Chapter 7

Their eyes met.

“Please confirm whether my mother is alive. Her name is Marcella. Three years ago, she was taken to the temple, and I've had no contact with her since.”

Evelyn swallowed dryly as she looked at the man who stared at her with wild eyes, as if he would grab her by the throat and snap her neck at any moment.

“If Your Highness wishes to fulfill your duty, then you will definitely need me. So…”

“……”

“If you only confirm whether my mother is alive, I will serve Your Highness with all my heart.”

“Serve me?”

“I told you. I have healing powers. I believe Your Highness knows better than anyone what condition you're in right now.”

She had proven her worth. Whether he accepted it or not was entirely up to him.

Kallian, who had been silently studying her as if trying to read her true intentions, finally broke the silence.

“Have you ever heard the saying that you should be wary of someone who offers a deal that's too favorable?”

He probably thought he was the one with the advantage.

But Evelyn saw it differently.

Her mother's fate, lifting his curse, and in the end, gaining freedom from death itself by relying on his status.

Perhaps she would gain even more than he would.

“You're offering me exactly what I want. Isn't this deal far too disadvantageous for you?”

Who liked making a losing deal?

If he continued believing that, it worked better for her.

Evelyn bit the tender flesh inside her cheek.

“So… do you still not trust me?”

“Well, I suppose I'll know after watching you.”

The corners of his lips slowly curled upward, as if things had finally become interesting.

There was unmistakable curiosity in his smile.

“Then…”

Taking a deep breath to gather her courage, she was about to speak again when—

“Your Highness! May we come in for a moment? The preparations for the ritual are complete!”

A voice as loud as thunder echoed through the room.

Bang! Bang!

Someone pounded heavily on the firmly shut door, a door that seemed capable of keeping anyone from entering.

Looking mildly annoyed, Kallian slowly stood up and put on the coat he had casually thrown over the chair.

Then he tossed the blanket over Evelyn's head as she lay quietly on the bed.

Just moments ago he had been clinging closely to her, but now his voice was calm enough to reveal not the slightest emotion.

“For now, go back. I'll decide in two days whether to accept your proposal... or punish you.”

Evelyn nodded.

Looking straight into her eyes, Kallian warned her sternly.

“If you're thinking of running away, give it up. Finding one person is effortless for me. Even if you were to fly into the sky.”

“I have one more request.”

“……”

“Please quietly spread the rumor that someone infiltrated Your Highness's bedroom... and make sure people realize it was me.”

From the gaze pressing down on her, Evelyn sensed a subtle obsession and an abnormal possessiveness.

It wasn't desire.

It was curiosity toward a woman bold enough to meet his eyes without fear and speak to him so brazenly.

He wasn't the kind of man who would simply let go of a woman who possessed healing powers and claimed to know the location of the next Gate.

The faint mark engraved on her wrist proved it.

Tracking magic.

That was why he hadn't bothered asking her name.

The shadow visible only to him had already wrapped around her ankle.

Learning everything about Evelyn without asking her name would be an easy task.

Evelyn intended to rely on his persistence to move on to the next step.

Meanwhile, the one who had come to see the Grand Duke was Count Lawrence, accompanied by a priest.

Watching for her chance beneath the blanket, Evelyn quietly slipped out through the slightly open window while they spoke near the doorway.

She found herself strangely grateful that Kallian's massive frame completely blocked the entrance.

Phew... I've done everything I needed to do.

Sitting down on the terrace, she looked up at the night sky while calming her trembling legs and pounding heart.

The rain had stopped, and clouds drifted slowly overhead.

Once the rumor spreads that the Grand Duke is looking for me, Louise won't stay quiet.

Interfering in another noble family's affairs without justification was troublesome.

Even for the Grand Duke.

But if everything went according to her plan, and Kallian could be drawn into the underground prison...

Then everything would change.

So please... come looking for me.

Help me escape from this place.

She leaned her head back and let out a sigh.

A single ray of light rode in on the damp breeze and brushed across her cheek, as if awakening her senses.

* * *

The next morning.

A fine drizzle soaked the vast land.

“Your Highness, this is truly incredible! To see you wake up in such perfect health...!”

Benjamin, Kallian's aide, repeatedly exclaimed in amazement as he busily examined Kallian's right arm.

After worrying about his lord all night, Benjamin's face had become gaunt, as though the skin had shrunk tightly against his bones.

But Kallian didn't spare his loyal aide even a glance.

His eyes remained fixed on the items lying on the table.

A hooded robe embroidered with a lizard crest.

A bloodstained piece of cloth.

Several medicine bottles scattered across the table.

Standing with his arms crossed like someone determined to find every trace of another person, Kallian stared straight ahead.

