VIP Early Access
Eksklusif untuk member VIP
Password Protected
Chapter ini dikunci dengan kode khusus
Chapter Six: Wellmy’s Scheme (Exclusive Story)
A week after the party at the royal palace, Iora invited Wellmy to visit her at the magic research institute.
“I heard everything, Iora! You slapped Aides?!” Wellmy exclaimed as soon as she arrived, waving her arms wildly.
Iora turned beet red at this. “W-Wellmy, don’t say it so loudly...!”
It was the middle of the day, so the place was teeming with employees. Seeing the surprise on their faces, Iora felt herself panic even more. “I-I apologize, it’s, um...”
However, Wellmy didn’t seem to care whatsoever. The heels of her shoes clicked against the floor as she walked up to her sister and, without warning, threw her arms around her.
Ẅ е b ňŏvеl Ѐ nu m̂а́
“W-Wellmy?!”
“I’m so happy that you worry for me so! I feel like I’m about to rise to heaven!”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Contrary to Iora’s expectations, Wellmy wasn’t angry. It was the opposite, actually; she looked up at Iora, a blissful smile on her face. Ever since it had become acceptable for her to be friendly with Iora again, she had reverted to the clingy child she had once been. Iora found her absolutely adorable. Still feeling a little awkward, she gave a little smile and gently stroked the top of her sister’s head.
“You’re not angry,” she remarked.
“Not at all. If anything, Aides and I should apologize to you. We were expecting Zumiano to try to abduct me,” Wellmy said, utterly nonchalant.
Iora’s mind went blank at this. “What?!”
Еnu m̆ а̄
“We knew you’d definitely oppose the idea if we told you, so we kept it a secret. Besides, I can’t fault you for slapping Aides; I did it too before you.”
Come to think of it, Wellmy had indeed hit Aides in public during the Banquet of Condemnation.
“Now we’re matching!” Wellmy beamed.
“Come on, Wellmy, that’s not something to rejoice about,” Iora scolded. “But if you had planned everything, why didn’t Lord Aides tell me when I hit him?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Maybe he felt guilty? Oh, well. He made you worry by not telling you about our plan, so you had the right to get angry at him. Will you be mad at me too?” Wellmy asked, sticking out her tongue cheekily.
Iora was at a loss, unsure whether she should be happy that her little sister seemed to be doing well or scold her for being improper.
Е n ü mа́
“I need to apologize to Lord Aides later.” She sighed. “Don’t do anything dangerous again, yes?”
“I’ll do my best!”
“Wellmy.”
“I know, I know. But rest assured; an incident like that one doesn’t happen all that often.”
“I hope you’re right...”
“More importantly, Iora—those glasses and that white lab coat suit you so well! You’re always gorgeous no matter what you wear!”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Did Wellmy even feel bad about the anguish she’d caused her sister...?
“Th-Thank you, Wellmy,” Iora said, feeling awkward at Wellmy’s enthusiastic praise; she wasn’t wearing makeup, and her outfit was just meant for comfort.
Although she was wearing glasses, her eyesight wasn’t bad by any means. It was just that her purple eyes tended to draw the attention of the other researchers, who’d come and stare at them, so she wanted to keep them hidden. Some of them—mostly the ones who studied elementals and the source of magical energy—took every chance to ask Iora if they could examine her eyes.
The people of the magic research institute didn’t care if their interlocutor was a noble or whatnot; most of them were eccentrics who lived their lives guided solely by their sense of inquiry and curiosity. Iora liked the place’s atmosphere, but she had no intention of becoming a research subject. As such, she wore these glasses, into which she had carved a spell to make her presence less conspicuous. It served as a barrier of sorts to ensure no one would pay any attention to her until she spoke to them. It seemed to have no effect on Wellmy, but that was likely due to her vermilion eyes, which could see right through to the essence of things.
“Someone might spot us if we stay here too long. Let us head to my lab, shall we?” Iora suggested.
“Sure. Come to think of it, why did you ask me to come over?”
Е́n̂um_a .і̂ d
“Oh, did I not tell you?”
“You didn’t. Oh well. Even if you don’t have anything planned, if you’re the one inviting me, I’ll go anywhere!” Wellmy assured her.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“There’s no need to force yourself if you don’t want to. Anyway, as for why I had you come over, I can’t exactly tell you here.”
Wellmy hummed, then finally let go of Iora. “Oh! Orea! Long time no see!”
The young woman, who had been standing back like a shadow, smiled and lowered her head. “Indeed. I am so very glad to see you in good health.”
Orea, with her black hair, black eyes, and decently attractive (albeit forgettable) features, had once been Iora’s waiting maid. She was the sisters’ elder by two years and had been with them since they were children. At the moment, she worked as Iora’s personal aide. In other words, she was in charge of looking after her alongside the palace’s head waiting maid. According to what Iora had heard, Orea seemed to think of Wellmy as her “other mistress” and often asked her contact at the Ormirage estate for updates on how she was doing. At times, she even shared the information she received with Iora.
Ẃеb̃n̊.о v е̇ l Е̃ ñ ú m à
Iora—and probably Wellmy too, although they had never discussed it—thought of Orea as an older sister figure, so she was touched by her thoughtfulness.
“My research lab is this way,” Iora said, and the three young women set off in the direction she had gestured toward.
Along the way, Wellmy observed the institute’s greenhouses and the mages passing by with keen interest. When they reached Iora’s lab, she raised an eyebrow. “How dreary and bleak. You could have at least put a plant or two in here.”
“We’re forbidden from bringing outside items into the institute without permission,” Iora explained.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Iora wasn’t particularly messy, but Orea always made sure to leave the lab spotless and perfectly organized, which only reinforced the sterile impression.
