Chapter 16: 16

Chapter 16 – You Should’ve Read The Contract Carefully

Ashia was silent for a long time; Kalligo also didn’t rush her.

“Save me…”

Those were words that could not easily come out of his mouth, what with his high self-esteem and pride. Maybe it was because she firsthand experienced his seizures that for some reason, she couldn’t refuse his request bluntly.

“…”

While Ashia fiddled with the milk cup on the table, Kalligo was staring at her quietly.

After a little time passed, Ashia’s red lips opened, “Your Grace, I…”

“I’m not saying that you should live with me in the Grand Duke’s residence.”

Ashia was unable to continue speaking when she heard Kalligo’s voice.

“…”

It stung her. She actually was worried if he would ask her to do that.

Kalligo quietly smiled as he stared at her as if he knew what she was thinking. “I’ve never been so sober after waking up from a seizure. No medication was able to do that before.”

“That’s…”

“It’s not a potion, it’s the water magic that you use.”

“…”

“I felt like I was walking through a thick fog every day, but now… I can see a ray of light.”

She could even see the sense of relief on his face as he said that his mind had cleared. On the contrary, Ashia’s eyes under the hood were trembling slightly.

“You can use your hand to heal me at the right moment, like in the cases where I have my seizures at the Grand Duke’s residence. Of course, I will pay the corresponding cost.”

“…”

Ashia still kept quiet while crumbs fell from the piece of bread she held.

‘It’s a simple task if I think of the gold as a commission…’

The problem was that it wasn’t like she could finish it by just giving him a potion; she had to move her body and use her magic. She inevitably had to face him over and over again, so she couldn’t come up with an answer easily.

“…I heard you were taking care of the people,” Kalligo’s cautious voice continued.

“…”

Ashia turned to him. He was talking about the survivors of the village Ashia set on fire.

“Did you do a background check on me?”

“Because I can’t just leave the health of the Grand Duke to anyone.”

“You must have thought of my weakness just in case.”

“…”

Her red lips exposed under the hood twitched with discomfort

“I will bear all the expenses that go into them.”

“…”

“If you stay by my side until I am fully healed, I will spare no effort to support you so that they can make a living doing what they want to do.”

Kalligo seemed to know that Ashia was taking care of the survivors with her own earnings.

“I don’t need help.”

“…That is what you want to say, but those people can live a better life than they are now if you only let go of your pride

“I will.”

Ashia had been providing gold for the survivors to settle down in the capital of the Karhan Empire for the past seven years, but they were labeled as ‘cursed people from the cursed land’. They weren’t welcomed, suffering both discrimination and contempt wherever they went.

Terros was also not different from them. The prejudice was still there though he was already recognized for his exceptional ability and there was no end to those who wanted to recruit him. He still had to remain in the same position of a common knight though he already made countless achievements and been recognized for his talents.

If that still happened to Terros, then those without skills couldn’t even find a decent job because they were thought of as cursed.

Ashia couldn’t help them settle down despite the amount of gold she had accumulated over the past seven years. It was impossible to predict how many years she still needed so she could accomplish it.

‘Receive support… from the Grand Duke’s residence…’

It would be a different story if it was the Grand Duke of Etous. Whether it was because he was her ex-husband, the male protagonist, or of her own shallow pride… It was just a matter of closing her eyes just this once.

“You can think of it as a fair deal. It’s not like I’m giving away gold for no reason.”

“…”

“Your ability – I will buy it with gold.”

Once again, Kalligo shook her hesitating heart.

“Do you know exactly how much gold I need?”

“I haven’t looked into things that far.”

“How do you know if you can give me that much?”

“…It seems like you’re looking down on the Grand Duke’s properties.”

“…”

After taking a deep breath, Kalligo calmly suggested something even more outrageous, “Miss Ashia Bliss, I will also erase the perception surrounding them.”

Her jaw dropped.

“…”

In fact, the biggest problem was perception. Not only would they be able to find a job, but they would also live a life without being swayed by other people’s opinions if that perception disappeared.

