Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 45

Before Gideon could stop her, a soft sound flowed out, enhancing her healing power. The faint cracks on his skin faded slightly.

However, the wound was still deep. It was the limitation of incantation magic [magic that relies on spoken words or formulas], which couldn’t adapt to specific conditions.

Vanessa sighed, but Gideon patted the back of her hand with satisfaction.

“Thanks for the healing. I’d appreciate it if you praised me for keeping my promise.”

“…Thank you for keeping your promise.”

Gideon grinned playfully. Vanessa stared blankly at him.

She had been analyzing his every action in the cave, assigning meaning to them, and blushing all alone.

The answer was too obvious. But she didn’t want to admit it. It couldn’t be…

Just as she was about to grasp the end of her fleeting thought, Gideon suddenly reached out to Vanessa. His beautiful golden eyes were looking down at her.

Vanessa wore a bewildered expression, then placed both her hands on his large hand. Her long, white fingers rested neatly on his palm.

“Ha.”

Gideon burst into laughter. Vanessa pouted.

“What is it…”

“I need to make contact since I have to use teleportation magic.”

Gideon seemed to be holding back laughter, and Vanessa, feeling embarrassed, huffed. Her thick eyebrows shot up.

“You have to say something so I know!”

“I’m sorry.”

Vanessa tried to pull one hand away, but Gideon had already clasped her hands together. His large hand easily enveloped both of Vanessa’s hands.

Vanessa lowered her head, worried that her reddened face would be noticeable.

Jenien Pokis Polis Stargera compiled and organized , which has been passed down since the Edirne Empire, defining it as ‘magic realized through language.’ It included teleportation magic.

However, unlike general incantation magic that only required understanding of formulas, language, and magical power, teleportation magic required additional conditions.

The conditions were a total of three: ‘must have been to the place before,’ ‘if two or more people are moving, they must be in contact,’ and ‘those with insufficient magical power should not use it.’ Jenien also wrote this passage in the book.

「Some idiots who didn’t know the conditions executed teleportation magic and were found cut in half. This kind of thing can happen. So those who aren’t skilled enough should pay and use a portal.」

Gideon carefully wrapped his arm around Vanessa’s waist. The more contact points between the people being moved, the better.

Vanessa’s forehead touched his neckline.

*It’s a relief that he can’t see my face. I almost showed him an unsightly face. It would be funny if it were red all over…*

“…Shall we go?”

Without answering, Vanessa bumped her forehead against his shoulder.

Gideon held Vanessa tightly in his arms with one hand, as if binding her, and gently held her hand with the other.

A sound like the flapping of a bird’s wings or the sound of wind flowing through the mountains flowed from Gideon’s mouth.

Blue light spread out from under their feet, drawing a circle on the ground before repeatedly splitting into straight lines.

And in an instant, the two disappeared.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

It was definitely dry soil, but before she knew it, her feet were on damp moss. A light rain was falling at the entrance of the Morea Forest.

“Ugh…”

Vanessa grabbed her head and staggered from the terrible headache she was experiencing again.

A warm, large hand covered her forehead. Vanessa leaned on that hand, panting mindlessly.

“It’s usually like this if you’re not used to teleportation magic. Just bear with it a little. Can you look at me for a moment?”

Gideon gently lifted Vanessa’s chin and made eye contact. Her eyes, reddened with pain, vaguely stared at his eyes.

“Captain!”

At that moment, someone shouted from afar. Gideon’s gaze swept past her, and the warm hand that had been covering her chin moved away.

Vanessa blankly stared at his falling fingertips.

“Andalus.”

Gideon finally let out a satisfied breath. Vanessa was now safe.

He turned his gaze back to Vanessa, who was small and frail compared to him. Compared to his body, anyone would seem small and frail, but to him, she seemed especially so.

“Vanessa.”

Vanessa looked up at him blankly.

Rain gently soaked the tops of their heads. Slightly damp hair flowed down, covering his neat forehead. Golden eyes filled with warmth sent her a kind gaze.

“You’ve worked hard.”

The man’s eyes looked strong, and the hand that touched her was large and warm.

Not only was he handsome, but he was also the captain of a special forces unit, the sole heir of a duke’s family, and a member of the Joint Council [a powerful governing body].

*And I was just a student, standing there in a pathetic, soaked state.*

*Isn’t it too cruel to admit this at a moment like this?*

“Now you should go back to the academy.”

The man smiled. Vanessa slowly stepped back from his arms.

Special forces members were running from afar.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

As soon as they returned near the Morea Forest through magic, things progressed quickly. Gideon prevented the team members from approaching Vanessa and snatched the blanket they had brought.

Morea was extremely hot, so a blanket wasn’t really necessary, but Vanessa sat blankly, huddled up with the blanket over her. Gideon was getting further and further away…

After that, she didn’t even have a chance to say goodbye to him.

Someone said in a businesslike manner, ‘The compensation will be discussed later, so the student should return to the academy as soon as possible.’

Before she could come to her senses, Vanessa was sitting in a carriage heading to the portal.

“You’ve worked hard. We’ll arrive at the academy today, so don’t worry.”

Assistant Professor Nell, who was from the academy, reassured her with a patting voice. Vanessa rubbed her cheeks listlessly and nodded.

