The Promise on the Left Ring Finger

“Rings, huh.” Sian thought. “Items to be used with Theodore, even if it doesn’t mean anything, rings are a bit hesitant.”

But this was the only item left. The necklace-style item, which he thought was the most harmless after the bracelet, also couldn’t be worn.

Sian sighed and picked up the ring.

“Let’s try wearing this this time.”

“……Are you going to feel pain again?”

“……”

‘Oh, no.’ Because of the continuous rejection of the other items, Theodore, who had suffered, had a frightened expression.

Sian didn’t want Theodore to feel pain either. But magical items were essential to protect Theodore.

It hurt his heart very much, but there was no other choice. Sian persuaded Theodore in a gentle tone.

“Theo, you might suddenly be in danger like last time. So I’m wearing this to protect you.

If it hurts a lot, you can take it off. Then, let’s think of another way. Okay?”

“……”

Theodore looked back and forth between the ring and Sian’s face with anxious eyes.

He still had a frightened look, but even so, Theodore gathered his courage and asked Sian.

“Do you wear it too, Teacher?”

“Hmm?”

Sian turned his head at Theodore’s question and looked at the other ring on the desk.

Since there were two accessories of the same shape, Theodore seemed to have noticed.

A small gemstone was embedded in the center of the yellowish ring, which he couldn’t tell whether it was gold or made of other metal, like the bracelet and necklace.

This gemstone was the core of the magical item. A magic stone that was there.

But the colors of the gems were all different.

The ring he handed to Theodore had a black gem embedded in it, and the ring on the desk that Sian was going to wear had a yellow gem embedded in it.

“Then, Teacher should wear it too, of course, if Theo doesn’t feel any pain.”

“……”

“……?”

Then Theodore said nothing again. Sian, looking at Theodore with a questioning gaze, suddenly realized.

‘Does he not like the color of the ring?’

It made sense. The ring he had handed to Theodore had an unappealing black gem embedded in it.

Now that he looked at it, the shiny yellow gem looked much prettier. Sian hurriedly changed the ring in his hand and asked.

“Theo, will you wear this ring?”

“Why?”

“Hmm… Because it’s prettier?”

“……”

But Theodore was still silent. And for some reason, his expression was even worse than before. Sian was embarrassed.

“Theo?”

“I’ll just wear the one you gave me earlier.”

“Hmm? You will?”

Sian gave Theodore the ring with the black gem, not knowing why Theodore had suddenly changed his mind.

Theodore looked down at the ring for a moment and carefully put it on his finger.

Unlike the bracelet, which could be adjusted to a certain extent, the ring was for adults in the first place, so it didn’t fit Theodore’s finger.

But perhaps because it was a magical item, as soon as he put his finger in, it shrunk on its own to fit the wearer’s size.

The ring that had shrunk perfectly fit Theodore’s finger.

“Hmm…”

“Theo, are you alright?”

“……”

Unlike when he felt pain as soon as he wore the bracelet and necklace, Theodore was calm.

Sian asked with a nervous heart. Theodore tilted his head for a moment and then answered with a bright smile.

“Yes! I think I’m alright.”

“Phew, that’s a relief.”

He had been worried what would happen if the last remaining item also caused a rejection, but fortunately, the ring-shaped item didn’t cause any problems even if Theodore wore it.

Now, all that was left was for him to wear the other one and confirm that it was working well. Sian picked up the other ring on the desk.

“Teacher!”

“Hmm?”

As Sian was about to put on the ring, Theodore suddenly called out to Sian.

Sian stopped trying to put on the ring and looked at Theodore.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well… the ring, I’ll put it on for you.”

“You?”

“Yes!”

Theodore, whose cheeks had turned red, nodded with eyes full of determination for some reason.

Sian looked down at Theodore with a dazed expression and opened his mouth.

“Okay, then.”

Was it fun to put on the ring? Sian, while tilting his head, obediently handed the ring to Theodore.

Theodore received the ring, still with a flushed face.

“Here.”

Sian held out his left hand to make it easier for Theodore to put on the ring. Theodore, after staring at Sian’s hand for a moment, slowly put the ring on Sian’s finger.

The ring fit perfectly on Sian’s finger. So, unlike when Theodore wore it, the ring didn’t shrink or enlarge.

However, Sian, looking at that appearance, was belatedly surprised.

