Chapter 7: Confirmation procedure (3)

It’s an unfamiliar ceiling.

That was the first thought that came to mind as soon as I opened my eyes.

As my vision slowly focused, unfamiliar, intricately carved decorations and the softly swaying shadows of candlelight spread before my eyes.

The air felt strangely warm yet slightly heavy.

An unfamiliar scent, a somehow strong floral aroma faintly mixed with the scent of herbs.

I tried to move my body slightly and felt the thick blanket rustle as it slipped down my shoulders.

“Where… am I…?”

My body felt heavier than I expected, and my head was hazy.

It was a feeling quite different from a cold or fatigue.

Slowly, I turned my gaze, and saw the evening sunlight, stretching long through the curtains despite no breeze, dyeing the room red.

And beside me, by the bed, I saw Sara, deeply asleep, curled up with her arm as a pillow.

Sara’s hair flowed softly over her shoulders, and her shoulders rose and fell rhythmically.

Her fingertips gently held onto the edge of my blanket, not letting go.

It looked as if she had stayed by my side until the very end and then fallen asleep right there.

‘It doesn’t seem like I’ve returned to the viscount’s manor… What happened?’

I carefully closed and opened my eyes repeatedly, trying to recall the scattered fragments of my memory.

A cool sensation.

Transparent streams of water and coldness that had emerged from my fingertips.

Isellia, who had been laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.

And… the moment I lost all my strength and collapsed.

“That’s right. While using magic…”

I slowly tightened my grip on the blanket.

Unlike my still slightly heavy head, the room was already filled with the quietness of evening, as if I had slept soundly for a long time.

“Sennet-nim…?”

Suddenly, a cautious yet trembling voice echoed in the quiet room.

I turned my head towards the sound and saw Sara, who had been lying face down, lift her head and look at me.

Her eyes were red, as if she had just woken up, and there were still traces of moisture around them.

“You’re awake. That’s such a relief!”

Sara’s eyes welled up with tears, and she sobbed, letting out trembling breaths.

Unsure what to do with Sara, who had suddenly started crying, I slightly propped myself up.

“I-It’s okay. I’m fine, so don’t cry.”

But at my words, Sara’s eyes welled up even more with tears, and she wiped her eyes with her fingertips as she spoke.

“Sennet-nim, because your mana is low… you weren’t supposed to use magic carelessly… Why did you push yourself so hard…? Do you know how scared I was when they said you collapsed…?”

To Sara, who was sobbing with a trembling voice, I smiled awkwardly and lowered my head.

‘So, there was such a backstory. If Sara knows, then Sennet’s family must all know…’

‘This is going to be a headache once I go back.’

****

While I was comforting Sara, who wouldn’t stop crying, a cautious knock sounded from outside the door.

“Excuse me…”

At the unfamiliar voice, I slowly lifted my head.

The door opened, and a maid in a neat uniform entered the room.

The moment our eyes met, the maid’s eyes widened, and she gasped briefly.

“Sennet-nim! You’re awake…! I must tell Lady Isellia at once!”

The maid, who seemed to have forgotten to breathe in her surprise, immediately bowed deeply, then quickly turned and practically ran out of the room.

‘As expected, this was the Saluut Ducal Household.’

Not long after the door closed, the loud sound of footsteps rapidly approached from down the hallway.

Small and light, yet the sound of shoes hurriedly tapping the floor without pause.

Soon, the door burst open, and Isellia appeared, breathing heavily.

Seeing this, Sara stood up, bowed silently, and then excused herself.

“Haa… haa… Sennet-nim!”

Isellia’s cheeks were faintly flushed from her heavy breathing.

Her eyes were wide open, and as soon as she saw me, a deep sigh of relief escaped her.

Her usually perfectly styled black hair was disheveled in places from her hurried run, and her unfinished drill curls, already imperfect due to her young age, were slightly coming undone.

‘More than anything else, that was truly unfortunate.’

“Th-Thank goodness… Really… I never thought you’d collapse from mana exhaustion…”

Isellia, who had approached my side, was still catching her breath but quietly observing my condition.

Her fingertips trembled slightly, and her still uneven breaths wavered with the end of her sentences.

“I heard from Sennet-nim’s maid. She said you’ve avoided using magic as much as possible until now because your mana is low… I’m truly sorry.”

Her clear golden eyes wavered as if trembling.

Earlier in the day, her eyes had sparkled with curiosity, but now they were deeply clouded, likely from worry and self-reproach.

I quietly shook my head.

“Isellia-nim, that was my fault. I didn’t know how much I could use either.”

