Chapter 110

(Lurelia’s Belated Bonus – Update 8/14 🎉)

 

“Rub it and call the name three times?”

“Lina, wait a moment.”

“Aesi.”

She began the invocation.

“Aesi.”

“Just a moment.”

In truth, Angelina hadn’t intended to go this far.

She understood that her brother must have reasons for hiding that he was the Magic Tower Master, and she had been willing to treat Aesi and her brother as separate people.

But after realizing she was the Saint who had appeared after hundreds of years, and remembering being imprisoned in the temple, her thinking had changed significantly.

The abyss that the Order had concealed was much deeper than she had imagined.

The Saint.

Her existence proved this.

They had clearly tried to erase her from this world.

Humans who tried to create a Saint because there wasn’t one, then tried to kill the Saint when they found her.

There was something in that abyss that she didn’t know. An important puzzle piece that would explain everything.

And Angelina instinctively felt that this puzzle piece would reveal exactly why her brother hated the Order.

His fundamental reason for hatred existed in that abyss. And she sensed it was also connected to why her brother was hiding that he was the Magic Tower Master.

Angelina needed to know that.

“Ae…”

“Lina…!”

Before she could utter the final invocation, he hastily grabbed both her wrists.

What could be more definitive proof than him disappearing before her eyes and the Magic Tower Master being summoned in his place?

Ante’s face contorted.

“Lina, please.”

Ante’s breathing was shallow and rough. The breathing of someone terrified.

Honestly, the moment he stepped in to stop her, it was as good as exposed.

But as if trying to play blind man’s bluff, he grabbed her wrists in a last desperate attempt.

Ante’s mind was in turmoil, too.

‘I shouldn’t have shown her that.’

He had tried shock therapy to make her withdraw from this matter.

But that was wrong.

‘I thought too simply.’

He had been hasty.

Even after hearing through Catherine what had happened when Angelina was taken to the temple, he had been so fixated on keeping her away from this matter that he hadn’t considered it might trigger something in her mind.

How stupid of him.

That wasn’t the only problem.

‘Since when did she know my identity…’

She already knew Aesi’s true identity.

Since when? Was it because he showed her the horrific scene at that hideout?

No, that couldn’t be it.

Rather, that was something only ‘Aesi’ could do, not ‘Ante Flaubert.’

Making a connection there was impossible.

Then she must have known much earlier…

“I could gladly sacrifice my fate for that person’s future, and give all my remaining time for Aesi’s wish.”

Had he ignored numerous signals because he only saw her as his young, precious sister?

Or had he wanted to turn a blind eye to the truth?

He had been complacent.

“Lina, your brother…”

A trembling voice escaped through his teeth.

“I…”

But the words didn’t continue, only circling the same spot.

His contorted expression looked so painful that even onlookers would feel heartbroken, and finally Angelina surrendered.

“What’s the reason?”

But the answer that came back was unexpected.

“…You don’t know?”

There was a small expectation in his trembling voice that made Angelina furrow her brow.

“What do you mean?”

At that moment, Ante’s eyes wavered and then lit up. It was unmistakably the light of hope.

“You don’t remember…?”

Asking again, he got sufficient answer from her expression and relaxed his contorted face. Relief filled his expression, and he even smiled slightly.

She hasn’t remembered that far.

Thank goodness, his lips moved silently.

“Brother.”

“Lina, please.”

Though she urged him to reveal what he was hiding, he shook his head while gripping her wrists more tightly.

A plea not to ask about that, of all things.

Feeling his fingertips trembling again, Angelina couldn’t press him further.

“…Can you tell me someday?”

She hoped he would tell her eventually, if not now. But he shook his head with a pained expression.

“Never?”

“I’m sorry.”

“….”

What could possibly be in her memories that he was so desperately trying to hide?

Could it be worse than her being imprisoned in the temple when she was 7? Worse than her memories in the Dark Forest?

It was frustrating not to even be able to guess what those memories might be.

But she couldn’t press him further.

