Stella flipped the paper she was writing on to the back and opened another page. Then, imagining she was pouring out her magical power, she began to write.
He forcibly shoved a cookie into his younger sister's mouth. His sister got angry. She turned into a bluebird and flew out the window.
And she showed it to Skyle. At first, Skyle rubbed his forehead, as if dizzy from the hallucination. A little while later, Stella couldn't help but be surprised.
"Stella! Stella!"
It was because of Skyle, who was shouting after opening the window wide.
He seemed to really believe that Stella had left. Stella approached him and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Skyle. Are you okay?"
Skyle held Stella's arms tightly.
"What did I just see?"
Skyle seemed unable to believe the situation. Stella briefly explained that the writing contained magic. At that, Skyle lightly tapped Stella's forehead.
"Ouch!"
"You were determined to make fun of me, weren't you? Where did you get that paper and pen? Did you buy them secretly in a back alley?"
Skyle, unaware that Stella was a wizard, thought she was playing around with a magic tool. Stella rubbed her forehead.
"It's not like that."
"Then what is it?"
Stella hesitated for a moment. Whether or not to tell Skyle about her magic.
'Eh, what's the big deal?'
With that thought in mind, Stella opened her mouth to speak. But Kendrick's face popped into her head.
"I said, what is it?"
The two of them already knew that Stella was a wizard. Roy and Kratex. Kendrick was already wary of Roy, and he would be very disappointed if he realized that he was the last one to find out that Stella was a wizard.
'I'd better let him know before Skyle, at the very least.'
Of course, Skyle would be disappointed if he found out that Stella was hiding it, but for Stella, Kendrick's heart was her priority.
"That's right. Just like you said, I bought a fascinating pen and paper."
'Sorry, Skyle. I'll make sure to tell you later that I'm a hallucination wizard.'
Stella burst into laughter as she saw Skyle's eyes blazing with excitement.
"But did you really believe that?"
"I couldn't believe it. I thought it was a dream. But you disappearing was so vivid that I was shocked."
Stella remained in one spot until Skyle read the writing and approached the window. In that case, it meant Skyle had been under a hallucination and failed to see the real Stella.
'Did the hallucinations get so severe that you couldn't even see properly?'
Stella continued to think about her illusion magic. After all, she couldn't stop this magic experiment here.
'What if I had shown that writing to Lino?'
In Lino's eyes, it must have been Lina, not Stella, who vanished as a bluebird. After all, his younger sister is Lina.
"Skyle, if you're finished with your work, please call Lino."
Skyle grumbled but had a servant bring Lino to Stella's study. Stella handed Lino a piece of paper identical to the one Skyle had seen.
"What do you see?"
"Exactly as written here. A mischievous-looking boy forces a timid-looking younger sister to eat a cookie, and she turns into a bird and disappears."
Lino blinked his eyes wide as if he had seen something fascinating. He also rubbed his face with his sleeve.
"But Stella, your writing is really fascinating."
Meanwhile, Stella became puzzled.
"It wasn't that Lina seemed to have disappeared?"
"Why is Lina disappearing?"
Compared to Skyle, Rincasta's reaction was too calm. There must be a reason why their reactions were different.
'Is Skyle particularly susceptible to hallucination magic?'
After a brief moment of thought, Stella found the answer.
'Because Rincasta didn't force Lina to eat cookies.'
He did not imagine that he was the protagonist of that story.
So, that is why the characters in Stella's writing felt like third parties.
'If that is the case, I understand why Lino and Skyle have different reactions. Or is there another reason?'
Kendrick found it puzzling that Stella remained silent, thinking about magic even in the bedroom. Stella became less talkative when she was troubled. Kendrick debated whether to ask Stella what was bothering her or to subtly probe the situation.
"Hmm..."
Stella's cheeks and neckline—no, every part of her—as she rested her chin on her hand in thought, were cute and alluring. Kendrick's shadow fell over her face.
"Ah, Kendrick."
Only then did Stella become aware of Kendrick and look up at him.
"How is your heart? Did the medicine work?"
Although Kratex said it would be difficult to detoxify, there was still a glimmer of hope.
"Well, it didn't seem any different than usual."
