IMHMF 17

Chapter 17

“Those eyes, what kind of eyes do you mean?”

“Do not follow me!”

“Loa, you are going to fall.”

“That is why I am telling you not to follow… ah!”

No sooner had Eden finished speaking than my body tilted in an instant.

Tripping while running away and kissing the ground, that would really be a mortifying memory, I thought, when a strong force pulled me firmly into an embrace.

“Watch out, you are falling.”

It was him.

Because of Eden holding me tightly and refusing to let go, I had no choice but to face him directly.

“So then, what kind of eyes did you mean?”

Since I could not run away, I would at least have to cover his eyes. I carefully placed both hands over Eden’s face.

“If you promise to stay like this.”

“…Very well.”

“I heard that the Hylus bloodline has a quality that bewitches others.”

“Who told you that?”

“……”

“Alb told you.”

“I answered, so please let me go now.”

“You might fall again on the way, so let us go like this.”

Even with my hands covering his eyes, he lifted me into his arms. Because of that, my hands that had been covering his eyes fell away.

“If you do not want to fall, hold on to me.”

I did not want to follow his words, but to avoid another encounter with the ground, I had no choice but to wrap my arms around his neck.

“Eden…”

“……”

“Eden…”

“What is it?”

“People are watching.”

“They will think we are a close and affectionate pair of engaged people.”

“That is the problem! We are con…!”

I nearly said it out loud without thinking. After checking around to make sure no one had heard, I lowered my voice to a whisper just quiet enough not to be overheard.

“We are in a contractual relationship.”

But Eden’s expression did not change in the slightest, as though he did not care.

“They would not know either way.”

In the end, I was carried into my room in his arms. Eden even dismissed all the servants who had been standing outside my door before entering.

“Why did you dismiss the servants, why…”

“I do not eat my fiancée, so do not be frightened.”

Eden, who had carefully set me down on the chair near the bed, opened his mouth.

“There is something you need to know before we visit the imperial palace tomorrow.”

“Something I need to know?”

“Do not have a private audience with the emperor.”

“A private audience?”

“When we go to the imperial palace, the emperor will try to separate us by any means possible. And if the emperor wishes it, it will have to happen.”

“How am I supposed to avoid having a private audience with the emperor?”

“That is now your responsibility to figure out.”

The faint smile Eden wore was infuriating.

Excuse me. Are you not speaking far too casually about something that is not your situation to deal with?

“Still, do not worry too much. If such a situation arises, I promise I will return quickly.”

“Does the emperor know about the contract between you and me?”

“He does not.”

“Then who does know? I feel I should act accordingly.”

“…No one yet.”

“Pardon?”

Eden’s words were unexpected. I had thought that after promising me a divorce and agreeing to a contractual relationship, he would have immediately told his closest confidants…

“And you?”

“I also have not told anyone…”

“I will tell them when the time comes. And the time has not yet come.”

“……”

“And as for the imperial palace library, we will go tomorrow before visiting the emperor.”

The imperial palace library. It was an opportunity to find a clue about the sorcery Eloa had performed.

“Ah, but secretly.”

“Secretly?”

“If they find out we arrived early, they will summon us early.”

“Ah…”

“Then get some rest.”

After Eden left, I thought once more about <The Lady Who Holds the Leash>. In the novel, the emperor had been described as follows: ‘Emperor Istria was a wise and benevolent ruler.’

If he was such a wise ruler, then why? I could not understand Eden’s excessive wariness.

However, it was not long before I came to understand Eden’s thinking.

Upon leaving Loa’s room, he immediately sought out Alb. There was simply too much information she was receiving through Alb.

“Alb.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Please refrain from telling Loa unnecessary things.”

“Understood.”

Alb, unaware of Eden’s true thoughts, simply assumed his master was embarrassed and let it go at that.

Perhaps because of the imperial palace visit, the ducal residence was bustling with activity from early morning.

I was no exception. I woke earlier than usual, and it took far longer than usual to get ready. Just as I was about to put on my accessories.

Knock, knock.

Someone knocked urgently.

At my brief response, the ones who entered the room were Schmitz and Eden. At their appearance, the servants who had been attending to me all stepped aside at once.

“I am glad I am not too late.”

Schmitz, who appeared to have been running, had beads of sweat dotting his forehead.

“I have developed something that should be of help to the young lady.”

Schmitz, speaking with a rather proud smile, handed me a glove.

“It is a glove?”

“Yes, but not an ordinary glove. The young lady currently has a constitution in which the magical energy of magic stones is absorbed into her body, and is that not only occurring when they come into contact with her hands?”

Schmitz’s expression as he introduced what seemed to be his masterpiece looked positively excited.

“If you wear this glove, no matter what magic stone you touch, the magical energy will not be absorbed. Since it would be dangerous for a vast amount of magical energy to enter the young lady’s body, you must wear this glove whenever you go out to be safe.”

The glove, which appeared nearly transparent, changed to the same color and a similar design as the clothes I was wearing the moment I put it on. A gasp of admiration escaped me involuntarily.

“Oh my…!”

It felt as though I were experiencing firsthand the magical girl transformation scenes I used to watch on TV as a child.

“This part right here is what I poured my heart and soul into creating!”

“Schmitz, you are truly remarkable! You entered and graduated from the Er National Academy at the youngest age ever, and now you can invent something like this. You are genuinely amazing.”

The praise I gave him was filled with complete sincerity. At my words of praise, Schmitz’s shoulders seemed to rise considerably.

“Ahem, it was not particularly difficult.”

“Is Schmitz not truly a genius? How on earth can you make something like this?”

“I am involved not only in medicine but also in magic stone development and artifact development.”

As Schmitz and I clasped hands and spun around jumping up and down, Eden’s gentle hand came to rest on top of my head.

“Loa, do not run, you might get hurt.”

“Oh, what is there to worry about. We have Schmitz here, a genius in medicine and magic stones!”

“Wahh!”

Schmitz and I stamped our feet and clasped hands like friends reunited after a long time.

“Schmitz.”

At Eden’s low voice, Schmitz seemed to snap back to his senses and quickly returned to his usual composure.

“Ahem, in any case, I made it with the intention of being of help to the young lady.”

“Thank you, Schmitz. Truly.”

I had not felt it while staying only within the ducal residence, but wearing the glove made me freshly aware that my constitution had changed. Still, thanks to the glove Schmitz had given me, I felt more reassured about the journey to the imperial palace.

Once I boarded the carriage and the door closed, Eden spoke.

“You have not forgotten what I told you yesterday?”

“Yes, avoid a private audience with the emperor.”

Apparently satisfied with my answer, he gave a light nod.

“What will you be doing while I am in the library, Eden?”

“I also have things to look into, just as you do.”

“Ah…”

Right, Eden is a duke. How much must he have to do. Work hard, Eden Cler Hylus!

“When I am done, I will come to the library.”

“Yes, understood.”

The carriage heading toward the imperial palace came to a stop as it drew near.

“Since we are visiting early without the emperor’s knowledge, we will get out here and walk in.”

He stepped out of the carriage first and extended his hand to me. At the sight of that hand, my heart inexplicably began to beat faster.

“Loa?”

“Ah…”

“Are you unwell?”

“No, it is just… it feels natural now, having you escort me.”

He took my hesitant hand and lightly pressed his lips to the back of my gloved hand. That kiss made me feel strangely flustered. Since we were bound by contract, it was something I should have been able to brush off without a second thought, but the awareness that the servants were watching made my face feel even more flushed.

“Get used to it. There will be more once we are married.”