Iora was allowed to come and go from the institute as she pleased, but that was a special privilege due to her status as crown princess. Other researchers needed prior approval to leave the institute due to the sheer volume of highly classified information it contained. In exchange, they were provided with ample funding and facilities of all sorts to ensure they lived a comfortable life on campus.
Е ňu̇ m̃ а
The research lab Iora had been assigned wasn’t all that large, but it was divided into three rooms. The one they were currently in contained bookshelves filled with research material—which researchers were allowed to borrow or buy copies of—and essays, as well as a worktable and a couple of chairs. One of the other rooms was furnished with equipment to make pharmaceutical products and doubled as a storage space for medicinal herbs, and the last one had a bed, as researchers usually slept in their own labs.
“So? What did you want to talk to me about?” Wellmy asked when Orea left to prepare them some drinks, as she took a seat on one of the chairs.
Iora’s expression stiffened. “We have received the results of the investigation the institute carried out on the bracelet of submission Lord Zumiano Olbran crafted with black crystals.”
“And...?” Wellmy asked gravely.
“Everything is exactly as he claims. There is no way to remove it from his wrist. As his master, you can transfer the ability to control him to someone else, but since it contains part of his soul...” Iora trailed off.
Spells and magical energy had no effect on black crystals. As such, disenchanting and holy purification techniques didn’t work on them. The same went for soul fragments; nothing could affect them. One could physically break the bracelet (with a hammer, for example), but if it were to be destroyed, Lord Zumiano Olbran would lose his life.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Black crystals are one of the materials used to construct the special cells for nobles—the ones that block magic. If it were possible to mess with them, someone would have done so already.”
Wellmy furrowed her brow and rubbed her temples, as if to stave off a headache. “What an idiot of a man...”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you, Wellmy.”
“It’s not your fault. That man is just suffering the consequences of his own stupid actions.”
Still, Iora felt bad that she hadn’t been able to free Wellmy from the burden of holding the power to end a man’s life with a single word. She also had another concern. “I don’t think he’ll try to harm you, but you really ought to be wary of that man,” she said.
“You too? Is there something about Lord Zumiano that’s worrying you?”
Е̊n u m̊ ā
“I have only shared my concerns with Lord Aides, Leo, and His Majesty. But...” The king had allowed Iora to speak to her sister about her concerns, so she told Wellmy everything. “Before causing that uproar, Lord Zumiano Olbran snuck into the magic research institute.”
Iora had only learned after the fact that the Olbran family’s oldest son hadn’t just been involved in the case; he had been the mastermind all along.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“Why won’t His Majesty judge him for his crimes after everything he did...?” Wellmy grumbled.
“Probably because he has a talent for making magic drugs, on top of having come up with that perfume and bracelet that can weaken monsters and beasts,” Iora said.
“What do you mean?”
“Do you remember that the queen was suffering from a skin disease?”
Еnum̀а
“The one you cured with the salve you made? You truly are amazing, Iora!” Wellmy said with a bright grin.
But Iora shook her head. “I was only able to make that salve thanks to a formula Lord Zumiano Olbran developed, and because he told me what ingredients to use.”
“Wait, is that true?!”
“Yes. I had a conversation with him when he snuck into the research institute, you see.”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
※※※
Four months before the party at the royal palace, Iora was working on a cure for the queen’s skin condition. She had successfully identified the cause, but still couldn’t find an effective remedy. The ointment and oral medicine she’d developed had alleviated some symptoms, but neither had solved the core problem.
Ĕ n ú m а̂
“I’m stumped...”
She knew that the queen’s illness was due to the strain her extensive magical energy pool put on her body. Leaving all that energy unchecked had the potential to do far more than irritate her skin; at worst, it could spiral out of control and obliterate everything around the queen.
A large reservoir of magical energy was usually synonymous with good health and security, but in reality, that energy went hand in hand with the color of the individual’s eyes. Like most things, balance was key. The reason not only young lords but also young ladies learned to control their magical energy at the noble academy was because, historically, the purer one’s bloodline was, the more likely their magic was to go haywire.
Isn’t there something that could give me a clue on how to suppress one’s magical energy or help control it...?
That night too, Iora rummaged through documents on medicinal herbs and magic control until the early hours. Fortunately, it was always bright in the institute thanks to its plethora of magic lamps. Plus, Iora’s purple eyes and large magical energy pool, coupled with her experience juggling the administration of her father’s dominion and her schoolwork, as well as a quick little body-strengthening spell meant that she could cut her sleep hours and rest time without harming her health. Taking full advantage of those blessings, she scanned the documents piled up on the table one after the other.
“You’re going to collapse if you keep working so hard,” a voice suddenly said from somewhere near her.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“Who...?!” Iora straightened at once before turning around, her hands clasped in front of her chest.
A man with black hair, sun-kissed skin, and blue eyes so clear they looked almost transparent stood in front of her.
“Lord Zumiano Olbran...?”
“Oh, you know me?”
“I do.”
The young man’s appearance was quite memorable due to his mixed heritage. On top of that, Iora’s memory was so excellent that she rarely forgot the name or face of any noble she’d met.
Е̄ nûḿа̌
“What brings you here?” she asked, on guard.
The institute was off-limits to those who didn’t work there and was heavily guarded. Security was so thorough that the institute even decided when one was allowed to come or go, so there was no way Marquis Olbran’s son would have been allowed in at this late hour.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“I snuck in. There’s something I needed to do here, you see,” the young man said as if it were nothing, throwing a quick glance at the documents on the table behind Iora.
Then, that same foolish smile on his lips, he dropped yet another bomb. “You’re researching the disease that sly fox of a king’s wife is suffering from, huh? You won’t be able to cure it with the medicinal herbs you can find in this kingdom, I don’t think. I feel like you should probably look into the ingredients that go into the magic drug that’s been making waves in the empire.”
