Chapter 42

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Chapter 42 – A Spoonful

“Where are you looking now?” Kaligo looked at Ashia again.

“You seem to be wondering where and how to test.”

“…Does it have to be there?”

“Don’t you thinkdoing that would be especially better? I think we can get the most accurate information that way.”

Kaligo looked at her with narrowed eyes.

’So she was someone who could say things like that’.

She skillfully said erotic jokes with a bolder and more confident face than he expected.

“I’m just joking. There’s no point in asking you to take out something I’ve never seen nor touched.”

“…”

She was just joking, but it was indeed a place where she could get really good information. But looking at his quivering and bewildered eyes, it seemed like the time had yet to come. And no matter how thick-faced Ashia was, she didn’t have the courage to face it. They never slept together even if they were once a couple.

He would have gone beyond embarrassment and his cheeks would have tinged red if she had teased him a little more. His body and head must have had the memories of the male lead ‘Kaligo’, but this Kaligo had a genuine innocent side.

‘Doesn’t that nature go away…?’

Ashia coughed and slowly turned her back as she continued talking, “It just takes a drop of your saliva or drop of blood from your fingertip.”

“…I see.”

“Wait here, I’ll bring back the tools from the store.” Ashia reached out into the air in the bedroom.

The blue magic that flowed out from her fingertips immediately began to draw a magic circle. By the time she was finished summoning the gate that completed in an instant, Ashia frowned and quickly folded her outstretched arm. Her entire arm was tingling from the unpleasant pain.

She took a deep breath as she rubbed her hands. It was one of the aftereffects of sealing her fire attribute seven years ago. It was also a kind of warning:

[Before you lose your temper and explode your magic power again, please refrain yourself.]

She apparently left Luke behind today, so she had to use a large amount of her magical power.

That didn’t mean she wasn’t good at handling her magic. It was just that the body couldn’t stand it once it was weakened by drawing out a large amount of magical power. Perhaps there was also a psychological effect on her.

“Ashia?” Kaligo called out worriedly.

“Yes?”

“Is something wrong?”

“Oh… nothing. I’ll be back soon!” Ashia waved her hand and hurriedly entered the gate as if in avoidance.

“Ah…”

Kaligo, who was walking towards her, stopped in his tracks. His eyes twinkled as he looked at the gate. It didn’t take long for Ashia to come back.

“Close the shop, and bring the tools.”

“Yes.”

“And you should also go back to the Grand Duke’s mansion.”

“Ah.”

The employee who ran to Ashia’s shop and reported Kaligo’s condition was quietly guarding the shop. She took the employee and returned to the Grand Duke’s residence.

Ashia approached Kaligo and held out her hand, “Your hand.”

“…” Kaligo, who was sitting on the bed, looked at Ashia’s hands and face alternately.

“What are you doing? Your hand.”

Staring at her hand, Kaligo sighed and slowly put his hand up. “It will sting a little.”

“Yes.”

Ashia pricked the tip of his finger with a tool and brought it near the mouth of the vial. As she watched the blood dripping from the tip of his finger, she said in a low voice, “I’ll have to go to the shop and test the ingredients to find out information about it, but it won’t be toxic.”

“How do you guarantee that?”

Asha smiled bashfully at his question. “Have you forgotten? I can tell just by looking at the ingredients.”

Kaligo remembered the first time she came to the Grand Duke’s residence, when she poured the potion into her mouth to find out the ingredients of the potion.

“By tasting…”

“Yes, by tasting.”

“Are you going to drink my blood?”

“…Why would I drink your blood when I’ve already tasted it?”

“Already?”

“Yes.”

“…”

Ashia tapped her lips with her finger and turned to Kaligo, who was staring at her blankly.

– It just takes a drop of your saliva or drop of blood from your fingertip.

Only then did Kaligo understand Ashia’s words and lightly exclaimed.

Ashia put the glass bottle into the box and said laughingly, “If it was to the point that I couldn’t taste it, then that means there is really little or none at all. It will break down as soon as it enters my body with that amount.”

She also added that he won’t need to worry about her. Kaligo had a relieved expression at her words.

“Yes, so don’t worry too much.”

“Yes, I will.”

“So….” Having finished organizing the tools, Ashia turned to him while dragging her words, “I am saying this now since we’re on the topic….”

“Yes.”

“I’m saying this because I think it’s better to make sure it is done…” Ashia slowly stepped forward and headed towards Kaligo, who was sitting on the bed, “I think we should test it a little more properly.”

“…Is this for inspection purposes?”