“Theo, that…!”

“Yes?”

“Uhm.”

Coincidentally, Theodore had put the ring on his left ring finger. Now he saw that Theodore was also wearing a ring on his left ring finger.

He had been so focused on whether the ring would cause a rejection from Theodore that he hadn’t properly confirmed which finger it had been put on.

But, of all things, the left ring finger.

Sian looked down at Theodore in a panic.

“Why? Are you hurting too, Teacher?”

“No, umm… It’s not that.”

“……?”

But he was at a loss as to how to explain this to Theodore.

Wasn’t that a finger that only lovers, or those who had promised to be in a relationship, would wear a ring on? It might be difficult for the still-young Theodore to understand.

Still, it would be better to let him know at this opportunity.

This was also, strictly speaking, education. Sian made a decision and opened his mouth.

“Theo, wearing this on the left ring finger is for… people who like each other.”

“……So?”

“Hmm?”

“I like Teacher, though?”

“……!”

Sian realized that something had gone wrong at Theodore’s innocent words.

It seemed his explanation was insufficient because Theodore didn’t seem to understand the love between lovers. Sian quickly added.

“It’s… you have to really like each other. As much as you want to be together for life.”

“……I want to be with Teacher for life….”

“……!”

But the more he spoke, the more difficult it became. Theodore was now looking up at Sian, on the verge of tears.

“Don’t you like me, Teacher, or don’t you want to be with me?”

“What? No. That’s really not it.”

Sian was surprised and waved his hands. He had to clear up Theodore’s misunderstanding, even if it was at the expense of other things.

“Of course, Teacher likes Theo very much, too.”

“Then, you’ll stay with me forever?”

“That… that…”

But he didn’t want to lie. Theodore would surely meet his destined person within a year at the earliest.

He couldn’t say such a thing when the female lead was alive and well. Sian wiped his sweat and wracked his brain.

“Forever… it’s a bit difficult. Because you have to marry someone you really, really like later.”

“Marry?”

“Yes. Wearing a ring like this is also for people who are getting married. And marriage is…”

“……”

Sian worked hard to explain in a way that Theodore could easily understand. Even though he had to beat around the bush a little, he felt more relieved.

Theodore would understand this much. He could understand the word “marriage,” even though he was still young. Sian finally took a breath.

“So, wearing a ring here is for the person you like more later, and now with Teacher…”

“I don’t want to.”

“What?”

Sian’s eyes widened and he looked at Theodore with a flustered expression at the unexpected firm answer.

“I like Teacher. I don’t like others.”

“No, umm….”

To be honest, he wasn’t displeased as a protector that Theodore liked him this much.

No, he was rather proud and happy. But that wasn’t important now. Sian sighed, becoming flustered.

“So, I’ll marry Teacher.”

“……!”

Sian almost shouted, “Okay, then, let’s get married, Teacher!” because Theodore, looking up at him, was so cute. Sian, biting his lip, barely managed to suppress his silliness.

“That… is difficult.”

“Why?”

“Because, later, Theo…”

In the end, the conversation was a repeat. It was a frustrating thing for Sian, who knew the future, but not for Theodore.

This child’s world was very small and small.

A pang of sadness. And he could understand Theodore belatedly.

‘Right. It’s just the persistence of a child who won’t go on for long anyway.’

Didn’t everyone insist on marrying their parents when they were young?

Theodore would surely grow up soon and forget the words he had shouted that he wanted to marry Teacher.

Sian smiled wryly, imagining the not-so-distant future.

“Okay, okay. Then, let’s get married later, Teacher.”

“Really? Yes?”

“Yes.”

Sian finally gave up the argument and nodded readily.

He had no choice but to let Theodore wear the ring in the position he wanted. Sian looked at Theodore’s face, who was smiling happily, with satisfaction.

Finally, he checked if the item was working well.

When he poured his energy into the ring, the item, which had recognized its owner, began to work.

Woong.

The ring that Sian wore was connected to the ring that Theodore wore.

So, if Theodore was only wearing a ring, they would be able to know each other’s location.

Sian, confirming that he could feel Theodore’s aura even stronger when he activated the ring’s power, had a satisfied expression.

“When I grow up, I’ll definitely get married, Teacher.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Hehe.”

And Sian had no way of knowing how great of a ripple this promise would bring in the future.