Chapter 59
***
However…
I woke up again.
This time, I was greeted by a young man with long, bluish-black hair and a white robe. He possessed the kind of face that undoubtedly screamed “high-maintenance child” growing up. When our eyes met, he twitched his long, pointed ears.
“Greetings. Please pardon my intrusion.”
“…Oh, hello…!”
My reflexive greeting died in my throat as a jolt of surprise shot through me.
“Your voice seems fine. Could you try wiggling your fingers?”
I didn’t need to check. My fingers were already working well enough to form a fist.
“Good. It’s a temporary fix, but the makeshift magic core seems to be functioning.”
“Um… well… excuse me, but who are you…?”
“Ah, my apologies for the delayed introduction. I’m so used to familiar faces that social niceties like self-introductions have become rather rusty. I am Lumiere Brise, a remnant of the blessings scattered upon the world by the Golden Dragon.”
I blinked.
I had never seen an elf before in my life. It made sense, considering they had long since retreated into their own realm, hidden from the world. While some elves ventured out for ascetic practices, it was exceedingly rare. Why was an elf, a race known for its intense loathing of humans, at my bedside?
The young elf, who had introduced himself as Lumiere, said with a playful lilt, “Not all elves despise humans, you know.”
Oh. Had I voiced my thoughts aloud?
“And no, I can’t read minds. It’s just… most people I meet for the first time seem to think that.”
“I… I see. My apologies…”
“No need to apologize. I’m something of a heretic amongst my kind, and the offer I received was simply too tempting to refuse. No need for thanks either. I haven’t actually cured you, not fundamentally. Nor can I.”
“What?”
An offer? Cured? What was he talking about?
Lumiere chuckled at my bewildered expression. He conjured a glowing orb above his hand and touched it to my forehead.
The orb, about the size of a quail egg, melted into my skin. My mind felt remarkably clearer.
“How do you feel?”
“B-better. Thank you.”
“Save your thanks for His Highness, the Crown Prince. A single eye is a small price to pay for a direct descendant of the Golden Dragon.”
“What?”
I shot up like a spring. What in the world…?
“Oh, you didn’t know? Well, I suppose not.”
Talking to himself, then turning back to me, Lumiere explained, “For those of us who study magic, a direct descendant of the Golden Dragon, the source of all magic, is irresistibly alluring. His Highness made the offer first, so don’t try to back out now.”
His words sharpened my mind to a clarity I hadn’t experienced since my previous awakening.
The founding myth of the Rubellon Empire began with the Golden Dragon, Rubellon, falling in love with the knight, TLina, and leaving his descendants in the human world. The imperial family, direct descendants of the Golden Dragon, the progenitor of magic, couldn’t wield magic themselves.
However, they possessed the power of their bloodline, a power that captivated any magic user. The existence of these magic wielders was a silent yet potent force for the Rubellon imperial family. But that power could never be used casually, nor should it be. Because they never acted without a price.
And he said the next emperor, that arrogant, despicable, human piece of trash, offered an eye to wake me up?
“Judging by your expression, you genuinely had no idea. Aren’t you the Crown Prince’s lover?”
“I am not.”
My immediate denial was met with a puzzled look from Lumiere.
“Then… unrequited love? Human relationships are so complicated.”
I wanted to deny the unrequited love accusation as well, but Lumiere spoke first.
“I’m not here to pry into your love life. Let’s get to the point. How to cure you.”
“Yes? But… I was told I’m dying from magic poisoning.”
“Ah, well, it’s a bit complicated.”
Hestia had said the same thing. Poisoning was poisoning, what was so complicated?
Lumiere gestured for me to sit.
“Do you prefer a long explanation or a short one?”
“A short one, please, for now. I’m a bit overloaded to process too much information.”
“Hmm, I understand. Very well, then. To put it simply…”
The handsome elf, a mischievous glint in his eyes, pointed a finger directly at me.
“If you want to live, you need to relentlessly, continuously sleep with the men you’ve already slept with.”
…Perhaps I should consider how to phrase my desire to die in a more delicate manner.
“I’ll just die, then.”
Forget delicate phrasing. I gave him my immediate answer and turned away.
Lumiere, flustered, waved his hands.
“Hello? Miss Adelina? Are you still muddle-headed? Is there something wrong with your hearing?”
At the elf’s flippant remark, I scowled, and Lumiere, looking dejected, repeated himself.
“You’ll die! Miss Adelina, do you perhaps not understand the definition of the word ‘die’?”
“Don’t treat me like a fool. I’m saying I’d rather die than live like that.”
“But, but… humans say it’s better to live even if it means rolling around in a dunghill…”
To the elf mumbling a rather rustic proverb, I crossed my arms and demanded an explanation.
“The short explanation was so shocking that my only conclusion was to die. So, give me the long explanation. Why exactly do I have to… degrade myself like that to live?”
“Well, you see…”
Seeing my readiness to listen, Lumiere brightened.
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