Chapter 38 (2/2)

‘Don’t be ridiculous. I told you those things not because I was impressed but so you wouldn’t feel too bad. I felt sorry for you, who had a very simple brain that didn’t fit in with that great talent, so I was rooting for you to try harder.’

Back then, I liked you. Because you always said you wanted to do better and be with Samidion and me. So…

I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Fortunately, the nightmare faded away as quickly as it came. It wasn’t important that I was foolish in the past. Now I recognized what kind of person he had been.

“That’s right. That’s what I said. But you’re not the kind of guy who’s good enough for that. I know what I’m saying.”

“Are you saying that now?”

“You don’t get the point, Serek.”

“I even have the special powers that the empress has given me.”

A special ability given by the Empress? Serek gloated, but I smelled something fishy with this entire situation.

“What do you mean?”

“Never mind. Anyway, we’ll see each other often in the future, and if you want to do well again, I’m giving you a favor—you can come back to me anytime you want.”

I shot a dirty look at Serek. Looking at his soft smile, I could see that he was not willing to talk about his new ability.

In other words, he’d just confirmed to me that the two of them were plotting something.

I decided not to ask if they knew about my abilities. I’d hoped that the empress didn’t know but seeing how Serek was now… There was no doubt about it. She knew.

When I tried to kick myself, Serek quickly opened his mouth.

“Does the emperor know?”

“What?”

“Your ability.”

He seemed uneasy.

While I was momentarily thinking of how to respond to that, Serek opened his damn mouth again, “The rich bastard probably doesn’t know.”

I looked at him. “Don’t be such a jerk. You work for him now.”

“Okay, okay. Anyway, that’s the greatest part of your ability. His Majesty doesn’t appreciate your ability. I’ll have to be next to you for a hundred days…”

“What do you care? You’re not short of money right now. You don’t still need that ability, do you?”

A bastard who couldn’t even hide his feelings. If this was a back alley in Goldina, I would have used my powers to cut him where he was weak and eat as much as I could. Just as he did to me.

“He’s using you.”

What was it that he was thinking? My lips curled into a sneer and I laughed.

“It’s not that I need your powers, Celestia. I know what you can do. You’re an aberration. But do you even understand what kind of life that rich bastard has? That bastard and I were born in different leagues. At least think of how that golden spoon will think of you when he realizes what you are. If the magicians saw you, they’d run away because they’re scared. You’re hideous. Don’t you think so? Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. But you can’t hide it forever, can you?

He thought I was ugly? This jerk…….

His ideas were so preposterous that I didn’t even know what to say. He thought I was miserable and keeping my powers a secret?

Serek seemed bolstered on by my silence, puffing his chest out, unable to stop talking. “I’m just telling you the truth. But I understand. I understand everything. I even love you for it. Do you think you can find anyone who will accept you other than me?”

‘How could you say that to me?’

My fist trembled. If he cared about me even a little bit, hell, if he was a sane person, he would never say that to me.

Even if I killed this guy right now, I was sure I would be justified.

“You think he’ll run away when he sees what I can do? I’m speechless.” A familiar voice suddenly boomed from behind me.

Surprised by the voice, I jumped up and almost fell, and suddenly a hand came to catch me, then held me close. The temperature of the palm that came over my forearm was burning hot.

“Your Majesty!”

While I was surprised, Serek bent over and paid his respects. The emperor nodded and stood behind me, holding my shoulders. My heart thumped at the hot touch of his chest and hands against my back and shoulders. It was such a strong magical force that I wanted to absorb the magic and stabilize him right away.

How much mana did he use?

Having no idea that the emperor was just using me as a coolant, Serek stared at me in a daze, unsure of how to act in the presence of the emperor.

I tried to raise my head and look up at the emperor, but I couldn’t because he held me in such a tight embrace.