“Ah, right. Since we’re holding hands this close…”

I smiled slyly and rummaged through my pockets.

Then I took out the ring and slipped it onto Zahid’s left ring finger.

The previously loose ring adjusted itself perfectly to Zahid’s finger.

This was the ring I had received from the Magic Tower in advance by parcel.

“Th-This is!”

“It’s the engagement ring I prepared. So, don’t glare at the bouquet Shulva received like that. This one is more expensive. I hope the capital flows in your favor.”

And, to show off, I also put on the same design of ring on my left hand.

“It doesn’t have any special functions except for automatic size adjustment, but I really wanted to buy it for you.”

“You really…!”

“Are you thanking me? It’s fine. I’ve told you I have plenty of money, so don’t feel burdened and just accept it.”

When Zahid opened his eyes wide in disbelief,

“…And I’m thankful, Zahid.”

I looked up at Zahid, smiling faintly, and spoke with sincerity.

“Thank you for holding on until now. I wanted to come earlier, but this was the best I could do.”

Zahid’s mouth, which had been shouting angrily, slightly opened.

Holding hands and looking into his eyes closely, I smiled and firmly added,

“You’ve really been through a lot.”

Then, slowly, I let go of his hand.

“Today, at least… rest well.”

“Woof woof! Woof woof woof woof!”

<Marry that one! Marry that one!>

Meanwhile, Shulva bent down and took Ethan’s note.

PM 3:53 Rosie has held Zahid’s hand.

We must cut off that bastard’s wrist.

Of course, I’m too scared to do it. I hope Julian does it.

“For the safety of the new master, I’ll dispose of this.”

“What?! Is it possible to just switch sides to that damn brat’s side like this?”

“As professionals, there’s no helping it, Lord Ethan.”

“Woof woof woof! Woof woof woof!”

<Marry that one! Please!>

And in the middle of this chaos, I led Ethan’s arm.

“Let’s go now.”

It was truly time to leave.

“Before returning to the Count’s manor, there’s somewhere else we need to stop by.”

“Where’s that?”

“I told you. The Magic Tower.”

I smiled as I pulled Ethan along.

“Of course, you’re coming with me, Ethan.”

There was a reason I had brought Ethan along on the way here.

I was planning to help speed up Ethan’s future as the greatest archmage.

****

Dyfenril Duchy.

Zahid smiled bitterly.

Rosie had suddenly appeared and then just as quickly left. Like a dandelion seed blown by the wind, she came and then disappeared.

“Well then, I’ll take care of the personnel arrangement.”

Shulva stayed behind with an expressionless face and reported in a blunt manner.

“For now, it might be best to change everyone out, but… I think it would be fine to keep the servant who sent the Duke’s annulment letter. What was that servant’s name?”

“It’s me.”

Zahid glared sharply at Shulva, holding a bouquet.

“I don’t trust you guys.”

Shulva was Rosie’s person.

It seemed like Rosie had planted her own people in the Duchy.

On the surface, nothing had changed.

“I don’t believe in salvation, and I don’t believe in good intentions.”

Those who came saying there would be no more worries, that they would get rid of the bad people, and then proceeded to treat others even worse.

The eleven-year-old boy was already too tired.

“Good attitude. Never trust anyone easily. If you’re in a high position, you should act accordingly.”

Shulva replied without changing his expression.

Staring at his face, Zahid grumbled, adding,

“I don’t believe him saying he likes me. I’m sure there’s some hidden agenda I don’t know about.”

“Well, that’s possible.”

“He might have connections with the Noart Count or the Temple. They probably have a lot to gain from Dyfenril Duchy.”

“That’s a reasonable suspicion.”

“Which is why I don’t trust you, who I’m meeting for the first time either. Just know that.”

“Oh, how satisfying. As expected, Lady Rosie recommended such a marvelous new job for me.”

Shulva mumbled with a face that genuinely seemed to be in admiration.

“My previous boss made me feel burdened, constantly using our past relationship as an excuse for blind trust…”

Zahid, staring at Shulva, who was now even exhaling with satisfaction, flinched.

“I’ve been treated like a parachute just because of past connections, even though I have outstanding abilities. It feels so refreshing to be recognized only for my abilities.”

The expression ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) on Zahid’s face after hearing the words of criticism was one of pride, as though he found it satisfying.

‘…It feels like they’re trying to be kind, but in the end, they’re just as unyielding as him!’

Then, Shulva, now ready to begin his work, bowed respectfully and left, carefully holding the bouquet.

Left alone again, Zahid sighed deeply and slowly descended from the chair as if collapsing.

“Yip, woof!”

Fire caught him from below. Zahid wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and gave a faint smile.

“It’s fine, Fire.”

The boy’s hand gently stroked Fire’s ear.

“She said the tranquilizer would arrive soon, so if that’s true, the pain won’t last much longer.”

It seemed like the overwhelming events of the day were finally taking their toll as Zahid’s eyes slowly began to close.

For the first time in a long while, Zahid felt a sense of lethargy.

“Woof woof woof, woof!”

“Being stabilized by selling you off with spiritual energy or being stabilized by selling me off with a tranquilizer… Of course, it’s better to sell myself…”

The image of the girl walking toward him, backlit by the sunlight, was still vivid in his mind.

Her face, smiling sweetly while holding a bouquet as big as her body, was so radiant in this hellish place.

He had sworn several times not to be deceived by that radiance.

Elizabeth had seemed like a beautiful angel when she first appeared, too.

But…

“Thank you for holding on until now.”

Although he knew that enduring wasn’t the answer, he had no choice but to endure, and so he did.

And then, as though reading his thoughts, she had said that.

“You’ve really been through a lot.”

There was something that stirred within him with that one sentence.

Perhaps he had endured all this time just to hear those words.

If there was someone who genuinely cared for him, it seemed like they would surely say something like that.

Of course, he had to remember not to be deceived.

His grandfather, uncle, and aunt had all said comforting words at the beginning, and yet…

And with this engagement, the Noart Count Family had gained something.

That was the Noart Count’s seat in the noble council.

So he couldn’t trust that girl, who had bribed the Senate and planted her own followers in the Duchy.

‘If I’m deceived again, it’ll be my fault. Besides, that girl is a complete stranger.’

Over time, her angelic face might change completely and trample him mercilessly.

He forcibly pushed away the warm sensation still lingering on his hand, trying to forget it.

When only a tiny amount of spiritual energy entered, he struggled to calm his weakening heart.

He glared at the ring on his finger, which seemed like a lie.

“Well, I guess… the engagement only lasts until I reach adulthood…”

So, this ring only needed to stay until then.

Zahid’s voice grew slower and slower.

“…But something’s strange, Fire.”

The boy furrowed his brow and curled his body tighter.

“I confirmed with my own eyes that there isn’t much spiritual energy… so why am I getting sleepy?”

He hadn’t been able to sleep properly for a long time due to the pain.

When he finally collapsed, exhausted, to sleep, he’d always wake up suddenly in a cold sweat, thrashing in pain.

When he couldn’t sleep well, the aftereffects of insomnia caused his body to ache even more, creating an endless cycle of suffering.

But…

“Just for today… rest well.”

That whisper, which was undoubtedly sincere, once again gently echoed in his ear.

Zahid, with no more time to think, had already forgotten the pain and quietly fell asleep.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep