WFMW 40

Chapter 40

I Wanted to Meet You

Grisha, who had been silently gazing at Hail for a moment, slowly nodded and replied.

“So you’re an Aura Sword user. Circuit analysis isn’t something that can be done just by facing each other. You need a change of location—not just the lab, but also training grounds and other places. If you touch a magical circuit incorrectly, it could even endanger life, so it’s not something to attempt lightly.”

“I see…”

Hail’s shoulders slumped again at the thought of how difficult it was.

Listening to their conversation, I recalled that I had promised to introduce Grisha to Jacques not long ago.

“Come to think of it, there’s someone I’d like you to look at. It’s Sir Jacques, the healer of the Azure Dragon Knight Order. He’s an Elf.”

As expected of a magician, Grisha immediately showed curiosity at the word “Elf.”

“An Elf? You mean a different species, an Elf?”

“Yes.”

“Why would an Elf be living among humans?”

“I think he’s under a curse. Other than noticing that his magical circuits are tangled, I couldn’t figure out much. That’s why I need your help—someone who can examine the flow of mana more precisely than I can.”

“Hmm.”

A curse strong enough that a rare non-human like an Elf has to live among humans wouldn’t be easy to break.

I suddenly felt guilty for pressing such a big task onto Grisha.

But if Grisha cures Jacques’ curse, he promised to give me a clue to resolve my own mana depletion problem.

From my perspective, even if it’s difficult, I hope Grisha can help Jacques. That way, I’d also gain a hint.

I couldn’t explain all these details with Hail present, so I sighed and only asked lightly,

“Do you think it’ll be difficult?”

Grisha’s eyes softened, and then his large hand ruffled my hair messily.

“If it’s your request, Nelli, I’ll gladly take a look.”

I was startled. Usually, I was the one who would ruffle Grisha’s hair, so I froze in surprise.

After finishing our conversation, Grisha addressed Hail in a gentle tone.

“You’re Hail of the Azure Dragon Knight Order, correct? I’ll contact you separately.”

“T-Thank you! Really, thank you so much!”

As Hail bowed deeply, his frustration at being stuck at his stagnant level for so long was palpable.

I was rubbing my forehead, where Grisha’s hand had touched, when Grisha grabbed me.

“Shall we finally sit down and catch up? There’s so much I want to hear.”

His hand had grown so big that it was clearly longer than mine now.

He’s really grown up, hasn’t he, Grisha.

I looked at Grisha’s hand holding mine with a mixture of amazement and affection and smiled.

“Thank you, Grisha.”

“For what? I could handle even bigger requests for you.”

“What if I start asking you to pluck a star from the sky?”

“Then I suppose I’d have to research space-time magic. Luckily, I have a good teacher nearby.”

“Haha.”

Having Grisha as a student would really be fun to teach. I hadn’t thought about it before, but that future didn’t seem bad.

After all, this mansion is only temporary anyway.

Though I lived here, Grisha seemed more like the owner as he sat on the plush velvet sofa in the parlor.

I awkwardly sat down and cleared my throat before starting.

“The wizard exams must’ve been tough. Was it hard? Your professor didn’t give you trouble, did he?”

“They asked me to steep more Jerusalem artichoke tea.”

Grisha’s tone was gentle, but I couldn’t help laughing inwardly. Jerusalem artichoke tea, really!

“No! I know they’re beautiful, but they shouldn’t exploit Grisha’s labor like that!”

Tying wizards to the academy for research is called “research,” but in reality, it just means doing menial tasks for the professors for a long time.

I can’t let Grisha walk that rough path!

Some wizards have been in the academy so long they don’t know the world outside, and staying to earn a proper salary while researching is best. But Grisha isn’t one of them.

He’d be sought after no matter where he went. He could probably run his own magic shop successfully.

As I looked at him with a proud smile, Grisha blinked and asked,

“Do I still look pretty?”

“Of course! No matter how old you get, you’ll always be the prettiest to me.”

