༺ I Didn’t Mean for Them to Come to My House (3) ༻
The Crown Prince had offered me ten gold coins and numerous other supports, creating a situation where I had to move without questioning things. I had no choice. I couldn’t pull off a scam against the Crown Prince. If I did such a thing, no country would offer me asylum.
I sometimes think it might be better not to receive anything and do nothing.
‘It was something bound to happen, anyway.’
From the moment the funds were deposited, I brainwashed myself. I’m an advisor, so I was bound to be squeezed for services. If I was going to move anyway, it was better to do it and receive something rather than do it for free, right? I decided to think that way for my mental health.
And to be honest, it’s not me who should be worried about my mental health.
— Master, have you been doing well?
A middle-aged man appeared through the communication crystal and politely bowed when he saw my face.
He was the butler of a mansion where the master spent more time away than at home. He was also the person in charge of a mansion where a prince of the Empire, two members of foreign royal families, and a candidate for the next Saint were going to stay.
“I’m doing well as always. How have you been?”
— Thanks to the Master’s grace, I’ve been having pleasant days.
I chuckled at the butler’s response. However, I felt a bit sorry.
I’m sorry, but things won’t be pleasant starting from today.
“I’ll be returning to the mansion in a few days.”
— That’s great news. We’ll prepare to welcome you, even if it’s today.
“I’ll be bringing some guests.”
Describing the lineup of those guests required more courage to be hated than I had expected.
— …We’re going to prepare adequately to honor your name.
The butler lowered his head after a brief moment of silence. It was touching to hear that he was going to follow my orders. However, it was easy to see his eyes trembling even through the communication crystal. If the usually composed butler was reacting like this, it meant he was quite unsettled.
“Alright. See you at the mansion.”
I hastily ended the call to avoid saying anything unnecessary. I’m sorry, but please understand. I’m a victim, too. The Crown Prince is the asshole here.
After finishing the call that seemed to have accumulated a bit of resentment from the butler, I went to the Magic Tower and sat blankly. I hadn’t managed to find a Magician who could teleport me back to the Academy yet. Back then, I couldn’t make reservations since I wasn’t sure when the meeting would end.
However, the Magic Tower wasn’t that busy these days, so I should be able to get someone. There were times when the reservations were fully booked for three days straight when it was really busy.
While I was looking at the floor patterns of the Tower’s lobby, a shadow loomed above me. Lifting my head, I found the Mage Duchess looking down at me.
‘Fuck.’
I was planning to grab any available Magician, but I never had any intention of catching the Head of the Magic Tower herself.
“Baby? What brings you here?”
The Mage Duchess naturally sat next to me. Elder, why are you doing this to me?
“It’s okay, sit down.”
As I tried to get up in a hurry, she pushed me down by my shoulder. No, I wanted to get up because I’m not okay.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
“Who lets their guests stand?”
But saying what I thought might upset her, so I suppressed them. The Head of the Magic Tower tends to get easily irritated over minor things. Perhaps it was due to her age.
While fighting the urge to talk back, the Mage Duchess tidied up her long hair and asked me another question.
“When did you come to the Capital?”
“I came up today because His Highness the Crown Prince called for a meeting. I need to return to the Academy as soon as possible.”
“A meeting?”
Judging by her reaction, it seemed like the Mage Duchess was unaware of what had happened. Well, the Magic Tower had little to do with the administration, so there was no reason for her to be informed.
“The club I’m in charge of will come to the Capital.”
“Oh, my.”
The Mage Duchess expressed her sympathy. Just saying those words was enough to explain my situation. Everyone has probably heard about what I did at the Academy and who was in the pastry club.
“The Academy isn’t very close to the capital. It will be hard to come and go.”
“It’s okay. I’ve decided to stay at my mansion during the vacation, so they just have to come.”
Even the Mage Duchess was lost for words after hearing that.
“Stay strong.”
Then, she started to pat my head gently. Was this how a dog shivering in the cold felt when someone patted their head?
‘Mother…’
Somehow, it felt like a mother’s touch, which warmed my heart. It felt like the wounds caused by the Crown Prince and the Ministers were being healed. Maybe I wanted to hear warm words of encouragement rather than cold support.
I’m sure the Mage Duchess realized how I felt, even if I hadn’t realized it myself. Of course, I didn’t call her ‘Mother.’ If I had done so, magic would have come out from her patting hands, so I kept them to myself.
