The World Has Become Kinder to Her

**Chapter 7: A Life-or-Death Conversation**

Frederick’s lips curled into a sly smile.

“Loti, until I met you, I believed I was perfect.”

“…Well, you are perfect—except for your personality,” Lotus responded dryly.

“No. It wasn’t until I met you that I finally understood what excitement, anxiety, despair, and regret felt like.”

Lotus unconsciously bit her lip, but before she could do more damage, Frederick gently placed his fingers between her upper and lower lips.

“I don’t want you hurting your lips, so bite my finger instead.”

“…”

“What should I say?” He scrunched his nose and lips for a moment, thinking.

“If I could see you again, I wouldn’t care if I had no mana left in my body.”

That wasn’t just a statement about losing his qualifications as a mage—it was tantamount to saying he’d give up his life. It was as shocking as Kenneth’s calm but resolute confession had been.

“Does that answer your question?” he asked.

“…No.”

Lotus shook her head slowly, disbelief evident on her face.

“I… I thought your feelings toward me were more like how someone might feel about an interesting pet.”

Frederick’s expression stiffened. He looked as though she had struck a nerve.

“That’s my fault.”

“…”

“I’ll admit, at first, I did feel that way. It might sound like an excuse, but even I didn’t fully understand my feelings toward you.”

Frederick’s words came out slower than usual, and Lotus could tell he was trying to hide his trembling voice. His silver eyes sparkled like the moon reflecting on the sea.

“Loti, I’m sorry.”

“Frederick…”

“I regret so much, all the words and actions that hurt you. I’ve replayed them over and over in my mind, and I hate that I made similar mistakes in this life too.”

Frederick smiled brightly, despite the way his lips trembled from the weight of his regret.

“I love you, more than anyone in this world.”

“…”

“Can’t you give me just one chance? A chance to apologize properly and confess my feelings honestly?”

Lotus didn’t know how to respond to the man clinging to her so earnestly.

Love. The word felt as foreign to her as something from another world—an untranslatable concept. Even the small affection she received from those around her made her uneasy, so Frederick’s intense, heartfelt love felt overwhelming, like an unreachable ideal.

“If it’s too much, then at least… until you find someone you truly love, can you allow me to stay by your side?”

“I’m not worth all of this from you.”

“Don’t say that. It breaks my heart,” Frederick whispered, pulling her hand to his chest, hoping she could feel his heart pounding, fast and strong.

“Loti…”

“I don’t even know what love is. And I don’t think I’m capable of truly loving anyone.”

The moment she realized her feelings for Rikheus had been nothing more than a misunderstanding, she gave up on love entirely. It was too fragile, too fleeting—something as uncertain as love could only ever be a passing fever for someone like her.

“I’ll wait as long as it takes,” Frederick said softly.

“…”

“It’s okay if you never figure it out. Just don’t push me away.”

“I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry.”

Those were the only words Lotus could offer him. But Frederick didn’t despair. Compared to the agonizing despair he had faced in the past, this was nothing. After all, she was alive, he could hear her voice, and he could even hold her in his arms.

“I didn’t mean to burden you.”

“…”

“I’ve just gotten ahead of myself again. As an apology, after we visit Theodore’s estate, I’ll treat you to a really nice meal.”

“…Somehow, I don’t think that’s really an apology.”

“Yeah, it’s a date request too. You’ve got to be shameless to win over a beauty.”

Lotus couldn’t quite grasp what kind of mood Frederick was in as he said that with a smile. A dull ache formed in a corner of her heart.

“Even though it was forced, you gave me this mana stone bracelet, so I’ll treat you to a meal.”

“Sounds good.”

Frederick’s easy smile, as if just being together was enough for him, left an impression on Lotus’s heart.

***

Unlike Frederick, Kenneth wasn’t good at dealing with women. He wasn’t as skilled in conversation as Theodore either. He didn’t have the talent to craft protective gear like a mana stone bracelet for the woman he loved, nor did he have the brains to devise intricate strategies to protect her. 

The one thing Kenneth excelled at was cutting down enemies with his sword.

At least in this, he was grateful that he could be of help. 

The night had only just begun. There was still plenty of time to deal with the unfinished business from earlier. Now that Frederick had regained consciousness, and the protective barrier around Lotus had become even stronger, Kenneth felt comfortable leaving the Estelle estate.

The attack by Gaap had been cowardly yet dangerous. He wondered if Lotus had gone through another terrifying experience because of him.

Gaap had used his position to tamper with the emperor’s gifts for the captains and vice-captains of the knight orders. The brooch, embedded with peridot, carried a spell designed to spread discord and subtly manipulate Hession’s mind, with Lotus as the primary target.

Even though Kenneth was supposed to be on leave, he had stopped by the imperial palace due to the Zahard family incident. It was there that he noticed the tampering on the brooch faster than anyone else. After subduing the vice-captain of the First Knight Order and destroying the brooch, Kenneth rushed to the Estelle estate. 

But the moment he left the palace, five *Escquatch*—beasts with an incredibly high resistance to physical attacks—appeared in the streets of the capital, as if they had been waiting for him.

Chaos erupted. The streets filled with the screams of civilians. The five creatures, which resembled panthers and had bodies coated in the strongest metal known as *Fortin*, charged at Kenneth.

Normally, taking them down would have taken quite some time. But he couldn’t afford to be late. The despair of failing to protect someone he loved once before had been enough. Kenneth chose to take risks, allowing himself to be injured while delivering fatal blows to the beasts.

