In the ecstasy that crossed the threshold, Rensley lost consciousness outright. The first thing Rensley did when he regained his senses was to take a deep breath. His throat was dry. As he groped for the memory of a water bottle by the bedside, he heard the sound of footsteps from above, just before falling asleep.
“Here you are,” Gezell said.
It was only then that Rensley opened his eyes properly. Gezell, sitting next to him, held a glass filled with clear water close to his face.
“I can’t get up,” Rensley said.
In response, Gezell brought the glass to his lips and took a sip, tilting his head back. Water flowed from lips to lips, dripping rhythmically. After a few repetitions, Rensley, smiling, looked up at him.
“Is it morning?” he asked.
“No. It’s still dark outside.”
“When do you plan to sleep?”
“Just close your eyes for a moment. I can sleep properly when the work is done.”
Rensley tapped the pillow lying next to him. Gezell, after staring at it for a moment, eventually lay down beside Rensley.
Rensley’s once sticky and damp body now felt pleasantly dry. Whether it was the magic or something he did while Rensley was asleep, it was impossible to tell. Gently probing the back, he found that the previously opened hole was now closed.
His whole body felt languid, and his waist was sore. There was a lingering ache in the back but compared to the time spent trapped in the tower, it was a refreshing feeling.
“Your Grace.”
“Yes.”
The noisy night of bodies entwining, panting, and sobbing had now become quiet. Even the small voices calling and answering each other sounded much louder.
“I want to continue my training as an Elementalist.”
“…”
“If I want, the wolves of the forest will occasionally visit Roudken and help. It might be challenging, but it won’t be as torturous as what I received from Felix’s magician… that guy teaches others without knowing anything himself.”
“It must still be difficult.”
“It’s a very rare ability, and since I was born with it, I don’t want to waste it… I’m really curious to see if I can communicate with the spirits. Even during the short time I was trapped in the tower, there were moments when I felt a connection. It was a strange feeling.”
Gezell remained silent for a while, then nodded, as he often did.
“Yes, let’s talk more about it after the incident is resolved.”
“Why don’t you have more ambition? Felix went so far as to kidnap to get an Elementalist… If I awaken as a proper Elementalist, wouldn’t I be of help to you too?”
Rensley chuckled, offering a smile, but Gezell maintained a serious expression.
“It will undoubtedly be a significant power. However, I’m not sure if it’s a power worth obtaining at the cost of your suffering.”
“Hmm… If it’s really too painful, I’m not confident either. But since I haven’t experienced the wolf’s training yet, it might be surprisingly worthwhile.”
“Or, Rensley, do you have ambitions similar to Felix’s? Do you desire warm and fertile territory instead of cold and barren land?”
Rensley opened his eyes wide and tilted his head.
“Not at all. Even in a victorious fight, there will be people getting hurt or killed once the battle starts. I’m perfectly happy as it is now; there’s no need to go through all that. And I don’t just think of Aldrant as a cold and barren land. In fact, I find it fascinating that you, my lord, have no such ambitions. If you set your mind to it, you could achieve it much more easily than the struggling Felix, couldn’t you?”
“…In everything, there’s a give and take.”
Rensley gave a shy, bitter smile.
“When studying, I can’t help but feel that humans are like small pebbles in a vast stream. Just as ancient nations fell, and once coexisting races vanished from the continent, in the future, Pheraira, Aldrant, Cornia, and all other countries may disappear, and a new world may unfold. I just want to enjoy the luxury of reading that flow while I’m alive, and I have no other desires.”
“Pebbles?”
“Don’t misunderstand. It doesn’t mean I consider people insignificant. I usually don’t talk about this because it’s hard to explain to others…”
Rensley stared intently at Gezell, who awkwardly trailed off at the end of his sentence. There was a look in his eyes as if he wanted to say something. Instead of continuing, Gezell waited for him to speak while locking eyes.
“At first, I tried not to bow to Felix. Unlike before, I didn’t want to move according to his whims, even a tiny bit.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Tfr.”
“Dea atja bcis wjvf atlcur wbgf vloolmeia obg wf. Po P gfyfiifv, Mfilz kbeiv ags fnfc tjgvfg ab ygfjx wf. Ktf rlaejalbc ktfgf P mbeivc’a frmjqf bc ws bkc kjr abb bynlber… Rbgwjiis, P kbeiv tjnf flatfg gfrlrafv tlw ecali atf fcv, glrxlcu ufaalcu ygbxfc bg vslcu, bg P kbeiv tjnf ulnfc eq jcv wffxis slfivfv ab tlw, bcf bo atf akb. Fcobgaecjafis, atf ijaafg kjr wbgf ilxfis.”
