Returning to the Capital

Lasias Agniele was not one to procrastinate.

Therefore, as soon as Alemir Ensi returned to the carriage after a brief consultation with the office, Agniele asked without hesitation.

“Alemir Ensius, may I ask where you will be staying while you are in the capital?”

“Hm? Did I not tell you?”

Ensi tilted his head in confusion and tried to recall the past.

Now that he thought about it, he realized he really had not mentioned where he would be staying.

Ensi noticed his mistake late and lowered his eyes apologetically while reciting the address.

“You do not have to memorize it.”

“I will send a servant to the Lasias house later.”

Watching Ensi share his location so casually, Agniele looked at the three sitting opposite him.

Florence Lily met his eyes, which were filled with wonder and gratitude, and shrugged as if to say I told you so.

“Ensi, I cannot believe you did not even tell him where you were staying.”

“You were far too insensitive this time.”

Donovan, who had been avoiding Agniele’s gaze because he still felt awkward, playfully scolded Ensi.

Ensi nodded because it was a fair point and lightly brushed Agniele’s forearm.

Agniele was the only one who noticed the action, which happened as quickly as a passing breeze.

It held no special meaning and was not a shameful act, but for some reason, it felt like a secret contact.

Agniele swallowed hard.

“I am sorry.”

“No, it is fine.”

“How could anyone handle every single thing perfectly?”

Agniele immediately snapped back to his senses and shook his head to show he was fine.

Lily watched Agniele with cold eyes, remembering how he had looked ready to dig a hole and crawl into it just moments ago.

“Setting that aside, what happened with the transfer?”

“The distance to the capital is far, so they need about an hour of preparation time.”

“They said they need to coordinate with the office over there too because many people are traveling to the capital.”

“That sounds like an excuse.”

“Exactly.”

“They want more money, so I decided to give them more.”

Ensi had no desire to stay here for an hour, so he willingly played along with their petty tricks.

Luke clicked his tongue and complained about how mages were greedy for money.

“Luke, you are a mage too.”

“Saying that is just like spitting on your own face.”

Donovan handled Luke’s grumbling with ease and patted his shoulder.

Perhaps because they received the extra money, they moved quickly, and the carriage began to move forward slowly upon receiving a signal.

“It has been a long time since I visited the capital.”

“What should I do first?”

“The Imperial Library first.”

“You promised to look into that for me.”

“Right, I did.”

“Once I visit the library, rumors will naturally start to spread.”

“My head hurts just thinking about the things people in high society will say.”

Ensi glanced at Lily as she groaned.

Since it was a consequence of her own actions, he had no intention of comforting her.

“Ensi, you are not going to participate in social activities this time either, are you?”

“I have to attend the Crown Prince’s appointment ceremony.”

“I am no longer at the academy, after all.”

If he stayed in the capital and did not attend, there was no telling what rumors would fly.

Above all, the person who would drag him into it was in the capital, so it would be hard to feign ignorance.

Lily nodded as if she had expected that answer and crossed her legs.

“I envy you guys.”

“You do not have to do social activities.”

“If you are so envious, then you should stop doing them too.”

“If it were that easy, I would not even say I was envious!”

Lily and Luke started bickering again.

Donovan asked Ensi for help while caught in the middle and covering his ears.

Ensi was already sensing the changing flow of mana and bracing himself.

Tap, tap.

“Young master.”

“The transfer will begin in one minute.”

“Understood.”

At the message delivered with a knock on the carriage wall, Ensi buried himself deep into the backrest and closed his eyes.

Lily and Luke fell silent at the news and began to exchange glances and gestures while checking on Ensi’s condition.

‘Did he struggle with management office transfers too?’

‘He looks unwell, so keep your mouth shut.’

Of course, they were not close enough for such vague communication to work perfectly, so they each just thought their own things.

Agniele watched Ensi frown with his arms crossed and felt as though the boy was trying to make himself as small as possible.

Was it because he had seen Ensi suffer during a transfer before?

He placed his hand on Ensi’s shoulder, which looked particularly fragile.

“—What?”

“Stay still.”

“It will start soon.”