Ashia sat on his lap and grinned as she pressed her chest against his, pushing him. And despite her dismal strength, his large body collapsed weakly on the bed.

“Let’s say it takes a spoonful of self-interest.”

“…I don’t think it’s like a spoonful.” Lying on his back, Kaligo smiled as he looked at her, gradually approaching him.

She seemed to have a magical talent for quickly quelling his worries. No matter how serious something was, it would just become a passing amusement to her. The worries that filled Kaligo’s head just now had completely disappeared. He was very happy to be assimilated with her bright, cheerful, active appearance, and her bountiful energy.

‘Really… She’s an unpredictable woman.’

Kaligo smiled and tightly hugged Ashia, who was sitting on top of him. The cold air instantly burned with passion

’How long has it been?’

Someone rushed down the hallway not long after. Then standing tall in front of the bedroom, they walked and knocked on the door.

Their lips were filled with regret as they had to separate due to the appearance of an unwanted guest. They looked at each other’s eyes at a distance where their lips would meet again if they tilted their heads.

Kaligo put his forehead against Ashia’s and let out a slight smile. “…I’m sorry. The men in this mansion are so ignorant.”

“No… it’s fine.” As if she was embarrassed, Ashia went down from the bed with a small smile.

Kaligo also got up after her as she fixed her hair and clothes. He walked behind her and hugged her. He, too, was still feeling hot because the heat had not escaped his body yet. He let out a deep sigh as he rubbed his cheek against her hair.

“Shall we just kick him out?”

“…”

“Or tell him not to come close to me for a few days.”

“…How many days?”

“A few days won’t be enough…. I will just send him to a quiet place for a few months…”

Knock, knock,

The inattentive intruder knocked on the bedroom door again. Kaligo let out a deep sigh and hugged Ashia tighter.

“…Just give me the order and I won’t let him in.”

“It’s alright.” Ashia sneaked out of his arms, looking up at Kaligo with a smile on her face, “Maybe he has urgent business.”

“Ashia…”

Knock, knock

“This is Redin, Your Grace. Have you woken up?”

Ashia stood with her back to the door. She still felt embarrassed to face the Grand Duke’s butler. She tried to calm her heart by pressing her hands to her hot cheeks. Kaligo wrapped his arms around Ashia’s shoulders.

“Oh, Kaligo?”

“Come this way.”

He led Ashia to the large bookshelf. On the wall next to the bookshelf, there was a door that she didn’t notice at first. Kaligo opened the door for her. “Please rest here for a while.”

“Oh, I’m fine.”

It was a consideration for her, who would have been uncomfortable facing other people before her heightened emotions subsided. And, it was also for Kaligo himself.

“I am not fine. I don’t want to show that face to anyone else now.”

“My face? Why? Is it strange?” As Ashia looked up at him, fumbling over her face, Kaligo let out a groan in pain.

“Haa… what should I do?”

“…”

Kaligo silently laughed when she tilted her head as if she had no idea what he was talking about. Guided by his hand, they stepped into the dark room, and the small lamps operated with magic stones lit up the room one by one.

‘Wow…’

Ashia began to look around the room with a slight admiration. “Where is this?”

“…”

Kaligo hesitated, unable to respond to her simple question.

“Whose room is this?”

When Ashia asked him again, he scratched his cheek and said, “It’s the Grand Duchess’ bedroom.”

Ashia looked around the room and looked back at him in surprise. “Pardon?”

Kaligo continued talking as if he didn’t care about her gaze. “It won’t be dusty or smelly because it hasn’t been neglected.”

“…”

Perhaps he had more to say, but when Kaligo was about to open his mouth agai—

“Your Grace.”

Kaligo once again heard Redin’s voice calling for him. He sighed, “I will leave this door open. This place can’t be seen from my bedroom anyway, so you can rest comfortably.”

“Ah yes…”

He gently rubbed Ashia’s cheek with his fingertips, telling her to sit anywhere and rest. “I will be back soon.”

“…Yes.”

Kaligo went back to his bedroom and slumped down on his bed, answering bluntly, “Come in.”

Redin carefully opened the door and entered. Kaligo sat down on the bed and looked at him, the uncomfortable expression on his face evident.

“Ignorant b*st*rd.”

Redin’s eyes widened. He had no idea what he had done to make his lord so upset. “…My apologies, Your Grace. I have received an urgent message.”

“Say it.”

Redin inhaled and exhaled slowly. “It is said that the barrier of the Magic Tower has collapsed, Your Grace.”

“…”

One of Kaligo’s eyebrows twitched.

‘The barrier of the Magic Tower… has collapsed?’

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