Chapter 14: Traces

The next day had arrived.

Tap! Plop-

A sunset with rain. 

The window frame, tinged with a red glow, was radiating a brilliant light, and the occasional raindrops, carrying that light, trickled down. 

Though obscured by scattered clouds, the scenery was breathtakingly beautiful. 

Yujin remembers this time of day.

Under the dark clouds, raindrops fell, hitting the window sporadically.

The rising sun still lingered in the sky, but it seemed like a heavy rain was about to pour. 

From the heavens, a deep, mournful sound gradually echoed.

By the time the dusty roof and the remaining bloodstains had been somewhat soaked…

Yujin was staring at a puddle, its surface rippling faintly.

At the end of the war, after being led onto the main road and dropping his sword, his eyes had landed on this very spot.

But was he really looking at the puddle?

His vision was blurry, as if he had just woken up.

It felt like he was looking at his reflection in the puddle, yet he wasn’t.

His eyes were open, but no thoughts came to mind.

Before that, he didn’t even know why he had come here.

Only the raindrops that had fallen onto his hair were trickling down, streaming past his eyes.

Yes. Yujin’s mind, as he gazed at this murky puddle, was as turbid as the water itself.

Yet, one thought echoed endlessly in his empty mind.

The past.

The past.

He was recalling the past.

Yes. I am remembering the past.

‘First. As of this moment, Yujin, the Fire Magic Resonator, is stripped of his position as the heir to the Ehrenheit family.’

‘Second. Yujin, this commoner, will no longer be recognized as a member of the Ehrenheit family.’

‘Third. Lastly, the ownership of the Fire Ring, a family heirloom, belongs to the Ehrenheit family. Therefore, it will be reclaimed. However, considering the time you’ve spent, the ownership of the estate is acknowledged.’

‘No objections will be entertained. Henceforth, leave this place immediately.’

‘…’

Each of those short, decisive declarations felt like a nail being driven into Yujin’s wounded heart.

No longer being recognized as a member of the Ehrenheit family meant he could no longer remain as Yuria’s husband. 

He could no longer meet her, wait for her. 

It was essentially the same as a separation.

Their divorce.

Who could have anticipated Yujin’s divorce?

For Yujin, it was a cruel divorce.

He had devoted his entire youth to this bond.

He had been by her side since the first time he held a sword.

He was there when she cast her first level 1 spell, and when she first created the Six-Pointed Star.

He had stood by Yuria’s side longer than anyone else, for the longest time.

Surely, because of that…

No, perhaps that’s why it was even more unbelievable.

The fact that he had been abandoned by the person he loved most.

That he could no longer see her warm gaze, her brief glances, or her faint smiles.

Suddenly recalling the emotions of that time, Yujin covered his face with both hands.

He splashed water on his face and ruffled his hair wildly.

I have forgotten her.

The emotion I feel now is undoubtedly pain.

The remnants of an uncuttable, long period of time are nauseating.

How much time had passed?

After a long while, Yujin’s eyes, which had been still, finally moved.

It was then.

“Did you have a nightmare?”

“…..?”

A low, calm voice reached his ears.

The person who always calmed his heart.

Wondering if he was still in a dream, Yujin quickly turned around.

A quiet, faint voice followed.

Turning his gaze to the side, he saw a pair of clear eyes staring intently at him. 

The disheveled hair, the neat nose, the red lips—all were visible, as if she had just woken up from bed.

Feeling the closeness and her breath, Yujin took a deep breath.

“…You don’t look well. Did you overdo it…?”

As soon as she opened her eyes, she greeted him—no, Charlotte.

In his previous life, by the time he saw her real face, his vision was almost gone. Seeing her smile now felt somewhat awkward.

When their eyes met, Charlotte’s pupils dilated and contracted repeatedly before finally settling. 

The back of her neck had turned red—was it just his imagination?

‘She’s really… beautiful.’

Even without words, just her smiling eyes made him think she was beautiful. 

He felt like he was going crazy, but there was nothing he could do. 

She was his life’s savior, after all.

Swoosh.

A warm hand rested on Yujin’s forehead. 

Blinking, he looked at her and saw a worried expression.

Yujin fiddled with his fingertips for a moment before lifting his gaze.

“…Ah-“

As he opened his mouth, Yujin realized his lips were chapped. 