“A m-magic drug?” Iora echoed.
“With your status, you can easily investigate it, no? In return for this info, don’t tell anyone I was here, ’kay?” Lord Olbran said, pressing a finger to his lips and flashing her a wink.
Ẇ ěb̄ňо̇ v el Е ñ u m а̇
A floral scent wafted from him as he moved, and Iora instinctively held her breath, sensing danger.
“Oh, you truly are brilliant,” the young man drawled. “Or maybe it’s the protection of the elementals...? Ah, by the way, I requested your bodyguards, ah, behave while we talk—including the shadows. They’ll forget everything about me, so as long as you keep quiet, I think everything should work out.”
“Do you really think I’ll obediently do as you say?” Iora shot back with a glare. Lord Olbran would face felony charges if she divulged his trespass at the institute.
“Well, you don’t have to, but...” Completely unfazed by her expression, he said, “I wonder what would happen to Wellmy, in that case.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Iora gasped.
“Ah, or I could just kill you right here and now,” he added, as nonchalant as ever, even as he threatened her.
Е n̂ u m ä
He didn’t seem to be trying to intimidate her, nor did he look amused by the situation. Despite the indescribable unease that she felt, Iora bit her lip and glared at Lord Olbran. “I-If you so much as lay a finger on her...”
The young man chuckled. “I won’t, as long as you keep my little visit hush-hush.”
“What are you even doing here in the first place? What is your goal?” Iora asked after a brief pause.
Humming, the young man cocked his head to the side. “My goal, huh? I don’t really know... Ultimately, I guess I want to make Wellmy my wife.”
What?
Iora couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. But...
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“Don’t you already have a fiancée? Besides, with your position, you could have achieved your goals through lawful means, so why go to such dangerous lengths just for something like this...?”
“Mm... I think it’s because that seemed kind of boring,” the young man replied plainly. “As for my fiancée... Well, I feel like she would be better off with someone else, rather than the person I am now.”
With that, he turned on his heel and waved.
“Don’t worry about Nineena, she’ll be fine. Goodbye.”
Just like that, he left, as if about to go on a leisurely walk.
※※※
Е̊ nŭḿа̊
“So he approached you too?! That womanizer... He’s the worst!” Wellmy exclaimed with a snarl.
Confused, Iora tilted her head to the side. “I-I don’t think that’s why he came to talk to me.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“He has such a talented fiancée, yet he made a pass at me and, to top it all off, he even hit on you! He deserves to die a thousand deaths!”
“Wellmy... That’s not a very nice thing to say...”
“You’re right; I’m sorry. Um... Where were we?”
“R-Right. Err... I wasn’t sure what to do, but ultimately decided to tell the truth to the lord of magic. And it led to that...accident.” Iora cast her eyes down, for another reason this time.
Ė_ǹ ùm̆.à.í d
When she’d learned that Wellmy had been abducted, she’d immediately thought that it was her fault, and she’d lost her cool. She believed that, had she not warned the lord of magic to be careful of Lord Olbran, Wellmy wouldn’t have ended up in such a dangerous situation.
“I don’t care about that,” Wellmy retorted. “If anything, I have to apologize for worrying you. Besides, if you hadn’t told Aides about Zumiano, we never would have caught him.”
“But Wellmy—”
“I was willingly acting as bait. Plus, I’m fine, so all’s well that ends well. Also...you just said something I can’t let slide.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“What was it?”
A furious look on her face, Wellmy sharply pointed a finger at Iora. “I told you not to push yourself, but you were staying up late without telling me again!”
Ẅe b̀ňôvӗ_l̀ Е̊ nů m̊ а
“Ah...” That was when Iora realized her mistake. She’d accidentally let that detail slip while recounting her encounter with Zumiano.
“It’s because you were working so late that Zumiano approached you,” Wellmy continued, her tone accusatory.
“Ah, um, Wellmy, that’s—” Iora stammered, scrambling for a response as her eyes darted around the room.
Wellmy lowered her finger and leaned in close. “How. Many. Times. Have I told you to stop working late?”
Knowing there was no excusing her behavior, Iora let her shoulders droop and mumbled a dejected “I’m sorry.”
“Goodness gracious! You have to stop it for real now, you hear?”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“I know. I’ll be careful...” If I can, Iora added to herself.
For a moment, her sister eyed her with suspicion, so Iora gave her a small smile to try to smooth things over.
“Oh, well. We both did something stupid, so I suppose this makes us even,” Wellmy said with a sigh before suddenly changing the topic.
She wasn’t the type to remain angry for longer than necessary.
“Anyway, so why did Zumiano’s magic drug cure the queen’s skin condition?” she asked as she sat back on her chair, a smile on her face, and her eyes full of curiosity.
Contrary to what she claimed, Wellmy was actually quite clever and didn’t hate studying, so the topic did interest her.
Е̊n̊ u_ḿа . i̊d̆
Collecting herself, Iora began her explanation. “While it’s not wrong to say that that drug affects the mind, what it truly does is cause interference in one’s magical energy, which obstructs the user’s thought process.”
“Um... What’s the difference?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“So, you know that magical energy originates from the head and the heart, and that it circulates through the body, right? And that those with a dense, strong flow have the natural foundation to use powerful magic.”
“I heard it so many times at the noble academy, I’m sick of it. People with a strong flow are healthier too, right?”
“Exactly. But to enjoy the benefits of that flow, one also needs to meet a certain prerequisite. I believe the queen’s condition was caused by a decline in her eyes’ ability to control her magical energy.”
