TPHRU 36

Chapter 36…

The Embroidery of the Mirage Princess.

After finishing his sword training, Yoan sat leisurely at the dining table, holding the handkerchief Felicia had given him that very morning, and waited for her to arrive. He had evidently showered and changed—his black, lustrous hair was still slightly damp, gleaming so beautifully it almost made her dizzy.

“I’m terribly sorry to have kept you waiting,” Felicia apologized.
Yoan rose with an unhurried smile, pulled out her chair, and seated her—then casually said something that made her blush all over again.

“Think nothing of it. Even the time I spend waiting for you, Felicia, is bliss for me.”

“—!”

He whispered it softly near her ear, and Felicia lowered her gaze, unable to find an answer.

(Lord Yoan, you’re always so bad for my heart…)

Without realizing it, she gripped the freshly finished handkerchief in her hands tightly, then gasped and relaxed her hold. Thankfully, it hadn’t wrinkled, and she let out a small sigh of relief.

“Um… I finished another one, so please, do use this as well.”

When she offered it to him, Yoan’s face lit up with delighted surprise as he took the handkerchief.

“You’ve already finished another? And the design’s a little different from the one you gave me this morning. This one’s wonderful too.”

Seeing his face brighten with unmistakable joy made Felicia’s chest tighten. She suddenly wanted to see that kind of expression on him more often.

“If you ever have any requests, please tell me… I’ll do my best to meet them.”

Yoan shook his head gently, smiling.
“You’ve already thought of me and embroidered something this beautiful. Nothing could be better. It feels almost like a dream, being this happy. Just—don’t overwork yourself. …Also, Felicia, about this embroidery—you imbued it with healing power, didn’t you?”

Yoan held both handkerchiefs carefully in his hands.

“Eh? Did I? I wasn’t consciously aware of it…”

Felicia looked at him in surprise, and Yoan, too, showed a startled expression.

“Unconsciously, then? I felt a faint trace of magic from the moment I received it, but today, I kept this in my pocket while training—and I became sure of it. Even after the same drills, I hardly felt any fatigue. My body feels light. I can sense the same magical wavelength as when you once saved me. For such a powerful healing spell to be woven unconsciously…”

He pressed the handkerchief to his chest, closed his eyes as if to feel its power, then opened them slowly and nodded. His ruby-red eyes glimmered.

“There’s no mistake. This handkerchief carries your healing power, Felicia.”

Felicia’s eyes widened. Could such a thing really happen?

“I only… wanted to express my gratitude to you through the embroidery. I didn’t know something could actually hold power…”

Seeing her bewildered expression, Yoan smiled gently and explained.

“There’s a type of protective magic that grants objects the power of guardianship. You must have unconsciously performed it.”

“To think such magic exists… I’m ashamed of my ignorance.”

“It’s understandable. Only the royal family possesses magic, and only they are allowed to own or read books on sorcery. It’s natural you wouldn’t know. I, on the other hand, have read everything in the royal archives—to learn to control the power I was born with.”

Indeed, Felicia had never seen a book on magic in her life. Perhaps her mother might have known, but her mother’s magical power was said to be even weaker than Felicia’s. Reading magical texts had probably never been within her reach.