Chapter 32

Citrina did not write to Desian and Aron.

She was determined to succeed and return.

She thought of them while listening to the little melody flowing from the music box that Gemma strangely liked.

‘When I hear the sound of this music box, I think of them.’

Her mind was naturally at peace.

… Through various events, Citrina was recognized by Oslo for her ability.

It was not common for people to become disciples in the scrutiny of the dwarf Oslo after a year. That’s why, at that time, Citrina Foluin faced an unexpected request.

It was a request from Oslo, her mentor and a renowned dwarf.

“Citrina, would you please deliver this sword to the Imperial Selen Knight Academy?”

“If it’s the Imperial Selen Knight Academy, isn’t it in the Patrosia Empire?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Citrina knew the place very well. It’s the fateful place where Elena and Aron met for the first time.

“Why do I need to go?” Citrina asked briefly.

Oslo replied with a sigh, “The person who identified the magic stone in the sword asked me to send you in person. I could not refuse because it was a request from a noble person.”

“That person asked me to go myself? One would have to take a boat to the Patrosia Empire…”

“A boat? You’re a late bearer of news, Citrina.” Oslo laughed loudly.

“A new road was constructed that connects the two Empires. Just ride a carriage and go comfortably.”

Citrina grinned.

The road from where she came from, Patrosia Empire to the Drip Empire, where the Ronata Atelier was located, was too rugged. So when she went to Ronata Atelier, she went by boat…

“There was a rumor with regards to a tower one would pass by on the way to the Drip Empire, and the one caught by the people of the tower would become puppets. Have you heard the axes of evil?” Citrina asked carefully in doubt.

“Oslo, there… I know there are two towers.”

Oslo shook his head, “To be precise,’were there.’ Do you know the Duke of Pietro of the Patrosia Empire? He said he pioneered the land route linking the Patrosia Empire and the Drip Empire. In the meantime, the dark tower disappeared without a sound. It became a relic of history.”

Listening to Oslo’s explanation, Citrina fell into thoughts.

‘Duke Pietro? Wasn’t the duke too ill to awaken again? If not, maybe… Is it Desian?’

She had spent the past year in the atelier diligently distinguishing different stones and gems, and making beautiful jewelries.

Citrina was surprisingly ignorant of the outside news. Moreover, the rumors about the Duke of Pietro did not catch her ears surprisingly.

‘I’m glad, but for whatever reason, I don’t think it was Desian. I believe he’s not going to do something that wouldn’t bring much benefit.’

Before the thoughts got complicated, Oslo spoke again, “What do you think?”

“Ah.”

Thanks to Oslo’s question, Citrina was barely able to escape from her recollections of the past.

“It will be a safe travel path, so just have fun.”

“I just need to properly inform the value of the gem and deliver the sword, right?”

“Yes. Call the carriage and the escort. There is the name of the sword master in this, so when you arrive at the academy, try to solve it. It will be fun.”

‘Fun?’

Oslo traveled occasionally, it was due to the curious nature of dwarves.

With a small letter in her hand, loosely tied with a paper string, Citrina began packing her clothes.

Oslo laughed softly as he watched Citrina take all of her clothes.

After riding the carriage with her escort, Citrina arrived at the Selen Academy not long after.

Oslo’s words were certainly not just pretense. The road that connects the two empires was beautiful. There was a scent of flowers, and even the wind that goes along with it was calming.

‘I feel like I’m going on a trip.’

Citrina carefully unfolded the note Oslo handed him. And she was speechless. In the note, the name was perfectly clear.

‘Deliver the sword to Aron Pietro?’

It was Aron Pietro.

Citrina saw Aron’s name after a very long time. Still, as time passed, her surprise subsided to some extent.

As she was putting her thoughts together, she arrived in front of Selen Knight Academy. Not long after getting off the carriage, Citrina was able to see the owner of the sword.

“Citrina!”

At the academy’s noisy entrance, he waived his hand several times. She realized that he waited for her for quite some time.

“Aron, it’s been a while!”

