DYPIOOP Chapter 16

Seeing or Feeling

"Oh my. I was right!"

Countess Fellan welcomed Elonia like a dear friend. In truth, she didn't really remember the face. The distinctive voice only conjured hazy impressions. But the Countess asked warmly:

"You disappeared so suddenly one day, I thought you'd quit."

"That was before I received the marriage proposal."

"Really? I thought the engagement news came fairly recently. Didn't you stop working a bit earlier than that?"

The answer to this unexpectedly sharp question came not from Elonia but from Carvel.

"She overworked herself and fell ill. I made her quit early."

At Carvel's lovestruck manner, Countess Fellan rounded her lips in surprise.

"Now that you mention it, they did say you were in poor health..."

The Countess studied Elonia with a look of regret. After drawing out her words, she asked hesitantly:

"Since this is fate... would even something light like a tea party be too much for you later?"

"A tea party?"

"Just a simple afternoon tea. Nothing burdensome at all."

At the subtle invitation delivered with light laughter, Count Fellan cleared his throat quietly. Even at this signal to stop, she persisted with what she wanted to say.

"Just a gathering where ladies who know each other chat cozily."

"If I have the opportunity later."

Elonia gave an appropriately vague answer, conscious of Carvel beside her. At her ambiguous response, Countess Fellan backed off without complaint. It was quite perceptive behavior.

"I'm glad the gift arrived safely. If you have the chance later, I do hope you'll come to tea."

With light farewells, the Count and Countess wrapped up naturally. Then Carvel spoke up again.

"Ah, about the necklace you sent as a gift."

Their attention returned to him. Carvel asked kindly:

"My fiancée seems quite taken with it, so I was wondering—could you tell me where you purchased it?"

Elonia's drooping expression twitched in surprise at the unexpected question. Countess Fellan showed her difficulty without filter.

"Well, it's a small-scale operation..."

"Not an ordinary boutique, I take it."

"It's difficult even for me to purchase there."

At the Countess's pointed glance toward her, Elonia instinctively smiled first.

'He said he wasn't interested in the necklace. He's overflowing with interest!'

When he'd come to her room, she'd even told him to take it. She should have known when he deliberately left it there.

'If he liked it enough to ask directly, he should have just taken it. Strange stubbornness.'

Was he embarrassed about collecting jewelry? Looking at his usual demeanor, it was hard to imagine. She patted his shoulder sympathetically. How oddly must people have looked at him for him to hide it like this? She remembered her own days when no one would believe she was a spirit mage—enough to make her cry. With fellow-sufferer's sympathy, Elonia decided to help him. Of course, nothing comes free. She murmured quietly so only Carvel could hear.

"Your Grace. I'll find out where to buy the jewelry. But I have a request—will you grant it?"

"...What is it?"

"Give me half the jewelry's price in cash. Consider it a commission fee."

At this, Carvel's gaze shifted from the Fellan couple to her. He asked in an uncomprehending tone:

"I thought I'd allocated sufficient budget for your needs. Is it not enough?"

"No. That's Your—"

Elonia had been about to say "Your Grace's" when she quickly changed her words at Countess Fellan's gaze.

"—Carvel's money, not mine."

She'd need considerable funds to establish independence after the divorce. She couldn't very well use the household budget then, could she? But he still seemed unable to grasp why she wanted separate money. She even got the impression that "con artist" was practically written in his eyes. She kindly added more detail to clear up the misunderstanding.

"I'm being generous—I'll only charge the information fee once. After I find the boutique, you can purchase as you like."

Finally, unable to wait any longer, Countess Fellan offered another apology.

"Duke Haelton. I'm sorry about this."

After studying her very briefly, Carvel answered with a small nod. Elonia stepped forward with a smile carrying the distinctive habits of her service industry past.

"I was actually hoping to purchase other colors after receiving the gift. Blue doesn't suit me very well."

The Countess's lips pressed into a firm line as if troubled. She spread her fan again, covering her face with an apologetic expression.

"Even I can only purchase when they send me an invitation."

"Is there no other way?"

After hesitating briefly while fanning herself, Countess Fellan cleared her throat and spoke awkwardly.

"I'll write you a letter of introduction later. I'd like to discuss the details at tea."

The persistent mention of tea suggested she badly wanted to include Elonia as a spirit mage. The more influential people the hostess gathered, the more impressive it would be—clearly her goal. Especially for someone lacking family background, Elonia must be an attractive guest. Elonia answered with a bright smile.

"Of course. I'll be waiting for the tea party invitation, Countess."

Only then did Countess Fellan smile like a young girl and disappear into the crowd of people exchanging greetings. Once no one was nearby, Elonia asked like a ventriloquist, her smiling face frozen in place.

"I didn't even touch the necklace. Don't worry and take it back."

He maintained silence for a moment, his smile fading. Was he moved? She looked up at him pointedly, chin raised, after he'd been teasing her constantly. But when he finally spoke after a long pause, it was much the same as before.

"Why bother when I'm going to buy a new one anyway?"

If there was any progress, it was that he'd finally admitted it honestly. She decided to be the more magnanimous one and understand.

"If you wanted it enough to ask Countess Fellan, you should have just said so."

