Chapter 43
Had the distance from the garden to the Crown Princess's room always been this short?
Before Ruth knew it, they had already arrived at the door.
He hesitated and stopped.
"I'll wait outside."
"No, come in and sit down, Ruth."
Ruth froze in surprise, but obediently sat.
"Romi, one cocoa, one black tea, and one chocolate nutritional drink, please."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Romi stepped outside and quietly closed the door behind her.
Ruth was effectively trapped.
As he desperately avoided Marchioness Sertua's gaze and pretended to be interested in something else, Riena chuckled.
"It's fine. I was the one who said he looked like a Samoyed first."
"If he resembles one, then you merely said what you saw. Young Lord, apologize to Her Highness immediately."
At the sharp command, Ruth shot to his feet.
"No, really, it's fine. Thanks to Ruth, I've been sleeping comfortably lately and doing very well."
Marchioness Sertua silently glared at Ruth.
It was a threat telling him to apologize right now.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness. I'll accept any punishment."
Riena looked at him awkwardly.
Then, as though something had occurred to her, a mischievous smile appeared on her lips.
"Punishment? What did Ruth do wrong~?"
At the playful question, Ruth's mouth snapped shut.
If he said it was the crime of insulting the Imperial Family, he would never hear the end of it.
But if he admitted that his crime was saying she looked like a northern snow hare, Marchioness Sertua would undoubtedly smack him on the back.
Still, one smack was probably the safer option.
He cautiously opened his mouth.
"I said... you resembled a northern... snow hare...."
"?"
Marchioness Sertua's shoulders jumped as she fiercely glared at him.
"Oh, forget it! Northern snow hares are incredibly cute, so I don't mind!"
Riena grinned and gestured for Ruth to sit.
It was the cruel tyranny of a mischievous direct superior who knew exactly how to torment her subordinate.
Just as Marchioness Sertua was about to start lecturing him, the door opened and Romi entered.
She lifted the lid of an elegant silver tray.
The neatly arranged desserts looked almost too beautiful to eat.
The opportunity to scold him had slipped away.
Marchioness Sertua gave Ruth a threatening look that promised there would be a next time.
"It's so nice to sit together like this. It would be even better if you could recover your health...."
At Riena's deep sigh, the Marchioness lifted her teacup and gave a faint smile.
It was a lonely smile steeped in deep sadness.
But she knew her own condition better than anyone.
"It's not an illness that can be cured. All I can do is use the time I have left as carefully as possible...."
"I've been thinking. If mana damaged your body, what about using mana to heal it?"
"Even if that were possible, you mustn't do it."
"If it involved using pure mana directly, of course we shouldn't. The patient might survive, but the person treating them could die."
Marchioness Sertua lowered her teacup and turned slightly toward Riena.
"Then... what method are you proposing?"
Riena's lovely lips curled into a smile.
"I'll heal you."
"!"
Both Ruth and his mother visibly shook.
Half in disbelief that such a thing could be possible.
Half in desperate hope that it was.
But Marchioness Sertua quickly shook her head.
"I cannot burden Your Highness."
She even looked anxious that Riena might be hurt because of her.
She had lived her entire life as a mage.
She had even gone to war as one.
More than anyone, she understood that restoring a body already ruined by mana damage was a dream she shouldn't dare to have.
It was greed.
"The damage is permanent. It's an incurable condition. There's no reason for Your Highness to risk yourself because of me...."
Riena's warm hand covered the Marchioness's cold, dry one.
"I won't let my people get hurt. I won't let them stay sick either."
Riena stood, opened the deepest drawer of her desk, and pulled out a long scroll.
Then she handed it over without warning.
"It's still incomplete, but take a look?"
Marchioness Sertua gave a short nod.
With thin fingers, she carefully unrolled the scroll.
Fully opened, the thick, high-quality paper was almost as tall as Riena herself.
The Marchioness narrowed her eyes and began examining every section of the magic circle.
"You... drew this magic circle yourself?"
"Mm."
She repeatedly tilted her head in disbelief as she read through the linked formulas and Ancient Language written across the scroll.
Solving a linked formula of this level couldn't be accomplished through ordinary skill alone.
It required natural instinct and exceptional talent.
Marchioness Sertua was stunned.
"Why... why has no one ever thought of this formula before...? This is... incredible!"
Of course no one had thought of it yet.
This is before magic circles and Ancient Language become widely developed.
Right now, pure mana and conventional magic were what mages worshiped.
No mage had stepped forward to deeply research magic circles and Ancient Language.
Except the Grand Duke's family.
"For now, that magic circle is safe. It doesn't have any side effects."
"......"
"But you won't see results after using it once or twice. You'll need consistent treatment. All right?"
The Marchioness's throat tightened.
She could only nod.
