Chapter 18: 18

Hanette, feeling anxious, continued knocking on the door without stopping.

Who would have thought Zion would get so upset over a simple necklace?

Although she didn’t like what he was doing, she couldn’t leave him alone either.

“So stubborn…”

Hanette grabbed the doorknob and shook it vigorously.

But it was locked from the inside, and she couldn’t open it.

Using magic might burn the door down, but she could get caught by her parents or the maids.

“Bring me the key to this room!”

“What? But…”

“I said bring it!”

“O-Okay.”

The maid quickly turned and ran down the hallway.

Hanette sighed and started knocking again.

“Hey! Come out! Let’s talk. Just staying in there won’t solve anything…”

With a click, the door made a slight sound.

Hanette stepped back, startled.

The door opened, and Zion appeared.

“Why are you making such a racket? Can’t you be quiet?”

“Why are you doing this? If you’re upset with me, you should say something!”

Hanette, wrapped in tension, stared at Zion.

Unlike the previous day, his eyes were lifeless, and his shoulders were trembling slightly.

It looked like he had been grappling with deep loneliness for a long time.

“… What are you talking about? I’m not upset with you.”

“Sigh… Come in. Let’s talk inside.”

“Can’t you wait a little longer? It’s almost done.”

“I’ll wait, but come inside.”

“I said wait outside?”

“Enough! Let’s talk inside.”

Seeing Hanette wouldn’t back down, Zion reluctantly stepped aside.

Hanette quickly scanned the room for any changes.

Zion, moving weakly, closed the door.

“So, why did you bring up making me a widow?”

“Look, see this? I’m wearing the necklace like you wanted. Just don’t do this again!”

“What’s that? Oh, that.”

Zion finally noticed the relic around Hanette’s neck and chuckled.

Had she made all this fuss just to show him that?

“Hmm… It suits you. Glad I picked it out.”

“Of course it does. You picked something you liked, so naturally, it suits me, right?”

“You don’t usually wear jewelry. I thought a necklace would look nice.”

Despite his hunger and thirst, Zion didn’t show any annoyance.

Until a moment ago, he had been struggling to endure, feeling dizzy.

But Hanette’s visit and her usual behavior gave him a slight boost of energy.

“… I can wear a necklace at least. Earrings are a bit much.”

“What’s wrong with earrings?”

“You have to pierce your ears… It’s a bit much.”

“Ha! Afraid of getting your ears pierced?”

“Hey! Who likes getting their ears pierced?”

“Hmm… Makes sense. What do you mean by ‘a bit much’?”

“They’re too flashy. I don’t like flashy things.”

“Surprisingly modest.”

“Those are for impressing other nobles. It has nothing to do with me.”

“… With your looks, nobles would flock to you.”

Zion, sitting down, spoke sincerely.

Nobles called Hanette the Crazy Young Lady but couldn’t ignore her because of her appearance.

Hanette deliberately distanced herself from the nobles, but some dared to approach her.

Every time, Hanette snapped at them, scaring them away.

“So, you see, you’re too good for this. At least I look the part.”

“Heh… Acting arrogant now.”

“As the Crazy Young Lady, I can be arrogant, right?”

“Didn’t you hate being called that?”

“It’s fine if I say it myself.”

“So, should I serve you better or something?”

“I’m not asking for that. Just don’t pull stunts like this. What’s the point of locking yourself up for a day?”

Hanette, showing concern, inwardly felt relieved.

Though they were forcibly engaged, she didn’t want Zion to have any problems.

Both were in the same situation and had promised to cooperate.

“I told you beforehand.”

“But actually doing it?”

“Sigh… I had to do it.”

“You’re really… Fine, you win. I’ll wear this from now on, so don’t do this again. Got it?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You were being stubborn!”

“I wasn’t being stubborn.”

“Then why were you locked up?”

“That’s… Wait a moment.”

Zion, noticing a change in his body, waved his hand.

The cool sensation that had been circulating his body began to fade.

In its place, a warm feeling spread throughout his body.

“Are you okay? Is something wrong?”

“I’m not in pain… just hungry. And thirsty.”

“Have you been fasting? You haven’t eaten anything all day?”

