SCMBRN Chapter 12

The magician offered an elegant greeting.

 

“Thank you for accepting me, my lady. My name is Kyrie. I am currently serving at the imperial palace.”

 

“I am Charlotte Lindsay.”

 

“I look forward to your acquaintance.”

 

“Likewise.”

 

After exchanging a perfectly ordinary and polite first meeting, Charlotte and Kyrie parted ways.

 

Only then did people begin to notice the change in Charlotte.

 

Come to think of it, they had all been so shocked by Jayden’s attitude toward his sister that her behavior had slipped under the radar. But even when the Lindsay siblings first arrived, Charlotte had seemed off.

 

Charlotte, too, had despised her younger brother by blood only, hadn’t she?

 

Yet here she was, calmly escorted by Jayden, even casually apologizing for her clumsiness.

 

Indeed, Charlotte Lindsay had changed.

 

Quite a few wondered what scheme the infamous villainess was plotting this time.

 

And while all eyes were fixed on her, Charlotte’s mind was consumed with one thought.

 

‘Damn, he’s hot! Silver hair really is the standard for magician characters!’

 

She was wholly focused on the sub male lead.

 

 

⚜︎ ⚜︎ ⚜︎

 

 

The garden tea party hosted by Countess Mosella was a standing event.

 

Guests mingled freely around tables set with various sweets, conversing as they pleased. When tired, they could take a seat on the chairs arranged along the garden’s edge for a brief rest.

 

I claimed a seat early on and had no intention of getting up.

 

‘Ah, the breeze feels so nice.’

 

My goal had been Kyrie from the start. I had absolutely no desire to engage in social activities. More than anything, it was a bother.

 

Jayden, sitting beside me, asked a question.

 

“Sister, why have you been sitting here this whole time?”

 

“Hmm? No reason.”

 

“Won’t you talk with your friends?”

 

“I don’t have any.”

 

“…I must have misunderstood. You were so specific about attending this tea party that I assumed your friends would be here.”

 

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about me. You go enjoy the tea party.”

 

“I’ll pass.”

 

“Why? It’s a rare occasion.”

 

“I see no one here worth the effort of building rapport.”

 

“Jayden… It’s lucky no one is around to hear that. What if someone had?”

 

“They’re welcome to. I don’t care.”

 

Understandable. People like him are admired by many but not the easiest to befriend.

 

Jayden’s personality is sharp and strict. As he holds himself to high standards, he also judges others with equal severity.

 

Just look. A few young noble ladies keep glancing this way, blushing, but none of them dares approach.

 

Unfortunately for them, I’m not generous enough to push Jayden away just for their sake.

 

‘Because having Jayden here is beneficial for me, too.’

 

After what happened at the emperor’s birthday banquet with the champagne-flinging young ladies, I can’t guarantee someone else won’t try to pick a fight.

 

But with Jayden beside me, I needn’t worry.

 

Even if he dislikes me, surely he wouldn’t just stand by and watch his own family suffer?

 

‘Besides, he’s been acting a bit more gentle lately.’

 

I was watching Jayden’s profile with those thoughts in mind when something caught my eye.

 

“Huh?”

 

“…What is it?”

 

Jayden flinched and leaned back as I suddenly moved closer.

 

“Are you really tired these days?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“No, it’s just… up close, you’ve got dark circles under your eyes.”

 

Until now, I’d avoided looking closely at Jayden’s face, not wanting to cause friction with someone who clearly disliked me.

 

“I’m fine. Really.”

 

Jayden awkwardly shook his head.

 

“Yeah? Then I must’ve imagined it.”

 

Back then, I didn’t realize anything was strange about Jayden’s demeanor.

 

He quickly turned the subject, looking over at the crowd gathered nearby.

 

“I’d rather not gossip, but that man over there is the most distasteful person at this event.”

 

He was referring to Kyrie, who was surrounded by young women.

 

Just like he had with me earlier, he used magic to conjure different flowers and handed each woman a bloom.

 

Men who had been partnered with those women were now glaring at him with displeasure.

 

“Why? He’s charming.”

 

“He’s frivolous.”

 

Jayden scowled, though he hadn’t lost a partner himself.

 

Fair enough. Kyrie was the very image of a flirt, cozying up to one woman after another. It was only natural that someone like Jayden would dislike him.

 

“Regardless, you should be careful. The way he looked at you earlier was unsettling.”

 

“Surely not.”

 

Of course it was. If my hunch was right, then Kyrie was just like Raynard and Eugen…

 

That was when a strange silence fell over Kyrie and the women surrounding him.

 

One young lady had asked for a flower and touched his arm while doing so.

 

Kyrie struck her hand away with a loud ‘smack’.

 

“Oh, I’m sor—”

 

Looking flustered, the young lady began to apologize, but Kyrie quickly relaxed his stiff expression and offered her a white rose with a smile.

