Chapter 11.13

Just as Herace tightened his grip,

“A-actually, we need to meet the Deputy Priest who permitted our visit first……!”

Lusell, sensing the tense atmosphere, hurriedly jumped in.

“Deputy Priest?”

Herace’s cold gaze turned to Lusell, who nodded awkwardly.

“Yes, yes. I brought an artifact to be verified, and the person who agreed to verify it is the Deputy Priest…….”

Lusell, watching Herace’s reaction, rummaged through his bag and pulled something out.

Although she hadn’t heard an explanation beforehand, Brienne instantly recognized what it was.

It was the torn map Garzen had brought from the underground prison of the Harrington Earldom.

“Then why didn’t you mention it earlier?”

“Well…….”

Startled by Herace’s informal tone, Lusell looked to Brienne for help.

It was understandable that Herace, who hadn’t had much contact with Garzen or Lusell, couldn’t trust them.

Knowing this well, Brienne hurriedly took Herace’s hand.

“That map was found in the underground prison of the Harrington Earldom. So it might be related to the current case. Lusell must have been cautious, like me, worried the information might leak.”

“…….”

Herace’s expression softened as he looked at Brienne. Noticing the subtle change, Brienne gently patted the back of his hand.

“It’s the same with the magical tool. Lusell and Zen probably thought it might not be safe if Herace and I were left alone while they met the Deputy Priest. Especially since Herace is a mage. Zen, what kind of magical tool is this?”

Although she hadn’t heard the explanation earlier, Brienne asked naturally.

Fortunately, Garzen answered right away.

“It’s, uh, a communication device. You can talk from far away.”

So Diashi was researching it.

Brienne nodded and reached out to Garzen. Garzen handed over the magical tool more easily than expected, likely because Herace’s mood was so icy.

Brienne glanced down at the sparkling pendant, gathered her hair, and turned away from Herace.

“Herace, please put it on for me.”

“…….”

Feeling everyone’s gaze, Brienne shook the pendant as if urging him. She felt embarrassed. She was glad she couldn’t see Herace’s expression.

“Hurry.”

“……All right.”

Herace let out a faint sigh and took the pendant from Brienne. Soon, his fingertips touched the nape of Brienne’s neck.

He fastened the pendant with careful, gentle hands.

It was just a necklace.

Brienne unconsciously held her breath, enduring Herace’s touch as it brushed her neck. His warmth and breath behind her made it hard to stand still and pretend not to notice.

“All done.”

“Ahem, t-thank you.”

Brienne quickly stepped away from Herace as soon as she checked the pendant.

Leaving the confused Herace behind, Brienne pretended to fix her hair and rubbed her flushed face with the back of her hand.

“Lusell, you said we need to meet the Deputy Priest first? Then let’s go.”

Herace’s eyes narrowed as he watched Brienne’s rushed back.

But he soon noticed there was someone else watching Brienne just like he was.

“Let’s go together, Miss!”

It was Prince Garzen, wagging an imaginary tail as if he were a puppy.

At that moment, Herace reflexively reached out to grab Garzen’s shoulder.

“……What?”

“Prince, walk with me.”

Garzen asked, bewildered by the sudden suggestion,

“Me? Why should I?”

“Otherwise, I’ll go with Brienne.”

Herace’s dazzling smile spread across his face as he withdrew his hand, looking as if he didn’t mind at all.

Garzen suddenly became flustered.

“N-no!”

This time, he grabbed Herace in return.

“…On second thought, we need time to make up, right? Let’s walk together. It’s not that hard.”

“Good decision.”

The two, who had been clashing from the start, began to walk side by side.

It was a company where no one could truly like the other.

* * *

“How far do we have to go?”

Brienne and her group walked from the temple entrance to the marble-columned corridor.

Lusell said that to reach the Deputy Priest, they had to pass Miragium and go further inside.

“The Deputy Priest is uncomfortable with anyone beside him, so he’s always alone in his private prayer room. That place is probably the safest spot in the world.”

“So he stays alone without help from anyone?”

“Yes, that’s right. He dislikes anyone entering his territory.”

“Ah…….”

Brienne felt she understood, even if she didn’t know the reason. She’d had times like that herself.

“So that’s why you said you’d meet him alone.”

“Yes, the verification of this map won’t take long. Herace and Miss Brienne, you can wait in the next room.”

“All right, we’ll wait.”

Brienne nodded and smiled at Lusell.

That smile was clearly imprinted in Herace’s mind, who hadn’t been able to speak to her since fastening the pendant.

Leaving him feeling this way.

Herace sighed softly and loosened his shirt collar.

It had been quite a while since they entered the temple, but his mind was filled with impure thoughts, making it hard to breathe.

Even with his eyes closed, the same scene kept repeating.

Her small shoulders flinched every time his fingertips touched her. The soft hairs that tickled his fingers. The sweet, cozy scent he felt right in front of him.

Brienne, who had revealed her pale skin so defenselessly, had entrusted her back to him.

She had no idea about Herace’s burning desire to bury his face in her nape.