For most people, regardless of how bad their eyesight grew with age, their control over their magical energy didn’t usually weaken. It likely was a combination of factors that caused the abnormality in the queen’s eyes.
Wе b n.о̀v̂ èl̆ Е n u̇m̂ а̌
“When one’s control weakens, their magical energy starts to affect their body, causing issues. I’ve heard that the fiancée of the prince of the island nation in the west is in poor health because of a similar condition,” Iora continued.
The ointment Iora had developed, using the main ingredient of Zumiano’s drug as its base, suppressed only the part of one’s magical energy that would cause them harm in these circumstances. The trade-off was that their spells would be weaker for as long as they were under the effects of the medication, but for someone like the queen, that wasn’t an issue. The only issue was that, if someone with weak magical energy were to use the ointment, they risked harming their health. Fixing that problem was Iora’s next challenge.
“I see... I wonder how many illnesses are caused by an issue in one’s magical energy. There might be quite a few.”
“Indeed. I personally think that many conditions and deaths are caused by an imbalance between one’s magical energy and their eyes.”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Having witnessed such a case, Iora couldn’t help but think that, if a child was born a commoner but with strong magical energy, they likely wouldn’t survive, unless their eyes were golden, silver, purple, or a primary color.
“To help these people, I’m trying a different approach,” Iora said.
Е ñ ú m ǎ . і̇ḋ
“Really? What’s your new research?”
An elegant chuckle slipped past Iora’s lips. “You’re aware that the lord of magic and I developed a way to produce orichalcum? To make the replicas of the Holy Sword of Light.” Feeling quite proud of her achievement, Iora flashed her sister a smile. “The reason I created it in the first place was for my new creation: the bracelet of magic control—an accessory that can regulate one’s magical energy in place of their eyes.”
Holy and light magic were notoriously difficult to control, which was why only those chosen by the Goddess—like Theresalo and Sofoyl—could use them. Iora’s theory as to why the Knight of Light was stronger when using a holy sword was that orichalcum could stabilize one’s magical energy and improve control.
“In place of their eyes...?!” Wellmy exclaimed.
“Yes. According to those who tried the bracelet prototype, they could control their magic much more effectively with it on.”
Iora hadn’t noticed much change herself, but the lord of magic had told her that was because of her eye color. Apparently, those with purple eyes had an innate talent to regulate their magical energy.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“That’s incredible!” Wellmy shouted, her eyes sparkling.
Iora didn’t know whether she was genuinely interested in the topic or if she listened so attentively simply because it was Iora speaking...but either way, she was adorable.
“I just need to make a few more tweaks, and I’ll be done. It may be a little too expensive for most people at first, but in the future, it should save countless lives, as should the ointment. Leo is a little worried people might exploit the orichalcum’s magic-burden-relieving effect for nefarious use on the battlefield, though.”
But technology always found a way to progress.
Iora didn’t know if she was doing the right thing, but someone, somewhere, would have eventually developed orichalcum, even if she and the lord of magic hadn’t.
“It does seem dangerous,” Wellmy acquiesced. “So Leo does think sometimes, huh?”
W̆ е b̂ñõ v̄_еĺ Ё n ǔ m.a
“Do you...agree with him?”
“I do. But if you want to continue that research, I won’t stop you,” Wellmy said. Then, she looked up at her sister with delighted eyes and smiled. “You should just keep everything under wraps for a while, even when you’re done making the bracelet.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Maybe... I’m still unsure whether I want to make the manufacturing method public, but I will make the bracelet and keep developing new medicines.”
New, groundbreaking technology always came with both pros and cons.
“If my bracelet can save people, then I want to give it a try,” Iora declared.
Even if people were to use her research in ways she had never fathomed.
E̊ n ú m̀a . і d
Even if it hurt her.
“As the future queen of Lionel, I will devote my life to my people.”
Please let their health improve, even if only a little, she prayed.
Wellmy nodded at her sister’s resolve, gazing at her with rapt attention. “Heh heh, if that bracelet of yours can heal what we consider to be incurable diseases, your name will surely be known throughout the entire world!”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Iora froze at this. “Um... While I do want to make people happy, I would like to avoid that scenario if I can help it.”
“Nuh-uh! Everyone in the whole world needs to know that you’re beautiful, clever, and the best big sister ever!”
E ňuḿӑ
Knowing Wellmy, she might even spread Iora’s name herself.
Sweat beaded on Iora’s forehead. I hate to be the center of attention... she thought, but kept it to herself. She could already hear Wellmy retorting that she would eventually be queen, and that attention was par for the course.
“Don’t you worry, Iora! No matter what happens, I’m sure everything will work out in the end!”
“Um, on what basis are you making that claim?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Wellmy asked with a radiant smile. “It’s because it’s you we’re talking about!”
“Wellmy... That’s not a basis for anything...”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Where did Wellmy’s constant optimism and unconditional trust in Iora even come from? While it puzzled Iora, it also made her happy.
A little chuckle escaped her. “You may be right, though. As long as you trust it will be fine, I’m sure it will,” she said, offering Wellmy a smile and stroking her head.
※※※
After that, the two sisters kept chatting, so engrossed in their conversation that they didn’t even notice the sun beginning to set.
Lord Aides soon came for Wellmy, and Iora apologized one more time for striking him before the pair left the institute, Wellmy following her fiancé with a spring in her step.
Lord Aides often came to the institute, but this time, he wasn’t alone; Leo had tagged along and was waiting outside for Iora. Upon learning the news, Iora scrambled to get ready to leave and hurried to meet her fiancé at the gate.
Ёńǔmа́.і̂ d
“Security is really tight here. I had no idea I would need to make an appointment to visit you,” the prince commented, sounding more impressed than annoyed at the fact that he hadn’t been allowed in.
