247 – Happy New Year – 4
I heard a strangely trembling voice from beyond the door, but I didn’t pay attention.
‘It’s worth it.’
Since Jong-gong Ma ran away due to an attack on Hoe-sim’s real name, he has never met or even contacted him. Of course, panic will remain. It is safe to say that the person on the other side of the door was Beatrix, not Lord Majong.
Besides, there are too many ways to shake up the Demon Lord to just stutter. And you should rock it happily, it is not the right thing to do to blame for something embarrassing.
“You can go in.”
When Ma Jong-gong’s permission to enter returned, the secretary who had guided him to the top room stepped back.
To be honest, he hadn’t been to the tower’s main room once or twice, so he didn’t need a secretary attached, but the wizards’ eyes were so stingy that he couldn’t say he’d go alone.
If there was a blacklist in the Mage Tower, I’d probably be listed at the top. The reason is the dog that made the tower cry.
“Your Excellency, I’m going in.”
Anyway, I thanked the secretary and grabbed the doorknob.
It was a bonus that I warned you to prepare your mind before going in.
“Uh, uh, welcome.”
Unfortunately, it was an ineffective notice.
Still trembling voice and trembling ears. His face was strangely red, which was not his true face at all.
I’m glad though. Because other wizards didn’t see this.
“I’m here to say hello before the year is over. Are you busy and interrupted?”
“Ah, I have plenty of time to see her, so you can come anytime.”
After a light greeting, Lord Ma Jong shook his head and replied.
‘Wow.’
I almost burst into laughter at that sight.
Ma Jong-gong’s ears, which were in a vibrating state, went down before he knew it. The eyes that had been rolling here and there, unable to see my face properly, were busy glancing at me. It’s as if he’s ashamed to say what he wants, so he wants to know first.
It’s a bit rude to feel for someone who’s a lot older than me, but honestly, it’s cute. I can guess why you’re hesitating so much.
“Thanks, Beatrix.”
So I did what I wanted.
“Huh…!”
The effect was outstanding.
Majonggong’s otherwise red face evolved into a tomato. If you touch it, it seems like it will explode.
Furthermore, it started flapping at a bpm that the ear had never seen before. It means it’s okay to be shy.
“I should feel free to come from now on. You can really come anytime, right?”
Saying that, I walked towards Lord Ma, and Lord Ma nodded his head.
“Yes, yes. Uh, uh, when…”
“It’s the opposite of what you say and do.”
At those words, Jong-Gong Ma’s body froze as he quietly stepped back. It seems that his foot moved without even realizing it.
And I pointed out that Prince Ma fell into a dilemma where he was ashamed to step back and embarrassed even to remain still.
Seeing that, a sense of mischief welled up from the depths of his heart. A duke who would normally have to lie down rather than play around. The fact that he was making fun of such an operation unilaterally gave him courage that he didn’t have.
“Isn’t there nowhere to run this time?”
He gave a small smile and stretched out his hand.
Yes, now I have courage that I didn’t have. As of now, I can do anything.
So I touched the ears that were standing upright without being able to flap. Honestly, I’ve been curious about this for a long time. What kind of touch do elves’ ears have?
“…….”
Unexpectedly, Ma Jong-gong, who was caught by the ear, did not respond.
No, not exactly.
“Beatrix?”
After checking the state of the demon, I quietly removed my hand from my ear.
My body, which trembled intermittently, lost strength and became limp. Besides, even the eyes lost their light and became blurry.
‘…Oops.’
He died standing up.
Fortunately, Prince Ma’s spirit returned quickly. He hadn’t fainted, but rather his head went white for a moment from the excessive shock.
Still, he must have felt that he had been made fun of, so Jong-Gong Ma, who regained his senses, opened his mouth in the most calm voice.
“Babe. I’m a duke and I’m the owner of the tower. No matter how much I respect the least—”
“Didn’t you like it?”
“…….”
Of course, there was no particular effect. I didn’t lose my mind because I didn’t like it, but I let it go because I was happy, so there’s nothing to say.
He smiled a little at the sight of Ma Jong-gong in silence before opening his mouth.
“If your Excellency doesn’t like it, I’ll say it like before.”
“Si, I didn’t say I didn’t like it…”
“Then you should get used to it little by little.”
At those words, Lord Majong cautiously nodded his head. You know best that you have to get used to this pattern.
But there was a sullen feeling in that nod. It’s like being called names and being happy, but lamenting over not being able to fully enjoy that joy. He seemed to be resentful of his own weak defense.
Certainly, Majonggong’s defense is serious. I think his defense is better than Marghetta’s when he was crawling on the floor.
‘Is it okay if I give it to you now?’
The more I felt the texture of the case in my bosom, the more I worried. It’s like this with only the name, but wouldn’t it really faint if you gave me a ring.
Still, the worry was short-lived. If you put it off for one reason or another, it’s obvious that the future will never be given to you.
“Beatrix.”