I spoke loudly, like a proud parent bragging about their child. Saying it aloud, I realized Grisha was no longer the little boy I used to know.

I cautiously asked,

“…Is it weird to call a grown man pretty?”

“No, it makes me happy.”

Grisha’s bright smile put me at ease.

After Grisha shared his news, he began asking about me.

“Are you well? Any discomfort?”

“I’m fine. My overall stamina dropped from lying down all the time, but considering the period I was bedridden, it’s okay.”

“Good to hear.”

Grisha’s lips lost their smile slightly as he spoke. He hesitated, then slowly said,

“When I went to the Baron Ferriway’s estate, I was surprised.”

That single line made me realize who had sent him here.

“Ah, right! I was wondering how you got here. You met Diana?”

“As I heard, she’s quite unpleasant.”

“But she’s pretty, right?”

I wasn’t trying to defend Diana. I only knew her as being pretty.

Grisha frowned at my odd comment.

“You’re not saying I’m pretty in the same way as her, are you?”

“What do you mean! You and Diana are totally different. And so what if someone’s appearance is pretty? Diana’s greedy.”

“Thank goodness. I thought you might have softened your heart.”

Grisha sighed in relief and added with a gentle smile,

“And you are far more beautiful to me than she is.”

“Your words have improved since becoming a wizard?”

Hearing that I was beautiful—such an embarrassing compliment I hadn’t expected—I waved my hand and laughed.

Grisha’s smile slowly faded as he gazed at me.

After a brief pause, he spoke in a voice far heavier than when he mentioned Diana.

“…You’re marrying Cedar Grenit. How did this happen?”

His tone was almost chilling. I shivered reflexively and tilted my head.

Grisha had no reason to use such a serious voice… or was I imagining it?

Unlike others, Grisha was the one person in the world with no secrets.

I honestly told him everything.

“I was in a comatose state and couldn’t inherit the estate, so Diana came up with a scheme. If I married, my husband would gain joint ownership of the inheritance. She probably asked Cedar to receive the inheritance on my behalf.”

There was no need to explain why Cedar needed a wife, right? My younger sister sure knows how to come up with cunning plans. Inheriting an estate via a contract marriage… even I had a hard time understanding it at first.

Grisha, still tense, asked again,

“So Diana… she orchestrated this marriage?”

“Of course it wasn’t my will. I was in a comatose state. Diana probably didn’t even know I’d wake up.”

“Right… but…”

Suddenly, Grisha swayed. Startled, I got up.

“Grisha!”

“Wait. I just relaxed too much.”

He covered his face with both hands, hiding his expression. But his exposed ears were bright red like a rabbit’s.

Is he embarrassed?

I tilted my head, unsure.

After a long moment, Grisha finally calmed himself and let out a long sigh.

“I was worried. What if it was the marriage you truly wanted?”

If it was the marriage I wanted, what’s the problem?

He’s just surprised that I got married, right?

Unlike others, I could understand Grisha’s feelings. I treated him like family, and he treated me the same.

He’s surprised because I, whom he sees as his sister, got married without telling him. That makes sense.

Even if the roles were reversed and he got married without telling me… I think I could genuinely congratulate him.

Wanting to “monopolize” family feelings is something only a child would do.

I realized that despite Grisha’s size now, he was still the same boy I cared for at the academy.

I smiled and pinched his cheek.

“So? You’ve grown, but you’re still a child at heart.”

“Nelli.”

Grisha’s slightly flushed face was beautiful. His deep blue eyes were like a vast ocean.

Finally, I felt the reality of being alive and meeting him again.

“I’m glad to see you again, Grisha.”

“Me too.”

Naturally, my hand brushed his cheek. Grisha held it tightly, then pressed his lips to the back of my hand and whispered,

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this moment.”

I widened my eyes in surprise.

“I thought you told me to hide behind the curtains whenever a guest came?”

Cedar’s voice sounded mischievous.