135

Aidan stared at Coco, who had fallen asleep in front of him, her breathing ragged.

He had stayed by her side ever since Coco had collapsed.

He had missed the signs. He knew she’d pushed her stamina to the limit, and guilt crushed him for not stopping her. If Cornelia found out, she’d be stunned.

“You can’t die like this. Coco…”

He’d seen patients every day and still hadn’t realized.

He liked her, and yet he’d never noticed.

He had never felt so powerless in his life.

Would that man have noticed—the one who’d made her laugh and then brought her to tears?

‘He’d noticed her love of magic like a ghost, but he hadn’t noticed what was happening to her.’

He understood his feelings far too late.

At first he’d found her interesting and fun.

To someone like him, clumsy at organization, the way she neatly sorted everything and spoke plainly in a crisis was fascinating. He’d never seen anyone like her at the Marquess’s residence.

Everyone there was always watching for cues and only respected the opinions of the most powerful.

So when he sometimes heard things through his father, many decisions didn’t make sense. At the Magic Tower, everyone was absorbed in their own research and paid little attention to others, so even when they spoke in meetings their thoughts were narrowly self-centered. They rarely commented on efficiency or the greater good.

‘Was it from then on?’

Because she seemed fun, he often visited Coco’s home. Her brother and younger sibling were kind and honest, and it felt comfortable to be with them. He liked that no one put on unnecessary politeness.

In truth, Coco was cold only at work; her heart was warm. She always encouraged her older sister to be confident and punished unfair treatment of servants thoroughly—legally, too. To be honest, that maid had done nothing to deserve it, yet Coco acted for her.

He wanted to know her more.

But one day Coco started coming home late. When he asked, she said the Supreme Justice made her work overtime. Normally he wouldn’t have minded—the Magic Tower had plenty of overnight research, and overtime was common at the Marquess’s residence as well.

But for the first time, he thought, ‘I don’t like that.’

“I came to pick you up.”

And that’s how it began.

Her tired face made him feel sorry. Seeing her light up as if she owned the world when he teleported her with his magic made his chest flutter. Coco said there was almost nothing better for office workers than fast commuting. If that was true, he was willing to keep doing it. It wasn’t bothersome at all.

Would things have been different if he’d realized it then?

When Coco first came to the Magic Tower, he thought an irritating man was following her. He sensed it instinctively. The Duke was interested in her. Whether she knew it or not, it was definitely affection.

Fortunately, Coco seemed indifferent, so he accepted the proposal. He thought he couldn’t just stay quietly at the Magic Tower so far from the Imperial Palace.

But it didn’t take long to see that Coco’s feelings were changing.

‘I’d never seen her suffer like that.’

She cried. He didn’t know why, but he instinctively suspected the Duke. He wanted to comfort her. His chest ached and he wished for her happiness—he didn’t need her to know his feelings. That’s what he told himself.

‘In truth, none of that was right.’

Something had happened in Yuno that altered the relationship between Coco and the Duke. The awkward distance had softened into warmth. The way they looked at each other was no longer that of mere colleagues.

His heart dropped. It felt like a stab. He had missed something precious. Though the country was sunlit and warm, his heart felt as cold as if snow had settled on it.

Even if he pretended otherwise, Aidan could tell. He couldn’t understand how no one around them noticed.

Aidan finished with the delegation and returned straight to the Magic Tower. He poured these indescribable feelings out to the Magic Tower Master. The old master only laughed when he heard him, then abruptly said,

“How about trying to become the Magic Tower Master? She doesn’t seem like the type to give her heart for power, but it’s better than nothing. The match would be against a Duke and the next Archduke—the empire’s finest grooms, isn’t that so?”

It would just speed up what he’d inherit anyway.

And so he moved to secure the succession.

Thinking back, the old master’s words had merit. Studying at the Magic Tower without a title could seem unattractive, and by awakening at the right time he was able to meet Coco in his current position.

It looked like the Duke and Coco’s bond had grown stronger, but he didn’t want to give up his feelings.

