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TN: Although I like characters who are brave, without communications and clarity for their actions, I feel like something is missing. Since Serina showed up, Ardion should be somewhere the Palace. Right??
Chapter 88
I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. Somehow, the dream I had felt more like reality. Rowell’s habits and expressions were still vivid in my mind.
Ventu scanned the paper for a moment and then asked me, “Did His Highness use mana on your body, Laila?”
I thought for a moment before nodding. “Yes, he used it on my ankle.”
“Then it’s likely that the magical drug hidden in your body was revealed because of His Highness’s mana. Sometimes, when mana conflicts, certain parts become more obvious.”
“Then, how do we remove it?” I hurriedly asked.
Ventu’s face stiffened. For some reason, I felt more uneasy.
“Unfortunately, we won’t be able to remove it for a while.”
“Why?”
“We don’t know exactly how to remove magical drugs yet.”
“Would Ardion know how to remove it?”
“Hm, I don’t think His Highness knows either. Moreover, if we forcefully try to remove it using mana, it will only harm your body more.”
“…”
“Right now, your mana is barely stable. If we disturb it further, you might have to live with unstable mana for the rest of your life.”
When I heard that, my heart sank. Was I supposed to live with the magical drug planted by Rowell forever?
Noticing my troubled expression, Ventu said cautiously, “However, there is some good news.”
“What is it?”
Ventu gave me a brief bow, then opened the door and looked around. After making sure no one was nearby, she carefully closed the door again and whispered to me, “I heard that everyone connected to the emperor’s poisoning incident has been declared innocent.”
“Innocent?”
“Yes, the crown prince has decided to pardon those in prison as part of his coronation celebration.”
“So, does that mean I’m innocent as well?”
Ventu nodded. “Suddenly, the palace is claiming that the mana analysis was wrong, and now there’s a commotion among the citizens.”
“I haven’t heard anything from Ardion about this…”
“Oh, I didn’t find this out until I entered the room either. It seems His Highness has been working on this quite a bit.”
Hearing that, I remembered something Serina had said earlier: “… Ardion promised to give up everything and fully offer his mana at the coronation.”
Could it be that he had made a promise to drain all his mana in exchange for everyone involved in the poisoning incident to be pardoned? For some reason, I had a bad feeling about this. Moreover, Ardion hadn’t shared any of this with me.
Ventu spoke again. “Are you okay, Laila? Your complexion doesn’t look too good.”
I forced a smile and shook my head. “I’m fine.”
As I said that, I glanced down at my ankle. I still felt a slight weight, as if Ardion had tightly bound my ankle with his mana.
He was really going to great lengths for me.
I looked up and met Ventu’s eyes. “Earlier, you mentioned that when mana conflicts, certain parts become more obvious. What exactly does that mean?”
“Oh, it’s nothing major. When mana conflicts, the affected part becomes stronger if you use mana there. But this only works if the mana has compatible attributes. If you try to use it for an attack, it won’t work at all.”
“So, when mana with matching attributes collides, its power increases. But if it’s used for an attack, it doesn’t work?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Then how should mana be used? I’ve never thought about using it like that since I’ve always used it for offense.”
“Well, I don’t often use it this way. But sometimes, it’s said that if you think of using mana like putting together a puzzle, it works.”
The idea of using mana like solving a puzzle… It was an approach I’d never thought of before. I had always used mana to suppress others.
At that moment, Ventu looked at me carefully. “Is there anything else you need, or do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Then I’ll leave. His Highness has been quite sensitive lately, so it’s not good to stay here for too long.”
“Why?”
“I think he’s worried that people might spread bad rumors or gossip outside.”
“… Has my reputation gotten that bad?”
Ventu smiled awkwardly. “I’m sorry, Laila.”
She looked at me with a somewhat troubled expression, clearly hesitant to say more.
I stayed silent.
Ventu added, “Well, I’ll leave now.”
She gave me a small bow and left the room. I stared at the closed door for a while. Then I felt a warm touch on my arm. I looked down and saw Derol gazing up at me.
Resolving myself, I made up my mind and said, “Derol, I think I need to go outside.”
