Movement (2)
“…!”
Did I say something?
Yuriel quickly covered her mouth and pressed herself tightly against the pillar.
She had only muttered it, so her voice was soft and she was far away—they probably hadn’t heard her.
She tried to calm herself with that thought, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that their eyes had met.
“I heard you defeated a powerful monster alone. That’s amazing.”
A sweet voice whispered, and Akron turned his eyes away from the pillar.
Yuriel felt relieved that he looked away, but her tension didn’t ease.
‘What is going on here?’
It made sense that Fiona was at the temple—many couples came to visit the Goddess of Love, Elinoa, before their wedding.
But Evan, her fiancé, wasn’t there.
And even stranger, Duke Veiharz was. According to rumors, he was supposed to be guarding his territory.
So why was he in the capital, and with Yuriel’s sister, of all people?
“I first saw you at the celebration party, Your Grace. Since then…”
Fiona blushed, acting too shy to finish her sentence.
Yuriel was horrified.
That party was when Fiona and Evan announced their engagement. Their wedding was just around the corner, and she was saying this? What was she thinking?
Akron didn’t respond to Fiona’s flirtation. He just stroked his chin, as if judging something.
“I…”
Fiona seemed to gain courage from his silence and stepped closer. She leaned forward and reached for his arm, trying to cling to him.
Smack.
But Akron coldly knocked her hand away.
“I was only checking because your energy felt familiar,” he said.
His red eyes stared at Fiona coldly.
“But this cheap temptation? I’ve had enough.”
“What…?”
Fiona trembled, clearly shocked. Tears welled in her big eyes, and she staggered before falling to the floor.
“Fiona!”
At that moment, Evan appeared from the end of the hallway and ran toward her.
“…Evan…”
Fiona threw herself into his arms like a fragile bird. As Evan held her, his eyes blazed with anger toward Akron.
“What did you do to my fiancée?”
“…Hah.”
Akron let out a slow sigh. He looked more annoyed than anything as if this was a waste of his time.
“I was just about to say she’s a vulgar and loose woman. Is that a problem?”
He smirked cruelly.
Evan looked down at Fiona in confusion.
She looked completely shocked by Akron’s words.
“I only… wanted to thank the Duke for his service to the Empire…” Fiona whispered.
“I don’t remember asking for that kind of ‘thanks,’” Akron replied harshly.
“How can you say such a thing?!” Evan yelled.
“Fiona!”
He hugged her tightly.
“My fiancée does not deserve to be insulted like this, Your Grace.”
Though Evan was of lower rank than a duke, he was still a noble. He couldn’t just back down when his beloved was being insulted.
And he didn’t believe Fiona would flirt with another man—especially when she was carrying his child. That was unthinkable.
“…This is getting interesting,” Akron muttered.
He narrowed his eyes as he looked at Evan’s tense face.
“So she flirts with other men while her ‘partner’ is away…”
He then pointed to Fiona’s belly. Though her full dress hid any sign, Akron spoke with certainty.
“And that child isn’t even yours.”
“…What?”
Evan stared blankly, mouth agape. He didn’t see Fiona’s expression.
She suddenly screamed in panic.
“How dare you say something so ridiculous?!”
Her voice was so loud it made Evan flinch.
Akron remained calm in the middle of the chaos, but the atmosphere turned even colder.
“I don’t like people who don’t know their place. Especially if they’re dumb and loud,” he growled.
His voice weighed heavily in the air.
Fiona froze like a statue, unable to speak a word.
Evan, too, was silenced.
With a low snarl, Akron gave his final warning.
“I’ve reached my limit. Get lost.”
“…Ah…”
His energy felt like it could tear them apart. Fiona went pale and collapsed again.
“Damn it!”
Evan quickly caught her. His face was filled with confusion as he carried her out of the temple.
‘Oh my god.’
Yuriel had heard everything from behind the pillar.
Fiona, right before her wedding, had tried to seduce the Duke. And Akron said the baby wasn’t Evan’s.
Yuriel didn’t know if it was all true—but Fiona’s reaction was suspicious.
‘What do I do now?’
Still in shock, Yuriel realized she needed to worry about herself too.
She was still hiding behind the pillar. What if Akron recognized her? What if he questioned her about the jewel?
“…Hmph.”
Akron let out a small snort. Yuriel, full of fear, gripped the jewel hanging from her neck tightly—like it was her only lifeline.
How long had she held her breath?
She finally heard footsteps fading away on the marble floor, moving toward the temple exit—not her direction.
“…Haah.”
Only when she was sure he had left did Yuriel finally relax.
After a while, she left the temple too. Once she climbed into the waiting carriage, her body felt drained.
‘I never thought I’d see him again.’
