Chapter 48

He looked at me for a long time, so I asked.

“No, just nothing. Much more than that… No. Just come and sit down.”

Whenever he approached with curiosity, he rubbed the back of his back, avoided my gaze, and strode towards the sofa. I followed him and sat on the sofa opposite him.

“Hey, go get some tea.”

“Did you really find the ingredients for the medicine?”

“Why are you in such a hurry? Let’s talk about it over the tea.”

“I have to be back in an hour.”

“Ah, they’re still on watch? What a tiring life.”

It was as if he felt sorry for me, so I smiled. He wasn’t wrong.

It wasn’t until one of his men came out after bringing the tea that we could have a proper conversation. I liked the scent that lingers on my lips as they use pretty high-quality tea leaves.

“It’s not a medicine that weakens your heart or anything like that.”

“Then?”

“It took me several months to find the names of two or more of the herbs they used, which were so tricky.”

“Then what is it used for?”

Shale, who spoke slowly, leaning on the sofa, straightened his back.

“Magician.”

Magician?”

I had no choice but to ask like an idiot at the answer I had never thought of.

Why is the magician coming out of here all of a sudden?

“Are you saying it’s like the herbs that magicians eat?”

“Um, no. It means medicinal herbs used by magicians.”

“Don’t beat around the bush and speak to the point.”

I finally put down my cup and urged him.

“Before that, let me ask you something.”

“What?”

“Are you mixed race?”

How does he know that?

“No, I don’t know. How could I know that?”

“Really? It thickens the blood of mixed races. But it also contained ingredients that paralyze some of the senses.”

“Paralyze?”

“Yes. Pen, what was it? Pendellium? It only comes out from polar regions, but it’s supposed to make the blood of mixed races thick and bring out their power. It was the first time I had heard of such medicine.”

“It forces it to thicken?”

“Yes. Bring me the medicine.”

Shale beckoned to his other men, who brought a long wooden crate. Inside it were the medicine bags I gave them, herb leaves and broken branches.

“This is the medicine you want me to check. It dried up a bit over time, but I used half of it to find out the ingredients.”

“Are you saying these are the herbs used to make my medicine?”

“Yes. I did find one thing, but it took me a long time because I wasn’t sure.”

Shale gave the names of the herbs one by one and gave their effect. On the outside, they were herbs that could be used as painkillers, tranquilizers, and paralyzing drugs. However, another medicine could be made if the magician used the mixing ratio and recipe.

“…so that’s the way magicians use it, right? This.”

“Yes. Either the person who gave you the medicine is learning magic or hired someone like that.”

“It makes the blood of mixed race thicker?”

“Yes, but it was complicated. I don’t know if they have their own world or not.”

Make the blood of the mixed rice thicker. Was it because I’m half of Perenya?

“Are there any side effects?”

“Yes. I was a little scared to say it was a side effect. I heard that if you stop taking medicine for a long time, your blood will temporarily turn upside down. It could shock your heart.”

“…shock heart.”

I remembered the squeezing pain. I thought I was going to die from it, but my blood was flowing again. I felt as if my heart was in shock. Such shocks continued in other countries as well. It wasn’t as serious as the first time, but I fell down a couple of times a week because it was so overwhelming. And then I awakened my power.

“Is that so?”

“What’s the matter?”

Did they wait until my blood became thick enough and my power manifested so the failure rate could be lowered? But why does my mother know it so well? She didn’t even have Perenya blood.

“Thank you for letting me know.”

I brushed aside my thoughts and thanked him. He made a puzzled expression and then smiled.

“If you are really thankful, you should go on a date with me.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“I’ve been helping you for two years without a price, but it’s a shame.”

“I said I would pay for it. You’re the one who refused every time I sent you a letter.”

I’ve been in contact with him for two years and know him quite well. Even if I offered to send him payment, he always refused. But now he was making a joke.

“It was better than our first meeting.”

Shale spoke as if to recall memories. It was obvious that he was half joking. Our first meeting was a little too bad, wasn’t it? It was certainly true that he helped me a lot after I gave him the information about his mother’s pocket watch.

“Thank you anyway.”

“Let’s go on a date.”

“No way, I will pay you back all at once later. Help me with one more thing while you’re on it.”

“Did you decide to be shameless?”

He raised his eyebrows.

“I don’t say empty words.”

“Well, yes. What is it?”

I opened my mouth without hesitation, “The only mixed-race I know is Perenya. I heard about it when I was young. Can you help me find out if there are any other kin? Anything about it is fine.”

“It’s easier than medicine. When do you need it?”

“As soon as possible. The newer information, the better.”

“The more, the better.”

I paused and shrugged.

“Ah, thank you.”

Thirty minutes had passed since I came here. It was time to leave.

I got up from my seat and tried to say goodbye, but he was faster.

“You.”

“Yes?”

“It’s better not to trust Shubart Rivacher too much.”

“Sir Shubart?”

“Yes.”

I stared and nodded.

“I know, but what can I do? In this situation.”

“It’s better to throw away what you have to throw away. That’s it.”

“Thank you for your advice. I’ll engrave it.”

I roughly waved my hand and turned around when I heard Shale’s voice from behind.

“Blake Ariandel.”

“…”

“It looked like she was coming here soon. While I’m at it, I found out about it. Have you prepared anything?”

It was later than I thought.

I glanced back at him.

“I have to do it now.”

* * *

Blake was coming back. It wouldn’t be a problem if this body disappeared without a trace, but it couldn’t be easy.

They didn’t say anything directly to me right now, but my mother seemed to want to use my power on the first prince. Because a few years ago, my mother said she would get rid of Valery. I was looking for a way to stop it before encountering such a thing.

“What to do?”

Sir Shubart must know to some extent. Because I’m using her identity and keeping an eye on her from time to time.

Shale said that before I completely left. Blake Ariandel’s body was so ill that it seemed like it would take a long time for her to come here. I wish it was true, but what if not? My worries deepened.

* * *

I said I was going to rest as soon as I got home, but it seemed I had fallen asleep. I woke up to a strangely cold and strange feeling.

“Ah, Sister, you’re awake.”

A bright, high-pitched sound was heard. I turned my head, feeling a dull pain in my head. A girl with wavy red hair was sitting cross-legged on a chair, like my age at best.

Blake Ariandel?

Why is she already here? Where the hell are we? What the hell did Ian do?

“I tried to meet Sister a few times, but every time I went, something happened. Don’t you feel tired?”

“…”

“Sister, you were living a pretty dangerous life. I left you alone because it was fun.”

“…”

Her clear voice sounded as if she had thought of me. It felt a bit strange, but she was definitely Blake Ariandel. Because her appearance is the same as the portrait I had seen.

“Then you disappeared. They said you ran away, but that’s not it.”

The corners of her eyes curled and folded. In between, her dark green eyes were emotionless, unlike the corners of her pretty folded eyes.

The real Blake came up to me, crouched down, and gently wrapped my hair around her fingers.

“Wasn’t it hard to dye your hair?”

It’s soft even though you dyed it. She murmured, clutching my hair.

I closed my eyes slowly for a while and then opened them. I forced myself to stand up, but my body moved with difficulty like wet cotton stuck in the sand.

“Say what you have to say.”

“Sister doesn’t look good in red.”

When I told her to say what she had to say, she said something ridiculous.

“Should I tell Sister a color that suits you?”

“What?”

“Black color. The blackest black . That suits Sister. Red doesn’t suit you.”

“…”

“How was Blake’s life Sister lived in? I’m a little curious.”

Then she quickly stabbed me with a sharp knife.