episode_0078

Agnes woke up late in the morning.

When I slowly open my eyes, the first thing I see is a sleeping Deltan.

What permeated my nose was his body scent mixed with the smell of soap.

The comfort and warmth of the blanket that covers you all the way to your neck.

Even then, my heart trembled slightly at the thought of hugging him.

The corners of the mouth that slowly turned upward were unintentional.

The moment I opened my eyes, the reality that I was not alone was very sweet.

Agnes gently pursed her lips and then spoke.

“… Good morning. Delta Inn.”

There was no answer back.

According to Gerhart, once a Deltan comes out to work, he sleeps for at least 14 hours, so no matter what he does now, he won’t wake up.

A hint of playfulness arose, but he did not act further.

The reason was that there was no reward for playing pranks on sleeping Deltans.

“The boring Delta people.”

As she said that, she buried her face in his chest.

Since I didn’t have anything else to do at the mansion, I decided to spend some time alone and stay there for an hour.

-Princess, did you cough?

Gerhart’s voice rang from outside the door.

Agnes pouted her lips for a moment, then got up from the bed and opened the door.

The old butler, who was a head taller than himself and had an impressively stocky body, grinned.

“You are awake.”

“Yes, I was waiting for Deltan to wake up.”

“Well, it must be a long wait. The Count needs to sleep for six more hours, so how about having a meal?”

“I’m not hungry.”

“I don’t know anything else, but the Count gave me instructions to make sure to eat at least some food.”

“When did you say that?”

“It was last morning. Even though he was tired, he emphasized it three times.”

Agnes laughed and said, ‘Push’.

“Really?”

It was quite a pleasant statement.

To the point where I felt like it didn’t matter whether this was true or if Gerhart was just making it up to make me feel better.

“Then I guess I should eat it. Because these are instructions from the ‘Count’.”

“Please go. The preparations have been completed.”

“Thank you.”

When we go down to the restaurant, what we see is tender meat and delicious soup.

It had a strong smell, so it was clear that it was also food made with magical beasts.

“It will be expensive.”

Magic water used as a cooking ingredient is expensive.

This is because demonic beasts are vicious in nature, making them difficult to breed.

To that extent, in order to procure, those with slaughtering skills must go to the land of demonic beasts, and because demonic beasts usually have a habit of building nests in rough places where humans cannot reach, it is their job to go there.

In addition, as we were now in a situation where we had to be wary of demons as we headed there, the price of demonic beast meat was skyrocketing.

Although the duke never had to worry about anything else, Agnes’s minimal conscience told her that she had to worry to this extent in a situation where she was living in a situation where her conscience was at stake.

“Is Delta’s wallet okay?”

“What an unnecessary worry. Speaking of secrets, the Count has a lot of treasures that he hid without reporting to the imperial family. So much so that even I can’t count them all.”

“Isn’t it tax evasion?”

“That’s right.”

“Can you tell me?”

When Agnes asked, resting her chin, Gerhart just smiled meaningfully.

The meaning was clear without needing to be said.

Agnes was not so foolish that she did not know what Gerhardt wanted from her.

“You want me to give birth to a Deltan heir, right?”

“I will not deny it.”

“A child born with a body like this will definitely live a short life.”

“This is the Count’s seed, so I don’t expect that to happen.”

“It’s competition. Who will be stronger, me or the Delta people?”

“That’s an interesting perspective.”

Agnes giggled.

“Don’t expect too much. I have no thoughts of children. I am also a Delta person.”

“Even so, it is a good thing. The Count has a very fiery personality, so there are not many people around him. So, to me, the princess is a benefactor who is with the Count.”

“Your loyalty is amazing.”

Gerhart smiled without answering.

Agnes muttered to herself as she looked at that scene.

‘The first hound.’

I belatedly became interested in the hunting dogs of Hebron and looked for Gerhat, who was a knight called that in the past.

Judging from the information she heard, his loyalty must have been built up during that journey, but even when she asked Gerhart what happened at that time, she just avoided answering, which made Agnes curious.

“Are you really not going to tell me what happened?”

“It’s not that fun.”

“Well, then I won’t ask any more questions.”

Agnes said and picked up the spoon.

I took a mouthful of soup, put it in my mouth, swallowed it, and spoke.

“It’s delicious.”

“Thank you.”

The morning meal was over.

*

After eating, Agnes took a soak in the bathtub.

Remy, the maid brought along, kept her mouth shut and began to lather Agnes’ body.

Remy’s reticence was one of the main reasons Agnes brought her here.

“Remy.”

“Yes.”

“Leave your hair sufficiently loose. Avoid irritating fragrances. Deltans hate strong smells.”

“Yes.”

Agnes smiled and closed her eyes.

Immersing oneself in warm water gives one a feeling of languor, while the bubbles gently touching the body and the sound of water lapping provide a sense of calm.

These were good things to organize your thoughts.

‘Three months.’

There is still that much left until the life of this body disappears.

However, my physical condition was the most comfortable it had been in recent years, so it was true that Delta’s skills were at a level that should be recognized.

Agnes thought back on the past events.

The days spent together after entering and exiting the Devil’s Island, hiking up the snowy mountain, and returning.

His appearance changing within him.

What suddenly came to mind was the Delta people who had recently begun to approach.

Stop-

Agnes’ body stopped.

“Princess?”

“… no. Continue.”

