Festival.

Everywhere bustled with festivals and social gatherings, and the Imperial Palace was no exception.

Great lords from distant territories, delegations from foreign lands—faces not easily seen in daily life crowded the palace, but among them, one figure monopolized all attention.

“The Grand Duke of Halbern.”

“Wow, so that’s the man from the rumors…”

No tie in sight, the top two buttons of his shirt undone, jacket slung over his shoulders—yet people were simply too awed at seeing him in person to say a word.

Though all the attendees were accomplished figures themselves, when it came to Grand Duke Halbern, they only watched from afar, unable to approach.

Perhaps it was because Valer, today of all days, wore a scowl and let his intimidation spill out unchecked.

“Shouldn’t you be resting?”

His chief adjutant, Zaren, asked with concern.

“You used a lot of abilities. The side effects must be severe…”

“I have something to look into.”

“I’ll check it out in your stead.”

Zaren replied with confidence, but Valer only gave him a sidelong glance.

“Go mind your own business.”

“I’m trying to help out of loyalty.”

“I don’t trust you either.”

“Hey, that hurts, Commander.”

“You’ll return to Muvisk eventually.”

“Want me to drop the title?”

Complaining that after all their years of camaraderie and shared life-and-death battles, this treatment was too much, Zaren grumbled.

“I’ve already collected my inheritance share anyway, so dropping it doesn’t matter.”

“Not planning to marry?”

“Ah.”

Valer dismissed his adjutant, recalling the famously one-sided love story Zaren carried within the order.

Though Zaren tried to insist on accompanying him, the palace guards’ inspections forced him to fall back.

Singularity.

Arellin had suddenly been called a singularity.

That was why, despite the aftereffects and damage from overusing his abilities, Valer had come to the palace—hoping for some hint about this mystery.

And the only one who might provide it was hidden in the deepest part of the Imperial Palace.

✦ ✦ ✦

“Peek-a-boo.”

“Ahh!”

“Why so startled? Did you think I’d eat you?”

Anyone would faint if someone showed up like that out of nowhere!

I’d let my guard down. Not seeing him for a while had almost made me forget his existence. Now, suddenly facing my stalker again, my nerves tightened.

“No need to be that wary.”

I thought he’d forgotten me.

“How could I ever forget you? You’re far too interesting.”

“What, do you practice mind-reading?”

“It’s all over your face.”

His skin gleamed, as if he’d been living quite well while gone, and he amused himself again by teasing me.

“No injuries, huh? Well, of course.”

“?”

“You went through a lot because of me.”

“…?”

What was that supposed to mean?

My mind blanked for a second. Then only one possibility clicked into place…

No way. Could it be?

“That… was you?”

“Mm. My doing.”

I’d suspected some resemblance to what happened in Sharit, but to think it was really this guy.

“You didn’t realize? I thought our little lady would’ve caught on.”

“So, that means…”

“I kept calling you. Why’d you ignore me? I was trying to guide you out safely.”

At some point he had caught my hand, and now he traced the sigil on its back with a languid smile.

A sudden face attack.

“Are you mad? For being used without consent?”

…Was I mad? It left a bitter taste, but I wasn’t exactly angry.

We weren’t close enough for that.

“Just… can I ask one thing?”

“As many as you like.”

“You’re a dangerous person, aren’t you?”

His smile deepened.

“Usually, yes.”

“Will you keep appearing before me?”

“Why? Do you wish I’d stop showing up around now?”

Honestly? Yes.

At this point it didn’t feel like stepping on a landmine—it felt like carrying a ticking time bomb.

“You’d better give up on that hope.”

The sound of my wish being sliced apart.

The man whispered softly, almost sweetly:

“Whether you want it or not, little lady, your fate is to be entangled with men like me. A pitiful destiny.”

Unconsciously, I swallowed dryly and pressed a hand against the chill creeping through my chest.

Every time I encountered him, I felt it again—the thick aura of a predator.

As though he might devour me at any moment.

“Isn’t there already one like me in this household?”

“What?”

What was that supposed to mean about my family?

“And besides, I like you quite a bit.”

“What do you mean?”

“You.”

“….”

What kind of person confesses like that while acting like this?