Chapter 137

20. Storms Always Pass

 

“Hmm… this is strange.”

Angelina frowned as she gathered the Sun’s power at her fingertips.

“Miss, I think you should stop using your power. It’s already been over 10 minutes.”

Laura, who was watching beside her, said worriedly.

“And taking too many headache pills isn’t good either.”

She thought Angelina was frowning because of pain.

“No, that’s not it.”

But Angelina shook her head.

“It doesn’t hurt.”

And for good reason—far from having a headache, using her power had become too easy.

“Look at this.”

Angelina suddenly expanded the sphere above her hand. It transformed into a protective barrier surrounding both Laura and herself.

A faint ripple revealed the presence of the barrier, but otherwise nothing seemed significantly different.

“And look at this.”

While maintaining the barrier, Angelina raised her finger over a teacup.

Steam was rising from the freshly brewed tea. Angelina captured it in a sphere created with the Sun’s power.

After collecting the steam and moving it to the side, she released the sphere, and the steam dissipated with a gentle hiss.

“Didn’t Haley say this was extremely difficult to do with magic?”

“She did say magic becomes more difficult the more delicate it is.”

Laura replied, also puzzled.

“And look at this.”

Angelina flicked her fingertips upward. The sofa in front of them floated up.

“And look at this too.”

Then, with a snap of her fingers, a strong wind blew around them.

When Laura slightly frowned at the wind blowing against her face, Angelina snapped her fingers again.

The wind stopped.

“This is…”

It hadn’t completely stopped. The bed canopy and window curtains were still fluttering in the breeze.

But the wind no longer reached Angelina and Laura.

Clap!

Finally, Angelina clapped her hands, and with a thud, the sofa fell back to the floor as the wind abruptly ceased.

The protective barrier she had created first was still maintained.

“Miss.”

“Isn’t it amazing?”

“….”

Seeing Angelina’s proud expression, Laura’s face darkened.

“Is your head alright?”

Angelina used to struggle with even creating a small sphere due to headaches when using her power.

“It’s perfectly fine. My brother’s medicine is incredibly effective.”

But Angelina was calm.

She didn’t seem to be pretending.

“Since it doesn’t hurt, I can do all sorts of things. And it’s even easier than before. It really happens just by imagining it.”

Angelina smiled as she made the Sun’s light burst like fireworks above her palm.

“Isn’t it pretty?”

She was enjoying every moment just exploring her newly blossomed power, fascinated by it.

“…If you use it too excessively, the medicine’s effect will wear off quickly.”

At Laura’s continued expression of concern, Angelina pouted.

Couldn’t she just say it was amazing instead of nagging at a time like this?

But since Laura’s words made sense, Angelina stopped using her power before her head could start hurting again.

As she took a sip of tea, there was a knock and Haley entered.

“Miss, something has arrived for you.”

Haley, who had just returned from running an errand to meet Ante for Angelina, came in carrying a magically wrapped box.

“Judging by how it’s been enchanted not to tip over, it must contain something that could spill.”

After examining what kind of magic was placed on it, Haley skillfully dispelled it.

The sender seemed to know that this level of magic could be easily undone, as no release mechanism was attached.

“Did my brother send it?”

“It doesn’t seem like the Tower Master’s magic…”

Listening to Haley’s murmur, Angelina opened the lid of the box.

As the lid opened, the four sides of the box spread open, revealing the contents.

“Oh my.”

Angelina’s eyes widened.

Inside the box was a flowerpot. Filled with pink roses.

The floral scent spread throughout the room.

The light and deep pink colors were bright and beautiful.

With a puzzled face, Angelina picked up the card inserted in the flowerpot. Then a smile brighter than a bouquet of roses appeared on her face.

The emblem stamped on it was that of the Kadenhart Duchy.

Angelina opened the letter.

 

[To Miss Flaubert, whom I shall see again soon.]

She smiled from the very beginning.

