If Only I Could Disappear - Chapter 19

“What do you think you’re doing!”

The usual warmth has completely vanished from the low and friendly voice. In the face of such cold yet unshakable anger, Sotis, as well as the Duke of Marigold, flinched and stepped back.

The duke’s wrist was caught in a surprisingly strong grip, and he was shoved away from Sotis. Her weak body fell backwards and a firm arm moved to wrap itself around her shoulder.

“……L, lord wizard, what brings you to the Empress’ Palace……”

“I asked you, what do you think you’re doing!”

Anger was evidently burning within Lehman’s amber eyes. His usual composure vanished without a trace and he looked so resolute and frigid that he seemed like a completely different person.

“Didn’t you bring me to the empress’ palace not long after my arrival in Mendez because all the prominent doctors in the empire you’ve requested were to no avail? I thought that you had cared greatly about Her Majesty the Empress. I was moved by that affection of yours, and took a look at Her Majesty the Empress, and even after she’d awakened, I would gladly take care of her soul, but what kind of aggressive words and actions are you displaying right now?”

After coming to her senses belatedly, Sotis stammered.

“Leh—Lehman, I…”

“Lady Sotis didn’t do anything wrong, so please remain still.”

“…….”

“The state of Lady Sotis’ soul is very unstable at present, and her soul and body have yet to fuse fully. The Beatum royal family doesn’t consider this as a simple incident, but an event that could leave a mark in the history of soul magic, and have thus ordered me to study it in depth. In other words, depending on how things progress, Lady Sotis might be invited to the kingdom as a distinguished guest. Even if that didn’t occur, as the master of the magic tower, I might also extend a personal invitation to Lady Sotis.”

At the words Sotis was hearing for the first time, she forgot her bewilderment and blinked.

Beatum, a southern kingdom that was exclusive towards foreigners. Many aristocrats longed to enter there. It was because they would want for nothing if they had outstanding wizards backing them. As such, none in even this Imperial family dared to treat Lehman Periwinkle, who wasn’t even a royal, recklessly

The Duke of Marigold, who wasn’t unaware of the fact, just looked upwards at Lehman with his mouth agape. The thought of a huge opportunity vanishing right before his eyes made him feel like he had suffered a hit on the back of his head.

“However, if I report to His Highness the King of Beatum that the Duke treats his daughter so thoughtlessly…”

“N—no, no, no!”

The Duke of Marigold cried hurriedly.

“I—I was so surprised that I made a momentary slip of the tongue. Indeed. Sotis, I’m sorry. Won’t you forgive this father, who didn’t have the time to think…I’m just, I was just too worried about you…”

Sotis’ head was still bowed, tears dripping down her face. The many words that her father had flung out seemed to pile up at her feet into mountains.

Soon, she spoke in an extinguishing voice.

“It’s…alright.”

Lehman’s arm around her shoulders tightened so that she wouldn’t stagger, and spoke in an ironclad voice.

“Lady Sotis’ soul seems quite uneasy, so why don’t the duke return later after he pulls himself together?”

Although he issued the notice to leave despite not being the owner of the empress’ palace, the Duke of Marigold just nodded repeatedly without saying anything and left.

The other party was the owner of the Periwinkle Magic Tower. The most prestigious magic tower in Beatum, the sole disciple of the Great Wizard, who was called the Spiritual Guide. Even the King of Beatum would choose to remain silent in Lehman Periwinkle’s presence, and even a carriage full of jewels was unable to obtain all of his knowledge.

In addition, those spiritual eyes. It would wear the tongue out to explain how valuable those spiritual eyes, which could directly examine a person’s soul, were.

Sotis just stood still like she was rooted to the spot until the duke had left the empress’ palace completely. Truthfully, she was doing everything she could to not collapse to the ground.

Both her body and mind seemed to have left Sotis’ control. Her tears flowed like all the moisture from her body was being squeezed out, and every breath she took was pained. Thoughts couldn’t surface in her mind, which was bleached white, and she couldn’t do anything other than let out shallow exhales when she opened her mouth.

“Lady Sotis.”

Lehman’s arm, which was attached to her side, loosened. He quickly moved in front of Sotis, bent down, and looked into her water-coloured eyes.

Sotis couldn’t give him any response. When she started to tilt forward, Lehman quickly knelt down on a knee and supported her by her shoulders gently with both hands.

“You must have been quite startled. I’m sorry to intervene like this without giving you any prior warning. I’m really sorry that I touched you carelessly. If Lady Sotis is still uncomfortable, I’ll remove them right away, but you look so uneasy…”

“……”

So it truly was the guy that she’d been meeting all this while. As though she had mistaken the previous conversation, his words and actions were only ever amicable and cautious.

“Lady Sotis.”

“……”

“It’s alright. Please take your time and breathe first. Alright?”

“……Heok.”

His face, which had barely managed to enter her vision, kept turning blurry. Sotis nodded slowly as tears rolled down her cheeks. Her skinny body almost collapsed a few times, but each time Lehman supported her by her shoulders.

