Chapter 20
Tap, tap. Tap, tap.
Every time I heard the desk being tapped in a steady rhythm, I grew a little more anxious.
But did I really do something that wrong?
Wouldn't it be a good thing if Theo earned even more respect from the people of his territory anyway?
I felt a little wronged, but I didn't argue with Theo about it.
After all, I'd done it of my own accord.
“You look like you have something to complain about.”
“N-No, sir.”
He'd read my expression and seen right through my discontent, then kept needling me about it.
“Sigh. What exactly do you want to make of me?”
“H-Happy?”
“Then do I look happy right now?”
“…No.”
…Of course, he looked like the most miserable person in the world.
But I'd done it because I was thinking of you, in my own way…
“As of today, I've gained another title: Archmage.”
“…”
“Are you trying to make me out to be a liar?”
“…No.”
Theo's dispirited words made my head droop.
Right, both back then and now, none of it had been anything Theo had done himself. Given his personality, he might not have liked it much.
When we'd caught the criminal organization, his family had been in danger, so he probably hadn't let it show.
“I'm sorry. I was just so flustered…”
“So you threw me under the bus.”
S-Sold me out? I wouldn't go that far… would I?
Now that I thought about it, maybe I had.
It hadn't been planned at all, and honestly, I'd panicked and immediately passed the hot potato to Theo.
I could've just kept quiet and gone along with it, then made sure that shopkeeper couple kept their mouths shut.
…I really hadn't thought it through.
“Hmm…”
I heard Theo hum thoughtfully, but my head was bowed so low I couldn't see his expression.
At the same time, my heart started racing, and my palms grew sweaty.
Is he really angry? What do I do?
“Master, I'm really sorry. I won't let anything like this happen again.”
Still keeping my head bowed, I honestly confessed what I truly felt.
I regretted the thoughtless decision I'd made just moments earlier.
“Do you really regret it?”
“Yes…”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
I shouldn't make thoughtless decisions and act on them by myself again.
Besides, it seemed I needed to control my strength as much as possible.
Because over the past couple of months, I'd realized that the power I possessed was incredibly formidable even in the human world.
I'd had some idea from the moment I left the forest, but the gap between what I'd expected and reality seemed bigger than I thought.
So from now on, whatever I did, I needed to be careful.
“All right. I forgive you.”
“Really?”
When I raised my head, Theo's expression had softened a little.
It seemed my sincere remorse had eased his anger.
Thank goodness…
“On one condition…”
…On one condition?
Theo had lowered his head for a moment, but soon spoke with a smile on his lips.
“You'll have to take responsibility.”
“Responsibility?
”Right. Now that a rumor like that has spread, there may come a day when I have to prove my magical abilities, don't you think?”
I suppose so? Some people might actually want to see it for themselves, and proving yourself wouldn't be something you could do just once.
Besides, since Theo was the lord, it would be difficult for him to refuse such requests.
“But I don't actually know how to use that kind of magic, and there's no telling when that moment will come. So you'll have to stay by my side from now on, just in case.”
As soon as Theo finished speaking, he took out a small box and held it out to me.
When he opened it, there was a ring inside.
It was small but beautiful, set with a blue gemstone and engraved all over with an intricate, elegant design.
Even I, who knew nothing about jewelry, could tell it looked incredibly expensive.
But why was he giving me this?
“What is this?”
“It's an artifact used to make a promise.”
As he answered, Theo raised his left hand and showed it to me.
He was wearing a ring of the same design on his ring finger.
When did that appear? His finger had been bare as recently as this morning…
Hmm, but I couldn't exactly ask him now.
But this… wasn't it a couple ring?
“Hmm, if you don't believe me, why don't you try it on?”
As if he'd read my thoughts, Theo suggested it in a rather curt tone.
“It seems you suspect me. If you put it on, you'll see that what I said is true.”
“It's not that I suspect you, but all right. I'll try it on.”
“Good idea.”
Then Theo took the ring out of the box and held his hand out to me at the same time.
“Your hand.”
“I-I can put it on myself.”
“I'll do it for you.”
Unable to refuse Theo's resolute expression, I held out my left hand. He gently supported it, then
slipped the ring onto my ring finger.
“W-Wait…”
Startled, I tried to stop him, but the ring ended up on my finger all the same,
and at the same time, light burst from it. Forgetting that I was about to protest,
I found my gaze captured by the shape the lights were forming.
