17

Originally, I would have gone over it in moderation and dismissed it as an occasional occurrence.

But this time, it seemed as if her eyes were drawn to Hannette even as she naturally smiled.

‘I’m sure it’s going to be hard. The room is right next door, and we often go together.’

Shion puts the fallen chair back up and looks around.

Harnette was still glaring at herself while holding the box.

Shion’s absurdity made me laugh out loud.

“what are you doing?”

“You can take it while opening the box.”

“I won’t take it, so come here.”

“How can I trust you? Take a look there.”

“… Do whatever you feel like.”

Shion shook his head and sat down at the table.

Harnette carefully began to open the wrapping paper while keeping an eye on Shion.

“Don’t just wait. It may not be what you like.”

“I won’t give you something obvious as a gift.”

“My sister’s personality is so picky, so I can’t give her the obvious.”

“Do you know what I hate?”

“I think my sister just hates this world.”

“Huh! You speak strangely.”

Harnette laughed out loud, but no smile was drawn on her lips.

Perhaps Zion’s words could have been right.

Even though she enjoyed many things as the daughter of a ducal family, she was not satisfied with her life.

What is it that makes you suffer so much?

‘You say you’re most excited before opening it?’

Hannette looked down at the box, brooding over what Shion had said.

It was small enough to fit in one hand.

A fragrant and sweet smell was spreading from the box.

I wonder if I bought useless things like cosmetics or jewelry.

‘…I don’t like that.’

Harnette opens the box, slightly disappointed.

I began to see something shiny beyond the finely piled silk.

It seemed that the hope that remained a little bit was broken, but at the same time, questions were bound to arise.

“what’s this?”

“They say it’s a holy thing.”

“Holy relics? The one sold by the Holy Church?”

“right. They say that if you have it, it drives away bad luck and brings good luck.”

Shion recited the words he had heard from the paladin.

Even if it was a little bit, it was called a holy relic because it had the magical power of the Holy Law.

Of course, that didn’t mean it had amazing effects, but quite a few people were purchasing the holy relic.

Superstition about the holy relic was already widespread, so no one dared to doubt it.

“Are you insane? Why did you buy something like this?”

“There was nothing to live for.”

“If it was like this, I shouldn’t have bought it. you fooled them There’s no way this will drive away bad luck.”

Harnette let out a sigh and peers into the box.

Gold-tinted necklaces were stacked on top of each other.

Although a small amount of mana flowed from the necklace, he instinctively recognized that it was meaningless.

“Do you have that much money? Why would you buy something like this…”

“I know. Having it doesn’t necessarily make you happy. It must be a ploy to make money.”

“You bought it knowingly? What the hell are you doing?”

“It is a way to convey my heart. Would I have to buy an expensive necklace or ring to convey that feeling?”

“…?”

Harnette shuts her mouth for a moment and stares blankly at Shion.

Shion is conscious of that gaze and continues to speak slowly.

“Whether my sister marries me or not, I want her to live happily ever after. The first meeting wasn’t very good, but shouldn’t the end be good?”

“Why do you say that? Crazy?”

Hannette cannot hide her embarrassment and is gripped with fear.

If it was the usual Shion, he would always be sarcastic or hang around with his words.

However, suddenly setting the mood and showing serious eyes, I couldn’t help but feel scared.

“I’m saying this for my sister, but are you saying I’m crazy? A little disappointing.”

“Nuh… Do what you always do. Whether it’s bragging about having a lot of money, or saying that it’s a waste for me…”

“I have no intention of boasting. not worth much Can’t you give your fiancé that much of a present?”

“You know when you will break up your engagement and say such a thing?”

“Then I have to go and think about it. I don’t want to worry about something that hasn’t happened yet.”

Shion answered calmly and rose from his seat.

Harnette took a step backwards without realizing it and swallowed dry saliva.

I wondered if even my judgment was clouded because an unexpected situation had occurred.

“What else are you going to say?”

“I was just telling you to know. Do you understand now?”

“What happens? Wake. Do you think that will make you feel your feelings?”

“I can’t help it if I don’t feel it. Even though I tried, my sister didn’t know.”

“Are you blaming me now?”

“It’s your fault because you couldn’t understand even if I explained it.”

“You make the explanation strange!”

“What is strange?”

“That… that…”

Hannette stutters and then shuts her mouth.

To be honest, it wasn’t that I didn’t understand Zion’s words.

I just didn’t want to convince him because he was making an excuse that wasn’t the same.

“It doesn’t matter what the gift is. I showed sincerity, so that’s enough.”

“Isn’t that too irresponsible? What if I sell it?”

“It is unavoidable. It’s your sister’s thing now, what am I going to do?”

“You are really strange. Do you know?”

“The strange thing is, sister. How do you plan on selling it?”

“You made a family?”

“Are you going to hang it around your neck?”

“How do you wear something like this?”

“Then why don’t you decorate the room?”

Shion looked at Hanette and quickly left the room.

Hannette tried to say something, but she couldn’t open her mouth.

‘I paid respect, so there’s nothing to lose.’

Shion had already shown the gift to Yenid and even asked if it would be okay.

In other words, Robbins would know about it, and Fried would naturally hear about it.

