Chapter 108
Iora glanced at Vigros right in front of her. His smile was refreshingly different — soft and coaxing, almost like the tail of a salmon swimming upstream. His slender hand extended toward her.
“Come on, let’s go on a date.”
She chuckled softly. The hand smelled of flowers, delicate enough she couldn’t help but take it.
* * *
The life of a noble lady was hardly free. Especially for a girl who had spent her days endlessly shuttling between the Saint’s mansion and her own home, trapped in an unbroken cycle of study after study. That’s why a retainer always followed her — a guard and, at the same time, a watcher.
As was the case with Iora.
“Hmm. Sir Guillen?”
“……”
Seeing the rigid knight with his vacant, unfocused eyes made her feel a twinge of guilt. But there was no helping it. Vigros’s cooperation was absolutely necessary. Even more so now, with Ovid acting strangely.
“Go back. I’ll return safely on my own. For today, just forget about me.”
Shana, her adorable attendant nodded spiritedly like a little puppy at that single command and followed obediently. Though her voice carried the power of the Saint, the way she complied so willingly almost brought tears of relief to Iora’s eyes.
‘But his stubbornness…’
As expected, shaking off Guillen von Vendas was no easy feat. Gritting his teeth, he resisted almost unconsciously, sweat breaking out cold down his spine. What stubbornness.
Iora whispered several times. Please go home. Go back. Please. Just let me have this date…!
After several attempts, she finally faced Guillen’s vacant, unfocused eyes. Only after calling a carriage and entrusting her safe delivery did she turn back to Vigros, who was barely hiding an amused smile.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m wondering if that’s how you use your power. It’s pretty s-xy.”
S-xy? Where on earth was that s-xy? Her mouth dropped open in disbelief, and Vigros deliberately started to show off his flair. If this were a game world and the man before her was an NPC, the skill window would surely say:
[Special Skill: Seduction Lv. MAX]
“Whispering this close to your ear? It’s thrilling.”
“…Ugh.”
“It’s s-xy, isn’t it?”
“Y-Yeah, I guess so.”
When his voice dropped low and slid around her ear, a shiver ran down Iora’s neck. It crushed her pride utterly. Giving him a sidelong glare, she pinched his hand tightly in retaliation. He sighed softly in response.
The scenery changed in an instant.
Just moments ago, they had been standing on the road in front of the imperial palace. But now, they were in a park overlooking a plaza where people had gathered nearby.
As Iora watched the wind ruffle Vigros’s hair as he tilted his head slightly, she suddenly asked:
“I’ve never asked before, but Vigros, are you a mage?”
“What do you think I am?”
Of course. The inscrutable shadow behind the curtain wouldn’t reveal his true identity so easily. Iora let out a sigh. He knew perfectly well that she was a Saint, and yet he still kept his own secrets. It was truly petty of him.
“I don’t think even a great mage could use their powers in so many ways…”
“Then what kind of power do you think it is?”
“…A miracle?”
She surprised herself by saying it. Because in this world, a miracle meant…
‘The power of a Saint.’
But the enigmatic man didn’t offer any answers to ease her curiosity. With a whistle, he seated her on a chair at an outdoor café, and then disappeared, saying he’d bring back something delicious.
“I’m sure it’s fine.”
It almost felt like he had run away just to avoid answering her. Iora let out a small laugh and shifted her gaze toward the crowds leisurely passing by the café.
* * *
“Crown Prince Ovid. My son.”
The voice was gentle, but colder than anyone else could be. Ovid tensed up immediately.
Everyone in the world said that Ovid, the Crown Prince, had everything. And indeed, there was nothing he lacked — anything he wanted ended up in his hands. But when he looked at the bigger picture…
‘My entire life has always moved within the boundaries that he set.’
With a mixture of affection and unease, he looked at his father. The Emperor’s broad back made it impossible to guess his age. A ruler who always seemed as immovable as a mountain finally turned around to look his son in the eye.
Discussion
0 CommentsNo comments yet.