Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Why the Sudden Confession?
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‘Why a sudden confession?’
I’d never even met him alone, much less thrown any words laced with personal affection his way.
‘Is he acting?’
But that fervent gaze didn’t look like acting. His lips trembled as he looked at me, and his tense face screamed sincerity.
No, where? When? I barely swallowed the question that had risen to my throat, following the who-what-when-where-why-how, and took a deep breath.
The time Rido and I had spent together was too short. He didn’t know what kind of person I really was.
His feelings were probably still naive, more infatuation with some fantasy than actual love for me.
Of course, I knew people’s hearts didn’t work that way.
The only thing I could do was cut him off cleanly so he wouldn’t cling.
“I don’t take lovers, Rido.”
I deliberately didn’t add that I was sorry. I didn’t want to leave any lingering attachment.
“What I want from you is good acting, not a relationship like this. If that’s what you want, leave the mansion right now. It’s unpleasant.”
After speaking coldly to him, I shut the door right in his face. Then I turned and headed deeper into the garden, sinking onto the sofa and exhaling the breath I’d been holding.
…Lover. That really startled me.
‘Darsi’s advice helped a bit.’
He’d once mentioned rumors about Rido, which let me handle the situation more calmly than expected.
‘This’ll be the last time I see him, so I should thank him properly and give him extra magic crystals.’
It was a shame we wouldn’t meet again, but ending things here was for the best—for both our sakes.
I didn’t have the luxury right now to get deeply involved with anyone.
Fortunately, Rido understood my words and sent a message that day apologizing. He said he’d focus on acting again.
Seeing his genuine remorse and caution not to cross the line, I decided to let it slide this once.
Soon, the day to meet Darsi arrived.
Past 10 p.m. Since it was the last time, I prepared three times the usual amount of magic crystals.
It was the least I could do for someone who’d listened to my stories and made magic tools for me all this time.
When I thought about how he’d made my shut-in life perfect, it didn’t feel wasteful at all.
Now I waited for Darsi in the drawing room, familiar as ever. The dim night visible through the curtains felt unfamiliar. I stared blankly at the night sky, lost in thought.
It was a beautiful starry night. I’d gotten so used to drawing the curtains at dusk that I’d even forgotten the stars existed. And yet they were always there.
“Did I keep you waiting long?”
I turned at the now-familiar voice.
Darsi settled lightly onto the sofa, holding magic tools in both hands.
“No.”
Even as I answered, my gaze went to his hands.
In one hand was a recorder with a screen magnification lens attached; in the other, a camera that could capture moments.
“Wow….”
At my exclamation, Darsi grinned and placed the magic tools in my hands.
His smile looked freer than usual. Today, he was especially captivating.
Something about his liberated air drew my eyes.
I finally managed to shift my gaze to the magic tools.
Above the camera, fitted with a round lens similar to the magnification one, there was a slot for a magic crystal—like a battery—and a separate compartment for paper.
He continued with the detailed explanation.
“It prints onto paper. It’ll recreate the image exactly as the eye sees it. If I put this out there, painters might starve.”
Even his joking demeanor was different from last time, when he’d stood so stiffly. His saintly benevolence and soft voice tickled something in me—like someone tapping my skin with a feather.
“You seem in a good mood today.”
Not liking the ticklish feeling, I tossed it out like a greeting, and Darsi—uncharacteristically—trailed off.
“…Maybe?”
“What’s with the vague answer?”
“Sometimes even I don’t know my own mood.”
Darsi, who had the clearest mood swings of anyone I knew, saying that? The sun must be rising in the west today.
That was enough small talk.
“Here.”
I held out the bundle of magic crystals to him.
“Thanks for all your help so far. I packed them diligently.”
“Even for me, isn’t this a bit much?”
Darsi raised an eyebrow as he inspected the bundle I offered.
I shook my head.
“No, and I owe you something extra too.”
“What for?”
I thought of Rido’s face. Even now, Darsi’s words had been a godsend.
“Rido asked me to take him as a lover.”
“What?”
Crack! Something shattered. Startled, I jumped to my feet. Darsi, who had stood by pressing his hand on the drawing room table, looked at the now-bisected table and replied calmly.
“This one’s defective.”
“…It was expensive?”
“Then the magic tools are free today.”
“No, take this.”
If it broke under human hands, it must’ve been pretty weak. Darsi wasn’t a monster, and it wasn’t like he was jealous or anything—why else would the table suddenly break? I pressed on resolutely.
