CH 72

Anyone who knew her well enough would agree on this.

That Ophelia was the type of person who liked useful people.

She was very kind, but at the same time, coldhearted. It was because the foundation of Ophelia herself was not based upon affection.

“Ophelia is very much what people say… a humane human. It’s a little strange for me to say this, since I’m not a human being, but I’m sure you can agree.”

However at the same time, she was also a very remorseless and calculating person.

Ophelia always did her best for the people she cared for, but when they had lost their value, she would be able to give up on them without a second thought.

“In fact, I never thought about something like this before, but I felt it when I accepted Ophelia’s offer. How affectionate Ophelia is to the ones on her side.”

She was surprisingly sweet.

When Sante returned to Ophelia’s room after she had gotten back from talking to Meruzia at the magic tower,

She was wandering in her dark room where not a single candle had been lit.

Even though it was already so late at night.

As Sante knocked on the window, a bright smile graced her features.

Was Ophelia originally a person who could smile so brightly? It was to the extent that he had to do a double take.

—Don’t humans need to sleep?

—I wanted to wait until you’ve returned. You could have changed your mind in the middle of the task.

—In other words, you were nervous that I wouldn’t keep my promise.

—Rather than that, I guess it’s more correct to say that I wanted to welcome you back.

Ophelia went on to say this.

Sante never had anyone welcome him back until now, and though it was such an insignificant thing to have one, it did often pass through his mind that it would be nice to have someone like that.

—I don’t want anyone else to experience what I’ve gone through.

This was the first time Sante had gotten the chance to truly come face-to-face with Ophelia.

And at the same time, it was evident that there was a clear line to separate those who were inside and outside the line that she had set for herself.

“I knew it then. The fact that if I hadn’t accepted Ophelia’s proposition, I would have remained a stranger to her forever.”

That’s why when Sante thought that Alei must have already been a person in her inner circle from the very beginning, it made him a little upset.

The affection she had shown him was quite sweet, so he never wanted to miss a chance to experience it once he had also stepped into her inner circle.

However, this was possible only because Ophelia had allowed them to cross that line.

At any given time, they could be pushed out from this boundary.

“Because that’s who Ophelia is.”

There was nothing for her to fear. She did not discriminate against them, but at the same time, she also would not hesitate to throw them away for a sensible reason.

So, how easy was it truly to manage human relationships?

“There’s no way you don’t feel the same thing. I’m not even a human being, and I’ve felt it. Dian, you’re afraid that Ophelia would throw you away, isn’t that right?”

“…There’s really nothing you can’t say.”

“My beak is intact, so is there a reason why I shouldn’t talk?”

Sante shrugged and continued speaking.

“The reason why I find myself attached to Ophelia isn’t all that different from the reason you are as well. I’m aware of what you’re wary of—but this would just be a waste of time, Alei.”

When Sante lifted his shoulders up and down, Alei frowned and swept a hand over his face.

After something like that, it would be easy to become a perfect stranger to her. Hiding all these mixed feelings that threatened to overflow within him, a cold and hard expression was once again on his features.

“At least, as long as you’re not thinking of clinging to Ophelia, then I won’t question you.”

“I’m heartrendingly thankful that you trust my sincerity.”

“Stop being sarcastic. Besides, I think there’s a misunderstanding. I don’t hate that you’re staying next to Ophelia, I’m just wary of you.”

“I think it’s the same difference.”

“No, it is different. Because I’m going to keep my distance from her from now on.”

What interesting words these were. Sante raised one eyebrow.

“First, tell me why.”

“I haven’t told anyone yet, but… To a certain extent, my memories have returned, Sante.”

The way he said Sante’s name had some familiarity to it. Was it right to say that his tone had a hint of closeness?

Sante’s eyes, which resembled that of a predatory bird, widened. Before he knew it, a smile he couldn’t hide was in full view on his face.

“I’ve been thinking that the way you speak has changed for some reason. Are your memories back now?”

“Not entirely.”

Alei averted his gaze awkwardly and briefly explained his condition.

It seemed like his memories of the past were coming back little by little depending on who he was with.

“When I’m with Ophelia, I can’t remember anything about the magic tower. But after I’ve spent some time with Yennit and Cornelli… I keep seeing flashes of unfamiliar spaces.”

An unfamiliar stone building with only blue water and sharp reefs to be seen outside the window.

Without having to think about it deeply, he could tell what that place was.

His memories of the magic tower were gradually returning.

Of course, this wasn’t a natural development.

This was due to Alei’s own efforts with the experiments he’d been conducting for a while now, and the results had doubled after he had received Ophelia’s help.

“There’s still a very wide gap in my memories, but still, it feels less empty compared to before.”

“You seem to have improved a lot.”

“I did get better. The problem is that there’s a cost in return.”

“A cost?”

Sante asked back. In the short while that they seemed to be talking as friends again, that familiar tone seemed to have disappeared once more.

However, if the expression he had a while ago showed his conflicting feelings, right now, it was clear that he looked pained.

Shaking his head as though he didn’t know what to say, Alei barely opened his lips to speak.

“I… I don’t know what the hell I did in the past, Sante.”

The more his memories returned little by little, the more Alei felt pressured.

And ironically enough, this weight that was pressing down on him was his own past.

“I don’t know what I did, but every time I see Ophelia, I feel like I’ve committed a transgression against her. And the problem is, there’s so many things that I think I could have done to her.”

To the extent that it was impossible for him to narrow it down to one thing.

Mages, for the most part, focused on one branch of magic as their practice.

Yennit’s specialized in teleportation and telekinesis, while Cornelli specialized in alchemy and healing.

Perhaps this was a natural way of doing things because there was a limit to the formulas and runes that an individual could memorize as a whole.

However, this did not apply to Alei.

At the imperial palace, he registered himself as a mage specializing in telekinesis, but the truth was that he was adept in all kinds of magic.

Therefore, there was a plethora of wrongdoings that he might have committed.

“Besides that, I keep hearing that I made some kind of deal with the mermaids, but I don’t even know what they were talking about… It’s frustrating.”

If it had been another time, he might have gone straight to Ophelia and talked to her about this problem.

However, Ophelia had already once rebuked him about his power.

Back then, when he couldn’t hold back his wrath at the sight of Grand Duke Ronen. That is, Ian.

—If you get swept away by your emotions here and accidentally kill Ian, what guarantee do you have that it won’t happen again? Will you attack me next?

Did Ophelia know just how painful it was for Alei to hear those last words? How much they stabbed at him?

Sante was right.

Alei was terrified that Ophelia might abandon him.

How could he not. Every word—every syllable she uttered bound him to her like a magic spell.

Even the sun that rose every single day unquestionably reminded him of her.

—Just call me by my name.

—Alei, I’m glad that we think similarly.

Ophelia held Alei’s hand as she said this.

Alei felt that it was like he could soon grow frightened of everything in the world.

He had a hunch that, even if Ophelia were to let go of his hand, his own shadow would come to a halt at this very coast.

He would think about Ophelia’s bright red hair beneath the midsummer sun, he would think about how her hair would flutter when the wind blows.

The blue sky, the azure waters would remind him of the depth contained in Ophelia’s eyes. And the embers close to the hearth of the fireplace, this blue flame would remind him of the fire that burns within her gaze.

He would think of Ophelia as soon as the sun had risen, as far as the sun had set.

Alei knew exactly what to name this emotion. And yet, he chose to turn away from it.

What frightened him even more was the fact that he himself could harm Ophelia.

“That’s why it’s better this way. I need to keep my distance from Ophelia until I’ve properly regained my memories.”