Chapter 133

“How annoying.” Minuelle nervously pulled down her sleeve to cover the bracelet. The light from it kept pricking her with the guilt of having made a promise with Esadien’s father without asking him.

‘I had put it away in a drawer for a reason.’

But this time, she couldn’t help but wear it. Only with this could the path to the sea tribe’s territory be opened. Minuelle swallowed a sigh. Esadien carefully took her hand.

“Minuelle, if you have any worries, please tell me. I want to help too.”

Esadien had been saying this all the way to Rosos, but the answer was always the same.

“You’ll know soon. Very soon.”

Every time she said that, Minuelle would bury her face in his chest and hold him tight.

‘I’m scared.’

She was afraid of Esadien’s reaction. What would he say when he saw his father, the king? Would he get angry but then accept it? Or would he be disappointed in her forever for hiding this fact?

“Minuelle…”

No man could press the woman who seemed to be escaping into his arms. At least, Esadien couldn’t. All he could do was trust her words that he would soon know and change the subject.

“Come to think of it, Minuelle. Didn’t you say that Palos is from Rosos?”

“Yes… that’s right. You remembered?”

Just as she hoped, her sky-blue eyes peeked up and looked at Esadien.

“Of course I remember. He’s someone connected to you.”

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason. Esadien had looked directly into the eyes of the aspiring mage named Palos. The boy’s eyes, which had shown caution towards him and Ramande, would sparkle as if they had never done so before when they were on Minuelle. It was hard not to remember, as there was a faint, budding emotion beyond admiration and gratitude. However, Esadien didn’t need to bring that up.

“Oh, Esadien.”

The sight of Minuelle playfully rolling her eyes and smiling was enough. He didn’t care about that boy’s feelings.

In any case, regardless of Palos’s feelings, the carriage they were in moved out of the center of Rosos, even though the Schultz Merchant Guild, the boy’s family home, was there. Heading further and further to the outskirts, they finally arrived at the seaside. But it was a very strange place for a trip. It wasn’t a suitable sandy beach for a stroll, nor was it a rocky coast where a boat could be docked. Esadien calmly looked around.

“There’s… nothing here.”

But it felt strangely familiar. It was strange. Esadien had never visited Rosos or the eastern coast before. Shaking off the feeling of déjà vu, he took off his outer coat and draped it over Minuelle’s shoulders. Even though it was spring, the sea breeze was still cold.

“You said we came here because of a promise.”

“That’s right.”

The carriage that brought them moved to a higher area. Watching it, Minuelle hummed a tune with an unknown melody. As the hum, which resembled the waves, continued, the light seeping from her bracelet grew stronger and began to shimmer.

‘Is it magic?’

Esadien quietly watched the small miracle Minuelle was creating. Minuelle soon took his hand and began to lead him.

“Esadien, do you know?”

“Yes.”

“Have you ever… been curious about your father?”

At her cautious question, Esadien realized that the “father” Minuelle was talking about was not the emperor but his birth father. And that they were now walking toward the sea. Esadien tried to connect the two facts, but it wasn’t easy.

‘…Does it mean I can learn about my father if I go into the seawater?’

It was an absurd thought. But before Esadien could completely shake off the idea, and before he could say that it had been too long since he had thought about the existence of his father, Minuelle spoke again.

“Your father wants to see you.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the seawater in front of Minuel and Esadien ‘parted’ to both sides. On the revealed land below, people were lined up as if to greet them. They all had pale skin and shiny blue eyes like glass washed by the waves. Esadien was pulled by Minuelle’s hand and moved forward blankly, then asked like someone trying to confirm if he was dreaming or awake.

“Something like this suddenly… Minuelle. Who are they…?”

“They’re the sea tribe, who protect the water spirits.”

This was still okay. Esadien was a man who had experienced all sorts of things, so he wasn’t unable to accept the situation. It was only natural that if there were fire spirits, there would be water spirits. And that other intelligent beings appeared besides humans—he had read a book about reclusive tribes before. However, Esadien’s composure was shattered when a man who looked exactly like him walked forward.

“I’ve been waiting, my son.”

His words sounded like a distant hum. Esadien couldn’t tell if it was because he was in shock or because of the wave that washed over everyone as if it had been waiting.

‘…Minuelle.’

Like a lost child, he gripped Minuelle’s hand to confirm her presence. But that was only for a moment, as their hands were separated by the sea tribe man’s rough embrace.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

He repeatedly apologized to his son whom he had reunited with. He was sorry for only appearing now. Minuelle also wanted to apologize to Esadien. She felt sorry for him, standing stiffly, unable to either hug back or push away the man who was embracing him.

‘No matter how necessary this promise was, I don’t want to do it twice.’

Minuelle was someone who would never approve of such a surprise reunion. When it came to Palos, she had asked for the child’s consent first. Yet, she brought Esadien here without telling him until the very end, purely because of the promise with the king. Not to tell him was clearly part of the promise.