"What?"

"Just be honest—say you have a hobby of collecting jewelry. That's all."

For some reason, his smile only deepened instead of answering. When he didn't want to talk, he resorted to this approach. Having roughly figured out the pattern, Elonia sighed and continued.

"People are like that. Once they form an opinion, it's hard to change."

"How surprisingly normal of you to say."

"In that spirit, why don't you try believing in spirits, Your Grace?"

She'd asked slyly, trying to slip it in, but he gave no response. Thinking this was her chance, Elonia leaned forward slightly and covered her mouth with her hand. Then she whispered:

"The first time is hard, but as you spend time with me, you'll be able to see—no, feel—spirits."

"Elonia. I've changed my mind."

At the sudden statement, Elonia blinked. Then Carvel smiled brightly, eyes crinkling.

"Make sure you keep that necklace. The spirits too."

He was adamant about spirits. Given his personality didn't easily change decisions, this was perhaps inevitable. Even at tonight's ball, there would be people somewhere who didn't believe. There are always those who must see with their own eyes to believe. Just like Carvel. Did he really have to say such things so cheerfully in front of a spirit mage? Elonia pouted sullenly. The Lyatico scent drifted past her again. The faded fragrance returned suddenly, as if it had never left. As she turned her head, Carvel spoke first.

"You don't look well."

At the unexpected comment, she glanced around briefly. Was he talking about her? Elonia discreetly pointed at herself with her finger, asking with her eyes. But Carvel's gaze was directed behind her. Suddenly she remembered his earlier instruction to faint if she didn't know the answer.

'Is this what he wants?'

Elonia opened her mouth somewhat slowly, suspicious.

"Thank you. It's because of you...?"

Whether that was the right answer, Carvel continued without hesitation.

"I noticed you sweating earlier too."

"I nearly threw my back out dancing."

"Was it that exhausting?"

There was a strange concern in his tone. Given everything she'd experienced with Carvel, he wouldn't worry for no reason. He was, after all, the very person who'd made Elonia move like that.

'Someone's behind me.'

As she tried to glance back, he reached out as if concerned and swept her hair over her shoulder. It was essentially blocking her view. Elonia checked his hands first.

'No champagne or wine. Not drunk.'

She'd handled the earlier conversations with nobles well enough. The situation of him bringing up her complexion felt distinctly ominous.

'It can't be.'

But the red warning light in her head instinctively told her what she needed to say.

'His smile is unsettlingly suspicious...'

Surely he wasn't suggesting she pretend to be ill in front of all these people? There were countless eyes watching.

'Wasn't the whole premise that I'd recovered from illness to attend?!'

No wonder he'd burned through her soul in the first dance hard enough to leave a healthy person bedridden with muscle pain for four days. This was his plan all along. Elonia looked up at him with a face that said she absolutely could not concede on this point. Meeting his ash-gray eyes directly, Elonia shook her head slowly enough to make her refusal clear. Carvel's face, devoid of any sympathy, indicated firm rejection. Then a clear voice she'd never heard before came from behind her.

"Duke Carvel."

Turning around, Elonia found Aselir approaching them—someone she'd never had occasion to see up close before. The phrase "blindingly beautiful" fit perfectly. Golden hair harmonizing with porcelain skin, a pale green dress that made her seem even more refined and elegant.

'Nyx would love this.'

She'd only ever seen Aselir from a distance during Foundation Day celebrations, features indistinguishable. Seeing her up close now, Elonia understood why everyone who looked at Aselir called her beautiful without exception. Beside her, Lifrey escorting her blended into the picture perfectly. Despite her cold appearance, Aselir smiled first in greeting.

"I'm finally meeting the Duke's fiancée."

As her slightly upturned eyes curved prettily, the atmosphere shifted distinctly. As she approached, the Lyatico scent intensified.

'Wait...?'

So the guest who'd visited the estate was Aselir? Elonia had exchanged greetings with quite a few people since the ball started, but no one had worn perfume this strong. Especially not Lyatico. A momentary question arose, but Aselir seemed to be waiting for introductions, so Elonia greeted her first.

"I'm Elonia Devney. It's an honor to meet you, Your Highness."

"I heard you were a spirit mage. A Devney, as expected. I suppose bloodlines don't continue for nothing."

Though her voice wasn't particularly high, it reached Elonia's ears with crystal clarity. When Elonia tried to steal a glance at Aselir's face, their eyes accidentally met. But Aselir smiled with her eyes and offered congratulations to Carvel as well.

"Hearing such happy news—you look particularly well tonight, Duke Carvel. Congratulations."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Carvel accepted the greeting smoothly. Among it all, one thing particularly stuck in Elonia's ears.

'She's calling him by his first name?'

Normally, unless people were close or in public settings, they used family names. Elonia herself had been called Lady Devney more often at the ball. Only when people were truly familiar did they use first names, and throughout the entire evening, not a single person had called Carvel by his given name. His name had emerged for the first time from Aselir's lips.

Translator Rant:

She's a flower garden pretending to be a library. Does she not wonder at all why he destroyed the original necklace and went out of his way to replace it with a perfect replica? lol I wonder what that magic was...