Chapter 38

As I turned my head, I could see the citizens of the square in chaos, pointing and looking at one place. When I stuck my head out and looked up at the sky in the direction they were staring, there was a wizard flying freely in the air.

The moment I saw the face, I grit my teeth without realizing it. “Serek…….”

Did the law prohibiting the use of magic in the streets mean nothing at all to him? Even though the empress and the Imperial Magic Department were exceptions, wasn’t it something that should only be done in an emergency? Did everything seem easy under the protection of the empress?

Uncomfortably, I realized that the people seemed curious about the wizard’s translucent magic wings. I looked up with envy at how Serek flapped his impressive wings. The colorful white and red clothes were in the style of the empress’s uniform.

A slender aquiline face looked back at me.

The moment I looked at him as he turned his gaze towards me, his familiar gray hair and green eyes seemed somehow creepy. Why?

That thought was quickly lost as I saw him watch a small-looking man approach. Still, I felt uneasy.

Even the Serengevan I knew could never fly that skillfully. I knew that Serek was talented and that he had the aptitude for great magic, but even he had limitations–and judging from what I’d seen, he had gone far beyond what I expected him to be capable of. Something must have happened during the time we were apart. Something I didn’t know about. During the time I was sold as a slave, there must have been some development for Serek. How else could he have achieved such rapid growth?

He landed while I was staring in a daze. Then, he smiled proudly at the crowd’s applause. Then he split the crowd and walked into the pub.

“Long time no see, Celestia.” He came right in front of me and knelt down on one knee and asked for my hand.

I stared at his palm quietly and shot him an angry look. “Well, it looks like you’ve become a handsome nobleman.”

Serek forcibly took my hand. Before I could grab my hand away, he kissed the back of it lightly and got up.

I stiffened.

Aside from the feeling of getting filth on the back of my hand, at that moment, I felt a light heat, like how it felt when I touched the emperor’s body. No, it might be a little different from that. What was this feeling?

It was noticeable when I felt it, but it passed so quickly that I couldn’t tell what it was. But I had an ominous feeling that it had something to do with his sudden increase in abilities.

“I missed you, Celestia.”

I couldn’t think of anything because I had to use all my willpower not to punch his face after spewing such nonsense. “Why did you want to see me?”

Serek pulled a chair out for me and sat right next to me. I got up straight away and went around the big wooden table and sat across from him.

He chuckled and ruffled his hair. His eyes, framed with thick lashes, annoyed me so much. Those were eyes that I spent so much of my life loving. I’ve looked at them and thought he was lovely. All the more because I knew he had known how he affected me and used me.

I didn’t know if he can see me frowning to the fullest, but he spoke gently, with the expression he used to use to soothe me.

“Celestia, are you feeling better now?”

“…Did you ask me if I was relieved?”

If I had any water left in front of me, I would have thrown it at his face. Unfortunately, I couldn’t even do that. I clenched my fist tightly, and he even clasped my fist with his own hands. When I tried to shake his hand off as if it was something dirty, I could see Vinius in conflict over whether to take out his weapon or not.

How could this bastard be so consistently brazen?

I forced his hand away and crossed my arms. “Stop beating around the bush and just keep things simple. I’m busy.”

Serek smiled irritatingly like he had all the time in the world and raised his eyebrows. “Well, there’s something I’d like to tell you in advance.”

“What is it?”

“That we’ll see each other often in the future? If you’re really thinking of working in the palace. And… if you keep staying by the emperor’s side.”

I thought the way he said it was funny. I was a nobody. And here he was talking like I was someone that came to the Imperial Palace because I was needed there. I came to the Empire much earlier. Indirectly because of him. I was the one who came to the palace in great need, and yet that’s how he phrased it?

What he said was strange too, when I thought about it after my head had cooled down a bit. I knew he was working under the empress. I had heard that a magic unit would be created for the purpose of nurturing magic users.

So that’s why Serek was there last time.

But what did he mean by saying we’d see each other more often in the future?

“I’m the chief magic officer in the newly established Ministry of Magic Training under the empress dowager. As you might have guessed.”

“Are you…?”

With that skill?

“So, if the emperor has a chance to go hunting in the future, of course, he will accompany our department. We’re good enough to protect him. We’ll keep bumping into each other like that, so we don’t have to be uncomfortable, do we? I’m telling you this in advance so you can feel better.”