A fierce light flashed in his eyes.

“Y-Your Highness?”

Having spent the entire night pacing anxiously outside because he had been ordered not to approach, Benjamin frowned at the sight of his lord, who looked not only perfectly healthy but even more intimidating than usual.

“Are... are you really all right?”

“As you can see.”

“By the way, why are you summoning the count's apprentice physicians? And this early in the morning?”

“There's something I need to confirm.”

Benjamin's gray eyes filled with confusion and suspicion.

“Did you perhaps make a mistake last night?”

“What kind of mistake?”

“For example... did you insult a physician?”

“……”

“Or humiliate one? Maybe said something you shouldn't have... or forced them into submission?”

“……”

“Don't tell me you did all of that?”

Benjamin knew his lord was far too controlled to behave that way despite his obsessive nature.

Still, he pulled out the chair across from him and sat down.

“If that's not it... then please explain what happened. My curiosity is driving me insane.”

“The things I ordered?”

“I've stationed the knights in Ferrum, and we've secretly begun investigating the woman you mentioned. So now, please tell me...”

Usually, his madness lasted anywhere from a week to a month.

It had become so severe that Kallian had to bind himself with chains and restraints to keep from losing control.

Neither healing powers nor divine power had any effect on him.

Benjamin remembered the day two months ago when he had ignored everyone's attempts to stop him and entered Kallian's tent because he was worried about his high fever.

“Grrr…”

That day, Benjamin had been attacked by the crazed Kallian.

The deep scar around his left eye forced him to wear an eye patch for the rest of his life.

Whenever he remembered those blood-red eyes, cold enough to send chills down his spine, his shoulders trembled on their own.

Even so, Benjamin cared more about his lord's safety than his own life.

The fact that no such disaster had occurred overnight filled him with relief.

Still... to recover this quickly... and without even a single scar...

As he wondered if the past few days, spent hovering between life and death, had all been a dream—

“Um... you called for me?”

A cautious knock came from the door.

Both men turned toward it.

“Come in.”

A young girl with curly red hair entered timidly.

She walked to the table and bowed deeply.

“I... I've brought the medicine... you requested.”

“Your name.”

“L-Leah Bernard.”

Those brilliant golden eyes, sharpened by years of hardship, carefully examined every inch of the trembling young physician.

He stared so intently that it seemed he might burn a hole through her face.

Then—

“Leave it and go.”

At Kallian's words, accompanied by the slightest twitch of his eyebrow, Leah sighed inwardly with relief.

“T-Thank you.”

Her hands shook as she placed the medicine bottle on the table.

The moment she raised her head—

“Eek!”

Their eyes met directly.

Kallian rested his chin on one hand, his elbow on the table.

His cold gaze.

His tightly furrowed brow.

The faint smile twisting at his lips, as though he could see through every lie.

She could hardly breathe.

Afraid he might read her thoughts, Leah quickly looked away and tried to back toward the door.

“Wait.”

She couldn't.

The sound of footsteps, too heavy for even the thick carpet to muffle, wrapped around her ankles like chains.

Kallian stopped just one step away.

He unfolded the robe and held it against her body, as though comparing its size.

Leah forced a smile with wide eyes.

In truth, she had known exactly who owned that robe from the moment she entered.

Good heavens... I knew it!

My lifesaving benefactor just had to cause trouble!

“So, I've found the owner.”

His voice sounded like a death sentence.

He tossed the robe onto the chair and casually rolled his stiff shoulder.

A towering shadow fell over Leah, who was already drenched in cold sweat.

“But you are not the woman I'm looking for.”

His icy eyes stared into hers.

“So let me warn you.”

“If you wish to live... tell me nothing but the truth.”

* * *

Exactly one day had passed since meeting Kallian.

Anxiously watching the direction where he was staying, Evelyn suddenly had her eyes and mouth covered.

She was dragged somewhere and forced onto her knees on a damp stone floor.

The smell of danger and the familiar underground air filled her lungs.

So... it's finally come.

Her heart pounded with a strange rhythm.

Then—

“I hear the Grand Duke is searching for a mysterious woman with silver hair and green eyes. They say he has a special reward to secretly bestow upon her...”

Someone removed the cloth covering her eyes and the gag from her mouth.

In the pitch-black darkness stood Louise, staring directly at her.

“If that's true, then there's only one such woman in this mansion.”

“Isn't that right... Evelyn?”

Dressed in a severe gray gown buttoned to her neck, Louise approached with venomous eyes.

In her hand was a glass bottle filled with a crimson liquid.

“I won't ask twice.”

“Last night... was it really you who infiltrated the Grand Duke's residence?”

When Evelyn remained silent, Louise slowly raised her hand high into the air.