Chapter 13: 13

“If you use mana?”

 

“Yes.”

 

As Zenon talked about his illness, his expression wasn’t good.

 

That was a matter of course.

 

Who would feel good when talking about a terminal illness?

 

Heloise felt sorry about having to dig it up, but she witnessed Zenon’s way of hiding it unconditionally which made it ambiguous, and had no intention of watching him die. 

 

“Then, is it a kind of heart disease?”

 

“Maybe. The problem with that is, the physicians diagnosed that there’s nothing wrong with my heart.”

 

According to Zenon’s explanation, his body was immaculate.

 

He was healthier than anyone else and developed a little faster than other boys of his age. 

 

However, he would suffer pain that’s akin to his heart exploding only when he uses magic. 

 

The ducal family of Lionerik were a family of magic swordsmen for generations. 

 

It had produced several outstanding Lords of the Magic Tower, and the strength of the head of the family then would display the power of the ducal family of that era.

 

However, in the current era where the previous duke died prematurely, the situation where Zenon’s strength became a shackle on his ankle occured at a time where a succeeding duke that was stronger than anyone else was required. 

 

To think that he would suffer in pain and remain unconscious for days once he used magic. 

 

The retainers, who had intended to take the title from the Marquis Velks as soon as Zenon was a little older, became reluctant due to his condition.

 

Magic therapy would not only cause hemoptysis, but further worsen his condition, and his personal physician that provided general medical care had expressed that at this rate, his young body would die soon as it’s unable to overcome the burden caused by mana. 

 

As such, as long as they weren’t fervent followers like Heloise’s father, Viscount Lorca, most of the vassals have undoubtedly given up on Zenon’s side. 

 

“In that case, isn’t it something like a curse?”

 

Heloise spoke with a serious expression.

 

At that, Zenon snorted like he found her cute and replied.

 

“The reason I live practically locked up in Langbert Mansion is to avoid such curses.”

 

“You live trapped here?”

 

“Though I’m not completely locked in, it’s quite similar. This place is no different from a safe house that’s plastered with snares and traps. The same goes for magical curses.”

 

That means that there’s an anti-magic or anti-curse setup, so Heloise thought that this mansion was a very elaborate cage.

 

Since when did Zenon start living in this place?

 

Was it even before his parents died?

 

What would he think when he saw those people’s traces that still remained after their death, while being unable to leave?

 

There were many thoughts that came to her mind, but they weren’t questions that could be asked easily.  

 

“From the looks of your face, you seem to have believed that I was cursed, but it’s just my physical body and mana not matching together. Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

 

“But the previous duke couldn’t have not made defences against that.”

 

“He passed away before he could make defences. Actually, I didn’t know how to use mana before they passed away.”

 

Zenon was calm when he talked about his parents’ death. 

 

Has he overcome his sadness, or was he pretending that that’s the case? 

 

Either way, it’s too early for her to give up.

 

Heloise thought that she shouldn’t let Zenon use magic recklessly from now on.

 

“All right, let’s just say that that’s the curse. In any case, you’ve fallen ill once because of me, so I don’t want to see you like that again.”

 

“Then I’ll contact you first on the days when I’m alright.”

 

“You don’t have to do that. Spend your time without using magic.”

 

“I don’t want to hear stories about beans or draw anymore.”

 

“Do you think that that’s all I know? I know way more than that.”

 

As she said that, Heloise’s head was spinning.

 

‘What should I do? What should I do that will make this arrogant young lord satisfied?’

 

Although she wasn’t confident, her words were full of confidence, as if dozens of defences were already in place.

 

As Zenon stared at Heloise, he spoke with a furtive smile.

 

“So you don’t want me to use magic?”

 

“Yeah. Stop calling those kids and bullying them.”

 

“Then you’ll have to visit me every day, is that okay?”

 

“You’re changing your words, aren’t you? I don’t have embroidery class everyday, but every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.”

 

“Ah, right. Every other day.”

 

“There’s nothing that I can’t do. If you really want to, we can embroider together. That might be better for you or me. Though I’m happy that I don’t have to see that awful embroidery teacher’s face, I’ll be happy that you learned embroidery.”

 

At the burst of ridiculous laughter from Zenon, Heloise giggled with him. 

 

“Anyways, there’s many things we can play with until I find a new method, so don’t worry.”

 

“I can clearly tell what you’re thinking with your little head.”

 

Heloise grinned and nibbled on a tea cookie.

 

To eliminate those that threatened Lionerik’s successor, a tower was built in your mansion to hide him at the expense of bringing your fortune to ruin?

