Abruptly.
He reached out in an instant and grabbed my wrist.
Taken aback by his sudden action, I looked at him with a surprised expression before flinching.
“Don’t go…….”
Lemon’s light-yellow eyes were trembling harder than ever.
He muttered with a sullen expression.
“Where are you trying to run away?”
“Running away…….”
I was about to retort, but I noticed that his fingertips, gripping my wrist, were trembling ever so slightly.
“I’m not letting go.”
His usual gentle and affectionate demeanor had completely vanished, replaced by Lemon’s figure muttering in a gloomy tone.
While his change had been abrupt, I felt like I knew why he was acting this way.
“……I won’t run away.”
“…….”
“Because as much as you want me, I need you.”
Barely a clue.
That’s how I must look in Lemon’s eyes.
That’s why he was afraid.
He was afraid I might disappear and take the clue with me.
Seeing his obsession and madness firsthand sent shivers down my spine.
Well, that’s probably how he managed to grow the Rune Information Guild to this extent.
But desperation isn’t unique to Lemon alone.
‘I’m the same.’
I reversed the step I had taken back.
Lemon’s gaze rose from my feet to meet my eyes.
“Then answer now. Will you cooperate?”
“…… I will.”
His long fingers curled hard around my wrist, then slowly dropped away.
As if regaining his senses, he shook his head nervously.
“I’ve suffered a perfect defeat. Ah, the cruel butterfly of destiny.”
“Look at it positively. In a way, you’ve gained an ally too.”
“Quite the optimistic perspective.”
Lemon smiled as if acknowledging his defeat.
“So, then.”
His gaze turned icy cold for a moment.
“What is it you want to get out of me?”
“That…….”
“Before that.”
Just as I was about to reply, he added with a rueful smile.
“Unfortunately, I don’t know how to cure the flower magic disease.”
His words brought a bitter smile to my face.
Lemon seemed convinced that I would inquire about that information.
Well, it was a matter of life and death.
However, I shook my head.
“I’m not here to ask about that.”
“Then?”
I stared at him silently.
Lemon’s being here meant he had Cardien’s permission.
‘He’s probably already asked you to track down the heirloom.’
Unless it was something of that magnitude, Cardien wouldn’t allow the Guild Master of the Information Guild inside his mansion.
“There’s no need to risk exposing our dealings by duplicating the request and involving Cardien.”
In that case…
“I want information about the Ancient Temple.”
“The Ancient Temple?”
He seemed completely taken aback, asking with a puzzled expression.
I nodded my head.
If Cardien was searching for the heirloom, I was going to find Cardien’s erased past.
To do that, I needed to find out about those who wore robes bearing the symbol of the Ancient Temple.
Lemon spoke with a vague expression.
“It’s information from an ancient temple, I’ll try to find it, but I can’t promise much.”
“Please try. And one more thing.”
“……?”
“I want to find a book.”
“…… book?”
Once again, he looked perplexed.
“Yes, it’s a book I read at the Imperial Academy Library. I can’t recall the title, but I remember what the cover looked like.”
I quickly grabbed the paper and pen from the desk and started sketching as I remembered.
“It was an old book with a green leather cover and embossed gold lettering.”
Lemon said, clutching the paper in his arms.
“I’ll recognize it if I see it, but this is quite peculiar. You’re asking me to find a book, of all things.”
“There’s something I want to investigate.”
“Alright, now it’s your turn to answer. Clues?”
I stared at him and then slowly parted my lips.
“Holy power.”
“……?”
“The cause of your mother’s death, it was holy power.”
“……!”
Lemon’s eyes widened.
I stared at him in silence, watching his pupils widen.
Lemon’s mother had been a priestess of the temple.
She was a temple priestess serving alongside the high priestess herself. However, one day, she vanished without a trace.
Years later, her body was discovered by a nearby river.
Lemon was the product of an illicit relationship, living with his grandfather, his mother’s father.
Though they lived in poverty and didn’t know who his father was, his grandparents showered him with love.
After his mother’s disappearance, it was Lemon who found her lifeless body first.
