Chapter 23: 23

Episode 23: The Best Incentive (VI)

 

No matter how much strength he exerted, he was a patient who couldn’t use both arms.

Although one of my wrists was held by him, I managed to pour the potion down his gritted teeth.

“That’s right, drink well.”

After shaking out every last drop, I forced Theodore’s mouth shut for several minutes, worried he would spit out the precious half-elixir.

I could feel Theodore’s breathing slowly stabilizing, as if the effect of the medicine was working.

With a hearty smile, I tried to get up from my squatting position.

If it wasn’t for the wrist still held by Theodore.

I could feel cold sweat beading on my back.

…Why wasn’t he loosening his hand?

“Let go.”

“Uh… Poison, it seems… it’s not.”

“I said it wasn’t poison. Can’t you tell just by looking at how your punctured shoulder was healed in an instant?”

“Y-Your name… what, is…?”

“It’s a secret.”

“Re-reward… thanks…”

“I don’t need it, so let go.”

Firmly drawing a line, I twisted Theodore’s hand. Then he, who missed my hand, grabbed my sleeve, tugging it.

“N-name.”

“Uh, huh?”

That tug made me lose my balance, I staggered and fell flat on his chest.

“Ugh…”

I didn’t fall hard, but he let out a small groan as if the wound had been shocked.

Startled, I hurried to get up.

Then, the moment I raised my head and made eye contact with Theodore. About to get angry and ask what’s going on.

Hwak–!

Suddenly, as if by magic, the wind blew around and the leaves fluttered.

A soft light flashed in his red eyes.

The constricted pupils were staring at me very clearly, unlike the ones that had lost focus earlier.

I instinctively sensed that the situation I most wanted to avoid was happening.

Theodore’s attitude toward me was too dry, so I thought he wouldn’t imprint on me.

Besides, there was no contact between him and me.

Again, this cliché…!

This must stop.

I had to stop him from imprinting on me.

“Iprus!”

At my cry, Iprus, who was waiting nearby, jumped out and hit him hard on the head with the parasol she was holding.

Puck! With a bang, he lost consciousness and fell down.

I gasped and stared blankly at the collapsed Theodore.

‘…What happened.’

Imprinting.

It was a surprisingly rude thing to do to a person who you barely knew. Much more than when I first met Theodore, when I asked him if he was the type to fall in love easily.

However, Theodore was determined to do something to me for saving him.

Whether I wanted it or not.

Therefore, it was self-defense that I called for Iprus to knock him out.

Iprus poked Theodore’s body with the tip of her parasol. She seemed to be trying to make sure he was completely stunned.

“Lia. Isn’t this man Theodore of the Wulf family?”

“…Right.”

“Then, is that light what I’m thinking of?”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you’re probably right.”

At my answer, Iprus clapped her hands with twinkling eyes.

“Wow! So that’s how the imprinting that I heard only in rumors is made! Plus, the target is Lady Lia, his savior, how romantic…!”

“You’re admiring it…?”

Well, Iprus was a person who likes things regarding relationships between men and women more than anyone else, so it was only natural for her to come out like that.

I let out a small sigh and sat down on the floor.

“First of all, I think we need to think about whether I’m really imprinted.”

Iprus tilted her head.

“Is the imprinting not complete?”

“Not only did he not have any skinship with me, he passed out while imprinting.”

“Aha. Certainly, that part is strange. I heard that an imprint is made the moment bare skin touches.”

Come to think of it, the information about the imprinting was also brought by Iprus.

“Who did you hear that information from?”

“One of my past lovers.”

“The one engraved on your body?”

Iprus slightly turned her gaze elsewhere.

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“I, I didn’t just have one. What are you talking about?”

“I guess I’m right.”

True to Iprus’ words, she had countless people she could call her ex-boyfriend.

But the person whose name was tattooed on her back was a little more special.

He was the first and last person Iprus thought of getting married to, and he was the master of one of the best information guilds on the continent.