“If you’re having a hard time, let me know. I’ll help if I can.”
“Just your words are enough. Thank you.”
I felt like asking the Duchess for support when things were tough would probably make things even tougher.
After stroking my head for a while, the Mage Duchess got up and asked me to wait for a moment.
“Drink one a day. It’s better if you drink it in the morning.”
She came back with a box full of small glass bottles and a Magician.
“Ah, yes.”
“It’s good for you, so don’t forget. One a day, got it?”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
The Mage Duchess smiled satisfyingly. Then she turned around and left, leaving me and the Magician alone in the lobby.
“I’m going to take you.”
“Ah, thanks.”
Although the process had been weird, at least I found a Magician.
* * *
I could feel mana wavering outside of the tower. Someone had just teleported away.
‘How could he be so indifferent?’
It’s frustrating how he came to the Tower and didn’t even come to greet me, especially when I’m sure he knows how much I care about him.
I felt hurt when I heard that my baby had come through the Vice Head of the Magic Tower and not because he came to greet me. I had told him before that I felt disappointed for having heard of him through the Intelligence’s Executive Manager and not him, but this happened again.
I was planning to scold him this time, but I changed my mind after seeing his exhausted appearance in the lobby. How could I scold him after seeing him like that?
‘He shouldn’t suffer so much from such a young age.’
Remembering his tired appearance made me worry again. Was he eating properly? Was he sleeping on time? He shouldn’t be too immersed in work. Was he managing his stress properly?
He’s still young and has much growing to do. He had more time to live than the one he’d lived until now. Something must not go wrong. But still, I’m glad he visited after the potion was completed.
‘I was pondering about when to give it to him.’
It would be difficult to go to the Academy, and it was too important to entrust it to someone else. I was waiting for my baby to come to the Capital, so the timing was perfect.
What I gave my baby was a potion made of my blood and his. Of course, just as I’ve told him, this would be good for his body. It was something I put my heart and soul into making. It also contained my mother’s knowledge.
‘If only I had completed it during my mother’s life.’
Thinking of my mother made me uneasy. This wasn’t something that could be easily made. I had been able to complete it after a series of miracles, but if my mother had succeeded in making it, and if she’d succeeded in making it while my father was alive…
“Trexy, you mustn’t go through the same sorrow as I did.”
My father, who had been a pure human unlike my mother, had left her side early. My mother suffered deeply because of depression and threw away her God-given life to follow him.
My mother advised me not to experience the same sorrow as her by falling in love with someone who didn’t have the same lifespan.
That’s why I poured a lot of effort into researching how to overcome one’s lifespan. I didn’t know whether I would fall in love with someone or not, but I did it to fulfill my mother’s wish and for the sake of those who would experience the same sorrow as my mother.
“I greet the honorable Mage Duchess.”
I never imagined my partner would appear before the potion was completed.
However, thanks to him, I was able to complete it. It was truly a fateful encounter. Yes. My life was clearly given to me by the heavens to meet my baby.
Of course, drinking one potion wouldn’t bring about a significant change. However, its effects will accumulate with consistent consumption, and eventually, the intended effect will bloom.
“Several decades…”
I muttered, thinking about the time left ahead. Yes, several decades. I just had to make him drink that potion for about 40 years. Then, my baby could walk by my side.
I’ve already walked alone for 100 years. I could walk with someone if I waited just a few more decades, and my baby was only twenty-one. I could definitely wait that long.
* * *
The color of the potion was a subtle mix of red and brown. It reminded me of something I had seen before.
‘Is it ginseng?’
I heard it was good for the body. That’s why it reminded me of ginseng extract. Even the instruction to drink one a day was the same. Well, it was something mommy Mage Duchess had made. Thank you for taking care of your son.
I opened one immediately since she said I should have one a day. The Mage Duchess made it, so its effects were guaranteed. Although it felt like I was drinking a beverage rather than medicine due to the subtle scent of strawberries, I trusted the Mage Duchess.
Maybe it was because I drank it with such a strong belief, but I immediately felt my fatigue melt away. The placebo effect was incredible.
‘I should drink it every day.’
I’m not sure if the effects are immediate, but I feel good. Isn’t that enough? If they sell this in the Magic Tower, I should keep buying it regularly.
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