Chapter 54
The blanket was barely big enough for two, but it was warm. Raylenne savored the clean and cozy feel of the blanket against her hand.
“Switching the blanket was a really good idea.”
Previously, what he had called a blanket was nothing but a rag. To think he had slept under such a thing in this cold place…
Feeling her mood darken again, Raylenne tightly closed her eyes.
With her eyes closed, her ears became more sensitive to the sounds around her. She could hear Aiden’s faint breathing. The steady rhythm of his breaths reassured her that his life was not in danger.
As Aiden’s regular breathing echoed like a lullaby, Raylenne’s eyelids grew heavy. Though she knew she shouldn’t sleep, she couldn’t resist the wave of drowsiness that swept over her. Raylenne’s consciousness gradually sank into a deep slumber.
* * *
Meanwhile, at that very moment, Haele, who had not been able to leave his post at the entrance to the underground prison, was struggling to keep his eyes open. His head kept nodding as he fought sleep.
In his dream, Raylenne praised him for his good work and rewarded him with a roast pig. Even in his sleep, he couldn’t help but smile at the mouth-watering sight.
Haele’s pleasant dream was abruptly interrupted by the sound of footsteps descending the stairs. Realizing that someone was coming to the underground prison, Haele’s eyes snapped open. He slapped his cheeks a couple of times to wake himself up fully.
Through the iron bars at the entrance to the underground prison, a tall figure came into view.
“Who could it be at this late hour?”
Half curious and half wary, Haele stared intently at the figure approaching the door. Soon, a familiar face emerged. Haele jumped to his feet.
“Lord Caverion…!”
It was indeed Caverion Ergen. According to rumors, he often trained in swordsmanship until late at night, and it seemed true. A sword sheath hung at his waist, and his forehead was slightly damp with sweat, likely from a recent training session.
“How is Aiden doing?”
Caverion appeared to be concerned about the report of Aiden’s collapse.
“He hasn’t regained consciousness yet.”
“What did the physician say?”
“They don’t know the cause…”
One of Caverion’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“So, did the physician say there’s nothing they can do?”
“They gave him an antipyretic because he seemed to have a fever.”
Haele’s eyes darted nervously as Caverion’s expression hardened.
Despite being known for rarely showing anger towards his subordinates or employees, and though he was strict with his knights, he never showed irritation or annoyance. This reputation was well-known within the ducal residence. However, standing before him, Haele couldn’t help but feel intimidated by his large stature and the title of Awakened One.
“He collapsed suddenly…? Has there been anything unusual about Aiden recently?”
Haele thought back to recent events involving Aiden.
“If there’s anything unusual…”
There certainly was. Aiden had broken his shackles to save Raylenne when the intruders sent by Helis Ergen attacked her. However, Haele had promised Raylenne not to speak of the incident to anyone.
Haele glanced at Caverion.
Caverion’s sharp gaze seemed to demand the truth. Haele, who had been clasping his hands together, began to fidget with his fingertips.
“Why are you hesitating?”
Haele found it hard to lie to Caverion, who seemed like the Chief Justice himself.
‘What should I do…’
Just as Haele anxiously blinked, Raylenne’s voice echoed in his mind.
[Haele, you are now one of my people.]
Her authoritative voice was tinged with kindness. He couldn’t betray Raylenne, who trusted him.
Haele swallowed hard and spoke up.
“Recently, there hasn’t been anything unusual about Aiden.”
“Is that so?”
Caverion’s blue eyes were fixed on Haele’s face. Haele tried his best to ignore the piercing gaze.
“Yes…!”
Haele fervently hoped that Caverion would let it go. However, the next words he heard were chilling.
“That’s different from what Raylenne told me.”
It felt like a bolt from the blue. Haele’s mouth fell open.
“Excuse me…?”
“Raylenne didn’t tell me that.”
Haele’s face turned pale with dismay.
“Haele, I’ll give you another chance to speak.”
Caverion’s blue eyes seemed darker than usual today.
“Raylenne seems to care about you, so I’m giving you this opportunity. I really hate liars.”
Caverion’s low voice made Haele’s heart pound furiously.
“Well… the thing is…”
“Yes?”
“When the intruders sent by Lord Helis attacked Lady Raylenne, Aiden broke his shackles and saved her.”
Haele quickly confessed and looked at Caverion. His expression seemed even grimmer than before.
“He broke the shackles?”
