Translator and Editor: Maru and Aki

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Chapter 25

“Do you know the way?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Then, please allow me to lead the way. Let’s go.”

This guy exuded such a mysterious energy. Every time I saw him, I felt like some place inside my head was being stirred.

But my body was already following him. As if I was possessed by something. I couldn’t stand the discomfort and called him out first.

“Excuse me.”

“Please call me Luca comfortably.”

Somehow, he felt like the Duke although he had a much friendlier face. Since I had never been alone with Luca, I spat out all of the curiosity in my head.

“Okay, Mr. Luca. Who are you?”

“No, not your official position, you… what are you?”

His face, who laughed tenderly at my words before, suddenly hardened, and his stride stopped.

“It’s my first time hearing this, so I’m a little flustered. I have no idea about what you’re asking.”

“I’m more flustered than you. Are you a wizard…or something like that? Why do strange things happen when you’re there?”

“Is there something like that?”

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know. Don’t you know how strange you are?”

Only then did he smile and nod.

“Well, I’m not strange. You asked if I’m a wizard… Maybe in a way, that could be true.”

A wizard was an existence who had disappeared from this world. I couldn’t believe he said he was a wizard confidently.

With shock and bewilderment, I took a step back.

“You’re a wizard. Then why… did you intrude here?”

“Intrude?”

“Nobody knows where you came from and how you got here. Maybe the Duke didn’t know as well. So I’m curious. For some reason, you’ve intruded this place, yet how do you get along naturally with people?”

“I am…”

After a long pause, he smiled.

“I’m just a person. I don’t know why everyone can’t remember me, but I’m a normal person. Of course, I can do a little magic. Just like how I erased your memories a little while ago.”

The man who was in front of me folded his open hands. Then, a small flame flickered and disappeared.

“…Ah.”

At that moment, I remembered the way to Rere’s room again. At the sudden reveal, I stepped back and raised my defense against him.

“Ha… you… W-What are you!”

“What am I, you say? I just held your memory for a while. It’s nothing strange.”

I became more alert around him. Was it because of the strange feelings I felt every time I saw Luca?

“But do you know that? You are the first person to describe me as an ‘intruder’. Someone who doubted my identity. You are an amazing person for sure.”

As soon as I learned of his identity, I became incredibly wary of him.

Even though our distance was quite far away, anxiety came over me. I was more worried because there weren’t even people around.

“…Why the hell are you here? Why are you…being so nice to Rere? What do you want from my daughter?”

“My daughter? That sounds nice to hear. But don’t worry, Ms.Leona. I’m not a bad person. I’m just the one who wants everything to work out well…”

“······.”

“I’ll be a good person especially to you. You’re such an amazing person to me. You’re the only one who can fill the gap. So please don’t be wary of me. I adore you, and I want to protect your warm heart.”

But I had already stepped back from him. Look at how smooth-spoken he was. Usually, smooth-talkers were swindlers. Especially if a handsome person was kind and eloquent, he would be 100% a swindler.

‘He’s a swindler. What do I do now? Is there no one around? Should I tell the Duke about this?’

Then, he scurried to come to my side.

“You don’t have to be on guard.”

“…Are you a swindler? Are you here to deceive us? What do you want from this family?”

“Unfortunately, I’m not a swindler. There won’t be any swindler in the world that would reveal his own identity.”

“Originally, swindlers have a way with words like this. They don’t hesitate to show their intention.”

I’m sure he was a swindler.

“I’ve taken a liking to you.”

Like the night breeze, he swiftly leaned towards me. The strange scent from him was similar to the Duke’s.

“I swear on my everything that I will never put you, Rere, or the Duke in danger.”

“No. I can’t believe it. How can I trust you when I don’t even know your true colors!”

“I’ll make you believe me.”

“…Just like how you manipulate other people’s memories so they’d think of you positively?”

“I’ve never touched other people’s feelings. I just altered their memories for a while. But I never mess with anyone’s hearts.”

“······.”

