The Runaway Maid is Loved by the Archmage - Chapter 65
Lutan nodded. It was a natural movement, as if he had expected this to happen.
“So, this spirit’s name is now Fides.”
“Wait, did you know this would happen?”
He slowly shook his head.
“Not exactly. This is an unusual occurrence even for me.”
“Then how in the world…?”
The boy with curly cream-colored hair blinked innocently, looking between the two before breaking into a bright smile. Feeling unsettled, Roina rubbed her cheek.
“I was born thanks to you, Master.”
“Hmm, but you were already here before I arrived.”
At those words, the boy—Fides—only smiled without giving an answer. The conversation had been going in circles like this for a while now. Roina felt increasingly frustrated.
Lutan, who had been silently observing, finally spoke.
“It seems that because you gave him a name, he was able to take on this form.”
“Because I named him?”
He continued speaking naturally as he reached out to smooth down Roina’s stray strands of hair. The moment his fingers brushed against the tip of her ear, she instinctively tensed. Ever since she had become aware that this man harbored romantic feelings for her, she found herself unintentionally more conscious of him.
‘Why does he like me?’
Was it because she, too, was another Great Archmage? That thought lingered quietly in her mind. She had just rejected his proposal earlier, yet he was still treating her with unwavering care.
“Yes. Fides has been waiting for a long time to be called by you.”
“By me?”
“That’s right.”
After tidying up her hair completely, he withdrew his hand. The entire time he spoke, his gaze had never once left her.
At that moment, Fides suddenly wedged himself between them and wrapped his arms around Roina’s knee. She blinked in mild surprise before gently patting his head. The soft, plush sensation was still just as pleasant.
Lutan glanced down at Fides with brief disapproval. Unfazed, Fides stuck out his tongue at the Great Archmage with a teasing bleh.
“I once told you that this spirit is a fragment derived from the magic of the Beginning. I’ve postponed explaining further, but in short, you are a descendant of the one who created that primordial magic.”
“Me?”
Roina pointed at herself in disbelief. She had always known she was different from Lutan, but hearing it put into words like this didn’t feel real.
Beside her, Fides nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes, that’s right! Master, you created me!”
“Yes, that is correct. That is also why you are called the master of all magic. Though it is unexpected that he has taken on a human form, a name holds the power to give shape to the formless. In that sense, it is only natural that he has gained a proper form and intelligence. You possess a power great enough to make that possible.”
“But,”
I still don’t really understand. I’m not even real.
Just as she was about to say those words, a sharp pain throbbed in her head once more. As she clutched her forehead, she felt someone embrace her from behind.
A firm, warm embrace—one belonging to a man. Normally, she should have been startled, but instead, she surrendered to the overwhelming sense of comfort and leaned into his arms.
My light, my life, my god.
As he murmured those words, he pressed his burning lips against her neck. Without realizing it, she lifted a hand and cradled his head. A deep sense of peace and happiness washed over her.
“Roina.”
In an instant, her hazy vision cleared at the sudden sound of Lutan’s voice. He had stepped toward her, looking down with concern. His hands firmly grasped her shoulders.
“Uh… ah?”
“Are you all right?”
“Y-yes. I’m fine.”
She felt slightly nauseous, but it wasn’t unbearable. Pressing a hand to her chest, she took a steadying breath.
“Whew, that’s a relief.”
Lutan let out a sigh as he spoke.
Why am I like this? It happened last time too…
Roina blinked blankly. Drowsiness crept over her in a sudden wave. Lutan placed a hand against her forehead and muttered, “You have a fever.”
“The two forces inside you are still clashing. For now—”
As he spoke, he lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers. His long hair slid down, brushing softly against her shoulder.
Fides, who had been clinging tightly to her, stepped back for once, wearing a worried expression.
Between their joined lips, Lutan carefully breathed into her, his tongue gently caressing the inside of her mouth. A tingling sensation ran down her spine, sending a shiver through her body. A cool, refreshing energy enveloped her entirely.
For some reason, she felt as if she might cry. She wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him.
I miss this.
Yes, that was it—an inexplicable feeling of longing. She didn’t yet know what it was she yearned for, but one thing was certain: his breath was quenching the thirst within her.
She responded to him, deepening the kiss and sliding her tongue further inside. Lutan paused for a brief moment before devouring her even more fervently. Because of the difference in their heights, the tips of her toes slightly lifted off the ground. Sensing this, he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her even closer against him.
Even with just a kiss, she could feel the intensity of his arousal.