‘But in the end, the cause of death was never determined.’
Furthermore, the temple had completely covered up Lemon’s mother’s death.
Therefore, Lemon established the Rune Information Guild himself, both to uncover his mother’s death and to build his own power.
However, despite his efforts, unveiling the concealed truth behind her death had proven to be no easy task.
“…..How can I trust if you’re not lying?”
Lemon pursed his lips.
I calmly looked at him and then parted my lips.
“Didn´t you notice anything unusual about the body?”
“……?”
“It wasn’t decomposed at all.”
“……! How did you even come to that conclusion?”
Lemon stared at me with a look of astonishment.
‘Because you revealed it.’
I explained with a tinge of bitterness.
“It’s a characteristic that appears when someone dies from holy power.”
Excessive holy power acts as a kind of preservative.
It took Lemon over ten years to uncover just this one fact.
“My first clue is this. Whether you believe it or not is your choice.”
“……What is your true identity, Livia Pellington?”
His voice trembled slightly.
There was even a hint of wonder in the lemon-colored eyes that met mine.
I felt unnecessarily embarrassed and said.
“I’m just an ordinary citizen who knows a little too much.”
Although he vehemently disagreed with his eyes, well, either way…
‘This has given me more advantages that I can utilize.’
It was too early to be confident, but somehow, I had a feeling this was going to work out.
* * *
Lemon said it would take three or four days to gather the information.
As we were leaving the library, Lemon turned to me.
“By the way, Miss Livia, are you going to keep this a secret?”
“What do you mean?”
“Your illness.”
“…….”
“The duke doesn’t know, does he?”
I nodded slightly.
Lemon’s expression showed concern.
“Can you really afford not to tell? Your illness is more dangerous than you think. How many symptoms have appeared so far?”
“Still the first one.”
“How long ago?”
“About a month ago…….”
Lemon seemed to have done a fair amount of research on the Flower Magic Disease, as he asked without hesitation.
“If it’s been a month, it’s getting risky.”
“…….The cycles are irregular.”
In response, Lemon spoke with an expression as if questioning the meaning of that.
“Though it’s true that the pattern is irregular, it takes around three weeks to a maximum of a month for the second symptom to appear after the first one. After that, it starts changing irregularly.”
He explained with a hint of frustration.
“It seems even the physicians aren’t well-informed about this rare disease.”
“…….”
He seemed to expect me to be taken aback.
However, I just looked at him calmly.
Lemon’s gaze, fixed on me, suddenly widened.
“Did you know? That there’s not much time left until the next symptom…”
“Well…”
I smiled quietly.
In truth, his words didn’t come as much of a shock when I heard them.
‘I might have sensed it vaguely.’
The recent feeling that my body was like a volcano, the constant worry about the next symptom – I might have subconsciously sensed that time was running out.
Hearing Lemon’s words only confirmed my suspicions.
‘I’m stuck.’
I can’t even take time off work without knowing the exact date.
As I pondered, Lemon spoke up.
“Are you not going to inform the duke? If you mention the disease, you might be able to secure his understanding.”
“That’s not possible.”
I shook my head.
He looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“Why? Is it because you’re afraid he might cast you out? I can prove that it’s not contagious.”
“It’s not that…….”
This was also a hunch.
That I shouldn’t tell the duke of my illness.
‘Somehow, it feels like an irreversible situation is about to unfold.’
And it could easily reach Vincent’s ears too.
In any case, it didn’t seem like there was much good that could come from this.
“Anyway, please keep it a secret from His Grace.”
I stated firmly, perhaps fearing that he might take it upon himself to spread news of my illness.
Lemon still wore a perplexed expression, but he nodded reluctantly.
“As long as you don’t reveal it first, I won’t have a reason to disclose it.”
“Thank you, still…”
I looked at Lemon and offered a gentle smile.
“With one more person to share the burden of my illness, I do feel a bit more at ease. I’ll be counting on you from now on.”
I extended my hand toward him.
Lemon stared at my hand for a moment before finally grasping it with his own.