In exchange for quickly eliminating the five Escquatch, he sustained a significant wound to his side. Thankfully, his dark navy uniform helped hide the bloodstains.

“You idiot, how badly are you hurt?” Frederick asked, casting a healing spell on Kenneth the moment he left Lotus’s room.

“Five Escquatch showed up in the capital.”

“Unbelievable! That bastard’s losing it. Theodore said he thought Gaap would calm down for a while if he had the ability to think rationally.”

Theodore William was known for being able to predict variables like this. He might not have mentioned it because he expected either Frederick or Kenneth to handle the situation quietly. 

Instead of explaining all of this, Kenneth gave a simple answer. “It’s a sign of his growing desperation. Theodore’s keeping his influence in check, and he still can’t get close to Lotus.”

“You were scratched by the Escquatch’s claws, weren’t you? Wounds caused by Fortin…”

Frederick trailed off, knowing the kind of scars those injuries would leave.

“They’ll leave marks. But it’s fine,” Kenneth responded flatly.

Frederick cast a high-level healing spell, but four long claw marks still remained on Kenneth’s side.

“The brooches were gifts from the emperor, distributed to each captain and vice-captain of the knight orders. We still have nine more to destroy.”

“You and I can handle those easily enough,” Frederick said, confident.

But Kenneth shook his head. 

“Why?” Frederick asked, puzzled.

“I’ll handle the brooches. You stay and protect Lotus. The variables are growing, and the barrier needs to be stronger. You’re better at defense, and I’m more skilled at silently taking out enemies.”

This was why Kenneth had ventured out tonight. As he silently leapt across rooftops, using them like stepping stones, his movements were quiet and swift. 

In the places where Kenneth passed, the moonlight gently descended.

***

The next morning, Jane eyed Lotus with a suspicious look as she examined her neck.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Lotus asked.

“Well…”

Jane hesitated, her voice small as she finally answered, “I… I had a dream that someone was choking you, my lady.”

Of course, Lotus’s neck was spotless, thanks to Manores’s healing.

“Hmm, maybe you had that dream because you dislike me?” Lotus teased, trying to deflect the conversation.

“N-no! My lady, I would never—” Jane’s face turned bright red as she quickly denied it, jumping in her flustered state. Lotus kept up her act, grateful that Frederick’s magic had worked so perfectly.

Hession, too, came to see her before leaving for the palace, his face still clouded with unease.

“Do you think I had that dream because you hate me, brother?” she teased him, much like she had with Jane.

Unlike Jane, however, Hession took it much more seriously, so much so that he seemed ready to skip work and explain himself at length. Lotus had to assure him it was only a joke to calm him down.

After dealing with both of them, Frederick slipped into her room through the window, bringing news from Theodore.

“He said we can come today. We’ll use teleportation magic. But Theodore suggests keeping our movements secret, so it’s best if we don’t let anyone know. Kenneth mentioned he has some business to take care of, so he’ll be moving separately.”

Fortunately, Frederick hadn’t let anyone at the Estelle estate know that he had already recovered. He and Lotus decided to leave doppelganger dolls enchanted with illusion magic in their places. 

Frederick’s doll would appear to still be in a state of exhaustion, and Lotus’s doll would give the impression that she was unwell and resting in bed for the day. The doppelgangers had their limitations—they would disappear if touched and could only repeat a few simple phrases—but it was the best solution they had for now.

After entrusting Manores with their safety should anything happen, they teleported to Theodore’s estate.

The white light of the teleportation faded, and familiar surroundings came into view. The sitting room in Theodore’s guesthouse looked just as Lotus remembered from the last time she had been there.

Theodore and Kenneth were seated on the sofa, waiting for them.

“Welcome back to my estate, Lotus,” Theodore said as he approached, pulling her arm gently as if to kiss the back of her hand.

His movements were a bit rougher than expected, and Lotus found herself falling into his arms. Seizing the moment, Theodore leaned in and kissed her—something no one had anticipated.

Lotus’s eyes widened in shock. His lips pressed against hers, and before she could even react, his tongue slipped between her parted lips.

It was her first kiss in this life.

“Lotus!”

“You bastard!”

Kenneth and Frederick both lunged toward them, but Salia, Theodore’s familiar, blocked their path.

“Step aside!” Frederick shouted, his face dark with anger.

「Sorry. My contractor’s orders come first. He promised it would only be for a moment.」

The confrontation lasted only a few seconds before the sharp sound of a slap rang out. 

Theodore’s head whipped to the side, Lotus’s handprint clearly visible on his cheek. His glasses had shifted slightly from the force of the blow. He calmly adjusted them before speaking.

“Don’t cry. You can hit me more if you want.”

“Do you think I’m going to cry?” Lotus’s voice was cold.

“No, but just in case,” Theodore replied nonchalantly.

Lotus’s lips trembled, but it wasn’t from tears—it was from sheer frustration. When their lips had met, something had slipped into her mouth, and that’s when she realized the true purpose of the sudden kiss.

“What did you make me ingest?” she demanded, her voice icy.

“It’s just a supplement. You’ll regain full physical balance within a day.”

“And did I ask for that?”

Lotus’s voice was dripping with sarcasm, a tone that Theodore surely couldn’t have missed. But he remained unfazed, as though he had fully expected this reaction.

“I simply did what I said I would do—whatever I wanted.”

Their gazes locked, her green eyes simmering with anger and his violet eyes as calm as ever. For a moment, it looked as if Lotus might slap him again, but instead, her arm dropped to her side.

Theodore frowned slightly. He seemed displeased, as if her decision not to strike him again was the last thing he had wanted.