3. The Libertine, Dalton Racers
Since it was genuinely dazzling, I squinted my eyes tightly. At that, the blond man giggled softly.
"My appearance does shine."
I stared at his face with squinted eyes. Surprisingly, he was a man even more handsome than Arwin.
His skin was exceedingly pale, and his face was somehow smaller than mine. The part of him that drew the most attention was his eyes. Because the colors of his two eyes were different.
"Odd eyes?"
"Correct. Feels like you'll be sucked in, doesn't it?"
I nodded my head as there was no way to deny it. The right side was golden, and the left was silver. Truly profound eyes.
The thought suddenly struck me that I wanted to reach out and touch those strange eyes. In fact, I even reached out a little. Though I pulled back quickly.
Anyway, this handsome man with odd eyes. Somehow, he doesn't feel unfamiliar.
Usually, I don't have much interest in outside affairs, meaning nobles other than my master Arwin Asta, but there was a famous odd-eyed person within the Empire even I knew of.
Dalton Racers. I even knew his name precisely.
He was the most successful and competent mage in the Empire. I had heard that if he waved his hand in a good mood, flowers would bloom on dry branches, and if he waved his hand in anger, a fierce storm would strike.
It was a story completely unimaginable to me, an exceedingly ordinary person. The fact that such a person was right in front of my eyes was also an unimaginable story.
But strangely, I had an odd conviction that he was likely Dalton.
"Dalton...?"
I seemed to have mastered calling people by their names as I pleased, transcending status. seeing as I called his name without hesitation.
Perhaps he might get angry and wave his hand. Then would a fierce storm strike? I imagined a storm striking above my head.
Why do I feel like that would be cool?
However, instead of waving his hand, he smiled quietly. It was a smile beautiful enough to make one's heart ache. That smile was also a smile meaning affirmation.
This person. He was Dalton after all.
Besides the fact that he was a mage with odd eyes, there was one more famous fact about Dalton.
That was,
"The Libertine, Dalton Racers."
The fact that he was a libertine.
Not a wanderer, but a libertine. He acted as if he had no intention of behaving like a wise man with his handsome face and brilliant talent.
He met with the Princess of the Empire, met with wealthy widows, and even met with other races.
Since he didn't meet them secretly, his relationships with women were truly famous within the Empire. To the point where even bards had songs about his relationships with women.
But is it okay for me to openly call Dalton a libertine? This time, a storm might really strike. He might get angry at me for calling the beautiful mage Dalton a libertine.
Fortunately, he burst into hearty laughter that seemed to shake the garden. At least he didn't look angry.
Watching his laughter, I murmured as if talking to myself. It was sincerity that flowed out inadvertently.
"...I want to become a libertine too."
Just how good were his ears? He understood my words at once and withdrew his laughter a little. A calm smile lingered on his face.
"It's the first time I've met such a headache of a maid."
His odd eyes twinkled with a bright gleam. They shone so brightly that I had no choice but to repeat,
"Ah, it's dazzling."
"I came to find Arwin."
He spoke of the appointed business as if spitting it out. He might have actually made an appointment to meet Arwin.
"First, could you guide me to where Arwin is?"
"...."
"That is, if your time lying down is over. If you want to continue lying down, I'll look for someone else."
With the words that there was no need for that, I stood up completely. Grass was stuck all over my hair and clothes. As I helplessly dusted off my clothes, I inadvertently looked at Dalton.
Dalton's eyes, which were looking at me, had narrowed. They bore a cool light for some unknown reason. I couldn't know the reason for his suddenly cold gaze.
When I hesitated a little, Dalton smiled broadly as if nothing had happened. Then, the coolness I had momentarily felt from him disappeared completely.
Was it my imagination?
"Follow me."
I picked up the broom I had thrown away and took the lead. Dalton, who was much taller than me, followed behind me like a puppy.
He spoke to me in a bright voice, no different from when we first met.
"Hey, maid. What's your name?"
He asked as if he wanted to conduct a census.
"Iphoe Bell."
"A maid as expected?"
"As you can see."
"Then why did you want to become a libertine?"
"Because I don't want to live pretending not to be anymore."
Because I want to live as I please before I die. I couldn't say that much and opened the front door. Dalton entered the mansion with the words, "Excuse me, then."
We walked down the hallway together. Even while walking down the hallway, Dalton asked me several questions.
"Does Iphoe respect the libertine me?"
"Immensely."
At my ready answer, Dalton giggled quietly. It seems my answer was funny.
"Good, I'll teach you. But meeting Arwin comes first."
I nodded, then suddenly became curious why Dalton, the Archmage, had come to find Arwin.
To my knowledge, this was the first time a mage had visited Arwin's mansion. And Arwin was a person distant from magic.
I had never seen him handle matters related to magic. Ah, of course, Arwin's face is profoundly beautiful, as if magic was used on it.
Arwin and a mage. What intersection exists between the two?