Of course, the reason they broke up was because of her job (to care for a penguin), but it’s not important right now, so let’s move on…

Anyway, if those words came from the mouth of the information guild master, the probability of it being false was low.

“If the source is him, that’s reliable information. But did you contact him again because of my request?”

“No. I heard it when we were dating before.”

“Did you hear anything else about the imprint?”

Iprus’ eyes shifted here and there, like she was searching through her memories. Then she spoke with a bright expression as if something had come to mind.

“Ah. I heard this from an ex-boyfriend who works for the Wulf family.”

Another from her ex-boyfriend.

“Uh, ugh…”

“He said that a moon pattern appears on the lower part of the collarbone of wolves who completed the imprinting. Why don’t we check that out?”

“…Ah!”

Right. There was also such a setting.

Somehow, Iprus was quicker at gathering information than me, who had read the novel.

Well, it was just one of many, many novels for me, and it had been years since I read it.

But I really do have to acknowledge the breadth of Iprus’ information.

“Indeed, perhaps you’re truly born earlier than Sir Hanu, you’re much more dependable. Thank you.”

“Ah, come on. Of course I’m better than that stupid bull.”

Her face was red as if she was delighted.

Even if she had been born earlier, it would have been only a few minutes difference, but she loved it that much.

‘Cute.’

I turned my gaze away from Iprus, glancing at Theodore.

“If it’s true that a pattern will form below the collarbone, then I don’t think he’s imprinted on me…?”

His upper body was already half-exposed as I was treating the wound on his shoulder earlier.

But the moon pattern could not be found anywhere on his body, let alone his collarbone.

Only the muscles well-trained by swordsmanship could be seen.

In a flush of relief, I sat down on the spot.

“Thank god…”

It was the time when my efforts in bundling up shined, even though it made Hanu misunderstand, thinking that I was going to engage in criminal activities.

“Great. I thought something was amiss. I’ve done all this, it’ll be ridiculous to be imprinted, right?”

“Ah, what a shame… I was looking forward to a love triangle.”

Of course, it appeared there was someone who was very disappointed in this situation where the imprinting didn’t take place.

Iprus, who was staring at me with a slightly sullen expression, suddenly called me.

“My lady.”

“Yes?”

“I know it’s sudden, but golden eyes suit you very well.”

Only then did I realize that my eyes, which had changed color thanks to the magic potion, were golden.

“If it’s gold, then it must be similar to Suradel’s.”

“Hehe, you didn’t say which color to bring, so I deliberately chose that color.”

“Do you like gold eyes?”

“No. I was curious about what the 2nd generation of Sir Suradel and Lady Lia would look like, so I chose that color.”

I was at a loss for words for reasons I could never have imagined.

‘Isn’t she being a little over-excited?’

“I know what you’re expecting, but don’t keep trying to hook me up with someone. I have no intention of dating Suradel, let alone marrying him.”

“But think about it, my lady.”

“What?”

“Do you think he will let you go if he finds out that the penguin lady has become a human? I heard he’s flirting hard, even though he doesn’t know you’re that penguin.”

“How did you know that Suradel is coming onto me?”

“It’s not even a secret. Everyone who is quick on rumors like me knows.”

“…Well, since he thinks I’m a killer whale demibeast, it could be that he’s interested because we’re of the same species.”

—Is that true? With that kind of smile on her face, Iprus quickly retorted.

“Wouldn’t he like you more if he knew you were that penguin? I’ve stood by you and seen him for several years, I can tell he is not pretending to like you, it’s real.”

“Well, I’ll find out later if I get caught.”

Anyway, that was in the future, all’s good now that Theodore was saved and I wasn’t imprinted on.

I brushed Iprus’ words aside and took out the flare Bella had given me.

Phut–!

As I pulled the wick toward the sky, red flares embroidered the sky.

Now that the flare had been fired, the waiting knights would soon come here and take Theodore away.

Gazing at Iprus, I grinned with a relieved heart.

“Iprus, let’s go down now.”

Ame: I bet many of you didn’t expect Lia will escape the imprint x) though ngl, I’m with Iprus on the love triangle part

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