Chapter 28 - You Belong to Me Now (1)
Chapter 28 - You Belong to Me Now (1)
After the wyvern extermination battle, Parmela became even more convinced of one thing.
The man sitting before her eyes right now—Theodor—was her fated partner, the man she would spend her life with.
When Theodor appeared in her moment of mortal peril and unleashed a sword aura against the wyverns about to overwhelm her…
Parmela realized.
Everything he’d shown until now had been nothing but an act.
“What you just witnessed, my lady—could you keep it secret for now? I’ll explain everything later.”
The face that grasped her hand and made this request bore no trace of “clumsy commoner Theodor.”
An incomparably solemn and sharp countenance. Deep green eyes that seemed to conceal dark secrets…
Having witnessed this unexpected side of Theodor while still reeling from her failed Black Flame Art…
Thump.
That’s when her heart began pounding wildly.
Of course, some of it might have been from the warmth of Theodor’s hand—but that wasn’t the real reason.
The moment their hands touched, she’d sensed a strange and ominous aura from him.
It wasn’t ordinary mana.
If she had to describe it, it resembled the corrupted mana emitted by demons or their minions—yet far purer and more profound.
The mana sleeping in her heart had gone wild.
And instinctively, she knew—and craved.
If she could have that unknown energy within him… her flames would become complete.
So before casting Black Flame Art, she’d grasped his hand to examine that mysterious energy more closely.
‘Not the heart… but the abdomen?’
Strangely, the energy was concentrated near Theodor’s lower abdomen.
Though peculiar, she gently drew some of that energy toward her mana heart.
—!
The moment that black aura mingled with the mana in her heart…
Herthe’s black flames finally roared back to life.
Mana infused with heat that spread instantly through her entire body along her circuits.
The black flames burned as usual again.
No—it was more than that.
The overwhelming fullness throughout her body was something she’d never experienced before. With Theodor’s energy as catalyst, the black flames blazed more fiercely than ever.
After using those flames to perfectly annihilate the wyverns and redeem her earlier failure…
Amid the cheering servants and soldiers, Parmela quietly placed a hand over her pounding heart.
This time, it was purely from budding affection for Theodor.
Upon returning to the villa, Parmela immediately summoned the servants to question them about Theodor.
Without exception, they all testified to his competence.
Even those who disliked him for being a commoner—though their expressions showed distaste.
Parmela could only be astonished again.
The Theodor she’d seen was always awkward in manner, so excessively nervous that he constantly made mistakes.
And when she finally called in Armin, his training supervisor—
“I-I don’t know anything, my lady. He’s just a plain, worthless, insignificant commoner brat.”
Without being asked anything, his sudden rambling made Parmela certain he was hiding something.
After extracting the full story of Theodor’s first day—through threats disguised as warnings mixed with some coaxing—
Alone in her office after dismissing Theodor, Parmela hugged her pounding chest, trembling with euphoria.
‘I’ve found him.’
A wandering commoner swordsman who appeared before a ducal daughter in peril and rescued her in style.
Though appearing clumsy and utterly unremarkable at first glance…
Swordsmanship rivaling a Swordmaster. Overwhelming pressure that could make even a High Spirit kneel.
In truth, he’d been hiding secrets he couldn’t reveal to anyone.
Moreover, his mysterious energy happened to perfectly synergize with Herthe’s Black Flame Art.
If this wasn’t fate, then what was?
Completely enchanted by this romance with a mysterious wandering swordsman, the Crown Prince no longer held any appeal for Parmela.
Even if she married him, her future was painfully predictable.
She’d become Crown Princess, then Empress—standing at the empire’s peak while nobles and commoners alike worshipped her. A dull story so clichéd no one would read it if it were fiction.
Compared to that, a romance between a beautiful ducal daughter and a mysterious commoner swordsman with secrets would sell far better.
Without hesitation, Parmela chose the latter of these two books and set plans in motion to completely bind her fated partner to her.
She secretly summoned Theodor to her office one night.
Her attire—a thin, fluttering white nightdress one might wear in the bedroom, with even the upper chest slightly exposed.
