Reborn as a side character with a system

The Weight of Trust

Chapter 22 -

"Fine..."

Hilda let out a deep breath, her shoulders dropping as if a heavy weight had finally been lifted. She turned to look at Nolan, a smile touching her lips, warm and genuine. But it soon faded, replaced by the usual mask she always wore, cold and distant.

"Though I must ask..." Her eyes narrowed, studying him with the sharpness of a teacher testing a student. "Why do you need me when you've already mastered all elements? In addition, you've unlocked an ability no one in over fifty years has mastered."

"What ability do you speak of... Purple flames or spatial warp?"

Hilda's head snapped back, her eyes widening then narrowing into slits. "Did you say purple flames?" Her voice dropped to a whisper, filled with disbelief and something darker. Fear. "That's only used by goblins. Ever since the creation of magic, only one being has ever used it, and after they were stolen by goblins, the magic was considered a failure and threat to the human world. How could you possibly possess it?"

Nolan blinked, his casual demeanor cracking. "Wait... So purple magic is a threat to this world?"

"Yes..." Hilda stepped closer, her voice dropping lower, urgent and serious. "But in reality, it's considered the most powerful and effective magic ever. Just be careful to whom you show the ability."

Nolan remained quiet, his mind racing, drilling through every possible scenario. If the wrong person learned of this, if the nobles discovered a commoner wielding goblin magic, if the kingdom itself found out... The consequences would be catastrophic.

"Miss Hilda..." He finally spoke, his voice careful. "May I ask you a question?"

"Yes, sure... Go ahead."

"Who is the first creator of magic?"

Hilda's eyes flickered with surprise, then something like approval. "Hmm... Interested in knowing, huh?" She turned back toward her room, her hand on the door frame. "Well, go do whatever you want at the moment. I will come give you all the information you need."

Nolan let out a small smile, watching her disappear behind the door. Then he walked away, his steps light, his heart lighter.

---

Hours later, he arrived at the garden Ralph had mentioned. He found Isabella sitting at the table where nobles usually gathered for tea parties, her back straight, her eyes fixed on the vast field of flowers stretching into the distance. Her mind was elsewhere. Somewhere far and painful.

"What is the matter, young master?" she asked without turning, her voice flat and empty. "You need me for any mission in mind?"

"I know Mother approached you..."

"And...?" She cut him off, her tone cold as winter stone.

Nolan remained silent, looking down at his feet. Words stuck in his throat like thorns. He closed his eyes, gathering courage, trying to speak.

"You said you wanted me to work for you... No, befriend you or stay close to you..." Isabella's voice hardened, each word a blade she turned on herself. "I'm just a weapon serving its master. Nothing more. Nothing less."

"That's not how it works, Isabella..."

"Then how?" She spun around, her eyes blazing with raw emotion, anger and pain and defeat all tangled together. "Aren't you afraid I might betray you at any given time? Afraid I might be the one to sell you out for my own safety?"

"I'm not afraid of you."

Nolan said it with a straight face, no hesitation, no doubt.

Isabella's eyes shot open. She got up from her chair, her body trembling, her mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air. She wanted to scream, to argue, to push him away before he could hurt her. But the words wouldn't come.

"I said work for me in turn for safety..." Nolan continued, his voice soft but firm. "That I remember. But we've been a team. So let's not let what happened that day get in between the bond we've built. C'mon, let's go."

He turned and walked back toward the mansion, not waiting for her answer, giving her space to breathe, to think, to choose.

Isabella stood there, shocked, lost in a sea of words she couldn't find. She had never seen anyone put on such a straight face, yet be so bold, so reckless with trust. He gave her hope like it cost him nothing. Like she was worth it.

She let out a small chuckle, tilting her head, a tear escaping down her cheek.

"Truly, you're something else..."

---

Two hours later, Ralph, Hilda, and Isabella stood inside Nolan's room. They sat on the comfortable long couch, while Nolan sat on a single chair across from them, a small table between them.

"Why have we been summoned, young master?" Ralph asked, his tone concerned, his brow furrowed.

"It's nothing big..." Nolan crossed his legs, leaning back, his purple eyes scanning each of them. "I don't trust most people in this mansion. And better yet, that treasurer we have... I get the feeling she's been dipping into the gold that was being saved."

"What could possibly make you think that?" Ralph asked.

"I would also think that..." Isabella added, her arms crossed.

"How so!?" Ralph burst out, frustration boiling over. He got up, scratching his hair violently. "Why does everyone see something I don't?"

"Come on..." Hilda leaned forward, her eyes narrowed, sharp as daggers. "Nolan is said to be the most troublesome boy, is he not? If you calculate all the years spent paying for damages, would they leave the house in this state? But if that were the case, the family would have cast out the girl or worse, punished her to death. So why?"

"Well then..." Nolan lifted his hand, cutting through the tension. "That's enough of that. Let's talk about this."

His palm opened toward the table. A purple portal tore open in the air above it, swirling with crackling energy. Weapons began falling through, clattering onto the wood, relics and artifacts gleaming with dormant magic.

"I still can't get used to that..." Ralph muttered, staring at the impossible sight.

"I believe these are weapons said to be wanted here," Nolan said, his eyes meeting each of them in turn. "Relics, artifacts, and more. So how much, all in all?"

"I've done little education on that sort of stuff, so I may be of use in inquiring about the value..." Hilda picked up one of the jewelry pieces, turning it in the light.

"Then I leave them all to your capable hands." Nolan paused, his expression darkening. "And I've heard about Victor..."

Every eye looked down. Ralph's jaw tightened with anger. Isabella's hands clenched with regret. Hilda's shoulders sagged with pain.

"I just wanted all of you to know this..." Nolan's voice was quiet, but it filled the room. "Victor is not an evil person."

Every head snapped up, eyes wide with shock, faces twisted with anger and disbelief.

Nolan looked at each of them, his gaze steady, his heart heavy. In the novel, Victor had been cruel. In the bloodline of this family, only he remained alive, and that loneliness had made him something else, something broken and sharp.

But maybe, Nolan thought, gripping his chest, feeling his heart beat beneath his palm, maybe if the narrative changed, then things would change as well.

"Brother..." he whispered, so quiet only he could hear."