“It just happened that way. Oh, and this is a secret from Duke Adelaira, okay?”

“Hey, you crazy fool! Why were you fasting?”

Hanette, unconsciously swearing, looked at him with pity.

What was so important about that necklace that he even skipped meals?

If she had known, she would have worn the necklace right away.

“Sigh… Alright. I’ll show you. There’s something I gained from fasting.”

Zion opened his right hand and drew something deep from within his body.

An unusual energy emanated from his heart and reached his right hand.

“Don’t tell me…”

“You know what this is, right? I said I would awaken it.”

“Suddenly like this?”

“Things often happen suddenly.”

Zion released the golden magic into his right hand.

This was the power of El Tesoykve and the immunity to magical erosion he had sought.

Though not perfect compared to El Tesoykve’s original power, it was enough to handle Exceed Rain.

‘… I need to consume Limpi Machina to make this truly effective.’

Red Limpi Machina granted immunity to mental domination and helped manifest El Tesoykve’s power.

Thus, drinking the holy water and fully absorbing its power into his body.

However, awakening the power increased the risk of failure, and if El Tesoykve rejected the user, it could be fatal.

‘I was lucky to meet the conditions. Should I call it luck?’

Zion, retracting his magic, felt a sense of relief.

It had taken considerable time and money, but he had achieved his goal.

Now, he just needed to draw Exceed Rain with the right equipment.

“Alright, let’s go eat. Can you walk?”

“If I can’t, will you carry me?”

“I’d rather kick you, but I’m holding back. Just follow quietly.”

“You’d kick your fiancé? Isn’t that too much?”

“Isn’t it better than starving yourself over something trivial?”

“…”

Zion couldn’t find words and slowly started walking.

To Hanette, awakening magic might not seem like a big deal.

Hanette had already awakened her magic and learned spells.

‘But at least she’s using the gift I gave. I guess I’m not entirely disliked.’

* * *

Duke Adelaira’s mansion, Yenid’s room.

Yenid watched Zion and Hanette closely during breakfast.

From breakfast onward, their behavior was unusual, and their reactions were different.

Though Yenid felt somewhat pleased, the rapid pace made her curious.

‘Hmm… Strange…’

Yenid recalled the earlier events while deep in thought.

Hanette had brought plates of food to Zion, who ate without a word.

Zion behaved courteously and ate all the food brought to him.

It was as if they had grown much closer in a short time.

‘She even brought him snacks herself…’

After breakfast, the two were the first to leave the dining room.

Through the maids, Yenid learned that Hanette had taken a tray of snacks to Zion’s room.

Hanette had personally brought everything, whether food or snacks.

‘Did they fight?’

Yenid came to a simple conclusion after much thought.

Being close didn’t mean they wouldn’t fight at all.

Zion hadn’t left his room since yesterday morning, and Hanette hadn’t been near it.

They had likely fought and spent a day apart.

‘Not sure who’s at fault, but… it might be good.’

If they fought, they could reconcile somehow.

Not trying to reconcile after a fight was a bigger issue.

But since Hanette had stepped back, it was practically a peace offering.

‘Couples fight.’

Even with mutual care, couples couldn’t avoid disagreements.

They would argue and turn away in anger.

Knowing how to make up was crucial for a smooth married life.

‘But she’s not the type to apologize first.’

With Hanette’s personality, she wouldn’t apologize first.

She’d probably think she was right and push Zion away.

‘If Zion accepts it, then…’

Zion had only shown interest in Hanette, never dislike.

So, even if they fought, he wouldn’t have been very angry and would accept her apology.

Yenid confirmed this by noticing something.

‘She was wearing the necklace.’

Yenid knew Zion would give Hanette a gift.

Zion had shown the gift to Yenid beforehand.

Hanette, who didn’t usually wear jewelry, had a necklace on for a reason.

‘She must like the gift. Or she likes Zion.’

Yenid had thought Hanette would prefer something more flashy, but her preferences weren’t important.

What mattered was that Hanette and Zion were getting closer.

Yenid felt like she had new tasks ahead.

‘The wedding venue and trousseau… Oh, should I start picking out the wedding dress first?’