Chapter 44
Chapter 44
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: The Mages' Hidden Sanctuary
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Your face couldn't possibly look any worse."
Even with the playful remark, Darsi didn't lift his head right away. But I could see his ears, which he couldn't hide, turning bright red.
Those ears peeking through his dazzling silver hair were really eye-catching.
If he looks cute, it's just my eyes getting rose-tinted.
He had no idea how much his usual words enchanted me, so it was unexpected to see him embarrassed by something like this.
When Darsi finally raised his head, his face was the same as always.
A bit disappointing.
"If you really want to meet them, I can make it happen."
Darsi muttered as he let out a breath.
"I told you, only mages know where the mages live."
"Right. Not all mages know, though."
Huh? What does that mean?
As I tilted my head, Darsi dropped a meaningful bombshell.
Leaning obliquely against the sofa, avoiding my gaze, he opened his mouth.
"You've heard the rumors about mages disappearing lately."
"Yeah."
"That was me."
"What?"
I was stunned.
What Darsi said was this.
He had been brainwashed and couldn't defy Emperor Kies's orders.
But Emperor Kies hadn't ordered him to kill all the mages.
In fact, he'd even urged Darsi to roughly release the rest and come back, keeping only the key figures among them.
This matched the information I'd uncovered. And the doubts I'd had about Emperor Kies.
"Do you know why?"
"Emperor Kies never explained the reason. Not once."
Unfortunately, even Darsi knew nothing about that.
In any case, Darsi found himself in a contradictory position, fighting the mages while ensuring they didn't vanish completely.
But he thought this side was even more cruel.
Because it was a cycle of endless suffering.
Darsi couldn't side with the mages, nor could he quit the job.
If he did the latter, he'd die. He was tired of life, but he craved freedom just as much.
To alleviate his guilt, Darsi had prepared a space to give to the mages someday.
In fact, right after breaking free from the brainwashing during his confrontation with Emperor Kies, Darsi had immediately opened a place for the mages.
By embedding magic crystals in a forest that the mages they'd released frequented.
"..."
No wonder there were fewer magic crystals rolling around the room. I wondered where they'd gone if they hadn't run away....
"Impressive."
I gave him a heartfelt round of applause. I even felt a surge of respect for Darsi.
"It's just guilt. I shouldn't have done it in the first place."
"There are plenty of people who wouldn't even go that far. Take Prince Ryan, for example—the one you ran into today when you smashed the door."
Ugh, at the mention of Ryan, Darsi gritted his teeth.
I quickly changed the subject.
"Good thing. I was wondering how to find them. But do they know you set up that space?"
Darsi shook his head firmly.
"If it was known, they wouldn't use it. Wait."
Propping his chin, Darsi fell into thought.
"They'd probably be happy if it was you. It's not wrong to say you provided the magic crystals."
"You're usually so bold, why hold back today?"
I didn't like how he was naturally excluding himself. He shook his head at my words.
"It's reality. To them, I'm the enemy. And if you don't do it that way, you won't even get a chance to talk."
Mages were tight-knit among themselves but tended to avoid outsiders.
Especially high nobles. They probably figured most were like Emperor Kies.
"Everyone has their prejudices...."
To break through the mages' deep-seated prejudices from long years, I'd need something substantial too.
I understood Darsi's consideration. It was also true that facing the title of villainess again wasn't welcome.
But.
"I get what you're saying, but let's try anyway. Just tell me where it is. I'll prepare."
Darsi seemed about to say more, so I pressed my index finger to my lips and shushed him preemptively.
"Trust me once."
Challenging prejudices was tiresome, but I'd do it again.
This time, fully prepared, showing my true self.
I'd hold onto the hope it'd be fine. That's how I'd muster the courage.
Just as the past year had changed me, this challenge would too. Whatever the outcome, I'd learn something.
I gazed steadily at Darsi. He wasn't used to talking about helping others. His unknown life must be filled with deep darkness.
I wanted to comfort him.
"You did well."
I placed my hand on his shoulder and patted it. I couldn't bring myself to stroke his hair.
"Someday, even if not now, I'll tell the mages you prepared that place."
Lowering my hand, I declared to Darsi.
"You're a good person."
At my words, Darsi let out a small, helpless chuckle. His face, tinged with a faint smile, looked truly at ease.
"As long as you think so."