Kendrick took Stella's hand and led her to her feet. Then he sat Stella on his lap.
"Hmm, is that so?"
Stella struggled to suppress her disappointment. In the meantime, Kendrick ensnared Stella. He wrapped his arms around her waist and shoulders and buried his face in the nape of her neck.
"Let go of this."
Stella pushed Kendrick's arm away. He hated Stella for constantly thinking about other things and not caring about someone like him.
"For a moment."
He hugged Stella tightly.
"I was really busy today. It’s okay to spend ten minutes a day like this, isn’t it?"
Stella's movements quieted down at Kendrick's words, which were laced with fatigue. Then, Kendrick bit Stella's earlobe. Stella shivered.
"Kendrick!"
"Sorry. It looked cute because it was soft."
Stella looked at Kendrick, who had a mischievous expression on his face.
'Should I try it on Kendrick too?'
Since he was playing a prank like this, Stella wanted to do the same to him. Stella put him aside and picked up a pen.
"What are you writing?"
Because of Kendrick's interruption, she had no choice but to scribble it down quickly. Naturally, the content was absurd, too.
"Read this."
[He bit his wife's earlobe. A short while later, the wife melted away and turned into ice cream.]
Kendrick frowned slightly at the absurdity of the content. He then rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache. After that, his reaction was similar to Skyle's. Kendrick's pupils widened and trembled, as if Stella looked like ice cream flowing. He bent his knees and reached out his trembling hand.
"Stella!"
He screamed desperately, as if he had seen Stella melting away. A short while later, Kendrick came to his senses and fumbled with Stella's arm and shoulder with a dazed expression.
"What did I just see?"
There was a hint of moisture in Kendrick's voice.
"Sorry. Were you very surprised?"
Unlike Skyle, who immediately got up, Kendrick clutched his heart and let out a long sigh.
"Ah... I really need to restrain myself from using magic. I also need to learn how to control my magical power. This is a big problem."
And then, she dropped a subtle hint that she was a wizard. Yet, Kendrick simply placed his hand on his heart and showed no other reaction.
"Kendrick."
Stella stroked his cheek in surprise. Seeing him, she slightly regretted showing him this text as a joke. She regretted it, wondering if she had done something unnecessary to Kendrick, who already had to be careful with his heart.
"You're playing a prank again, aren't you?"
Stella's voice trembled at the end. Then Kendrick let out a small laugh.
"Haa, really!"
"It wasn't all a joke."
Kendrick stroked Stella's cheeks.
"I was really surprised because it appeared so vividly right before my eyes."
His voice felt so sweet.
"I'm afraid you might really disappear."
It wasn't that Skyle was particularly sensitive to hallucinations. The degree to which a reader empathizes varies depending on the content of the text, and the more immersed they become, the more vivid the hallucinations seem to be.
"Yes, I learned something new."
"By the way, what did you just say? Magic control?"
In response to his words, Stella explained her ability. The story was that anyone who reads Stella's writings sees hallucinations. She also quietly added that she hadn't told Skyle yet because she wanted to tell Kendrick first.
"Why the look, Kendrick?"
Nevertheless, Kendrick let out a low sigh. Stella tilted her head in puzzlement.
"Yes?"
Stella deliberately downplayed Roy's story and spoke only in detail about her abilities, fearing he might feel hurt. Kendrick stroked her face and then her hand.
"You have such a lovely face, and you write well too."
And as his hand was about to reach for her chest, he flinched and stopped, then his hand went to the nape of her neck.
"You have a beautiful heart, too."
And this time, he ran his hand through Stella's hair.
"To think you can even use magic."
Stella blushed at his praise.
"This makes me even more anxious."
"What is it?"
"You're so amazing, I'm afraid you might disappear from my side."
Stella felt a tingling sensation in her heart at Kendrick's inner thoughts.
"Don't worry. I won't reveal that I'm a wizard, and I can get cured of my loneliness disease as long as I become an Imperial Writer."
Kendrick gave a gentle smile.
"Do you remember the wedding day?"
A wedding? It was seven or eight years ago for Stella, but she still remembered it. As it was the union of two ducal families, it was grand and splendid, but nothing major happened. That is why she was even more curious about what Kendrick was trying to say.
