Because You Have Me
Because You Have Me
The day Renoa kicked Irion out.
Irion had only pretended to leave; he never actually stepped out of the room. Killing his presence, he stayed by Renoa's side the entire time.
Even though freedom awaited him just across the threshold, he couldn't leave her alone while she was so helplessly broken.
At the very least, he wanted to see her stand up on her own.
Even if she reached for dark magic, if she rose again with spite in her heart, he intended to turn away then without a single regret.
However, Renoa made no attempt to recover. She neglected herself, not even swallowing a drop of water.
As if she no longer had any lingering attachment to life.
Because things had reached a point where he could no longer just watch from the sidelines, he eventually had no choice but to intervene.
"What are you planning to do, Agassi? Are you going to just die like this?"
"Stay out of it."
Not even a shred of regret could be found in Renoa's expression as she spoke.
The betrayal of someone she trusted.
And the loss of magic, which had been her everything.
Those two things had completely cut off the engine of the human being known as Renoa.
"This is ridiculous. Acting like a tragic heroine over just that."
But as if that despair was nothing, Irion clicked his tongue and let out a hollow laugh.
"What...?"
"Well, isn't it true? What exactly have you lost, Agassi?"
"You. Have you said quite enough?"
Renoa's listless expression twisted fiercely.
A spark of anger flared in her dull pupils, which had been devoid of any vitality.
Irion ignored it and continued speaking as he looked down at Renoa.
"If you told the commoners passing by that they could trade places with you right now, how many do you think would accept?"
"...What?"
"Wouldn't nine out of ten agree? You still sleep in a soft bed without worrying about survival, you wash with warm water, you eat feasts, and people revere you as a Gong-nyeo."
"That's just sophistry!"
Renoa snapped sharply, biting her lip. Her shoulders heaved with a surging sense of humiliation.
"Do you think having nothing from the start and having what you already had taken away are the same?"
"I see. Then what exactly was taken from you, Agassi?"
"That's obviously...!"
"Don't tell me."
Irion coldly cut off Renoa's spiteful shout and said with a relaxed smile.
"The magic you obtained for free just by being born into a prestigious magic family? The maids hired by the family? You haven't achieved a single thing yourself for you to say they were taken away, have you? Everything belongs to the Edelheid family you loathe so much."
"But..."
"But? What, do you want to say you taught yourself magic?"
As if he could already see exactly what excuse she would make, Irion refuted her bitingly before she could even finish her sentence.
"I told you once before. Most of the world doesn't even have the environment to learn magic. Did you obtain that vast amount of mana through your own effort? The books you read, did you buy them with money you earned? No, right?"
"......"
Before the cruel and clear reality Irion proclaimed, Renoa froze in place.
She couldn't let out a single rebuttal.
Because the things she had considered her pride her whole life were, in fact, not a single one of them achieved through her own power.
Furthermore, since the speaker was Irion, who had risen to this position from the status of a slave, there was even less room for argument.
"......So?"
Strength slowly drained from Renoa's body.
"Since I was a half-wit with nothing from the start... you're saying I should just accept reality without complaining or being dissatisfied?"
The anger that had been burning until just a moment ago vanished as if it had never existed.
All that remained was a lethargy that sank down like an empty shell.
"Are you telling me to live like a bird in a cage, doing nothing? To live like this for the rest of my life?"
"What I want to say is, don't cling to what belongs to others, and let's be grateful for what you do have."
"What on earth do I have? What on earth is left for me?"
The moment those words fell from Renoa's mouth, as if he had been waiting for that very sentence.
Irion gently took Renoa's hand and brought it to his face.
Renoa flinched at the sudden sensation, but soon realized what it was.
She shifted her gaze following that touch. Then, their eyes, which had been misaligned all this time, met straight on.
And what he uttered was.
"Because you have me."
"......What?"
"Something that is entirely yours, which no one in the world can claim ownership of, is right here in front of you."
It was a statement so brazen it made Renoa feel absurd.
"Grasp my sword instead of magic. If you cannot move, use my limbs, and if you cannot see ahead, I will become your eyes, Agassi."
Irion still wore a languid curve at the corners of his mouth.
On the surface, it was an expression that looked as light as always, but there was no trace of playfulness or bravado in that smile.
Rather, it was the opposite.
He was sincere.
A sincerity that left no room for objection.
In this shitty reality where even tomorrow was uncertain.
That arrogant slave was brazenly saying he would replace everything with his own existence.
Normally, that attitude should be laughable.
It would be right to mock him, and correct to draw a line.
And yet.
"......"
The moment she faced that utterly arrogant devotion, Renoa's breath hitched for a second.
Objects blurred and tangled together at the boundaries.
In a landscape submerged in monochrome.
Only one thing.
Only that pair of golden eyes could be seen clearly.
That golden gaze dyed Renoa's vision in warm gold.
"Since I am a slave, I will never betray you like some people. How about it?"
"......"
"Is just me... not enough?"
His low voice flowed into Renoa's ear.