But even at my words, Isellia quickly lowered her head and spoke again in a quiet but clearly audible voice.

“…Still, it was practically me who egged you on. Dual-attribute magic was something I’d never seen before, so I was too fascinated… I was thoughtless…”

Isellia’s voice trailed off, and she clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest.

I quietly watched her.

How much she had worried about me, how much she was blaming herself, was conveyed entirely through the slight trembling of her shoulders and the tightly clasped tips of her fingers.

‘A heavy atmosphere doesn’t suit my personality.’

So, I spoke with a slightly playful, slightly lighthearted smile.

“Isellia-nim, how about we do this? Let’s just say we each made one mistake… and simply consider it null and void?”

At that, Isellia stared blankly at me for a moment, then tilted her head slightly.

“Null and void?”

Soon, as if she had finally understood my meaning, Isellia’s eyes widened, and she firmly shook her head as she asked again.

“But Sennet-nim, mana exhaustion isn’t a trivial matter! In severe cases, it can be fatal…! How can you just… simply consider something like that null and void?”

Isellia’s voice was cautious, but within it seemed to be a mix of surprise, bewilderment, and responsibility.

‘Even if it’s not a trivial matter, I didn’t die, so I don’t really care.’

“It’s fine. I’m perfectly alright now, aren’t I? I can speak just fine, and my body moves well. And between friends, something like this—”

Before I could finish my sentence, I suddenly felt awkward and trailed off.

It was a thoughtless remark I’d just tossed out. But Isellia showed a subtly changed expression as I spoke with a smile.

“Friends…?”

Her bewildered expression from a moment ago turned slightly blank, as if her gaze had lost focus, and her small lips carefully parted.

Furthermore, she slowly tilted her head in confusion, as if she truly didn’t understand.

‘Ah. I messed up.’

‘Given how terrible my first impression was, I’m not in a position to talk about friends.’

“Ah, no. That’s… I’m sorry. It might have sounded rude. I didn’t mean it like that—”

“No!”

Just as I was about to quickly correct myself out of embarrassment, Isellia suddenly raised her voice.

When I reacted with surprise, Isellia slightly lowered her head, then shyly opened her mouth as if embarrassed.

“I don’t… think it’s rude. And… I’m happy… I actually like it! I hope you’ll be my friend… Please be my friend…”

A small, cautious whisper.

With her face flushed up to her ears, Isellia slightly raised her head and peeked at me, wearing a faintly excited smile.

‘No, why is she acting so cute? It makes me want to pull on her…’

I suppressed the sudden impulse, took a small breath, and asked cautiously yet playfully.

“Then, shall we be friends starting today, Isellia-nim?”

Isellia’s eyes sparkled and widened.

Then, she immediately curved her lips into a wide smile and nodded her head rapidly.

“Yes! Let’s do that, I want to do that!”

Without hiding her excitement, she leaned forward slightly, gazing at me with sparkling eyes.

Then suddenly, without any warning, she clearly called my name.

“Sennet!”

I wore a surprised expression at Isellia, who had just omitted the honorific attached to my name.

Seeing this, Isellia’s cheeks flushed, and she brought both hands lightly to the sides of her cheeks, smiling shyly.

“I-I was nervous because it was my first time. Actually, I saw my older brother call his friends casually. I wanted to try that too, just once!”

I burst into laughter at her small confession.

Her expression was as if she had revealed her true feelings, which she had hidden behind a mask.

If she had a tail like a puppy, it felt like it would be wagging frantically, making her seem so lovely and cute.

“Now that we’re friends, call me by my name casually! Sennet-nim, please call me casually too!”

At Isellia’s excited voice, I tried to call her casually, but what came out of my mouth was a polite reply.

“Yes, Isellia-nim.”

At the honorific that came out of habit, Isellia’s cheeks puffed out.

“Isellia! Sennet, you can’t add ‘-nim’! We’re friends!”

Her grumbling voice, full of excitement, feigned anger but somehow had a mischievous tone.

“Ah… well, it’s not easy when I actually try? Isellia… -nim… no, Isellia…”

As I tried to drop the honorific but inadvertently added it again, Isellia, seeing my hesitation, puffed out her cheeks even more, looking sulky as if she couldn’t stand it.

“Again! This time too! Call me properly, quickly!”

Her eyebrows were furrowed, but her eyes sparkled playfully.

Rather than pouting like a child, she was adorably sulking, pretending to be displeased.

Each time, her swaying, unfinished drill curls subtly swayed, capturing my gaze.

‘No, this kind of reaction is cheating, isn’t it? It makes me want to pull on them…’