To commoners, it might seem just a pretty sleep dress. Among proper noble daughters, it was practically the epitome of indecency.
And wearing it alone with an unrelated man? That essentially meant offering herself entirely.
‘Now… all preparations are complete.’
Staring at Theodor as he entered her office, Parmela forcibly calmed her heart threatening to leap from her chest.
The scene playing in her mind’s theater was several seconds ahead.
Seeing her attire, a shocked Theodor would realize why she’d summoned him dressed like this…
Then carefully approach, take her in his arms, and give her a romantic kiss—
‘Oh no oh no oh no!!’
The moment I opened the office door, Parmela greeted me in her nightdress.
But why the sleepwear?
Ah. She must have just woken up.
Probably forgot our appointment, went to bed as usual, then remembered last minute and rushed over.
Now that I look, her face is oddly flushed and she seems slightly out of breath?
Between this and her earlier Black Flame Art failure, what an absentminded ducal daughter.
“Theodor?”
“Yes?”
“How do I… look?”
For some reason, Parmela twisted slightly while asking with a strange expression.
“…You must be cold. Should I fetch you something to wear?”
“…”
“Shall I give you my jacket?”
“……”
“?”
“Never mind.”
“Why are you—”
“Just sit down already!”
Geez, what’s with the shouting?
Keeping an eye on her mood, I sat on one of the low sofas facing each other across a table.
She plopped down roughly opposite me.
“…?”
But what did this outstretched hand mean?
“Aren’t you giving me your jacket?”
“I thought you didn’t—”
Glare.
“Here.”
Snatching the jacket from my hand with elegance, she draped it over her shoulders before turning her head away with a pout.
Why the anger? And why take the jacket after refusing? Truly ducal daughter capriciousness.
I cautiously observed her from the corner of my eye.
Long flowing red-gold hair instead of her usual twin tails. That strangely revealing nightdress.
Beautiful. Truly beautiful—under normal circumstances, my heart might have raced…
But not now.
Because the woman before me was a dangerous existence who’d noticed my secret.
After barely shaking off the Radain Church’s pursuit, obtaining a new identity, and finally landing a proper job…
Just once, instinctively rushing to save Parmela, I’d unleashed the Heavenly Demon’s Divine Sword before her, firing an aura of demonic qi.
Had it ended there, I might have talked my way out…
But then she’d used Black Flame Art while drawing upon my demonic qi.
I don’t know how much she’s figured out…
But at minimum, Parmela definitely noticed I possess an energy resembling demonic mana that shouldn’t exist in this world.
In this situation, she summoned me secretly.
What could she possibly want to say? What demand would she make?
Though I can’t grasp the situation…
‘I need to stay sharp.’
I might even need to abandon this Theodor identity if things go south.
“…”
“…”
An awkward silence fell between us.
Though appearing pouty, she kept stealing glances at me as if wanting something, fidgeting and shifting posture—her attitude strangely ambiguous.
‘Damn it… Quit dragging this out and making me nervous. If you summoned me, state your business first.’
“…Don’t you have something to say to me?”
“Pardon?”
She summons me here, then asks that?
…No. Actually, this is better. While I’m here, I’ll try steering the conversation while catering to her whims.
“…First, I wish to express gratitude for granting my request.”
I bowed my head slightly in courtesy.
“Request? …Ah. You mean when you unleashed that aura during the wyvern extermination.”
After the battle, several nearby servants had naturally witnessed me swinging my sword at the wyverns.
“That was just my failed Black Flame Art taking that form. Theodor merely swung his sword coincidentally at the same time trying to strike a wyvern’s claw.”
Since the black flames coincidentally resembled my sword aura’s color, Parmela’s testimony helped quell suspicions.
“Yes. Thanks to you, the other servants’ suspicions were allayed.”
“Hmm… Right. That’s actually why I called you.”
Gulp.
Here it comes.
Parmela leaned forward slightly. Her loose dress sagged, revealing more of her chest.
I hastily averted my gaze, but her provocative eyes—chin resting on arms propped on knees—stared unbothered right at me.
“That aura you possess… What exactly is it?”