Gezell’s brow furrowed slightly. Seeing the pained expression, Rensley offered a bitter smile.
“But it didn’t happen this time. Although I was kidnapped and imprisoned, and the clumsy training of that fellow made it painfully tough, I survived in my own way while waiting for you to come and get me. I believed you would come for me. How sad would you be if I were broken when you arrived? So, I thought I should endure and stay strong, avoiding getting hurt as much as possible. That’s what I thought.”
Gezell didn’t respond, just looked at Rensley. The emotion in his eyes, gazing at his fiancé, went beyond simple affection and approached admiration and pride. He held Rensley’s hand, placed his lips on the back, and confessed.
“Thank you so much for waiting safely.”
“But what about you?”
Instead of responding to the affectionate gratitude, Rensley’s expression turned lonely. Gezell, not understanding the question, blinked. Rensley’s brow lightly furrowed.
“I heard from the wolves. You threw yourself into the river because of me… You pledged your life with forbidden magic and said that if this mission succeeds, you want to use yourself as a test subject.”
“Rensley.”
“I understand as well. It’s my foolishness that led me to be captured, exposing you to unnecessary risks. Since it’s my fault, I have no right to complain to you.”
Trying to speak calmly, Rensley’s emotions seemed to intensify, and he took a deep breath. Avoiding Gezell’s gaze, he half-buried his face in the pillow.
“…I want to become stronger too. I’m far from just being able to wield a sword. I aim to be the companion of the king in the North and the most powerful magician on the continent. Surely, various things will happen in the future. Even if you can’t intervene directly, I don’t want situations where you are in danger because of me to happen again.”
“As I mentioned before, this incident happened because of my carelessness. If I hadn’t been arrogant and had properly guarded against that guy from the beginning, you wouldn’t have been taken.”
“Whatever the reason, if I had more strength, even if I were taken, I could have escaped more easily. With my own strength, even without risking your life, without bowing my head to the wolves, I could have managed.”
Rensley grasped Gezell’s hand firmly.
“Don’t do that in the future. Don’t abandon yourself for my sake or anyone else’s.”
“…”
“While thinking about you, I tried to protect myself, as I mentioned. I hope you do the same in the future. Please consider how sad I would be if you were hurt… at least once.”
Rensley’s words faded uncertainly at the end. Gezell, seeing him bury his face deeper into the pillow, embraced Rensley, bringing his body closer. In a soft voice, he whispered an apology.
“I’m sorry.”
“But ultimately, thanks to you doing that, I safely escaped. I can only throw a tantrum now by saying these things. So, I also want a weapon. Naturally, to protect myself, and in case you’re in danger in the future, I want to be able to come to your rescue. Fortunately, it’s a strange power that has emerged.”
“You’ve already saved me.”
“When did I?”
Only now did Rensley lift his face to look at Gezell. Tilting his head, Gezell thought for a moment before responding.
“Anyway, yes.”
“Ah, what’s that? Are you making up things that didn’t happen just to cheer me up?”
“If I hadn’t met you, I would still be locked in the laboratory, reading books until eventually, I would have been covered in mold.”
“If that’s the case, wouldn’t I have rotted away in the Cornian royal palace if it weren’t for you?”
Without a need for discussion, they both chuckled, then shared a quick, affectionate kiss. Without realizing it, they had laid down on a single pillow and were now gazing at each other.
Continuing with a brief kiss, Gezell, who had been silently observing Rensley’s face, curiously opened his mouth.
“It’s strange. You don’t seem that happy.”
“Huh? Me?”
“You’re supposedly glad that you found out you’re an Elementalist, but for some reason, it doesn’t seem to show. If you’re worried that the training is too hard, don’t strain yourself. I’ll try to take better care of myself as you suggested.”
“No, I’m not worried about the training at all…”
Rensley raised his head, but Gezell didn’t avert his gaze until Rensley let out a faint bitter smile, signaling surrender.
“Now I really can’t deceive you. Honestly, after being dragged by Felix, my mood became strange. While I was trapped, Felix’s mage kept pushing me forward. He said I was a chosen being, possessing a special ability that comes once every few hundred years.”
“Do you dislike that?”
“It’s not that I dislike it… I thought I had various talents and had made some effort in my own way. But it turned out that it was all because I was born as an Elementalist.”
