Chapter 66
“Was it that woman who found the Ellesia family’s ring?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then I bet Valeques must’ve been furious.”
Alex’s smile deepened.
“Look into it a little more closely.”
“Yes, sir. But…”
“But what? You have something else to report?”
“You haven’t coughed.”
“…Ah.”
“You didn’t look well this morning, but now you seem fine.”
“…You’re right.”
Alex’s eyes widened slightly.
Only then did he realize it — the constant coughing he’d had since morning was completely gone, as if it had never existed.
“……”
His gaze turned toward the small restaurant where Seres was.
“Is it because of that tea?”
He chuckled softly, then quietly turned and left.
The man who’d been with him vanished without a trace.
Thud!
“Ugh…”
“Damn— what the hell?”
A drunk middle-aged man bumped into Alex on the street.
Without hesitation, the man grabbed Alex by the collar.
“Watch where you’re going, you punk!”
“Yeah. You should watch where you’re going too.”
“What? You little—!”
The man swung his fist, irritated by Alex’s faint smile.
Just before the punch could hit him, Alex suddenly dropped to the ground — staggering like someone who had just been hit.
“Keep your damn eyes open!”
“…Sure.”
“Pft!”
Thinking he’d won the scuffle, the man spat and stumbled away.
A faint, knowing smile crept across Alex’s face as he brushed the dust from his clothes.
“Of course. Keep your eyes open…”
He looked off in the direction the man had gone.
“That’s the only way you’ll live long.”
“A demon beast?”
“Yes. That’s what the reports are saying — it looks like the work of a demon beast.”
“In the capital?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Did a Black Forest appear nearby or something?”
“No, sir.”
Kainel’s aide, Del, shook his head, clearly baffled.
“That’s what’s strange. There was no sign of a Black Forest, but they found a corpse that looks like it was killed by a demon beast.”
A body had been discovered in an alley that morning — and the state of it made it hard to believe anything but a demon beast had been involved.
The problem: there hadn’t been any Black Forest occurrence anywhere near that area yesterday.
“They haven’t been able to identify the victim yet.”
“A demon beast… huh.”
In the Duchy of Persia, that sort of thing wasn’t unheard of — sometimes, demon beasts from the Frozen Tree Forest would wander down into villages and cause trouble.
But one appearing in the middle of the capital?
And attacking only a single person, without anyone noticing?
“I don’t even know if that’s possible in the capital. Are we sure it’s really the work of a demon beast?”
“Hard to say. The investigation’s ongoing, but there’s been little progress. They haven’t even identified what kind of beast it might’ve been.”
Del handed him a document.
“The Imperial Palace has requested assistance. They’re asking if you could take a look at the body yourself…”
“Where’s Seres?”
“Pardon? Miss Seres?”
Del paused, lowering the file slightly.
“I haven’t seen her since lunch. Shall I look for her?”
“No need.”
“Then what should we do about the case—”
Shff.
“…? Lord Kainel? Where are you going?”
“To find her.”
“…Sir?”
Find who? Lord Kainel?
Without further explanation, Kainel left his office, leaving Del staring blankly after him.
“Grace…”
“Arti?”
Eight-year-old Artia — still smaller than Grace — came into the room hugging a pillow.
Once again, she had stayed late playing and hadn’t gone back to the Magic Tower, deciding instead to sleep at House Ellesia.
“Why aren’t you asleep?”
“I can’t fall asleep.”
Grace sighed softly.
“I told you not to read that ghost story book.”
“Kai read it with me too!”
Of course. That explained it.
Grace chuckled.
“Come here.”
“Okay!”
She lifted the blanket and patted the spot beside her. Artia grinned and climbed onto the bed.
“Huh?”
At the doorway stood another small figure.
“Kai?”
…She should’ve taken that book away when they were both reading it.
“Come here.”
“I’m not scared or anything.”
“I know. Just come.”
“……”
Grace got up, took Kai by the hand, and gently pulled him over.
“Now go to sleep, both of you.”
Within moments, Artia — who had just said she couldn’t sleep — drifted off peacefully. Kai, however, kept fidgeting.
“Go to sleep.”
Pat, pat.
Her gentle hand on his back eventually calmed him, and his breathing evened out.
A ginkgo tree, over six hundred years old.
Its golden leaves shimmered softly in the breeze — and beneath it, Seres slept.
Was she dreaming something pleasant?
A faint smile rested on her lips.
Kainel, looking down at her, sighed softly.
“She’s not cold?”
It wasn’t winter yet, but the air was definitely chilly.
He took off his outer coat and carefully laid it over her.
Whoosh!
“……!”
Kainel’s eyes widened — Seres suddenly grabbed his wrist and yanked him down.
He lost his balance, and she pulled him straight into her arms.
“Go… to sleep… go…”
Pat, pat.
Her sleepy, drowsy voice murmured as she patted his back.
She must’ve felt his presence in her dreams and instinctively pulled him close.
“……”
Kainel gazed at her quietly. She hadn’t even opened her eyes — still half lost in sleep.
Pat, pat.
His body, stiff at first, slowly began to relax.
Pat, pat.
His eyes grew heavy.
Pat…
And he drifted, as if sinking into a distant childhood memory.
“How long are we supposed to stay like this?”
“Could you please give it just a little longer?”
How much longer is “a little”?
Seres, who had woken from her nap, wondered if she was still dreaming.
Why the hell am I holding this guy?
She was hugging something like a doll — except it wasn’t a doll. It was Kainel.
Why is he even here?
Still dazed, Seres tried to get up — but a panicked voice stopped her.
“Please, just a bit longer!”
It was Del, Kainel’s aide.
He stood nearby, looking deeply moved for reasons she couldn’t comprehend.
It had already been thirty minutes since she’d woken up.
“It’s been so long.”
“…?”
So long? Since what?
Del’s face was filled with a storm of emotions as he looked at the peacefully sleeping Kainel — surprise, disbelief, and relief.
How long has it been since I’ve seen him sleep like that?
When he’d first seen Kainel asleep beside Seres, he couldn’t believe his eyes.
Is this real? Is Lord Kainel… actually sleeping? And with someone next to him? That peacefully?
Since becoming his aide, Del had never once seen Kainel sleep soundly — barely even short naps.
Every night, the amount of sleeping herbs Kainel needed kept increasing, and Del’s sighs had grown heavier with them.
But this…
What was he supposed to make of this scene?
He covered his mouth, afraid that even a gasp of awe might wake his lord.
But even as Del and Seres whispered nearby, Kainel didn’t stir — as if he intended to repay years of lost sleep all at once.
Sigh.
Seres exhaled quietly, watching him.
It had been a long time since she’d seen him sleep this peacefully.
When he’s asleep, he really does look gentle.
No wonder Artia once joked they should just feed him sleeping pills to keep him that way.
A faint smile touched Seres’s lips at the memory.
Then, Kainel’s eyes slowly opened.
Their gazes met — close enough to feel each other’s breath.
Neither looked away.
“……”
“……”
They just stared at each other in silence.
“Are we going to keep staying like this?”
“…No.”
It was Seres who finally broke the silence.
