Chapter 40
Freedom. Finally, freedom.
Elzeis stepped down from the carriage, feeling the liberating relief of a married woman who had finally divorced a husband she couldn’t communicate with for years.
“Now I can finally remove that damn label of being the fiancée of Duke Rittenhouse.”
Once that label was gone, she could live fully as “Elzeis Rohain.”
“…Excuse me? What do you mean by that? A broken engagement?”
“S-sorry, miss! I was utterly presumptuous. Please forgive me!”
Recalling the frozen expressions of the Rittenhouse household’s butler, surprised by her announcement of breaking the engagement, and the maid who had prostrated herself thinking it was her fault, made her feel even lighter and more refreshed.
Humming lightly, she stepped into the temple with a spring in her step. From her inner pocket, Lerti whispered.
“But why are there so many humans today? Is there something delicious?”
“Yeah, I wonder.”
Elzeis had arrived at the temple from the duke’s residence. Looking around, she noticed that the temple did indeed seem more crowded than usual.
“Is something going on?”
Now that she thought about it, even when she had stopped by the bakery to buy cookies for Tezet, the square had seemed busier than usual.
Just then, she noticed a familiar face passing by.
“Sir Lancelot.”
“Ah, milady. We meet again.”
As always, he greeted her with impeccable courtesy.
“There are a lot of people in the temple today, aren’t there?”
“It’s because the festival starts today. And it’s a rare occasion when Yeha personally officiates as the presiding priest…”
“Festival?”
“Since we defeated the demon, this time of year has been celebrated annually, hasn’t it?”
At Lancelot’s explanation, Elzeis stared blankly at the crowd.
Everyone looked excited, carefree, and happy.
The scene before her eyes was the one she had fought desperately to protect three years ago, risking her life.
“…And yet I happen to have reincarnated as the demon.”
She had died as a hero who defeated the demon and saved the world, only to be reborn as the very demon who could destroy it.
The grim reality hit her all over again, and her expression darkened sharply.
“…It’s satisfying but sad.”
“Huh? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“You know… that kind of thing.”
Sighing heavily, as if the ground itself were swallowing her despair, Elzeis headed toward the library, ignoring Lancelot’s curious gaze.
She had no choice but to find a way to separate herself from the demon’s power as soon as possible.
Perhaps because Astaire had attended the service as the presiding priest, the temple was emptier than usual, and the library building under renovation felt even quieter.
Elzeis greeted the familiar library guards with a nod and entered the library.
But she wasn’t the first visitor.
A long sofa was fully occupied by someone lying down, protruding past its edges, their height so imposing it seemed to barely fit the couch.
Broad-shouldered, muscular, and with vivid red hair peeking out from between books covering their face, she immediately recognized who it was.
‘Astaire must have called him. He’s waiting while the service continues.’
After recent events at the Lord Rort estate came to light, Astaire had publicly requested Cassian’s help. Since this was about the demon, no one questioned an outsider like Cassian intervening in temple matters. He was, after all, one of the heroes who had defeated the demon.
Since then, Cassian had come and gone from the temple almost like visiting a guild. But Elzeis had never encountered him in the library before.
‘He looks like he’s sleeping. Better pass quietly.’
As she stepped further in, a low voice resonated through the quiet library.
“Newcomer, is that you?”
Startled, she turned. Cassian still had the book covering his face.
‘…What a ghost.’
Elzeis stopped and faced him. His loosely unbuttoned white shirt revealed a perfectly sculpted upper body. The harness accentuated his thick chest, making his muscles stand out even more.
As Cassian moved his arm, the chest muscles shifted subtly with the motion.
Elzeis swallowed instinctively and turned her gaze away from the rippling form behind the book.
“Wh-what are you doing here?”
“Sleeping.”
His eyelids were half-lowered, giving a lethargic, genuinely sleepy look.
“Wouldn’t it be more comfortable to rest in the lounge?”
“I’m not uncomfortable.”
No, I’m the one who’s uncomfortable…
Although she had said he was looking into the demon because of the ongoing investigation, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy with him so close.
“The festival preparations are in full swing outside. Why not go watch a bit? Wake yourself up, too.”
Cassian had loved festivals. He liked mingling with people, drinking, and participating in darts or strength contests during each festival.
Yet, his answer was unexpected.
“No.”
“Why not? Master, today is the day you and your companions defeated the demon. Isn’t it a day to celebrate your achievement? Aren’t you happy?”
“Not at all.”
His voice sounded lower and heavier than usual. The playful smile he often wore was gone. Seeing him like this was unfamiliar.
Suddenly, a few days ago, Jack’s words came to mind:
‘That day has come again.’
‘That day?’
‘The day our master sinks. Every year around this time, his mood turns sour.’
‘What happened?’
‘We don’t know. He won’t say even if asked.’
She didn’t know the details, but now wasn’t the time to push Cassian. Half-understanding or pity could do more harm than good.
With shallow acquaintances, a little consolation or empathy works, but the closer someone is, the more careful you must be with their wounds.
“Then… rest.”
Elzeis went deeper into the library without asking further.
‘I’ve looked at almost all the books about the demon in the temple.’
The problem was that despite having read nearly everything, she hadn’t found a single clue on how to separate herself from the demon’s power.
‘Maybe it’s time to go to the Magi Tower.’
The last book was on the top shelf. Even for Elzeis, not short by any means, she had to tiptoe to reach it.
‘It’s annoying to fetch a ladder just for one book.’
An idea flashed through her mind. She bent down slightly inside her jacket and whispered to her small helper.
“Lerti.”
Usually devouring cookies by the plate, Lerti could probably jump up and grab the book from the top shelf.
But there was no response. Checking her pocket, she saw Lerti’s plump ears poking out.
‘Is he sleeping?’
As she tried to quietly cover the jacket again, Lerti slowly emerged from her pocket, from the ears up to the head.
“I just called you. Why didn’t you answer?”
“…Humans are cruel.”
“Huh?”
Elzeis tilted her head at the sudden remark. Lerti’s face remained the same, but the surrounding black haze seemed gloomy.
“I… like human food, jewels, humans… but humans keep hurting me…”
His voice sounded almost tearful.
Elzeis took Lerti out with a worried look.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“How… how can they make a festival out of the day we died? Humans are cruel!”
Lerti began crying. Of course, as a doll, no real tears came, but the sight of the sagging, crying rabbit doll made her heart ache.
‘He hasn’t gone dark and decided to conquer the world again, right…?’
Elzeis hesitated, then lifted Lerti onto her shoulder, gently patting him.
“Hum… A festival is just a day to eat and have fun. It’s not meant to celebrate our death.”
She also reminded him that they would get a snack on the way home. Lerti remained silent, and the sniffles gradually stopped.
Once Lerti climbed back into her pocket, Elzeis retrieved the book and stepped out from the shelf.
Cassian, who said he would sleep, had genuinely fallen asleep on the sofa.
Placing the book on the desk, Elzeis was about to sit when she let out a shallow sigh and grabbed a blanket, approaching him.
But something was wrong.
His fine brow was deeply furrowed, sweat dripping down his face as if in pain.
“…Master?”
Elzeis’ heart sank.
“Cassian, are you hurt?”
Just as she instinctively reached to place her hand on his forehead, his large, hot hand grabbed hers.
Their eyes met, and his lips parted, releasing a deep, heavy voice murmuring a familiar name:
“…Ruel.”
Hearing that, Elzeis froze.
