Chapter 9: The Fastest Way to Become a Successful Fan (9)

“Ah….”

“….”

Our eyes interlocked, and neither of us spoke for a long time.

Although I had no ulterior motives, I let my guard down because he was so handsome. And it seemed I wasn’t the only one feeling awkward. Hades had also frozen in place, his body stiff.

“Ahem.” With an awkward cough, I tried to pull away from Hades.

It was then that his expression suddenly changed, and he grabbed my left hand before I could even react.

“What is this?”

“Ah.”

My left wrist, usually hidden from view by the sleeve of my dress, was exposed. A white oval jewel about the size of an index finger was embedded into the skin of the underside of my wrist.

Although it may look like an accessory of sorts to the unknowing eye, all Crescentians knew what this was.

With a look of disbelief, Hades stared down at where his hand engulfed my wrist. “You’re telling me… there’s a person in the Crescenta Empire who is unable to hide that, even at your age?”

* * *

Now seems like the right time, if not a little too late, to talk about the things I have neglected to mention because I was too busy explaining the various ways I’ve been stanning Abel since I arrived in this world.

Of the charming elements that were presented in the novel <Persona>, one could say that Abel accounted for 60% of the storyline as the perfect protagonist, while the remaining 40% was dedicated to the world the author built.

It was said that the forebearers of the Imperial family that ruled the Crescenta Empire were ancient dragons.

And like most dragons in fantasy stories, they had powerful magic, and most of their descendants who resided in Crescenta were able to tap into their supernatural powers.

Within the world of <Persona>, magic is divided into six elements: fire, water, earth, wind, light, and darkness. All Crescentians were born with one of these six elements within them.

The Louvremont duchy, for instance, over the long and proud history of the empire, had produced many individuals with the ability to manifest powerful fire magic. And even amongst all of them, Hades Louvremont towered above the rest without equal.

But possessing the same element didn’t necessary mean sharing the same level of magical aptitude. As much as there were countless individuals well-versed in magic, there were just as many commoners who exhibited almost no magic at all — the prime example being the Heathcliff barony.

For generations, my family had continuously succeeded white, a class of the light element, without any other elements being mixed in. However, we had never produced a famous healer or a saint or any of that sort. Perhaps it was to the point that there were practically no magical traces left within the house at all.

At any rate, I still had a trait that every Crescentian was born with: a jewel core, embedded in one’s body to symbolize their magical element.

It was precisely due to this white jewel embedded in my wrist that I was able to identify this world as the world within the novel <Persona> after I died and came back to life.

The jewel core, also known as then nexus, was, as its name implied, one of the most essential elements of the novel <Persona>.

Just as one would experience immediate death upon receiving a mortal blow to their heart or brain, the jewel core was no different than those very same weaknesses. A crack alone could be fatal.

So the fact that these jewels were exposed externally was a critical weakness.

Therefore, all Crescentians learned how to conceal this weakness from early childhood.

No matter how little, everyone born in Crescenta, the empire known for its magic, was born with magic, so internalizing one’s jewel core was something a person naturally learned as they mature, like a child who learns to walk after turning one.

Yet, as shocking as it may be, Aisha Heathcliff, the country bumpkin noblewoman who never once made an appearance in the novel, died an untimely death at the age of 18 without learning such a simple skill.

“I’m at a loss for words.”

Hades brought me to his room. He looked confused as if he’d just witnessed a grown woman crawling in diapers.

His reaction was understandable, though. Comparing it to my previous life, it probably looked to Hades like I was wandering around with my heart or brain exposed outside my body.

Ugh. That’s just horrific.

“How have you survived this long?”

“By treating my left wrist very carefully?” I quipped as I rubbed my left wrist, which was firmly tied with Hades' black handkerchief. He tied it around my wrist as soon as we arrived in his room.

Hades appeared dumbfounded. “That’s just…!”