"Of course."
"You promised to be together forever back then."
Stella nodded. Back then, wearing a wedding dress, she promised Kendrick in front of many people that she would be with him until death.
"I promise you again right now. That we really will be together for the rest of our lives."
At one point, Stella had resolved to divorce. However, the desire to divorce has now disappeared. She also felt a sense of responsibility toward Kendrick, who was suffering from the love potion.
"It's okay if you don't say you love me, just please stay by my side like this."
Since there was no word, she thought he wasn't conscious of it, but Kendrick was actually constantly bothered by it. The fact that Stella hadn't once told him she loved him since her suicide attempt. Stella parted her lips, wondering if she should offer some excuse, but no words came out.
'Of course, I know Kendrick is a good guy, but...'
Stella still did not believe in love. Right now, Stella wanted to focus more on her own life than on love. The painful memory of falling in love and being abandoned still lingered within her.
"All right."
She simply answered without making any excuses. Even at her brief response, Kendrick smiled with satisfaction.
The selection of the Imperial Writer was 100 days away. Now, Stella intended to focus on writing.
Kendrick, knowing that Stella needed Hajean's magic stone to recover, now kept quiet and hoped that Stella would focus solely on the competition.
"I will handle this from now on, so you focus on writing."
Stella accepted his words and practically lived in the study. She stretched out. Kendrick came to see her during break time.
"I think it would be good to have classes with Roy Andra here for the time being, too."
Stella tilted her head in puzzlement.
"Why? You hated seeing Roy's face."
"I thought that would be easier for your time management."
"...All right."
Although it felt somewhat strange, Kendrick's devoted support warmed Stella's heart. Whether Kendrick had spoken to Roy in advance or not, Roy would come to see Adrian on the days they were meeting. Stella felt relieved that the relationship between the two didn't seem as strained as it used to be.
"By the way, honey, lately you've just been sleeping in the bedroom."
Stella, having finished work and come to the bedroom to rest, rested her chin on her hand and gazed at Kendrick's face. Kendrick's jawline is alive with the ferocity of an untamed wild horse.
"What?"
He forcibly shoved a cookie into his younger sister's mouth. His sister got angry. She turned into a bluebird and flew out the window.
And she showed it to Skyle. At first, Skyle rubbed his forehead, as if dizzy from the hallucination. A little while later, Stella couldn't help but be surprised.
"Stella! Stella!"
It was because of Skyle, who was shouting after opening the window wide.
He seemed to really believe that Stella had left. Stella approached him and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Skyle. Are you okay?"
Skyle held Stella's arms tightly.
"What did I just see?"
Skyle seemed unable to believe the situation. Stella briefly explained that the writing contained magic. At that, Skyle lightly tapped Stella's forehead.
"Ouch!"
"You were determined to make fun of me, weren't you? Where did you get that paper and pen? Did you buy them secretly in a back alley?"
Skyle, unaware that Stella was a wizard, thought she was playing around with a magic tool. Stella rubbed her forehead.
"It's not like that."
"Then what is it?"
Stella hesitated for a moment. Whether or not to tell Skyle about her magic.
'Eh, what's the big deal?'
With that thought in mind, Stella opened her mouth to speak. But Kendrick's face popped into her head.
"I said, what is it?"
The two of them already knew that Stella was a wizard. Roy and Kratex. Kendrick was already wary of Roy, and he would be very disappointed if he realized that he was the last one to find out that Stella was a wizard.
'I'd better let him know before Skyle, at the very least.'
Of course, Skyle would be disappointed if he found out that Stella was hiding it, but for Stella, Kendrick's heart was her priority.
"That's right. Just like you said, I bought a fascinating pen and paper."
'Sorry, Skyle. I'll make sure to tell you later that I'm a hallucination wizard.'
Stella burst into laughter as she saw Skyle's eyes blazing with excitement.
"But did you really believe that?"
"I couldn't believe it. I thought it was a dream. But you disappearing was so vivid that I was shocked."
Stella remained in one spot until Skyle read the writing and approached the window. In that case, it meant Skyle had been under a hallucination and failed to see the real Stella.
