# 38
Helen tilted her head.
[Mom?]
Shivalin imitated a puzzled expression.
“Winter...”
Helen gently patted Shivalin's back and repeated the name in her mouth. Then someone came to mind, and Helen froze.
"Could it be Winter Rendel? How is that possible…?"
Confused, Helen hurriedly took the letter and tore it up.
[ Dear Princess Helen,
It's been almost eight years, so it's been a long time already.
There is much I would like to say to Her Highness, or rather, things I should say.
How are you? You may be surprised to receive a message from someone you thought was dead.
I will visit Hestor Castle tomorrow for your daughter's psychiatric treatment.
I will explain more personally.
-Winter]
After reading the letter carefully, Helen was speechless and couldn't hide her shock. It was him already
– Winter Rendell, the person she almost married.
“Your Highness, what is the matter?”
Elisha asked with a worried look. Helen took a deep, slow breath, and could barely answer.
“…Winter Rendell is alive.”
“If you mean Prince Rendel, wasn't he the one you were engaged to?”
“Yes, that's true. But he died suddenly, and the engagement was broken off.”
But now he is alive; Helen felt relieved and confused at the same time, her mind engulfed in a whirlpool of conflicting emotions.
At the time, there was great controversy surrounding his death because Rendell's family did not hold a funeral for him.
It seemed strange, but she put it down to illness and moved on, especially since she didn't have any romantic feelings for Winter.
“It was the court physician who diagnosed Scheveline with selective mutism.”
Perhaps this was the reason why Winter was unable to come to the Empire.
'He must have loved children and was naturally kind-hearted.'
The news of his study of child psychology brought a slight smile to her face.
“I must inform the Duke of Winter Rendel’s arrival.”
Although there is no relationship between her and him, misunderstandings may arise.
“Elisha, after breakfast, we have to meet the Duke. Please get ready.”
Elisha, who was watching Helen, showed slight annoyance on her face.
“Her Highness.”
"Yes?"
“I don't think it's appropriate for you to wear your hair up today.”
Helen followed Elisha's gaze to the mirror, noticing the red marks Aachen had left from the night before.
“...You're right.”
Helen answered quietly, rubbing the spot.
Meanwhile, Aachen arrived at the western magic tower of the Rikuir Empire Palace.
After spending the morning in the library, he had not yet solved the puzzle of the necklace.
He came to ask the great magician, who had studied gems all his life.
"Your Highness the Grand Duke! You have arrived! I have been waiting for you!"
Gott rushed downstairs as soon as the visit request was made, as if he had been expecting it.
“I expected it again. I have repeatedly asked you not to look into anything that concerns me,”
Aachen said, raising a defensive barrier around him to block Gott's enthusiastic greeting.
“No matter how much Your Highness hates it, I can only see the future if I get within a certain distance.”
Gott defended himself, looking disappointed after being blocked by the barrier.
“A great wizard is acting in such a reckless manner.”
Aachen frowned.
“Those words hurt, you know.”
“Hurtful?”
“In the first place, I only became a great wizard because you imposed this task on me.”
Gott laughed slyly, implying that he had not forgotten the incident.
“…I didn’t have free time to manage the Magic Tower either.”
“Ha ha, just admit it was a burden.”
Ignoring Gott's correct guess, Aachen changed the subject.
“We don't have time to chat.”
“Then let's go to my lab.”
Gott was uncomfortable talking to him at length, because he could read people's minds.
Aachen resolved to discuss only necessary matters, and urged Gott to press on.
“…”
Gott's laboratory was as dirty and dark as ever.
Magic chemicals were scattered on the ground, and magic scrolls were floating in the air.
The windows were tightly covered with curtains, so no sunlight could enter.
"Don't judge me like that. I cleaned this place not long ago," Gott said as he slumped on the sofa.
“I heard that you have married the Fourth Princess of Bestine. How is the Duchess?”
