I Was a Substitute - Chapter 11

“That doesn’t seem to be the reason why you have fairy powers.”

 

“You’re more persistent than I thought.”

 

“I can’t stand to be bothered.”

 

Blush lifted his head lightly.

 

I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear and leaned back in my chair.

 

“Do you know the story about the fairies that come to live in your house if they like it?”

 

“It’s a famous story.”

 

“When I heard the story, fairy tears were the first thing that came to mind.”

 

“When it comes to fairy tears, it’s a tear necklace that comes down from generation to generation. Did they say there were hundreds of diamonds in it?”

 

“666 to be exact. It’s a 3,000 carat necklace.”

 

“That sounds expensive, even just by saying.”

 

“It is expensive. With the reputation of a heirloom handed down from generation to generation, you can’t even put a price on it. Because of that, instead of being a necklace, it’s an ornament.”

 

I closed my eyes for a moment and then opened.

 

I still remember the moment when I first saw the fairy tears for the first time.

 

As a young girl, I was transfixed by the necklace, even though I had no idea how amazing it was.

 

The necklace was made of small and large diamonds strung together, and it looked so beautiful to me.

 

I even dreamed of making a debut tang with fairy tears around my neck.

 

“So, what does your power have to do with fairy tears?”

 

“I knew what to do. I wrote a spell to call the fairies in front of the fairy tears.”

 

“So the real fairy was inhabiting the fairy’s tears?”

 

To my surprise, the fairy call was real, thanks to the fact that no one but me would dare make such an attempt on the fairy tears.

 

I lifted the edge of my mouth in an effort. I felt depressed when I brought it up.

 

“Where are the fairies now? Are they still there?”

 

“Yes, there was.”

 

“Was?”

 

“I made a stupid choice.”

 

I chuckle bitterly.

 

Considering my past, my future, the result was good.

 

In return for my choice, I had to lose a friend of many years, but thanks to it, my friend was not involved in the tragedy I experienced.

 

But sometimes I felt that way.

 

I wish I had made a different choice at that time.

 

“I know what you are thinking, but the power of the fairies does not help in battle.” I said.

 

“You defeated my knight, didn’t you?”

 

“If I had fought him properly, I would have lost.”

 

“You are being modest.”

 

“It’s true. From the beginning, your knight declared defeat to me because he was disappointed in himself for letting his guard down. He wasn’t even trying to kill me.”

 

Blush didn’t seem pleased with my answer.

 

I stared at him and took his hand in mine.

 

The man’s hand looked tough, and when I squeezed it, it was much harder than I expected.

 

If you close your eyes and touch it, you might be confused whether it was a stone or a human hand.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“I think it would be better if you see it with your own eyes.”

 

I quickly recited the spell before I even heard Blush’s answer.

 

Then, a vine grew on the carriage floor bound his wrists like handcuffs.

 

“Try to untie them.” I said.

 

His brows narrowed as his hands were bound.

 

The vine was hard, but his strength was enough to untie them without difficulty. However, he didn’t do it.

 

“Perhaps it’s good for the purpose of growing crops?”

 

“I can get a few flowers to bloom if I try hard enough.”

 

“Is that all?”

 

“As fast as they grow, they wither quickly. They don’t stay long.”

 

I touched the vine wrapped around Blush’s wrist with my  finger.

 

My fairy power was not long in effect.

 

The vine I had just called up would wither in a few moments.

 

“Unlike the grand name of ‘fairy power’, it looks like a child’s prank.”

 

Blush, who had been fumbling around with his bound wrists, gave a short review.

 

I nodded meekly.

 

“For the most part, fairies are like mischievous children. And so are their powers.”

 

“…”

 

“Are you disappointed?”

 

I smiled awkwardly, feeling embarrassed.

 

Blush didn’t even try to untie his bound wrists, but just stared at me.

 

“I think it’s more surprising than being disappointed.”

 

“Surprising?”

 

“I didn’t expect you’d be so honest with me.”

 

“I don’t want to exaggerate and get your hopes up. If expectations are high, disappointment is also high.”

 

“Isn’t it a business to sell rocks with good words to make people believe they are not rocks but precious stones?”

 

“It’s not a business, it’s a scam.”

