“That’s… love?”

“You can’t define it exactly in one way, but roughly speaking, that kind of emotion is called love.”

“Love……”

Had she just scratched Hector’s wounds?

After all, realizing one’s own deficiencies isn’t a pleasant thing.

Only then did Charlie realize her mistake and hurriedly tried to wrap up her words.

“Well, it’s not easy to experience love in life. Many people never feel it their entire lives.”

Despite Charlie’s attempt to smooth things over, Hector looked lost, as if he had received some kind of shock.

As the silence continued and anxiety began to set in, Hector turned to look at Charlie.

“Have you?”

“…What?”

“Love.”

The love theory that had come back like a boomerang dug into Charlie’s chest.

The prediction that it wouldn’t be pleasant was very accurate.

After all, her current mood was very unpleasant.

“No.”

“No?”

“I said I’ve never been in love!”

Charlie, who had been double-tapped, frowned irritably.

On the other hand, a smile like a crack spread across Hector’s face.

“But how do you know it so well?”

“Well… People talk about it here and there, and I’ve seen it… That’s why.”

“I see.”

Hector’s steps were light as he started walking forward again.

Charlie, who had completely forgotten the main point by now, followed him grumpily.

* * *

When Charlie emerged from the alley and entered the square, she looked around at the crowd moving en masse.

“Where is everyone going?”

“They’re going to see the Pope’s prayer ceremony.”

“Prayer?”

Hector led Charlie to the corner of the street, avoiding the people hurrying their steps.

“Do you want to see?”

The Hunt family had never been on good terms with the temple for generations.

No, they lacked reverence for God altogether.

This was because the fate of being a Grand Master and possessing the power of darkness was no different from God’s curse. Also, holy power, like the power of light, is opposed to the power of darkness.

Moreover, the temple had long forgotten its essence by colluding with the imperial family.

What came down as divine revelations were all the emperor’s will, and numerous evil deeds had been committed in the name of God.

In fact, it was for this reason that the Kingdom of Hunt had become a vassal state to the Graham Empire.

“Um……”

And this was a fact well known to Charlie, the possessed one.

In the original work, Hector had destroyed the imperial palace and had even blown away the Grand Temple.

“Not really……”

Charlie shook her head.

“I saw earlier that they were playing darts over there, shall we go……”

It was then.

Bang–!

The sound of fireworks announcing the prayer ceremony echoed through the square.

Soon after, brilliant lights combining holy power and magic painted the sky.

The scattered sparks crossed the night sky as if they had wings.

It was as if fairies were flying around sprinkling glittering stardust.

Charlie looked up at the sky with her mouth open at the sight she had never seen before.

Hector, who had been watching her intently, fixed Charlie’s hood that was about to come off and said,

“Let’s go see too.”

The prime spots in the center of the square were already full of people, with no room for steps.

Charlie and Hector, who arrived late, took their place at the very edge of the crowd.

Charlie stood on her tiptoes, but all she could see were the backs of people’s heads.

If they asserted the status of Grand Duke, they could watch the prayer ceremony right in front of the Pope.

But Charlie’s existence was a secret.

Just being out like this was already risky.

Hector pulled his robe down deeper and looked around.

For some reason, Cedric was nowhere to be seen.

But that was no reason to feel at ease. Kaisis’s eyes and ears were spread everywhere.

Hector, who had used his ability to make the shadows deeper to hide his red eyes, reached out his hand.

“Come here.”

Charlie looked up at Hector.

As if reading her thoughts, Hector said,

“Are you going to keep looking at people?”

“But still……”

“They won’t turn around because they’re watching the ceremony.”

Charlie glanced around.

Indeed, as Hector said, everyone was just staring at the altar.

Hector picked up the hesitating Charlie.

“Wow……”

The majestic altar came into Charlie’s view.

From those wearing pure white priestly robes to the lights floating around them. It was a sight she couldn’t see from below.

“Pheromones.”

Hector whispered softly.

Charlie only then realized that she had been releasing pheromones.

“I’m sorry.”

Charlie smiled awkwardly.

“No need to apologize.”

Unlike his indifferent tone, Hector’s large hand patted Charlie’s lower back a couple of times.

