Chapter 48

The prince, who had been following me since the first day, made me feel sick and exhausted after asking for my schedule.

He said that there was dust on my face and that he would gently touch my cheek to remove it, or he would try to hold my hand saying it was cold.

But it was midsummer then!

“Yurgen, I still get goosebumps whenever I think of him.”

“Well, to be honest, I felt relieved, too. But you were reckless.”

I couldn’t hide my disappointment at Yurgen’s words.

“I’m not siding with that Prince. Isn’t Erita hiding her identity? If the prince had tried to argue, you could have been caught.”

However, the disappointment also melted away with the worries of Yurgen that followed.

Because I couldn’t think of anything to complain about from someone who was only concerned for my situation.

“Okay. I’ll be careful from now on.” I answered without hesitation.

“Don’t be too sad… Prince must be in tears by now.”

Yurgen, who drank the tea in a modest gesture, lowered the teacup onto the table slowly.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Well, I just added one clause to the contract. Of course, that clause was agreed to by the prince himself.”

“What…?”

“That’s all you need to know. It’s not something big enough for you to care about.”

In response, Yurgen raised one corner of his lips and smiled softly. It was a refreshing smile, not like him who always looks nervous.

As I was about to ask what clause he had added, I quietly swallowed the question again with a smile.

Yurgen was a do-it-yourself guy, and usually when he smiles like that, bad things happen to the other person.

“…What you don’t know is sometimes a medicine.”

I offer unparalleled consolation to the tiger-like prince who must be cursing Yurgen by now.

Of course, it’s not a sincere consolation.

✾

“Then Yurgen, I’ll go now.”

“Are you going straight to the mansion?”

“Uhm…”

I pondered for a moment at Yurgen’s question. It’s a little sad to go home like this…

‘I’m not going to work on the artifact today anyway.’

My mind slowly leaned to other thoughts.

‘Oh, that’s right. I told Mary that I came out to buy something.’

Having made a quick decision, I snapped my fingers. Then, my long-forgotten hair was dyed in a hot beige color in an instant.

“Since I’m out, I’ll go around outside for a bit.”

“Do you usually go out like this?”

“Huh? Why what’s wrong with this?”

After looking at me for a while, Yurgen sighed and approached the closet on one side of the room.

I smiled and picked up the mirror that was on the table in front of the sofa.

‘Is there something weird? That can’t be…’

I looked in the mirror, but I only looked normal as always.

“I’m just fine.”

Unable to find the strange part, I shrugged and put down the mirror.

“No, that’s not it. I mean clothes.”

“It’s cool today, but I thought you’d feel cold in that outfit.”

Yurgen pulled out a black coat from the closet and held it to me.

“Oh, thank you!”

I accepted his coat with a bashful smile at his indifferent, friendly words. I came out wearing a thick dress, but there’s nothing wrong with wearing one more layer of clothes.

Wearing a black robe, Yurgen’s characteristic thick grassy smell hit the tip of my nose.

When I folded my slightly long sleeves twice, the length became appropriate.

“I’ll wash your clothes neatly and return them to you next time I come.”

“You can just give it to me.”

I squinted at Yurgen’s answer and glanced at him. Yurgen liked being neat enough that I sometimes wonder if he had mysophobia.

Knowing that, I dismissed his words as a joke and refused with a playful smile.

“How can I do that? Don’t worry about it. I’ll bring it to you in a dry state.”

“… It’s true.”

“No, it’s fine. It’s not like I don’t know Yurgen.”

As I tapped the floor with the toe of my shoe, I paused as I was about to leave, feeling uneasy for some reason.

‘I feel like I’ve forgotten something…’

“Ah, Thane!”

After contemplating for a while, I shouted at the face that quickly came to mind.

How can you forget about Thane?

“Yurgen, where’s Thane? Did he receive a request? There’s no such words in the letter.”

“He went out a week ago, he said he has a place to visit for a while. It’s not a request, but I think it’s for personal business.”

“Did you hear when he’s coming back?”

“He said it would take about a week, so I think he’ll return today or tomorrow. I thought Thane sent a letter, but he didn’t.”

Despite my sudden and quick words, Yurgen responded calmly each time. Then I nodded as reassured.

“Really… When Thane returns, tell him that I’m worried. I bought something for him, but I can’t give it to him today.”

“I’ll tell him.”

“Thank you, Yurgen. Then I’ll leave. See you next time with Thane.”

“Don’t go home too late.”

At Yurgen’s answer, I sighed and waved my hand.

“Yes, I got it.”

After leaving my farewells, I snapped my fingers once again, just like I did when I came here.

Immediately, a familiar light wrapped around my body, and in an instant, Yurgen’s appearance faded.