Chapter 23: BWCGD

Chapter 23

'Well... I guess he still doesn't trust me yet. If I caused another scene like before, it would only become troublesome...'

Yesterday, after returning from her outing, she had been assigned an escort.

Whether it was because she had looked as filthy as a sewer rat, or because what happened with Erze had reached Kallian's ears, she wasn't sure.

Evelyn, who thought it was only natural to be treated like a child who couldn't be left alone, hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking.

"I met a friend who used to work as the assistant to the Count's physician."

While Kallian had been held back by the Empress, Evelyn had stopped by the herbal shop she had visited yesterday with Leah.

But somehow, the shop had completely disappeared.

As if it had all been a dream.

Only the Iblis Horn in her hand proved that yesterday's events had not been an illusion.

Was I haunted by a ghost?

Or was it some kind of perception-distortion magic?

Either way, it wasn't normal, and anxiety crept over her. But ever since she had crossed back over the River of Death, everything that had happened to her had already gone beyond common sense.

Pretending she had simply been mistaken, Evelyn showed Leah the herbs and was able to learn more about them.

But she didn't think the man before her would be interested in that, so she got straight to the point.

"My friend said an epidemic has started spreading in the Port of Richef."

"So?"

So?

Caught off guard by his unexpected response, Evelyn frowned slightly.

He continued in a somewhat rough tone.

"I admire your courage for wanting to do something, but that's not something you need to concern yourself with."

The obvious displeasure in his eyes startled Evelyn a little, but she couldn't back down now.

Taking a short breath, she spoke.

"Why? Am I still not qualified to assist you, Your Grace?"

"No. It's because there's something else you should be concerned about."

Evelyn thought carefully, wondering if she had overlooked something.

But no matter how much she thought about it, nothing seemed more important than this.

"What is it that I should be concerned about...?"

With a shallow sigh, he rubbed his face before speaking coldly.

"From April into May, the knights should remain in the North whenever possible."

"I know. It's when the monsters that spent the winter hiding in caves come out to breed."

"Then you also know this. To me, hunting those monsters and restoring the North is far more important than some damned epidemic."

"Ah."

Embarrassment spread across Evelyn's face.

Only then did she realize how short-sighted she had been.

It was impossible for the ruler to leave his territory when countless monsters emerged from their caves after winter to breed and establish nests.

'But I can't let things end the same way they did in my previous life. If that tragedy happens again...'

"Why aren't you answering? Did someone spread honey on your lips?"

Whether he was mocking or teasing her, Kallian urged her to respond.

She needed to say something, but suddenly her mind went blank.

She couldn't think of a single word.

"W-Well, actually..."

Swallowing nervously, Evelyn organized her thoughts.

In her previous life, he had always been burdened with state affairs while enduring the Empress's constant interference.

She had seized every opportunity to have Kallian assassinated.

After he ignored Richef and the Empire was struck by a terrible catastrophe, people openly formed factions against him.

"Everything will be solved once the Guardian is gone! We won't have to fear a few monsters anymore!"

Countless assassins had sought his life.

Enemies lurked everywhere.

Evelyn, who had witnessed it all from his side, knew just how exhausting his life had been.

Of course, unlike her, Kallian never paid attention to such personal matters.

But she had felt as though her blood were drying up from anxiety.

'I have to persuade him somehow.'

Understanding him was one thing.

Watching him knowingly choose a future whose outcome she already knew was another.

Swallowing the words she couldn't say aloud, Evelyn steadied her breathing once more.

"I had a prophetic dream. What breaks out there isn't an ordinary epidemic."

Kallian's expression instantly turned cold.

Watching him slowly rise and lean against his desk, Evelyn swallowed hard.

"People suffering from unbearable thirst and burning fever eventually lose their sanity... and begin eating the flesh of others to satisfy their hunger."

"A horrifying and grotesque plague will spread."

"And then a Gate opens too?"

Their knees touched.

Startled by how close he had come, Evelyn nodded.

Kallian narrowed his eyes.

"If that's true, then it seems God truly hates Richef."

He spoke casually, but after witnessing her foresight once before, he couldn't simply dismiss her words.

This is enough.

There's no other way anyway.

"This is everything I know."

"..."

"The decision is yours, Your Grace."

Just then—

"Wait."

The air suddenly grew tense.

As Evelyn stepped back, a firm arm like iron blocked her retreat.

With a single pull, her body was drawn between his widely spread legs, fitting perfectly against him.

His face was suddenly so close that her mind went completely blank.

She tried to lean back in surprise, but his hand gripped the back of her neck, leaving her unable to move.

Their eyes met.

It was as though a great sun shimmered before her.

Clutching the hem of his clothes like a lifeline, Evelyn let out a trembling breath.

Then she noticed the scar on his left cheek.

It looked like something had scratched him deeply.

She had been momentarily captivated by his handsome face before suddenly coming to her senses.