Citrina laughed and quickly walked towards him. Aron smiled brightly like the person she met yesterday. Excluding the slightly broader shoulders and more mature appearance, he surprisingly still has the same personality as before.

“Citrina! How are you?”

“I’m good. You?”

“Look at this, Citrina.”

Aron showed her the two short swords he had in his hand. It was the sword that Citrina gifted. He said, crying, “The sword you gave me broke.”

“Aron, you didn’t cry, did you?”

His expression looked so sad that she wanted to tease him, but he quietly avoided her gaze. Somehow, he had a straight face.

“St, still Citrina! I’m happy that you came. Shall we go in?”

He looked reverent as if he had finished his oath as a knight.

“Yes. Let’s go in.”

In line with Aron’s rhythm, she put her hands over his extended hands.

On the way to the small reception room inside the Academy, apart from the joy of meeting Aron, she was a bit embarrassed.

She can feel other people’s gaze towards them. It looks like Aron is a celebrity of this academy.

‘What are you doing?’

Citrina didn’t care much about what people said or whether they looked at them. Aron, too, was completely focused on Citrina and didn’t give others any of his attention.

“In fact, I don’t know which shop I bought the sword from.”

“Is that so? Your name has spread all the way here, Citrina.”

“My name?”

“Yes. I was looking for someone to repair the sword you gave me after it broke, but I heard your name. It is said that you are the dwarf’s favorite disciple.”

“Have the rumors come this far?”

That’s not a good sign. Her younger sister, Elena Foluin, must have also heard about Citrina.

Aron, not being aware of this, spoke again, “Yes. Your name had spread all the way here. That’s why I commissioned the dwarf to make a special order!”

Aron smiled as if he had returned to the child from before.

“Because I missed you!”

“Thank you for remembering me. Actually, I thought I’d only be able to see you when I come back to the Empire-… I’m glad to meet you like this.”

“That… Actually, I was a little worried. Since you looked so determined when you left, I thought that if I invited you, you would come to hate me.”

Seeing Aron being hesitant, she recalled the past. Was she so determined?

“I did?”

Everything was from a year ago, so her memory was a little hazy like a fog. However, if friends from the past came, she didn’t intend to reject or hate them…

The door to the reception room opened while Citrina thought about it. There was no one inside.

They faced each other with a table between them.

“Then I’ll explain the sword now.”

“There is a magic stone in the handle of this sword. For its appraisal, I wrote down the color and transparency of the magic stone, the cutting method, and the presence or absence of magic power. It’s not a magic sword, so it’s enough to just put effort when using it.”

Citrina put both the paper and sword down side by side on the table. Aron, who was looking at her, nodded a little.

“Citrina, you’re just like an expert!” Aron exclaimed in admiration and blew a small whistle.

“Thank you. Check it.”

After handing over both the appraisal and sword, there was nothing more to say. Citrina was the first to stop. Aron didn’t miss Citrina’s slight hesitation.

“Citrina, do you have anything to say?”

“That… Nothing special. Desian, how is he?”

“Yes. Wouldn’t he be well?”

“Is he still being kind?”

“Un? Brother? Yes. He’s… Kind. Very kind!”

There was a little bit of hesitation, but Citrina closed her eyes and smiled as she heard Aron’s cheerful voice.

“Actually, I am curious about the news that Duke Pietro pioneered a road linking the Drip Empire and the Patrosia Empire.”

“What about it?”

“That thing, maybe… Did Desian do it?”

“That… I think it would be better to ask everything directly to my brother,” Aron answered ambiguously.

She thought it would be too straightforward to ask,’Did Desian become the Duke?’

‘Later… When I see him, should I ask in person?’

“Citrina, pay attention to me.”

“Huh?”

“Do you have any questions for me?”

“A lot. There are so many.”

Citrina laughed softly. Soon afterward, Aron asked pitifully.

“Citrina.”

“Huh?”

“Your ideal type of kind and affectionate man, is it still the same?”

‘Ideal type?’

She was reminded of what happened a long time ago when they asked about her ideal type. The memory is a little vague, but…

‘Why is Aron so serious?’

Citrina faced him, and slowly nodded.

______________________________________