Episode 5
Her heavy eyelids trembled. As her long lashes slowly lifted, Arne’s red eyes came into view.
‘Cedric?’
Cedric was right there, his forehead pressed against hers. His eyes were closed, as if he were praying. Because he was supporting the back of her neck and her waist so firmly, she couldn’t move. She could only stare at the deep crease between his brows.
Like the moon emerging from behind clouds in a pitch-black sky, Cedric’s red eyes appeared between his dark hair. Until the moonlight slowly drifted down over him, he simply kept looking into Arne’s red eyes.
“Are you conscious?”
His low voice wasn’t cold—it was hot, as if something were boiling underneath. The restrained sound made him seem almost angry.
“You.”
In the quiet night, only his low voice echoed in her ears.
“Are you alright?”
Because their foreheads were touching, his burning red eyes were far too close. Maybe because of that, her chest, which had been rising and falling slowly, began to speed up. She wet her dry lips and tried to speak.
“I’m… ngh.”
The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth, cutting her words short. Cedric’s brow twisted instantly.
“It’s fine. Don’t talk.”
Arne slowly closed her mouth. Her whole body felt weak. The coughing up of blood wouldn’t stop. The familiar pain. Had her mana really gone out of control?
‘I must look awful. Mana runaway is ugly.’
She tried to pull herself upright, away from Cedric. The crease in his brow deepened, but he didn’t stop her. As she removed her hand from his chest, she noticed the veins bulging on the back of his tightly clenched fist. The moment her hand fully left him, unbearable pain crashed over her.
“Hah— ngh.”
This was nothing like the feeling of suffocation earlier. This felt like she was really going to die. As Arne collapsed, Cedric’s fingers tightened around her—and like a lie, the pain vanished.
“This— ugh.”
“Don’t talk.”
Arne looked up at him in confusion. She had been in agony, yet it disappeared in an instant.
“How did— kh— what.”
The rest of her words were crushed under Cedric’s firm fingers. His thumb pressed against her lips, touching a crust of dried blood.
“Don’t speak. I know what’s going on. It seems a mana runaway occurred. And…”
Unclotted blood smeared like red paint across her pale face as his fingers slid away from her lips.
“I performed some basic emergency treatment. You haven’t been unconscious for long. You’ll recover, so just stay like this for now.”
Arne blinked slowly, then nodded. She didn’t fully understand, but the pain eased whenever his hand touched her—so he must have done something.
“For now”
Bang. Bang.
Cedric’s words were cut off by someone pounding roughly on the door.
“Sir Cedric! It’s the knight commander. An assassin has broken in. Are you alright, Sir Cedric? We’re coming in!”
Cedric frowned briefly and pulled the blanket over Arne’s head. At the same time, the door opened.
“We feared you might be gravely injured again, so we entered despite the discourtesy— Sir Cedric! Are you unharmed? And this blood.”
“I’m fine. How many assassins?”
“Two in total. The knights are pursuing them now. But first, emergency treatment.”
“I’ve already handled it. Send a message to Old Teresa, and focus on chasing the assassins.”
“…Understood. This time, we will capture them alive and uncover who’s behind it through interrogation.”
As the candlelight shadows hurried away, the door closed.
‘Cedric… you’ve been attacked by assassins again. More than once.’
Arne slowly blinked as she looked at him.
“Y-you…”
When Cedric met her eyes, he thought she looked like a snow rabbit peeking out of a snowdrift. Only her red eyes were visible, shining quietly from the white blanket.
“Sir Cedric… ngh… does this happen often?”
“Stop it! Don’t make me say it again!”
His icy eyes flared threateningly again. Arne flinched, her breathing turning uneven from surprise.
Was that too much? Assassinations must be top secret. I overstepped.’
“I’m sorry…”
“Enough!”
Arne closed her mouth. The sparkle faded from her red eyes, dimming.
The sight reminded Cedric of a frightened snow rabbit hiding back in its burrow. He let out a deep sigh.
‘This wasn’t what I intended.’
Raking a hand through his hair, Cedric slowly met her gaze.
“Lady.”
Arne’s eyes trembled uneasily. Cedric, biting his lip, slowly brushed over her reddened eyes. He felt the dried tracks of tears.
“Talking also consumes strength. I told you to save it. You’re truly in danger right now.”
Her eyes widened in shock, confusion shimmering in them.
It’s understandable. No matter how gifted she is magically, she’s still a noble lady—not a knight. Facing assassins would terrify anyone.’