"Don't pry. Don't try to find out. Even if you see the future, don't look at it."
Gott muttered, displeased by Aachen's firm tone.
“What's the harm in sharing a little...”
Aachen did not want to touch anything in the dusty room, so he remained standing and took out the necklace he had brought.
“There seems to be something off about this necklace.”
“It looks precious. It's a rare gem.”
Gott, who was usually fascinated by shiny things, quickly assessed their value.
“…It's not an ordinary jewel. When I wear it, I can't read people's minds. Why?”
Aachen did not take Gott's casual stance seriously, and moved straight to the point.
“Can you lend me the necklace for a moment?”
“…….”
“Do you think I'll steal it and sell it secretly? I don't want to die.”
Reluctantly, Aachen placed the necklace in Gott's palm. After examining the jewel for a while, Gut spoke.
“It's a gem that blocks magic. To understand why, I'll need to break it.”
Quickly, Aachen retrieved the necklace at the mention of breaking it.
"There's no need to go that far. So, the magic doesn't work, and I can't read minds, right?"
"Yes. Mind reading is a kind of magic too."
Even knowing the properties of the necklace did not change Achen's ideas about the person wearing it.
Maybe meeting her that day while wearing the necklace was fate. But what piqued Aachen's curiosity was that there was something blocking the magic.
“Have you ever seen anything like this before?”
"Ha ha, if I had seen it, I would have kept it and sold it for a high price. Actually owning it... wait. Could this be Amphitrite's pendant?"
Gott's eyes sparkled as he approached the necklace.
“Amphitrite?”
“Now I understand! The pendant contains mermaid power, and it blocks magic.”
Gut's mouth dropped open in surprise.
"Yes. But how did you get it? It's only supposed to be passed down among the descendants of Amphitrite... Did you steal it?!"
Aachen was annoyed by Gott's ridiculous accusation, and replied in a low voice:
“Do you think I'm like you?”
“…Anyone who is not a descendant of Amphitrite and possesses this will be cursed and live a short life.”
“Surprisingly, I am still alive and well.”
Aachen laughed mockingly at Gott's ominous words.
"Of course, there are exceptions. If you are related to one of Amphitrite's descendants, the curse will be broken."
“How does one relate?”
“Amphitrite’s offspring naturally bond with their mate.”
“So, the bond was formed that day. Does that mean I’m the descendant’s partner…?”
This unexpected information made Aachen blush.
“Your Highness, why are you looking at me like that…? It’s worrying.”
Gott looked horrified as Aachen's expression changed.
Aachen's face turned serious.
“…After thinking, I think it might work.”
“…….”
“You are, after all, the second richest person in the empire, after His Majesty.”
Gott changed his tone and began to compliment Aachen.
“And you have high authority, too.”
Aachen did not answer, and moved to leave the laboratory with the necklace.
“Return that necklace to its rightful owner as soon as possible. Even if you are related to it, it is still dangerous.”
Gott's voice dropped as he issued a warning.
“I thought the curse of short life didn’t apply to those in relationships?”
“That's another matter; you'd better not read the thoughts of your mate who is attached to you.”
Aachen had hoped she would remember on her own, but giving her the necklace seemed like he was revealing the truth himself.
He didn't like being forced to relive that memory.
“If you ignore my advice and keep the necklace, you will regret it very much.”
It was rare for Gott to speak so seriously about something he had predicted.
“...I'll keep that in mind.”
Aachen took a deep breath, feeling nervous.
“And stop pretending to be indifferent to hide your jealousy. You will only make yourself sick.”
“…Why should I be jealous when she’s already mine?”
It was a lie. He was struggling to hide his jealousy even during the party.
‘I must ensure that Marquis Ratta cannot come to Belzeit.’
Gott laughed and pushed up his monocle.
“Ha ha, are you sure about that?”
"What do you mean?"
“I expect there will soon come a time when His Highness the Grand Duke will become jealous of the redhead.”