Chapter 7: Farewell (2)

Mahina’s words were clear and logical, even tinged with an air of self-evidence.

“You’re not as strong as I am, and you’re not reliable either.”

“I never want to return to that nightmare of a slum life again.”

Mahina’s words made Merlin lower his head, unable to retort at all.

“You’re right…”

Fight back? That would only bring further humiliation…

Merlin knew he had no chance of winning. The Mahina standing before him now was an ice mage capable of turning the tide of battle with her magic.

Status, wealth, strength.

Merlin now had none of these over Mahina. It was better to preserve his last shred of dignity.

“It’s been two years since we last met, and I apologize for saying this so directly.”

Mahina seemed satisfied with Merlin’s answer. She retreated in order to advance, bowing her head slightly. Her posture was graceful, but carried a ritualistic sense of distance.

This was a Mahina that Merlin had never seen before.

“But I hope we can draw a clear line between us as soon as possible. I hope you can see the truth.”

“I understand.”

What else was there to say?

Nothing.

All problems vanished within that phrase, “draw a clear line.”

No matter what happened, as the Duke’s Daughter, Mahina’s private affairs were no longer any business of Merlin’s.

“Let’s treat it all as a dream.”

She repeated herself, as if nailing the final coffin on their past.

“I understand, Duke’s Daughter. I will treat all our past memories as if they never happened.”

“All right.”

“These are the starry roses you wanted two years ago. I’ve finally cultivated them, Duke’s Daughter.”

Merlin offered them up with both hands, but he no longer looked at Mahina.

He too, in his heart, drew a clear line. The girl before him was no longer the weak girl who couldn’t live without him, but the adopted daughter of a Duke.

“Thank you.”

Mahina accepted the rose.

At the same time, she placed in Merlin’s palm the Ring they had exchanged two years ago.

No, it was more like an Iron Band.

“Farewell.”

Mahina did not look back. Merlin watched her go, until her figure was nowhere to be seen.

Silently, Merlin’s tears fell.

Thinking back on all the letters he’d sent over the past two years, he realized he’d been nothing but delusional.

Marriage? It was nothing more than playing house, with no legal standing at all.

So long as Mahina was like this, a single moment of regret could end it all.

It started fast, and ended even faster.

I want to run away, I want to run away, I want to run away.

He wanted to flee this place.

Merlin wanted to escape from these Ruins, bathed in moonlight like a Court of Judgment, to escape Mahina’s calm and ruthless gaze, to escape the place that had just shattered all his former happiness.

Since coming to this world, Merlin had always drifted along with fate.

So what if it was a slum? So what if he was an Orphan?

Merlin believed that one day, with his Knowledge from Previous Life, he would leave here and make a fortune.

Yes, he had never had enough to eat or wear, but at least he was alive.

And he wouldn’t have to stay here forever.

He’d never once felt inferior for it before.

But Mahina’s words, her cold and merciless posture, the clothes on her back that symbolized another world, all stabbed through Merlin’s defenses like a poisoned dagger.

For the first time since arriving in this world, Merlin lowered his head, feeling the full, heart-wrenching pain of his own lowly origins.

Hot tears surged uncontrollably from his eyes, sliding down his cheeks and dripping onto the cold dust beneath him. He didn’t even raise a hand to wipe them away.

If only he’d had a talent for magic…

If only he’d been born with a bit more dignity…

Would things have ended differently?

Merlin threw the Ring in his hand onto the Ruins. The cheap Iron Band was so light, it didn’t even make a sound when it hit the ground.

Merlin ran. He ran and ran.

Tears streaming, he ran as hard as he could.

He wanted to escape this slum, escape the place that once held beautiful memories with her, escape his own origins.

Merlin fled the slum, vaulted over a narrow path, and kept running.

He reached the outskirts, but the grand mansion of the Talane Estate was still impossible to miss.

By now, Mahina was probably already inside, resting…

Merlin no longer had the courage to look at that mansion again. He randomly chose a patch of grass, sat down, and wept quietly.

“You’re really making a scene.”

A crisp voice, carrying a lazy, mature charm, suddenly sounded from right above Merlin.

He jerked his head up. Through blurred tears, he saw an Elf woman with long, deep purple hair gazing down at him.

Her features were hazy in the moonlight, but her poised and beautiful bearing was clear as day.

He didn’t know when the Elf had started watching him from the side, nor why she chose to speak to him.

Even though he sensed no malice from her, Merlin’s mood was at its lowest—his heart felt hollow, and he had no energy to respond to any stranger.

Merlin only looked at her with tear-filled eyes, then lowered his head again, burying his face between his knees.

“You’re an Orphan, aren’t you?”

“……”

The woman seemed to realize something, her mouth opened slightly.

“Ah, I didn’t mean that as an insult.”

She scratched her head.

“Anyway… how about coming home with me as my child?”

“……”

“Don’t look so guarded. I’m not a bad person.”

“Why would you adopt me?”

“Because we’re in the same boat, but you have it worse. You were abandoned with nothing at all. I really can’t bear to see it.”

Merlin wanted to retort, but thinking of his earlier humiliation, he was at a loss for words.

“Just say I’m overly sympathetic, or just nosy. When I see an abandoned puppy, I want to bring it home.”

Merlin turned his already lowered head away from the purple-haired woman.

“I don’t want your pity.”

The purple-haired Elf smiled.

“As a child, you should honestly accept an adult’s compassion. Precisely because you have nothing, you should come with me. Otherwise, you’ll end up kicked aside like a stray on the street again. Don’t you want to improve yourself? Do you want to taste this bitterness a second time? You won’t lose out by following me.”

“……”

“I’m… someone who was abandoned, too. But look at me now—I wander as I please, living free. You won’t regret following me.”

“…But I have no talent for magic, my physical abilities aren’t great, and my Swordsmanship probably isn’t up to much either.”

“You know Alchemy, right? I happen to need an apprentice, and I know a little about Alchemy myself. As for magic… I can at least teach you the theory.”

Merlin wiped away his tears with rough cloth, and looked up at the purple-haired woman.

“Mm…”

“At least learn a trade. Even if you get kicked out again, you’ll be able to stand on your own. If you get good enough, you might even kick back someday.”

“There won’t be a next time.”

“What?”

“I’ll never believe in love again.”

The purple-haired Elf sighed.

“As you wish. So, are you sure you want to come with me?”

Merlin stood up and nodded.

“That’s more like it. Who knows, maybe you’ll get a chance for revenge someday if you follow me.”

The purple-haired Elf drifted down from above and extended her hand to him.

“My name is Ophelia Helyet. Anyway… call me ‘Mom’ and let me hear it?”