With agility, I hastily tied up my hair and draped a shower robe over myself.
I flung open the bathroom door and dashed out with wet feet.
Rubbing my wet hands on the robe in a haphazard manner, I headed straight for the desk.
It could be a message from headquarters, but the staff don’t send me messages at this hour.
Logically, who would send a message to the head of headquarters in the middle of the night?
It’s time for everyone to clock out. So, there’s only one person who would send a message at this time!
I righted the flipped messaging device and checked the screen.
An icon indicating a new message had popped up. With a tap of my index finger, the message appeared.
[❕▶▶ Ha O Mi Ca Si No ◀◀✬➄❖☪ ✤A real-time game experience like no other in the world, free to play now~~!!]
… Damn.
A profound sense of futility washed over me.
I returned to the bathroom, shaking my dripping wet bobbed hair.
I dried off my body with a towel and properly dried my hair. I thought I heard the message sound again, but I ignored it.
It must be spam again.
I don’t even understand why I’m acting like this. To be honest, I’ve been waiting for the duke’s reply all day.
Was I that moved by his actions yesterday?
Or, as Grandpa said, do I really have an interest?
No, why would I suddenly become interested in the duke?
Usually, to develop a romantic interest in someone, something special has to happen, right?
Like falling and catching each other, leading to an accidental kiss.
Or at least hearing bells ring the first time our eyes meet, or feeling my heart race, or my face turning red.
Ugh, I don’t know.
I sighed and left the bathroom again.
It’s probably spam, but it could be a rare work-related message, so I checked the message.
[I apologize for the late reply.]
Wow, unbelievable.
The pressure and discomfort that had been massaging my body washed away cleanly.
[I’ve been a bit busy since I took a three-day break from work. I’ve been outside all this time and just checked the message now. I removed the bandages yesterday. I’m very healthy, so you don’t need to worry. On the contrary, you didn’t look well yesterday, Countess. Did you rest well after returning home? ^^]
I sat down at the typewriter and started typing, then hesitated.
Wait a minute.
He’s replying to a message I sent at lunchtime, and if I reply too quickly, won’t I seem too eager?
It’s like I’ve been sitting at my desk all day waiting for a message.
I was busy with my own work today, too.
Then I suddenly thought of the curse.
Yeah, let’s not waste time. What if I turn to stone?
[Yes, thanks to your consideration, Duke, I was able to rest well.]
[I’m glad to hear you’ve removed the bandages!]
It’s a good thing I ignored the message sound and took a shower; otherwise, I might have turned to stone in the bathroom.
The reply came quickly.
[Yes, thank you. ^^]
And then I wondered if he would send more messages, but that was the end of the duke’s words.
Is he trying to end the conversation like this?
Not even a few words exchanged, and it’s over?
We’re not close enough to have much to talk about, but it’s still surprising to end it so abruptly.
[I’d like to treat you to a meal sometime, Duke. What kind of food do you like?]
That was natural.
The duke had refused all the compensation I offered on behalf of my family. He said he didn’t need anything, so I didn’t insist, but I thought I could at least offer him a meal. We didn’t get to talk much last time.
The duke didn’t reply immediately. The sentence indicating he was typing appeared, but it took a while for the reply to come.
[I will treat you to a meal.]
[Countess, I’m sorry, but it’s a bit difficult to talk right now. May I contact you again later?]
Uh… what’s going on?
It’s late, so there shouldn’t be any urgent matters.
So there was a reason he wanted to end the conversation quickly.
I replied promptly.
[Yes, I understand! Have a comfortable night!]
Normally, the duke would have at least acknowledged my response, but this time, not even a simple reply came.
Maybe he’s busy with something urgent, being the duke and having just arrived in the capital. I watched for a few more minutes before going to bed.
The messages I exchanged with the duke floated around in my head. He said he would treat me to a meal. But why should I be treated?
I was planning to offer it as a sign of gratitude. I’ll have to talk about this later.
I thought I’d fall asleep right away after receiving the reply and feeling at ease, but I didn’t.
The duke’s face and voice kept coming to mind.
Why am I lying in bed thinking about him?
It’s a human-like affection.
Yes, that’s it.
-
“Is everything done now?” asked a brusque voice.