Iora chuckled at his surprise.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“The Society of Mages is on good terms with the lord of magic, but doesn’t belong to the royal family. It can’t be helped,” she explained.
In the past, it had been common for skilled mages to be placed under patronage. But while their patrons had provided them with the basic necessities, they had also stripped the mages of most of their rights, taking their work and research for themselves and using it as they pleased. That state of affairs had persisted for a long time.
House Ormirage had lamented that situation. With the support of the man who had been Marquis Ormirage at the time, the mages petitioned the Senate for a law to protect them from exploitation by those in power. That was what led to the creation of the Society of Mages. After that, the mages engaged in numerous negotiations, demanding that they receive fair compensation for their research findings.
The then-Marquis Ormirage didn’t appropriate the Society; while he provided financial support, he allowed them to remain independent.
W еb̀ n̂оv.ê l E.ń ǔ m а̊
As a result, similar laws were passed in other nations as well, leading to the creation of the International Magic Research Institute, as well as the establishment of the Ministry of Magic, which handled crimes involving mages or magical items and regulated the distribution of those items.
The reason House Ormirage was so powerful internationally wasn’t simply because of their fortune, but also because mages fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Magic instead of belonging to the kingdom’s army.
The noble academy had also been created for mages to teach young nobles how to better control their magic, but seeing as all noble children had to enroll anyway, it had eventually been expanded into a proper educational institution.
All of this to say that, due to the origins of its creation, the Society of Mages was determined to remain an independent organization.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“House Ormirage is really incredible—and dangerous. Every one of them, in any generation, had the potential to undermine the king’s authority,” Leo said.
This elicited a chuckle from Iora. “The current Marquis Ormirage is just as hard to manage.”
Е n̊u m а̂
“Right now, it’s more like he’s managing us than the opposite.” Leo shrugged as he escorted Iora to the carriage. “Did you have fun with Wellmy?”
“I did. I don’t usually have many occasions to see her, so we ended up chatting the whole time.”
Even though the two had reconciled, Iora was so busy she couldn’t make up for the time they’d had to spend apart. It was a little frustrating.
“I’m glad I got to hear what Wellmy is up to.”
Wellmy had never had any real friends. As it was partly Iora’s fault, she had always been concerned about what would become of her little sister down the line.
“Theresalo and Lady Darristea wrote to me, saying that they are now on friendly terms with Wellmy. They both said that they’re very grateful to her,” Iora continued.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Leo paused before replying, “That’s good.”
“You seem to have mixed feelings about it,” Iora pointed out with a smile.
Her fiancé lightly scratched his cheek. “It just feels a bit weird that she’s now friends with someone I was close to as a kid.”
Lady Darristea had once been the most likely candidate to marry Leo. Back when they had been students at the noble academy, Iora would often wonder if she should apologize to Lady Darristea for taking her place.
Lady Darristea must’ve noticed her turmoil, as she’d approached Iora herself. “I don’t love Prince Leoniel,” she’d said. “So you don’t have to worry about it.”
Iora often wondered if, had she known the situation Lady Darristea had been in back at the salon, they could have avoided the fate that befell her.
Ёñúmӑ.
“Leo, did you know the, um...expectations Duke Abaccum had for his daughter?” she asked.
“He didn’t exactly hide them, so yeah. Had something happened to Lady Darristea, or had she reached out to me for advice, I would’ve helped her. But she never did,” Leo replied. “She and I have been friends since infancy, so I care for her—not in a romantic way, of course. But she’s always trying to act dignified and all, you know?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“She does.”
Lady Darristea was strong of heart but rarely let her emotions show. She was always honest and blunt, but perhaps there had never been anyone she’d felt comfortable sharing her own feelings with.
“She and Wellmy are quite similar. Perhaps that’s why they get along,” Iora surmised.
From what Lady Darristea had written in her letter, she seemed to have started seeing Wellmy in a positive light after that fateful party when Leo introduced Iora as his fiancée. And based on what Wellmy had said today, Iora had a good feeling that her little sister and Lady Darristea would grow to be fast friends.
Ẅ eb nõ v̂ e l̊ Ĕ n u m_а
“Wellmy keeps helping me. Lady Darristea likely would have been angry if I had reached out to her or tried to help her,” Iora said.
Even though the two of them were friends, in the eyes of society, Iora had been Lady Darristea’s “love rival.” Knowing the duke’s daughter, Iora showing sympathy to her likely would have just made her feel more miserable.
“Lady Darristea wrote about Lord Turgis too. I hope their relationship works out.”
“Me too,” Leo said. “But I’m a bit surprised; I had no idea Darristea was Turgis’s type. I arbitrarily assumed he preferred mild, reserved girls.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“People likely tend to be attracted to those who possess qualities they themselves lack.”
The patient, unassuming Lord Turgis and the dignified Lady Darristea. The cheerful, naive Theresalo and the composed, reliable Lord Sofoyl. The overthinking Lord Shizolda and the proactive Lady Hildentrai.
Wē_b n̄o̊vél̈_ Ѐn̈ ũ.m̃а̊
And then there was Karla; she, too, likely wasn’t as annoyed with Lord Seyfalt’s tendency to laugh off her tough exterior as she pretended to be.
“The same can be said for the lord of magic. He loves and cherishes Wellmy because she was able to do what he couldn’t. That’s why I feel comfortable leaving her in his care—my precious little sister.”
Iora seldom lost her temper. Anger was the flip side of expectation, so when the lord of magic had failed to protect Wellmy when Iora had firmly believed he would, she hadn’t been able to curb her rage—although part of her fury had also been due to the guilt she’d felt for not heeding Lord Zumiano’s warning.
“I have high expectations of him. That’s why I don’t want to be disappointed,” she said.