Agnes suddenly calmed her pounding heart.

The heartbeat was excitement and anxiety.

‘A desirable Deltan.’

Since when did it start?

To be exact, it was when Gaias invaded the islands.

There was something I realized after falling for the devil’s temptation and only acting on my instincts.

The more you try to seduce him, the more your heart moves along with it.

That’s why we need to tie him up before his heart gives way.

I promised myself that I would not give my heart away again until the end of my life, but it was not easy.

To put it another way, coloring others with your own color means that you have to seep into the minds of others.

Agnes humbly admitted.

My heart was already leaning toward him.

‘But it can’t go any further than this.’

I didn’t want to give more away.

I didn’t want to fall for him.

‘Because I’m satisfied now… .’

This is because regrets will arise.

Agnes did not want to do anything more regretful about her life.

‘… So, please come to me first.’

Talk-

As I bounced the bubbles on the surface of the water, the sound of water arose.

Agnes gazed at the small ripples and calmed herself.

‘Let me fall asleep smiling and not be afraid of me.’

I thought to myself about the wind.

*

After washing my body, it was three hours until Delta Inn woke up.

Agnes headed to the garden.

“Horn Lake.”

I called the spirit.

Then a chill swept through the space.

[Yes!!!]

What appeared along with the snow storm that occurred out of nowhere was Horn Lake, the spirit of the lake.

As soon as she took shape, she threw her head on the floor and cried out.

[Did you call me?]

Immediately afterwards, Hornlake rolled his eyes and looked around.

Before long, he smiled brightly.

[There are no evil commies today… !]

Pop!

Agnes kicked Hornrake in the head.

[Keuhohook… !]

Hornrake flipped his hips and started spewing out snowballs.

As I stepped on the head with the sole of my foot, the momentum became stronger.

[Ugh… !]

Patter!

Pretty funny reaction.

“Well, I’m getting tired of it now.”

[Kk, kkk?!]

Horn Lake reacted again to the words that he was tired and spewed out snowballs.

This relationship was completed two weeks ago.

Still, the spirit that pretended to hate it has gone, and now only the sow, who is happy to be scolded, remains.

“It deteriorates too quickly.”

If the humans of the world were like these spirits, the continent would have been destroyed before the Deltans could even do anything.

As Agnes was lost in thought, Hornrake said with a grin.

[Well, it’s so good… !]

He didn’t seem sorry at all.

Agnes stopped harassing Hornrake and asked.

There was no other reason to call her out and check on her periodically.

“You know. I still can’t learn elemental magic?”

The purpose was to ask whether he had mastered elemental arts.

This is already the seventh time that full-scale spirit magic has been rejected, saying it is too early.

Hornrake responded to the question I asked hoping to get a different answer today.

[Ugh… You can make a fist-sized snowball… ?]

Agnes narrowed her eyes in response.

Then Horn Lake became excited and continued speaking.

[Well, I told you before, but elemental magic is… .]

“… You need vitality. I’m going to die soon, so if I use elemental magic, my lifespan will shorten.”

[Yes… .]

Agnes sighed.

‘It’s annoying.’

Mahua was holding my ankle again.

What is needed to manifest elemental magic is vitality. To be exact, it was an energy called vitality.

This is the energy that naturally fills you up as you live each day.

For a normal person, it would be a feeling of vitality that would build up even when standing still, but Agnes’ case was different.

Almost all of the vitality is being absorbed into maintaining the heart, so in order to use spirit magic, you have to use your lifespan to replace the missing vitality.

In other words, you have to risk your life every time you unleash your power.

“Is there no alternative?”

[Uh, none… .]

“It’s useless.”

[Big!]

Hornrake gasped, clutching his chest.

Agnes was lost in thought, ignoring the sight.

Then Hornrake asked hesitantly.

[Well, by the way… .]

“What.”

[Why do you want to learn elemental magic?]

“Why?”

[Well, that’s right. That communist… A wizard may not know anything else, but he is strong in terms of force, right? If I were to fight, I would never be able to win.]

“Why is that?”

[I was wondering if the master had a reason to learn how to fight… .]

Agnes blinked.

Then he smiled and answered.

“That is not a reason.”

[yes?]

“The Deltans need elemental magic. You might not really need it, but you’ll be glad you have it. And I am the only one who can use elemental magic around Deltans.”

The position that fills in his shortcomings is useful.

If you think about it, this could be seen as an extension of driving.

“It is a good weapon for seducing Deltans. Regardless of force.”

Hornrake cried.

[Uh, such cruel words… !]

I was the only one who looked abandoned, like the heroine of a tragic story, so there was no other clown.

Agnes let out a small laugh and waved her hand.

Then Horn Lake’s new form became blurred.

“I’m done with my business, so go.”

[oh! Now, just a moment… !]

Whick!

Horn Lake has disappeared.

The initiative for the counter-summoning had already been taken over by Agnes, so there was nothing Hornrake could do.

Agnes looked at the disappearing snowballs for a moment and then returned to the mansion.

When I entered the bedroom, I found Deltan still asleep.

Agnes went to his side and laid her head on his arm, then hugged his waist and looked at Deltan blankly.

Even though I didn’t do anything, I wasn’t bored.

Another two hours later, Deltan opened his eyes.

Agnes smiled brightly and greeted me.

“Good morning. Delta Inn.”

Her real morning had begun.