Usually, Brienne only allowed him to hold her hand, so even fastening a necklace was a struggle for Herace.

Because something always happened, and he’d never managed even a single proper kiss.

Was he the only one impatient?

Herace stared at Brienne’s back as she chatted with Lusell as if nothing was wrong.

The more he touched her, the more Herace’s insides burned, but Brienne didn’t seem to notice, which made him feel a little resentful.

In the end, it seemed Herace was the only one losing his mind over this.

‘……No, maybe that Prince too.’

Herace glanced at Garzen, who had been sighing deeply as if the ground would collapse beneath him.

Garzen, his big shoulders drooping, was mumbling things like ‘If only I’d been a little bit faster……’ while rubbing his face roughly.

<You’re not even engaged yet.>

For a moment, Herace felt a bit of sympathy for Garzen’s dejected appearance, but remembering the words that had slipped from his mouth, Herace’s fist clenched again.

Should he pretend it was an accident and punch him once?

Even as such thoughts crossed his mind—so unlike himself—Herace didn’t even realize it.

He simply thought, ‘What does it matter if he’s a Prince or not?’

Honestly, wasn’t that true?

What did it matter if he was a Prince or not.

From the beginning, Herace had disliked him.

<I didn’t get to introduce myself earlier because things were hectic. Is this what they call love at first sight? What’s your name, Miss?>

The man who called out to Brienne with a greasy smile all over his face.

The moment Herace first heard that voice, he had unconsciously snapped the cane he was holding.

He’d thought his only rival was Kaiden, but realized that might not be the case.

Herace had already vaguely guessed Garzen’s true identity.

No matter how much of a street vagrant he might pretend to be, there was no commoner who would speak so informally to a noble without recognizing their status.

So when Herace later learned Garzen was actually a Prince of Roeta, he wasn’t particularly surprised.

And then, there was that magical power.

Herace briefly gazed at the faint flow of light around Garzen’s large frame.

The yellow light, said to be the symbol of Roeta’s royal family, hovered around him. But the power was so weak, Herace could only guess at it.

With such little magic, he wouldn’t be able to protect anyone.

It was rather unfortunate.

And at the same time, Herace felt a ridiculous sense of relief.

He caught up to Garzen and spoke with a crooked smile.

“There’s something I’ve been curious about.”

“What? Me?”

“I used to think you were just pretending, but seeing you today, I don’t think that’s the case.”

“……What the hell are you talking about? Speak so I can understand. Don’t talk in circles. I hate that the most.”

Garzen frowned slightly, looking Herace up and down. Herace gave a faint smile.

“Well, I’m just saying you should stop getting so close to Brienne.”

The only reason Herace had put up with Garzen was because he was someone who could be useful to Brienne.

A bridge with only one pillar collapses easily, but one with many pillars is sturdier.

But if Prince Garzen kept showing his feelings for Brienne like this, there would be no reason to tolerate him any longer.

Garzen’s eyes sharpened in turn.

“This is starting to get annoying, Mage. You’re getting awfully curt with me, you know that?”

“You think you’re the only one feeling annoyed?”

“Ah, seriously……!”

At that moment, Lusell, unable to hold back any longer, shouted.

“Would you two please stop already!”

“…….”

“…….”

Garzen and Herace, who had been lost in their own world, exchanged awkward glances.

“We’ve arrived at Miragium. Can you at least be quiet here?”

Lusell approached and glared at them.

“Don’t raise your voices in the sacred temple. If you want to keep fighting, go outside and do it.”

There was no longer any sign of respect in Lusell’s gaze toward Herace.

“……Sorry.”

Herace apologized at that moment.

“Lusell, what’s that bird?”

Brienne, who had been walking ahead, stopped and pointed vaguely above the door of Miragium.

It seemed she hadn’t been listening to Lusell at all.

“……Pardon? What bird are you talking about?”

Lusell, tilting his head, followed Brienne’s finger.

“That white bird.”

Brienne answered in a clear voice.

But where she was pointing, there was nothing but a white border—no bird statue, no emblem, nothing.

As Lusell, puzzled, looked toward Garzen and Herace—

“Oh, the bird……!”

Brienne, standing blankly, suddenly stepped toward the large door.

She seemed to pick something up from the ground, then walked straight through the door and disappeared.

“Miss Brienne!”

Startled, Lusell hurried over and grabbed the doorknob. But the door to Miragium was firmly locked, refusing to budge.

In his panic, Lusell remembered the first time he’d faced this door.

<There are those who sometimes respond to the call of Demekia’s god.>

Those who must resolve the ‘original sin’ left behind in the past.

The Marquis Bartshire, holding young Lusellion’s hand, had said that anyone who strayed from the fate set by Demekia’s god was given original sin.

And if one failed to resolve that sin, they would be trapped forever in the god’s vision, unable to escape.

“W-wait a moment, Sir Herace!”

Lusell was lost in thought when it happened.

Before he could stop him, Herace strode forward and passed through the door.

“What on earth…….”

Lusell’s trembling voice echoed down the corridor, where the two had disappeared in an instant.