Chapter 193

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Irian, who resided in the manor, spent most of her time there—not Irian herself, nor Swoen who lived with her—but rather Reika.

Irian was busy as Serpina’s bodyguard, and Swoen had less and less time at home because Serpina kept summoning him.

Reika, on the other hand, though a little lonely… didn’t exactly hate spending time at the manor.

With all this sudden free time…

She would take walks, read books, meditate…

“Huuuugh~!”

“Thank you for your hard work, Miss.”

“A-ah, no! If, if I was any help… then, I’m, I’m happy! Hehe…”

“It’s our duty, as we’ve said before…”

“It’s alright…!”

Helping the maids with various household chores around the manor suited Reika surprisingly well.

At first, the servants panicked and pleaded, “Please leave such trivial tasks to us!” But now, they seemed to have grown quite close. Seeing her clean the kitchen or tidy up the manor had become normal, and they maintained a harmonious relationship.

And so, after finishing the day’s chores…

It was still midday, with plenty of daylight left. Since Swoen and Irian wouldn’t return until evening, Reika wondered how she should spend her time when—

“Hmm?”

Her eyes caught sight of a few potted plants.

They were wilting, giving off an eerie vibe that didn’t fit the elegant manor.

“Excuse me…”

She stopped a passing maid and asked politely, bowing deeply.

“Oh, Miss Reika! Hello!”

“Are these pots being thrown away…?”

“Yes. We took good care of them, but somehow they ended up like this… We’re planning to bring in new plants.”

Caring for potted plants wasn’t as easy as it seemed. It was even considered a luxury task usually handled by specialists in royal families. So, it wasn’t surprising that the manor’s staff struggled.

“…Hmm.”

Then, an idea struck Reika, and she timidly grabbed the maid’s arm.

“E-excuse me… um…”

“…”

“W-well… you see…”

Seeing Reika fumble and hesitate, the maid cautiously guessed what she wanted.

“Are you interested in these pots?”

“Ahh!”

Nodding vigorously…

Perhaps because they’d worked together long enough, the maid immediately understood what Reika wanted and smiled warmly.

“Since we were going to throw them out anyway, feel free to take them. Or, shall I place them outside your room later?”

“N-no, that’s fine! I’ll take them myself. T-thank you very much!”

With a deep bow…

Reika managed to carry the three pots destined for disposal back to her room despite their weight.

“Alright…”

The mana within the manor was… more than sufficient.

Closing her eyes, Reika began to sense the flow of mana.

Recalling the spell she had used years ago at Falaharte Castle to save a dying rabbit…

Not from some textbook but instinctively figuring out, “This might work…”

A sphere of light started forming at the tip of Reika’s pale fingers.

“If I do this here…!”

The growing sphere of light connected with the wilting plant.

She could feel it…

Something was reaching the plant.

Fortunately, it still had a bit of life left; otherwise, it wouldn’t have responded.

“!!!”

And then…

A miracle began unfolding from Reika’s hands.

The lifeless leaves of the plant slowly regained their vibrant green hue, returning to their original state as they absorbed energy from the glowing orb.

How long did this go on?

Plop!

“Haa… haa…”

Reika wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked at the result before her.

“It worked…”

Just as she had hoped.

Using the abundant mana in the air, she had revived the fading life force—a power akin to the miracles described in ancient religious texts.

Instinctively, just like when she first discovered magic, Reika had tapped into her latent talent.

This was no small discovery…

“Too… exhausting…”

Though she successfully revived one pot, she lacked the energy to repeat the process for the other two. The drain on her body felt more pronounced than ever.

Of course, using magic always drained her, but lately, she thought handling fire or ice was manageable without much strain.

“Maybe there’s still something I don’t know…”

Since it was her first time using this technique, with practice, she’d surely grow accustomed to it and refine her skills. Besides, Swoen was always there to guide her. Following his meditation routines regularly would eventually make her proficient in this new form of “magic,” so she wasn’t too worried.