“Thanks to you, I didn’t panic when he first said it.”
Darsi shook his head at my words. Instead of taking the bag full of magic crystal chunks, he kept talking.
“So, what’d you say?”
I gaped, then answered with a dumbfounded look.
“Of course I refused. I told you.”
“Yeah, you told him. But that guy didn’t seem like the type to accept it at face value.”
Darsi’s curiosity was endless. He grilled me relentlessly about me and Rido. Sweat beaded on my back.
“Huh?”
But his coaxing, soft voice left me no choice but to answer.
“I told him firmly no lovers. How he takes it is his business. Why are you so curious about this?”
Darsi, who had been smiling contentedly at my words, flinched. He replied shamelessly, as if asking what I meant.
“…Me?”
It was odd.
“No way.”
The way he avoided my gaze and fiddled with the back of his neck—like this situation was unfamiliar—made me think maybe he really was. I teased playfully.
“You can’t even deny it.”
“…No idea why I’d do that.”
Unable to fully deny it, Darsi changed the subject entirely.
“Then let’s test the recorder’s performance. We need to check if this new one works right. I set it up so the footage transfers when you put two recorders together.” ‘…Seriously.’ Ridiculous. Recalling his sharp demeanor from our first meeting, I chuckled. Fine, if he didn’t want to talk about it, whatever.
“I’ll grab the recorder from the theater. Wait here in the room.”
“I’ll come with.”
The unexpected reply made me blink. Darsi looked surprised by his own words and pressed his lips together.
“Everyone around here’s been dealt with, but the mansion still has eyes. People might spot you… You okay with that?”
“Ah, no, I hate that.”
Darsi ruffled his hair. He really didn’t like showing himself to people. Finally, he sighed and answered.
“Come back quick. I don’t like being alone.”
Darsi’s eyes drooped pitifully as he spoke. His voice was pathetic, but his half-lidded gaze felt more languid than pitiable. Unlike the puppyish act he was going for, he was more like a leopard. Sleek and threatening. Looking at Darsi fluttering his lashes, I gave him serious advice.
“Darsi, acting isn’t your path.”
His eyes narrowed fiercely. His expression turned sharp in an instant. Seeing me flinch in surprise, Darsi rolled his eyes. With his arms crossed, I realized he was just playing around.
“If you don’t hurry back, I’ll confiscate the magic tools.”
“Got it. I’ll escort you and then go.”
“Sounds good.”
His haughty tone made me laugh. ‘Feels like I’m raising him.’ After letting Darsi into the room, I quickly went to the theater and fetched the recorder there. As Darsi had said, I pressed the two recorders together. I could see the magic crystal inside sparkling. A moment later, I turned on the new recorder and confirmed that all the footage from the other one had transferred safely. Glancing over, my eyes met Darsi’s. He was lounging comfortably as if this were his spot, ruffling his hair. His silver hair spilled over his obliquely reclined face like a ball of thread. Staring at that more perfect-than-perfect face, I worried if the movie I’d planned to watch today would suit his tastes. Better check first.
“The play we’re watching this time might be a bit unfamiliar. You okay with that?”
“A new one?”
“Yeah, it’s based on the ideas I gave Pitol. We can watch something else if you don’t like it.”
“No, play that. I’m curious what you told him.”
At Darsi’s words, I solemnly selected the trashiest melodrama and hit play. Soon, the play began.
“That’s the lead?”
Darsi eyed Rido, who filled the screen, his voice dubious. I nodded.
“He apologized to me that day and promised not to cross the line again.”
“But there are plenty of other people…”
“It’s rare to see someone so passionate about acting. And people make mistakes.”
Darsi let out a sigh and shook his head.
“You’re too lenient.”
“If I fire Rido, the whole troupe has to readjust. I don’t want that.”
“Why not? Tell them to.”
“I like the people now.”
The feelings from the troupe members via the handkerchief they gave me were genuine. Knowing how hard they were preparing for Pitol’s new play, I could write off Rido’s solo act as a minor hiccup.
“You’re too soft. No, soft doesn’t cover it—you’re a pushover, seriously.”
Darsi grumbled. Was I? No one wrapped up in the villainess frame had ever really seen me before. He truly had no preconceptions about me.
“But you’re the first to call me soft.”
Muttering like to myself, I smiled faintly and focused on the screen. I felt Darsi’s gaze on me for a moment.