“You know, I feel like you’re wasting my time. Stop talking nonsense and get to the point. How can you be the chief? If there’s no one better than you, the empire should be ruined.”

Serek, who lived on a high horse, laughed quietly as if my words were a joke and swept up his bangs. “Why are you saying such harsh things? You always complimented me that I could do better, didn’t you? You were the one who recognized my brilliance the best.”

‘Don’t be ridiculous. I told you those things not because I was impressed but so you wouldn’t feel too bad. I felt sorry for you, who had a very simple brain that didn’t fit in with that great talent, so I was rooting for you to try harder.’

Back then, I liked you. Because you always said you wanted to do better and be with Samidion and me. So…

I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Fortunately, the nightmare faded away as quickly as it came. It wasn’t important that I was foolish in the past. Now I recognized what kind of person he had been.

“That’s right. That’s what I said. But you’re not the kind of guy who’s good enough for that. I know what I’m saying.”

“Are you saying that now?”

“You don’t get the point, Serek.”

“I even have the special powers that the empress has given me.”

A special ability given by the Empress? Serek gloated, but I smelled something fishy with this entire situation.

“What do you mean?”

“Never mind. Anyway, we’ll see each other often in the future, and if you want to do well again, I’m giving you a favor—you can come back to me anytime you want.”

I shot a dirty look at Serek. Looking at his soft smile, I could see that he was not willing to talk about his new ability.

In other words, he’d just confirmed to me that the two of them were plotting something.

I decided not to ask if they knew about my abilities. I’d hoped that the empress didn’t know but seeing how Serek was now… There was no doubt about it. She knew.

When I tried to kick myself, Serek quickly opened his mouth.

“Does the emperor know?”

“What?”

“Your ability.”

He seemed uneasy.

While I was momentarily thinking of how to respond to that, Serek opened his damn mouth again, “The rich bastard probably doesn’t know.”

I looked at him. “Don’t be such a jerk. You work for him now.”

“Okay, okay. Anyway, that’s the greatest part of your ability. His Majesty doesn’t appreciate your ability. I’ll have to be next to you for a hundred days…”

“What do you care? You’re not short of money right now. You don’t still need that ability, do you?”

A bastard who couldn’t even hide his feelings. If this was a back alley in Goldina, I would have used my powers to cut him where he was weak and eat as much as I could. Just as he did to me.

“He’s using you.”

What was it that he was thinking? My lips curled into a sneer and I laughed.

“It’s not that I need your powers, Celestia. I know what you can do. You’re an aberration. But do you even understand what kind of life that rich bastard has? That bastard and I were born in different leagues. At least think of how that golden spoon will think of you when he realizes what you are. If the magicians saw you, they’d run away because they’re scared. You’re hideous. Don’t you think so? Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. But you can’t hide it forever, can you?

He thought I was ugly? This jerk…….

His ideas were so preposterous that I didn’t even know what to say. He thought I was miserable and keeping my powers a secret?

Serek seemed bolstered on by my silence, puffing his chest out, unable to stop talking. “I’m just telling you the truth. But I understand. I understand everything. I even love you for it. Do you think you can find anyone who will accept you other than me?”

‘How could you say that to me?’

My fist trembled. If he cared about me even a little bit, hell, if he was a sane person, he would never say that to me.

Even if I killed this guy right now, I was sure I would be justified.

“You think he’ll run away when he sees what I can do? I’m speechless.” A familiar voice suddenly boomed from behind me.

Surprised by the voice, I jumped up and almost fell, and suddenly a hand came to catch me, then held me close. The temperature of the palm that came over my forearm was burning hot.

“Your Majesty!”

While I was surprised, Serek bent over and paid his respects. The emperor nodded and stood behind me, holding my shoulders. My heart thumped at the hot touch of his chest and hands against my back and shoulders. It was such a strong magical force that I wanted to absorb the magic and stabilize him right away.

How much mana did he use?

Having no idea that the emperor was just using me as a coolant, Serek stared at me in a daze, unsure of how to act in the presence of the emperor.

I tried to raise my head and look up at the emperor, but I couldn’t because he held me in such a tight embrace.