Chapter 12
A New Contract Is Essential After a Reunion (2)
When Hereis pressed his lips together and fell silent, a heavy stillness settled over the tea table.
Even without his noble status as Viscount Belmore’s son, the oppressive aura he exuded would have left an ordinary person trembling helplessly.
But Mariela was an exception.
Without the slightest concern, she continued enjoying her tea and desserts.
At last, his long-closed golden eyes slowly opened again.
“You know better than anyone how unrealistic what you just said sounds.”
“Hmph! A moment ago you were using violence. Have you switched strategies and decided to use your tongue instead?”
“Make a contract with me.”
“What?”
Mariela narrowed her eyes, as if wondering what nonsense he was suddenly talking about.
“Oh, I get it. You want to bind me with a contract so you can torment me forever? I told you, I’m busy! Stop acting like some pathetic ex-boyfriend and just kill me cleanly.”
Good heavens.
What exactly had that insane woman just said?
At that completely unexpected comparison, Hereis felt a chill run down his spine.
“Take that back.”
“What?”
“That comparison to a pathetic ex-boyfriend. It’s more insulting than being called a lizard or Dragon-boy.”
“You little—!”
Seeing him say it with a completely serious face left Mariela utterly dumbfounded.
“Hey, do you have any idea how popular I am? If I looked for people who wanted to date me, I could line them up all the way to the peak of Mount Solena and still have extras left over.”
“I’m sure. Humans are creatures easily swayed by visual stimuli.”
Hereis slowly looked her up and down before adding mockingly,
“But it wouldn’t even take a day. No, not even that long. Let them talk with you for an hour and every single one would run away without looking back. Want to bet?”
“Listen to this hypocrite!”
Annoyed, Mariela slammed her hand onto the table.
Yet neither the teacups nor the plates moved an inch.
Hereis was holding them firmly in place with magic.
“Anyway, the contract itself wouldn’t be a bad deal for you right now.”
“This damned lizard thinks I’m an idiot! It’s only good from your perspective!”
Even while snapping back at him, Mariela crossed her arms and glared, clearly willing to hear him out.
“As you know, for humans, magic is a discipline that grows by consuming money.”
The Esteban Ducal House was currently declining because of the curse she herself had cast in the past.
Without financial support, she had probably intended to sell the neutralizing-agent formula to a mage tower.
“Either way, you know more about magic than I do.”
“Obviously.”
“I’ll provide the money needed for your growth as a mage. And a few precious magical elixirs as well.”
Mariela’s eyes widened.
Those things were exactly what she needed most right now.
“…And what do you want in return?”
Hereis wasn’t finished speaking.
What good was a delicious-looking cake sitting in front of you?
If it contained poison that would kill you the moment you took a bite, touching it would be difficult.
“When you reach the realm beyond the Ninth Circle, grant me one wish.”
Mariela’s eyes sharpened.
Not that it was remotely intimidating coming from someone who still looked like an adorable noble lady.
“You’re planning to make me experience the despair of reaching the summit only to be thrown down and killed?”
“I’m not a demon like you.”
With Hereis’s support, the time needed for her advancement would be dramatically reduced.
To reclaim her former power within this pitiful body, she would have to take the hand he was offering.
“…Fine. Let’s make the contract.”
Mariela smiled brightly.
Hereis smiled back.
You damned dragon. I’ll squeeze every last drop out of you until you regret ever meeting me again.
You damned witch. I’ll make those arrogant, insolent knees of yours kneel before me.
Unfortunately, neither of them trusted the other in the slightest.
A verbal agreement was as good as meaningless.
Since the maids’ vision was already blocked by illusion magic, they proceeded to form a magical contract as well.
The White Dragon Hereis shall wholeheartedly support Mariela of House Esteban until she reaches the realm beyond the Ninth Circle.
In return, Mariela shall grant one wish to Hereis.
(Sections omitted.)
Finally, in order to facilitate the smooth execution of this contract, both parties agree to present their relationship to others as that of master and disciple.
Should either party violate or fail to fulfill the contract, one warning shall be issued. If the violation continues thereafter, the price shall be the destruction of the offender’s soul.
The Oath Contract written and signed by Mariela and Hereis possessed a force approaching an absolute law.
Whatever was written within it would inevitably come to pass.
In other words, we’ve crossed a river we can never return from.
Even after completing such a terrifying contract, neither of them showed the slightest fear.
To any third party, they would have looked remarkably cheerful—so much so that the phrase birds of a feather flock together would naturally come to mind.
“Hold still for a moment.”
“This lizard is trying to put his hands on my neck again.”
“If you’re confident you can explain those marks to the maids without using healing magic, then by all means leave them.”
“Shameless bastard.”
Only after erasing the ugly red marks on Mariela’s neck with healing magic did Hereis finally dispel the illusion.
Strike while the iron is hot.
Mariela intended to inform Marsen immediately that she had decided to take Hereis as her teacher and then devote herself to magical training for a while.
However, as if he had somehow read his sister’s thoughts, Marsen invited Hereis, Mariela, and Marey to dine together that evening.
“Mariela. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t properly looked after my friend who came all this way. I heard you had tea with him today. I feel as though I pushed my responsibilities onto you, and for that I’m sorry.”
Hearing that, Hereis laughed inwardly.
So that’s why his friend had suddenly gathered everyone in the dining room.
He was obviously trying to find out exactly what Hereis had said to his precious younger sister.
Honestly. He’s worrying about the wrong person.
Her appearance may be delicate, but do you know what’s actually inside?
Shouldn’t he be worrying about the friend who just spent an afternoon dealing with the evil and vicious witch Shyloi Lutea?
The only unfortunate thing was that he couldn’t explain any of it.
“No, Brother!”
Even knowing it was an act—
Seeing that wicked witch pretending to be a sweet younger sister somehow became more irritating every time.
“Lord Belmore is highly knowledgeable about magic, so it was actually a very enjoyable and educational experience.”
Ignoring the dubious look Hereis was giving her, Mariela pressed onward.
“Which reminds me. There’s something I’d like to ask, Brother.”
“Hm? What is it?”
Marsen smiled warmly, clearly encouraging her to speak freely.
That expression gradually stiffened as she continued.
“It may already be late for me to begin studying magic seriously, but I would like to take Lord Belmore as my teacher and dedicate myself to magical training. It’s an opportunity that even most aspiring mages could never dream of. You’ll permit it, won’t you?”
“What… did you just say?”
Marey had never seen their brother look so stunned before.
And she couldn’t even find it funny because she felt exactly the same way.
Who is becoming whose teacher?
Handsome or ugly, all men are the same. Why would this be any exception? If he’s doing this, it’s because he has ulterior motives!
What brother in the world would willingly place a dangerous wolf beside his precious younger sister as her teacher?
“I’ll make sure not to bring shame upon you or House Esteban. Please?”
“Mariela, calm down and explain this properly. It’s not that I doubt your determination. It’s just that this whole matter is so sudden.”
“Well, that’s because the decision—no, the discussion—happened this afternoon.”
Marsen gave Mariela an awkward smile before turning a sharp gaze toward Hereis.
No matter how much he loved his sister, the killing intent of an ordinary scholar was hardly worth noticing.
So Hereis simply smiled and opened his mouth to respond…(to be continued).