She never imagined she’d see him in real life—not just in a dream.
Thought “see” was more like spying from afar…
“Akron…”
Yuriel closed her eyes and whispered his name.
She wondered what expression he’d make if he found out she’d created a vision of him in her dreams.
The carriage reached the mansion after sunset.
Inside, everything was in chaos—Fiona had been brought home unconscious in Evan’s arms.
“Yuriel!”
Rosalyn rushed over to her. Her face was pale with worry.
She must have been scared by what happened to Fiona. But her concern didn’t stop with Fiona—their mother’s face looked just as grim.
Yuriel stepped forward to check on her.
Smack!
A sharp sound echoed. Yuriel’s head turned from the force of the slap. Her cheek turned red with pain.
She held her face and stared at Rosalyn in disbelief.
“Your sister came home collapsed, and you—her older sister—where were you?!”
Yuriel had been slapped, but it was their mother who looked ready to cry.
“What time do you think it is? While Fiona was in that state, what were you doing?!”
Yuriel wanted to speak.
‘I had a hard day too… I wanted to cry.’
But she kept those words inside and bowed her head quietly.
“…I’m sorry. I lost track of time while reading.”
“Do you think that’s a real excuse?!”
“That’s enough,” said Baumtide, her father. “Your voice is carrying to Fiona’s room.”
He looked exhausted as well.
“Yuriel, we’ll talk later. You’re a grown woman—you shouldn’t be coming home this late.”
Which meant he was going to punish her.
He often hit her when she made mistakes—and he never stopped, even when she became an adult.
“…Yes, Father.”
“If you understand, go to your room.”
He turned away, clearly not wanting to see her. Rosalyn followed him, probably heading to Fiona’s room.
Yuriel touched her swollen cheek and quietly climbed the stairs to her room.
Fiona had always been fragile—she wasn’t even allowed outside as a child.
The doctor once said it would be a miracle if she lived past ten.
So their parents doted on Fiona and blamed everything on Yuriel.
“You’re the eldest daughter.”
“You were born healthy.”
“Your sister is delicate.”
‘I know… but still.’
Today, she couldn’t just accept it. She finally let the tears fall.
‘Maybe that’s why I kept dreaming…’
She could barely count the times her family had shown her love.
She needed someone to love only her.
The only one who never betrayed her… was the illusion she created.
“…”
Yuriel lay on her bed and looked at the jewel.
The red glow inside it seemed to flicker faintly.
‘It looks duller than before…’
Was it her imagination?
So much had happened—she couldn’t think straight.
She didn’t know what was growing inside her or what magic the jewel held.
“…Just one more time.”
Just one more time—she wanted to see him again.
Knowing it was wrong, she still gripped the jewel and closed her eyes.
“Mm…”
Yuriel slowly blinked open her eyes.
The room was misty like she was in a fog. She was sitting on a large bed.
It was always the same place when she dreamed of holding the jewel.
“You’re here.”
A deep voice echoed in her ears.
She turned—and there he was. Akron, lying on the bed, resting his head on one hand.
She was on the same bed with him.
As she looked at him, he reached out and pulled her closer.
“…Wait.”
Just as he was about to kiss her, he froze.
His gaze was fixed on her swollen cheek.
“Who did this to you?”
“Huh?”
He was seriously angry.
Somehow, that made Yuriel feel happy.
And she thought—he even looked angry just like the real Akron. How strange.
“…It’s nothing.”
She shook her head, but his face stayed stern.
“Tell me.”
His voice was strict.
But since she believed it was just a dream, she wasn’t afraid.
Yuriel smiled gently at him—until something strange occurred to her.
This was a dream.
But why did the bruise on her cheek remain?
“…Ah.”
She instinctively avoided his hand.
Until now, reality never affected her dreams.
And her dreams had never affected reality.
But what about this morning?
What happened in her belly?
“Why are you pulling away from me?”
Akron frowned. He didn’t like that she avoided him.
Even with his displeasure, Yuriel couldn’t approach him again.
She didn’t know anymore—what was real, what was a dream. And that scared her.
Thump.
“…Huh?”
A sound thudded from inside her belly.
Akron’s eyes narrowed sharply.
He was staring at her stomach.
‘No way…’
Yuriel instinctively wrapped her arms around her belly.
“…You’re pregnant.”
His low voice pierced her heart.
“Ah…!”
Yuriel jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat.
She sat up in bed—it was still dawn, too early to be awake.
You’re pregnant.
His words echoed in her head.
She slowly got out of bed.
“….”
Only a day had passed, yet she was already placing her hand on her belly without thinking.
And somehow, from inside her… there was a warm vibration in response.
Like something was alive, reacting to her touch.
Dream and reality—something was connecting the two.