His golden eyes clearly stared at me. Luca’s golden pupils were clear as if there were no lies behind his words.

“I will do my best for you, too. So that you can trust me. Please trust me this once. I promise with my entire existence on stake. I will make a pledge before you.”

“Pledge?”

At that moment, he reached out his palm to me.

“I, Luca. I promise you right in this place. If I lie to Leona Selen, my whole existence will perish.”

At the moment, his palm flashed. Even strange patterns appeared.

“Ju-Just now…”

“If I break my words, I will perish.”

“…Ha.”

I hate to believe it. I want to deny and doubt him more, but I couldn’t give any more doubts to one person.

‘Strange. That pattern on Luca. I think I know for some reason. I could definitely feel the magic circle [The Pledge of Words].’

It was strange. Even though Leona was not aware of the disappearance of magic, information was loaded on my head.

“Can’t you believe me even when I do this? I’m not a bad person.”

“Well, that…”

I wanted to say how could I ever believe him, but my head had already believed in his pledge. Plus, the information in Leona’s head had convinced me.

And as I muttered silently, he smiled and stepped back.

“Please look forward to it. I’ll prove my innocence. This is enough for today. Ms. Leona, we’ve arrived.” As I looked around, we had arrived in front of Rere’s room.

“How is this possible…”

A while ago, I stopped with him in the middle of the hallway. I didn’t move at all because I was wary and shocked, but now I was in front of the room.

“Well, it may be that Ms. Leona’s heart wants to go back to Rere’s room quickly so it was reflected.”

He smiled and turned my body sideways.

“Well, please take care of Rere, because only you can turn Rere into a normal child.”

Then, Luca opened the door as if he was trying to avoid talking with me any longer. As if that was not enough, he even shut the door.

As I thought I was pushed inside, I opened the door again in bewilderment and looked outside, but I couldn’t see Luca’s appearance anywhere.

“Ah…”

I even started to see the appearances of the maids whom I couldn’t see until a while ago. When I suddenly came out of the room and looked around, the maids looked at me in puzzlement.

I had no choice but to go into the room.

“Madam!”

The nanny, who was sleeping, quickly got up from her seat and approached me.

“Oh my God. Why is your face like that!”

I swept my face at her words.

“Oh, huh? What’s wrong with my face?”

“You have a blank expression …. By any chance, did the master say something strange?”

“No. He didn’t say anything. Just… Luca.”

“Sir Luca?”

I shook my head from side to side as I watched the nanny’s expression change to a puzzled look at the word Luca.

“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just saying that I think I saw him.”

“Ah, I see. So why don’t you take a rest, madam? Miss Rebecca fell asleep deeply.”

“Yes. I will. Nanny, please rest now as well. I will stay here.” Smiling at my words, the nanny bowed her head and stepped outside.

Only after I heard the sound of the door closing very quietly did I lean next to Lere, who was lying alone on a large bed. I could only hear the breath of the child who slept soundly.

As if to show that she fell into a deep sleep, Rere, who held her doll, wasn’t even moving even though the bed shook while I was lying down.

“Rere, about Luca, what is that person really like?”

I ended up not being able to ask any questions clearly. I should have asked him thoroughly.

Who is he and what the hell is he hiding?

However, even if I turned the time again, I am not confident in asking him properly. For some reason, his harmless face seemed to have magical power to make me believe him.

As I am now, I suddenly decided that he’s not a bad person.

“I’m also part of the problem, too…. Still, he’s not a bad person. He’s better than anyone else to Rere.”

I hugged the child in my arms. If I just tell the child not to get close to that person anymore, I’m sure it would be fine.

‘And I have to find out… Is the magic circle he showed me really the magic circle called [Pledge of Words]?’

Even after the magic circle, which seemed complicated, was completely embedded in my head. If I look at the magic circle once again, I would be able to recognize it right away since it was so distinct in my head.

‘How on earth does Leona know about that?’

However, there was nothing to gain even if I thought of it all night. All I can do now was to wrap up the day next to Rere.

“Rere, Good night.”

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