“How did you…?”
Astaire stepped closer to Elsez, who stood frozen, unable to speak from shock.
Seeing him approach, Reti quickly ducked back into Elsez’s pocket.
Astaire glanced around briefly, then spoke in his usual soft voice.
“This isn’t really the place for this conversation. Shall we go somewhere more private?”
The two moved to the back garden.
Once they reached a quiet, secluded spot surrounded by greenery, Astaire gazed out at the peaceful view and asked,
“We promised we’d all go on a picnic after defeating the demon, remember? Do you recall that, Master?”
‘Master’—Astaire was the only one of the four who used that title.
Back when she was Ruel, there was a time when she had asked all four of them to call her by name. But feeling it didn’t quite carry the dignity she needed, she made them call her ‘Master’ instead.
The other three had ignored the request and kept calling her ‘Ruel’—only Astaire had honored her wish and called her ‘Master.’
“We never got to keep that promise. Should we go now? For that picnic?”
Astaire asked with a gentle smile.
Elsez looked at him in disbelief.
He had always been kind—both to her as Ruel and as Elsez—but the nuance felt different this time.
She was sure of it.
Right now, Astaire was looking at her not as ‘Elsez,’ but as ‘Ruel.’
“You… how did you know?”
Astaire stared quietly at her before answering.
“Rashiel told me before he left.”
The night before Rashiel departed for the Empire, he had come to Astaire unexpectedly and asked him directly:
“You figured it out, didn’t you? That Elsez is the vessel for the demon.”
The unexpected timing, the unexpected visitor, and the even more unexpected question.
Astaire had been unable to hide his reaction and stared back at Rashiel, startled.
It had already surprised him that Rashiel, who had never opened up to anyone, would confide in someone besides Ruel—but to think he knew about Elsez being the demon’s vessel?
As if he had already heard the answer from the look in Astaire’s eyes, Rashiel had asked in a cold voice,
“Then are you going to kill Elsez?”
“……After saying all that yourself, why are you asking me that? Shouldn’t you be more careful, if it’s about her safety?”
“No. That’s exactly why I’m saying it.”
“What?”
“If you’re her enemy, I’m going to kill you before I go.”
Even if you draw your sword against her, she won’t be able to kill you.
Though Rashiel’s voice remained its usual lazy tone, the mana around him sharpened.
As if he could cut someone down with mana alone.
If Astaire had said he would kill Elsez, Rashiel looked ready to shatter the magical barrier surrounding the temple and strike him down.
Astaire understood then—Rashiel’s words weren’t just a threat. He was serious.
And at the same time, Astaire felt relieved.
That Rashiel wasn’t her enemy.
Even without that threat, Astaire had already made up his mind.
Back when he’d hidden Elsez’s identity from Dike.
You must’ve realized it by now too… I can’t bring myself to hurt her.
……
No, I don’t even want to.
Rashiel looked at him for a long moment, then said,
“She’s Ruel.”
“Ruel…? What are you saying?”
“Elsez Rohain is Ruel Iris.”
Hearing that unexpected name from Rashiel’s mouth, Astaire’s eyes trembled.
“What are you…?”
“You decide for yourself.”
That was all Rashiel had said.
It was clear he hadn’t wanted to say it—but had forced himself to.
After Rashiel left, Astaire reflected on everything that had happened up to that point.
All of Elsez’s words, her actions—they all pointed to a single truth:
Elsez Rohain was the real Ruel.
When the ‘fake Ruel’ appeared, Astaire had been shocked at how perfectly she resembled the Ruel he once knew—but only for a moment.
“To think I had you right in front of me, and didn’t recognize you… when I missed you so much…”
Astaire cupped Elsez’s cheek, looking down at her with furrowed brows.
“I’m sorry I realized it so late.”
He imagined how frustrating it must’ve been for her, unable to say anything, and guilt gnawed at him for not seeing it sooner.
At the same time, all the emotions he had pushed down began to rise—the crushing grief and longing he’d felt as he buried her with his own hands.
And in that moment of overwhelming emotion—
Elsez threw her arms around him.
“I missed you, Astaire. I wanted to hug you the moment I saw you.”
Astaire’s eyes widened at the sudden embrace.
But as he felt her warmth, it finally became real to him—she had truly come back.
Astaire embraced her with a smile.
“……Yeah, I missed you so much too.”
To be able to hold her again—it felt like a miracle.
