Chapter 43
There’s an age-old phrase, “Do you want to co in for so ran?” It’s used when a man and woman who are interested in each other invite one another over to their place.
‘But this is just about going to his palace,’ I thought.
Even though I didn’t think Darcy ant it in a romantic way, the idea still made
nervous.
Darcy’s place wasn’t just a one-room apartnt; it was an abandoned palace. Although I had heard about it, this was my first ti being invited.
I insisted on walking with him instead of being carried again.
As we neared the palace, Darcy gave
a warning.
"Forgive the ss. I’m not exactly a tidy person, and I don’t use servants either."
He must have placed a spell on his room to keep others from entering, as even the hallways were deserted.
The palace still had the feel of an abandoned place. The cold, empty corridors led us to a door.
The magic stones embedded around the door clearly marked this as Darcy’s space.
"You gave
those. I’m making good use of them."
"You’re getting more magic stones as a gift today too."
"If it’s from you, I’ll like it."
Darcy smiled at my words and turned the doorknob.
‘This is the space where Darcy has lived his whole life.’
My heart trembled as I stepped inside.
The room perfectly matched his image.
The room was cluttered, with magic stones scattered everywhere, but it was oddly organized in its own way.
I wrinkled my nose at the overpowering scent of incense. The table next to the sofa was piled high with candles.
‘No wonder Roberta ntioned it earlier.’
Darcy, noticing my reaction, scooped the candles off the table and tossed them into the fireplace, where they burst into flas.
"Does the sll bother you?"
He asked, his face filled with concern.
Looking at his expression, I was tempted to say it didn’t, but I had to be honest.
"Yes."
"Then I’ll have to quit."
I sank into the sofa Darcy pointed out. It felt new, its cushions still plush.
"Maybe airing the place out will help."
He opened the windows. The night was beginning to fall.
Since the abandoned palace was so isolated, with nothing around it, the sky seed even clearer.
"I guess I’ll need to burn this too."
Darcy placed the incense burner Roberta had given him on the table.
"Do you really have to? You could just keep it."
"I do."
With that, Darcy poured the remaining candles into the fireplace.
The sound of the wood crackling as it burned, combined with the cool breeze from outside, made
feel cozy.
It was like being under a blanket with the air conditioner on during sumr.
"Oh, right. Look at this."
He opened a drawer and tossed sothing toward . I caught it out of reflex, and when I realized what it was, I almost dropped it in shock.
"This, this is…"
"The weapon I used to threaten Kies. I thought you might want to na it."
He had recreated a gun so perfectly that it surprised . My experience with guns was limited to movies and book illustrations, but still.
I turned the gun over in my hands. It resembled a pistol, but with a more antique design. Was it because it was made with magic stones?
"What will you na it?"
The answer to Darcy’s question was obvious.
"A gun."
What else would I call a gun?
"A gun? Simple, but I like it. Fine, we’ll call it a gun. Want
to make one for you too?"
For ? A gun? My initial shock gave way to temptation.
…It might be good for self-defense.
I was openly supporting Darcy, the new prince. Not only that, but I was also planning to create and comrcialize magic tools, which the royal family despised, ensuring a livelihood for magicians.
Darcy, now next to , took the gun back and twirled it in his hand.
"There’s a lot of potential for making more things like this. For example, I could extend the barrel so it could be used to target from long distances."
…Like a sniper rifle? They say geniuses only need a hint, and Darcy certainly fit the bill.
"Isn’t it difficult to use?"
"I made it so it wouldn’t be. It’s based on my magic and spells."
So there wouldn’t be any recoil like with a real gun. After all, it was a magic tool, similar yet different from a real pistol.
I was relieved that the gun had saved Darcy’s life, but I was also worried about him developing more weapons.
Darcy didn’t seem to enjoy fighting, so there must be a significant reason why he continued.
After thinking it over, I finally asked,
"You’re developing more weapons because of the emperor and Prince Ryan, aren’t you?"
"Yes. I need a ‘thod’ to bring them down."
"A thod?"
"Yes, sothing beyond magic."
Even though he could use his mind control abilities to end everything, Darcy chose not to.
Was it just for revenge?
I didn’t think so.
"You have a reason why it has to be this way."
"You’re sharp as always."
Darcy, who had been unbuttoning his collar, nodded in agreent.
He had never fully explained his mind control abilities to . Since no one else had this power, there wasn’t much information available.
Even Kies didn’t seem to know much about it. If Kies didn’t know, there was no way I could.
Unless Darcy chose to tell
directly, I wouldn’t find out.
With the window open, I started to feel a bit cold. As I shivered slightly, Darcy got up, closed the window, and continued speaking.
"Actually, that’s not the only reason."
"There’s more?"
"Since Kies has seen this weapon, he’ll likely try to create his own. I want to make sothing even better to show him that his efforts are futile."
"…."
"Before the magic stones run out."
This was new information.
"The magic stones are running out?"
"Yes, they’re not an endless resource. The supply was always limited, and now it’s dwindling."
In the books, the royal family made a business out of magic stones. This scenario wasn’t sothing I had ever considered.
"…Aren’t magicians also decreasing in number, like the magic stones?"
It was true that magicians had gone into hiding, and their numbers had decreased.
"Yes. There are more people with magic who are choosing to live as ordinary people."
Darcy spoke matter-of-factly.
Magical power required cultivation, but in an era where magicians were persecuted, who would want to do that? I would have hidden it too.
"Maybe it’s easier for everyone this way."
As magicians disappeared, the world would beco more uniform.
Darcy added this self-deprecating remark.
"…But is this change really right?"
I asked cautiously, voicing my doubts.
Magicians were unique beings. It was sad to think that most of them never got the chance to fully develop their abilities.
I hated judging everything by appearances. I knew all too well how painful that could be.
"Darcy, co sit here."
I called him over as I sat on the bed. He quietly took the spot beside
that I had pointed to. Watching him cross his arms and look at
like a curious baby panther, I took a deep breath and spoke clearly.
"I want to et the magicians."
"…The magicians? But you have . I can make any magic tool you want. I’ve got plenty of ti now."
…There’s no way a prince has plenty of free ti!
"I don’t want to et them for selfish reasons. I told you before."
"…A contract."
"Yes. I want to make contracts with them. If I combine my magic stones with their magic, we could be great partners."
He raised an eyebrow and leaned in close.
A face this close is cheating! I could feel my face heating up instantly.
"That’s disappointing. You’re going to comrcialize the magic tools we started, but not through ?"
"But it’s thanks to that ti that we’ve… beco as close as we are now."
I hesitated to define exactly what our relationship was, but I was sincere about everything else.
"So I’m going to find a way to et them."
I started to confide in Darcy, sharing everything I had been wanting to tell him.
"You said you wanted
to be happy."
"…."
"Because of you, I’m already changing. I feel it even now."
If it hadn’t been for him, would I have ever thought about stepping out again after I had holed myself up, feeling disillusioned with everything?
No. I could answer that firmly.
If Darcy hadn’t been there, I would have continued to feel drained and avoided everything.
Because soone had been there to listen, to be with , and to see
for who I truly was, I was able to stand up again.
Because soone had been there to crush Ryan and push Kaysen to apologize to .
How could I ignore the opportunity to do the sa for Darcy?
Now I wanted to do sothing for him as well.
"I’ll tell you as many tis as it takes. I want you to be happy. And I think improving the treatnt of magicians is the starting point for your happiness."
Did my sincerity get through to him? With a nervous heart, I held his gaze until he suddenly raised his hand to cover his face and bowed his head.
"…What’s this?"
"Don’t look at . I probably look ridiculous right now."
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