BID Chapter 38

‘Again, my hair is a mess.’

Despite not having extremely curly hair, I pulled out a comb from the drawer as I noticed my hair sticking out again.

The peculiar hair color, which was neither a deep brown nor a golden hue, had lightened as I aged. Of course, I couldn’t ignore the red undertone from my mother’s genetics that still remained. The stubborn texture that stuck out every morning had been a source of frustration since my childhood.

“I’ve grown up, shouldn’t my hair learn to behave a bit more?”

Grumbling, I diligently tidied my hair. It was a daily routine I complained about every morning, but it was essential.

“Ah.”

As I put down the comb, I sighed at the sight of the invitation on the dresser. It was the social debut invitation my mother had given me yesterday with a bright smile. The old-fashioned decoration caught my eye, but I wasn’t really concerned about it. The contents inside were so dreadful that I had no mind to appreciate the decoration.

“Me, in high society.”

Eighteen years old.

I couldn’t believe it had been four years since I started self-studying magic. But what troubled me more was the fact that I could no longer delay my social debut.

This invitation was more of a mandate than an invitation. My mother had only given it to me now, but she had likely wanted to hand it to me several times before.

In the kingdom, most nobles made their social debut at about ten years old. So at eighteen, I was nearly at the deadline for a social debut.

“What can I do about being unwell?”

Of course, I had been in poor health from the age of ten to fourteen. And since then, I had been feigning illness to buy time for studying magic. As a result, my fate, which had ballooned like a snowball, had finally caught up to me.

“It’s like a military draft notice.”

The paper in my hand was a very fancy invitation, unlike the one I had received before enlisting in South Korea. However, in my experience, it was almost like being drafted. High society. I had no social skills, and I had spent my days gloomily studying magic indoors. I had no idea how well I would fit in.

“The only people I’ve dealt with so far are the duke, my mother, and the servants…”

Moreover, due to the reclusive nature of our family, I had been even more isolated than others. It was no use worrying about it now. Noble children had to make their social debut before turning eighteen, so I could not delay it any longer.

“It’s the last chance to find someone to marry.”

Eighteen was already considered the age for marriage in this world. Most nobles my age had already adapted to high society. If someone my age had not made their social debut, it was considered a problem with the individual. In such cases, the royal family sometimes intervened, asking the family to explain what was wrong with their child.

I didn’t understand why noble children had to explain their flaws to the royal family, but anyway, the delayed social debut of a child often tarnished the family’s honor.

“So troublesome…”

I wondered why I had to attend parties where people only laughed and chatted, but regardless of my doubts, I chose to conform to the world I belonged to.

I didn’t want to bring shame to my mother, who was actively traveling to the capital, because my social debut was delayed.

“I owe at least that much to my mother, who raised me well, and to this family that supported me financially.”

I carefully unfolded the invitation. It congratulated me on my eighteenth birthday and invited me to a banquet at the palace within the year. Additionally, it mentioned that this invitation would allow me to attend any family’s banquet, something like that…

“Ha.”

I played with my unruly hair and then placed the invitation back on the table. Erhan, whom I had briefly met in the greenhouse four years ago, had not returned to the mansion, but was said to be quite active in high society. Probably, most nobles my age had already made their debuts.

“Time really flies.”

Eighteen. The age just one year shy of adulthood.

The fact that I had lived in this world for nearly eighteen years was quite astonishing. The recent four years felt like the fastest in my life.

From fourteen to eighteen, I had filled my days so exhaustingly that anyone who saw me would wonder why I lived like that.

I had spent every day the Duke was away immersing myself in a room filled with grimoires. I opened that eerie and frightening sixth door countless times, studying until I collapsed. I never skipped a day, even when I felt so unwell that I thought I might lose consciousness at any moment.

No, I couldn’t skip.

“Zachary.”

Because Zachary was with me.

As if by coincidence, the moment I thought of him, Zachary appeared, walking towards me like a ghost. I observed him anew.

His large frame strode towards me. The magical barrier cloth made from the silk of the spring spiders fluttered, covering his face. Although his face was completely hidden, his presence wasn’t. Despite his large body, his face was quite small, and his movements overflowed with dignity.

‘I wonder if he exercises secretly.’

Or maybe it’s some kind of protagonist’s buff. Affected by the magic, he was by my side all day, yet strangely, his physique had grown robust. And now, his body had shed the semblance of a boy and felt more like that of an adult.

“Good day.”

There was another significant change between us.

A low voice, like a gentle scratch in the ears, flowed from him.

“Uh, yeah…”

I was always flustered whenever I heard his voice.

Zachary had recently learned to speak. Of course, it took a lot of effort from both of us to get to this point. To suppress the effects of the sacred power sealing magic engraved on my wrist, I really had to…

‘I feel like crying.’

The extent of my struggles.

“Speak quietly. What if someone hears?”

But it was a secret from the Duke.

Although he had started to speak, he couldn’t freely express his own will yet. Nonetheless, I saw this as a very positive sign.

As soon as he began to speak, I was careful to instruct him never to raise his voice in front of the Duke. We couldn’t risk the Duke enhancing the magical seals if he found out.

Because of this, I was always cautious around the Duke. No matter how loyal Zachary was to me, he would surely obey the Duke more. Therefore, if the Duke suddenly ordered Zachary to speak, I feared he would immediately comply.

“Good morning.”

“There he goes again, talking…”

Zachary was carelessly casual, but fortunately, the Duke never asked him to speak.

For about a year, the Duke was very wary of Zachary. However, as time passed and Zachary continued to show unconditional obedience, and since there were no signs of the Kingdom or Empire seeking him, the Duke seemed to care less. More precisely, the Duke became preoccupied with his suddenly increased workload and seemed to let his guard down due to the bandage around his neck…

“Here is your wash water.”

Sometimes, though, I wished Zachary hadn’t started talking.

When the seal on his tongue turned black and died, allowing Zachary to speak, I was full of expectation. But his first words were…

“Young Master.”

Just that. A title that sent shivers down my spine just by hearing it.

…To think that a potential calamity would call me ‘Young Master’ – could there be anything more terrifying?

I’ve been hearing this title for nearly a year now, but it always feels new.

I’ve tried to stop him, of course. I begged him not to do it, but to no avail. Even if his tongue was now free from the spell, as long as the fundamental brainwashing magic wasn’t undone, he would continue to obey me. This meant I was doomed to hear that bizarre title for the foreseeable future.

“It’s driving me insane.”

The more respectfully he treated me, the more it felt like my lifespan was decreasing by a year each time. I desperately wished he wouldn’t be so subservient to me.

“You don’t have to do that…”

Above all, I was still not used to Zachary taking care of me.

Zachary, who had naturally knelt in front of me, set down the tray he was holding beside him. Then, he started to wipe my face with a warm towel he had soaked in water. His touch was careful and delicate, as if he was handling a finely crafted artifact.

He could have been rougher, but he carefully cleaned my face, making sure not to scratch my skin.

His touch was ticklish. Whether it was just my feeling or not, Zachary’s care became more embarrassing as time passed. Probably, the biggest reason was that Zachary and I were of a similar age.