AME 13

CH:13

The two of them met in Kaon’s room. Trying not to show his nerves, Kaon took the tray directly from the maid and brought it himself. It was rather silly. There was only a curtain separating them, and yet he was nervous just because she had stepped past it.

Kaon placed a glass of lemon juice in front of Alessia and sat down. Alessia quietly gazed at the droplets forming on the cold glass before taking a sip of the juice.

“It’s delicious. So tangy and refreshing. Wow!”

At first, she sipped cautiously as if tasting spring water. But after her first taste, she opened her eyes wide and began drinking with enthusiasm.

Kaon found it odd—surely this wasn’t her first time drinking lemon juice? But she had reacted similarly during their last meal together.

‘She must just really like food.’

Kaon decided to leave it at that.

Right now, there was something more important they needed to talk about. Before explaining about Yvonne, Kaon bowed politely.

“I’d like to apologize on Yvonne’s behalf for her rudeness earlier, Alessia.”

“It’s fine. I told Sir Dybal earlier, too—it really didn’t bother me.”

Alessia waved her hand and smiled, insisting once again that it was truly okay.

Kaon felt even more sorry for her generous forgiveness, but worried that continued apologies might burden her, so he got straight to the point.

“Yvonne has painful memories involving mages.”

The story went like this: Two years ago, a mage dispatched to Ferdinand skipped an inspection, claiming her mana was depleted and she needed rest. If that had been true, no one would have faulted her.

But she had already skipped several inspections using various excuses. Because of her repeated absence and lack of responsibility, the Tower of Magic had decided to recall her. The knights had to proceed with inspections without her.

That evening, it was Yvonne’s unit’s turn for inspection. And, as tragedies tend to strike unexpectedly, the worst happened.

“Several knights in Yvonne’s unit were injured and killed.”

The mage’s negligence hadn’t caused problems before, since the forest had been calm for weeks.

So the fact that a pack of starving monsters happened to go wild that very night was terribly unfortunate for the knights.

“One of them was Yvonne’s closest friend, from her home territory. They’d been close since childhood.”

Kaon had seen Yvonne cry for the first time that day. A woman knight strong enough to be one of their elite cried like a child.

Clutching her friend’s coffin, Yvonne cried until she collapsed. Then, staggering like someone possessed, she grabbed her sword and went to confront the mage.

“Of course, if she had harmed the mage, the Tower would not have let it go. We stopped her, and in the end, she couldn’t carry out her intent.”

Yvonne didn’t even touch the mage’s collar. The other knights had blocked her with everything they had—not to protect the mage, but to protect Yvonne. If she touched a mage, especially one protected by the Tower, her future would have been in danger.

The mage returned to the Tower and filed a furious complaint. As a result, Yvonne was put on probation and suspended for three months.

“Since then, she’s been extremely wary and hostile toward mages.”

“…I understand. I think I’d feel the same way.”

Alessia responded with a noticeably somber expression.

Kaon hadn’t felt comfortable sharing this with a mage like Alessia, but it was better than letting her be hated by Yvonne without knowing why.

“Like Nils said, Yvonne won’t act recklessly during an inspection. And if she ever does treat you disrespectfully, I’ll step in.”

He understood Yvonne’s pain, but that didn’t mean she could keep crossing lines. It wasn’t just about Alessia—it would also be a matter of discipline.

“No need for that, Kaon.”

“But, Alessia—”

“If something needs to be said, I’ll say it myself. We’ll be seeing each other a lot, so I should be able to manage that much.”

Kaon had been about to insist that she shouldn’t have to, but Alessia firmly shook her head.

The woman who had seemed so delicate and in need of protection was now looking him straight in the eye with a determined gaze. Then, as if nothing had happened, she smiled gently.

“If I need help, I’ll be sure to ask. So please, help me then.”

“Of course.”

Kaon answered immediately, but deep down, he instinctively knew—Alessia would never ask him for help.

Lying in bed, Kaon stared quietly toward the hallway. The lace curtains that had bothered him were gone, replaced by heavy velvet curtains that didn’t let even a sliver of moonlight through.

“Lady Alessia requested it herself. She wants to join the monster forest inspection as soon as possible.”

In the darkness, Kaon suddenly recalled what Joseph had told him earlier. The words had come as quite a shock. He’d assumed it was Leonidas’ order—but it wasn’t.

‘Why would she do that?’

He couldn’t find an answer, no matter how much he thought about it. No mage welcomed the monster forest. Even mages who studied monsters went there for data, not to fight.

Then why Alessia? Did she not realize that there was a real chance—albeit smaller than for knights—that even her life could be at risk?

“Why on earth…?”

“What is?”

Kaon shut his eyes. He had been thinking so much that now he was hearing things. There was no way Alessia would suddenly talk to him.

“Kaon?”

“Alessia?”

But hallucinations don’t respond logically to a situation. Kaon sat up with a jolt. The voice had come from beyond the curtain.

“You were muttering something. I thought you were calling me.”

“…Did you hear that?”

“A little bit?”

He hadn’t realized the room was so large—but it was also so silent that even quiet voices carried.

Should he ask or not? After a moment of hesitation, Kaon spoke carefully.

“I heard you asked Leonidas to go to the monster forest early.”

“Yes, I did. He asked if I needed anything during lunch.”

Alessia replied openly and cheerfully. Her soft voice in the quiet night sounded different than during the day.

“I said I didn’t need anything, but I had a favor to ask.”

That favor must have been her request to participate in the inspection. Hearing her explanation only made it harder to understand. Even Leonidas probably hadn’t expected that.

“Isn’t it too early? Mages from the Tower are only supposed to stay in the territory until the end of the year. Even knights here must be at least seventeen to join inspections.”

Kaon’s voice took on a persuasive tone. No matter how he looked at it, it seemed too dangerous for Alessia.

Even skilled mages sometimes froze when facing a monster. Not because they were cowards, but because the monsters were terrifying.

That’s why first-time knights were given time to adjust.

“Thank you for worrying about me, Kaon.”

Kaon hesitated. He hadn’t wanted to say he was worried, so he’d danced around the issue. But Alessia had already seen through it.

“But it’s okay. It’s something I’ll have to do eventually.”

If it’s something she has to do eventually, couldn’t she wait until later?

Kaon asked the question silently. Why take such a dangerous step now? He sincerely hoped Alessia wouldn’t go through with it.

“I figured it’d be easier to learn if I go with another mage.”

Her mature answer made Kaon feel ashamed.

Unlike him—who stayed behind to avoid adding to the already chaotic family—Alessia was boldly stepping forward.

“To be honest, I’m a bit scared. I’ve never seen a monster up close. I don’t even know if I’ll do well…”