Even if she did, he wouldn’t tell her anyway, and if the Magic Tower Master had cast a spell, there would be no one in this world who could break it.

“Then answer this. Was it for my sake?”

“Of course…!”

Ante’s throat tightened as he was about to say “of course.” As if his body was refusing to lie.

“Of course…”

The same words circled as his lips trembled.

“Then, was it for your sake?”

Ante examined Angelina’s face with a contorted expression. Like someone who had committed a wrong and was gauging the reaction.

There was no verbal answer, but his actions and expression already revealed the answer.

“I see.”

Angelina let out a long sigh and lowered her hands, and Ante’s hands fell limply with hers.

Seeing his resigned appearance, as if he would accept any punishment she might impose on him, Angelina was momentarily speechless.

But soon a smile appeared on her lips.

“That’s fine then.”

“What…?”

“If it was for your sake, then it’s fine. I’m glad.”

Ante’s eyes wavered greatly.

But Angelina’s smiling face looked quite relieved.

As if her earlier pushing him into a corner had been a dream, she spoke casually.

“I would have been angry if you said it was for my sake. But I’m relieved that it was for yours.”

“Lina.”

“I’ll wait. Until whenever you can tell me.”

“….”

“Would you tell my friend something? Tell him I’ll be waiting, and when he’s ready, to take off his mask and show me that pretty face.”

A declaration that she would willingly treat Aesi and Ante Flaubert separately until he was ready.

Ante’s stiff shoulders slowly relaxed.

Did she know how much her statement was a salvation and relief to him?

For him, ‘Aesi’ was how he could reveal at least a small part of his true self to her. Though little more than an illusory character, it was the closest to himself.

Would she still love him this much?

Would she accept this?

This much should be okay.

He could gradually reveal words he could never say and actions he could never show as Ante Flaubert, while gauging her reactions.

How much breathing space that had given to his life…

“But I can’t wait too long. I’m a bit short on time.”

However, seeing Angelina’s painful smile as she said it couldn’t be forever, anxiety filled Ante’s heart.

Angelina saying such things looked as precarious as a candle in the wind.

“Short on time?”

“Yes, so you absolutely can’t become weak.”

Ante could no longer understand her words.

Why was she short on time, and what did that have to do with him becoming weak?

“I’ll be fine.”

Angelina thought of the little more than a year she had left. Time that had seemed plentiful was now tight.

“So you must be fine too, okay?”

“Lina.”

“Well, I’m going out for a bit. Don’t stop me!”

Though he called out to her in confusion, Angelina deliberately shouted more loudly and cheerfully before making a quick exit.

Ante momentarily reached out toward her, but couldn’t hold her back.

Laura and Haley, who had been watching his reaction, finally followed after Angelina.

Around Ante’s feet, left alone, gloomy magical power surged.

There was a commotion downstairs. What was the hurry?

Angelina quickly finished preparing and soon went outside the mansion.

Ante moved with heavy steps to the window to watch her.

She had tidied her disheveled hair and dressed neatly before getting into the carriage. Little Pudding hopped in after her.

Shortly after, the carriage carrying her left through the main gate.

Ante silently watched Angelina leaving his boundaries for a long time.

“Jacob.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

His aide, who had been standing back a few steps, approached. He looked somewhat tense.

It was only natural to be concerned, as one never knew what Ante might do when his mood was this low.

In a voice devoid of any strength, Ante quietly asked.

“If Lina comes to hate me… could I survive?”

“…Pardon?”

“If those pretty lips say she resents me, hates me, then I…”

Could I endure it?

Ante looked like he might collapse at any moment.

Jacob spoke with a somewhat confused expression.

“The young lady has no reason to hate You my Lord.”

It wasn’t just empty words to comfort Ante; he was sincere.

Wasn’t their sibling affection known to everyone in the Marquis household? No, it was strong enough to be known throughout the entire Empire…

At Jacob’s honest answer, Ante laughed slightly. But it was a self-deprecating laugh.

“…Right.”