For You In The Cage - Chapter 81

Episode 81: An Undelivered Gift (V)

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In Pionia, wizards were easily accessible. For various reasons, Pionia was a holy place among wizards. So, the residents of Pionia had no prejudice against wizards. To them, wizards were neighbors, friends, teachers, and sometimes lovers and family members.

If you ask the residents, “What characteristics do wizards have?”

“Wizards are lazy, lack social skills, and will do anything for money.” They would say this while rolling their eyes.

The prejudice towards wizards that was widespread on the continent was not a prejudice, but a fact.

In fact, the wizards were so lazy that they wanted to do most of the work with magic. Since there were many days when they were alone in the laboratory, of course, their social skills were poor, and  they always struggled with poverty as they tried to cover the cost of their magic research.

Even a good wizard must have one of these three characteristics.

However, this story did not apply to the legendary wizard and idol of all wizards, Yulif. In particular, the first, laziness, was the most distant word to describe Yulif.

He fell asleep long after midnight and woke up before sunrise. Originally, he didn’t sleep a lot, but he extremely reduced his bedtime after regression. It was a shame that every minute and every second was limited. He thought, why save the body that will disappear in three months anyway?

The morning sun had dawned as long as they were handling the pile of backlogged tasks and preparing to catch Deltinus’s breath. Then, Yulif put the pen down and killed his thoughts, walking slowly as if strolling, going to Canaren’s room, the dressing room and the bathroom. It was a time when Canaren couldn’t possibly be awake, so he was able to walk with confidence.

He went back to the office and was in the middle of work when Derek knocked on the door for his morning report. Yulif received Derek’s report and left the office. After a brief magic check, it was time for Canaren to change her clothes in the dressing room.

Sometimes Yulif arrived too early. As her lovely voice chirping at Roana faded away, Yulif quietly stepped out from behind the wall and entered the dressing room.

Her scent drifted softly in the dressing room where Canaren had just stayed. Yulif took a deep breath in his lungs, trapping the sweet scent that would soon dissipate deep in his lungs. He followed her traces with his hand, swiping the vanity chair where she was supposed to be sitting, and staring intently into the mirror that had reflected her. It was the most desperate act, but someone might consider him a pervert.

Although he was pathetic that he could only do these things without her by his side, he thought he was lucky to be able to do these things.

Canaren, as long as she is alive. It’s good that It doesn’t matter if he has to be more pathetic than he is now.

When her body scent had completely disappeared, only then did Yulif move his feet. That was the reason why Yulif, who left the office before breakfast even started, always showed up in the dining room later than Canaren.

Of course, Yulif’s intentions were also included to some extent. He shouldn’t have gotten any closer to Canaren. If he didn’t have breakfast with her, he would really break into the bedroom, so he forced himself to sit despite wanting to cut their time together to as little as possible.

“Have a nice day, Yulif.”

Even so, Yulif couldn’t stand the kind greeting that Canaren gave him just before parting.

‘Have a nice day too. I hope you can only feel happiness by my side.’

He wanted to whisper back to her sweetly, tenderly, just like she did. No, he wanted to spend a happy day with Canaren.

He wanted to hold her hand and help her decorate the garden, take a walk together, and then when she got tired, hold her in his arms and take a lazy nap together. Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner together. Just before going to bed, drink warm milk mixed with honey, and then lie down in the same bed and fall asleep.

In the morning he could greet her, and he would be ecstatically happy.

Reality was cruel. Yulif turned his back on Canaren first, leaving behind his brilliant and empty imagination. Canaren’s gaze kept pulling his ankles, but he pretended not to know and walked forward.

When he returned to the office like that, his body and mind were completely exhausted and he was in a state where he did not want to do anything. It was the proper punishment for the sin of breaking her heart in the morning.

Today, Yulif, exhausted from despair, was standing in front of the office window. Tok tok. Just then, an unwelcomed knocking sound woke him up.

“Come in.”

“I just received news. From the Imperial Palace… uh… If you’re tired, should I come later?”

“From the Imperial Palace?”

The voice was low enough to feel a vibration. Derek, realizing that his superior’s condition wasn’t good, continued to speak hurriedly.

“The congratulatory group has departed. The representative is Count Knox. We can guess what the cause is. His Majesty is not in a good mood, so he’s sending you the wedding gift that he has not been able to give you.”

“Are there any other special features?”

“There is. First of all, the number of people is small for a congratulatory group, but there was one strange person involved. Rena Harrodsell.”

“Count Harrodsell is in prison. Did she just inherit the title?”

“No. Seeing that the list indicated her as ‘Rena Harrodsell’, not ‘Countess Rena Harrodsell’, it seems that she is coming instead of the count.”

Derek handed over the list. Having received the list, Yulif glanced at the densely written names. There were no names that stood out in particular. It was a problem if it was like this.

