Chapter 23

If he couldn’t stir up division within the marquisate, borrowing the power of Duke Sesha was the easiest way. However, upon returning to the temple, Nersian mulled over it again and again.

‘Duke Sesha… No. If he becomes the Emperor’s in-law, he’ll try to swallow the entire Empire. The future of our Empire should be devoted to Lord Tyr, not fall into the hands of such a greedy man. Unstable elements must be torn apart and scattered in many pieces to be useful. They must never be allowed to unite!’

Ian, who acted so lofty, was someone he loathed to death. Still, it was foolish to build up Duke Sesha’s power as a counterbalance. If he bowed to the duke out of immediate greed, he would only have headaches later. Nersian massaged his throbbing shoulder and decided to watch how things developed for now.

* * *

The bustling spring in the capital, brought on by Ian’s return, soon passed, and early summer approached.

The Crown Prince only assigned Ian tasks that weren’t particularly difficult, and as a result, Elcia didn’t get any chance to accompany him. No one pressured her to leave, but she chose to stay in the quiet Ceylon House instead of the Kypris marquisate. Her excuse was that she wanted to design a new doll in a peaceful place, and aside from the usual staff, a couple of knights also accompanied her.

Time seemed to move slowly here. After all, even if she stayed at the marquisate, she couldn’t see Ian every day, so her mind was at ease. These days, her joy was simply to sit idly and think of Ian all day long.

He would come to Ceylon House about twice a week, ask briefly after her well-being, and then leave.

“…If I say I’m this happy, that I’m satisfied, would people call me a fool?”

Elcia smiled softly, a little self-mockingly. Udis, who was in the corner, didn’t reply, but if White Bunny, who had gone out to make a clover flower crown in the backyard, had heard, she surely would have grumbled under her breath.

But Elcia was truly happy now. The routine of Ian never forgetting to visit her, always bringing her a sweet treat or a hairpin as a gift, was so precious. Sometimes, after Ian left for the marquisate, she would bury her face in her pillow and burst into tears of joy.

She already knew.

That the happiness she had yesterday might suddenly slip away today or tomorrow.

Even so, Elcia didn’t want to despair.

Even if the small happiness she had always taken for granted came to an end, she wanted to remember the moments that shone because she met Ian.

Even if she had to return to her hometown, burdened with the sad result of not being able to become his lover…

「Master, I’m here!」

The usually silent Udis suddenly shouted.

“Yes, alright.”

Elcia, thinking White Bunny had finished making the flower crown and returned, replied casually and let out a deep sigh. If the flower play was over, she now had to worry about where to dry the clover flower crown. Should she hang it on Udis’s arm? Or on the wall? But if bugs got into the wallpaper, that would be troublesome…

As she fretted, Ian tapped her back with his finger.

“Hello, Elcia.”

“I-Ian?”

Startled, she jumped up, tripping over her own feet. Ian, with a familiar touch, supported her swaying back. Elcia’s breath, held in the man’s arms, quickened like a rabbit caught by a hunter.

He helped Elcia to the sofa in the living room, and once she had calmed down, he spoke.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes.”

Lately, Ian’s mind was so full of Elcia that he couldn’t concentrate on anything.

At first, he hadn’t realized how strange he was acting, but now, seeing her face again, it was clear. He constantly thought of Elcia, who had come alone to Ceylon House away from the marquisate. In the morning, at lunch, in bed before sleep with the lights off, even while camping in the woods on missions outside the capital…

Why was this? Why?

Was he uneasy because Elcia was in the quiet Ceylon House instead of the marquisate?

Ian tried hard to find the reason by observing Elcia.

But as a man who had drawn a line in his relationship with her, his thoughts were predictable.

‘She said she came here to make dolls, didn’t she?’

But despite her words, there was no sign anywhere in Ceylon House that she was preparing to make dolls. Even seeing her face here, there was no hint of such activity.

‘Could it be that someone made Elcia uncomfortable while I was away?’

If so, it would be truly shameful.

Even when he was a violent, pathetic drunk, Elcia hadn’t left Usley Castle and endured for a long time, healing his hand. Though he told her to leave, Ian found himself greatly comforted by her unwavering warmth and kindness. Later, the two became friends at Ian’s suggestion and maintained a close relationship, didn’t they? He had even declared in front of the Crown Prince that he would protect Elcia from Nersian’s clutches, yet he was making her lonely…

Suddenly, Ian remembered something and asked,

“Elcia, where did you stay before coming to Usley Castle?”

“Hmm, at first I was at a private research lab in my hometown, and after His Highness the Crown Prince selected me, I stayed at a slightly larger inn while traveling to and from the capital. I left my luggage in the bank for long-term storage before leaving for the castle.”

“I see.”

