The Flame Swaying In The Heart (5)

(That would be… overstepping.)

Kardia devoted everything to Noi. He had no intention of taking anything from her.

(And yet, I don’t like it.)

Noi met the mages’ shining eyes head-on and shared her knowledge without reserve. Did she not realize how their cheeks flushed more and more each time?

“This level of refinement must have taken extraordinary toil.”

Fired up, Lepto clasped Noi’s hand.

(Huh?)

Kardia’s eyes flew wide at the impossible sight. He had expected Noi to tell him to let go at once, yet she simply accepted it.

—Why? Please, tell him to stop. Say it now.

Kardia could not make him stop that folly.

Even when someone acted rudely toward Noi, so long as she forgave it, Kardia could not admonish them.

He had forfeited that right himself—along with the place of fiancé.

What he could never have again, another man was allowed to give so easily. And Noi accepted it without denying it.

(…I can’t watch this.)

He should have had no complaint with anything she did, and yet Kardia found himself unable to look directly at her hand. At the same time, he did not dare avert his eyes—who knew what might be done to Noi if he looked away.

Noi was young and beautiful. To Kardia’s mind, she could have passed for a princess of a realm.

Translucent skin, lustrous pearly hair. Her wide, round eyes only heightened her loveliness.

A Royal Court Mage stared at such a Noi, absorbed, cheeks reddening.

A cold, icy block seemed pressed into his chest; discomfort spread. At last noticing Kardia’s stare, Lepto blanched and snatched his hand away from Noi.

But Noi did not notice Kardia’s gaze.

“…Thank you. For saying that to someone who can hardly be called a mage. I’m very happy.”

Smiling, Noi spoke with gentle warmth.

Everyone’s faces softened with pity at her words. In truth, she had no mana.

Kardia, however, wore a perplexed look.

“Hardly be called a mage? What are you saying?”

Even from Noi, that line was far too much to leave unchallenged.

“Even after losing your mana, you never gave up weaving magic. I know no mage more wonderful than you, Noi. In this country—no, in all this wide world—there is no mage above you.”

Kardia stated what was plain as day.

The Royal Court Mages—and even Noi—stared at him, dumbfounded.

Kardia had woven with ease spells the Court Mages themselves could not. In effect, he could be called the foremost mage in the land.

His words carried weight.

The Court Mages faltered.

Noi closed her eyes and gripped the cloth over her left breast with her right hand.

“…Thank you, Kardia.”

Every corner of her voice overflowed with a resonance like tenderness and love.

Kardia accepted her thanks with a smile. Then, seizing the chance, he bent at the waist and leaned closer.

“More importantly, Noi, it’s nearly lunchtime.”

“You’re right! Let’s head home once.”

Noi’s face lit up as she looked up at Kardia. He smiled back.

(I’m not stealing her time. I only suggested a meal.)

Call it hair-splitting or anything else—he didn’t care. Kardia spread his cloak, extended his arm behind Noi, and guided her to the horse.

“Then, until later.”

Shielding Noi within his cloak, Kardia looked back and called to the Royal Court Mages.

Despite having used lunch as a pretext to bring her back to the manor, Noi apparently went out again in the afternoon. Busy as he was, Kardia only realized at dinner. It was obvious from how everyone treated Noi—so different from the night before.

“Well now, it seems she possesses truly marvelous talent! I’m no expert in magic, but those prideful Royal Court Mages kept praising her to the skies!”

Captain Gruno lauded Noi with a bright smile and clumsy compliments.

Himerine, the Court Mages’ representative seated on Gruno’s far side, heaved a sigh.

“Bold of you to say that in front of me. This is why you can’t tell kingdom soldiers classified matters—they let things slip.”

“Ah—my apologies!”

“Hmph. You—bring me my favorite cheese next time.”

“What!? That stuff’s impossible to get! And if you touch it, the smell won’t come off for a week!”

Across from Kardia, Noi watched the uncle and the old man’s harmless back-and-forth and laughed merrily.

“Lady Noi, if there’s anything you like, I’ll give you mine.”

“It’s fine, Aidoni. You’re young. Besides, your plate didn’t have much, did it? Make sure you eat.”

“Well, it had a normal portion, I assure you. More importantly, which dishes do you like?”

“Dame Noi, you can take anything you like from my plate as well.”

Seating Aidoni and Vice-Captain Ela beside Noi might have been a mistake. Tilting his wineglass, Kardia eyed them half-lidded.

(Those two—especially Aidoni—are far too close…)

Perhaps because they were both women, they showed no reserve, leaning so near their shoulders touched as they peered into each other’s plates. Noi tried to be considerate, but seemed unable to resist the lure of food; one way or another, she accepted portions from both.

“Noi, I have some for you, too.”

“No. Even I have enough. The original portion was plenty.”

He had ordered that her plate alone be served at triple the usual amount. But Noi, unaware that she ate for three, must have thought everyone else’s plates were simply meager.

“You must have had a hard day, running around. Everything is delicious—Kardia should eat it.”

He could not force something on her after she refused.

Though his face did not show it, Kardia nodded reluctantly.

(…Well enough. Tonight, I can make time.)

Tonight, at last, they would sleep in the same bed. The thought of night alone filled Kardia’s heart.

As Noi laughed, her hair fanned softly. The pearly strands caught the magical light and gleamed like silk.

(…To touch that hair again—no longer.)

What he had tied nearly every day already felt like ages ago.

(If I insist it’s a disciple’s duty, could I touch it again?)

Perhaps he would try in the morning. He would open the curtains as usual and wake Noi. That precious everyday life would return in just a little while.

Telling himself so, Kardia lifted his fork—and a few hours later, he was stunned.