Received the Obsession of a Chaste Dark Lord - Chapter 25

Certainly, there was nothing strange about the object itself.

The delicately crafted silver bracelet was inlaid with amethyst gems the same color as my eyes, and curious patterns were engraved around the gems.

Even objectively, it was a beautiful and uniquely charming item that would catch one’s eye.

It was just confusing because of the incomprehensible words left by the owner, but in fact, it’s hard to say there was a problem with the item itself.

I looked at the bracelet for a moment and then extended my left arm to Leoprick.

“The item is innocent. I’ll try wearing it for a while.”

He smiled at me.

A smile that seemed to see me as a cute younger sister, and also surprised that I, who had been suspicious until just now, said such a thing.

Feeling that smile with its clear intentions was somewhat tickling my heart, so I slightly averted my gaze and nodded.

“If I wear it, I might come to understand the meaning of those incomprehensible words.”

“You mean the words about you being a beneficiary of magic?”

“And also the words about possibly meeting someone like me.”

In fact, I was more concerned about him saying I could meet someone like me than saying I was a beneficiary of magic.

I have traveled back in time.

And perhaps, there might be someone else who has also traveled back in time.

What else could the meaning of “someone like me” be?

If someone used magic to turn back time, and I’m not the only one who came back.

I gently caressed the bracelet that Leoprick had personally put on me.

“Do you feel anything?”

Leoprick asked softly as he watched me.

It would be strange if I, who had never even heard of magic in my life, said I could feel magic.

And at the same time, I realized something.

Unlike me, Leoprick might be able to sense or handle magic.

“…How much do you know about magic, Leo?”

“Well, nothing particularly grand.”

In fact, when it comes to “someone like me” or “beneficiary of magic,” there’s no one easier to suspect than Leoprick right beside me.

Not only is he legally the closest person to me before the regression, but he’s also the royal family member most closely associated with magic.

If someone did something to me with magic, wouldn’t he be the most likely candidate?

As soon as I realized this, his attitude, which had been strangely different after the regression, suddenly became threatening.

But to my casually thrown question, Leoprick answered lightly with a face showing no suspicion whatsoever.

“Even though it’s called magic, it’s already left as a legend. I only know as much as is commonly known. Even in the imperial library, all records related to magic have disappeared, that’s all that remains.”

Suddenly curious about magic? he added with a playful smile.

When he responds like that, I can’t ask any further.

I awkwardly smiled and just mumbled that I was curious.

I should tell Betty to look for any remaining ancient records.

I started walking and hastily changed the subject.

“Let’s hurry. It seems we’ve been delayed more than expected.”

“Is that so? It seems to be getting a bit dark, so let’s hurry a little.”

As I took a step, he also began to move.

And he walked together, matching his stride to the direction I was going.

For some reason, that simple movement touched my heart.

Even though I should still be wary of him, I once again gave him a step towards me.

The festival was enjoyable.

Many people, various sights and foods, and even brilliant fireworks.

We, who had clearly planned to return before it got darker, couldn’t easily leave because of the numerous people and various attractions.

After an hour, two hours passed quickly, and we were thinking we should head back soon.

Amidst the murmurs about fireworks, we finally decided to watch the fireworks before returning.

With our hands firmly clasped so as not to lose each other, and the bracelet jingling on my wrist, we blended into the large crowd.

“My lady, are you alright?”

Betty asked from behind if I was tired, but strangely, I wasn’t very tired.

Maybe it was because of him holding my hand and watching my steps to make sure I didn’t overexert myself, or because of the shoes he bought me saying my feet shouldn’t be uncomfortable while walking around.

Or perhaps it was because I realized how enjoyable a festival could be, something I had never properly experienced before the regression?

I smiled once at the worried Betty.

Then I followed Leoprick, who gently pulled me, a little further forward.

“The fireworks are starting over there, Mela.”

When we could no longer move forward due to the sheer number of people, Leoprick pointed to a spot ahead and told me.

It was so crowded with people wanting to see the fireworks that there was barely room to stand.

I pulled his hand, which was looking to see if we could go further ahead, and shook my head.

“We don’t need to go further. We’d have to crane our necks quite a bit to see from the front anyway.”

“Are you sure? It still seems like we’d see better from the front though.”

“It’s fine. This is enough.”

When I smiled saying it was okay, Leoprick smiled along with me.

Saying let’s watch from here then, he took a position behind me.

“Leo?”

“Ah. People keep pushing from behind. I don’t want you to fall.”

When I turned my head back in confusion, he smiled brightly and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

As if saying he was here, so don’t worry.

…And, it wasn’t as awkward as I thought it would be.

“Come to think of it, I don’t see Betty.”

