Episode 8
“It would be better if I stayed by your side instead.”
You really can’t go there.
Why is he so stubborn about this party when he usually hates them? I couldn’t exactly tell him the truth.
With an annoyed face, I fiddled with my heavy earrings. Hayden’s eyes followed my hand and fixed on my earlobe, as if I were hiding some secret there.
I looked him in the eyes with a serious expression.
“Hayden. Do you really not trust me that much?”
“Yes.”
“……”
That damned brat didn’t even blink.
I clenched my teeth and turned away from him.
“Fine. If you really don’t want to, then let’s just go to the graduation party together, stay until dinner, and come back. But you don’t even like dancing, do you?”
Not realizing I was teasing, he nodded seriously.
He was famous for only ever dancing a single song, no matter the occasion. Even at my own graduation, he just stood there stiff like a post until others pushed him aside.
And then Blier followed after him… I can still picture it. Knowing that, how could I possibly go to the party with him again?
“Sigh.”
While I sat there agonizing, Hayden’s expression turned sour.
“Is attending the party with me that unpleasant, Milord?”
“…What did you say?”
“Last time, you promised to let me escort you, yet you entered with another noble instead. That’s why I ask.”
“Oh.”
So that’s what this is about.
“It wasn’t like that. Why are you bringing up something so old?”
It had been over ten years ago—just a childish prank back when I was still immature.
I ignored his stiff face and touched my warm teacup instead.
“……”
Watching me bite my lip in thought, Hayden suddenly clicked his tongue.
“If you’re going to hesitate that much, then just do whatever you want.”
“Really?”
“Yes. You wouldn’t listen to me anyway… On that day, I’ll just assume you’re at work and won’t assign anyone to watch you. Is that acceptable?”
“Fine. See? You always end up saying that anyway.”
He never gives in easily.
I smirked happily, but unlike me, Hayden looked gloomy as he nodded.
After staring at his empty teacup, he rose to his feet without regret.
“Now that I see you’re fine, I’ll be leaving. …You’ll really come to work tomorrow?”
His face was worried, but I only gave a light nod.
“You’re going back to the Caian Knight Order?”
“Yes. Someone has to handle the piles of work everyone pretends doesn’t exist.”
“That’s true.”
When I casually encouraged him to work harder, his expression deflated.
As I draped my shawl over my shoulders, Hayden straightened his crumpled shirt and lifted his head.
“With your condition, where do you think you’re going?”
“You said you’re leaving, right? I’ll walk you out.”
“…Since when have you cared so much?”
“Who knows.”
It’s been quite a while, I think.
While silently counting the years, I rang the bell on the table.
We dismissed the servants and walked down the hall together.
When I suggested a little stroll before he left, Hayden actually looked troubled.
“The weather’s so nice. Don’t you regret not taking a walk on a day like this? Are you really that busy?”
Walking a step ahead, Hayden tilted his head slightly.
“Since you don’t seem fully recovered, if you invite me another time, I’ll walk with you then.”
So, he meant that right now my mind seemed off, but if I asked again later, he would accept sincerely?
I laughed inwardly at his clumsy remark and nodded brightly.
“Alright. You must keep that promise.”
When I smiled away even his teasing, Hayden looked down at me with a truly dazed expression.
“Milady, are you really getting off here?”
“This way is faster.”
“But what if you catch a cold—”
I cut off the coachman and opened the carriage door.
The moment I stepped down, the familiar city smell rushed into my nose.
“Nothing’s changed here.”
I glanced around and walked into a neat street where the carriage couldn’t go.
Only a few people were in the alley lined with townhouses, and it was very quiet.
My coat fluttered as my heels clicked against the ground.
“Because it’s Monday.”
Coincidentally, today was the monthly Holy Artifact Development Meeting.
I didn’t need to present anything amazing, but to meet Hayden’s current standards, I had no idea how sloppy my magic should look.
“Maybe I’ll just play around with plants again?”
Ah.
I stopped and looked down at my hands.
I had the materials in my bag, but I lacked the most important medium.
Scanning my surroundings, I noticed a small clay flowerpot.
“……”
It was expensive porcelain, so it probably wasn’t thrown out.
The plant inside—Lavemechu—was a luxury forbidden to commoners. Its soil was bone dry, and it looked long dead.
‘So they must be a wealthy household.’
I peeked past the gate with lattice bars and hesitated.
“They wouldn’t have left it outside unless they didn’t need it anymore, right?”
Then I could borrow it. I’d return it after my work.
Reaching my own conclusion, I picked up the pot and hugged it.
It would’ve taken twenty minutes to visit a greenhouse, so there was no time to waste.
Though heavy in my hands, my steps toward the Caian Knight Order felt much lighter.
The Caian Knight Order was founded by Shama Seginable, Hayden’s teacher and one of only five high priests in the world.
It consisted of three divisions: Holy Artifact Development, Mana Detection, and Mana Purification.
I was in Mana Purification, which for now only handled decoding and cleansing magical items Hayden retrieved. But in a few years, once Hayden became the Grand Commander, it would transform into a special order of Holy Knights—only those with the authority of Inquisitors could join.
For now, though, it was a patchwork group: commanders who disliked Hayden, trainee priests who only ran errands, and academy students like me who had been dragged in against our will.
As soon as I entered the purification room, Hayden looked up from his furious scribbling.
“Suilen?”
His lips parted slightly, startled.
“Why so surprised?”
“I really didn’t think you’d come in the morning.”
“I told you I would. You look healthier today, don’t you?”
“……”
While at work, I had to address him formally with ‘Milord’ and speak politely.
When I actually followed that rule I usually ignored, his face immediately softened.
“Ahem. Even though I’ve been up two nights straight, I still look healthy?”
“Yes. Your face has color. It suits you.”
Hayden only nodded without comment.
Unlike the other desks piled with artifacts, mine was a mess of snack wrappers, empty cups, and junk.
When I started cleaning, a young man appeared and began helping, tossing trash into a bin.
“Jin?”
When I called his name, he gave me a servile smile.
“Priest Carl Suilen, shall I tidy your desk for you?”
“No. If you were going to, you should’ve done it earlier.”
There wasn’t much left to clean anyway.
“Is my artifact in storage?”
I hadn’t asked Hayden directly, but his reply came instantly.
“Yes. Since it’s been so long, I thought you’d forget, so I placed it somewhere visible.”
Even the others nearby widened their eyes at our exchange.
“Priest Carl Suilen, you’re actually planning to work this morning?”
“I’ve got time until evening. But… what was your name again?”
I had met too many priests passing through here over the years, and I couldn’t remember.
Before I could ask, Jin interrupted again.
“If it’s troublesome, I can bring it for you.”
“I said no.”
The most troublesome thing here was Jin himself.
I glared, and he obediently slunk back to his seat.
The artifact storage room was bright but heavy with a dark air.
“So this is what you meant by setting it out.”
I passed the wall of shelves and approached the central desk.
There were two items: a phoenix feather quill and a marble eagle figurine the size of a fist.
The figurine was unfamiliar, but the quill I remembered well.
“It’s been a while.”
Flick.
As I rolled the quill in my fingers, white sparks danced from the phoenix feather.
It was the artifact that had been stolen from my desk right after I’d finished cleansing it.
Its mana was weak and its ability ordinary, so I hadn’t noticed it was gone for a long time.
By the time I did, I’d lost an uncleansed artifact and got scolded harshly by Hayden.
“Who could it have been? Since it was taken from my desk, it must’ve been an insider.”
I narrowed my eyes at the long quill.
I had let it go once in the past, but this time, anyone who laid hands on what was mine would pay the price.