I stopped in front of a certain room. It was Arwin's office. Before announcing Dalton's arrival to Arwin, I stared at him intently for the last time. Dalton's odd eyes took on a questioning light.
"I have something I'm curious about. If you wave your hand, do flowers really bloom, and do storms strike?"
Those were things I had been very curious about since the moment I first saw Dalton. Since I was dying soon, I didn't want to let my curiosities slide vaguely.
Dalton wore a thoughtful expression for a moment, then raised his hand slightly. His white, slender hand cut across the air horizontally just once. Then, spring arrived.
"Wow."
It was cherry blossoms.
Cherry blossoms of unknown origin scattered profusely around us. Within them was the scent of spring I had forgotten for a long time. A warm scent.
"I can remind you of the spring you had forgotten for a moment."
It was a spring I would never see again. Because in three months, around midwinter, I was scheduled to die. Then, I couldn't help but feel somewhat sorrowful.
When I reached out, cherry blossom petals fell onto my palm. I engraved the outline of the cherry blossoms, which might be the last, onto my palm. It was a sensation I didn't want to forget.
"...Are you crying?"
Dalton's flustered voice was heard.
As I hurriedly raised my other hand to touch my eyes, tears were flowing as usual. Just a couple of drops.
"Because it's so pretty."
I just spat out my curiosity as it came to mind, but my luck was quite good this time too. Why couldn't I have lived like this sooner?
Dalton tapped the top of my head a couple of times with that pretty hand that had gifted the rain of flowers and said,
"You are prettier."
Indeed, a line befitting a libertine.
"Maid Iphoe Bell. Could you wait for me here? I'll meet Arwin and come out quickly."
I nodded as if possessed by something. My heart, which had become mushy from shedding tears, had absolutely no room to spit out a refusal.
Not even a little bit.
I waited motionless for Dalton, who had gone in to meet Arwin.
The spring he had gifted had stopped, but one cherry blossom petal still remained on my palm.
I brought it to the tip of my nose. Then, it really smelled of flowers. A mage who recreates even the scent. I feel anew that he is a great mage.
If, really just in case, I happen to stay alive until spring comes, what would my future self look like?
I didn't need anything else; I just wanted to sweep Arwin's room no different from usual.
In other words, it was purely a thought of wanting to live. A thought of wanting to live and continue loving Arwin.
Even if my love ends up remaining unrequited. Even if I end up marrying another man in the future. I wanted to cherish my feelings for Arwin for a long time.
Did he become a bit more special because we spent a night together?
Only after a long time did Dalton open the door and come out. He waved his hand small at me and made an apologetic face. Like a person late for an appointment with a long-time lover.
"Did you wait long? The talk got quite long."
I shook my head. It seemed at least thirty minutes had passed, but it wasn't that long of a time. More than that, I was curious about what Arwin and Dalton talked about.
I couldn't really imagine the shape of a conversation between Dalton's positive voice and Arwin's indifferent voice. Perhaps because of that, a whimsical wish arose to see them conversing at least once before I die.
As soon as I thought of Arwin, the thought that I missed him even arose. But I had no justification to enter his room as I pleased. So, I started walking down the hallway with Dalton.
The destination was unknown. Since I couldn't stay in front of Arwin's office, I started walking, and Dalton followed quietly behind me like a puppy again.
I spoke to him to ask about our destination.
"Archmage."
"What? What is that strange title?"
"Then what shall I call you?"
"It's good to call me like before."
Dalton smiled small.
Like before meant....
"The Libertine, Dalton Racers...?"
At my call, Dalton let out a scoff. He swept his hair back smoothly and answered.
"Could you leave out 'Libertine'?"
"Yes, Dalton."
I called his name without hesitation. Calling someone of high status by their name was quite exciting. It felt as if I were in the same position as him.
"Since the word libertine came up... you said you wanted to become a libertine, right?"
As I nodded my head affirming that, Dalton's face slowly tilted towards me. Soon, he whispered small into my ear.
"Then, could you sleep with me too?"
He spoke truly nonchalantly. As if asking, 'Did you breathe today?'
His lips, which were whispering sweetly, slyly touched the tip of my ear. I couldn't know if it was intentional or not.
However, apart from his intention, I felt his lips completely. Enough to get goosebumps all over my body. It was quite an erotic chill.
Did Dalton maintain his libertine life in this way? I slightly admired his skill in inadvertently disturbing a woman's heart.
We naturally stopped walking. Dalton lifted his lowered head and waited for my answer. I was at a loss for what to answer, and tired of waiting, he spoke first.
"This kind of line, it's very old-fashioned, but. You are different from other women, so I'm interested."
"It really is old-fashioned."
"Haha. Right? But sometimes old-fashioned works properly. Since new pick-up lines aren't always hits."
I fell into thought. Could I have relations with a man I'm seeing for the first time, and a libertine like Dalton Racers at that? read more on brightnovels.com