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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Invitation
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Darcy gazed at Marso.
‘In the very place I thought I had returned to for your sake, you’re the one reaching out to me.’
An unexpected emotion washed over him at the unforeseen proposal. Ecstasy, or perhaps joy. It was a foreign feeling, born from someone thinking of him for the first time in his life.
‘Happiness.’
As he contemplated the word, so distant from his own life, the only thing that came to mind was Marso’s face.
The image of Marso in his mind began to overlap with the one before his eyes.
Just looking at her made his body heat up. Her face, which had always been lovely, now seemed to glow.
‘I want to touch her, to be closer.’
To grasp the hands she extended to him, to… the lips that had spoken for his sake…
‘What am I thinking?’
Snapping back to his senses, Darcy swallowed hard. His breathing suddenly felt constricted.
He had fastened his collar to the neck for a perfect appearance. He undid the button.
Exhaling slowly, Darcy registered for the first time that they were on the same bed.
His mind instantly conjured images of what usually happens when a man and a woman are in the same bed.
He could hear the sound of his reason cracking.
This was an emergency.
Marso was the result of a relationship he had forged with his own strength. He wanted her to be happy for the rest of her life.
A relationship where they wished for each other’s happiness. Their current relationship was ideal. Though it teetered on a precarious line, they did not see each other as romantic partners.
‘Nothing more than this.’
The present was better than some instinctual emotion that would eventually lead to ruin. He couldn't wish for more, nor should it ever happen.
“I know this isn’t an easy thing for you. So let’s meet again soon and talk.”
Marso, misinterpreting his silence, continued with a look of pity. Darcy, struggling to regain his composure, didn't even notice.
From the moment he realized his heart was in turmoil, he became conscious of everything about Marso.
Her breath, the sound of her breathing, the blink of her eyelids, her pupils, the bridge of her nose… and the place where his gaze finally settled.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever been this dazed, not even in battle.’
Her lips.
It was driving him crazy. Darcy groaned inwardly. He had to get out of here first.
He needed time to think.
“Right, let’s talk later. I should get going for today.”
Darcy shot up from his seat and hastily left the room.
It was a clear escape, one that made even Darcy himself feel ashamed.
***
Darcy couldn't give me a proper answer. It was a shame to see him flee the room as if he were running away.
‘It must be hard for him to answer.’
Recalling his bewildered face after that wistful look in his eyes, it seemed he was dredging up painful memories.
Knowing his current situation might make it difficult to answer, I didn’t press him.
We would be seeing each other again anyway.
And until I met with Darcy again, I decided to do what I could.
The reason Darcy belittled his own happiness was related to the mages. He must have had to persecute and attack them under Kies’s orders.
I was thinking of starting a business related to magic tools, which would naturally create an opportunity to communicate with mages.
“…Couldn’t this help the mages?”
The original novel only focused on Ryan commercializing magic tools and finding happiness with Reshuan; it didn't give much weight to the mages.
It was obvious even without seeing it. There was no way Ryan, with Kies’s blood in his veins, would have taken good care of the mages. They were likely exploited for the sake of the magic tools.
But I could change that.
After Darcy left, I had someone gather information on mages like him. It was because I knew very little about them.
Thanks to that, I was able to confirm a few important facts.
The Imperial family periodically purges mages. This was a well-known fact, a natural part of reality.
With the exception of a few mages who pledged loyalty to the Emperor, held important administrative positions, or had assimilated into aristocratic society, the perception of most mages was extremely poor.
Even setting aside the historically recorded rebellions of mages, that was just the general perception.
How could it feel good to be treated like a criminal when you’ve done nothing wrong?
Mages were people who took pride in their abilities.
They rebelled against the Imperial family that refused to acknowledge them. In doing so, they defied Kies.
Until very recently, that rebellion had been fierce. This resistance had been going on for a long time. The Imperial family always won, but the mages always reappeared.
This fact was a bit surprising.
Kies detested mages, but he never tried to completely root them out.
He would purge them, but he never killed them all, always finding some reason to spare a few.
He could have killed all the mages, but he always left an excuse. In other words, he left the embers burning.