“I need to work harder… to become a mage who can truly support Sir Swoen…”

Initially, becoming a mage hadn’t thrilled her. Leaving behind her orphan life was nice, but being confined and forced to study magic day in and day out seemed burdensome.

But now, she was grateful for her talent.

After all, meeting Swoen through Jinoru was only possible because she was a mage.

She wanted to be a source of strength for Swoen—a choice made freely, not out of obligation to House Nachthardt.

Swoen had already transformed her from a talented mage into someone unprecedented on the continent.

“If there had been enough mana at Falaharte Castle, I could’ve saved that dying rabbit too…”

Thinking about it made her drowsy.

“I must’ve… used too much mana…”

And with that, Reika collapsed onto the floor, falling into a deep sleep.

* * *

“Could you stop the epidemic halfway through?”

This was the interior of the manor where I often conversed with Serpina.

As soon as I entered the familiar hallway, I heard an incredible story from her.

“Yes. Didn’t you suggest it? You told me to order General Irian to search the area around Roze Castle. So technically, it was all thanks to you.”

While initially baffling to command Irian, who led the occupying forces nearby, to conduct searches…

Apparently, due to the butterfly effect, this decision managed to halt an epidemic that could’ve spread across the entire Northern Continent early on.

By thoroughly isolating accidentally discovered patients and preventing contact until treatment was complete—though the exact details weren’t clear—it seemed effective.

The important thing was the result.

This situation reminded me of when we apprehended the rebellion led by Rahelren.

An utterly improbable tale relying heavily on coincidence, yet here we are again.

Even though everything followed my advice, to a third party unaware of the specifics, Serpina’s decisions must seem divinely inspired.

However, Serpina knows full well whose words guided every decision.

There’s no need to explain how I figured it out since Serpina already understands my abilities.

So why did she summon me here?

I couldn’t help but think this as soon as I arrived.

Ever since then, her gaze upon me has felt… strange.

“Is it true, Swoen?”

“…Yes?”

“Your Mind’s Eye truly reveals only correct outcomes…”

Serpina approached me slowly, her face flushed, her eyes half-lidded, gazing at me as if entranced—an almost sticky stare.

That look wasn’t the gaze of a monarch seeking talent…

It resembled more the affectionate gaze of a woman looking at someone she loves.

Unconsciously, I felt my heart race.

“Swoen… this is serious. I planned to gradually open my heart to you…”

One step closer.

“But the longer I spend with you… the greedier I become for you.”

Another step closer.

“As both a ruler and a woman…”

Finally, after three steps, her face was right before mine.

“My lord…?”

“With you… I believe I might overcome the heavy karma surrounding me. Would you call me foolish for saying so?”

“Foolish?! How dare you say such things lightly—”

Her face was inches from mine.

The gentle scent of yuzu once again clouded my mind.

Simultaneously…

She casually dropped another bombshell.

“Marry me, Swoen.”

“…What?”

Did I hear her wrong? But her expression was resolute.

“I want you to become my consort. I will intertwine our lineages through a covenant. I wish to bear your child.”

“Wait, my lord, please clarify—”

“Aah… Swoen…”

Serpina continued, gripping my hand tightly with her relaxed gaze.

“I cannot let you go. Under any circumstances, I refuse to lose you.”

“I must capture you by any means necessary. Even if someone else is already in your heart, I want to be second by your side.”

“Please do not abandon me. Fight alongside me. With you, I believe anything is possible—even unifying the continent or rebuilding a grand empire. With your infallible Mind’s Eye, perhaps we can achieve greatness. So… please…”

“For eternity… stay by my side, Swoen… ♥ For that, I am willing to—”

“Do anything…”

At that moment, I realized…

The invisible leash around my neck.

Serpina’s obsession with me exceeded imagination…

And it was far too late to extricate myself from this swamp called Serpina without consequence.

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