Eryx Dera, the duke, looked up from his messaging device.
Across the desk, a red-haired child sat in a makeshift chair, eyebrows drawn together in displeasure.
Just then, Count Hexen’s reply arrived timely.
[Yes, I understand! Have a comfortable night!]
Eryx nodded after checking the count’s reply.
“Yes. My apologies for the intrusion.”
“Have I become so insignificant that even you would ignore me? Hmph.”
“That’s not the case, Master.”
Eryx smiled gently and left the desk, then politely offered to escort the much younger child.
“I apologize for making you wait. I received a message from someone I know. I will escort you to the reception room.”
“You could have replied to the message later.”
Eryx grinned and evaded the answer.
The master was right.
Count Hexen hadn’t contacted him for anything urgent, just to inquire about his well-being. It wouldn’t have mattered if he had replied later.
However, when he saw the message that had arrived around lunchtime, he felt an urge to respond quickly.
Count Hexen probably wasn’t waiting for his reply. After all, she was the head of a very large trading company, likely too busy to even remember sending the message.
Feeling an inexplicable sense of regret, Eryx opened the office door. As he escorted the master to the reception room, he asked, “Last time, we didn’t gain much. Have you learned anything more about the Trickster?”
“That’s why I came in person.”
“Why don’t you get a messaging device? It’s quite convenient.”
“Am I bothering you by coming here?”
“Not at all.”
They passed through the corridor and opened the door to the reception room.
Eryx led the master to the seat of honor. The master, with short legs, wriggled into the sofa, a look of melancholy crossing her face as she sighed.
It was a sorrow that didn’t match her youthful appearance.
The child, who had become a young magician under the Trickster’s curse, the owner of ‘All the Magic of the World,’ Eryx’s childhood master.
Little Roji, who once told Mira Hexen that there was no way to lift the curse, crossed her arms and looked at Eryx.
“The Trickster seemed to have disguised himself as an old man for a while, giving fortunes here and there, but I have no idea how many people he met. Now he’s completely vanished without a trace. But it’s certain he’s still in the capital.”
“Do the magicians not know anything either?”
“That’s right. Plus, those who are cursed can’t share their curse with others, making it hard to join forces.”
“I see… We’ll just have to keep watching for now. I rushed to the capital for nothing.”
But rushing allowed him to attend Count Hexen’s charity party.
Suddenly, that thought crossed Eryx’s mind.
Of course, he had caused some misunderstandings and commotions there, but he also gained a lot.
He helped a maid whose mana pathway was blocked, and most importantly, Count Hexen…
“Oh, Master.”
As Count Hexen came to mind, another question arose.
“When Count Hexen visited the labor, what did she ask about?”
He expected the master to answer right away, but she retorted indifferently, “Why do you ask? Customer privacy cannot be disclosed. She’s not a magician, just a regular person. There’s no obligation to cooperate.”
“I was wondering if I might be able to help the count.”
“Then ask her directly.”
Eryx pondered.
Was he close enough to Count Hexen to ask about personal matters directly?
He quickly concluded that he was not.
Count Hexen had only contacted him first out of courtesy. They weren’t close enough to share personal concerns.
“That’s a bit… We’re not that close.”
“What, you can’t ask her directly, so you ask me? Sneaky fellow.”
Chastised by the master, Eryx didn’t reply immediately. Roji, sitting on the sofa swinging her legs, glanced at his expression.
Was he upset?
He wasn’t the type to sulk over a word or two, but who knows, he might have changed over the years.
Then, Eryx nodded with a look of profound realization.
“You’re right, Master. I almost made a great faux pas with Count Hexen. If she knew I was asking around like this, she would be uncomfortable. You are indeed wise.”
Roji closed her mouth and blinked. Her disciple had withstood the test of time and remained unchanged.
“I’ll have to ask the count directly. I’m curious if there’s anything I can help with. We’re supposed to have a meal together soon, anyway.”
Eryx’s expression as he said this was oddly peculiar.
Roji narrowed her eyes and studied his face.
He was a handsome man, but now there was a twinkle in his eyes. A smile of joy played at the corners of his lips. Excitement and anticipation flushed his clear cheeks.
Huh, Roji chuckled.
She couldn’t help but ask, “Do you have an interest in her?”