Chapter 204
That’s enough for me. He said that, rubbing his nose against Roina. Roina quietly embraced his back at his words.
‘Am I thinking too much?’
If she had thought as simply as Jason, nothing might have happened. She would have stayed with the Archmage continuously. But if that were the case, she would have to revive him even more. She needed more golden mana.
“Jason…, I’m a bad person.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m going to use Jason.”
“As much as you want.”
“I’ll hurt you a lot too.”
“Please be gentle.”
Pfft, his laughter was heard. Roina felt her lips involuntarily relax. Jason was a truly simple and strange person, but she felt comforted by him saying this. She really thought that maybe it would be okay. That she could think about the aftermath later.
* * *
The next task that Roina had to face was Ethan.
Jason had been surprisingly easy to get over, but she didn’t know if Ethan would be easy as well. The last time she saw Ethan, he looked very distressed.
Ethan, unconscious, was being held by the revolutionary army and detained in a prison slightly away from the center of the Imperial Palace. The strange magical structure of the Imperial Palace was still under investigation as it could be dangerous, so this was to prevent any possible incidents.
For the same reason, the Crown Prince was also imprisoned in a prison belonging to the Magic Academy, where magical restraints were possible. She heard that he was being treated like a magical creature.
Roina carefully entered a building made of ordinary-looking gray stone. The guards were friendly to her and willingly guided her. This was probably because the fact that the Archmage and his disciple had stopped the Crown Prince’s outrageous acts had become widely known.
How long had she walked with the person guiding her? After passing by some of the dispirited lackeys of the fallen Crown Prince, she saw the figure of a man sitting with his head bowed inside the prison. The guide hadn’t said anything yet, but Roina stopped abruptly. He looked dirty and exhausted, but that was Ethan.
“Ethan.”
As her voice echoed in the prison, the head that had been bowed flinched and slowly lifted.
Slightly dark skin, messy brown hair, and hollow brown eyes. It was Ethan.
“I’ve come to find you again.”
“……”
He stared at her without a word. Slender light poured down from a small window in the prison, illuminating her. Her white skin reflected the light and shone brightly. She was wearing simple and active clothes today, not so elaborately dressed, and even that was truly beautiful. Ethan squinted slightly, as if he was dazzled.
“……Go.”
He parted his dry lips and uttered a single word. His voice, which was terribly cracked and hoarse, seemed to represent Ethan’s current state. Ethan shrank back again.
“Yes, I will go. But this time, I’m going to take you with me.”
“……”
At those words, Ethan’s expression darkened even more. Roina took another step forward. Her expression was resolute.
“I’m so sorry for leaving you alone. I can’t imagine what hardships you’ve gone through……”
“I know it’s not your fault.”
He hunched over and said again.
“So please don’t apologize.”
“……”
This time, Roina was at a loss for words. What on earth had happened to Ethan? How had he lived after she escaped? She simply bit her lip tightly.
“Ethan. I don’t know how this will sound to you, but I want to help you.”
He looked at her with darkly sunken eyes. He bit his lip, as if he felt that damp and filthy emotions would flow out. What on earth were these emotions he had? Even he didn’t know. The only thing certain was that he couldn’t approach her. He would end up hurting her.
“Just like you helped me get out. Please give me a chance to help you.”
He turned his head away. Ending it here was better for both her and him. He was planning to end this detestable life soon. He couldn’t let her get involved in that.
“I’ll help you restore it. —The Castrello Kingdom.”
But at those words, he had no choice but to turn his head back.
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