CHAPTER 089
"Is it getting worse?"
"Yes. Although it's not clear since there aren't multiple magic stones next to you yet. It could get worse, you know."
It would be a relief if having multiple stones didn't remove the noise, but it would just be annoying.
Since their power had never been demonstrated simultaneously, it was hard to tell which it would be.
Lewis nodded at my words.
"That would be bothersome too. Since the Crown Prince made this, we can't just ignore it."
Then Lewis suddenly handed over an envelope.
"What is this?"
"It's from the temple."
The temple?
Because we found out that Philip was behind the magic stones, investigating the temple's magic circle got pushed to the back burner.
There was no choice.
The magic stones were immediately important to Lewis, and it was at the temple's request that Lewis was investigating the magic circle.
The priorities were different!
But why would the temple send a letter to the Marquis?
Could it be about the magic circle investigation?
I curiously pulled out the documents from the envelope.
"What?"
They contained an unexpected message.
"Stop investigating the magic circle?"
It was an investigation the temple had asked to start, and now they wanted to stop it?
Lewis seemed to have expected this.
"I told you. They wouldn’t be happy about their dirty laundry being aired."
"But it’s a matter of the past anyway…"
It seemed their reason for wanting to keep it quiet was because it was more recent than we thought.
"Do you think they sent the same message to His Highness the Crown Prince?"
I asked, thinking of Philip.
Philip was also interested in the magic circle.
Lewis shrugged.
"If they want to bury it completely, probably the same."
"I see…"
How ironic.
Raven was trying to uncover the secrets of this magic circle, but the temple was showing a passive attitude.
They were good people, but it seemed they had their limits.
* * *
I met Charlotte for the first time after that day. As usual, she was with Bella.
Despite discovering her holy power, Charlotte hadn't changed much.
Only a few people knew about her holy power, which she revealed.
The biggest thing that happened to her after gaining holy power might have been receiving a confession from Philip.
Today we met at Charlotte's mansion.
She wanted to show us her greenhouse.
"I’ve been growing plants recently."
She had previously just said, "This is the greenhouse," but today she intended to show it properly.
Charlotte showed us a few plants in the greenhouse.
"I’m particularly paying attention to these ones."
The plants growing in her mansion were flourishing.
"This is a plant called Saint. It's famous as a holy plant."
"Oh! I think I've seen it at the temple!"
So Charlotte was growing this too?
Charlotte led us to a table in the greenhouse.
She didn't say anything, just seemed lost in thought.
"I was satisfied with the little bit of power I gained."
She suddenly started to speak as if she wanted to share something she had been holding inside.
"So I was satisfied, but as time passed, I began to feel that I still couldn't do anything significant."
"You don’t need to do anything just because you have power."
Bella comforted Charlotte, saying it was fine.
I nodded in agreement.
"You can be satisfied. You don’t have to do something grand."
That’s why those who do leave their names in history.
Some people just want to live quietly, like me.
Charlotte smiled softly at our words and said,
"Still, since I have this power, I thought about what little things I could do. Then I noticed the plants I watered were growing well!"
"You watered them yourself?"
"Yes. I had a lot on my mind after that day, so to clear my thoughts, I took care of the plants myself."
So these well-grown plants were thanks to Charlotte’s care!
"I think it’s because of my holy power."
Charlotte showed us a particularly lush and healthy flowerpot.
"Look at this. It was withered, but it revived after I took care of it!"
"Really?"
A withered plant had become vibrant?
"Yes. Even the gardener was surprised and asked how I did it."
Although it was just plants and not people, it was still amazing.
Charlotte's holy power was already showing its effect.
Even if Lewis didn't like it, and she couldn’t use it in the same way as in the original story, she could use it for good.
Outside the greenhouse, a voice called for Charlotte.
"Miss, the Baron has arrived."
It was Charlotte's maid.
"My brother?"
Charlotte's brother?
It seemed Yaniels had returned to the mansion.
"I’ve never seen the Baron before."
"Me neither."
Bella and I whispered as we waited.
Soon, the Baron appeared in the greenhouse.
"Charlotte?"
As expected, they were siblings with a significant age gap.
Baron Yaniels, who was ten years older than Charlotte, was a full-grown adult.
"Your friends are here?"
"Oh, brother. Say hello, these are Lady Croft and Lady Elsner."
His gentle green eyes, like Charlotte’s, looked at us.
"I've heard a lot about you from my sister. Nice to meet you."
"Hello, Baron!"
The Baron came to the table and sat with us.
He seemed to want to talk to his sister's friends.
"I run a business separately, so I haven’t had much free time."
How busy he must have been! That’s why his presence was so minimal in the original story.
After a brief introduction, the Baron asked,
"Does Charlotte say any strange things? She’s very curious."
He also shared stories from her childhood.
"She was quite a troublemaker when she was little."
"Brother!"
Charlotte looked at the Baron with a gaze that seemed to say, 'Are you really doing this?'
The Baron burst into laughter.
"Alright, alright. I suppose I should stop talking about Charlotte since she dislikes it. I should get going."
"Oh, you can stay longer!"
"No need to say that. Go ahead, brother!"
Charlotte quickly sent the Baron away.
Where did that serious demeanor go when she was talking about her holy power?
After the Baron left, Charlotte gave an embarrassed smile.
"I have a comfortable relationship with my brother."
"It seems so."
Bella and I nodded.
"But he really supports me. He always encourages me."
She said shyly, looking at the flowerpots she had shown us.
"Even if it's not a great power... I'm glad it can be useful."
Her smile was heartwarming.
Charlotte, who wanted modest happiness, was too good for someone like Philip.
She found value in everything.
I silently cheered for Charlotte's future that day.
* * *
It was a holiday.
Today, I was supposed to go out with the twins, but Lewis joined us. Just as we were about to leave, Lewis came to the Duke’s mansion.
"You could have told me if you were coming…"
"Protection?"
"Don’t worry about that!"
I pointed to the guards waiting outside.
Who would bother us when I'm with the twins?
"Great. Lewis can join us."
At Michael's words, we all headed out together.
"I want to buy something."
Actually, the reason I hadn’t mentioned this outing to Lewis was that I thought he wouldn’t like it.
Today’s purpose was Bella's shopping. He wouldn’t like following us around.
But Bella led us to a familiar place.
'A jewelry store?'
It was the same place where Lewis and I had our rings made last time.
It hadn’t been long since we had our rings made… Won’t the staff remember us?
"Welcome!"
As the door opened, the staff greeted us with a smile.
And then, upon seeing Lewis and me following behind, they widened their eyes in pleasant surprise.
"Oh my."
They recognized us, didn't they?
"You’re back."
The staff greeted us warmly.
Bella asked,
"Back?"
"Yes. They came here last time too."
Oh no! They mentioned it!
"They came and bought rings."
"Oh, that protective, no, diamond ring?"
"Yes. You’re wearing it now."
Bella glanced at my ring and said nonchalantly,
"I thought it was something else. It’s a diamond ring, so it’s probably useful since Lewis put magic on it."
Was that all about the ring?
Thankfully, Bella didn’t seem interested in our rings!
While Bella turned her attention to other jewels, I quietly sighed in relief.
But at that moment, I met Lewis’s eyes.
After finishing the shopping and leaving the jewelry store, Bella offered to buy me something too, but I declined.
I already had enough.
After leaving the jewelry store, we didn’t walk side by side.
The twins were in front, and Lewis and I followed behind. We had to walk in pairs because of the crowd.
Lewis spoke to me then.
"Were you worried about being found out?"
Comments
Post a Comment