“He sent the daughter of a prisoner as part of the congratulatory group.”

Yulif said to himself and pondered. It smelled. A foul, vulgar stench of malice.

“What should I do?”

“They say that space movement magic is not permitted. If you insist on not giving permission, they will use the raid as an excuse.”

“Oh, I guess you don’t have to worry about that. In the first place, they didn’t ask for permission.”

“Why? How big is the congratulatory party?”

“It’s a decent size. I guess they’ll just trying to go overland. There is not a single wizard on the list.”

He had a strange feeling. All the people selected for this would all be losers who had been pushed out of the struggle. Like the representative, Count Knox, and the currently imprisoned Count Harrodsell. The two went back and forth between Yulif and Deltinus, looking for an opportunity, earning Deltinus’ hatred.

Other members of the congratulatory group must be in a similar situation.

It was impossible for Deltinus not let his people be accompanied by a wizard. Fortunately, he did reluctantly give up an imperial carriage as they were a congratulatory group sent by him. Though on the way to Pionia, it was clear that Deltinus intended for them to go through struggles.

“Then leave them alone. When the time is right, they will arrive.”

“Very well. Then it’s just…”

“Bring it.”

“Wait? What? I gave you the report in the morning. I left it on your desk, but you couldn’t find it?”

“Not that. The thing that was made a few days ago.”

“A few days ago, Oh…!”

Yulif glanced coldly at Derek, who was digging through his pockets. Derek didn’t know, but Yulif thought and pondered over and over until he said that. He didn’t want to look like a thug. However, straightforward words that overshadowed the time he had been worried about had to pop out.

“You’re talking about this, right?”

Derek held out an object the size of the palm of his hand, the white feathers rustling. Did she say ‘Alman’? Yulif took the net as if snatching it and looked at it. The white feathers tickling his fingers were unmistakably Canaren’s.

“Does Roana have one too?”

“Don’t you think so? At that time, she made it with Madam Canaren.”

“Take Roana’s as well. Bring everything you made that day.”

“Huuh? All of them? Impossible! Anyway, everything she made that day… Uhh…”

Derek covered his mouth with both his hands, as if he had mistakenly said something he shouldn’t. Yulif frowned and flicked his fingers. Derek’s mouth, which became loose in an instant, moved uncontrollably, pouring out the truth.

“Madam Canaren said that she would give one to each worker in the castle, so she must have already given them all out. I know that she wants to share what we made!”

“She’s going to share it?”

Yulif hasn’t received anything. In terms of the amount of work, the person who did the most in the duchy was none other than Yulif. But why didn’t he receive anything? Canaren, whom he had met only 30 minutes earlier, seemed unwilling to give him a gift. Does she have no clue of his efforts?

A cool rage erupted from Yulif and pressed Derek. Derek, unaware of why Yulif was suddenly angry, was busy being confused and nervous.

‘What’s wrong with him? I was told to hand over the item, I even gave it quietly!’

“Then pick them all up. In their entirety. All. Till there’s none left. To the last.”

“My lord! I don’t know who Madam Canaren gave it to, but you’re telling me to collect them all? Are you kidding? Please say so! Yes?”

“I’ll give you enough time. Will until tomorrow morning be enough?”

“Seriously, why are you doing this to me?”

“Are you telling me to let the others know that my wife’s feathers are in their possession?”

Yulif’s eyes were burning purple and blue. He was half insane with jealousy. Derek had seen Yulif like that once recently.

That day, Chef George was demoted to onion slicing, and a new chef took over the kitchen in his place. Had he been more rebellious, he would have been in a similar position to him. No, it definitely would. Derek’s sixth sense exclaimed.

“Fine… I’ll do it, I’ll gather them. Instead, give me an extra half day… Please.”

“Do it. Bring them all to the office by noon tomorrow.”

Derek took the watch out of his pocket and glanced at it. It was already past 11 o’clock.

He needed another half day! When did a half day turn into an hour! This person… What a wicked employer! As a sign of rebellion, he raised his eyes to glare at Yulif, and Yulif’s purple eyes looked down at him fiercely.

“Is it a protest? Do you want to die?”

“…How could that be? I am always loyal to the lord. Don’t you know?”

Derek closed his eyes quietly. Yulif spoke coldly in a low, subdued voice.

“Until noon tomorrow. I hope you do your best so that I do not question your loyalty.”

Derek wept inwardly and nodded his head. The mountain of feathers that had piled up in Canaren’s room made him want to die a little bit.

*******

Collecting Canaren’s feathers continued for several days. Even after tidying up, the wings that constantly shed were amazing.

Thanks to this, Roana felt good that she had enough feathers to develop her own wings. Although she was busy making Alman and other unusual items unique to the Hwira tribe, she got the knack for crafts, so she could make simple things with her eyes closed.

