Chapter 47 : Chapter 47
Volume 1
Chapter 47 : The Master’s Teaching
“If you could cast aside morality, the law, and even your life for his sake, if your love for him already runs that deep, is there really any need to ask me?”
Ann spoke softly:
“You only need to follow your heart, do you not?”
“Follow… my heart?”
Eluca murmured in confusion.
“Miss Ann, do you mean… that I should give up? Just like I said earlier?”
“Oh? Is that truly what your heart wants?”
“Y-Yes… of course.”
“Is it really?”
Ann suddenly lowered her head and leaned in very close.
Her gaze was like a searchlight, shining through Eluca’s clear eyes and into the deepest corners of her heart.
It was as though she intended to gather every last one of Eluca’s secrets into her sight.
Panic suddenly rose within Eluca.
It was like some crawling thing hidden in the dark being exposed to sunlight, the defenses in her heart being pried open inch by inch.
And without the shelter of darkness, once it was exposed beneath the sun, what filthy, foul-smelling thing would be revealed?
“W-Wait, Miss Ann, I…”
“Answer my question.”
Ann leaned in closer and closer.
Eluca could feel Ann’s breath.
She could feel their eyelashes nearly brushing.
She could feel those eyes, which seemed capable of seeing through everything, dragging out every shameful thought buried in the depths of her heart.
“Do you truly… want to give up, Eluca?”
“I…”
Do I really want to give up?
Am I really willing to let them be together?
Do I really…
…
As if.
I do not want that at all.
If Rod ended up with someone other than me, I would go mad with jealousy.
Especially that bitch. It would be better if she just died.
…
“It seems you understand now.”
Ann released Eluca.
Seeing the completely different look that had suddenly appeared in Eluca’s eyes, Ann smiled in satisfaction.
“That is what love is. You must pursue it with your own hands. How could you possibly give up?”
“But… I still do not really know what I should do.”
Like a drowning person clutching at a piece of driftwood, Eluca seized both of Ann’s hands tightly and asked with complete sincerity, “Miss Ann—no, Master. From this day on, you are my master. Can you teach me what I should do? How can I win Rod’s heart?”
“Isn’t that simple enough? A person’s heart is inseparable from their body.”
Ann raised a finger and tapped Eluca on the chest.
“So if you want the heart of the one you love, then naturally you must first obtain his body. Although that may not happen in a single step. It may require a very long time.”
“Obtain… his body…”
Eluca’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Perhaps she had entertained such thoughts a very, very long time ago, but unfortunately…
“B-But Rod is so strong. I…”
“That magic you used earlier was quite good.”
“What?”
“Charm magic.”
Resting a hand against her cheek, Ann said with a trace of regret:
“Sadly, I am not skilled in magic. Otherwise, I certainly would have learned it.”
If I had that spell, there would be no need to go through the trouble of drugging him.
“Charm magic…”
Eluca’s breathing grew heavier.
That was right.
If the charm spell had worked even on the Lake Lord just now…
Then on a person…
Or rather, on Rod…
“But…”
Eluca swallowed with difficulty.
“Wouldn’t that be wrong?”
“It would indeed be wrong, but have you forgotten what you said just now?”
Ann smiled faintly.
“For the sake of love, did you not say that you did not care about your life, morality, or the law? If so, would you still care about something like this?”
“Ah.”
That was right.
If, for the sake of love, she could cast aside even her life, morality, and the law, then why would she care about this?
Would it not just be… using it on Rod a little?
Perhaps the reason she had learned that magic without even noticing was because this day had been waiting for her all along.
Perhaps her heart had long since rotted away.
“I understand now. I finally understand!”
Though she now recognized the truth that she had already become rotten, a bright light rose in Eluca’s eyes instead.
“Thank you, Master. I know what I need to do now.”
“Good. That is for the best.”
Ann nodded in satisfaction.
“There is just one final thing I do not understand.”
Eluca asked seriously:
“If Rod remains stubborn and refuses to acknowledge my love, then what should I do? After all, charm magic has a time limit, and I only specialize in support-type magic. If he truly wanted to run, I might not be able to keep him.”
“Hehe. Since you have called me Master, then I shall tell you a secret.”
Ann leaned close to Eluca’s ear and spoke in a gentle voice:
“No matter how formidable a man may be, if you break his arms and legs and then fasten a sturdy collar around his neck, he will turn into a pet dog that only knows how to bark.”
…
…
Ann left.
The rain had stopped as well.
Eluca stood alone by the lake, lowered her head, and gazed at the water’s surface.
The lake reflected her appearance clearly.
Her smile was sweet, her features lovely.
The vexation that had been on her pretty face before was already gone, and her eyes were as clear and transparent as the lake itself at this moment.
“As expected of Master. She really swept away all my confusion.”
“Why had I never noticed it before? This true self of mine.”
Eluca touched her cheek. It felt as though something inside her had changed, and yet perhaps nothing had changed at all.
But in any case, her thoughts were now clear, and her whole body felt lighter.
She knew what she had to do now.
“I really am curious what kind of person could make a Master fall in love so deeply.”
“But this is not the time to think about that.”
Eluca withdrew her gaze.
“I should go back. Ade is still waiting for me.”
…
Tonight, in a romantic place where there would be only the two of them, she would confess to the one she loved.
If she failed…
Hehe. She would not fail.
…
…
Creeeak.
The heavy metal bars opened and shut, producing a grating sound that set one’s teeth on edge.
Trailing the scent of water, Ann stepped into the cell.
“Young Master, I am back.”
“You finally came back.”
Muen opened his eyes, hiding the fatigue deep within them, and deliberately complained:
“If I did not get to see you again soon, I was going to die.”
“My, has Young Master finally been moved by me? Are you willing to hand over your body and soul to me completely at last?”
Ann looked deeply touched, her cheeks faintly red.
“Then please give me a kiss of love first, Young Master.”
“I mean I was going to starve to death! Starve!”
“Tsk.”
In an instant, Ann’s expression returned to calm, making Muen marvel inwardly that this woman changed her face even faster than a stage performer.
“Here, Young Master. The fish you wanted.”
Ann opened the food box in her hands, and a rich fragrance instantly filled the tiny cell.
Perhaps because he had gone hungry for too long, even Muen, who was used to delicacies from land and sea, could not stop his mouth from flooding with saliva.
“One is steamed and the other is charcoal-grilled. Which would the Young Master like to eat first?”
“The steamed one.”
“Then, ah—”
“Ah—”
The fish was fed into his mouth, and its tender texture immediately touched every nerve in his mouth.
Though she had ulterior motives, Muen still had to admit that this fish was absurdly delicious.
“Young Master, be careful of the bones.”
“I know. I am not a child. How could I possibly—ah.”
“What is wrong?”
“...I think I really did get a fish bone stuck in my throat.”
“Is that so? Then there is no helping it.”
Ann suddenly crawled toward Muen like a cat.
“Huh? Ann, what are you trying to do?”
“I want to kiss the Young Master.”
“Right now?” Muen’s eyes widened.
“Did Young Master not say a fish bone is stuck in your throat? I want to pinch your nose during the kiss and suck hard. With my lung capacity, I might be able to suck the fish bone out.”
“Huh? W-Wait, that would not work, would it?”
“...”
“Um… actually, I was joking.”
“...”
“You are serious? Ann, no, do not do this, someone is going to die, mmph mmph mmph…”