Chapter 18

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“Actually, I would have preferred an Ω woman, but I can’t afford the …… luxury right now, you know.”

As I stared at the sleek, straight back walking in front of me, I thought how she looked like a woman who could do any job. She was probably a head maid of some sort.

It had been a week since I arrived in Yansho city with Jirun and Ranrei.

I was glad that I came all the way to Yansho to meet Taizen, but I had completely underestimated the size of this city. The size of the city, which seemed to go on forever, made me realize the hopelessness of finding a single person in this city.

Jirun and Ranrei didn’t seem to think I would lose my way here, so they wrote me a letter of introduction for the job in astonishment. Incidentally, we also parted ways after arriving in Yansho on the first day.

Since Taizen said he was working as a government official, I believed that looking for a job at a government-like place in Yansho might be a good idea. I reasoned that if we worked in the same place, the chances of seeing each other again would be better. In addition, I didn’t have any more money.

After looking around, I found there was a job offer for a servant at the detached mansion where the most important person in the province lives. Since this person lives on the government office premises, I thought it would be convenient for me to search for Taizen, who was supposed to be working there.

Furthermore, the ministry’s senior official appears to have recently been replaced, and his wife resides in the detached mansion away from the minister’s office. The recruitment is limited to Ω and β women, and the person at the recruiting desk explained that the new senior official was envious of having another alpha man around his wife.

“This is Richanfu-sama’s room.”

When I looked at the wooden door, the head maid had raised her arm to close; I could see an elaborate structure with beautiful intricate patterns carved into it.

“Next, we will go to the kitchen.”

The head maid immediately lowered her arms and started walking.

I was being shown around the mansion because I would be starting work today. Although it was a detached house, the mansion was so luxurious and spacious that I felt like I would get lost inside.

Although the detached house was quite far from the main residence, only the wife appeared to live there. I assumed the husband lived in the main mansion and wondered if it was the famous “separate marriage” arrangement. Or do all of the country’s important people live apart from their spouses?

The head maid abruptly came to a halt as I was wondering and thinking about this. In a hurry, I also came to an abrupt halt. Following her gaze, I came across a group of women strolling through a beautifully landscaped garden.

I noticed a woman in the center of the group dressed in a most luxurious outfit, her dark blonde hair tied up in a beautiful knot.

“Please remember that lady’s face.” The head maid’s words made my shoulders tremble.

She then told me that the owner of the villa, Richanfu, was a beautiful woman with dark blonde hair who had just calmly alighted from the carriage.

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“It seems that you have a talent for magic.”

I looked up at the words spoken to me and saw Richanfu, the dark blonde beauty in front of me, looking at me with amber-colored eyes. I had been taught not to make eye contact, so I hurriedly turned my face downward, even though it was already too late. The sofa on which I was sitting made a creaking sound.

“Yes,” I replied while staring at the floor’s well-polished dark brown wood grain and my shoes, which were used for menial tasks.

“And transfer magic…”

“Yes…”

At first, I had no idea that magic existed in this world. However, it seems that most people who can handle magic are the beastmen of the royal family and higher races, which I have never met.

However, some commoners were born with magical powers and are usually checked at the age of 10 to determine whether or not they have magic powers. However, they were said to be unable to control their magic powers.

As such, if an explosion of mana[1] should occur, it would be a grave matter. Therefore, anyone serving a person of noble status had to undergo a magic aptitude test just to be sure.

Currently, it turned out that I had magical powers at the age of 30. It was unbelievable.

Moreover, it seemed that I had an aptitude for a rather rare kind of magic called transfer magic. On top of understanding languages and letters, I could even use rare magic. I was already in love with Tairen, so it didn’t mean anything to me at this point.

“How long have you been here?”

“Six days.” The magic test was done on the first day, but it was a simple test, so the full-scale test was going to be conducted today.

“…… That’s right. This could be a sign of fate… I’ll look after you. Because those who can use magic are few and far between, it can be used for good or evil.”

I swallowed my saliva. Indeed, if the ability to use magic itself is rare, it is possible to be deceived by a strange guy and be abused for the rest of your life.

“Thank you for your help.”

I bowed my head down and heard Richanfu’s voice saying, “Raise your head,” while still holding her cup.

I looked up in a hurry at her words and saw her amber eyes staring at me. I was nervous because I had never been looked at by such a beautiful woman before.

“Do you have a pair?”

Upon hearing Richanfu’s question, I instinctively touched the lapels of my clothes to answer. Since many omegas don’t like the nape of their neck exposed, they were provided with clothes that would cover them.

“No ….”

“Is that so…” Richanfu nodded, shifted her gaze to the cup, and then looked up as if remembering. Then she turned to the head maid, who was diagonally behind her.

“Since you are also an omega and need an alpha to spend your heat with. If you don’t have a specific partner, why don’t you ask Vinsui to make introductions [2]for you?”

The head maid, whose name casually called out, was unusually flustered, her face flushed red.

[But still, is it very congratulatory to be asked to spend the mating season with Alpha? I’ve been told that out of sympathy by Taizen too].