‘Damn that promise.’

Minuelle nervously twisted her hands together. Her palms felt damp, but it seemed to be from sweat, not water.

‘Esadien…’

What was he thinking right now? She couldn’t tell by looking at the back of his head.

‘Was it arrogant of me to think I knew how he felt?’

The thought that even if he resented him, he must have wanted to see him at least once…

Children who don’t know their parents can’t shake off their curiosity, even if they resent them. Who gave birth to me? What were the circumstances of our separation? Will they come to get me someday? From her past life’s experience, Minuelle knew that feeling better than anyone.

‘But it’s just an excuse.’

The thought that she might have used such words just to feel a little less guilty about deceiving Esadien made her feel even more tormented. Minuelle forced herself to clear her throat, which felt tight, and said, “Your Majesty, Esadien. I’ll go look around. Please talk comfortably.”

“…Minuelle.”

Only then did the light return to Esadien’s eyes. He immediately freed himself from the king’s arms and shook his head as if telling her not to go. There was no anger or resentment toward her in his eyes. Minuelle realized the reason for that and let out a faint, hollow laugh.

‘He’s too soft on me.’

Esadien reached out his hand. Minuelle took it and left a short kiss on the back of his hand before stepping back.

“I hope you can say everything you wanted to say to your father and feel relieved. I’ll apologize when we get back home.”

As if he had been waiting, the king gestured with his eyes. A few women from the tribe followed behind Minuelle like attendants. Among their dark, seaweed-like hair, Minuelle’s light pink hair stood out. The king, who couldn’t take his eyes off his son who also couldn’t take his eyes off her, spoke with a faint smile.

“I was like that too. From the moment I first saw Maya, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Never.”

“…Then why did you abandon us?”

Esadien, who had regained his composure, glared at the king. Their faces were so identical that he didn’t even feel like arguing about how he could believe that he was his father. The only difference was the symbol of the Roquate imperial family inherited from his mother.

“I can only say I’m sorry.”

“I’m asking for a reason right now.”

“…It would be better to tell you that a little later. For now, let’s walk together.”

Esadien frowned for a moment but followed the king. There was no other reason for him not to refuse. To be honest, avoiding the answer was ridiculous.

‘It’s obvious, isn’t it?’

He was called the king of the tribe, so he must have been dragged here to be king and had no choice. It’s a dishonorable thing that even nobles sometimes do, but they keep it quiet. Esadien couldn’t understand why he was postponing the story to a later time when he could figure it out with a little thought.

The unpleasant feelings were building up in the background of their silence. The king, who was choosing his words, finally opened his mouth.

“Did the ‘love potion’ work?”

“How do you know about that?”

Surprise appeared on Esadien’s face, which had been stiff.

“Well.”

The king laughed, avoiding the answer again, but when Esadien’s eyes turned cold again, he finally confessed.

“My boy, I’m the one who gave it to you.”

“…But that person was an old woman.”

Esadien openly looked his birth father up and down. His physique was so similar to his own that it was eerie. No matter how much he disguised himself, he couldn’t have squeezed his body into the shell of that tiny old woman. The king shrugged his shoulders as if he had read his son’s thoughts.

“It wasn’t a disguise; it was a transformation. I have that much power.”

“Then the store disappearing too?”

“I used some power. I also wanted to do something for my son.”

“…”

Too many words were swirling at once, so Esadien chose to remain silent. If he wanted to do something, he should have reached out when he was still young, when he had hope for his parents. Rather than a strange potion, he should have given him something else, or… no, he never needed his help in the first place…

‘No, that’s not right.’

Although he suffered from an unexpected side effect, Esadien knew better than anyone else that the time he spent as El had a great influence on turning Minuelle’s heart. So, what came out of his mouth in the end was not resentment but gratitude.

“…Thank you.”

Even with such a lukewarm greeting, the king was unreservedly happy.

“Yes, so that young lady is your partner, is she? She brought the fire spirit to fix you when you were hurt and gave our spirit a hard time.”

“…A hard time…”

Mulling over the king’s words, Esadien burst out laughing. Although he hadn’t seen it, he felt that Minuelle was fully capable of scolding a spirit.

‘She must have been cute.’

The thought made him feel warm, but on the other hand, it hurt his heart that Minuelle had to go through that alone. He wanted to beat up his past self, who thought that if he disappeared from her sight, she would forget about him, and therefore it was right for him, a grotesque person, to leave. Minuelle was a persistent person who could break down his defenses and leave footprints on his heart. So why had he forgotten that at the time?

‘I made too many mistakes.’

It was a fact he already knew, but it felt even more bitter now. Esadien swallowed that feeling and made a promise to himself once again. He would repay her for the rest of his life. He wouldn’t let her struggle alone anymore.

He missed Minuelle. It had only been 10 minutes since they parted, but he already missed her.