The conversation trailed off awkwardly. While the two sat in silence, White Bunny, having finished the clover flower crown, strode in confidently.

「Whew! My hands are all stained green. Elcia, please wash my hands with soap… Huh?」

“Hello, Bunny Doll.”

White Bunny opened her round eyes wide at Ian, then grumbled.

「You’ve been so busy playing knight that you haven’t shown your face at all—what’s up? Did something big happen and you need my help? Am I right?」

“Bunny! That’s too much!”

「My bunny nose sniffed something going on! Isn’t that right?」

“Yes, that’s right.”

Ian’s affirmation made Elcia flinch. Something happened? Did something happen to Ian? Her wide eyes signaled him to explain, and Ian, sitting beside her, conveyed the Crown Prince’s orders. It was an assignment that required not just Ian, but also Elcia, which made things awkward for him.

Strictly speaking, it was more a matter of the temple than the Imperial Family. Fortunately, it was the Vanir Temple, not the Tyr Church. Elcia, who had felt the High Priest’s kindness during their last meeting, quickly answered,

“Of course I’ll go.”

“I didn’t want to take you along because the road to the place the High Priest asked us to visit is a bit rough… Sorry. The High Priest sent a letter saying he’d like you to come too, so I had no choice.”

“Why say sorry? I’m your partner, so of course I should go, right?”

Although Elcia’s expression was bright, Ian didn’t look particularly happy as he explained the situation.

Recently, the Vanir High Priest had fallen into a shallow sleep and heard a faint voice, though it wasn’t an official oracle. Even so, the High Priest seemed to have a premonition and wanted them to follow the dream’s instructions.

If they climbed a small mountain called Friya and found a hidden cave, there would be traces left by the god. This was the message the High Priest heard in his dream. The High Priest even remembered the terrain from the dream so vividly that he drew a map, making it not too difficult to find the cave.

With a happy heart, Elcia packed lightly and followed Ian. Outside Ceylon House, she saw Seiran, who had wrapped up life at Usley Castle and returned to the capital. Overjoyed, she bounced over.

“Sir Seiran!”

“Haha, it’s been a while. Miss Bennett, have you been well?”

Usually calm, he seemed a bit excited, perhaps influenced by Elcia’s lively mood.

“What happened?”

“…I was contacted about an important mission and asked to accompany you.”

Suddenly, the face of young Haden flashed through her mind, but she was curious about something else.

“Then, Sir Seiran, are you climbing the mountain with us?”

“Yes. Let’s catch up later and head out first, Elcia.”

“Please get in the carriage, I’ll drive.”

Seeing Elcia brighten up at Seiran’s appearance, Ian felt a strange, unfamiliar emotion.

A peculiar tingling sensation next to his heart, under his simple leather armor. Had he been working his upper body muscles too much lately? He lightly tapped his perfectly fine right chest with his fist for no reason, then walked ahead toward the carriage. With each step away from Elcia, Ian found himself wanting to look back.

* * *

The journey to Mount Friya wasn’t long. No one, not even the locals, knew who named the mountain, when, or why. Seeing it with their own eyes, it wasn’t even that tall, so heading there felt easy.

Worried that the sun would set quickly, they stayed at a nearby inn and set out again for the foot of the mountain before dawn. Mount Friya, holding its quiet secrets in the morning, silently watched over the three. Ian took the map drawn by the High Priest, checked the direction with a compass, and spoke.

“Elcia, I’ll be back soon with Seiran. Could you summon Udis and wait here? I promise to return before sunset.”

Even though it was a deserted place, Ian was reluctant to leave Elcia alone. Yet, he didn’t really want to ask her to climb the mountain with them either. With Udis’s strength, even if ruffians showed up… Ian considered some terrible scenarios and clenched his fist.

Why did he bring her all the way here?

He could have just taken her to the temple after finishing the task, even if it meant a detour!

Orders—he’d been so focused on orders that he’d missed what was important!

“Ian!”

“…You’re a precious friend to me. I haven’t even repaid your kindness, so I feel bad asking you to go through something dangerous with me.”

“It’s because it’s dangerous that I want to go with you, Ian. What if you get hurt climbing the mountain alone? Please, let me stay by your side. Please?”

Ian, wearing a troubled expression, silently knelt on one knee in front of her.

What did this mean? Elcia froze in surprise, but Ian simply focused on tying her shoelaces tightly so they wouldn’t come undone. Standing up quickly, Ian offered Elcia his hand.

“Come here. I doubt there’ll be any big wild animals, but… Don’t get more than three steps away from me, and stick close, alright?”

“Alright.”

Everything was fine—until Ian added one more thing.

“If you need to use the restroom, don’t wander off on your own. Tell me first. I’ll keep watch.”

“Oh, Ian! I… I got it.”