That fact I suddenly realized hit me harder than expected, so I changed the subject unnecessarily.

“I saw Sir Cedric taking care of her earlier. No need to worry.”

“That’s good then. There are so many people…”

“Don’t worry. We agreed to meet at the entrance after the fireworks end.”

Not knowing this about me, Leoprick seemed to sense that I was very worried about Betty, and he gently patted my shoulder to comfort me.

I just nodded lightly at his words and focused my gaze forward.

If we talked more, I felt like even I might get swept up in this act.

Fortunately, I was able to forget that thought by focusing on the conversations of the people gathered around.

“It’s been a while since we’ve had something like this.”

“Indeed! Until recently, we couldn’t even dream of this! It’s all thanks to the lord, of course.”

“That’s right. They say the previous lord saved so much that there’s a budget surplus now. We’re grateful they’re using it for things like this.”

“Saving is good, but we need things like this too! Anyway, it’s a good day, so let’s enjoy it!”

It was the boisterous chatter of several men who appeared to be villagers.

Due to the large crowd, I couldn’t hear very clearly, but it seemed they were saying that the current lord was using the budget well that the previous lord had saved through frugality.

Who was the previous lord of Waynes again…

As I was trying to recall, a low voice spoke from behind.

“As soon as we return, I’ll need to look into the current lord of Waynes.”

“The current lord? Not the previous one?”

Leoprick let out a low chuckle at my words.

It seemed the problem was with the previous lord, so why investigate the current one?

Moreover, hasn’t Leoprick already met the current lord of Waynes?

“Didn’t they say the previous lord saved well, so even though the festival scale was smaller, there was a lot of money saved? And after the lord changed, they’re spending that saved money.”

What’s the problem with that?

I looked up at him with a puzzled expression.

“But as I remember, the taxes coming from Waynes have actually decreased compared to before.”

“Didn’t they say that businesses and merchants entering Waynes have to pay taxes strictly? If there’s no change there, the taxes should remain constant…”

“That’s why, Mela. That’s why I think we need to look into it.”

Leoprick answered my words with a voice tinged with laughter.

I was silent for a moment, enjoying the pleasant sound of the laughter in his voice, when suddenly there was a sharp sound cutting through the air.

Whoosh, bang!

“It’s starting!”

Along with someone’s excited voice, colorful fireworks began to burst in the sky with bang, bang sounds.

Red, blue, yellow, and green…

Exclamations of admiration erupted here and there at the vivid and beautiful colors.

Since it was my first time seeing something like this up close, I think I let out a small gasp without realizing it.

The sound of the fireworks cutting through the sky was quite loud.

Yet they just looked up at the sky with joyful and excited faces, delighting in the fireworks coloring the surroundings.

It was so pleasant to see.

As I alternated between looking at the bursting fireworks in the sky and the people enjoying themselves around me, I suddenly froze at the gentle embrace from behind.

“…Leo?”

“I will do better from now on.”

I tried to turn my head, wondering what was suddenly happening, but he buried his face in my shoulder as if to prevent me from turning around.

No, suddenly in the middle of watching the fireworks, what is this…

“I promise to show you only good things, Amelia. I will do my best to make you happy.”

“No, suddenly…”

“Just let me do this, Amelia.”

When I was flustered and unable to speak at the sudden confession, Leoprick said in a voice tinged with a faint laugh that he just felt like saying it.

Just that, seeing something so beautiful made him want to tell me that.

Listening to the sincere voice resonating from behind me, I felt a tickling sensation in a corner of my heart again.

It seemed I couldn’t hear the beautifully bursting fireworks embroidering the sky or the sounds of people enjoying themselves around us.

Feeling the warmth rising from my shoulder to my nape where his breath touched, I needlessly averted my gaze.

I thought if I could just turn my gaze somewhere else, this ticklish feeling might disappear.

‘Why is that person here? How…’

At the end of my gaze, thrown aimlessly and without meaning, I met eyes with someone who gave me a sense of déjà vu.

From afar, but within sight, the man stood like that.

With an expression that was somewhat gloomy, somewhat sorrowful, and somewhat regretful.

It was so eerily similar to my recent wedding.

“Mela?”

I froze in place, forgetting that Leoprick was behind me.

But regardless of my surprise, not much had changed from that time.

Leoprick was still by my side, and he still didn’t reach out from that distant place.

He just looked on.

Lloyd Alois, as he always did.

“…It’s nothing. Shall we go back now?”

So I too could move as I had decided.

I took my eyes off Lloyd and took Leoprick’s hand.

And just like at our wedding, I walked past his gaze.

As if firmly declaring that there was nothing left between me and him anymore.