He could sense the faint presence of the demon in her, but even that… he didn’t mind anymore.
“Ughhh… I can’t breathe!”
Just then, Elsez’s jacket twitched, and Reti popped out from between them.
Climbing up Elsez’s shoulder and glaring warily at Astaire, Reti huffed.
Elsez giggled.
“Sorry, Reti.”
As she stepped out of Astaire’s arms, she suddenly thought of Rashiel and muttered,
“Still… why didn’t that guy say anything to me? If I’d known you knew, I would’ve felt a lot better.”
“You’re not really the type to need that kind of reassurance, Master. You always handle things on your own.”
“Well, yeah, but… when the fake showed up, I honestly felt really alone.”
Elsez shook her head, still baffled by Rashiel’s silence, but Astaire thought he understood.
He probably didn’t want to leave you in my care. He didn’t want you to rely on me.
Rashiel had wanted Elsez all to himself.
He had told Astaire for her safety—but only just.
“I think I know why.”
“What is it?”
Astaire smiled playfully at the curious Elsez.
“But I’m not going to tell you.”
Because he wanted her to remain unaware of that man’s feelings.
****
Rashiel checked Rinael’s condition.
She had a few minor scrapes here and there, but none severe enough to make her lose consciousness.
When Rashiel brought his hand close to her neck and activated his magic, a black magic circle surfaced and deflected the spell.
His expression turned cold.
“…It’s black magic.”
The cult of the demon resurrection had cast black magic on Rinael.
“It’s a spell that binds the life of the caster to the life of the target.”
“Th-Then…”
“All of the black mages who attacked the imperial palace are dead. Since the caster is dead, Her Highness will soon stop breathing too.”
At Rashiel’s explanation, the deputy knight commander and the aide beside him both turned pale.
The deputy commander turned to the aide, who had been held hostage alongside Rinael, and demanded,
“What in the world happened? Her Highness was cursed by black magic? What were you all doing at her side during that time?”
“Her Highness… made a deal with them to protect us. They left us alone in exchange for placing the black magic on her.”
“And you just stood there watching your liege be cursed with a spell you didn’t even understand? Some loyalty that is.”
Rashiel sneered.
Not only the aide, but also the maids who had been held hostage with Rinael bowed their heads in shame, unable to say anything.
Staring at Rinael’s face, which was growing paler by the minute, the deputy commander dropped to his knees before Rashiel.
“Please help her, Lord Rashiel. You could undo black magic… couldn’t you?”
“Unfortunately, I’m ignorant when it comes to black magic.”
He wasn’t lying.
Black magic, unlike regular spells, does not break even if the caster dies.
And while normal spells can be countered by stronger magic, the black magic on Rinael had used the caster’s blood as a medium. The underlying principles were completely different.
In other words, black magic could not be dispelled by regular means.
And contrary to the rumors that he had dabbled in it, Rashiel had never studied black magic.
But black magic is still a branch of magic. If anyone could deal with it, it would be the master of the Mage Tower…
It was a long shot, but for now, the deputy commander decided to cling to that one possible option.
He remembered the one thing that might motivate Rashiel and opened his mouth.
“…The Forbidden Text.”
Just as he expected, Rashiel’s gaze snapped back to him.
“You said you wanted access to the Forbidden Texts. The portal leading to the vault beneath the palace only reacts to Her Highness, the Crown Princess.”
Which meant—if Rinael died, he couldn’t access the texts.
“You of all people can surely dispel some pathetic black magic.”
Rashiel looked at the deputy commander kneeling before him, his brows faintly furrowing.
There might not be another chance to read the Forbidden Texts.
Once Elsez’s power as the vessel of the demon was fully revealed, it would be too late.
So maybe this was his only opportunity.
And one more thing…
…Why do I keep thinking of you in times like this?
The image of Rinael risking herself to protect others overlapped with Elsez—who always threw herself into danger to protect those weaker than her.
Rashiel stood in silence for a moment, lost in thought, then turned toward the door.
The deputy commander quickly moved to block his way. He couldn’t let Rashiel leave without taking action.
Rashiel sighed irritably and said,
“Out of my way. I’m taking her to the Mage Tower.”
The deputy commander looked up at him in shock.
As if to answer that gaze, Rashiel added,
“The Mage Tower is better suited than the imperial palace for slowing the effects of black magic.”
Understanding his intent, a wave of relief finally washed over the deputy commander’s face.
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