Her courage was exceptional, but assassins were another matter. Cedric softened his voice as he wiped away her tear marks.
“Lady… were you frightened?”
Arne stared at him, stunned, as if she’d heard something unbelievable.
“…Did you cry? Are you still in pain? At dawn, a physician will arrive. Old Teresa is trustworthy—she’ll protect your honor even if you explain everything, and she’s skilled. You won’t hurt anymore.”
Arne’s expression shifted strangely, as if she couldn’t believe him. Cedric gave a small chuckle and continued.
“I’ll also send word to a mage friend. Healing magic should help. Or is there anywhere else that hurts?”
“No. You’re just… being so kind. Why are you doing all this? Do you believe now that I’m not an assassin?”
Cedric’s gaze lingered on her red eyes, the tear tracks, the dried blood scattered everywhere, the marks on her neck, the cracked mana core, and the vivid violet patterns spreading below her chest from mana runaway.
“…I don’t believe you’re an assassin.
I promised you honor and safety. My vow of silence and responsibility for your healing—every word was sincere.”
Their red eyes met. Arne opened and closed her mouth several times before finally speaking.
“…Thank you.”
Cedric felt faint moisture at his fingertips and remained silent for a while.
“You…”
Crash.
Glass shattered. In the same instant, Cedric pulled Arne into his arms and drew his sword. His blade pointed at a man in a black mask.
“It seems the real assassin has arrived.”
From Cedric’s chest, Arne lifted her head and met the assassin’s eyes as he tightened his grip on the dagger. The sharp sound of metal cutting the air rang out, and Cedric yanked Arne’s waist tight, twisting his body.
The distance between them closed in an instant, their lips almost touching. A strained groan escaped through Cedric’s clenched mouth. His grip around her waist tightened. Then she felt something hot and wet. Arne’s pupils slowly widened.
“Cedric!”
A long gash appeared near his hip bone—exactly where she had seen the scar on the night of their first time together.
‘Why… why the same wound, in the same place?’
His body pressed against hers was heating up far too quickly. Sweat beaded on the back of his neck. Perhaps the dagger was coated with poison.
‘…Can I use magic?’
At that moment, Cedric cupped the back of her neck. His low voice echoed in her ear.
“No.”
“What?”
“That thing you’re thinking about.”
As he tilted his head, his red eyes met hers. His lips curved smoothly.
“You are alluring, that’s true—but I’d rather not clean up a corpse.
“So just stay here.”
With one hand, Cedric tucked the white blanket tightly around her. With the other, he gripped his sword again. At the same moment, another dagger flew toward them. Knocking it aside, Cedric pressed the attack fiercely, his sword striking back with brutal force.
“…Cedric, with your skill.”
Arne bit her lip. If he hadn’t been protecting her, he could have avoided that wound. In her previous life, what had taken him down had been paralysis-inducing mixed into a sleeping aid.
Her eyes darted around the room. A faint, drifting scent leaked from a jar on a high shelf.
‘That’s it!’
She rushed forward. The jar slipped from her fingertips and crashed to the floor. Without thinking, she threw the blanket over it, smothering both sparks and scent at once.
“Now it’s.”
Just as Arne twisted around with a sigh of relief, the masked man’s dagger flashed as it came down toward her.
“Don’t interfere!”
Facing the falling blade, Arne knew she couldn’t dodge. As she clutched her mana core and was about to speak, the assassin collapsed to the floor, his stomach pierced through.
“I told you not to.”
“And the thing you were thinking about.”
Cedric pulled his sword free. The assassin screamed, his eyes filled with hatred and malice as he glared at Arne.
“If it weren’t for you, the paralysis poison would’ve spread fully! I should’ve killed you from the start!”
Frowning, Cedric kicked the assassin’s abdomen once more. The curses turned into groans.
Walking past him, Cedric silently retied the black ribbon of Arne’s dress. His fingers were cold—so was his gaze.
Is he angry because I tried to use magic? Or because I moved when he told me not to?’
As if on cue, the door burst open just as he finished tying the ribbon. The assassin, using the last of his strength, raised his dagger.
“Sir Cedric! An assassin is heading this way!”
“Die!”
Cedric’s palm covered Arne’s red eyes. Then a familiar, hot liquid splashed across her face.
“You’re late, Knight Commander.”
“…Did you kill him?”
Through the gaps between Cedric’s fingers, Arne met his red eyes. A languid, exhausted voice followed.
“The dead don’t talk.”