Rising from the sofa, Darsi headed to the bookshelf occupying one wall.
"Want some music?"
"You have a phonograph?"
He pointed to his own phonograph and smiled.
"I'm used to being alone, but it's not bad. Just warning you, our tastes might differ."
"Yeah?"
I approached him and browsed the records. Sure enough, there were no gentle nocturnes like the ones I had. Mostly concertos and sonatas, especially the intense ones.
It was a bit surprising that Darsi liked classical music.
"They represent my jumbled insides. Listening feels good."
Even though it wasn't my room, I felt at ease. I sensed a familiar air in this completely different space.
"What do you want to hear?"
I tossed the choice back to him.
"It's your space. I want to hear what you like."
"Alright."
Darsi promptly selected a piano sonata that began with grand minor chords.
After somewhat delicate chords, intense arpeggios followed.
Leaning against the wall near the phonograph amid the crackling fire's soft sounds, Darsi lowered his eyes with a languid expression.
As he reflexively moved to open a drawer, Darsi flinched.
"...Almost slipped up."
He'd habitually reached for a scented candle, it seemed. The way he glanced at me slyly was like a student confessing a mistake first.
"It's a nice-smelling candle, so what? You can light it."
Scented candles were closely tied to his life. If they brought him mental peace, I'd welcome it.
"It's fine."
But Darsi thought differently.
"I don't mind my daily life changing because of you."
"...Then no candle, just hold it for the mood."
I picked up Lobarta's incense burner from the table and placed it in Darsi's hand.
Maybe holding it would give him some comfort.
"...Your hand seems to bring more peace."
Darsi's warmth brushed my hand, hot and feverish. As I looked up, his hair-swept gesture captured my gaze.
'...So unreal.'
In his perfectly fitted clothes, he could pass for an emperor.
I felt like I'd be devoured any second. A strange warning bell rang.
'Too close.'
Realizing that suddenly, I flinched back. Or at least, until Darsi gripped my hand tight.
Darsi intertwined his fingers between mine, locking them like tree roots. Heat emanated from the firmly entwined digits.
He whispered in a low voice.
"Look at me like that, and I want to hold on."
It stung, like he'd seen right through me. It was just instinct.
"What kind of look?"
"The way you're looking at me now."
I laughed to play it off lightly. He quickly released the clasp. But the warmth lingered.
Darsi obediently propped his chin and stared at the incense burner Lobarta had given him, shaking it this way and that.
"Why the hell did she give this to me...."
Then, something spilled out from the shaken burner.
"What is it?"
Surprisingly, it was a necklace that fell onto the carpet. A necklace hidden inside the burner.
We were both shocked by the unexpected item. The thin gold chain must have made it possible.
Darsi's face hardened instantly as he held up the necklace.
"Why is this...?"
Darsi stared at me in bewilderment. But to my eyes, it was just an ordinary gold chain necklace.
"What's this?"
"...A treasure of the imperial family."
The necklace was no ordinary one.
"It's a magic tool that prevents brainwashing on mages like me."
"...How did Lobarta have this?"
"No idea. Or why she gave it to me."
But one thing was clear. Lobarta knew exactly what was hidden in this burner.
And she'd handed it to Darsi.
She hadn't done nothing. Just possessing it must have been a huge risk for her.
Darsi was the only existing mage with brainwashing ability. This necklace could completely neutralize his power.
"Now that I think about it, Emperor Kies stopped wearing a necklace at some point."
Darsi muttered, recalling childhood memories.
With Darsi firmly in his grasp after years of conditioning, Emperor Kies felt secure. He knew Darsi couldn't easily escape.
Eventually, he'd grown lax about the magic tool... and Lobarta had stolen the treasure from the complacent emperor.
"It must have been hard to sneak it out naturally...."
Lobarta had done her best in the situation she knew, hadn't she?
She couldn't help openly, but this was surely her goodwill.
"...I thought she was completely on Emperor Kies's side."
Darsi replied, a bit embarrassed. Maybe recalling his earlier curt tone.
"From your position, it was understandable."
At my words, Darsi fell silent, then nodded. Lost in thought, propping his chin, he unfolded my hand.
"You hold onto this."
"...The imperial treasure?"
"Hit them where it hurts. No one would imagine you having it. Plus."
His eyes curved gently.
"It suits you well."