'Did the hallucinations get so severe that you couldn't even see properly?'
Stella continued to think about her illusion magic. After all, she couldn't stop this magic experiment here.
'What if I had shown that writing to Lino?'
In Lino's eyes, it must have been Lina, not Stella, who vanished as a bluebird. After all, his younger sister is Lina.
"Skyle, if you're finished with your work, please call Lino."
Skyle grumbled but had a servant bring Lino to Stella's study. Stella handed Lino a piece of paper identical to the one Skyle had seen.
"What do you see?"
"Exactly as written here. A mischievous-looking boy forces a timid-looking younger sister to eat a cookie, and she turns into a bird and disappears."
Lino blinked his eyes wide as if he had seen something fascinating. He also rubbed his face with his sleeve.
"But Stella, your writing is really fascinating."
Meanwhile, Stella became puzzled.
"It wasn't that Lina seemed to have disappeared?"
"Why is Lina disappearing?"
Compared to Skyle, Rincasta's reaction was too calm. There must be a reason why their reactions were different.
'Is Skyle particularly susceptible to hallucination magic?'
After a brief moment of thought, Stella found the answer.
'Because Rincasta didn't force Lina to eat cookies.'
He did not imagine that he was the protagonist of that story.
So, that is why the characters in Stella's writing felt like third parties.
'If that is the case, I understand why Lino and Skyle have different reactions. Or is there another reason?'
Kendrick found it puzzling that Stella remained silent, thinking about magic even in the bedroom. Stella became less talkative when she was troubled. Kendrick debated whether to ask Stella what was bothering her or to subtly probe the situation.
"Hmm..."
Stella's cheeks and neckline—no, every part of her—as she rested her chin on her hand in thought, were cute and alluring. Kendrick's shadow fell over her face.
"Ah, Kendrick."
Only then did Stella become aware of Kendrick and look up at him.
"How is your heart? Did the medicine work?"
Although Kratex said it would be difficult to detoxify, there was still a glimmer of hope.
"Well, it didn't seem any different than usual."
Kendrick took Stella's hand and led her to her feet. Then he sat Stella on his lap.
"Hmm, is that so?"
Stella struggled to suppress her disappointment. In the meantime, Kendrick ensnared Stella. He wrapped his arms around her waist and shoulders and buried his face in the nape of her neck.
"Let go of this."
Stella pushed Kendrick's arm away. He hated Stella for constantly thinking about other things and not caring about someone like him.
"For a moment."
He hugged Stella tightly.
"I was really busy today. It’s okay to spend ten minutes a day like this, isn’t it?"
Stella's movements quieted down at Kendrick's words, which were laced with fatigue. Then, Kendrick bit Stella's earlobe. Stella shivered.
"Kendrick!"
"Sorry. It looked cute because it was soft."
Stella looked at Kendrick, who had a mischievous expression on his face.
'Should I try it on Kendrick too?'
Since he was playing a prank like this, Stella wanted to do the same to him. Stella put him aside and picked up a pen.
"What are you writing?"
Because of Kendrick's interruption, she had no choice but to scribble it down quickly. Naturally, the content was absurd, too.
"Read this."
[He bit his wife's earlobe. A short while later, the wife melted away and turned into ice cream.]
Kendrick frowned slightly at the absurdity of the content. He then rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache. After that, his reaction was similar to Skyle's. Kendrick's pupils widened and trembled, as if Stella looked like ice cream flowing. He bent his knees and reached out his trembling hand.
"Stella!"
He screamed desperately, as if he had seen Stella melting away. A short while later, Kendrick came to his senses and fumbled with Stella's arm and shoulder with a dazed expression.
"What did I just see?"
There was a hint of moisture in Kendrick's voice.
"Sorry. Were you very surprised?"
Unlike Skyle, who immediately got up, Kendrick clutched his heart and let out a long sigh.
"Ah... I really need to restrain myself from using magic. I also need to learn how to control my magical power. This is a big problem."
And then, she dropped a subtle hint that she was a wizard. Yet, Kendrick simply placed his hand on his heart and showed no other reaction.
"Kendrick."