How much time had passed like that?

With the sound of a horn, the prayer ceremony began.

The square suddenly became solemn.

The murmuring voices and the jostling movements of people trying to get good spots all stopped.

The recitation of prayers by the cardinals and priests continued.

Then Michael, holding a shepherd’s staff, stepped up to the altar.

His lavender hair exuded a mystical aura as if he were not of this world.

Unaware that this was the priest who she had hurled insults at, Charlie was busy taking in the rare sight.

Finally, as Michael stretched his hand towards the sky, powerful holy power spread out, brightening the surroundings as if it were broad daylight.

It was a spectacular sight that involuntarily made one’s eyes squint and head bow.

Charlie turned to look at Hector.

He would be short of hands because he was holding her.

“It’s dazzling, isn’t it?”

Charlie raised her hand to cover Hector’s eyes instead.

At that moment, the scene penetrating Hector’s retina seemed to slow down.

The sounds he had been hearing faded into the distance.

Charlie, smiling brightly at him, seemed to be etched into his eyes.

Suddenly, Hector’s heart began to leap with a great resonance.

The heartbeat that started in his chest grew stronger and stronger, as if it would devour his entire body.

The heat that rose up amplified and consumed Hector as it was.

“Ugh……”

* * *

It was when Leon and Tanner were also heading towards the square, following Charlie and Hector.

“Why… mmph!”

Leon pulled Tanner into the alley this time, covering his mouth.

“Shh. It’s Marquis Miller.”

Leon possessed exceptional physical abilities even among Master-level individuals.

His eyesight, in particular, was unrivaled. Despite the distance, Leon could accurately distinguish Miller.

Tanner’s expression turned serious.

“What about His Grace?”

Leon carefully poked his head out to observe the movements of Miller’s group.

“He’s far from His Grace.”

“Who’s around him?”

“Seems to be the guard… Wait, it’s the Imperial Guard!”

Leon’s eyes widened.

The Imperial First Guard consisted of nobles and formal knights who valued honor and chivalry above their lives.

They had built their reputation as the Emperor’s public-facing organization.

In contrast, the Imperial Guard were not knights.

They were individuals whose origins, and even names, were shrouded in mystery.

Moreover, they were an organization operating in the shadows, involved in assassinations, kidnappings, and espionage, essentially representing the dark side of the Emperor.

“What?!”

Leon became excited upon seeing the person standing next to Miller.

“That guy, I remember him clearly. He’s definitely from the Imperial Guard.”

Anyone attending the Eve would naturally come to see the prayer ceremony. Moreover, Miller had detected movement indicating that people from the Hunt family had left the mansion.

Of course, a report had gone up, and Kaisis had given Miller the Imperial Guard.

“We need to go back.”

Tanner’s face stiffened as the situation seemed more serious than expected.

To mobilize the Imperial Guard just to find one guide. This undoubtedly meant they were prepared for an armed confrontation with Hector.

“I think we should…”

Leon, who was speaking, was startled.

“What’s wrong?”

“His Grace has picked up Miss Charlie.”

“Picked her up?!”

“Uh… Oh! And Miller is suddenly changing direction? If this continues, they’ll run into each other.”

Miller’s group, which had been heading towards the altar, suddenly started walking in the opposite direction.

The seats in front of the altar were reserved for nobles, all of whom Miller had identified.

If they were hiding, they wouldn’t be there.

Miller whispered something to the Imperial Guard while handing over a portrait with Charlie’s description.

Leon’s heart raced.

Whether it was because his magic was sealed or because of his poor health condition, Hector wasn’t moving at all.

“This won’t do. We should signal His Grace.”

“No.”

Tanner grabbed Leon’s arm and said.

“Is there any reason to boast to Miller that we’re here?”

“But…”

“Miller probably hasn’t figured out Miss Charlie’s exact identity yet. If we give him certainty that she’s here with His Grace, the Emperor will surely storm the mansion.”

Charlie was Hector’s affiliated guide.

However, in Hector’s current physical state, he couldn’t handle even fire ability, let alone darkness ability.

Whether they break down the door or wage war. It wasn’t time yet.