Chapter 98 - A New Friend

“I know it’s late, but I render thanks to you and apologize. Now—,” Charles said.

“It’s alright, Sir Charles. I’ve already forgotten about that long ago,” Azriel said, waving her hands to refuse Charles’ apology.

She was speaking the truth. It was a shocking incident, but other things were more shocking to Azriel back then rather than the events related to Charles-the things that Rhema did, the decision he made to leave her, or the fact that she killed a knight by moving mana.

‘I should be able to control it if I learn dragon eye magic properly,’ she thought as she looked into her palm. That was one of her reasons that she wanted to learn dragon eye magic.

Charles’ face turned a little strange to hear her remarks. “You’ve forgotten about it? As for me, I could never forget that incident… No, never mind. I wasn’t going to say such things,” Charles wiped his face with his hands and continued. “I went to Hanora Village as soon as the situation settled, but the village was empty, and I couldn’t even find your trace.”

“I’m not surprised that you couldn’t find me. I left the village for personal reasons,” Azriel said.

“Was it because of that incident? Was it because of me?” he asked.

“It’s not because of you, Sir Chalres,” she replied. The incident related to Charles was a trigger, but that was not the only reason. It was between Rhema and her.

“Can you tell me what it was about?” Charles asked.

“I’m sorry. I’m afraid I can’t,” Azriel refused with a smile. Charles opened his mouth to say something but shut it back. Then he looked at her quietly and covered his mouth slightly with his hand.

“Are you 19 this year?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m a grown-up,” she answered.

“I see…,” he gazed at her strangely. When Azriel was about to get a little nervous, he quick-wittedly took his eyes off. “You are a pupil of the wizard who was there at that time?”

“Yes. I learned magic from him,” she said.

“I thought so, I’ve never seen a wizard like you once. The pupil of the Wizard of the Horizon…,” Charles let out a sigh in a low voice. Then, he rubbed his face again as if he was trying to wake himself up. Meanwhile, Azriel glanced at the time. She had a reason for visiting the society.

‘I shouldn’t be too late,’ she thought. She and Rhema had a plan to study about her familiar spirit, Marthicoras. She was glad and surprised at the same time to meet someone whom she had never thought she would meet again, but she already knew that he was doing well from rumors. ‘I’ve talked to him for some time. Now, I should get going.’

“Well, Sir Charles…,” she opened her mouth.

“Oh, I apologize. I’m a little out of it now,” Charles flinched and apologized as he had been gawking at her. Azriel smiled.

“That’s alright. You must be very busy. I don’t know about state affairs or politics, but I know Sir Charles’ achievements are marvelous.”

She had been helped directly by his policy before. She could get out of a dead end thanks to the abolishment of slavery. Azriel said wholeheartedly. “I was lucky that I was able to save you, Sir Charles. So, you don’t have to be sorry anymore.”

She slightly bowed her head. “Thank you for becoming an excellent king. I hope that you continue to do well.”

With her last remarks, she ended the conversation and stood up from her seat. When she lifted her body, he rushed to shout. “W, wait!”

“Pardon me?” she turned to him.

“It’s not that I was busy. I was not out of it because I was busy. It was because I was too surprised to see you again. I’m not busy. I’m very free.”

Hearing his words that were gushed out flusteredly, Sir Ash, who had been standing in one corner like a shadow, cleared his throat. Ignoring that, Charles continued. “There’s something I want to ask you. I’ve always been curious about it…”

“Please go ahead,” she said politely.

Charles hesitated and touched the sides of his mouth repeatedly. Then, he took a deep breath and asked as if he was vomiting words. “Azriel Esthera. Do you really not regret helping me?”

“…Pardon?”

“Didn’t you regret helping a leader like me? Didn’t you think that you helped me in vain? I’d like you to be honest,” he stared at her like a convict who was waiting for a judgment. It was an attitude that did not match his dazzling blonde hair, handsome face, grace embedded in his body, and his status as a king who received praise and love at the same time. Startled, Azriel said. “What are you saying? A person like you? You are a good and wise king. Everyone says that they really like you and that you are great.”

“I’m not great at all. I am a pathetic person. I was ungrateful, stupid, and all talk. I realized that at the time,” Charles covered his face with trembling hands. “I said that I’d get you out without fail and that I was not an animal that was insensible of kindness, but I couldn’t do so in the end. I care more about my body, and for the reason that it hurt, I was going to give up on you.”

Has that happened? Azriel recalled her memory. Charles surely grabbed a dagger and attempted to cut his own finger. She clearly remembered the pale face of the boy, which was wet from his tears and sweat. “No, Sir Charles, you tried to save me for certain—”

“No. I was going to give up,” he sternly denied it and twisted the tip of his lips. It was a  self-mocking smile. “If only your use of ‘magic’ was a little late, I would’ve thrown away the dagger, saying that I couldn’t do it. I would’ve revealed my bottom plainly.”

Charles roughly pushed his hair up and spit out words. “I had a nightmare like that many times. It was pathetic. I am just that kind of person.”

His voice carried an awful sense of shame. His face distorted as if he was about to cry. His guard, Ash, was shocked to see him that way. He had been serving him as his lord for several years. The competent king had always been confident, calm, and composed. Ash had always been proud of the king and had never imagined once that there was such shame inside him. Charlene gushed out his heart that he had never shown to anyone for the past nine years before Azriel. “A wise king? What nonsense! How can someone, who turned away the one who helped him only because he doesn’t want to hurt his body, be called a great king? The one who can’t even keep his word is a wise king?”

“…”

“Even that throne is the result of your master’s punishment upon the people who were going to hurt you. I don’t have the qualities of a king—”

“Sir Charles,” Azriel  interrupted him.

Charles lifted his chin which he had buried in his hands. His face, which looked at her, had sunken in a moment of time like a person who had been haunted by nightmares for years.