Ah... he wants me to heal him.

Her heart ached for expecting something more, even though she knew exactly what her purpose was.

Still, she was happy.

Happy that she could help him this way.

Happy that she could remain by his side, even if only like this.

"Then... excuse me."

Evelyn released the healing power she had been gathering.

At that moment, Kallian, who had been quietly looking down at her, lowered his head and bit her lips.

As though mere skin contact wasn't enough.

"...Mm."

The moment their lips met, his tongue skillfully slipped into her parted mouth.

Its slow, deliberate movements explored every corner of her mouth more gently than ever before.

Even that unhurried kiss made her heart pound so violently she could barely breathe.

His warm, lingering movements were so vivid she could feel every brush of his tongue.

It felt as though her entire body would melt.

Her thighs trembled, and she instinctively clutched his clothes tighter.

Between their joined lips, she could feel him smiling.

She wanted to bite his tongue out of spite.

But she simply couldn't bring herself to hurt him.

Her thoughts didn't last long.

"Mm..."

His hand slid slowly down her back, gently caressing the line between her waist and hips.

As though asking whether she really had room to think about anything else.

Or perhaps telling her to lean on him.

Without realizing it, Evelyn wrapped her arms tightly around his back.

He was warm.

Soft.

Warm enough to remind her of the days when they had whispered that they loved each other and saw only one another.

Against his chest, she could hear the frantic pounding of a heart she knew was her own.

As her head tilted, his tongue pushed even deeper through their tightly locked lips.

The breaths they shared through nose and mouth gradually grew rougher.

It felt as though the rushing blood in her veins was pounding against her skull.

"Mmph...!"

Unable to breathe under the overwhelming pressure, Evelyn finally turned her head and broke the kiss.

Only then did the breath trapped in her lungs burst free.

"Haa... haa..."

Resting her forehead against his shoulder, Evelyn gasped softly.

Taking that sound as an invitation, Kallian buried his face against her neck.

She wrapped her arms around his head as he pressed closer.

"Ah..."

His hot lips gently closed over her pulse before sucking deeply.

The intense sensation made her toes curl.

Just as she threw her head back and hugged him even tighter—

"W-Wait a moment!"

A sudden sense of familiarity crossed Evelyn's mind, making her frown deeply.

Kallian, who had withdrawn the demonic energy he had been channeling, steadied his breathing before asking,

"What is it? Are you uncomfortable?"

"N-No! It's not that."

"I thought you'd be used to this by now."

"That's not it. Something has been bothering me this whole time..."

Muttering quietly, Evelyn suddenly shoved him away before hurriedly running toward the entrance of the office.

What is she...?

Kallian remained frozen where he sat on the edge of his desk.

A moment later, Evelyn rushed back.

Her face slightly flushed, she caught her breath before placing something from a yellow envelope into his palm.

He frowned at the purple cone-shaped object covered in tiny roots.

"What is this?"

"A medicinal herb."

"A medicinal herb?"

"Yes. It's the herb the Countess used when she cast the curse. And this smell... it's coming from your hair, Your Grace..."

Unable to finish her sentence, Evelyn's green eyes rested on his jet-black hair.

Kallian already knew.

The teacup the Empress had thrown at him had carried a faint musky scent.

But it was clearly different from the herb now lying in his hand.

With senses as sharp as his, there was no way he wouldn't notice any foul odor coming from himself.

His dark brows knitted together in disbelief.

"Where did you get this herb?"

"At an herbal shop in the back alleys of Adelheim..."

She bit her lower lip.

An awkward expression crossed her face.

"But... the shop disappeared after just one day. Yesterday it was definitely..."

"It was there, and then it vanished?"

"Yes. I know it's hard to believe."

There were no unbelievable things left in this world.

He had experienced far too many of them already.

A shop existing yesterday and disappearing today wasn't even particularly strange.

However...

The day before the Empress had splashed tea on him, a mysterious herbal shop had appeared before Evelyn and handed her exactly the clue they needed.

That coincidence strengthened the possibility that the person behind the Countess was the Empress.

Because in Kallian's world...

Unexpected coincidences simply did not exist.

Still, he wondered whether he should tell the woman something that had not yet been confirmed.

Wondered?

'The possibility that this woman is the Empress's spy is nonexistent. Then... what exactly am I worried about?'

Lost in thought, Kallian remained silent.

Seeing no response, Evelyn stepped closer and lifted the hand holding the herb up to eye level.

"Iblis Horn. It's an ancient medicine found on the continent of Nora. That's why it's so difficult to obtain."

Kallian quietly watched her, as though trying to see through her true intentions.

She continued calmly.

"Moreover, when combined with dark magic, it gains various effects. If someone is exposed to the refined substance over a long period of time, the soul and body gradually separate... eventually leading to death."

...This is bothering me after all.

For some reason, Kallian found her calm, indifferent reaction strangely unsettling.