The warm joy of tending to the cattle and sheep in the barn, the rich satisfaction in riding the wind, and the familiarity with life and the world gradually accumulated when working in the fields, cultivating crops, and feeling the richness of fruits in one’s hands. Although Amin emphasized many times to take pride in them, Rensley didn’t find the words that belittled these small joys as the result of his Elementalist abilities pleasant. The nature Rensley knew wasn’t always kind, but it wasn’t an unfair existence that smiled only to the chosen ones. Yet, even this might be Rensley’s misconception of being born as a Elementalist.
“It’s nothing much. I’m just not used to suddenly having such a grand ability thrust upon me.”
“I don’t agree with that story either. Perhaps that mage overly influenced the investigation on Elementalists with excessive emotions.”
“…Really?”
“Elementalists are undoubtedly rare beings born with the selection of spirits, but in the end, they are just people bestowed with the ability to communicate directly with them. Just because you are talented doesn’t mean you can skillfully handle all living beings or natural elements even before awakening. It’s more reasonable to see you as someone who possesses such talents, and the spirits chose you for that reason. Of course, during your life, you might have received some help from your innate abilities.”
Gezell’s expression was natural.
“Even if you didn’t have the talents as an Elementalist, you would still be the same as you are now.”
With a firm tone, Rensley, without responding, looked at Gezell for a moment and then slowly smiled. While smiling, he moved a bit closer to Gezell and closed his eyes, savoring his scent.
“Thank you for saying that, Your Grace.”
“I didn’t say that for the sake of receiving thanks.”
“Then I’ll say I love you.”
Gezell’s face showed a slight smile as if he found that statement pleasing despite the difficulty in fully understanding Rensley’s response. He gently stroked Rensley’s hair.
While receiving the comforting touch, Rensley’s expression once again turned into a worried one.
“By the way, how is it really? Can you undo that forbidden magic?”
“Since we have plenty of time, let’s take our time to investigate. I’ve never failed to find an answer after dedicating time to research, so I believe we can solve it this time too.”
“I understand the meaning of your words, but please refrain from treating yourself like gravel in the future. I don’t like it when others treat what’s mine as gravel without permission; it hurts my feelings.”
“Don’t let your feelings get hurt. Even if everyone else is gravel, you are a gem.”
“No, I didn’t say that to hear such words…”
Outside the window, the light was gradually brightening. Soon, not only the royal palace but the entire continent would become lively. However, consciously choosing to delve into different topics, Gezell and Rensley continued their conversation through the remaining dawn. They discussed how beautiful the sea looked during the day, what they would do in the next few days, whether they could take a moment to visit the Cornian coastline… There were countless plans for enjoyment.
Since they had stayed up all night, Rensley, who had declared that he would watch the sunrise, blinked a few times and quickly fell back into a deep sleep, as if collapsing from the exhaustion of experiments and confinement to the intensity of their intimate activities.
It would probably be necessary for him to rest without moving at all today. Gezell covered Rensley’s bare shoulders with a blanket and, after leaving the bed, closed the curtains around the pillars. Putting on the discarded robe, he opened the door, startling the guards who had been standing watch.
“Your, Your Grace. When did you return?”
“I came back last night.”
Though the door hadn’t opened, the man had suddenly appeared, and the soldiers’ expressions looked as if they had seen a ghost. Would the meaning of standing guard be lost like this? Gezell didn’t explain the situation to those secretly worried about whether things would get out of hand. Instead, he stated what was necessary.
“I’ll be meeting the Emperor, so call the chief of staff and Anton to assist. Move quietly.”
“Understood.”
However, the escort knights and soldiers of Aldrant were somewhat accustomed to Gezell’s way of speaking and actions. They promptly followed the orders without questioning. Not long after, the chiefs of staff entered the bedroom. Gezell pointed to the bed with his chin, lowering his voice.
“Someone is still sleeping, so I want to prepare quietly.”
Carefully closing the curtain, only the vague outline of someone lying down inside the bed was visible. People tried to suppress their laughter, forming expressions that held back amusement.
The young and handsome Grand Duke from the north, a subject of much curiosity known to be cold and indifferent due to various rumors. After completing his tasks, he returned and spent the night in the palace with the Grand Duchess. He had thoroughly entertained the servants today. However, this was a matter for later. The chiefs of staff observed silence, following only necessary instructions and questions. Besides essential commands and inquiries, they moved quietly, with only the sound of water, the rustling of clothes, and the noise of combing hair.
After washing and donning his attire, Gezell Jivendad returned as the familiar figure of the Grand Duke of Aldrant. While attaching the last ornament to the robe adorned with silver patterns, he opened the door. A new visitor entered.
