FDSML CH 10

Chapter 10

Adrian suddenly put on a serious face, and I just blinked.

The tension snapped tight—like he might actually make a move depending on the answer.

By contrast, Alperen, who’d been hit with the sharp question, stayed calm.

“It’s the same reason you lugged all those potions here for Deli.”

“What?”

Adrian looked about one second away from turning into a demon.

“Call it concern for a friend’s little sister.”

The two of them stared each other down for a good while.

Why are they… fighting over potions…

As the mood sank, I squirmed.

Then Adrian relaxed his face and grumbled.

“Fine. Our Deli is cute and lovable enough that anyone would want to take care of her.”

…Excuse me? Me?

I tilted my head, baffled, and Adrian went on,

“So can I use what’s left?”

Was that his goal all along?

No wonder he was acting all grave…

My brother is truly hopeless.

When I shook my head, Alperen murmured with his usual blank look,

“Do whatever you want.”

“Yes!”

Cheering, Adrian snatched the potions in a flash. Even I couldn’t help frowning at how shameless he looked.

We were still chatting when—

“Can you stay here much longer? Don’t you have the nobles’ council today?”

“I was just about to go.”

Alperen stood with a small smile. His gaze lingered on me for a beat—full of reluctant regret.

“Deli, let’s finish our conversation next time.”

The breakup, again. Dazed, I asked,

“You’re really thinking about it seriously?”

“Depends on your answer.”

He gave a soft snort of laughter and ruffled my hair.

“Get plenty of rest.”

At his quiet whisper, I stared blankly at his retreating back.

It really seems like Alperen has decided to break the engagement.

Was it… this easy?

If I’d known, I would’ve used this method ages ago!

Adrian watched my stupefied face and asked, half-curious,

“What was that about?”

“You don’t need to know. And hand over those potions.”

Adrian pouted as I confiscated Alperen’s potions.

“Too mean, Deli.”

I ignored my clingy brother and smiled to myself.

At last—signs that my prison ending might change!

***

A calm, late afternoon.

Empress Rosaria, my mother, visited while Nanael was sipping tea in elegance.

“What brings you here in person? Does my brother have no appointments today?”

She meant Cesare, her elder brother whom their mother ran around for every day.

Rosaria stared at Nanael with tight lips, ignoring the sniping. As the maids quietly withdrew under that pressure, the empress suddenly slapped Nanael across the cheek.

Smack!

“Fool.”

She tossed something onto the table. Nanael, who’d been about to protest, glanced down and let out a disbelieving laugh.

They were breakup papers.

You’ll soon find out what price you’ll pay for what you did today.

Alperen’s warning flashed up, and the situation clicked.

“So this is it?”

The backlash was bigger than she’d expected.

Even Nanael hadn’t imagined he could flip his stance that fast.

Does he not care if his father dies?

Or has he already found another way?

A thousand thoughts spun through her head.

Rosaria pressed on.

“How many times did I tell you to watch your behavior? Even if we hold the cards, he is the Duke of Ainruck! This is exactly when you should be a help to your brother, not a hindrance—how do you plan to clean this up?”

Nanael swept her cherished tea set off the table.

Crash!

Even at the shattering glass, she calmly sipped her tea, as if none of this concerned her.

That composed act only inflamed Rosaria more—exactly as Nanael intended.

Nanael said sharply,

“So you’re here for my brother’s sake, as usual. Figures. You hardly ever show your face unless it’s about him.”

“Stop talking nonsense. Go to the duke right now and beg forgiveness.”

“What did I do wrong?”

“Whatever it was! Didn’t you say we need him if your brother is to become emperor?”

“It’s not like I’m the one becoming emperor.”

At Nanael’s sneer, Rosaria snapped.

“Nanael! If your brother doesn’t take the throne, we’re as good as dead. Don’t you understand that? Where do you think all you enjoy comes from?”

The empress began to tremble, almost convulsing. A princess from a fallen kingdom, she was ravenous for power—like her life would end if Cesare didn’t become emperor. Nanael, who’d watched this nervous obsession for years, felt only disgust.

“Fine. I’ll apologize, alright?”

Answering carelessly, Nanael finished dressing and headed for the Mage Tower.

***

The Mage Tower is a joint strategic command and research center built by the imperial family and House Ainruck—a place for developing new magic circles, researching mana, and brewing potions. The Tower Master is always the most gifted mage of House Ainruck. No one objected when Alperen, a prodigy since childhood, took the post.

“Tower Master, you’re here.”

Eden Maker, the chief aide, bowed. Alperen looked over the documents.

“Results?”

“The purification rate still can’t keep up with the contamination. As expected, maintaining purification without holy water is…”

Eden lowered his head.

Six years ago, after the previous Duke of Ainruck was gravely injured and fell into a coma, Alperen had continued research to perfectly cleanse a contaminated mana core.

The mana core—the vessel for mana, the very heart of a mage.

The previous duke’s core had been damaged during the subjugation, and he still hadn’t woken.

Alperen glanced at a flowerpot in his study: a tree, black and withered, exuding gloom. A plant tainted by miasma—one of their research samples.

“Eden. If the imperial family cuts off holy water support, how long can we last?”

“Considering the variable of contamination sometimes speeding up, not even half a year.”

“Then we have to succeed before that.”

“Sir?”

“Don’t let anyone into the lab today. I’m extracting a new sample.”

With that, Alperen left the study.

Only Alperen and Eden handled this research in secret; no other mage could even approach it. Since the previous duke collapsed and the court started meddling too much in Tower affairs, they’d become even more guarded.

“What on earth is he planning…”

Eden worried about him. So young and spending all his time shut away in the tower—how could he not?

Later, while Eden was training novice mages, an unexpected guest arrived.

Late that afternoon, I finally thought of my answer and headed straight for the Mage Tower.

Opportunities like this don’t come every day. My future was on the line; there was no time to waste.

I stopped by a café near the tower and bought loads of café mochas and desserts to sweeten him up, then went to see Alperen.