Her body and mind that kept quivering helplessly slowly subsided. He just waited for her without saying anything. It was as though it didn’t matter if an hour or ten hours passed.

Soon, she spoke in a thick voice.

“……What brings you here? Lord wizard.”

“The Duke’s momentum was unusual, so I followed him.”

“You have been, monitoring my father?”

“Didn’t you mention it before the other day? The Duke is afraid that he will exist only in name in the political scene with Lady Sotis’ disappearance. Although I was hoping that it wouldn’t be the case, but… When the divorce was being announced, his expression changed…”

“……Ah.”

So he still remembered that. Sotis murmured, rolling and hiding her bruised lips.

“By the way… About the research for Beatum.”

The talk about the Beatum royal family, which caused the Duke of Marigold to hesitate, was something that Lehman definitely wouldn’t have spoken about. He wouldn’t flaunt his achievements unless it was time to introduce himself, and he was someone that would choose his words carefully, especially when it concerns the involvement of the Beatum royal family.

Lehman replied awkwardly.

“That was a lie.”

She was so surprised that her tears stopped. Astonished, Sotis spoke.

“What do you mean, it was a lie?”

“……I was so angry when I saw him raising his hand towards Lady Sotis that I gave a random excuse. 24 hours a day wouldn’t be enough for me to finish reading those ancient texts, so when would I have the time to send a report to Beatum?”

“……”

“T—that doesn’t mean it’s groundless. The academic world would be turned upside down if the fact that the soul of a living has separated and returned to their body is known. If I said that I’d like to conduct research on that, Beatum would support me unconditionally. It wouldn’t be odd for Lady Sotis to be invited to Beatum as a distinguished guest. It’s just…”

Lehman slowly retracted his hand after confirming that Sotis had a firm foothold.

“That’s for my sake, and not for Lady Sotis’ sake. I don’t want to turn your tragedy into a mere topic to research about.”

“That’s…”

“Didn’t I tell you that I’m on your side, Lady Sotis?”

Lehman smiled bashfully, took a handkerchief out and passed it to Sotis. That handkerchief was warm, hot even, and when she kept feeling dazed the entire time she rubbed her cheek with it.

“No matter what happens. Unyielding to any crisis, sadness, or problem. At every moment. For no reason in particular… At least I won’t make you cry.”

A man that uses his entire body to prove the sincerity of his words. Others would find those feelings stupidly honest.

“It’s still cold even though spring is here, Lady Sotis. It’s best if you head inside. Can you walk? If it isn’t discourteous of me, I can help you…….”

“Pfft, ahaha.”

Sotis folded Lehman’s handkerchief in half and wiped the area around her eyes dry, and finally laughed.

Would anyone believe it? The fact that this was the same man that just flew into a rage at the Duke of Marigold. The fact that this person, who acted like that had never happened, and only anxiously cared about Sotis’s mood, was Beatum’s leading talent and has promise as the future Great Wizard.

“Lady Sotis…?”

“I’m fine.”

For the first time, Lehman Periwinkle’s entire face was clearly captured in her line of sight.

The drooping eyebrows looked sorrowful, and the slightly wavering amber eyes felt nervous and anxious.

“I really, really wanted to disappear just now, but…”

Sotis spoke clearly.

“I’m fine, thanks to you.”

Just like the time when he led her towards life.

“I see.”

Her voice was as bright as the sun after a shower, and Lehman gave a relieved smile. As though it had went well, he swept his chest and let out a deep sigh,

“If the duke threatens you like that next time…”

“If he threatens me again?”

He couldn’t bear to ask if he could guard this place every day. The dithering Lehman replied in a voice lacking in confidence.

“……Please inform me.”

At that, Sotis burst into laughter again.

The sound of her laughter was clear, as though she had never cried. It seemed to be his first time seeing her smile like that. It was a soft sound, like round, clear and flawless crystal beads were being poured out.

Even though a side of her face was swollen after being slapped, Sotis’ face was still bright and beautiful. There wasn’t any place that wasn’t beautiful and soft, that he felt sorry that a hand was impudently raised against it.

When her eyes, which were as blue as the evening sky in early summer, contained Lehman, his heart began to pound like it was out of his control. To the point where he thought that he was unbelievably lucky to be invited to Mendez, to the point where he wanted to believe that obtaining the spiritual eyes and becoming an honourable wizard was all a part of an inconceivable fate to meet her.

Every breath and word of hers, were as precious as jewels.

“Let’s go in together.”

The suggestion was as sweet as cotton candy, and would completely melt when placed in water.

“It makes me a little ill at ease to thank you with just a few words. I still have some of the tea that you gave me previously, so let’s have a cup of it together. I’ll tell the maids to serve us some refreshments. I’d like to spend some time receiving the lord wizard with hospitality, and it’d be great if some of your concern for me could be reduced, right?”

“You’re clearly aware that I would never refuse, and yet you’re still asking me?”

“Well.”

Sotis took a step back from Lehman.

The wind blew from the south, making her white skirt billow like waves, and her light purple hair fluttered.

“Are you coming in?”

Lehman responded to her request with a bright smile.

“It would be an honour.”

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