 

What a story that truly makes sense. The scent of something suspicious was in the air.

 

Heloise decided to properly question her father as soon as she got home, so she listened to Zenon’s words without paying much attention.  

 

This kid was too uninterested in his own situation. 

 

He didn’t even recognise it despite the strangeness of his situation. 

 

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Perhaps her father knew about it and sent her out of frustration.

 

Although she couldn’t do anything else, she couldn’t pretend to be in the dark when she knew about the crack in the situation.

 

That day, Zenon made all sorts of demands under the guise of a patient.

 

He pretended to not hear her words of “Isn’t there a maid?”

 

Get me water, get me juice, get me orange juice, get me tangerine juice, get me water.

 

What else is this if it isn’t being a water girl?

 

Heloise clenched her fist, but for the first time, Zenon Lionerik looked like a human.

 

Maybe it was because he showed his weakness to her.

 

⋄────∘°❃°∘────⋄

 

After Heloise returned home, she looked for her father immediately.

 

But it was unfortunate that her father was outside.

 

“My lady.”

 

Just as she heard the news that her father had gone out from a servant, her nanny called Heloise from behind.

 

Her face was filled with expectation. 

 

“Was the soup to Young Master Lionerik’s liking?”

 

“Huh……? Uhh……”

 

Should she say that he liked it, since he ate it all?

 

Or should she say that he disliked it because he grumbled the whole time he ate it?

 

If she says that he likes it, the soup would definitely be prepared whenever he’s sick. After a moment of contemplation, Heloise nodded.

 

“Yes, he liked it.”

 

She’ll just eat it if he doesn’t want to.

 

“Oh my gosh! I’m glad that he liked it.”

 

The nanny seemed to be deeply moved that her family recipe had managed to captivate the mouth of a young master from a prestigious family.

 

Heloise laughed while slowly retreated backwards.

 

Then I bumped my shoulder against someone walking down the hall.

 

“Ah.”

 

“Heloise. You’re already back?”

 

“Dad.”

 

Heloise caught her father, who was firing his ‘my wonderful daughter’ gaze, and led him to his study.

 

“What’s wrong with you all of a sudden?”

 

“I have something to tell you. I also have something to ask you.”

 

“Let’s walk slowly then.”

 

After waving to the nanny and parting ways, she arrived at the study and locked the door.

 

“Did you hear something from the Young Master?”

 

Her father, who arrived in the study after being thoughtlessly pushed there, asked. Heloise shook her head.

 

“Zenon didn’t say anything. Other than the fact that he’s living in captivity.”

 

“You’re calling him Zenon. Have the two of you become close?”

 

“Yes, somehow it happened…”

 

“You can’t speak carelessly with the Young Master.”

 

“Zenon was the one that told me to drop the honorifics first.”

 

Perhaps because her father was worried, he kept making it as if he was about to speak, before sighing. 

 

“Only when you’re spending time together as playmates. Don’t forget to act carefully even if you‘re speaking casually.”

 

Heloise nodded.

 

“More than that, please tell me if that kid is living in captivity.”

 

“Is that what you think?”

 

“What do you think, dad? Do you think that it’s for the Young Master’s sake that he’s staying in Langbert Mansion?”

 

“I don’t know.”

 

Her father’s expression darkened whenever Zenon was mentioned.

 

“The reason why the Young Master can only stay in the mansion is because of Marquis Velks’ immense influence. I just don’t want to lose the son that the Master had left behind. I also don’t have the confidence to send the Young Master away, just like how I’d sent him away.”

[T/N: ‘him’ in the last part is referring to the previous Duke Lionerik, and in this case sending away means to send him off on his final journey aka to the afterlife.]

 

While her father’s words were quite extreme, there wasn’t much time left for Zenon.

 

“When did Zenon become so ill? I heard… I heard that his heart hurts when he uses mana.”

 

“From the beginning. Ever since he learnt how to use magic, his pain increased with the number of mana that he can use.”

 

At first, she didn’t understand why he would learn magic at the cost of suffering from such pain and even reducing his lifespan.

 

However, when Heloise found out that he wasn’t free to leave the mansion, she seemed to understand why he immersed himself in magic.

 

The reason behind his twisted judgement, which caused him to freely change his playmates too. 

 

As Heloise’s expression darkened, her father patted her on the shoulder to lighten the atmosphere. 

 

“I’m looking for any possible way for him to get better, so don’t worry too much. You should just stay by the Young Master’s side until then so that he doesn’t feel lonely.”

 

“……Yes.”

 

Heloise nodded sullenly.

 

She hoped that Zenon would get better soon, so that he could come out to the world. 

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