 

“…”

 

“And I’m not a scammer, I’m your partner.”

 

I reached for Blush’s wrist again.

 

Even though he didn’t seem to care, I did.

 

I had no taste for keeping innocent people in bondage.

 

“There’s no rush, so take your time one thing at a time. It won’t cost any money to build trust with each other.”

 

I mumbled roughly and concentrated on untangling the vine.

 

The vine was tangled, but it wasn’t too difficult to untie it.

 

“I think You’ve given me enough expectations already.”

 

“Does it matter if it’s an expectation that can be met?”

 

“You don’t even seem to be worried about satisfying me.”

 

“How much do you expect from an unreliable partner?”

 

I raised my head involuntarily and  frowned reflexively at the gaze I encountered.

 

“We’re too close now, don’t you think?”

 

“How about it? We’re husband and wife.”

 

When I turned my gaze, which was busy searching for a marriage couple were often said to each other.

 

I stared up at Blush, swallowing the words I couldn’t bear to spit out. He wasn’t the only one curious about his opponent.

 

I was also curious about Blush.

 

“Most of the time, when I look at someone like this, the first thing they do is avert their eyes.”

 

“I need to see my opponent head on just in case.”

 

“Aren’t you my wife? It seems to me that you have more secrets than anyone else.”

 

“Of course, it’s a lie if I say I don’t have any secrets. Everyone lives with a secret or two in their hearts. But that’s all.”

 

“What do you mean by that?”

 

Blush’s eyes narrowed.

 

I turned to face him and smiled.

 

“It means that if you believe in me, I won’t betray you first.”

 

“People can say anything they want with words. But they are just words.”

 

“I won’t do that. If I did, I’d be just like everyone else I know.”

 

“…”

 

“Then what will happen if I betray you first?”

 

“I don’t know, I’ll be done for, I guess.”

 

For a moment, Blush’s eyes relaxed.

 

“I don’t think that’s what anyone would say if they came to see me with their lives on the line.”

 

“Cause I thought it was over.”

 

I was dead and back in the past.

 

Maybe I will get another chance like this next time.

 

But even though I had countless opportunities, this was the last one for me.

 

I was already completely exhausted even now. I had no confidence in my ability to endure.

 

Knowing this made me feel even more desperate, and wanted to try even harder.

 

Being on the edge of a cliff is dangerous, but at the same time there’s a way out.

 

***

 

“Have we already arrived at Mona Chareuteu? It’s faster than I thought.”

 

“No, not yet.”

 

“But, why is everyone getting off?”

 

“Because the horses can’t go anymore.”

 

Blush replied shortly and opened the carriage door.

 

The door was only slightly open, but I shivered at the sudden chill.

 

“Are you cold?”

 

“I think I can stand it.”

 

Blush’s eyes slowly scanned from my head and to my toes.

 

I felt awkward for no reason, so I quickly opened my mouth.

 

“It’s because I’m not used to the cold in the North yet. I’ll be fine once I get used to it.”

 

“We are not even on Mona Chareuteun land yet.”

 

“…… Does that mean it’s going to get colder in the future?”

 

Instead of replying, Blush took off the coat he was wearing and held it out to me.

 

“Take it.”

 

“You must be cold too.”

 

“I’m not cold.”

 

Blush said firmly and held out his coat to me again.

 

Unlike me, who was shaking more and more, Blush was the same as before, even with no coat on.

 

I hesitated and carefully reached for the coat.

 

“You’ll feel better if you wear it.”

 

“The coat is too wide and long and will drag on the ground, is that okay?”

 

“It’s fine. No one is as small as my wife anyway.”

 

Was that a complaint or a compliment?

 

I stared at Blush, wondering.

 

He didn’t have much of an expression on his face, and it seemed to be a complaint.

 

I was also a reasonably large person in the capital, but he was bigger so I couldn’t compare.

 

“It’s going to be cold now, do you plan to wear it?”

 

“Yes, I will wear it.”

 

Now was not the time to show pride.

 

If I catch a cold even before I arrive in Mona Chareuteu, I’ll be the only one who loses.

 

“I hurriedly put on the coat.”

 

As expected, the coat was dragging on the floor, but it was still warmer than before.

 

The coat still had the warmth of its original owner.