Side Story 1 – Chapter 10

 

* * *

 

He handed Echo back to Evan and turned around.

“Y-Your…”

Evan, holding Echo, shouted towards him.

“I didn’t abandon the Lady!”

“Magician Evan.”

The Emperor, about to leave the reception room, seemed to recall something and looked back at him, hand on the doorknob.

“Yes.”

“Tomorrow is the research information sharing day, isn’t it?”

The leaders of the Magic Tower and the imperial family held regular meetings to exchange necessary information, and the young Emperor, who was always thirsty for knowledge, never missed those meetings.

“Yes, I’ll be attending as well in Teacher’s absence.”

“That’s unfortunate, I won’t be able to see you tomorrow. I have an appointment with my precious Lady. I suppose there won’t be any major problems if I’m absent for a day?”

“…I think those words should be directed to Your Majesty’s researchers.”

“Ah, right.”

The Emperor nodded nonchalantly and grinned.

“It shouldn’t matter to you who I meet.”

“…”

“Then, I’ll excuse myself. Next time, I’ll send a proper notice before visiting. I wouldn’t want to trouble Magician Pierce any further when he’s already exhausted from childcare.”

Evan just bit his lip, unsure of how to respond.

The Emperor, seemingly unconcerned, left the reception room.

He heard Pierce, who had been waiting in the hallway, greeting the Emperor in surprise and offering him tea.

But judging from the sound of footsteps fading away, it seemed the Emperor had declined his offer.

Evan still stood there blankly, holding Echo.

“…Meow.”

Evan hung his head, feeling like Echo was calling him pathetic.

“I… know.”

“Meow.”

No, you don’t know anything.

Echo answered firmly.

 

* * *

 

The next day was incredibly gloomy.

The air was thick with moisture, as if it were about to rain or snow, making the cold even sharper.

In this dreary weather, Evan, with a reluctant look on his face, headed towards the Imperial Palace.

“Magician Evan, you don’t have to share the detailed research materials if you dislike it that much.”

Evan was startled by Magician Miguel’s words and asked back.

“H-huh?!”

“The research on mana stones.”

“Ah, n-no… That’s not it. I apologize.”

Evan blushed and shook his head quickly.

The research information sharing session with the imperial family was a place held “for the advancement of the minds representing the nation”, but in reality, there was considerable rivalry between the two sides.

They all hoped to give away only obvious information and extract advanced knowledge from each other.

“I would like to share the research on mana stones as much as possible. Just like Magician Miguel’s research on emotions, it’s important to observe the reactions of non-magicians.”

“Well… if you think so, then we should share it.”

They arrived at the lake garden near the Imperial Palace’s meeting room, and Evan and Miguel got out of the carriage along with the other magicians.

“What a coincidence.”

Miguel, who got out of the carriage, rushed towards a nearby hallway, looking delighted.

“Magician Miguel?”

Hearing a woman’s slightly flustered voice, Evan turned around in surprise. Loretta was standing where Miguel had stopped.

Judging from the fact that she wasn’t accompanied by any attendants, it seemed she was taking a walk in the garden while visiting the palace with the Duke.

She soon approached Miguel with a bright smile.

“Magician Miguel, I missed you. How have you been?”

When she was young, Loretta had always comfortably called him “Grandpa”.

But after being scolded by Jeremiah, she had changed her title and speech towards him to be more respectful.

“Tsk. That dreadful way of speaking again.”

“It can’t be helped. My brother told me to treat you with respect and courtesy.”

“Why do nobles all become so boring when they get old?”

“But I still like you the same, Miguel. Although I won’t deny that I’ve become a bit boring myself.”

Miguel grumbled and patted Loretta’s head affectionately, treating her like a granddaughter.

“Out for another walk?”

“No, I have an appointment. Near the temple.”

Loretta added in a small voice, ‘Please keep it a secret from my brother?’

“You won’t even have time to talk. Oh, this busy life.”

“Busy?”

Loretta raised her head and looked at the group of magicians who had come with him.

Thanks to frequent visits to the Magic Tower, she knew several of their faces, and among them was…

“Evan…”

When she muttered his name softly, Magician Miguel beckoned Evan towards them. As if telling him to come over right away.

“M-Master Miguel.”

Evan nervously approached the hallway, looking tense.

It was the first time he had seen Loretta since that day.

“H-hello, Miss.”

He barely managed to stammer out a greeting.

“Yes, hello. Evan.”

Her greeting in return was surprisingly light and cheerful. Perhaps because he had expected to be ignored, Evan was overjoyed and moved.

“Magician Evan, judging from my aching back, it seems like it’ll rain soon. It looks like you’ll have to hold an umbrella for this tomboy who respects me. To the temple.”

“M-me?!”

“Do you want this old man to do it?!”

He shouted and then slowly walked towards the other magicians, muttering, “Oh, my back.”

Suddenly left alone with Loretta, Evan nervously clasped his hands together.

“Um… then I’ll go get an umbrella.”

“No, it’s alright. You don’t have to.”

Evan quickly shook his head at her refusal.

“Magician Miguel’s rain predictions are quite accurate, Miss.”

“I know.”

“Please wait a moment, I’ll get an umbrella from the carriage.”

“You don’t have to worry, Evan. You’re here for a meeting, so don’t worry about me.”

Evan couldn’t answer her somewhat cold words, standing frozen in place.

Loretta, seemingly having nothing more to say, walked past him into the garden beyond the hallway, saying, “Then I’ll be going.”

At that moment, cold raindrops began to fall from the dark clouds gathering in the sky.

Evan followed Loretta without hesitation.

He remembered something she had said when they were young.

 

“Actually, I don’t like the rain. It reminds me of the painful rain that fell when I parted with my mother forever…”

 

There had even been tears in Loretta’s eyes as she spoke, so Evan couldn’t help but hug her.

‘I can’t let Miss walk in the rain alone.’

Evan reached out towards Loretta. But a large man suddenly blocked his way.

Startled, Evan quickly looked up.

“…Sir Mullern.”

“Hello, Magician Evan.”

He smiled his characteristically kind smile and opened a large umbrella.

He must have been quietly following Loretta to escort her from the beginning.

Soon, the large umbrella was gently placed over Loretta’s head.

Plop.

The first raindrop that fell from the sky splashed on the umbrella.

“Ah.”

Evan finally understood the true meaning of Loretta’s “You don’t have to worry.”

It wasn’t simply to decline his kindness.

“…”

He felt ashamed of himself for worrying that she might be walking in the rain alone.

‘I was… mistaken.’

 

“Then instead of watching a meteor shower together and going to the reception room, hold my hand, you can at least do that, right? Evan.”

“Would you… dance with me?”

“Even if I…… want it, is it not okay?”

 

Until now, Evan had thought he had a “choice” in his relationship with her.

But that was arrogance.

It was all because Loretta had “allowed” him to make those choices.

If it weren’t for her generosity, Evan…

“…Miss.”

Evan stared blankly at Loretta’s back, which was now out of his reach.

The Emperor’s attendants were waiting to escort her.

The raindrops, which had been falling slowly one by one, suddenly became heavier.

Loretta, who briefly turned around as she walked away, met his gaze.

“…”

Her large blue eyes widened in surprise.

She probably hadn’t expected Evan to still be there.

But that was only for a moment.

Soon, the Emperor, who approached Loretta, completely blocked their line of sight.

 

“Whether you had abandoned your position, and I could take your place.”

 

The Emperor’s words about abandonment weren’t wrong at all.

Evan finally realized that.

The winter rain began to fall even harder.