The press and official reports described it as an unfortunate miss, but I knew that wasn't the truth.
Kies had Darcy under him. Using Darcy’s abilities, he could have easily annihilated the mages.
I had heard that he’d used not only Darcy's brainwashing ability but also his skill in creating magic tools to produce various weapons embedded with magic stones.
Of course, Darcy didn't create them alone; it was a joint effort with other mages.
The Emperor, like someone who enjoyed torturing others with hope, provided just enough time and opportunity.
As if he wanted the remaining mages to rebel again.
Because of this, the battles between Kies—along with the few mages on his side—and the majority of mages had continued endlessly.
‘Why?’
It was an unsolvable mystery.
But it was something no one could know unless they were the Emperor himself.
I would have to ask Darcy later if he knew anything about it, but for now, all I could do was wonder.
In any case, for all the money I spent, there wasn't much information available on mages or the magic stones they could craft.
It seemed most of the information was passed down secretly within the Imperial family. In other words, no one but Kies would know.
Darcy was someone who could speak with Kies, so perhaps he could find out the truth later.
There was another challenge, separate from this one.
‘I have to find the mages.’
Kies may not have completely suffocated them, but many mages had grown weary from the prolonged ostracism. Just like me.
Instead of fighting, they chose to hide and live quietly.
Eventually, they began to hide in places only other mages could find.
Lately, the number of such people was said to be on the rise.
Rumors abounded of people who were relieved that the mages were finally leaving their territories.
It seemed a benefactor had appeared to help them. This was good news for the mages, but it made things more difficult for me.
“To meet the mages, I’ll probably have to go to the forest….”
I wanted to meet the mages and make a legitimate contract with them.
With the goal of creating magic tools together.
Using the few mages who had assimilated into current society was a viable option, but I wasn't keen on it.
Perhaps it was due to my own personal experience, but I wanted to reach out to those who were exhausted.
If I have the money for it, I should be able to do that, right?
No matter how special their abilities were or that they lived together in the forest, they still had to earn money.
You need money to live, after all.
Most mages didn't even receive proper wages.
It was unthinkable that society would treat people ostracized by the state fairly.
But if they signed a contract with me, things would be different.
The one thing that bothered me was the fact that helping them could put me at odds with the Imperial family.
Of course, I had thought about this as well.
‘My life won’t be in danger.’
Even the Imperial family wouldn't be able to kill me. The number of times Ryan had caused me actual harm could be counted on one hand.
Of course, there would be people who would check me, grow jealous, and spread rumors, and I might face some disadvantages, but….
‘That’s all there is to it, isn't it?’
It wasn't a very big threat. Compared to what I’d been through so far, this was child’s play.
Was that all? Having Darcy by my side was reassuring.
Thinking of his face brought a sense of calm to my heart.
“Lady Marso, I’ve brought you the mail.”
“Leave it here and go.”
After what Pitol said, the interest in me had exploded. This was especially true for families who cherished and loved the arts.
There were also many who begged to meet me, saying they wanted to try using the same thing for the theater troupes they sponsored.
That’s how successful Pitol’s play was, I suppose.
Interest in magic tools was also on the rise, so it was killing two birds with one stone for me!
Appearing with Darcy probably played a part in it, too….
In any case, it could be seen as a successful comeback.
Most of the letters contained invitations to balls or tea parties.
‘I suppose it is time for me to attend tea parties again.’
You never know what life has in store. I had said goodbye to high society, but here I was, returning to it. Still, I felt less burdened than I expected.
Now, the nobles of high society were less like people I wanted to befriend and more like potential customers.
Which one should I attend?
As I examined the letters, each stamped with the seal of a different family, I tilted my head.
Huh, I think I just saw a name I never expected to see here.
I picked up a letter opener and tore open the top of the envelope.
“…What is this?”
Afterward, I checked the sender of the letter inside and was stunned.
“…Has he lost his mind?”
It was a letter from Ryan.
What reason would he have to send me a letter? I thought it might be a threat, but it wasn't.
The letter was an invitation to a ball hosted by the Imperial family.