“Are you going to change the long-held perception of them?”

“Have you given up, Miss Ashia Bliss?”

“…”

“If you do not give up, I will not give up until the end.”

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It’s not that Ashia didn’t want to change it, however, she had to work day and night for the livelihood of so many people. In short, there was no room for that both mentally and physically. Kalligo offered help to what Ashia was unable to do for the past seven years.

“Is it worth it?”

“Because the only person who can save me is you.”

“…”

“I believe in you. Heal me… and bring me back to life.”

“…”

Asha seemed to be in trouble again, but this trouble didn’t last long.

“Alright.”

One of Kalligo’s eyebrows twitched at her answer.

“I will write a contract.”

Making up her mind, Ashia didn’t hesitate from that moment on. As she stretched out he hand into the air, the blue energy immediately flowed out of her fingertips. When the blue energy of a faint brilliance drew a small magic circle in the air, a sheet of paper fluttered from the magic circle and landed on the table.

“We will be strictly following the terms of the contract.”

“…”

“Everything you just said has been recorded, so take a look.”

“Do I just have to sign it?”

Again and again – was it his habit to sign a contract without looking at it?

“…Did you look at it?”

“Are you wondering if I’ve taken care of it?”

He took the pen that Ashia had placed next to the contract and signed it without hesitation.

“Haah.”

“Your turn.” This time, Kalligo turned the contract in front of her. Ashia looked down at the contract, then at Kalligo again with narrowed eyes.

“…What are you going to do if there is unfair content? What if you signed a different contract?”

“No way. I’ve never been sloppy when working.” Leaning back on the old, creaky chair while folding his arms on his chest, Kalligo spoke with a serious expression and tone, “Because I believe in you.” His stare stung.

“…Whoever you are dealing with, you should read the contract carefully.” With the pen handed to her, she quickly engraved her signature under her name. Ashia immediately made an identical contract and handed him one.

“Keep it, you might say something later.”

Kalligo laughed softly.

As she rolled the contract and got up from her chair, she went to the bedside table and said, “Now then, you can go back now.”

“…”

Kalligo’s head, which had been following her every move, tilted to one side at her words. “Go back?”

“I’m going to get the ingredients. I can’t just leave Your Excellency here, right?” Ashia tilted her head as well, shrugging nonchalantly. She rolled up the duvet from the messy bed, pulled it down, and continued her conversation. “I’m planning to leave this evening or tomorrow. Your Excellency’s stay here will only increase the time it takes for the potion to be completed.”

“…”

She cleaned out all the blankets, found that the window was closed, and moved to open it.

A heavy rubbing noise could be heard from the damp old window sill.

“I’ll go with you tomorrow morning.”

‘Did I hear you wrong?’

Surprised, Ashia quickly turned around. “…Yes?”

“I’m going to have another seizure.”

‘What is he saying?’

There was a clear embarrassment in her round eyes.

“But you’ve been doing well all this time.”

“Is it something you can describe as doing well? As you saw yesterday.”

“…”

Kalligo turned completely towards her, hugging the back of the chair and continuing the conversation.

“It feels like all the heat has gone out of my body. There is nothing refreshing about it.”

“But, to accompany me…”

Kalligo gently shook the contract he was holding in one hand.

“…?”

“Did you forget what was written in the contract?”

“….Oh!” An exclamation escaped Ashia’s mouth. Filled with bewilderment, she stared at the paper in Kalligo’s hand.

If you stay by my side until I am fully healed, I will spare no effort to support you so that they can live their lives doing what they want to do.

[If you help me by my side until I am fully healed.]

“…”

“You should have read the contract carefully.”

Kalligo echoed what Asha had just said.

“Haaaah…”

Contrary to the embarrassment on her face, Kalligo’s face lit up with a smile of anticipation, like a man who had found an oasis in the desert.

I’ll come early tomorrow morning.

Kalligo left the store with light steps. The reticent man continued to laugh in a low voice, marveling at how clear-headed he felt.

The inside of Ashia’s shop became quiet, as if a storm had just passed.

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