 

[Though I know we’ll meet at the theater next week, time seems to flow strangely slowly, so I take up my pen.

After saying that I would have certainly replied if you had given me a letter in the Dark Forest that day, I realized something.

That perhaps waiting to receive a reply might be more enjoyable than expecting an opportunity to reply.]

 

Angelina chuckled.

‘This is asking for a reply, isn’t it?’

Though he said it indirectly, that seemed to be the case.

 

[I hope the flowerpot I’m sending can ease the regret of not seeing the rose garden in the forest that day.

I tried to mix various colors like the garden we saw there, but Mason was annoyingly insistent that green or scarlet roses wouldn’t harmonize well, so I could only include pink ones.

Next time, I’ll have to prepare a gift somewhere he’s not around.]

 

She could easily imagine Mason nagging him the entire time he was selecting flowers.

 

[From what I’ve heard, the theater we’re going to has a bar on the second floor. I’m told that the theater’s exclusive cocktails are perfect for drinking before the play begins.

I also hear that the garden behind the theater is a must-visit place in the capital.

There are many statues related to theater, so it would be nice to discuss the upcoming play while taking a walk beforehand, and the lighting is well done, making the night view worth seeing.]

 

Despite his long-winded explanation that sounded like a tourist guide, Angelina could understand what he wanted.

‘So he’s saying let’s meet early before the play, have cocktails, and take a walk?’

He could have just said so directly, but there was something oddly cute about the way he beat around the bush, making Angelina’s lips twitch upward repeatedly.

‘Could it be that the original story’s description of him as straightforward meant this?’

To put it a bit humorously…

‘For a male protagonist, isn’t he really bad at flirting?’

“Pfft.”

With that thought, laughter burst out.

“What funny things did the Duke write to make you look so happy?”

Haley asked with curious amusement. And for good reason—even to her, the Duke of Kadenhart seemed far removed from jokes.

So it was strange and fascinating to see her mistress laugh like that.

“Just saying he’s looking forward to seeing me at the theater.”

“….”

Haley tilted her head at Angelina’s casual response. Then her eyes suddenly widened.

“Miss, are you in love?”

Twitch.

Angelina’s shoulders jerked noticeably.

She had a straightforward nature no less than Blake. She wasn’t good at hiding such things.

“Gasp! D-did the Duke do something to you when he kidnapped you?”

“How does that translate to the Duke doing something?”

“Of course it does! What did he say to my innocent Miss! I can’t forgive him!”

“Is it something that can’t be forgiven?”

“Of course! No matter how much he wanted our Miss, kidnapping is wrong!”

“I told you I asked him to do it!”

“Even so! How could he agree to that!”

“So Haley, you’d prefer if I dated someone who wouldn’t listen to my requests?”

“Uh…? No, is that how it works? No, that’s not right! Absolutely not!”

“Then the Duke is fine, isn’t he? He listened without hesitation when I asked him to kidnap me.”

After all, he willingly did something that could greatly stain his honor and seriously damage his relationship with the Marquis.

“W-well, that’s true, but…”

“Don’t you think the Duke is good enough? He’s handsome, and he’s a Duke.”

He might not have much money, but that’s only because the Flaubert Marquis family is exceptionally wealthy.

“To find someone better, there’s probably only His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Gasp! No way!”

Haley shook her head vigorously, as if that was even worse. Then she frowned, seemingly deep in serious contemplation.

“W-well, if you put it that way, I suppose the Duke is…”

Leaving Haley to her sudden deliberation about “who would be worthy of her mistress,” Angelina returned her attention to the letter.

 

[And searching for the most suitable excuse to send this letter, I enclose it together under the flowerpot.]

 

Excuse?

Angelina looked at the flowerpot. Another envelope was placed underneath.

Lifting the pot slightly to take it out, she found another card stamped with the imperial family’s emblem.

“This is…”

The card felt heavy.

When she checked it, as expected, the card was an invitation to a ball.