𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒𝟎
“It’s okay. Magic doesn’t work on Mabel.”
“Why is that?”
“I’ll tell you after this is over.”
With that, Mutabilis raised his right hand high. As he moved his hand horizontally, waves of white lightning ran through the air.
They fell one after another onto the town below, followed by the soldiers’ screams. Eugene had been glaring at Mutabilis for a while, but now he also extended his gloved hand and lifted the fallen debris and injured soldiers of the Eakes Kingdom.
Mutabilis made the soldiers faint one after the other, and Eugene sent them flying far away to Wiski. Mabel simply stared in astonishment as these supernatural phenomena unfolded before her eyes.
‘So this is the power of a mage…’
At the same time, she noticed that the destroyed walls and shattered windows were being restored.
The soldiers of the Eakes Kingdom who had been fighting in the courtyard watched in wonder as the Wiski soldiers collapsed before their eyes and flew away.
Before long, the enemy’s presence disappeared from within the Eakes Kingdom castle.
The buildings that were supposed to be destroyed were almost completely rebuilt. The broken national flag was raised again at the top of the castle. After confirming that everything had returned to normal, Eugene and Mutabilis slowly lowered their hands.
Finally, the two approached Mabel, who was speechless.
“…”
Mabel, with her eyes wide open, looked at Eugene.
He tilted his head as if asking what was wrong.
“Th-thank you…”
Unable to contain herself, Mabel hugged Eugene.
Taken aback by the sudden gesture, Eugene stiffened. His hands, which had been gracefully conducting earlier, now hovered in the air, unsure of where to go. Mutabilis smirked and lowered his eyelashes.
“Thank you. Thanks to you…the Eakes Kingdom and everyone…was saved.”
It was then that Mabel finally realized she was crying.
Perhaps it was because she had been holding up a facade since her abduction, or because she felt guilty for bringing the enemy into the kingdom. All the pent-up emotions were finally released.
Even if she tried to stop, there was no sign of it subsiding.
Eugene seemed to understand and gently stroked Mabel’s back.
Eventually, with a hint of fear, he cautiously embraced her. It was as if he was handling fragile goods.
“It’s actually me who should apologize. I’m sorry,” he said.
“Why are you apologizing…?”
“I couldn’t read the letter you gave me. I thought you ran away because of what I said…I was scared to open it, afraid of what it might say.”
As soon as Eugene expressed his feelings, Mabel disappeared.
After a while, he received a letter from her, but Eugene couldn’t bring himself to open it.
If it was a farewell letter for good, If it was something that would condemn him as a mage, something terrifying, no matter what was written inside, he couldn’t forget about Mabel. He made up his mind and opened the envelope, prepared for the truth.
Inside was a sincere apology from her.
She apologized for deceiving him, for pretending to be someone else.
Upon reading it, Eugene deeply regretted his actions.
“I blamed you without knowing anything. I was a fool for not seeing for myself.”
He might not be forgiven even if he apologized.
But he had to convey his feelings, so he immediately headed to the royal castle of the Eakes Kingdom. It was there that he finally learned about Mabel’s abduction.
“If I had read it earlier, I wouldn’t have put you through such a terrifying experience…”
“No, it’s okay. I’m the one who lied, I’m sorry.”
Mabel’s eyes filled with tears again, and she quietly closed her eyelids.
Seeing this, Eugene pulled Mabel closer. At that moment, the door to the rooftop swung open loudly.
“Mabel! Are you okay?”
There stood the eldest daughter, Gertrude, armed and shouting with the bravery of a soldier.
As a result, Eugene and Mabel quickly separated from each other.
