I can’t die before the novel even starts chapter 91

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Ever since visiting the eastern tower and meeting the healer, everything had moved swiftly.

No one could ignore an order issued by the Count’s wife.

And thanks to what I suspected were Klen’s prior arrangements, a carriage was already waiting for us at the base of the tower.

It allowed us to head straight to the forest entrance without delay.

“…….”

“…….”

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

Only the healer and I were inside the carriage.

Vis sat on the driver’s bench, guiding the reins.

Though the fresh breeze coming through the wide window circulated within the cabin, it still felt stifling.

Perhaps I was the only one who felt that way—across from me, the healer sat calmly reading a book.

I glanced at her several times, trying to read the mood, but she remained engrossed in the pages, never once meeting my eyes.

I felt sorry to interrupt her, but I needed to break this uncomfortable silence, even just a little.

So I carefully spoke up.

“Isn’t the work exhausting?”

“I enjoy making medicine, so I don’t find it tiring. The same goes for healing magic. And even though you can never have too many potions, it’s not like I spend all day working. I rest properly when I can.”

Her words didn’t resolve my curiosity—in fact, they made it worse.

From the way she put it, it didn’t sound like she was being overworked.

But then, how could someone look so pale and drawn?

“What do you do when you rest?”

“Hmm. A variety of things. I read, like now, or I clean… sometimes I organize my potions, check the condition and inventory of herbs, or research and develop new medicines.”

That’s resting…? Isn’t that just more work?

Still, I tried to understand her.

If I compared it to my own situation, maybe it was like continuing to swing a sword alone even after official training was over.

No one was ordering me to do that either—it was something I did for myself.

Thinking of it that way, I felt a small sense of kinship.

After all, I had always thrown myself into training and sparring more than anyone.

Right now, I was only staying quiet because of the current situation.

“Will you be attending the upcoming ball?”

“They usually recommend I attend when possible, but if my schedule doesn’t allow, I don’t go. Most people understand.”

It sounded like she often skipped them, but it wasn’t as if she disliked the idea of balls.

I thought it might be a good chance for her to enjoy herself a little.

Suddenly, Klen’s bright, energetic face from this morning came to mind.

Since she’d helped me, maybe I could help her enjoy the ball in return.

“If you do go… would it be alright if I sent you a dress?”

“…Excuse me?”

For once, her eyes widened in surprise.

“…….”

“…….”

Then she calmly inserted a bookmark into her book, closed it, and turned her gaze directly to me.

With sunlight pouring through the window, her face seemed a little flushed—but she said nothing.

What I’d meant as a way to ease the tension had instead brought on a heavy silence.

The only sound again was the steady clip-clop of the carriage.

I wasn’t sure how much time passed, but eventually, she let out a long sigh.

She touched her forehead and gave a small shake of her head.

“You need to realize that you’re a married man.”

“Huh?”

“A dress for the ball? You do know that’s one of the most basic forms of presentation at such events, right? It’s the first thing people see and the most memorable. Which is why dresses are usually given by family members or romantic partners.”

“…Isn’t it also done out of affection or friendship?”

There were certainly those who gave dresses with deeper meaning.

I’d even seen people compete over who would be represented by whose attire.

But I’d also heard of cases where it was done simply to express gratitude.

Still, unlike me, she frowned at the idea.

“If you must send one, please discuss it properly with Lord Klen first.”

“O-of course.”

I had planned to talk to Klen.

He had no reason to dislike the healer, and she had helped him too—surely he’d approve.

While we were talking, the carriage came to a stop—apparently, we’d arrived.

The scent of the forest drifted through the window, soothing my nerves.

“We’re here.”

Vis soon opened the carriage door.

We hadn’t stopped right at the entrance to the knights’ area but a bit earlier, where the trees began to thicken.

This was where our investigation would begin.

I stepped down from the carriage first and reached a hand inside.

She hesitated slightly but took my hand and carefully stepped out.

“Take care.”

Bis, who needed to guard the carriage, would remain behind, while we ventured further in.

This area wasn’t known for dangerous monsters—and even if something did show up, they’d be weak.

Vis could easily handle himself, so I wasn’t worried.

And frankly, he probably wasn’t worried about us either.

Probably.

“What exactly should I do here?”

“Look for traces of a magic ritual.”

“A ritual?”

She blinked but then closed her eyes and focused.

Lifting her hand, she swept the area—and tiny grains of light scattered in all directions.

Among the particles that settled on the ground, something flickered briefly before vanishing.

It resembled what Elliott had done before—except this time, I couldn’t make out the details.

The healer stepped forward, carefully scanning the ground.

After a few steps, she repeated the process.

Then again.

She moved around the area, silent and observant.

“…….”

But perhaps because she kept it up for so long, she began to look visibly tired.

I decided it was a good moment to pause and check in.

“Find anything strange?”

“Nothing… abnormal.”

‘Nothing?!’

I was honestly shocked to hear that from her.

That nothing was strange here?

But even more surprising—her opinion aligned with Elliott’s.

So he wasn’t just being lazy, then.

Just uninterested, maybe.

Despite saying there was nothing strange, she tilted her head slightly.

“There is something odd. It’s unusual to see something so trivial buried under such intense magic.”

Then she closed her hand lightly—and glowing letters rose from beneath the ground.

“What’s that?”

“A ritual someone began but abandoned partway through.”

The writing looked familiar, like the ones I’d seen in the old books.

Its awkwardness and the way it cut off in the middle gave it an unfinished feel.

Still, I had no idea what kind of spell it was meant to be.

“Normally, someone would just cover it up lightly. But this was hidden so thoroughly… they must’ve been pretty embarrassed.”

“……”

Embarrassed, huh? Is that really how most mages think?

She didn’t find the concealed ritual suspicious at all. Instead, she nodded as if it made perfect sense.

“What kind of spell was it?”

“It’s hard to say with such fragmentary traces. But this one looks like part of a summoning ritual… that one might’ve been to make flowers bloom, and over there—what’s likely a failed storm invocation. There are traces of large and small fire and ice spells as well…”

It’s like listening to a lecture on the types of magic—far more kinds of spells are laid out here than I expected.

And to think all of them were just covered up because they were wrong. If it takes years for them to fade, I guess this much could pile up.

But… why draw them here of all places?

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