Chapter 8

ㅤ”It’s been a while, Lord Oswald.”
ㅤ”Yes. Since you abandoned me.”
ㅤ
ㅤLily, who entered the drawing-room, widened her eyes for a moment when she saw Chelsea crying beside me, but she quickly put on a smile and bowed her head. I urge her to sit on the sofa, feeling disgusted even by her graceful gesture, and now we are facing each other across the table.
ㅤ
ㅤ”I’m glad to see you’re well.”
ㅤ”Thanks to my dear Chelsea.”
ㅤ”……Chelsea’s?”
ㅤ
ㅤLily’s eyebrows twitched.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Yes. You see, even with your holy magic, you couldn’t dispel this.”
ㅤ
ㅤI hold my palm over my face and quickly remove it. This cancels the magic that was concealing the miasma for when we went out.
ㅤ
ㅤ”……It’s certainly thinned considerably.”
ㅤ”Yes. Actually, Chelsea is able to imbue holy magic and healing magic, albeit weakly. The miasma has weakened and started to unravel while I’ve been wearing ribbons and shirts embroidered with her magic.”
ㅤ”Imbue holy magic and healing magic……? Simultaneously?”
ㅤ
ㅤLily looked back and forth between me and Chelsea in disbelief. Her lips are trembling. Is she regretting seeing her sister, whom she considered a failure, unexpectedly possess such talent?
ㅤNevertheless, Lily cleared her throat and seemed to regain her composure.
ㅤ
ㅤ”I’ve heard that you’ve been seen in town recently, Lord Oswald. So that’s why the rumors about you being well have been spreading.”
ㅤ”Yes. I’m truly grateful to Chelsea for coming here.”
ㅤ”I see…….May I take a closer look at your face?”
ㅤ”Go ahead.”
ㅤ
ㅤLily approaches me and peers at my face. She seems to be sensing the state of the miasma, holding her hand out as if to avoid touching it.
ㅤ
ㅤ”……Now that it’s weakened this much, I might be able to dispel it this time. Since it’s also remaining within the wound, I think it would be necessary to cast healing magic simultaneously.”
ㅤ”I agree. I should be able to cast healing magic myself once my magical power recovers a bit more. Could you dispel it then?”
ㅤ”……Of course.”
ㅤ”Thank you. With this, my face and magical power should be back to normal, and I can return to work.”
ㅤ
ㅤLily, with her lips tightly pursed, moved away from me. As a Court Magician, especially as the Captain of the Magic Division, I actually hold a position that rivals even the Crown Prince. Of course, that’s because I could easily overthrow the nation if I led the troops with my magic…….You can regret letting the big fish get away.
ㅤ
ㅤI thought she would return to her seat, but Lily remained standing.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Lord Oswald.”
ㅤ”What is it?”
ㅤ”Could I have a moment alone with my sister?”
ㅤ”……Is that necessary?”
ㅤ
ㅤI tried to put on the same amiable smile as before, but it might not have worked. Lily also has a smile on her face, but her eyes aren’t smiling.
ㅤ
ㅤ”It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other. We have a lot to talk about.”
ㅤ”Chelsea doesn’t seem to think so.”
ㅤ”Oh…….That’s not true, is it, Chelsea?”
ㅤ
ㅤLily peers at Chelsea, who was hiding behind me. When I look at her face, she’s biting her lip nervously.
ㅤ
ㅤ”……Yes, sister.”
ㅤ”So, please give us some time.”
ㅤ”……Chelsea, you……”
ㅤ”……Please, Lord Oswald.”
ㅤ
ㅤWith Chelsea saying that, I reluctantly stood up.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Call me when you’re finished.”
ㅤ”Yes.”
ㅤ
ㅤWhen I looked back before leaving the room, Chelsea was also standing. Even when they’re standing side by side like this, I don’t think they look very much alike. Chelsea has fluffy, light brown hair and large, droopy eyes. Lily, on the other hand, has straight platinum blonde hair and somewhat upturned eyes.
ㅤ
ㅤWithout Lily noticing, I discreetly left some magic behind as I left the room. By applying wind magic, I can hear the conversation in this room even from outside. After closing the door with a click, I could hear their voices clearly.
ㅤ
ㅤ『……Chelsea, what’s going on?』
ㅤ『I’m sorry, sister.』
ㅤ『What’s going on, I’m asking you! Imbuing holy magic and healing magic simultaneously……!』
ㅤ『I-I don’t know. I was embroidering while thinking of Lord Oswald, and then a little bit of magic resided in it……But it’s really just a little bit, not even close to your magical power.』
ㅤ
ㅤAs expected, Lily started interrogating her, but I couldn’t help but grin a little at the phrase”thinking of Lord Oswald.”I’m hopeless.
ㅤ
ㅤ『You’re saying your love for Lord Oswald made it happen? How disgusting.』
ㅤ『Sister, don’t say it like that……!』
ㅤ
ㅤOh dear, oh dear. She really is an awful Saint. It’s as I expected, and it’s almost comical.
ㅤ
ㅤ『And why are you crying? It’s unsightly.』
ㅤ『W-Well……』
ㅤ『Is it because of Lord Oswald? If it’s that man, I don’t care what happens to him.』
ㅤ『N-No! That’s not it, sister……Ah!』
ㅤ
ㅤThere was a loud crashing sound. And Chelsea’s scream.
ㅤ
ㅤ”What happened?!”
ㅤ
ㅤI hurriedly flung the door open to see scattered teacups, a warped table, Chelsea sitting on the floor, and Lily reaching out her hand.
ㅤ
ㅤ━━Did she push her?
ㅤ
ㅤAnger wells up from the pit of my stomach, and my blood boils in an instant. I can feel uncontrollable magical power seeping out of my body. Wind starts to swirl around my feet.
ㅤ
ㅤ”……What do you think you’re doing?”
ㅤ”……Well, as you can see……”
ㅤ”Huh. You have some nerve laying your hands on my dear Chelsea. I’m the one who’s disgusted.”
ㅤ”Oh my, were you listening? How ill-mannered.”
ㅤ
ㅤLily is not intimidated, she’s even defiant. She’s shed her gentle Saint mask and is glaring at me.
ㅤ
ㅤ”I’m not fully recovered yet, but I can still manage to throw you out.”
ㅤ”Such a scary face. Is that your true self? Do you make that face at your sister too?”
ㅤ”Shut up. Unfortunately, I can’t use healing magic yet. And I’m better at breaking things than fixing them anyway. It would be wise to leave quickly.”
ㅤ
ㅤChelsea stepped between us as we glared at each other.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Wait!!”
ㅤ”Chelsea.”
ㅤ”Please wait, stop……!”
ㅤ
ㅤPerhaps she couldn’t bear to see it anymore. But I can’t let Chelsea get hurt any further. I have to teach Lily a lesson so she never comes near Chelsea again. As I thought that, the magical power overflowing from my body intensified.
ㅤ
ㅤ”It’s……It’s not like that! Sister……”
ㅤ”You don’t have to defend her.”
ㅤ”It’s not like that! Sister……Sister just loves me too much!!”
ㅤ”……What?”
ㅤ
ㅤChelsea burst into tears, and my magical power receded at her unexpected words. Lily’s sigh echoed in the room where the wind had subsided.