# 38
38
There come moments in life when time seems to stop, moments that expand an entire eternity in a single flash.
For Hugo Bernstein, this was precisely that moment.
“What…?”
For the first time, he felt like his thinking wasn't working as it should.
Her trembling eyelashes, her wandering gaze that did not settle on anything, her body that slowly leaned towards him, and her clenched fists... all of this entered his field of vision at once.
Why was she getting close?
He didn't know why, but he realized one thing with terrifying clarity—
He, too, was approaching her unconsciously.
Clap!–
A sharp voice suddenly rang out, interrupting the moment between them.
“…!”
Angelica jerked first, and hurriedly moved her body back.
As she lost her balance, Hugo immediately reached out his hand and held her tightly, preventing her from falling.
“Are you okay?”
"Yes! Yes, I'm fine!"
Her neck turned red as she quickly looked away from him.
“What were you doing...?”
She almost mumbled it, then swallowed her words before coming out.
And suddenly—
“Oh?”
A third person appeared on the scene, with confident steps and a familiar voice.
He was wearing a cloak, but that sluggish, cunning aura was unmistakable.
“Is this time for a private meeting?”
“His Majesty the Emperor...”
“Cain?”
The two words came out at the same time, one with astonishment, the other with obvious annoyance.
The man smiled widely, then took off his cloak carelessly as he said:
“Oh, come on, no need for all this. I had to sneak a little while to come.”
"Without warning? And why here?"
"Do we need to have appointments between us? Then... didn't I tell you a few days ago, Hugo?"
Hugo furrowed his eyebrows sharply, as if demanding an explanation.
"What did you say?"
“I will send one of my senior magicians to the duchy.”
He paused, then stroked his chest with his thumb, smiling proudly.
“Who else is fit for this role?”
“Wow...”
Angelica looked at him in genuine amazement.
This amount of self-confidence... but also narcissism.
‘Even is not that far.’
“Welcome, Madam...or should I say, Duchess Bernstein?”
"Hello."
She answered immediately, even if she wanted to object, the speaker was an emperor.
Hugo noticed her smooth reaction, and the frown on his face faded little by little.
As he looked at the scene with curiosity, the Emperor continued with a sly smile:
“It seems that you two have been training in horsemanship? And are you planning to participate in the next hunt together?”
“Yes...this is my first time.”
Angelica said hesitantly.
"Okay! Since you're going with him, why don't you learn swordsmanship as well?"
He winked at her lightly.
“Usually, learning the sword brings people together a lot.”
He didn't miss the twinkle in her eyes.
“Right...”
The idea of training with Hugo, sharing the same space with him, the same rhythm… seemed more tempting than she expected.
“Maybe...”
But before you continue—
“Nonsense.”
The voice was cold and decisive, carrying an unmistakable weight.
She turned slowly.
Hugo had dismounted, his voice unable to argue.
“Angelica is not Cyril.”
There was a heavy silence.
He took a step forward, his tone uncompromising.
“And it won't be.”
A dense stillness prevailed around the place, as if the air itself had frozen.
Angelica slowly raised her head, meeting his dark gaze.
Their gazes met for a long moment.
At that moment, there were not enough words to describe what I felt.
Just...her heart, which beat with an unfamiliar force, as if it finally realized that these words were not directed at anyone else.
Angelica wiped away the sparkle that was shining in her eyes as if she were waking up from a short dream.
For some reason, it felt like a long line had been drawn between him and her.
A line she can't cross no matter how hard she tries.
‘No matter what I do... I will never be Cyril Rose. '
She suddenly remembered that, as if the truth had slapped her in the face.
How could she forget?
How did she allow herself to dream?
“Angelica.”
Upon hearing his voice, she lowered her gaze to his hand extended in front of her.
When he caught her, his other hand went around her waist, and he gently lowered her to the ground.
The warmth she had become accustomed to only moments ago now seemed strange… distant.
As soon as her feet touched the ground, she involuntarily took a step away from him.
His gaze fell on her, but she deliberately turned away and looked at Kane instead.
"Hmm, we can't waste any more time. It's time to study magic, isn't it, Lady Angelica?"
Fortunately, instead of letting his words inflame the atmosphere between her and Hugo, he grabbed her and pulled her to his side.
Hugo's features immediately hardened, like a monster who had what he owned taken from him.
Cain let out a soft sound as he stepped forward to stand between them.
“From now on, it's time for wizards, Your Highness.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means time that doesn't belong to you. You don't have to know.”
He said coldly, then turned with steady steps towards the palace.
Angelica hesitated for a moment before following him, noticing with a sideways glance that Hugo was behind her... but she deliberately did not turn around.
‘Angelica is not Cyril.’
An idea he mentioned to her, intentionally or unintentionally, made him—even if just a little—hated in her eyes.
❈❈❈
"Ma'am, take Hugo's words with some clarity. His nature is sharp even when he's worried."
Cain said as he placed the magic books he brought on the Duke's desk.
But Angelica seemed lost, as if she hadn't heard anything.
In the end, he does not know the most important truth of all.
“His Majesty…doesn’t know.”
He doesn't know that he is still in love with Cyril Rose.
If he had known, he wouldn't have said anything about being anxious or anxious.
'He was obviously upset that the talent of his loved one seemed to be diminished because of me.'
However...did he really have to draw such a clear line between them, as if they were from two different worlds?
Angelica sighed deeply, then started hitting the front of her shoe on the ground in distress.
Cain let out a short gasp.
“Madam, I am the person who knows Hugo Bernstein best in this world.”
“That doesn't mean you know everything about him.”
“I know most things.”
“There is a very large distance between ‘most’ and ‘all’.”
“That's because—”
“See? Your Majesty knows nothing.”
Even worse… she couldn't even tell anyone.
The burden she carries alone is too heavy to bear.
She sighed heavily and shook her head.
But there's no time to waste. If she wants to understand what she sees in her dreams, she must learn.
“So what do I don’t know?”
She asked him, ignoring the distressed look in his eyes.
“Magic. It is said that the Eye of the Sage is capable of all things... so can I?”
“The Emperor’s speech is not always taken seriously… Ah, well.”
Cain sighed and then nodded, as if giving up.
“If it's out of scientific curiosity, that's fine.”
Take a step back and then continue:
“According to the manuscripts, once a person can sense mana, he or she can directly reach the sixth level of magic. A truly rare talent.”
Most magicians spend their entire lives reaching that stage.
As for the seventh category... it is reserved for geniuses who are born once every hundred years.
“What about His Majesty?”
she asked, even though she already knew the answer.
A long time has passed since then, and its level may have risen further.
‘He is… the male hero of the story, after all.’
Cain smiled slightly, puffing out his chest proudly.
“Well, let's just say my abilities don't disappoint.”
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