“Your Grace, I greet you.”
“Hush.”
Gezell placed a finger on his lips, signaling Anton to keep quiet in the unusually quiet atmosphere. Anton, feeling the awkwardness, glanced around the room and soon closed his mouth, looking somewhat composed.
“That’s enough. You all can leave now.”
Dismissing the attendants, Gezell approached Anton. Seated facing each other, they began their final briefing before meeting the Emperor.
“The sorcerer?”
“He hasn’t regained consciousness yet. However, according to the doctor, he should wake up soon. The emergency treatment was effective, so his recovery is expected to be swift.”
“The only usable evidence we have right now is the guy who transformed into Maelrosen with magic. Even with just that, convincing the Emperor shouldn’t be a problem.”
“He also resisted for a while, but after seeing the sorcerer you brought yesterday, his spirit broke. Now that he fully acknowledges that things have taken a turn, there should be no problem presenting him as a witness.”
Gezell raised his chin slightly and continued with a question.
“Did you receive any news from the higher-ups?”
“Yes. I, along with Princess Ivet, interrogated and surprisingly obtained clues quickly. There was someone among the insiders who said that he had planned wars since his prince days, and due to dissatisfaction over the issue of non-noble ranks, he had a grudge. It seems there were already several people internally executed, and in fear, he couldn’t extricate himself from the situation. He promised to come forward as a witness, pledging to provide information on the condition that safety and compensation were assured by Aldrant afterward.”
“Good.”
That seemed to be enough. Gezell pulled over a pen and memo paper on the table, quickly scribbled something, and handed it to Anton. Lowering his voice, Gezell spoke more confidentially.
“Now, the only thing left is the reaction of the Cornian royal family. Regardless of how the King of Cornia comes out or what news we hear, we need to be prepared to deal with it immediately.”
“Understood.”
Perhaps visible confrontation between Pheraira and Cornia might start right here. Anton accepted a brief map describing the terrain of Cornia and smiled wryly. Gezell raised his eyebrow slightly as he observed Anton.
“Is there a problem?”
“No. I know His Grace is exceptionally sharp, but this time, this subordinate seem to be lacking. I feel deeply sorry for not being of much help. If we haven’t been able to support you in any way, I apologize.”
“Nonsense. If you hadn’t guarded the rear, I wouldn’t have been able to leave the palace alone and find Sir Maelrosen. Any king, from any country, can move alone if he sets his mind to it. The reason they don’t is not because they lack the ability to move alone but because it shouldn’t be done.”
“…!”
“This time, I acted solely for myself, putting aside my duties as a king. If anything, I should be the one apologizing to you.”
“Your Grace has not only yet to make an official announcement, but you’ve already treated Maelrosen as a Duchess. When there was a problem with the Duchess’s safety, no king would remain idle. After the announcement, even if a war were to break out between the two countries, Your Grace alone resolved the situation with your strength.”
After finishing his words, Anton’s expression became somewhat awkward.
“I’m a bit older than Your Grace, and I’m still unmarried, so I’m not in a position to say this kind of thing… After marriage, everyone has obligations as a spouse, right? Whether you’re a king, a knight, a noble, a merchant, or a farmer, everyone has similar responsibilities.”
“Are you thinking about marriage these days?”
“No… that’s not what I meant by saying that.”
Anton neatly folded the map that Gezell had drawn for him and placed it in his chest pocket. Both of them rose from their seats. Rensley, lying on the bed, seemed to be deeply asleep, showing no sign of waking up despite the various conversations.
“I’ve called all the knights here. Leave Maelrosen alone and come with me to meet the Emperor.”
“Understood.”
“Ah, and here. I brought the item you mentioned.”
Holding a bracelet adorned with blue gemstones, Gezell, without a word, went back inside the curtain surrounding the bed. Anton absentmindedly observed the shadow of Gezell who had bended over the sleeping Rensley and was fidgeting with his large hand. Soon, he gave a small fake cough and turned his head.
“Let’s go now.”
After thoroughly enchanting the surroundings of the bed and the entire room, Gezell finally stepped away. When he opened the door, the escort knights and attendants were already waiting in front of the room. Gezell warned the people several times to be careful not to wake the Grand Duchess but insisted on strictly preserving his sleep. After hesitating for a moment, he turned away.
Thank you!
This chapter was really warm hearted ☺️
I really like Aldrant. It is a peaceful country. Who wants to be an emperor when you’ve loyal people in your own kingdom..