“Yes, I’m fine. Excuse me, but can I close my eyes for a bit?”

“Of course. You look tired, so get some rest. I’ll wake you up when we arrive.”

Vanessa leaned her head against the window and closed her eyes.

*Eyes curving with laughter, slightly raised corners of the lips. A kind voice and warm hands. A large back blocking her way.*

*’Vanessa.’*

*’Trust me.’*

It was easy to admit. Things that had been ambiguous came crashing in with clear labels. Even if it was her first time experiencing it, it wasn’t difficult to know what this feeling was.

But she wasn’t happy about it.

*Me and that person. We are in such different situations.*

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Teacher, do you perhaps remember?

A long time ago, you sent me such a letter. You transcribed a passage that your family member had written.

「The experience of having everything changed by love is a very rare and uncommon thing, so remember this letter and be sure to tell me again later.」

It might be very rare and uncommon. Because it’s the first time. I thought it wasn’t the first time, but I guess it is.

But… Anna, the protagonist of , was describing how happy she was when she met the eldest brother.

She said the world was spring when she realized her feelings for him. But I wasn’t like that.

I was so desperate. The future is bleak, my heart is beating erratically, and I’m suffocating.

Because I knew how meaningless my feelings would be. It’s meaningless and worthless.

That person and I are so different. It can’t be…

To realize this as soon as it blooms. It’s funny, right?

The blooming of emotions was separate from reason, so I couldn’t control it. But I might be able to fold it up as I please.

It’s so painful and depressing. Why am I such a nobody?

Sincerely,

Vanessa Rose.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Before taking the portal, Vanessa wrote a letter to her teacher but just tore it up.

The letter written without filtering was ugly. Also, it wasn’t something to send to her teacher.

No, even if she sent it, she decided to fold up her feelings and send it. Then she would be able to write with a smile. Goodness, the Duke Valder.

As Assistant Professor Nell said, returning to the academy was instantaneous. Thanks to taking the portal five times in a row, which was extravagant.

As a result, it took less than a day to get from the edge of the west to the academy near the north.

“The academy wanted you to return as soon as possible. You look tired, so it’s a relief.”

Nell scratched her head and said. Vanessa was actually meeting this assistant professor for the first time, and she said she worked under Professor Bombalow, who taught mathematics.

“No, I’m not that tired… Thank you for going all the way to Morea because of me.”

“Well, actually, it was kind of nice. Oh, is it rude to say that?”

Nell glanced at her and scratched her head, and Vanessa smiled faintly and shook her head.

“I’m very interested in magic circle formulas. Seeing the teleportation magic circle you stepped on was really amazing. It wasn’t hard at all to be in Morea.”

Nell continued quickly as if making excuses.

“How was it?”

“It was already used up, so it was very faint, but its completeness was amazing. Each formula and Edirne sentence was beautiful, you know? It was really amazing!”

As she said she was very interested in formulas, Nell’s eyes were shining intensely.

Vanessa thought of ‘that boy’ again.

Not only did he draw the teleportation magic circle, but its completeness was also amazing.

*Who on earth is that boy?*

After that, they walked along the well-maintained stone wall without much conversation. Just as she was rubbing her eyes from fatigue, the academy’s high spires began to appear among the towering trees.

The body exhausted from the swirling emotions and fatigue slumped with relief.

Vanessa sniffled at the tip of her nose, which had turned red from the cold wind.

She was home.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Gideon watched from afar as Vanessa boarded the carriage heading to the portal with the academy’s assistant professor.

Since she had a guardian, Vanessa would arrive at the academy soon. There was no need to worry.

Even so, it was strangely difficult to take his eyes off her. Inside the cave, he was directly protecting her and was with her, but…

“Captain.”

Someone called his name, and he finally came to his senses. Gideon turned around and strode into the Morea Forest.

The forest was bustling with all the team members, even those who had received leave due to the captain’s disappearance, rushing over. Colonels had even gathered, making it noisy.

“The captain… disappeared. Pfft.”

“This will be a lasting joke.”

Gideon brushed off the chuckling team members as if they were annoying and walked along the path Vanessa had taken.

“We’ve already completed the investigation, but nothing came out. The teleportation magic circle has faded away…”

“Without finding anything, what are you all doing gathering here like this?”

The team members protested at the cold voice.

“We rushed over because we were worried about the captain! How can you say that!”

“That’s right! I was on vacation!”

It was clear that they had rushed over to tease him, but they were indignant that he didn’t appreciate their sacrifice. Of course, Gideon didn’t care in the slightest.

“What about inside the cave? Were there any clues about the boy the student saw?”

Gideon tilted his head crookedly. His thoughts were busily spreading out.

“…I will report to His Majesty first and then share the details.”

At the mention of the king, the team members immediately agreed.

Gideon groped the dirt where only small traces of the teleportation magic circle remained. And he turned his gaze to the team members who were clearing the monster corpses around him.

*If the ones who created the monster seeds thought that the Night Vandalu magic circle was in the Morea Forest.*

*If they were trying to ruin the Night Vandalu magic circle and endanger Friva through the monster outbreak.*

*Who are the ones trying to ruin the Night Vandalu magic circle?*

*Who is trying to protect the Night Vandalu magic circle?*