Stella stroked his cheek in surprise. Seeing him, she slightly regretted showing him this text as a joke. She regretted it, wondering if she had done something unnecessary to Kendrick, who already had to be careful with his heart.
"You're playing a prank again, aren't you?"
Stella's voice trembled at the end. Then Kendrick let out a small laugh.
"Haa, really!"
"It wasn't all a joke."
Kendrick stroked Stella's cheeks.
"I was really surprised because it appeared so vividly right before my eyes."
His voice felt so sweet.
"I'm afraid you might really disappear."
It wasn't that Skyle was particularly sensitive to hallucinations. The degree to which a reader empathizes varies depending on the content of the text, and the more immersed they become, the more vivid the hallucinations seem to be.
"Yes, I learned something new."
"By the way, what did you just say? Magic control?"
In response to his words, Stella explained her ability. The story was that anyone who reads Stella's writings sees hallucinations. She also quietly added that she hadn't told Skyle yet because she wanted to tell Kendrick first.
"Why the look, Kendrick?"
Nevertheless, Kendrick let out a low sigh. Stella tilted her head in puzzlement.
"Yes?"
Stella deliberately downplayed Roy's story and spoke only in detail about her abilities, fearing he might feel hurt. Kendrick stroked her face and then her hand.
"You have such a lovely face, and you write well too."
And as his hand was about to reach for her chest, he flinched and stopped, then his hand went to the nape of her neck.
"You have a beautiful heart, too."
And this time, he ran his hand through Stella's hair.
"To think you can even use magic."
Stella blushed at his praise.
"This makes me even more anxious."
"What is it?"
"You're so amazing, I'm afraid you might disappear from my side."
Stella felt a tingling sensation in her heart at Kendrick's inner thoughts.
"Don't worry. I won't reveal that I'm a wizard, and I can get cured of my loneliness disease as long as I become an Imperial Writer."
Kendrick gave a gentle smile.
"Do you remember the wedding day?"
A wedding? It was seven or eight years ago for Stella, but she still remembered it. As it was the union of two ducal families, it was grand and splendid, but nothing major happened. That is why she was even more curious about what Kendrick was trying to say.
"Of course."
"You promised to be together forever back then."
Stella nodded. Back then, wearing a wedding dress, she promised Kendrick in front of many people that she would be with him until death.
"I promise you again right now. That we really will be together for the rest of our lives."
At one point, Stella had resolved to divorce. However, the desire to divorce has now disappeared. She also felt a sense of responsibility toward Kendrick, who was suffering from the love potion.
"It's okay if you don't say you love me, just please stay by my side like this."
Since there was no word, she thought he wasn't conscious of it, but Kendrick was actually constantly bothered by it. The fact that Stella hadn't once told him she loved him since her suicide attempt. Stella parted her lips, wondering if she should offer some excuse, but no words came out.
'Of course, I know Kendrick is a good guy, but...'
Stella still did not believe in love. Right now, Stella wanted to focus more on her own life than on love. The painful memory of falling in love and being abandoned still lingered within her.
"All right."
She simply answered without making any excuses. Even at her brief response, Kendrick smiled with satisfaction.
***
The selection of the Imperial Writer was 100 days away. Now, Stella intended to focus on writing.
Kendrick, knowing that Stella needed Hajean's magic stone to recover, now kept quiet and hoped that Stella would focus solely on the competition.
"I will handle this from now on, so you focus on writing."
Stella accepted his words and practically lived in the study. She stretched out. Kendrick came to see her during break time.
"I think it would be good to have classes with Roy Andra here for the time being, too."
Stella tilted her head in puzzlement.
"Why? You hated seeing Roy's face."
"I thought that would be easier for your time management."
"...All right."
Although it felt somewhat strange, Kendrick's devoted support warmed Stella's heart. Whether Kendrick had spoken to Roy in advance or not, Roy would come to see Adrian on the days they were meeting. Stella felt relieved that the relationship between the two didn't seem as strained as it used to be.
"By the way, honey, lately you've just been sleeping in the bedroom."
Stella, having finished work and come to the bedroom to rest, rested her chin on her hand and gazed at Kendrick's face. Kendrick's jawline is alive with the ferocity of an untamed wild horse.
"What?"
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