Chapter 42
Wouldn’t it have been better if it were a lie?
The fact that all of it was the truth was even more disgusting.
Chase furrowed his brow.
Crossing the hall without hesitation, Chase paused just before stepping out through the entrance and glanced back toward the stairs.
He saw Anthony returning. Anthony gave a nod, signaling that he had completed the task. Chase gave a slight nod in return and gestured with his chin toward the Royal floor. It meant to pass word to the Imperial Crown Prince, who would be looking down at them. As Anthony turned back again, Chase left the building.
As he stepped into the garden, a cool forest breeze swept up along the cliff. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he moved a few steps farther away from the building. The sound of music faded, and even the rustling of leaves could be heard.
His black hair swayed lightly in the wind as he headed toward the fountain at the far left corner of the garden. Only then did the unpleasantness that had risen to the tip of his throat seem to settle, if only slightly.
Standing before the fountain, Chase slowly closed and opened his eyes, quietly watching the cascading stream of water.
Lowering his head slightly, Chase pulled one hand out of his pocket and touched the back of his neck. The slow movement of his hand carried traces of hesitation and contemplation. Then he let out a faint laugh and lifted his head, staring into the air.
He realized the source of the irritation that had been lingering these past days.
He couldn’t pretend not to know about Nita’s suffering.
Even though he had no obligation to take responsibility, he couldn’t cast her aside. Now that he had heard with his own ears what kind of situation she would face if he sent her back, all the more so.
Then, if that was the case, did she have value worth keeping by his side? More than Vivian Grace, who possessed that remarkable purification ability?
The question surfaced again and again, but the conclusion returned to the same point. He could not pretend not to know Nita Grace.
Even if he sent Nita back and brought Vivian Grace instead, even if the North were to be completely purified because of it, the vile version of himself that had ignored Nita would follow him like a shadow for the rest of his life.
Even if she didn’t die at the hands of that damned bastard Felix and managed to run away again… she would probably end up dying at the hands of that deranged stalker. And he would never be able to shake off this damn irritation for the rest of his life.
However, if he didn’t send Nita Grace away and kept her by his side, it felt like he could escape this filthy feeling.
A somewhat weak mage who needed protection. Not the person he had wanted, but if the endlessly grating concern would disappear, wouldn’t that alone be enough?
“…She has value.”
It was an empty conclusion for something that had troubled him so much, but now what he had to do was clear. Having organized his thoughts, Chase left the fountain.
Joining Anthony, who had come out at just the right time, they headed toward the carriage, and Chase raised his voice slightly.
“Your Grace. Are you really returning like this? We truly don’t have time anymore. You know that. If we don’t resolve this immediately, the mana will…”
“I’ve changed my mind.”
“…What?”
Anthony asked back, flustered, but Chase said nothing more and boarded the carriage. With no other choice, Anthony moved to follow him inside when, just then, an attendant of Kyle came running across the garden in a hurry. He was clutching a large box in both arms. It was a box neatly tied with a sparkling golden ribbon.
“Huff.. huff… My apologies for the sudden interruption. His Highness asked me to deliver this.”
“What is it?”
“It’s cake from the hall. One of each of the most popular kinds.”
Chase’s brow creased.
Why would he suddenly do something so unnecessary?
At Chase’s questioning gaze, the attendant handed the box to Anthony and added,
“You were looking at the cakes rather intently before leaving, so he sent them.”
“I don’t need-”
“Yes. Thank you. Please tell His Highness we will enjoy them.”
Cutting him off at once, Anthony answered with a smile.
As the carriage set off, Anthony held the box tightly and asked with a puzzled look.
“You don’t really like things like cake, do you? How long were you staring for His Highness to go this far?”
Chase did not answer.
By the time the carriage returned to the entrance of the forest where the teleportation magic circle was laid out, they stopped instead of heading north.
“Your Grace! This is urgent!”
Logan stood there waiting, his face pale, his demeanor far from ordinary.
“What is it?”
“A mana fog has formed in the garden beneath the mountain range.”
“The scale?”
“It’s too large to estimate. It might… even cause a storm.”
“We move to the garden immediately.”
Stepping onto the teleportation circle first with Logan, Chase looked at Anthony.
“Send a notice to the residents. No one is to leave their homes.”
“Yes!”
“Divide the personnel and have them patrol the villages within the radius that could be affected by the mana, and…”
Anthony and Logan focused on his next command as Chase paused briefly.
“Bring Nita Grace.”
***
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