Elsez, who had been studying the underground hideout layout of the Resurrection Cult that Perse and Jack had drawn, stood up from her seat at the sound of the grandfather clock striking midnight.
“Then I’ll leave it to you for a few more days, Jack. Perse.”
“A high-class guy like me working for cheap—aren’t you grateful?”
Elsez smiled at Jack, who was bragging.
“Yes, thank you. Don’t drink too much before bed.”
“Good grief, now even you’re nagging me—my own son gave up on that ages ago.”
Suddenly talking about his young son, Jack started drinking even more, saying he missed him.
Elsez met eyes with Perse, who was looking at Jack with concern. Shaking her head as if to say, “What can you do,” she returned to her room.
Reti was asleep on the bed.
Elsez carefully lay down, trying not to disturb Reti.
“……”
Eventually, soft, steady breathing came from her closed eyes.
Then, from the seemingly sleeping Reti, a black haze rippled out, and she sat up.
Reti quietly looked at the sleeping Elsez.
Suddenly, she remembered something Elsez had once said.
‘Even if we manage to separate our powers, I won’t kill you.’
‘……’
‘When that time comes, I’ll help you.’
Just like she’d said, Elsez was being considerate in many ways so they could live together.
Even though sneaking out of the temple every night must be a hassle, she came to the guild and slept with her every night, for her sake.
She even refused a request from Dike, someone above her, just to hide her.
And when she sensed divine power in the pretty necklace she got from Astaire, she didn’t hesitate to say she’d return it.
Reti felt sorry that her existence seemed to be a burden to Elsez.
‘When she wakes up, I’ll say we should sleep at the temple from tomorrow.’
Because I want to be someone who helps you, too.
Just then, Elsez’s sleeping face furrowed unusually hard.
“…I’ll kill them.”
Reti flinched at her muttering.
What a terrifying sleep talk.
‘She’s kind of… scary sometimes.’
Gently, Reti patted the back of Elsez’s hand, who was grinding her teeth as if dreaming something bad.
Then Elsez’s deeply furrowed brow gradually relaxed.
Reti quietly watched the now peaceful face of Elsez, then snuggled into her arms.
It was a secret she’d never told anyone, but even someone like her, with strong powers, often felt afraid.
But whenever that happened, hiding in Elsez’s arms made her feel safe.
Because it felt like, no matter what happened, Elsez would always be on her side.
‘I want to be with her.’
For a long, long time—without fighting.
With that thought, Reti fell asleep in Elsez’s arms.
*****
‘Crap! I overslept!’
Of all days, there’s a strategy meeting today!
Reti, who was clinging to Elsez’s shoulder, giggled with excitement.
“The wind feels nice! Run faster, will you!”
‘Am I a horse to you?!’
Elsez desperately wanted to smack the puffball who woke up early but didn’t bother waking her, but she didn’t even have time for that right now.
She sprinted at full speed and passed through the side gate leading to the temple’s main building.
Glancing at the clock on the building, she saw there were exactly seven minutes left.
‘Saved!’
Only after reaching the front of the building did Elsez finally stop running to catch her breath.
Reti, no longer able to enjoy the speed, clicked her tongue in disappointment, then suddenly said as if she’d remembered something.
“Human. From now on, let’s sleep at the temple.”
“Why? You said you couldn’t sleep here because it was scary.”
“I think I’ve gotten used to it now. I’ll be able to sleep.”
“…Really?”
Well, that would actually be more convenient for me.
Just as Elsez was about to ask if Reti really meant it—
“Where are you coming from?”
A familiar voice made her turn, and there was Rashiel walking toward her.
“Oh, Reti couldn’t sleep well at the temple, so we stayed at the guild.”
Rashiel stared coldly at the doll hanging from Elsez’s shoulder.
The doll, barely fist-sized, was radiating dark haze and was clearly on high alert toward him.
Suddenly, Elsez remembered how Rashiel had suffered from nightmares the night before and asked,
“Did you sleep well today? You had a nightmare yesterday.”
“…No.”
“Why not? Is it because you’re in a different bed?”
Elsez held his cheeks and examined his face closely.
“Now that I look, you do seem a bit pale. Are you sick or something?”
Rashiel stared blankly at Elsez, who was checking his forehead with a worried look, and then let out a small laugh.
