Chapter 75
“Is he usually that overprotective?”
As soon as they were out of the village, Evelyn, who was now on horseback, asked Rain.
“Who are you talking about?”
“Elliot. I’m not a child, and he knows I’m the Hero, yet he worries too much.”
Seeing the Grand Duchess’s face full of frustration, Rain forced a smile.
‘There’s no doubt about it—His Grace definitely likes Lady Evelyn.’
Maybe it wasn’t like that at first, but lately, Elliot’s behavior had definitely changed. As his longtime friend, Rain had noticed the shift right away.
He claimed it was all for the good of the North, but honestly, Elliot’s actions were starting to seem a little excessive.
Even if she was the Hero destined to save the North, would he really act like he was willing to give up everything for her?
Would he behave the same if she were a man?
Thinking it over, Rain shook his head.
‘They both clearly have feelings for each other.’
It was frustrating to watch two people who obviously cared about each other completely miss the signs.
But then again—how would they know if they’d never been in love?
Rain, self-proclaimed second most charming man in the North, sighed deeply. What good was a handsome face if you couldn’t even handle romance?
Tsk, tsk.
Clicking his tongue, Rain cleared his throat as Evelyn waited patiently for his answer.
“His Grace is only concerned for your safety, my lady.”
“But he used to say he trusted me because I was strong.”
“Well, even then, worrying is only natural. Just because you’re a Swordmaster doesn’t mean you can’t get hurt.”
“That’s true, but…”
“If His Grace went on a subjugation mission alone, wouldn’t you worry too?”
Evelyn thought over Rain’s words.
“I don’t know if I’d worry, but I’d certainly hope he returns safely.”
“Exactly! That’s what His Grace feels too. He’s worried something unexpected might happen and you’d get hurt.”
If what Rain was saying was true, then Elliot was actually a much kinder person than she’d thought. He might look cold on the outside, but wasn’t he the kind of man who cared deeply for others?
Evelyn found herself revising her opinion of Elliot.
Her first impression—cold, calculating, and logical—was gradually being replaced with one of a warm, caring man who took gentle care of his people.
Unaware of Evelyn’s changing perception, Rain hurried to add,
“It’s not that he’s scolding you—he’s just bad at expressing concern, so it comes out harshly.”
“Elliot?”
“Yes. When he was younger, he was incredibly shy. He acted even more standoffish toward people he liked.”
That wasn’t true at all, but Rain boldly declared Elliot to have been a bashful tsundere.
“R-Really?”
Elliot had always been polite and considerate with her.
He occasionally grumbled like earlier, but overall, he behaved like the ideal husband from a storybook.
“That’s why I’m sure His Grace likes you.”
Rain’s confident statement didn’t align with Evelyn’s conclusion, so she tugged on the reins, bringing her horse to a halt.
“He… doesn’t seem to like me in that way.”
“Oh, come on, it’s obvious! If it were anyone else, he wouldn’t care whether they got hurt or saved someone. But he cares when it’s you.”
“Well, I think saving a child is more important than whether I get hurt.”
Rain wagged his finger.
“But didn’t he get mad at you for it?”
“Yes, but how does getting mad mean he likes me?”
“Didn’t I just tell you? He gets more standoffish around people he likes. He got mad when he shouldn’t have—that means you’re special to him.”
Rain grinned as if to say, “Just trust me.” Evelyn, flustered by his confidence, nudged her horse to start moving again.
“If you say so.”
She said it, but she didn’t really believe it. Worrying for a companion didn’t necessarily mean romantic interest. Rain was probably just misunderstanding their dynamic.
“I’ve never seen His Grace act that way with any other woman. And if he truly trusted your skills as a Swordmaster, he wouldn’t be acting this overly protective.”
Evelyn shook her head firmly, rejecting Rain’s theory.
“I think you’re mistaken.”
Rain pulled up alongside her.
“No, I’m not. I guarantee it.”
“Fine, let’s say you’re right.”
But they weren’t in love. They were just comrades.
No matter what Rain said next to her, Evelyn kept shaking her head.
Maybe once they defeated the Evil God, she could let her heart feel lighter. No, even hoping that he liked her felt presumptuous.
‘It’s like I’m the one who likes him…’
Evelyn reminded herself: they were just comrades.
“Just trust me, my lady.”
Rain sighed in frustration, but Evelyn didn’t hear it.
Now wasn’t the time to be swayed by personal feelings.
“Raven!!”
As soon as Evelyn returned to the Grand Duke’s castle, she was immediately swayed by personal feelings.
The once-pristine garden was completely destroyed. Trees had been knocked over, as if magic had been recklessly unleashed.
“Gasp!”
The mages in the garden jumped in fright when they saw the Grand Duchess, then turned to the culprit.
“Oh? You’re back early.”
“You’re back early.”
Raven’s casual response made Evelyn’s eyebrow twitch.
“What the hell did you do?!”
“Experimenting?”
Raven shrugged like it was nothing, and Evelyn looked around, wondering if she was the crazy one.
The mages looked just as awkward, wearing embarrassed smiles.
“So, all the mages were in on this?”
“No, ma’am!”
The chilling tone of Evelyn’s voice made them all shake their heads furiously.
“I just came up with a magic circle that efficiently converts energy.”
“And you had to destroy the garden to make it?!”
“Well, no. But that’s how it turned out.”
What’s with his face? Evelyn narrowed her eyes. Raven was rubbing his head, and the shadows under his eyes were pitch black.
What was he trying to pull now?
Snap. Snap.
Raven snapped his fingers twice, and the magic circle on the ground began to glow faintly and activate.
“There, see?”
Evelyn almost gasped in awe as the garden was instantly restored.
In fact, it now felt even cozier than before.
Should I still call him annoying?
“I really am a genius. With just one mid-grade mana stone, we can now last four whole months.”
“What?!”
Evelyn’s eyes widened at Raven’s explanation. The mages around them were equally stunned.
“I told you I could dramatically redirect the flow.”
“This is nothing short of a revolution!!”
One mage exclaimed, and Raven casually scratched his ear.
“Genius must have been coined just for you.”
“As long as you realize that. Anyway, I have something to say—let’s talk inside. Mages, study the new circle.”
Having finished his work, Raven dragged Evelyn back into the Grand Duke’s castle.
As soon as they reached the drawing room, Raven collapsed into the sofa.
“Haah.”
“Raven?”
Seeing him sigh so deeply, Evelyn called his name in concern.
“I found the secret of the ruins.”
Evelyn froze at the exhaustion in Raven’s face.
“You did something dangerous in there, didn’t you?”
A faint smile appeared, then disappeared from Raven’s lips.
“I told you not to do risky things alone—”
“It was urgent. I found a magic circle connected to the Evil God’s sealing array.”
“What?!”
Evelyn leapt to her feet in shock.
“You found the Evil God’s seal?!”
“No—just a circle connected to it.”
He said it wasn’t the seal, but his casual tone was unsettling.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
Raven looked at her, and Evelyn immediately moved to sit next to him.
She reached out and placed her hand on his forehead.
“No fever.”
She touched his forehead, cheeks, even checked his eyes.
“I’m fine. Would I have restored the garden if I weren’t?”
Raven leaned back, telling her to stop fussing.
“You said the sealing circle gave you the idea for that energy conversion array? You figured that out from that?”
A normal person might’ve had their soul devoured just from seeing it.
Just hearing the Evil God’s voice could kill someone—or worse, enthrall them and turn them into a puppet.
“Call a priest. No—maybe we should go to the capital immediately.”
For once, Evelyn looked truly alarmed.