A series of sighs escaped Hades as he rubbed his forehead. I thought, if with every sigh the Earth were to sink an inch or two, then we’d have reached the inner core by now.

“To think you can’t do something that even ten-year-old Abel can do….”

Hades ordered me to conceal my jewel core at once, but heck. I would’ve done it long ago myself if I could. The only thing that changed about me from my previous life was the body containing my soul. Everything else was the same. I couldn’t feel nor control the magic flowing in my body.

I may have been reincarnated into a person of this world, but I didn’t automatically gain great powers like those typical romantic fantasy novels.

“And of all places, why is it on your wrist? It would have been far better if it had been somewhere that was easier to conceal….”

“You tell me.”

“Come to my room every day from now on. I’ll help you learn how to conceal it somehow.”

“Is that something we can solve by training? Can you actually teach that to someone?”

Hades fell silent. It would be easier to understand if I put it this way: he was pondering on how to teach a one-year-old child how to walk.

Should he explain with words, or should he demonstrate with action? Or in the first place, would trying to teach a child be effective?

Hades thought for a long time before finally speaking. “I’m sure it’s better than doing nothing. I have to be honest with you. I’m quite shocked. To think the person I am to marry is a woman who isn’t able to do something so simple at her age.”

His remark left me feeling a little awkward. “Does that mean… you regret proposing to me?”

“What?”

Although I felt a little embarrassed, I wasn’t hurt or anything. Yet Hades seemed overly flustered by my question.

He quickly corrected himself, “N-no…. That’s not what I mean to say at all. What I’m saying is… that I’m very worried for you. Anyone with ill intent could easily harm you if they so desired. All it would take is for them to grab your wrist with force.”

“But who would have a reason to kill me?”

“You need to be warier of your surroundings since you’ve agreed to join the duchy as my wife. I’m sorry to say this, but I have many enemies. Which means that by becoming my wife, there is always the possibility that they will target you.”

“I see….”

Feeling a little helpless, I looked down at my wrist wrapped in Hades’ handkerchief. It was true that I’d never really given much thought to how to adapt to this world as Aisha Heathcliff ever since I opened my eyes here. I was just glad to be in the same world as Abel, breathing the same air as him, and stanning him from a distance.

Hades was right. I was too careless and complacent.

When I first saw the white jewel embedded in my wrists, I felt, let’s see. Curious. Yes. I just felt curious that I possessed the same element as the novel’s heroine, who would appear later on.

I was never surprised at Aisha for having lived 18 years with it exposed, nor did I worry about myself, who would live as her from now on.

Now that thought came to me, I suddenly felt stifled. I was just an ordinary modern person from the 21st century, whose only interaction with magic had been through novels. So how was I supposed to adapt to this world?

‘Unlike me, Deborah is an excellent healer, who anyone would love to form a party with….’

The heroine and I shared the same light element, but the difference in our skills was enormous. Memories of her achievements that I’d read in the novel flashed through my mind.

“Umm…. I apologize, Your Grace.”

“For what?” Hades asked, his voice a little angry for some reason.

“It’s just, I don’t think I would be of much use to you. I thought about it several times over, and I just can’t see myself as someone worthy of the Louvremont name. The only thing I know how to do is…”

Stan — I omitted that word.

“Look, Lady Heathcliff.”

“You should know that I’m unable to perform even the simplest task, like hiding my jewel core. I think this may be a good indicator that neither I nor my family can manipulate our elemental magic. If only I was a more useful and resourceful woman… then if Your Grace or Childe Louvremont were to suffer injuries, I could be at least of some help to you.”

Throughout the novel <Persona>, Abel suffered from many injures and faces numerous dangers. The situation improved with the appearance of Deborah, but before then, Abel had to endure by himself.

I’m sorry, Abel… for being such a useless stan!

“Aisha.”

I was feeling somewhat down when suddenly a shadow was cast over me. I raised my head and saw Hades standing right in front of me.