Why don’t you realize—you’re the only one who sees my weak side, the only one who touches my face like this, the only one who worries about me like there’s nothing in the world to fear.
Rashiel placed his hand over Elsez’s, which was still on his face, and answered.
“It’s not that.”
“Really? That’s a relief…”
Elsez tried to lower her hands from his face, but Rashiel held them tightly, not letting go.
He leaned his face into her hand and added,
“My nightmares only end when you’re beside me.”
Elsez stared blankly at Rashiel as he said that.
There was something slightly sorrowful in his gaze.
But the hand holding hers was firm—so firm and desperate that it was hard to pull away.
From the subtle current of emotion radiating from him, Elsez’s fingertips trembled slightly.
Elsez, clearly confused, just looked at him, unable to respond.
At that moment, hurried footsteps approached.
Like a kid caught doing something wrong, Elsez quickly pulled her hand away.
The person approaching was someone neither of them had expected.
“Sir Rashiel.”
The man wore a knight’s uniform bearing the Imperial crest.
Rashiel frowned, recognizing him as the vice-captain of the Artest Imperial Knights.
The fact that the Empire’s vice-captain had come all the way here to find him was not a good sign.
“What brings an Imperial knight here?”
With a grim face, the vice-captain swallowed hard and opened his mouth in a heavy voice.
“Last night, the Demon Resurrection Cult attacked the Imperial Palace.”
Elsez’s eyes widened in shock at the news. Rashiel’s expression also turned ice cold.
“As a result, His Highness the Crown Prince… no, the traitor Cedric Russel de Hartwig has escaped prison.”
*****
Due to the Empire’s request, today’s strategy meeting was postponed.
Thanks to that, the vice-captain was able to speak privately with Rashiel and explain what had happened the night before.
“The Demon Resurrection Cult has taken over the Imperial Palace.”
There had been anti-magic barriers around the palace, but Cedric, once the crown prince, knew the palace’s security better than anyone, rendering them useless.
The security was breached in an instant.
Cedric released all the dangerous criminals who were imprisoned in the tower with him to divert the palace guards’ attention, then approached the device maintaining the anti-magic barrier and stole it.
After that, the palace turned into utter chaos.
Cedric, who now controlled the palace, took his younger sister, Rinael, hostage.
Half of the palace guard force was lost during the standoff, and the remaining half barely escaped and were now planning a counterattack.
There were also the private armies of nobles, but most of their forces were stationed in their own territories, so gathering them would take time.
More importantly, though Rinael was now technically the crown princess, she had weak political support. In contrast, Cedric still had a significant following among the nobility, some of whom believed he might be reinstated.
In such a situation, few nobles were willing to step forward for Rinael.
To make matters worse, black mages from the Demon Resurrection Cult surrounded the palace, making it likely the knights would be defeated before even getting close.
That’s why they came to Rashiel.
Someone who could rally mages strong enough to fight black mages on equal footing.
The head of the Magic Tower, recognized as the greatest authority on magic in this era.
Rashiel fit every requirement.
“Now that the demon has returned, I know you’ve got your hands full. But the Holy Nation has already agreed to support us, considering the gravity of the situation.”
Meaning: if you agree too, all the pieces will be in place.
The vice-captain grew anxious, watching Rashiel remain so composed even as the Empire teetered on the edge of collapse.
“And Her Highness the Princess… is your sister, after all.”
He brought it up, hoping to stir Rashiel’s emotions.
But Rashiel’s expression didn’t waver in the slightest.
Resting his chin on his hand in silence for a moment, he finally spoke.
“In exchange, I propose three conditions to the Empire.”
Conditions?
The vice-captain frowned at Rashiel’s attitude—demanding terms to save his own country and family.
But Rashiel continued without concern.
“First, permission to kill Cedric Russel de Hartwig on sight.”
The vice-captain agreed to the first condition.
Though killing a former crown prince was troubling, it was the most surefire solution under the circumstances.
“Second, show me the lower volume of the forbidden tome currently in the Empire’s possession. And finally…”
“…”
“Once this is over, ensure that I never have to be involved with the royal family again.”
That last line clearly drew a line between Rashiel and Rinael, the relationship the vice-captain had just tried to appeal to.
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