Abruptly.
He reached out in an instant and grabbed my wrist.
Taken aback by his sudden action, I looked at him with a surprised expression before flinching.
“Don’t go…….”
Lemon’s light-yellow eyes were trembling harder than ever.
He muttered with a sullen expression.
“Where are you trying to run away?”
“Running away…….”
I was about to retort, but I noticed that his fingertips, gripping my wrist, were trembling ever so slightly.
“I’m not letting go.”
His usual gentle and affectionate demeanor had completely vanished, replaced by Lemon’s figure muttering in a gloomy tone.
While his change had been abrupt, I felt like I knew why he was acting this way.
“……I won’t run away.”
“…….”
“Because as much as you want me, I need you.”
Barely a clue.
That’s how I must look in Lemon’s eyes.
That’s why he was afraid.
He was afraid I might disappear and take the clue with me.
Seeing his obsession and madness firsthand sent shivers down my spine.
Well, that’s probably how he managed to grow the Rune Information Guild to this extent.
But desperation isn’t unique to Lemon alone.
‘I’m the same.’
I reversed the step I had taken back.
Lemon’s gaze rose from my feet to meet my eyes.
“Then answer now. Will you cooperate?”
“…… I will.”
His long fingers curled hard around my wrist, then slowly dropped away.
As if regaining his senses, he shook his head nervously.
“I’ve suffered a perfect defeat. Ah, the cruel butterfly of destiny.”
“Look at it positively. In a way, you’ve gained an ally too.”
“Quite the optimistic perspective.”
Lemon smiled as if acknowledging his defeat.
“So, then.”
His gaze turned icy cold for a moment.
“What is it you want to get out of me?”
“That…….”
“Before that.”
Just as I was about to reply, he added with a rueful smile.
“Unfortunately, I don’t know how to cure the flower magic disease.”
His words brought a bitter smile to my face.
Lemon seemed convinced that I would inquire about that information.
Well, it was a matter of life and death.
However, I shook my head.
“I’m not here to ask about that.”
“Then?”
I stared at him silently.
Lemon’s being here meant he had Cardien’s permission.
‘He’s probably already asked you to track down the heirloom.’
Unless it was something of that magnitude, Cardien wouldn’t allow the Guild Master of the Information Guild inside his mansion.
“There’s no need to risk exposing our dealings by duplicating the request and involving Cardien.”
In that case…
“I want information about the Ancient Temple.”
“The Ancient Temple?”
He seemed completely taken aback, asking with a puzzled expression.
I nodded my head.
If Cardien was searching for the heirloom, I was going to find Cardien’s erased past.
To do that, I needed to find out about those who wore robes bearing the symbol of the Ancient Temple.
Lemon spoke with a vague expression.
“It’s information from an ancient temple, I’ll try to find it, but I can’t promise much.”
“Please try. And one more thing.”
“……?”
“I want to find a book.”
“…… book?”
Once again, he looked perplexed.
“Yes, it’s a book I read at the Imperial Academy Library. I can’t recall the title, but I remember what the cover looked like.”
I quickly grabbed the paper and pen from the desk and started sketching as I remembered.
“It was an old book with a green leather cover and embossed gold lettering.”
Lemon said, clutching the paper in his arms.
“I’ll recognize it if I see it, but this is quite peculiar. You’re asking me to find a book, of all things.”
“There’s something I want to investigate.”
“Alright, now it’s your turn to answer. Clues?”
I stared at him and then slowly parted my lips.
“Holy power.”
“……?”
“The cause of your mother’s death, it was holy power.”
“……!”
Lemon’s eyes widened.
I stared at him in silence, watching his pupils widen.
Lemon’s mother had been a priestess of the temple.
She was a temple priestess serving alongside the high priestess herself. However, one day, she vanished without a trace.
Years later, her body was discovered by a nearby river.
Lemon was the product of an illicit relationship, living with his grandfather, his mother’s father.
Though they lived in poverty and didn’t know who his father was, his grandparents showered him with love.
After his mother’s disappearance, it was Lemon who found her lifeless body first.