Ensi opened his eyes in surprise at the unexpected touch but fell silent at Agniele’s words.

The mana touching his skin was indeed growing stronger.

Ensi quietly closed his eyes.

Lily was forced to watch the two from across the seat and rubbed her arms as goosebumps broke out.

Luke gaped in surprise when Ensi accepted the touch, as he had expected Ensi to shake off Agniele’s hand immediately.

In his confusion, he turned to Lily, but the world turned white as the transfer began.

The sensation of the transfer vanished quickly, but it left a slight daze behind.

Agniele regained his senses the fastest and removed his hand from Ensi’s body.

He was concerned about Ensi’s noticeably pale complexion, but he looked better than he had at the academy.

Confirming that Ensi’s condition was relatively stable, Agniele sensed it was time for him to step back.

“It seems we have arrived in the capital, so I will take my leave now.”

“Pardon? Would it not be better to take the carriage?”

Ensi, who had intended to stop by the Lasias estate first, tilted his head.

However, the aftermath of speaking made the nausea worse, and he ended up covering his mouth.

Agniele looked at Ensi and shook his head slightly.

“Alemir Ensius, it would be better for you to go back and rest as soon as possible.”

If they stayed together, it would only result in a longer route.

He could not make a person who was already unwell suffer more.

Lily also waved her hand, saying she would go separately as well.

“Lily, why are you leaving too?”

“I think Agniele is right.”

“You were planning to drop me off before going back, right?”

Lily immediately tapped the wall toward the driver’s seat.

When the carriage slowed to a stop, she hurriedly stood up and opened the door.

“Anyway, I am leaving first.”

“See you later!”

“I will be in touch.”

Agniele stood up after Lily and stepped out of the carriage immediately.

The carriage became spacious, yet it also felt somewhat quiet.

Ensi stared at the seat where Agniele had been sitting before lying down.

“Ensi, are you okay?”

“It is not that bad.”

“It is partly because you are sensitive to mana, but the Utia disease making your body reject external mana also has an effect.”

“It would be best to call a priest once we return to the mansion.”

Luke knelt on the floor and checked Ensi’s forehead with the back of his hand.

His temperature was indeed low.

“Your stomach will not take medicine right now, so let us burn some incense.”

“It will be hot.”

“Is there anyone here who cannot control mana?”

Donovan pulled an incense burner from his bag and put Sun Grass inside.

He then signaled the spirit hovering near Ensi to start a fire.

“Should we avoid the spirit’s breath for now?”

“The spirit also manifests power through mana.”

“For now, the help of a healing priest is best.”

Luke took the burner from Donovan and placed it near Ensi.

As the heat spread quickly, Ensi exhaled a languid breath.

Staring at the smoke rising like a haze, Ensi asked quietly.

“Agniele asking where I was going to stay, that was your doing, was it not?”

“Was it unnecessary?”

“No.”

“I had simply forgotten to tell him.”

It was not unnecessary.

If they had not stepped in, Agniele would have gone to the Alemir town house.

That would have caused even more trouble.

“It is just… he once said he was worried that visiting me at the mansion might be a disturbance.”

“Agniele was worried about that?”

Luke made a subtle face as he recalled the confession.

“Yes, well.”

“He probably knows that my relationship with my family is not good.”

“It is a story that circulates openly in high society.”

“Even if he stays away from social circles, he is a member of the Lasias family, so it is not strange for him to know.”

“True.”

“It is not strange.”

It was hard to explain exactly, but Ensi felt a bit strange.

It bothered him like a hangnail.

“Are you embarrassed because Agniele knows?”

“Embarrassed…?”

Donovan smiled softly as he saw Ensi’s eyes go wide.

“It is possible.”

“Cyril said it is natural to want to show only your best side to the person you like.”

Donovan reached out to gently cover Ensi’s eyes.

“It might feel more intense because you are not feeling well right now.”

“So close your eyes and rest for a while, Ensi.”

An artificial darkness fell.

Instead of pushing Donovan’s hand away, Ensi followed the advice and closed his eyes.

Donovan was the first to pull back, knowing how sensitive Ensi was to skin contact.

Ensi thought that perhaps it was just because he was tired.