The Male Leads Were Stolen By The Extra [EN]: Chapter 58

58

What did they do to the substitute food to change someone’s mind without them even realizing it?

Did they use magic?

But I’ve never heard of such magic.

I don’t know much about magic, but if such magic existed, it would cause chaos in the world, so it would definitely be forbidden.

“Lean on me.”

“I’m okay.”

Celonia shook her head at Tan’s voice from beside her.

“Listen when I tell you something. Look at your face right now. It’s pale.”

Tan pulled Celonia’s face to lean on his shoulder. His voice was irritable, but his touch was incredibly delicate.

“My lady, please do. The carriage is shaking, so it’s better to lean on Tan’s shoulder than the seat.”

Ella nodded and spread a blanket over Celonia’s body.

“Then just for a moment… Ella, don’t tell anyone about what happened today. Not anyone…”

Celonia finished speaking in a mumble, with no strength left to even raise her voice.

Then, she fell fast asleep.

* * *

The four people who had returned along the winding road by the Meden River stood on a sloping hill.

Then, in the slowly clearing mist, the towering Demon King’s castle began to appear in the distance.

The Demon King’s castle, entirely black and white amidst the lush green forest, instantly captivated their attention.

The gray Demon King’s castle, as if deprived of all color, didn’t even have a single small window.

Moreover, the size of the castle was truly enormous, so much so that they were overwhelmed by its size even from a considerable distance.

“Seli, how are you feeling?”

McRyan asked, cautiously watching her.

It was just like a child handing their parents a gift for the first time and trying to gauge their reaction.

At that innocence, Celonia momentarily forgot her seriousness and burst out laughing.

“I feel great. Thank you.”

Since receiving his heart, most of the monsters’ attacks had missed her.

Her body, which had been heavy from the long march, felt light.

It was all thanks to the heart he had given her.

“That’s good. It will protect you for a long time. As long as it’s not black magic.”

“Black magic?”

“Black magic is completely incompatible with a sacred dragon. So my heart won’t be able to protect you from black magic either.”

“I see.”

“But it’s okay. It’s ancient magic and disappeared a long time ago. There’s no chance black magic will be used in the monster forest.”

McRyan smiled brightly, as if telling her not to worry and to just trust him.

Celonia burst into laughter again at his confident attitude, puffing out his chest.

“So stay with me for a long time.”

But she couldn’t bring herself to answer that.

* * *

“…….”

Celonia slowly opened her eyes.

Then, a familiar ceiling was in front of her in the dark space.

What was the dream I just had?

That dream was a reality I had experienced in the past. It was about three months after entering the monster forest, and about a week after receiving McRyan’s heart.

I had forgotten for a moment. So much had happened in half a year that I couldn’t remember everything.

Minor things only came to mind fragmentarily, or I couldn’t remember them at all.

Black magic mentioned in the dream.

I had heard about it in detail from McRyan before. It was also called ancient magic.

Because black magic was one of the things that dragons, the symbol of divinity, hated the most.

A long time ago, a small group of people who worshiped evil rather than good created it.

Hundreds of years ago, the heretics were massacred by the late emperor, and black magic disappeared into the annals of history.

But why did this suddenly appear in my dream?

“Celonia.”

Then, a familiar voice, so terribly low and沉淀 [deep and resonant], was heard.

Celonia slowly turned her head on the pillow.

In the dark and quiet room.

Red eyes, clearly revealing their presence, were looking at her.

* * *

A few hours ago.

“Are you, have you lost consciousness?”

Ella’s face turned dark as she looked at Celonia, who had closed her eyes.

Afraid that her lady might have collapsed, Ella bit her lip anxiously.

Tan also calmed his momentarily startled heart and examined Celonia, who was leaning on his shoulder.

“She’s asleep.”

A word filled with relief flowed from his mouth.

She hadn’t lost consciousness. She was breathing shallowly and regularly, so she had fallen asleep.

He was the one who knew Celonia’s sleeping face better than anyone else.

He had seen it every night, so he could tell just by looking at her face that she was asleep, not collapsed.

“Haa… That’s a relief. Really.”

Ella took a deep breath. Her eyes were moist, as if she had been very worried.

Tan lowered his posture a little more, worried that Celonia, who had fallen asleep leaning on his shoulder, might be uncomfortable.

Then, he put his hand into the blanket covering her and held her soft, tender hand.

Why is it so small? His face frowned.

Her hand, held in his hand, was too small.

He was also surprised when he held her in his arms earlier, as the weight felt in his hands was too light.

Just what is this body that is so small, fragile, and only soft?

He stroked the back of her hand he was holding and looked down at the eyelashes fanning out on Celonia’s pale face.

Celonia was special to him. No, she had become special.

At first, he thought she knew him, and since she even healed his pain, he thought she was someone he should never let go of.

However, as time passed, he just liked being with her, regardless of that.

He felt disappointed when she misunderstood him, and angry when he met the guys who had betrayed her.

He became worried and chased after her when he couldn’t see her, he couldn’t take his eyes off her, he didn’t want to leave her room every midnight, and he kept wanting to touch her.

His heart raced when he touched her, and he felt dizzy when he held her.

Were these emotions that he could experience just because she knew of his existence and healed his pain?

Even now, he wanted to share his power with her, who seemed so weak that she would break if he touched her.

I don’t know. I don’t know well.

Could I know more clearly if I had memories?

Tan closed his eyes, leaning his face against Celonia’s head, who was leaning on his shoulder, thinking that.

Along with the rattling carriage sound, her faint but clear breathing echoed in his ears.

As if it were a melody, it stirred up his heart.

Squeak.

How much time had passed? The carriage, which had been running diligently, arrived in front of the mansion.

“Tan, hurry.”

Ella quickly got out of the carriage and held the door open.

Tan picked up Celonia, who was covered in a blanket, and carried her out of the carriage.

“Gasp! Ah, Lady!”

The gatekeepers standing in front of the mansion’s central gate looked surprised.

It was no wonder that the lady, who had walked out perfectly fine, was being carried back in Tan’s arms, limp.

One of the gatekeepers immediately ran into the mansion.

Tan, unconcerned with their fuss, held Celonia tightly and was about to pass through the central gate and go up the stairs when.

“What is all this!”

Gallaway and the servants rushed over, as if they had already heard the news.

“Duke, it seems the lady was very tired and fell asleep.”

Ella calmly explained Celonia’s condition to Gallaway.

She never brought up what happened in the shantytown, as the lady had told her not to tell anyone.

“Summon the doctor and the healer!”

Still, just in case, Gallaway ordered the servants.

The servants moved quickly to carry out the orders they had received.

“Raymond, quickly move Seli to her room!”

Raymond, the aide next to Gallaway, approached Tan.

“I will take care of the lady from now on.”

Raymond held out his arms to Tan. It meant he should hand over Celonia, who he was holding.

“…….”

At that moment, a coldness that was almost chilling settled on Tan’s face.

He was very annoyed that someone other than him would hold Celonia.

He gave more strength to the arms holding Celonia, as if he didn’t want to let go of this embrace.

“You’ve worked hard, sir. Thank you. We’ll take it from here.”

Gallaway said to Tan, who was standing still holding his daughter. It was not persuasion but an order.

An order to hand over his daughter in his arms now. A line that said your role is up to here.