“You’re terrifying sometimes, you know that?” Leo commented. “I only know two people who can unabashedly tell Aides not to disappoint them: you and my father.”
“Oh, but I expect just as much from you as I do from Lord Aides, Leo,” Iora retorted with a smile.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
They reached the carriage, and Iora flashed Leo a smile as he helped her climb in. “Only you and Aides can anger me.”
Iora had no expectations of Wellmy. She didn’t want her beloved little sister burdened by needless worries—she only wished for her to be healthy and free and live a happy life. The reason she was so furious at the lord of magic was exactly because she believed he could make Wellmy happy.
As for Leo, Iora hoped to be his equal. He was the man she had chosen to spend her life with, and she wanted them to support one another. She had no interest in unilaterally protecting him or being protected.
“Leo?” she called out to him.
“What is it?”
“I... I can’t wait to start living with you,” she confessed to the young man who sat beside her, forcing down her embarrassment.
Ё.num̆ а́
While she had moved into the royal palace after accepting his proposal, the two of them lived in different buildings. Iora resided in the White Lotus Palace—the crown princess’s quarters—while Leo lived in the residence reserved for the crown prince—the Young Sun Palace. Once they got married, she would move into his quarters, meaning they would be able to spend more time together.
Leo blinked at her sudden declaration, but his surprise was immediately replaced by a bright smile. “I’m happy to hear you say that. I feel the exact same way.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
He took her hand, and Iora leaned her head on his shoulder.
Happiness welled up within her, but in the midst of it, a certain thought crossed her mind: Does Lord Zumiano have someone with whom he can share his feelings like this?
※※※
“Wellmy,” Aides called out to her from his seat beside her in the carriage taking them home.
Е̂n̊ umа̀
She turned to him and asked, “What is it?”
He gave her a small smirk, a knowing look on his face, and his body leaning against the backrest. “Did your scheme go as planned?”
“Oh, so you knew?”
“You made your move quite fast. Not even a month has passed since that incident.”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Wellmy shrugged lightly. “I just did as I told you I would when I volunteered to be Iora’s decoy. With this, her position is secure.”
Wellmy had made ties with some of the next generation’s most important individuals and had even put some of them in her debt. However, there had been one miscalculation in her plan: She’d hoped to have Lord Zumiano spill the truth and all his knowledge after he’d abducted her, but...
Wе̇b̊ n̄о̃ v̄е l̇ Е̊ñǔ ṁ а̌
“I had no idea Lord Zumiano had approached Iora. You and he are so annoying; you never lie, but you never tell the entire truth either.”
They either didn’t tell Wellmy the full story unless she asked, or, sometimes, they kept quiet even when she pressed them.
“Perhaps I should torture him a little when he returns,” she mused out loud.
“That would just be you taking out your anger on him,” Aides pointed out. “It’s not like he harmed Iora.”
“If I can help it, I don’t want him approaching her ever again.”
Wellmy had to remove every potential thorn from her sister’s side.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Lord Zumiano likely would never live an absolutely upright life, no matter the circumstances, so it would be best if Wellmy kept her distance from him unless necessary.
She frowned, and Aides chuckled beside her. What had he found so amusing?
“You did it all for Iora, huh? But my goal was for you to make friends.”
“Oh, but I did. It’s just that Iora’s happiness was my main motive. I don’t dislike any of the people I met and fully hope to build good relationships with them from now on.” Wellmy tried to look displeased, but, unable to suppress her amusement, her lips immediately curled back into a smile. “Heh heh. But those are two different stories.”
After the incident, Wellmy had quickly taken matters into her own hands, keeping in mind the relationships between all the young lords and ladies.
All to put them in my debt.
Ё_nü_m_а .іd
First, there was the ducal House of Abaccum, whose future head was a brilliant man utterly devoted to his sister, Lady Darristea. Then, you had House Deltraute, which commanded the kingdom’s military, and whose heir just so happened to be in love with Lady Darristea. These two major houses felt indebted to Wellmy for the trouble they’d caused her and for playing matchmaker between Lady Darristea and Lord Turgis.
Wellmy had also tried to put House Langley—which oversaw all civil officials—in her debt by complying with a demand from Lord Shizolda’s fiancée...but her plan had fallen through when Lord Shizolda and Lady Hildentrai gifted her two arcane gems instead. Wellmy would just have to be content to have built a connection with them.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
She’d also gained some sort of control over the Londart Trading Company, which would likely soon become the crown princess’s official purveyor and grow even more influential. She’d already been able to count on Karla, Iora’s best friend and the daughter of Viscount Londart, and soon, Wellmy’s own pawn, Lord Seyfalt, would take position within its ranks.
“The king and queen also owe me three favors now, as I didn’t ask for a reward for acting as a decoy for Iora or for helping Theresalo remain in the kingdom, nor did I demand compensation for Zumiano abducting me,” Wellmy added.
Theresalo was the Pink-Haired, Silver-Eyed Maiden, a figure of great importance to the Holy Church. She probably was unaware of it, but she and Lord Sofoyl, the Knight of Light, would likely hold tremendous power in the future, seeing as the church had believers all over the world. Moreover, her magic teacher, Prince Tygrim, was to move to the head church in the near future.
Even though Theresalo and Lady Darristea were friends of Iora, they didn’t know each other very well. In time, they would need to grow closer—both to each other and to Wellmy.
Ė.nùm̊ a
Lastly, there was House Olbran, who was responsible for the kingdom’s granaries. Its heir, Zumiano, was presently a slave to Wellmy’s every command. Among all the people Wellmy had formed connections with this time, he was both the most troublesome and the most reliable.