Renoa couldn't even think of refusing; she just blankly chased the golden light before her eyes.
"......Yes. It's fine."
Without even realizing it, the answer popped out.
"That is an excellent answer."
Irion nodded with satisfaction and stood up from his seat.
"A person needs to eat well to have strength. The soup has gone completely cold, so I'll bring some fresh."
Irion left the room.
Even as the door closed and the sound of his boots faded beyond the hallway, Renoa couldn't take her eyes off the spot where he had been for even a moment.
Renoa's lips quivered.
Her heart should have been cooling down chillingly as she gave up on everything.
But a pleasant heat began to spread through her entire body, starting to throb slowly.
Kung.
Kung.
Kung.
An unfamiliar rhythm spreading out.
Something began to bloom Monggeul-monggeul from deep within her chest.
A lukewarm sensation, neither hot nor cold, spreads cautiously and tickles her heart.
Her breath became a little ragged.
A strange and loud heartbeat, so vivid she couldn't believe it was her own, echoed in Renoa's ears.
I wonder what my face looks like right now. I don't know since I haven't looked in a mirror, but probably.
It must be flushed red like a young girl's.
After finishing her meal, Renoa soon fell back asleep, exhausted mentally.
Fortunately, this time she didn't refuse and obediently ate the soup.
I sat huddled next to the bed, staring blankly at Renoa's sleeping face.
"Sigh, what a life I lead."
Because I met the wrong master, what on earth is all this trouble?
The master said she'd set me free, but I came back on my own. There couldn't be a more perfect slave mentality than this.
"This is all because of you."
I poked Renoa's cheek with my finger. Having skipped meals for several days, Renoa had become noticeably haggard.
In the original story, she was obsessed with Aether, so she would have somehow shaken it off and reached for dark magic.
But now, since even that wasn't the case, she had just given up in despair.
'Wait, in the original story, Gerard was in my place?'
I would have used dark magic too if I were her.
This trashy world, I'd have to burn it all down.
I flicked Renoa's cheek with my finger. I watched her face frown in her sleep and then stood up.
Since the master is lying down all day, even a slave like me has to move diligently.
I left the house and headed toward the Academy dormitory.
Avoiding people's eyes, I arrived in front of a room under heavy guard.
Men wearing light armor were guarding the door.
"Who are you?"
"I am Irion, the slave knight of Edelheid. I have come for an appointment with Hwang-ja-jeonha."
"Confirmed. Hwang-ja-jeonha is waiting for you."
I opened the door and went in.
A grand room, which I couldn't tell if it was a dormitory or a hotel suite, welcomed me.
Inside, Aether was reading a book while drinking wine.
"You're here?"
"A student shouldn't be drinking alcohol."
"I'm an adult, so what does it matter? Even a Prince wants to live comfortably in his private space."
Well, that's true.
Being treated as an adult in this world happens earlier than on Earth, so it doesn't matter if he drinks.
"Why don't you sit instead of standing there?"
I sat across from Aether.
"Want a glass?"
"No. I have to go back as soon as my business is done. I don't know when Agassi might wake up again."
"That's a shame."
Aether tilted his glass.
"How is the Gong-nyeo's condition?"
"She is safe. Her strength has waned, but she'll recover quickly if she eats well."
"That's a relief. I'm also looking for an antidote, so don't worry too much."
"Yes."
"More importantly, to think the maid was the traitor. And I heard she was close with the Gong-nyeo? She must be deeply hurt."
I had shared the information about Bibi with Aether. It wasn't exactly a story that needed to be hidden.
Since I couldn't know Bibi's intentions right now, I thought it would be good to get any useful information possible.
'Not that it was particularly helpful, though.'
That's why I came here.
There will be no more waiting.
"Aether."
"Hmm?"
"Let's make a deal."
"Suddenly using informal speech. Should I interpret that as you wanting to speak with me on equal footing?"
I shrugged lightly, as if telling him to interpret it however he liked.
"Fine. Let's hear what kind of interesting thing you have to propose."
I slowly caught my breath.
It didn't take long to make up my mind.
Because I had thought about it hundreds of times before coming here.
"You said you were looking for the witch, right?"
"I certainly said that. There's a wicked witch our Imperial Family has been chasing since long ago. Her whereabouts are currently unknown, though. Why, did you perhaps find the witch?"
Seriously.
This guy has a bit of a nasty personality too.
The way he's testing me while clearly knowing the truth is no different from the other nobles he hates so much.
I'll let it slide this once. Because the one in a hurry wasn't Aether, but me.
"Just as you thought, Renoa is indeed the witch."
"Is that so."
As if he had already expected it, Aether showed no sign of surprise.
"What suddenly got into you to reveal her identity? Are you saying you'll hand over the witch so I'll spare you?"
"If it were that simple, my body would have been much more comfortable."
If it were the old me, I would have sold Renoa out.
If that would save me.
Because nothing was more important than my own life.
But, my mind has changed.
"I'll cooperate with the witch hunt. In exchange, guarantee Renoa's safety."
I have to help her because the poor thing is just so pitiful.