“Erm, no…I already have someone I like.” My reply made Master Richanfu and the head maid look happy.

“Well, What kind of person is he? Is it a one-sided love? How long have you been together?”

Richanfu asked me in rapid succession in an unusually excited manner. It was different from her usual melancholic expression, which can be seen from afar.

“Oh, no, …… it’s my unrequited love. I’ve been told out of pity to spend the mating season with him together, but …”

I stopped talking, wondering whether I should tell her that I had a one-night stand with Taizen and that he was the one who came down from the carriage with her previously.

I was very curious about the fact that Taizen and Richanfu were together. However, there was no way that I, a servant, could casually talk to her even if I wanted to ask about it. This was the first time I had a proper conversation with her.

I had hoped that if I worked for Richanfu, I might be able to meet Taizen. But I never got to meet him; to begin with, there was no alpha around Richanfu.

“That’s funny! There’s no reason to say it was out of pity.”

Richanfu’s laughter startled me, who had been lost in thought, and I shook my shoulders.

“Eh, but then…Why…”

Richanfu and the head maid wore genuinely puzzled looks on their faces.

“Why..? Doesn’t it mean he wanted to be your pair? Aren’t those words weigh more than marriage?”

I was shocked as if I had been hit in the head.

“Pair?” I asked with a face that could not have been more surprised. Both of them looked at each other. Richanfu then tilted her head and stared at me with her amber eyes.

“I wonder if the human race is different. …… It is true that the beastmen have stronger instincts when it comes to their pair,” Richanfu remarked while straightening her back.

“When the alphas and omegas spend the mating season together, alphas lose control and have the urge to bite the omega’s necks. The beastmen, whose instincts are stronger than the human race, have an irresistible urge to do so. In this day and age, if an alpha bites an omega’s neck, they’ll take care of the omega for the rest of their lives. In other words, it’s marriage. So while it is quite common for an Ω to ask an α out during the mating season, for an α to ask an Ω out is already similar to a marriage proposal. Therefore, the words from an alpha carry more weight.”

My mouth dropped open at the information that I couldn’t comprehend.

[How did I answer when Taizen asked me to spend my heat with him previously? I think it went like, “You don’t have to feel sorry for me,” or “It’s not that serious, so it’s okay”].

If I were to use a modern Japanese analogy, I would have said that there was no need to feel sorry for me and declined his offer, even though he had just proposed with a ring and asked me to be with him. He also smiled afterward.

Even if I had said no, the way, he said it and the way he smiled made me think that if I were in Taizen’s shoes, I would also be extremely hurt.

My face paled as I thought about it.

“Is your partner also a human?”

I shook my head unconsciously, with my head full of thoughts.

“Then is he a beastman?”

I nodded vigorously.

“What the heck, then? It’s not a one-sided love after all!” Richanfu exclaimed with a bright smile.

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As I finished cleaning up and washed my hands in the well water outside, I wondered what I had done to Taizen. After talking to Richanfu earlier, I kept thinking back in circles about what I had said and regretting it all the time.

[Moreover, a proposal?]

I think I had even talked about marrying my ex-girlfriend on top of talking about infertility after I had unintentionally turned down the proposal. The expression on Taizen’s face at that moment was something I had never seen before.

As I was impatiently thinking about things, I suddenly smelled a familiar smell, fresh yet somehow sweet, like eucalyptus[3].

Somehow, I felt a strong urge that I had to go somewhere, and I started walking as if I were being lured. Passing through the neatly trimmed low trees, I stepped into the main residence, where I’d never dropped by.

Then I saw Taizen, who lowered his gaze, walking toward this side of the corridor of an unfamiliar building. He didn’t seem to notice me, but suddenly he looked up.

I was standing still, and his golden eyes locked with mine.

“Governor, are you listening?” A man dressed in a government official’s uniform called out from behind Taizen. However, Taizen was looking at me without minding him at all.

“—Governor? I’m sorry… But…”

The official apologized again; however, Taizen had already come out of the corridor into the garden and strode over to me. I stepped onto the lawn and ran up to him. The distance between us was not that far, but it felt like miles away.

When Taizen appeared before me, the sweet smell became so strong that I felt like crying. The beautiful golden eyes were fixed on me with unwavering devotion. His platinum hair shone brightly as it fluttered in the gentle breeze.

I reached out my arm unconsciously, and a large hand grabbed me and pulled me into a tight embrace. He hugged me so tightly that I felt squeezed, but I was so happy that I wrapped my arms around his broad and muscular back in return.

“I miss you so much.”

His sensual voice rang in my ear, and my chest tightened, but at the same time, I thought it was supposed to be my line.

“I’ve been looking for you.” I felt like crying when he continued to say that, even though it was my line too.

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[1]  Magic powers

[2] Meaning introducing Kouhei to other alphas.

[3] Refer to Chapter 2 😎

Translator’s Notes:

 

Surprise! Double Chapter today!!!

And, FINALLY!!!! YESS!!! They finally meet!😍

Only 9 chapters left!

Spoiler: 2 smut scenes ahead! LOL, this took forever…

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