“Wow…”
It was like a stepping-stone path made of starlight.
The two rings shone toward each other, creating a sight so striking it reminded me of that night in the forest when the stars seemed to rain down from the sky.
After a little while, the light scattered and disappeared.
“This is called a Promise Ring. Despite its grand name, it doesn't have any major effects…”
“That's amazing.”
It was only a brief moment, but the beautiful sight had etched itself into my memory.
A bridge made of starlight… What an impressive kind of magic.
“Now, will you make the promise in words, too?”
“Huh?”
“Since we've made it official with the ring, I want to make it official in words as well.”
“No… Do we really have to go that far…”
“If you're not lying, there's no reason you can't, is there? Or are you lying again?”
Theo looked dejected.
Agh, he's got me cornered now.
“All right!”
“Good. Repeat after me.”
“Yes, yes.”
He faced me and raised his right hand.
“I will spend the rest of my life with this person.”
“I will spend the rest of my life with… huh?”
“The rest of your life…”
“No, that's not what I mean. Something about that sounds weird.”
At my question, Theo tilted his head as if he couldn't see what was strange about it.
“No, it's like you're saying…”
“Like I'm saying what?”
“M-Mar—No, anyway, that's weird. This time, let's do it my way!”
I held out my left pinky to him and said,
“What is that?”
“It's how we make promises where I come from. Hook your pinky around mine, Master.”
“Like this?”
His finger touched mine and curled around it, and we were connected like the bridge the light had made earlier.
Then, after taking a deep breath, I looked at Theo and said,
“I promise that from now on, I'll stay by Theo's side and take responsibility for what happened today.”
I was embarrassed, but I declared it as sincerely as I could.
Not in any strange sense,
but in the sense that I would take responsibility for the mistake I'd made.
And when I finished speaking, I moved our joined pinkies up and down a little, then let go and said,
“There, that should do it, right?”
“Yes. That's not bad.”
Only then was I able to relax at Theo's satisfied nod.
I can't believe one mistake could cause me this much trouble.
I never imagined I'd do something like this with Theo in this life, especially when I barely ever did it in my previous one.
And on top of that, a ring like this… It is pretty, though.
But, wait…
“Do I really have to wear it on this finger?”
“Hmm, rings are usually worn on the fourth finger. Didn't you know?”
“…Is that so?”
How was I supposed to know the rules of this world?
Of course, every woman I'd seen so far wore one there, but they were all married…
“Can I wear it somewhere else?”
“Why?”
“J-Just… It bothers me a little.”
“What does?”
Theo's question left me at a loss for words.
I wanted to say that where I came from, the left ring finger was only for wedding rings,
but I decided to give up.
I just had to stop worrying about it.
“N-No, it's fine. I'll just wear it.”
“All right.”
Why are you smiling like that? So smugly.
“I'm a little tired. Could I go rest first?”
“Of course. You worked hard today.”
Then I left the office as if escaping and returned to my room,
“Sigh…”
I leaned my back against the door and sank right down to the floor.
Am I just reading too much into this? It's really just a pure promise, nothing more.
Theo said the woman he liked wasn't me…
Then, feeling something foreign on my left hand, I raised it to look.
When I lifted it slightly, the gemstone reflected the light coming through the window and glowed blue. It was so beautiful, like a clear lake sparkling in the sunlight.
“…It's beautiful.”
I murmured absentmindedly as I gazed at the ring.
Thump, thump—
At the same time, my heart began beating fast, as if something were wrong with it.
“…Why am I like this?”
I asked myself, but no one answered.
* * *
After Edel left, in the office.
“…I did it.”
Theo quietly celebrated his success.
Now, whether the people of his territory called him a broom or revered him as a mage, Theo didn't care.
“Still…”
Theo raised his left hand and looked at the ring on it.
He'd bought the ring ahead of time, wanting to give it to her because the gemstone set in it resembled Edel's eyes.
But he'd bought it without a plan. He had no idea what to do with it, and lacked the courage to simply hand it over, so he'd kept hesitating.
Who knew an opportunity like this would come along!
“Still, what I did just now was a bit…”
He'd nearly made a secret betrothal vow with her, and Theo was startled by how devious he could be.
Thump, thump—
And yet, every time the ring entered his field of vision, Edel's eyes came to mind,
At the same time, Theo's heart began beating fast.