‘But in the end, the cause of death was never determined.’
Furthermore, the temple had completely covered up Lemon’s mother’s death.
Therefore, Lemon established the Rune Information Guild himself, both to uncover his mother’s death and to build his own power.
However, despite his efforts, unveiling the concealed truth behind her death had proven to be no easy task.
“…..How can I trust if you’re not lying?”
Lemon pursed his lips.
I calmly looked at him and then parted my lips.
“Didn´t you notice anything unusual about the body?”
“……?”
“It wasn’t decomposed at all.”
“……! How did you even come to that conclusion?”
Lemon stared at me with a look of astonishment.
‘Because you revealed it.’
I explained with a tinge of bitterness.
“It’s a characteristic that appears when someone dies from holy power.”
Excessive holy power acts as a kind of preservative.
It took Lemon over ten years to uncover just this one fact.
“My first clue is this. Whether you believe it or not is your choice.”
“……What is your true identity, Livia Pellington?”
His voice trembled slightly.
There was even a hint of wonder in the lemon-colored eyes that met mine.
I felt unnecessarily embarrassed and said.
“I’m just an ordinary citizen who knows a little too much.”
Although he vehemently disagreed with his eyes, well, either way…
‘This has given me more advantages that I can utilize.’
It was too early to be confident, but somehow, I had a feeling this was going to work out.
* * *
Lemon said it would take three or four days to gather the information.
As we were leaving the library, Lemon turned to me.
“By the way, Miss Livia, are you going to keep this a secret?”
“What do you mean?”
“Your illness.”
“…….”
“The duke doesn’t know, does he?”
I nodded slightly.
Lemon’s expression showed concern.
“Can you really afford not to tell? Your illness is more dangerous than you think. How many symptoms have appeared so far?”
“Still the first one.”
“How long ago?”
“About a month ago…….”
Lemon seemed to have done a fair amount of research on the Flower Magic Disease, as he asked without hesitation.
“If it’s been a month, it’s getting risky.”
“…….The cycles are irregular.”
In response, Lemon spoke with an expression as if questioning the meaning of that.
“Though it’s true that the pattern is irregular, it takes around three weeks to a maximum of a month for the second symptom to appear after the first one. After that, it starts changing irregularly.”
He explained with a hint of frustration.
“It seems even the physicians aren’t well-informed about this rare disease.”
“…….”
He seemed to expect me to be taken aback.
However, I just looked at him calmly.
Lemon’s gaze, fixed on me, suddenly widened.
“Did you know? That there’s not much time left until the next symptom…”
“Well…”
I smiled quietly.
In truth, his words didn’t come as much of a shock when I heard them.
‘I might have sensed it vaguely.’
The recent feeling that my body was like a volcano, the constant worry about the next symptom – I might have subconsciously sensed that time was running out.
Hearing Lemon’s words only confirmed my suspicions.
‘I’m stuck.’
I can’t even take time off work without knowing the exact date.
As I pondered, Lemon spoke up.
“Are you not going to inform the duke? If you mention the disease, you might be able to secure his understanding.”
“That’s not possible.”
I shook my head.
He looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“Why? Is it because you’re afraid he might cast you out? I can prove that it’s not contagious.”
“It’s not that…….”
This was also a hunch.
That I shouldn’t tell the duke of my illness.
‘Somehow, it feels like an irreversible situation is about to unfold.’
And it could easily reach Vincent’s ears too.
In any case, it didn’t seem like there was much good that could come from this.
“Anyway, please keep it a secret from His Grace.”
I stated firmly, perhaps fearing that he might take it upon himself to spread news of my illness.
Lemon still wore a perplexed expression, but he nodded reluctantly.
“As long as you don’t reveal it first, I won’t have a reason to disclose it.”
“Thank you, still…”
I looked at Lemon and offered a gentle smile.
“With one more person to share the burden of my illness, I do feel a bit more at ease. I’ll be counting on you from now on.”
I extended my hand toward him.
Lemon stared at my hand for a moment before finally grasping it with his own.
