Chapter 141
Making her declaration about just having a light meal seem meaningless, Jaha devoured everything up to dessert. Rikanan had recommended it, but not refusing was Jaha’s decision.
If the food was this delicious, there was no way the dessert wouldn’t be delicious too. Thanks to that expectation, she absolutely couldn’t give up dessert. And after taking one bite of dessert, Jaha confirmed that her choice was right. This was heavenly flavor.
With wide eyes, Jaha cleaned her plate in an instant.
“Won’t you have more?”
The tone of his question was quite affectionate. Jaha desperately wanted to accept and say she’d have more, but since she’d already overeaten, she declined.
“I want to keep eating, but I’m full, so maybe next time.”
Suddenly, Jaha noticed that Rikanan was looking across at her with the eyes of a satisfied predator. It was an expression stained with strange fulfillment, but Jaha had absolutely no idea what it meant.
Did I eat too deliciously? To the point where it was satisfying just to watch?
Is he somewhat into mukbang or the type who enjoys observing others eat?
But for that, his gaze is too…
With her empty plate taken away, Jaha sat there feeling awkward.
Rikanan slowly rubbed the rim of his glass containing after-dinner liqueur with his long fingers.
The light from the beautifully crafted golden candlestick cast shadows on his sculptural face, creating impressive contrasts. The dim interior made him look like a figure from a classical painting, and also made him look decadent.
“What will you do? Since you haven’t been awake long, you probably won’t go to sleep right away.”
His hand swirling the glass for aeration was elegant and skilled, like a scene from a movie.
Do all nobles act like this? Jaha was entranced watching the man’s swirling and replied belatedly.
“I think I need to figure that out from now.”
“I’d like to show you around the house, but that would be better after daybreak. If you’d like, I could guide you to the study.”
“Ah, the study.”
“The ring’s translation function also applies to text, so there shouldn’t be any inconvenience in enjoying reading.”
Jaha looked down at the ring on her hand. It was amazing that it translated not just sounds but also written characters. But she didn’t particularly want to go to the study. It was similar to the psychology of avoiding food you’ve had an allergic reaction to once.
She knew she couldn’t avoid it forever. She’d need to study to survive. Still, she wasn’t mentally prepared yet.
“I’ll check out the study another time. I’d like to take a walk—would it be okay to look around the garden?”
It was late, but if she didn’t go outside and just wandered around within the main gate, it didn’t seem like it would be particularly dangerous. The security had looked tight when they came in too.
“I’ll accompany you.”
“Huh? It’s fine. You don’t have to go, and if it’s really too much, I could take one of the staff with me.”
“I could use some fresh air, actually.”
A man with his back to the dimly lit window rose to his feet, flashing a dazzling smile. With movements as refined as an incarnation of elegance, he circled the table, closing the distance in long, confident strides.
At that moment, the emotion that seized Jaha was, surprisingly, the urge to run.
Even though she knew he wasn’t approaching with ill intent, the instinct of prey screamed at her—escape before you’re caught.
A gloved white hand stretched toward her. Trembling, Jaha reluctantly placed her hand atop it.
Rikanan had waited for her to reach out first, but the moment contact was made, he enveloped her small hand in his grasp, as if he’d been anticipating it.
Once escorted into the garden, Jaha realized she’d made the right choice bringing him along. The path wasn’t frequented by others, and as private property, it felt eerily desolate. Though not pitch-black—scattered lights illuminated the way—the absence of human presence unnerved her, perhaps because she’d grown up in an overcrowded world where solitude was unnatural.
“Are those lights magical too?”
“Yes. They’re enchanted to turn on when the surroundings grow too dark and off when it’s bright enough.”
Their performance rivaled that of light sensors. Not seeing any wires, she’d asked and learned that magic here matched 21st-century cutting-edge technology.
How does it work? Does magic detect photons? But does this world even have a concept of photons?
The deeper she dug, the more questions arose, so Jaha gave up. This wasn’t a realm she—neither a genius nor an expert—could comprehend.
“Are there many mages here?”
“Well, not exactly. They’re not common—about one in ten thousand, I’d say.”
Jaha quietly did the math. Translated to Korea’s population, that would mean around five thousand mages—not extremely rare, but certainly not abundant either.
“And even among them, about 80% can only perform a few simple spells. The remaining 20% are the ones you could truly call mages.”
His smooth baritone continued. So, in reality, a real mage was more like one in fifty thousand.
“You must be quite remarkable, then.”
The words slipped out before she could stop herself. Jaha froze.
Wait, who did I just say that to?
Rikanan’s footsteps halted.
“Do you… know another mage?”
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