Chapter 19: I Stole Yooju's First Love
Before I could even speak, she clung to my clothes with a desperate look on her face.
Sensing that something was seriously wrong, I patted her and asked what had happened.
"The shop caught fire, and no matter how much water we poured, it wouldn't go out... Mother said to tell you quickly..."
The child, having said that much, burst into tears and collapsed on the spot.
A fire that wouldn't go out even with water—it didn't seem like an ordinary fire.
"You did well. I'll help."
I calmed the child down and called the butler.
"Send the servants in a carriage to Nivea's boutique on Veris Street. Bring tools to put out the fire."
"Make it as fast as possible."
I then called a maid and entrusted the girl to her.
After watching the carriage leave, I called Lily.
"Lily, go to the Mage Guild and tell them to send a mage to the scene in Mother's name."
"It's very important, and I trust you. Can you do it?"
Lily, who was hesitant, finally nodded with a determined look.
After confirming that she had left in the carriage, I mounted my horse.
Racing to Veris Street, I found Nivea's shop burning fiercely at the end of the street.
"The fire? You haven't put it out yet?"
One of the servants, drenched in sweat, replied to my question.
"Miss, it doesn't seem like an ordinary fire!"
"No matter how much water we pour, the fire won't go out. Look."
He poured a bucket of water, but the fire continued to burn fiercely.
It was indeed not an ordinary fire.
'It's magic. A fire caused by magic.'
I couldn't explain why, but I had a gut feeling that Tatiana was involved.
Who else would set fire to a shop that was already on the verge of ruin?
"No! Miss, Miss, please save Mother."
"Rella. I told you to wait at the mansion. How did you get here?"
"Mother is inside. She went back in to find the recipe book."
Rella clung to me, sobbing.
I looked at the burning shop again. If I delayed any longer, Nivea might be in danger.
'Magic can only be protected by magic. Even if you're an enemy, if you can control your magic perfectly, no archmage can threaten you.'
Unfortunately, I didn't have the abundant magic power of my mother, an archmage.
However, I had good control, which my mother had drilled into me relentlessly.
She made me train for two hours every morning, saying that the early morning was when magic power was the purest.
Thanks to that, I could successfully create the desired form of magic in a short time.
But this was my first time using it in a real situation.
I was the only one who could use magic here.
I recalled the method of controlling magic that my mother had taught me.
'I need to visualize the exact form I want.'
I imagined a thin layer on my skin.
The magic in my bracelet began to move according to my imagination.
I cautiously put my hand into the fire. Fortunately, I didn't feel the heat.
Even though I didn't feel the heat due to the magic, it still took courage to jump into the fire.
'This might be my fault.'
If I had stayed quiet, Nivea might not have faced this.
I had dragged her into my personal revenge, and now I had to resolve it.
I took a bucket from a passing servant and doused myself with water.
I was soaked from head to toe with the icy cold water.
"Stay here and tell the mage I'm inside."
After firmly instructing Rella, I jumped into the flames.
Opening the half-broken door, I felt the intense heat inside.
Nivea's boutique, filled with her dedication, was being consumed by the fire.
I remembered her orphaned past and felt a pang in my heart.
The perfumes on the shelves were shattered.
The fire seemed to be fueled by the chemical components of the perfumes, making it hard to extinguish.
I carefully entered the shop.
Fortunately, the fire inside was not as intense as the outer walls.
I passed the old but well-maintained shelves and entered the inner part of the shop.
I saw NiVeia lying on the floor, tightly hugging a book.
As I took a step closer, I saw another person's shadow next to her.
A man, the only one who seemed relaxed amidst the flickering red flames.
He was sitting cross-legged in the air, looking down at NiVeia with an elegant smile, as if enjoying the situation.
While the amount of magic power was important, control was equally crucial.
To create such a fire without damaging the neighboring shops required a high-level mage.
And among such mages, only one had a connection with Tatiana.
I thought he was one of the main characters, but would he go this far?
"You've gone too far, haven't you?"
Raymond smiled at my angry words.
Due to the bracelet, I could see his clear affection level above his head.
Surprisingly, it was slightly higher than Wilhelm's.
It was useless to know this now.
NiVeia, who had been crouching on the floor, hurriedly came to my side.
"Thank you for helping, Lady. I didn't think you'd come..."
She shook her head in response to my question.
She didn't seem to have any visible injuries. Her recipe book was also intact.
"Well, I didn't expect the future Empress to show up. Do you want to die?"
Seeing the mocking Raymond, I couldn't help but laugh.
He was just like Tatiana, completely unaware of his own situation.
"Stop worrying about me and worry about yourself. I'll report you as soon as we get out of here."
"Arson? What are you talking about, Karin?"
Raymond brushed his soft pink hair behind his ear and asked with a cheerful laugh.
"What proof do you have?"
"Do you have any proof that I started this fire?"
In response to my question, Raymond leaned in and said,
"To save that poor woman, of course. NiVeia, I mean."
"Yes. I was passing by and saw the flames, so I came to watch. Then I saw her run in, so I came to save her, but you treat me like an arsonist."
Raymond fell to the side, placing his palm on his forehead, like a dramatic actor.
I realized this and took NiVeia's hand.
"Then get us out of here now."
"Sure. But there's a condition."
"Do you think I'm doing this for free? I only do something without payment for Titi."
Though it was absurd, I decided to listen.
Raymond pointed at the item NiVeia was holding.
"Give it to me, and I'll get both of you out."
I really wanted to punch that smug mouth.
Hiding my trembling hands from anger, I shouted at him,
"I don't need your help. Get out of here now."
Raymond laughed like a madman in response to my shout.
No, he was already mad, so he laughed like Raymond.
"Ah, our dear future Empress thinks she can survive here with just a little magic."
Raymond's face was suddenly inches from mine.
His golden eyes, flickering with the red flames, seemed to pull me in.
The hatred and anger in his eyes were all directed at me.
"If magic were that simple, anyone could be a mage."
The moment his hand touched my body, something appeared before my eyes.
1. Why are you doing this? Take your hand off me.
I stared at the choices before me.
And at the affection level above Raymond's head.
'The bracelet didn't just have one ability, did it?'