His throat was dry as well.

It dawned on him that he had barely eaten or drank anything since yesterday.

Come to think of it, how many proper meals has he had since arriving here?

Noticing Yujin’s state, Charlotte smiled softly and spoke.

“…Thank you for what happened last time.”

Last time—was she referring to the food he liked?

“There’s no need to worry. It was really nothing.”

“I keep owing you. I’m sorry… I’ll repay you properly later…”

“It’s fine.”

Cutting her off, Charlotte looked momentarily flustered.

It was all too obvious. 

To put it bluntly, she was a bit of a pushover…

And Yujin’s prediction was spot on.

‘Wh-what do I do? What should I do…?’

Charlotte, her face turning red without her realizing it, averted her gaze and pondered.

‘I want to spend more time with Yujin… but if this continues, he’ll just leave like yesterday.’

‘It’s a rare chance to talk alone. I can’t let anything interfere…’

In truth, she wanted to talk more with Yujin. 

About anything. 

She wanted to stay by his side longer, to feel his presence more.

Since her thoughts were so transparent…

Yujin, who was quick to notice such things, spoke up.

“If there’s something you want to say, feel free to say it. It seems like others often misunderstand you…”

“You…”

Yujin knew Charlotte well. After all, they were master and disciple. 

Her way with words was remarkable in its own way, and Yujin knew well that her words often led to misunderstandings.

After much deliberation, Charlotte finally parted her lips.

“If you say so… actually,”

“…?”

“I see you in a romantic light! A lot!”

‘Very much,’ she added. Charlotte met my eyes.

Her face was bright red.

Charlotte stared at Yujin’s face for a long time. 

Not once did she miss his flickering gaze.

Then, as the clock’s hands moved completely, she slowly parted her lips.

“It’s true that we’re of different genders…”

“No…! It’s not just that I see you as a different gender—”

“…”

“Yujin, I see you… as a man.”

As sunlight streamed through the raindrops on the window, multiple voices flowed through the door crack.

Realizing that there were ears listening, Charlotte abruptly stopped speaking.

Charlotte had to desperately calm her wildly beating heart. 

The man with sharp eyes and distinct features still smiled warmly at her, without a hint of rejection.

Last night, Charlotte had frantically tried to gather information about him.

Why had a knight from the prestigious Ehrenheit family come here as reinforcements?

What she discovered was that this man was known as the Fire Magic Resonator. 

He was called that.

He didn’t deny it, so everyone regarded him as the Fire Magic Resonator.

Whoosh.

‘You were the first to call my eyes… beautiful.’

However, Charlotte remembered the flames she had seen in him.

He had potential. 

He definitely did.

“You said my eyes were beautiful, didn’t you?”

Caught off guard by the sudden remark, Yujin simply smiled faintly.

“Haha… They’re still as beautiful as ever.”

“Eek…”

Charlotte, her face tense, held her breath but soon stopped speaking. 

He had grabbed her arm, locking eyes with her.

Yujin, meeting her gaze, quietly spoke.

“I’ll bring your favorite food again today. I hope your wounds heal quickly.”

“……”

“If you think of me, feel free to call me anytime. I’ll come.”

His endlessly warm demeanor left Charlotte speechless. 

No, she forgot.

For a moment, she forgot.

As he got up from his seat, Charlotte grabbed his collar and spoke.

“There’s… something I can do for you.”

“…Yes?”

Charlotte suddenly sat down next to Yujin.

So naturally, their shoulders and hips touched, making him a bit flustered.

Was she deliberately trying to get close? Surely not…

As he entertained such doubts, Charlotte, who had quickly regained her composure, pressed her chest and muttered to herself.

“…It’s beating too fast. It’s so loud I can’t do anything…-“

“Yes?”

“It’s not something for you to worry about. My heart is just beating too fast, that’s all.”

“…”

“If it seemed like I had impure thoughts… don’t mind it.”

Charlotte didn’t lift her head obediently. 

Suddenly, she grabbed my arm and pulled me closer. 

Then, slowly, her hand moved up, drawing me toward her.

For a moment, I tried to pull my arm away, but Charlotte held me gently, keeping me from leaving her embrace.

After a brief silence, Charlotte parted her lips.

“I’ll do my best… to help you return to your family.”

“…?”