kscans

Chapter 101 - The Lost Light and the Future to Come

Returning to the tower, we began preparations to create the Magic Suppression Cloth. ...But before that.

I’m properly clothed now... so it should be fine, right? I glanced over at Mireille and saw that she was conscious of the same thing.

The moment we stepped inside the tower, she tightly gripped the hem of my shirt and averted her gaze.

(What should I do...)

But when her master returns, unless we get married, we’ll never have another night like this, spending it alone together. Darius is turning a blind eye, but I’m still making a move on his disciple, his only daughter... If she comes back, I’ll probably get a serious scolding.

If Mireille wants it, I’m fully prepared to take responsibility immediately.

I want to touch her, just a little.

I reached for her hand that was clutching my shirt and squeezed it back. Flirting is nice, but I think it’s this kind of casual physical contact that’s most important.

I remembered Darius’s somber face. Being able to laugh by someone’s side, to have a normal conversation. I think it’s that kind of ordinary happiness that matters most.

"Mireille, what will you do when this coup d’état succeeds and your master comes back?" I wanted to ask this while I had the chance.

"...I want to rebuild the shop. But... I need a large sheet of glass. I don’t have the power to handle glass like that yet. I wonder if I could ask my master... to make it for me..."

Her voice turned tearful at the end.

"Actually, when the talk of our arranged marriage came up, I secretly went to see your shop."

I remembered that light. Even at night, a warm light spilled through the glass, creating a welcoming space. Mireille, attending to customers, was so courteous. Honestly, I thought an arranged marriage was unnecessary.

"I really liked that glass. If you decide to try your hand at making glass, once this is over, let’s go look for materials together."

"...To think you were watching, that’s embarrassing."

"No, you were doing a great job. I was really impressed. I never thought things would turn out like this, though."

In just a short time, our situations had changed dramatically. Even if the coup succeeds, I don’t know where I’ll be transferred. I don’t think Julius will be demoted... and will Darius return to his ducal territory?

But Ariel won’t be by his side.

"I was debating whether to tell you this... but it seems Darius is borrowing the power of various nobles to rescue your former master."

"...I knew it. It was written that Adrian-san left my master because he was going to live as a noble. But for him to reappear... I thought it must be because he was involving other nobles."

"Yeah. It’s nearly impossible to defeat the king without the power of the nobility. At the same time... now that he’s borrowed their power, it means it will be difficult for Darius, a duke, and your former master, a commoner, to be together."

"...!"

Large tears spilled from Mireille’s eyes.

"That’s so sad...! My master, she worked so, so hard."

She must have been remembering the image of her master that was written in the diary as she sobbed. A person who desperately tried to be normal, who received so much love from Darius and Adrian, and who struggled and worried about how to return it.

Even if she returns safely, the person who should be by her side will no longer be there.

I bit my lip and pulled her into a hug.

"But you’re here. You, who properly received that love and have grown through all this. So when your master comes back, let’s rebuild a wonderful shop together. I’ll help too."

There is a future, I’m sure of it. Even if the coup succeeds, and we get Ariel back, and even if there is little happiness beyond that.

We can’t go back. We can only move forward.

I held Mireille again, tightly.