On the other hand, Canaren became a little gloomy when she saw Roana’s work of excellent perfection. Having Roana’s self-made items placed next to hers made hers look crude, as if they had been made by a little child. She had been told many times in the village that she was not very dexterous. Still, seeing her own lack of skill with her own eyes, she felt she was truly quite weak.

“Roana has really good dexterity.”

“It’s not just dexterity. I’m good at magic, and I’m good at working. Do you know what my nickname is? Versatile Roana! Just leave anything to me. I will take care of everything.”

A light smile naturally leaked out of Roana’s naughty lips. Really, no one could stop Roana. Canaren quickly regained her spirits and moved her hands again, but then took the decorations back into her hands. Glittering threads were intertwined in a circular frame with a diameter of just over a span.

“What is that? It’s the first time I’ve seen it.”

“It’s called Neola. It means net in Hwira. If you hang it on your door or bedside, it is said to filter out bad things and energy like a net, and to let in only good things. So, the tighter the mesh is, the better. They say you can filter bad things well.”
(PR/N: Neola sounds like a dreamcatcher, though I’m not sure what’s the difference between Neola and Alman as both were described to be like nets.)

“Hmm… It looks difficult.”

*******

“That’s right. Be careful not to break the thread while weaving the net. When the net is completed without ever breaking…”

Canaren’s face turned red, blurring the end of her words.

Since making a Neola required a lot of devotion and time, it was a common gift for a significant other. There was a myth that if the thread never broke once while completing the Neola, and if the Neola was presented as a gift, love would come true with the other person.

So, at one time, gifting Neola was trendy in the village.

Canaren didn’t want to give a Neola to anyone, and she found it difficult to weave it, so she quickly lost interest in it.

“Do you think love will ever come true?”

Roana was looking at Canaren with a serpentine expression on her face. Embarrassed, Canaren lowered her red-hot face and weaved the net diligently. Fortunately, so far the thread hasn’t broken.

‘I must complete it safely and present it to Yulif.’ She wanted to gift him a Neola. She had already made Almans and other things, but she didn’t deliver them to him.

“Right. Roana, can you fix something like a clock?”

“It would be better to leave the watch to a professional repairman. There are a lot of complex internal structures.”

“Like this. Yulif gave it to me… The needle doesn’t move. There’s a spell on it, can the repairman fix it?”

“When it comes to magic, it’s a little different. Can you show me?”

Canaren took the black pocket watch from her pouch.

Roana picked up the watch. This watch, familiar to her eyes, was obviously the one that Yulif carried without ever parting from it. She remembered clearly that it was the only thing Yulif cherished, the very same man who threw away even the most expensive items when they were no longer needed.

‘I can’t believe he gave this to Canaren…’

“Can you take a look?”

“Yes. I’ll try.”

Since she had Canaren’s permission, she had nothing to fear. Roana opened the lid of the watch. As Canaren said, the hands of the clock stopped at 12 o’clock and did not move. She carefully examined the front and back of the watch, then placed it on her palm and closed her eyes. Within 10 seconds, Roana’s eyes flashed opened.

‘Crazy…! What the hell are these crazy magic spells?’

In general magic tools, there’s usually one spell, or at most three types of spells. It’s because each time the magic you want to give increases, the amount of magical powers and techniques required for it increase tremendously.

The ring that Yulif gave to Roana and Derek for the wedding was enchanted with five enchantments, and Roana still had not been able to unravel half of the spells on the ring. But this watch… 

‘There are far more than ten…?’

Even that wasn’t all. With her skills, she was able to grasp more than ten things, so the magic on the watch must be much more than that.

Is it possible? She knew that Yulif was already a wizard that transcends humans, but she didn’t know it would be to this extent. At this point, she felt fear rather than awe.

Roana, who had been rubbing her arms that had goosebumps, suddenly stopped moving.

‘…Well. It seems that there is another magical power involved.’

Roana concentrated. It was not easy to detect it because it was hidden in Yulif’s powerful magic, but foreign magic was clearly mixed.

There was no way for another wizard’s magic to be embedded in Yulif’s pocket watch. It was a strange phenomenon that was difficult to understand.

“Canaren, please lend this to me for a few days.”

“You can’t break it. okay?”

“It would be faster for the lord to break me than for me to break this.”

“Don’t say such horrible things.”

Canaren, who was weaving the net diligently with narrowed brows, glanced at Roana. Roana smiled, letting out a ‘heheheh’ and grabbed the watch.

Seeing Roana’s eyes twinkle, the watch seemed to be a greater thing than she had expected. When talking about magic, Caneran noticed that Roana was more lively than ever. She really felt that she liked magic.

For the time being, she should be focused on the watch. Canaren gently pulled the small box containing her feathers and other materials to her side.