“But isn’t it dangerous right now?”
“No, now that I’ve been pardoned, no one will try to capture me.”
“But Master, it still might be too risky outside. I’m worried about your health.”
“I can’t just sit here and do nothing. And what Serina said in my dream bothers me. She mentioned kidnapping me and luring Ardion…”
Of course, that might not be true, but I couldn’t just sit here idly. Moreover, the people here weren’t telling me anything about what was going on, making me frustrated. I moved around the room a bit. I felt a slight headache, but otherwise, my body was fine.
Anyway, I had to tell Ardion about what I had unconsciously seen in my dream. Lately, he returned late at night but left early in the morning, leaving no time for us to talk. No, even when I tried to talk, he strangely blocked me, as if he only wanted to hear certain things.
I looked down at my ankle. Each step still carried a subtle weight. Ardion’s mana was still active in it. I stared at my ankle and focused. I thought of solving it like a puzzle and slowly opened my hand to grasp my ankle. But no matter how much I concentrated, the weight didn’t lighten. I let out a deep sigh.
Derol rushed over. “Master, what are you doing?”
“I want to remove the mana from my ankle.”
Derol grabbed my ankle with his small hands. “I’ll help you, Master.”
I smiled at him briefly before returning my focus. A puzzle… I kept thinking about it. I focused entirely on it. Moisture slowly seeped into my palm and wrapped around my ankle. I closed my eyes and focused my mind on the mana.
I held my ankle for a long time, but the weight still lingered.
“Why isn’t it working?” I sighed heavily.
Derol said, “Master, how about thinking about the feeling when Ardion’s mana combines with yours?”
“Hmm, that feeling…”
The first thing that came to mind was kissing Ardion. It felt strange, but there was a certain logic to Derol’s suggestion, so I closed my eyes again. I wrapped my hand around my ankle and imagined kissing Ardion. I saw him in my mind. As soon as he appeared, he smiled and kissed my lips. As I imagined that, I felt the moisture on my ankle, and then suddenly my hand grew cold.
I opened my eyes in surprise. When I moved my ankle, it felt much lighter than before.
“Derol, it worked!” I smiled widely.
Derol ran over to me. “Then, Master, do you think you can climb out the window?”
I stood up from the bed, moved to the window, opened it, and carefully extended my foot out. In the past, my ankle would have been too heavy, and I wouldn’t have been able to step outside.
But now, my foot moved freely.
“I think I can go now.”
I quickly stepped away from the window and looked around. I was on the third floor and noticed unfamiliar people approaching the garden. The usual garden workers were nowhere to be seen.
Where did everyone go?
I had a bad feeling and quickly turned to Derol. “Derol, is there any way out?”
He pointed up at the ceiling. The vent was above the bed.
“Master, we can exit through that vent. I’ve explored it before when I was bored, and it’s big enough for you to fit through.”
“Thank you, Derol.”
I quickly placed the side table and a chair on the bed. Fortunately, if I climbed carefully, I could reach the vent.
“Master, I'll go up first.”
At that moment, a thud sounded. I had an ominous feeling.
“Derol, I’ll put my hand on it. You go up first.”
Derol hurriedly climbed onto my hand. I carefully climbed up to the vent and reached out. He quickly followed my hand and went into the gap. Afterwards, I stepped on the side table with one foot, climbed onto the chair, and reached out towards the vent.
“Is this it?”
“Yes, that’s what I checked.”
At that moment, I heard a clanking sound. I turned around in surprise, but the door hadn’t opened yet. I quickly placed my hand on the chair and stepped on it. However, I misplaced my foot, and my hand slipped.
“Master!”
The door shook violently. It was clear people were trying to enter. Without hesitation, I climbed back up onto the side table and jumped up. For a moment, my ankles felt as though they were going to fall off, but I was barely able to get into the exhaust vent.
As I heard the door open, I quickly slid inside.
I made a mistake: the side table and chair had fallen over next to the bed.
“No one is here.”
“No one? She’s certainly here!”
It was a familiar voice. I lowered my head slightly and saw Serina looking around. I quickly crawled away.