Chapter 44

✿

“It wasn’t a big deal.”

Astel tilted her head curiously, but the Duke smiled and brought up another story.

“When I come back in a week, I’ll show you how it snows.”

Astel whispered softly, wrapping her red cheeks as if they’re about to explode.

“The snow…”

“Yes, the winter in this castle is beautiful.”

Looking forward to it, staring at Astel looking out the window with a smile, I was lost in thought again.

I still have a long way to go.

Fortunately, however, I was quite patient.

At least not yet…

✿

Meanwhile, the Doctor, who came outside, stopped and tilted his head.

‘I looked through all the ancient books about imprinting, but there were no cases such as Astel and the Duke Anais.’

‘Clearly, there’s intimacy, and even though they have regular contact with each other, I didn’t know that one person’s life would be in danger because the imprint kept being imperfect. The imprint shouldn’t necessarily be something like this.’

The Doctor was preoccupied with work for Duke Anais, who was in charge, but his intellectual curiosity as a scholar was also overflowing with respect in the terms of imprinting.

“Should I take a month off vacation and go to ‘Delan Lucia‘ once?”

Delan Lucia was a small village located in the southwest of the northern Duke territory. The village itself was small, but it was a place of great fame.

Because it was said to be a place where the ancient sage buried all the secrets.

Delan Lucia, an intellectual village full of huge magic libraries created by a sage and scholars.

Those who had access were limited, but luckily, the Doctor had a connection there.

Delan Lucia also had information about the beasts, and I know that there’s a lot of information about ancient magic.

“First of all… I’ll have to post my annual report, alright.”

The Doctor glanced into the room.

Nothing was certain, but the fact that Duke Anais’ obsession was igniting was something that even a blind person could definitely notice.

‘I don’t know if it will be a medicine or poison for Astel.’

✿

The next morning,

Astel didn’t go to work at the treatment center.

Instead, I made a plan to go to the town of Thelma, which is called the central commercial district of the Duke’s territory

My head was full of thoughts of distributing leaflets all over the capital to promote the hair growth products that I worked hard to make last night.

‘It’s best if the plan goes smoothly while the Duke’s away.’

In fact, there was no evidence that the Duke’s not the final villain, so I couldn’t completely dispel my suspicions about him.

‘I think the Duke’s attitude yesterday was a little suspicious.’

The moment the Doctor brought up the story of Count Vietry, I think he stopped talking quickly.

‘I shouldn’t be too sure about anything, but it’s complicated.’

Because of the imprint, it’s true that my heart’s waivers as we keep seeing each other.

‘Whatever the case, the thing is that the Duke treats me well, the imprint has nothing to do with the Vietry family.’

‘I need to control overthinking…’

After thinking about it, I took a carriage and got off in front of Thelma village for a while.

While working as a healer for the past three years, I often visited Thelma Village.

“Astel, it’s been a while since I saw you.”

“Ah yes!”

As I looked around, I saw the beasts I had treated. To them, I eagerly handed out flyers.

“Please take this hair growth leaflet!”

“Grow up, my hair? That’s unique. Do you think people with bald heads would like it?”

On the way to hand out my promotional flyers and pack my favorite fresh chocolate at regular sweet chocolate shops.

I stumbled upon the Duke’s procession passing through the village of Thelma.

‘When he goes to the capital, doesn’t the Duke travel through the teleport scroll?’

A little puzzled, I tilted my head.

“His Highness must be coming to this place, Astel!” Jenny, who had been following me all day, made a fuss behind my back.

“As expected, he recognized Astel!” Sally also joined the fuss.

I struggled to make up my mind not to be swayed like the two bubbly dog-beasts.

Instead, I stood still hugging the chocolate box and flyers in my arms.

As they said, the Duke’s black horse was approaching towards the place where I’m standing.

I’ve already seen him off at the Castle, so I could have just overlooked him. I was neat thanks to the maid’s decoration, but I was as simple as always.

On the contrary, the Duke was a little different from usual.

A dark blue uniform with a neatly drawn sword line, sparkling shoulder ornaments, and a splendidly crafted heavy sword.

Unlike myself, who was dressed freely, the appearance of the Duke, who was well-dressed, was a particularly contrasting sight.

The Duke, who approached me like that, looked straight at me and slightly tilted his body towards my height.

“Hello, Duke.”

I bowed my head to greet him.

However, the Duke seemed to have something he wanted to ask me.

“What’s that flyer in your arms, Astel?”

…I carefully hid the flyer behind.

Unlike the Duke, who looks so perfect, the way I look right now handing out the flyers, seems a little pathetic…

But I bravely responded.

“Ah, I have to earn money!”

“Money…?”

The Duke clenched his teeth when he said that I shouted that I was out to earn money.

Come to think of it, I didn’t think much.

Even the Duke wouldn’t like it when his family’s guests were to be handing flyers on the street.

I was brought in as a guardian. Then, I spoke calmly.

“Yes. If you don’t like it, I’ll just do it only for today.!”

However, the words that came out of the Duke’s mouth were a little different from what I expected.

“…Was someone asking Astel for money?”

His face was full of doubt, as if he had guessed something.

Even more puzzled, I tilted my head and answered.

“No! no one’s asking for it.”

Even though I spoke cheerfully, the Duke frowned.

“If someone asks you for money, please tell me.”

The Duke said riding on top of the horse, while I’m standing below them.

So the Duke leaned further down.

As soon as he approached, I raised myself, tiptoeing without realizing it.

He whispered, with his lips near my forehead.

“It’s dangerous, so I want to go to the capital together, but it’s not time to take you to the capital yet.”

Our imprint issues are also a problem, but we couldn’t go to the capital together.

Because my brother will secretly come to the castle with his child.

The castle must not be empty then.

Of course, the Duke seemed to have a slightly different reason. I continued to talk cheerfully.

“There’s a teleport bracelet and video-equipment. We can meet again anytime.”

The Duke smiled with his eyes bent to a crescent shape.

“Of course.”

As I raised my arms high, he ran his fingertips across my wrists, reassuringly satisfied.

Perhaps there was a misunderstanding, but the Duke’s aide was approaching without even having time to correct the misunderstanding.

I hurriedly raised my hand and stopped him.

At the end, I remembered one last thing to say.

“…This is a gift to wish you a safe return.”

I held out the beautifully wrapped chocolate to the Duke and smiled softly.

I bought it for me to eat, but somehow I wanted to give it to the Duke on impulse.

The Duke may not have imagined it yet, but it was also a bribe to take good care of my nephew when he returned.

“Make sure you buy something delicious when you also come back, Duke!”

‘But it’s weird…’

The Duke’s expression looking at the wrapping paper looked a little sad.

No, was it too much?

As I was thinking hard while staring at the Duke, he carefully opened his mouth, receiving the box of chocolate I gave.

“When you come back…”

“Yes?”

“I’ll bring you a chocolatier and a chocolate shop.”

It’s very touching that you’ll buy me more chocolate.

“Yes!”

No, wait a second?

‘…You meant to say you’d buy chocolate, right?’