All in all, there had been a few twists in this case. Still, nearly every situation had been settled peacefully...and each of these outcomes bore Wellmy’s touch. The touch of the future Marchioness Ormirage, who was determined to do everything in her power to support her sister.
“How rude of the rumors to say I only cozy up to young lords. This time, I actually schmoozed young ladies and high-ranking nobles into doing my bidding too,” Wellmy said.
By making every influential individual an ally of Iora, she would make her sister the most powerful queen in history.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Your true friends would choose to remain by your side even if they heard you say that,” Aides said.
“Perhaps you’re right. Still, there’s no need for them to know what I’m really thinking, is there?” Wellmy retorted, pressing a finger to her lips and flashing her fiancé a wink.
E n̂ u m ă
After all, Aides was the one who wanted Wellmy to make friends. She didn’t mind trying to meet his expectations and had met a few people she liked, but at the end of the day, she still judged everyone based on whether they would benefit Iora or not. She couldn’t help it.
This is how I’ve lived for years. It was much too late for her to change her mindset, and besides, she saw no reason to.
“The only thing that hasn’t been resolved yet is whatever is going on with Zumiano. That’s it, I believe,” Wellmy said.
“He did say that he was going to visit his fiancée, didn’t he? Is that what you’re talking about?”
“Yes. I hope things turn out well for the two of them.”
If everything went as planned, Wellmy should be able to put yet another person in her debt—a medical prodigy said to rival even Iora.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“The reason he took an interest in me was likely just that I happened to be in the right place at the right moment,” Wellmy continued.
Aides hummed. “So it was just a matter of timing, then?”
“Exactly. He tried to woo me, but when asked about his fiancée, he said that she would be better off with someone else. In other words, he worries about her and couldn’t care less about me. Right?”
To Zumiano, Wellmy had been nothing more than a convenient pawn he could have used to bring about his own doom: a reason to vanish from his fiancée’s life.
“That’s why he was interested in me; nothing more, nothing less,” Wellmy said.
Zumiano had been torn between conflicting feelings. He had behaved recklessly in a desire to trigger his own destruction, but in the end, he’d chosen to put a cuff on himself for the sake of the one who would grieve his death.
Е ṅu m̄а̀
But now...
“With his head injury healed, there’s no need for him to disappear from his fiancée’s life anymore. It only makes sense for him to go see her.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“You’re kind, Wellmy,” Aides said after a beat.
“I know, I know, I’m a big softie. Just like you,” Wellmy retorted with feigned smugness.
She was of the opinion that, if one made a mistake, they deserved forgiveness as long as they felt remorseful about it and were serious about turning over a new leaf—just like she and Arvine in the past. Of course, that logic applied to all those who’d erred this time around as well. And if that could help Iora in the future, all the better. Those were the only two reasons Wellmy had involved herself in this case.
“Your ability to judge people and your leadership are truly splendid and dazzling,” Aides commented, amused, as the carriage reached the secondary Ormirage estate.
Е n u m ӑ. ї d̀.
“Hearing you praising me doesn’t feel half bad. Of course, it goes without saying that I have an eye for people.” Wellmy threw her fiancé a sidelong glance, making sure to look as villainous as possible.
Before the coachman came to open the door, she leaned in and, pushing down her embarrassment, whispered in Aides’s ear, “After all, I chose you at a single glance, did I not?”
The Genius Healer and the Man She’s Devoted To
“How fun, Nineena!”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
She had forgotten how long it had been since the last time he’d smiled at her like that, how much time had passed since he’d disappeared.
Today again, Nineena Kalkfert, daughter of Count Kalkfert, remained cooped up in her room, trying to come up with a way to save him.
Wе̊b́ n оv̀е̌ l̈ Еnû ḿ ā
“Hey, Nineena?”
In her family’s mansion, she had stocked large quantities of everything she might need to achieve that goal, including any and every type of medicinal herb she could get her hands on, from inside and outside the kingdom. Some healed the mind, while others sped up physical recovery. Some worked instantly, while others needed to be taken over long periods of time. Some were perfectly legal, others barely so.
“I don’t know why, but everything feels boring recently.”
She had so many books, they pretty much filled the entire room. All of them described spells that could be used on the mind and the body, and Nineena pored over every single one of them with great attention. The moment she thought of a new idea, she would research it and put it to the test. Somehow, at some point, she had started being rumored as the kingdom’s best healer.
Yet, I can’t find a way to cure his boredom.
She knew what was causing it: It was that scar—so faint one wouldn’t notice it unless they were paying attention. The one he’d suffered when he’d fallen from that cliff to protect her and had nearly died.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
But no matter how faint that scar grew, no matter how many threads of magical energy she wove into his mind...
“In the end, it’s just all so boring.”
That smile that looked like it was pasted on, and those hollow eyes never changed.
I’ve healed everyone else, so why... She could cure depression, numbness in the arms and legs, and, in certain cases, even blindness. But her abilities couldn’t reach him. How many times had she lamented her own powerlessness?
Still, she couldn’t give up.
“Thank goodness I managed to save you,” he had said when they’d gone to rescue him from the bottom of the cliff, smiling even as his face was covered in blood.
Ẃēb́ n̈о̇v̈е̃ľ Е̄ n úm̂а̇
His spirit had died that day.
And it’s all my fault. It’s all my fault, yet...
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
And so, she kept her hands moving and her brain working—anything to bring him back.
But she didn’t know what else to try. She had read the books so many times she could recite their contents from memory. She’d experimented with any and every combination of the medicinal herbs she had on hand. The thick tome in which she’d noted her research was so thorough that some even called it a national treasure.
I need to keep looking.
If she couldn’t save him with what she had on hand, she needed to look further, to find something else. She couldn’t cry. She didn’t have time to be worn out. Not when he was dying, drowning in boredom.