Because it was his first love.

Seeing the Duke grow wary actually pleased him. It felt as if the Duke had acknowledged him as a rival.

‘But… this wasn’t what I wanted.’

He had followed her even into the epidemic zone to try to win her heart. The Duke, claiming Coco had asked him to, even humbly entrusted Coco to him.

‘Aside from him, I’m apparently the strongest.’

Whatever that task was, it was an opportunity. He closely followed and helped her work. He aided in rebuilding the clinic with magic and purified the stream. He once used the same magic more flamboyantly in front of her to impress her. Seeing her amazed filled his heart.

He worried about her tired face, nagged her, and made sure she ate, but that was all. Yes, that was all.

He should have noticed the moment the brooch disappeared.

In front of him she lay covered in hives and burning with fever. They were using holy power to slow the symptoms as much as possible, but her stamina had fallen so low from overexertion that it wouldn’t hold.

“It would’ve been better if she were a genius priest.”

He was frustrated at being a magician useless for treatment. Having someone precious lying powerless in front of him was more agonizing than he’d imagined.

He had never known real hardship except worries about magic, but each passing day left him breathless and parched. It was a different kind of pain. Even if that bastard came and killed him, he would have no complaints. Above all else, he was most afraid of losing her.

‘When did my heart grow this big?’

Aidan placed Coco’s hand on her forehead and prayed, ignoring infection.

“Please get well, Coco. You don’t have to like me… that’s enough.”

The Magic Tower Master warned that if anyone became infected they would not be allowed to remain and sent those at risk back to the barracks. Aidan was moved out for his safety. He was grateful but wanted to be alone—he needed time to think.

His own condition was rapidly worsening. His stamina dropped, the fever raged, and pus and hives that seemed ready to burst covered his skin. His throat swelled, making it hard to swallow.

‘What should I do first now?’

He needed to get his affairs in order. He couldn’t keep relying on slim chances forever.

As he slowly tried to sit up, someone else entered the barracks. Ever since the infection had been discovered, people had been coming and going. Too weak to deal with them, he pretended to be asleep. Footsteps approached his bed, then he heard a soft thud as someone sank down nearby.

“Chancellor… I was wrong…!”

‘Huh?’

That voice—Nora the priest.

He kept pretending to sleep and listened. For some reason, he felt moisture fill his eyes.

“You’ve worked so hard for these patients, and I couldn’t understand… I’m truly sorry. I was petty and jealous of the Chancellor!”

‘It seemed that way.’

“From the moment you took action, the patients’ complexions looked calmer and better. You even asked the Magic Tower Master for sleep magic so those in pain who couldn’t rest could sleep—you’ve been attentive in countless ways. Infections among priests and medical staff are now almost gone. Although you haven’t found a cure yet, Chancellor, you’ve effectively saved many patients. You’ve done much more than I have. I behaved shamefully. You looked younger than me, and I behaved selfishly. I should have spoken honestly sooner. I should have stayed by your side to assist you. Then you wouldn’t be this ill… You can’t go like this, Chancellor. Please give me a chance to ask for your forgiveness.”

It sounded almost like a confession. Nora seemed overcome with guilt after hearing about the infection.

“Please let me atone for my unreasonable rudeness. If the Chancellor regains her health, I’ll be your servant for life—please, just live.”

‘Oh my.’

Suddenly the Chancellor felt a stronger will to live.

She had planned to delay telling them so they wouldn’t be sad, but seeing Nora changed her mind. Selfishly, she wanted to see Ren and her family before she died. She wanted as much time as possible to say the things she needed to say.

‘It would be good to write a will, too.’

Preparing for death seemed to require some arrangements. She felt ready to accept it rather than avoid it.

She was about to tell Nora, who was crying beside her, that it would be okay.

“Um…”

“Chancellor!”

At that moment an urgent voice echoed through the barracks.

Who was it?

Nora hurriedly wiped her tears and composed herself.

“What’s the matter?”

“W-we found it!”