 

“My apologies instead. I’m not very comfortable with physical contact.”

 

“Oh, that’s fine!”

 

The young lady smiled and accepted the rose, and the mood grew cheerful once again.

 

‘Right. That happened in Looking for a Husband, too.’

 

Though Kyrie often lingered among women, he always maintained a certain distance.

 

That was the defining reason he couldn’t be considered a true flirt.

 

I kept my eyes on Kyrie while sipping the fruit juice Jayden had brought me.

 

Eventually, our eyes met. There weren’t many women around him at that moment.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

Jayden asked as I quietly rose from my seat.

 

“Just taking a walk.”

 

“I’ll accompany you.”

 

“No need. I’ve got some things to think about. I’d like to be alone.”

 

“…Very well.”

 

My serious tone left Jayden unable to object. He let me go alone.

 

Staying with Jayden would’ve been safer in many ways, but for what I had to do now, I needed to be alone.

 

I wandered around Count Mosella’s estate, looking for a quiet place.

 

“You’ve wandered quite far out, haven’t you?”

 

By the time I reached a spot where only ornamental trees stood and no people were in sight, a gentle voice called from behind.

 

“We meet again, Lord Kyrie.”

 

I responded without the slightest surprise, and Kyrie raised one eyebrow with interest.

 

“Did you perhaps guide me here intentionally?”

 

“I did.”

 

“And your reason?”

 

“I was lonely.”

 

“Lonely?”

 

“If you’ve heard even a bit about me, then you must know about my reputation in society.”

 

“…It’s not a flattering one.”

 

“Exactly. Even here, no one has spoken to me first except my brother and the hostess, Lady Mosella.”

 

I smiled softly.

 

“Oh, and not you either, Lord Kyrie.”

 

“That was because…”

 

He looked like he had something to say, but I had to deliver my message first.

 

“I’m very lonely.”

 

“I see.”

 

“I spend most of my days entirely alone in my room from morning until night.”

 

Lonely, my foot. What I really wanted to say was this:

 

I’m alone in my room at night.

 

I couldn’t just blurt out that I knew about his curse and tell him to come to my bed tonight.

 

So I devised this indirect approach.

 

At that moment, a flicker of recognition passed through Kyrie’s violet eyes. He clearly understood what I meant.

 

“Sister, what are you doing here?”

 

Jayden’s sudden appearance nearly made my heart stop.

 

He looked between me and Kyrie with suspicion, then stepped between us.

 

“Do you have business with my sister?”

 

Kyrie frowned slightly, perhaps picking up on Jayden’s unfriendly tone.

 

“And if I do?”

 

Afraid a fight might break out, I quickly grabbed Jayden’s arm and pulled him away.

 

“Sister?”

 

“I want to go home. Now.”

 

“The tea party is still in full swing.”

 

“I’ve had enough! Let’s go!”

 

And just like that, I left Count Mosella’s estate less than two hours after arriving.

 

That night, someone knocked politely on my bedroom balcony window.

 

It was Kyrie.

 

To think he came the very night I gave him my message. Considering his personality, that was no small feat.

 

With his head bowed, Kyrie spoke.

 

“I’m truly sorry for visiting so late at night.”

 

Now this was the proper reaction. Raynard’s brazenness and Eugen’s strangeness were the odd ones out.

 

“It’s all right. I was a bit surprised, but it’s you, Lord Kyrie. I figured you must have a good reason.”

 

Pretending to be clueless, I waited for him to get to the point.

 

“The truth is…”

 

Kyrie hesitated for a long time.

 

This was normal. Someone shamelessly asking to share your bed without blinking was the abnormal one.

 

“Would you like some tea? It’s what I’d intended to drink myself.”

 

I sat him down on the sofa and offered him a warm cup, hoping it would help him open up.

 

“The truth is…”

 

Kyrie took a slow sip of tea, about to begin his confession.

 

But then…then!

 

‘Why isn’t he saying anything?!’

 

Even as the teacup emptied, he remained silent.

 

Truthfully, I was about to collapse from exhaustion.

 

The maids had woken me at dawn to prepare me for this outing, bathing and massaging me all morning. It had been a bother.

 

“…It’s all right. Just say whatever’s on your mind.”

 

“I’m sorry. It’s an embarrassing request.”

 

“I told you it’s fine!”

 

In the end, I slammed the table in frustration.

 

“Just say it!”

 

Perhaps the gesture spurred him on, because words began pouring out of him.

 

“Life here is too difficult. I can’t take it anymore.”

 

He pleaded desperately.

 

“I only tried to be kind, but why won’t these women leave me alone? And now there’s this bizarre curse…”

 

His shoulders trembled with emotion.

 

“How can I share a bed with someone? I’m terrified of even touching a woman!”

 

That was it. He was just a pitiful magician who had grown up surrounded only by men and found women deeply intimidating.