Chapter 38

Chapter 38

George had served as the butler of the Stellanian Taylor family since before Rose was even born. His affection for her was surely deeper than that of a grandfather.

“Miss Rose might be a little wild, but she’s innocent—she doesn’t understand how dangerous the world can be. Miss Rosalyn and Mr. Albert Taylor truly cherished her…”

It hadn’t escaped George that the man Rose brought back after years away was someone he didn’t entirely trust. Yet unlike his stiff demeanor during the day, George now bowed repeatedly, voice earnest.

“Please. Mr. Dautryche. If something were to happen to the young lady… it wouldn’t just be the end of the Stellanian Taylor line. I beg you, listen to this old man’s plea. Convince her not to get involved in anything dangerous.”

James nodded once.

“I will do my best.”

“When she joined the Golden Raven, the shock alone made her nanny Annis faint. We just want Miss Rose to be safe. That’s all we wish for.”

George’s voice trembled as though laying down everything he carried in his heart.

“Even if that means she has to abandon us and sever all ties with Mythos society… please, stop her.”

The more James came to know Rose, the more he too wanted to tell her to choose a safe, comfortable life.

But he couldn’t promise George he’d succeed.

He could only repeat that he would do everything he could.

Because from what he’d seen of her, Rose Taylor was not a woman who’d simply listen to anyone trying to stop her.

If someone tried to force her using power, she would only grow unhappier and wither faster.

James didn’t want that.

He was sure George didn’t want that either.

Safe.

All he could do was try to make sure she stayed safe.

When the carriage door finally shut, George, Annis, and the remaining staff rushed after it.

“Miss Rose! Please take care of yourself, don’t forget about us!”

“Come on, Annis! It’s not like this is the last time. Stop crying already.”

Their endless goodbyes were delaying their departure.

Annis wiped her tears with her sleeve and thrust a small rattling box at Rose.

“Miss, please take this. You loved it so much as a child.”

It was a tiny toy chest that fit snugly in one hand, sealed with a simple lock charm.

Rose squinted at it, her memory slowly stirring.

Her “treasure box,” where she’d carefully stored every random little thing she’d thought precious—buttons, pebbles, bits of string.

Why had she forgotten it until now?

“I kept it safe for you. I always meant to give it back once you were grown.”

“Annis…”

“Your mother and father asked me to make sure you got it.”

“Father and Mother did?”

Her eyes flew wide at the mention of her parents.

What was so important about this silly little toy box that they asked for it to be given to me?

James gently interrupted.

“We should leave now, Rose.”

There were a hundred questions she wanted to ask, but there was no time left.

Annis shouted after the departing carriage, voice thick with tears.

“You’ll need it someday! Truly!”

James’s voice broke the quiet inside the carriage, addressing Rose as she stared blankly out the window.

“Regretful?”

Rose swallowed hard, her voice hoarse with unshed tears.

“Yes. I thought I’d be fine, but it’s harder than I expected.”

James didn’t say anything, just handed her a neatly folded handkerchief.

The moment she saw it, the tears she’d been holding back burst free.

“It’s been five years since I last came back. I should’ve planned for a longer stay.”

“You didn’t think anyone would still be waiting, did you?”

Rose sniffled, struggling to speak.

“I really didn’t. And there’s too much to do anyway… I have people to find, the soulmate bond to break, investigations to run…”

She twisted the damp handkerchief in her hands, unable to hide her anxiety about whether she could actually do any of it.

James watched her in silence for a moment before speaking quietly.

“Rose. Use me.”

“Use you? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Rose blinked at him in confusion.

“My wealth. My reputation. Use them without limit if you need to.”

Rose looked scandalized, waving her hands frantically.

“No, I couldn’t possibly! Even I’m not that shameless—how could I use someone else’s money and name?”

James barely reacted, repeating himself as if it were nothing at all.

“Use my mana too. Without limit.”

“W-what?”

She nearly dropped the handkerchief.

“You remember, don’t you? You almost hurt yourself burning through it all at once.”

“That was my own fault. I miscalculated.”

“I spoke to the Linden branch chief. He said the spell you used that day wasn’t ordinary magic at all.”

“It wasn’t that special…”

Her eyes began darting away from his.

James covered her restless hand with his own.

“They said a Neutral who can use all elements without limit could accomplish things no other Mythos ever could.”

As he spoke, that sweet, heady mana of his began to seep slowly into her skin.

“Ah…!”

It wasn’t overwhelming—just enough to leave a gentle, tingling warmth in its wake.

“The more you have, the more you’ll be able to do.”

“B-but… I can’t rely on mana too much. Once the soulmate bond is nullified…”

Once it was gone, she’d be back to her usual meager reserves. James would have to find a trained absorber to help regulate his mana.

It was the only sensible plan.

They weren’t lovers. They weren’t even truly partners. It was ridiculous to be “soulmates” like this. Even if he seemed willing to share endlessly, it would be far safer and better for them both to sever the bond and return things to normal.

“Don’t you think it’s a bit early to talk about nullification?”

“Of course not! It’s literally one of the most important things I have to deal with.”

Rose snatched her hand away, her face serious.

James just gave a lazy smile.

“That’s not how you talked about it in front of the Minister.”

“That was—I was just trying to get accepted somehow back then…”

“Well, you’re in now. All the more reason to use every advantage you have.”

His tone remained infuriatingly relaxed.

“Can you honestly say you won’t need magic for finding people or investigating criminal organizations?”

“…N-n…”

James couldn’t hold back a loud laugh at her stumbling attempt at “no.”

“Ha! ‘N-n’? Really? Hahaha!”

“Don’t laugh!”

“Ah, Rose. You’re… truly delightful.”

“That’s a weird compliment, but I’ll take it.”

Face burning, Rose quickly turned back to the window. Even she knew her answer had been embarrassingly indecisive—she wanted to crawl into a hole.

Of all the things to say, “n-n”…

James’s voice grew softer, more serious.

“You admit you need mana for magic, right? You felt it most clearly this time.”

Rose lowered her gaze and nodded reluctantly.

It was true.

She remembered how liberating it had felt to cast without worrying about her mana reserves, the sheer power she’d wielded.

If she hadn’t been able to use magic that day…

Back before they shared mana, when she was always scraping by on fumes?

She and the laughing man before her wouldn’t have survived that fire at all.

“So use me. Take as much mana as you want. I have more than enough to spare, endlessly.”

He tapped his handsome lips with a thoughtful finger, then added with shameless ease:

“Just like before. Whenever you want, however much you want.”

James watched with obvious satisfaction as Rose’s face turned scarlet.

“Well? Your answer?”

She squeezed the handkerchief like it was a lifeline and mumbled at last.

“I’ll… I’ll use it, but only in moderation. Enough not to take advantage of you.”

Honestly, it was too tempting to refuse outright.

But the way he’d said it was so embarrassingly blatant she had to deflect somehow.

She cleared her throat and fumbled for an excuse.

“Ah! Almost forgot. I’ll wash your handkerchief properly before giving it back.”

James smiled faintly.

“You can keep it if you like.”