W̊e b̌nо̌ v̊ еl Е n̈uḿ а
“Do you have any idea of something that sounds fun, Nineena?” he’d asked, slowly heading to his own doom.
She had to do something—before the dark embrace of death took him away.
Nineena set both hands on the table in front of her, her head drooping.
“Zumiano...” his name escaped her lips in a whisper.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
“You called?” drawled a voice belonging to someone who shouldn’t have been there.
Nineena immediately turned around.
Еn u m ӑ
“Sorry for barging in. I was told that you were in here, but you didn’t answer when I knocked, so...”
An attractive young man with a dark complexion, black hair, and blue eyes leaned against the door, holding a bouquet of red roses in one hand.
“You’re cooped up inside again, huh? You’ll get all sad and depressed if you don’t see the sun sometimes,” the young man said, flashing her a bright smile.
That was when Nineena noticed the ominous, eerie bracelet on his wrist.
※※※
Zumiano gazed at his fiancée, whom he hadn’t seen in six months. She wore a plain dress with a white lab coat layered over it and, because she was so thin, her head looked disproportionately large on her small frame.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Her pale, blue-green hair was dull due to malnutrition, and her good looks were ruined by the dark circles under her eyes and her pallid skin that hadn’t seen the sun in way too long. Blueish-green eyes with hints of silver shone behind her thick glasses.
“You lost weight again. You have to eat proper meals, you know? Some consider your intellect to be the kingdom’s greatest treasure, yet you go and prove the stereotype that healers neglect their health. It’s too painful to look at.”
“Wh-Who cares about that...? What’s that bracelet on your wrist...?” Nineena asked.
“Oh, this?” Zumiano chuckled and waved his arm. “Sorry. I put it on myself as punishment for my unfaithfulness.”
A pause. Then, “What?” said a bewildered Nineena.
“So, there’s this really cute and interesting girl called Wellmy. I made a pass at her, but she’s actually Lord Ormirage’s favorite, so she rejected me. I swore submission to her—I call her Wellie, by the way—and this bracelet is proof of it,” Zumiano explained nonchalantly.
Еn̆ũ m̊ а
After a moment, his fiancée balled her fists, anger taking over her face. “You big idiot!” she yelled, marching up to him and swinging her fist.
But she was so feeble that her moves were slow, and Zumiano easily evaded her attack, dodging her second attempt as well.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“S-Stop moving! I told you not to do anything stupid! To just wait! You—!”
“Ha ha ha, don’t be so mad.”
At this rate, Nineena would collapse, so Zumiano grabbed her fists in his grip, peering at her face. She was on the brink of tears.
“It’s fine. You’ll eventually be the master of this bracelet anyway.”
Ѐ ńů m̊ӑ . i̊d
“It’s not fine! That thing is dangerous!”
“Oh, you can tell just by looking at it? Now that’s the kingdom’s greatest healer for you.”
“Such a powerful curse—it would be weirder for me not to notice! Y-You can die if your current master wishes for it! Do you realize that?!”
“Wellie wouldn’t do that.” Zumiano lightly pulled Nineena toward him and began stroking the top of her head.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“L-Let go of me! Good grief! I swear I’ll—I’ll land at least one hit on you!” A choked sob escaped her, and unable to hold back her tears anymore, she began to weep.
“Ha ha, this is so much fun, Nineena,” Zumiano said, his smile unwavering.
Е̂nú m a
The young woman’s eyes widened, looking as if they might pop from their sockets.
“Let’s have a meal and go out somewhere together once you’ve calmed down. How does that sound? You probably can’t even ride a carriage in your current state, so cheer up, ’kay?”
“Zumi...ano?”
“Mm? What is it?”
His little prank a success, Zumiano let his lips curl into an even wider smile, unable to curb the emotions welling up in his chest.
He wrapped his arms around Nineena and whispered, “I’m having such a good time right now. Come on, Nineena, let’s do something fun together. I have a few days off, and Wellie said she wanted to meet you.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Huh? Wait, hold on—”
“Did you know? The Pink-Haired, Silver-Eyed Maiden has appeared in the royal capital. Isn’t that amazing? It’s said that she can heal any injury, regardless of its nature. We should go thank her, you and I. After all, she’s the one who fixed my head injury.”
Nineena’s body stiffened in his arms. She began to tremble, and her legs gave out from under her, so Zumiano scooped her into a bridal carry and set the bouquet of red roses on her stomach. A bewildered Nineena in his arms, Zumiano left the room. Nineena’s mother, Countess Karkfelt, stood behind the door, her head hanging low and a handkerchief pressed against her eyes.
“I told you before, didn’t I? ‘The moment I start finding things fun again, I’ll come for you.’ So I did.”
“Are you...really...?” Nineena reached a trembling hand toward him, her cold palm brushing against his forehead.
“Your hand feels good,” Zumiano said, a grin splitting his face in half. “I rushed all the way here, you know? I’m kinda warm right now.” A look of realization crossed his face, as if he’d suddenly remembered he had forgotten to tell her something. He dropped a kiss on her cheek, tasting the salt of her tears on her skin, and announced, “I’m back, Nineena.”
Е n ũm ӓ
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Nineena muttered, her voice hoarse and wet with tears, “Welcome...home, Zumiano.”
“Yeah, I’m back.”
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
She was so cute, and Zumiano felt so happy...
It was so much fun.
It didn’t merely “feel like” he was having fun—he could feel it from the bottom of his heart. That realization filled him with even more joy.
He could actually feel just how much his fiancée mattered to him.
Е̄ ň.u m̊ â. і̌ d
Basking in that emotion, Zumiano squeezed Nineena in his arms—tightly, but not tight enough to hurt her.