Ring Unit 2, here we go.
***
This is my first time feeling this way. I feel happy yet sad, regretful yet fulfilled.
Baby always took my first place. First love, first hug, first time letting go of pride. It was all baby first. But even that wasn’t enough, so now I can feel this feeling.
‘I look like this.’
It’s sad. Unlike the baby who gives me countless firsts, I can’t even move properly.
Aga showed emotion without hesitation. There was no hesitation in calling me by name and speaking casually. Of course it’s not that I don’t like it. It’s so good. I’m so happy that I want to hear your name all day long.
But I couldn’t do anything. When my baby was called by name, I couldn’t open my mouth in shame, and when I approached me, I would back away.
‘I can’t do this.’
How can you call it love if you can’t communicate properly?
I also have to call my baby affectionately and be willing to respond to her approach. Isn’t it love to give and receive from both sides, not one side?
So we have to work even harder. Shouldn’t it be called by a different title than before, like the baby? It’s not a baby, but it’s a nanggunim, or it’s a western.
“I have a lot of time, so let’s take it easy.”
Hearing the word Nanggun-nim momentarily, I thought of the baby I pretended not to know, but I pushed it to the other side of her memory.
Anyway, you should get used to expressing affection. That way the same thing doesn’t just happen.
‘If only I had endured.’
A shameful yet tickling thought came to my mind. If, if the child had not lost her mind when she grabbed her by the ear, would she have gone on to the next?
A hug, a pat on the head, maybe a kiss—
“Beatrix.”
While imagining happiness, her body trembled when she heard her voice. I was wondering if you heard my thoughts.
“Actually, I didn’t just come to say hello.”
I blinked at those words.
Is it important? Greetings or whatever, it is important that the baby has come. Even if Aga comes to borrow money from me, he is confident to greet me with a smile.
“It’s time to give you an answer.”
My body froze again at the sight of Aga taking out something while saying that.
‘…Is it time for an answer?’
My head turned slower than usual. What answer are you talking about? Maybe that’s what I think?
My heart started pounding. Instinct shouted that it was right, but reason shouted not to expect too much. There’s nothing as ugly as being disappointed with his own expectations.
But when Aga took out a small case. When the white ribbon that tied the case is undone. When you take out a ring from it. Anxiety disappeared and an indescribable happiness settled in my heart.
“It’s a small thing compared to what I’ve received so far, but this is the only thing I can give you.”
I hurriedly shook my head at the baby who smiled shyly. No matter how much Aga said, I couldn’t agree with that much.
It’s trivial. By small things, I mean the things I gave to my baby. Isn’t the ring that the baby wants to give is the most precious and beautiful thing in the world.
“Hey, baby.”
And when I saw the ring, I remembered something I hadn’t thought about.
“Is that… A ring that joins two into one?”
Read at noblemtl.com
Looking at the ring on her finger, I asked cautiously. I wasn’t greedy because I thought it was too much for me, but in fact, it was something I wanted madly.
I already knew that Aga had given Princess Marghetta a unique ring. I heard it through a wizard dispatched to the academy, and I was able to confirm it myself by looking at Aga’s fingers.
A unique and beautiful ring that divides one ring into two, not a normal coupling. How could I be greedy?
“…Of course.”
A baby who kept her mouth shut for a while at my question. But after a while, he smiled and scratched the ring he was holding with his fingernails.
Then the ring split perfectly in half. When I saw the ring, I felt like I was about to burst into tears.
“I’m sorry I didn’t answer you until now. I’ve been thinking a lot about what to say in response.”
The baby held my left hand and put on a ring containing half the world.
“An action would have been better than a thousand words. Isn’t it too late?”
“No.”
I shook my head again at Aga’s words.
And then I looked at the ring on my hand, turned my gaze to the baby, and looked at the ring again. How heavy this little thing feels.
“…It’s not too late.”
That’s why I answered with a smile.
If I’ve heard the answer in my lifetime, it’s not too late.
***
I looked down at Ma Jong-gong, who was happy wearing the second (half) shirt, and looked down bitterly.
Then, a single ring in her case caught my eye.
‘I’m sorry.’
It’s funny to apologize to an inanimate object, but this is the right thing to do. I am so sorry.
An object that should have been put on someone’s finger and become someone’s happiness. The thing fell asleep without ever seeing the light of day.
No, I didn’t know that Prince Majong would want Ban/Ji too.
‘I had to sew the first button strangely.’
It’s sad, but I can’t help it. She isn’t even married yet, so it can’t give the image that she discriminates against her with her ring.
And I instinctively felt it. The moment the second (half) is born, the birth of the third, fourth, and fifth cannot be stopped. From now on, I will say that I am a seller who splits rings.
I closed my eyes in a mixed feeling and then opened again. The ring that looked so lonely came into my eyes again.
‘…Someday I’ll have something to write about.’
But is it an hallucination?
It sounds like you’re cursing that the ring is a fucking asshole.