Since Fried took care of Harnet as he wanted, a plausible excuse was created.

‘I’ll buy gloves with the money left over… Then I’ll pull out the acid lane.’

Holy water had to go through a special process and be drunk directly to gain immunity to magical erosion.

After that, I had to prepare the equipment to pull out the acid lane.

Since he had plenty of money, it shouldn’t have been that difficult to win the bid.

‘Finally, the time has come for me to become stronger.’

* * *

The residence of the Duke of Adelaira, Zion’s room.

Shion catches his breath and looks down at the water in the bowl.

The holy water, which contained only golden air currents, had turned completely golden at some point.

That meant that the preparations were complete, and now, as long as one drank and persevered, he would be able to achieve the desired result.

‘This process is also quite tricky.’

This holy water contained the magical power of El Thesoicb, the white apostle.

Even if you drink it as it is, you will be able to see the proper effect, but it was not able to completely block the magic erosion of the acid rain.

That’s why he waited for the color of the Holy Water to change while spending his time.

‘Did it take about three days?’

In order to change the nature of the holy water, the power of the sun and moon had to dwell.

In other words, it meant receiving sunlight and moonlight, and Zion carried holy water day and night.

Thanks to that, I heard that Hanette was out of her mind, but I was able to see the end safely.

‘I’ve told you in advance, so I won’t interfere.’

Shion intended not to leave the room until this time tomorrow.

After drinking the holy water, one had to refrain from eating or drinking anything for a day.

If something was ingested before the end of the day, the holy water would not permeate the body and would disappear.

‘I’ll be able to hold out for a day or so…’

Shion slowly lifts the bowl filled with holy water.

I told Harnette about this, but the only answer came back, telling me not to do anything weird.

If you don’t believe it, shouldn’t you show it with your actions?

‘That’s how you look like a sister. You don’t easily believe what people say.’

Shion made up his mind for a moment and drank the holy water at once.

Its unique scent spreads out, and the flat yet clean taste seemed to linger in the mouth.

Eventually, as he swallowed the holy water completely, a cool energy began to rise from his body.

‘Am I going to stop being an extra… now?’

* * *

The mansion of the Duke of Adelaira, Hanette’s room.

Hanette tried to go to Shion before receiving the allowance.

However, Shion remained stuck in the room and did not appear.

I asked the ladies-in-waiting about the reason, but they only repeated the same answer.

‘He did say that to me too.’

As Hannette lies on her bed, she recalls what Shion said.

I won’t leave my room until the next day.

Water and food are prepared in advance, so there is no need to worry.

For what reason are you doing that?

‘Has anything bad happened recently?’

As far as he remembered, Shion had never shown any displeasure after coming to the mansion.

He always had childish quarrels with himself or played trivial pranks.

Shion always showed a consistent appearance, and he only matched himself accordingly.

‘Wait… I can’t…’

Hannette ponders over and over again and looks at the desk inadvertently.

On the desk, there was a box that Shion had given her.

At that time, after confirming the identity of the gift, he did not even try to take it out, let alone touch it.

It was just a superstition that cost a lot of money unnecessarily.

‘Are you mad because I didn’t use that?’

Hannette sighs and pulls herself up.

At most, it was an ornament, and it contained only a trivial and mundane meaning.

However, he did not come out of the room because he did not have the sacred object attached to his neck.

‘I’m afraid he’s not a kid… He’s only doing weird things.’

Hannette frowned and lay down on the bed again.

No matter what the intention was, I could appreciate it, but I couldn’t show any more reaction than that.

In the first place, I didn’t like jewelry, and I rarely wore them.

Wouldn’t it have been a little better if I had asked myself and bought a gift.

‘Try hard. Do you think I’ll wear that thing around my neck?’

* * *

As soon as Hannette woke up, she looked out the window.

Yesterday, I passed the time without going out and fell asleep on my own.

I thought about Shion from time to time, but I quickly erased it from my mind because I didn’t want to back down.

“Hanet-sama, it’s time to get up… oh my.”

A lady-in-waiting enters the room and exclaims when she sees Hanette.

Rarely had Hannett been up first before he came.

Maybe you stayed up all night, or you have something urgent to do.

“Oh, are you here?”

Harnette got out of bed and approached the dressing table.

The lady-in-waiting stares at the scene in a state of fascination, but belatedly steps out.

Hanette dipped her hands in the bowl the lady-in-waiting had brought and began to wash them quietly.

‘… are you still in the room?’

Harnette simply washed and immediately changed into a suit.

After that, while putting on her makeup, she reluctantly opened her mouth.

“Is my fiance awake?”

“That… that…”

“Why?”

“You haven’t come out of your room since yesterday.”

“…?”

Hannette pauses momentarily and turns her head toward the desk.

It didn’t seem like the time to fight with pride.

If I had known he was such a strong person, I would have pretended to wear a necklace.

“Ah, really… What kind of kids are there?”

Harnette moved quickly and snatched the box off the desk.

I opened the box and took out the necklace and put it around my neck.

Then he goes straight out into the hallway and knocks hard on the door of the next room.

“Hey! Come out quickly! I’m going to wear this, so come out! Are you thinking of making me a widow?”