“Yes… Yes.”
“With what did Aiden break the shackles?”
“I didn’t see the exact moment he broke them, so I don’t know…”
Haele answered while watching Caverion. Although he claimed to have already heard everything from Lady Raylenne, Caverion’s reaction suggested otherwise.
‘…Could it be!’
Haele’s face turned ashen. He realized that Caverion had been testing him. But it was too late to close his mouth now.
“It wasn’t you who captured the intruders, but Aiden Bedeusian.”
“Well… that’s…”
Haele’s mouth moved soundlessly.
Despite all his efforts to keep their stories straight with Lady Raylenne, everything had been exposed.
Haele felt cold sweat running down his spine. All he could do now was wait anxiously, fearing whether Caverion would scold or punish him.
“Haele.”
When Caverion called him, Haele straightened his back with all his might.
“Yes, sir!”
“Raylenne must have already warned you, but don’t let anyone know about what you just told me.”
Haele blinked in surprise at the unexpected statement.
“Understood?”
When Caverion repeated the question, Haele answered loudly while maintaining his posture.
“Yes, I understand!”
He responded vigorously, but still… Was that really all? Haele looked up at Caverion with a bewildered expression.
Caverion’s stern face remained unchanged, but he didn’t seem angry.
“Is Raylenne in Aiden’s cell?”
Although she was, Haele instinctively knew that Caverion wouldn’t like hearing this.
However, since Caverion would find out naturally if he went to Aiden’s cell, Haele couldn’t lie.
“Yes. She is there to personally check on Aiden’s condition.”
Caverion frowned. It was only now that he seemed slightly angry.
Without another word, Caverion quickly turned and headed towards Aiden’s cell.
The sound of Caverion’s footsteps was quick as he approached the cell surrounded by iron walls.
Creak.
Caverion swung the iron door open in one motion.
His gaze followed the long, dark navy hair spread on the floor.
Finally, his eyes rested on his younger sister, who was lying beside Aiden.
With her eyes closed, Raylenne appeared to be asleep.
Caverion stood there for a while, watching Raylenne sleeping next to Aiden.
During that time, he noticed the lamp illuminating the cell, the good-quality blanket, and the now clean environment of the cell.
With a deep sigh, Caverion quietly closed the cell door.
“…”
He leaned against the closed door for a moment before stepping away.
The sound of Caverion’s footsteps echoed through the dim prison corridor.
* * *
Raylenne knew morning had arrived when the chill in the cell had somewhat subsided.
“It’s cold…”
Despite the slight warmth, it was still chilly, so she rubbed her arms as she opened her eyes. That was when she saw it.
Right in front of her were a pair of dark pupils.
Those beautiful eyes, tinged with a grayish hue, were definitely Aiden’s.
“…!”
Aiden’s eyes were wide open, as if he were surprised.
It was no wonder he was startled. To wake up and find someone right in front of him…
It seemed that, without realizing it, she had snuggled up to Aiden during the freezing night.
Raylenne found herself face to face with Aiden, only a hand’s breadth apart. Yet, she didn’t feel it was strange or embarrassing at all.
The most important thing was that Aiden had regained consciousness.
Quickly sitting up, Raylenne cupped Aiden’s cheeks with both hands.
“Aiden! When did you wake up?”
“…”
“Are you alright? How do you feel?”
Raylenne bombarded him with questions, but Aiden remained silent as if he’d lost his voice.
‘Could it be…’
Had he really lost his ability to speak? She’d heard that it could happen sometimes when someone experiences a great shock or is seriously ill.
Raylenne, withdrawing her hands from his face, looked at him with a worried expression. But contrary to her fears, Aiden slowly sat up and spoke.
“Why are you here, Lady Raylenne? And… why…”
Aiden’s gaze fell on the blanket.
‘He must be wondering why we’re sharing the same blanket.’
Though it was a bit embarrassing, there was no strange intention behind it, so she could speak confidently.
“It was cold. When I heard you had lost consciousness, I ran here in my nightgown.”
Though she had thrown on a robe, it was just two thin layers of clothing.
Aiden would see from her own clothes that her explanation wasn’t a lie.
“Did you stay by my side all night?”
“Yes. I had to watch over you in case anything happened.”
When Raylenne nodded, Aiden blinked in disbelief.
“All night…”
Mumbling, Aiden’s skin began to turn red from his ears down.
Seeing his face reddening in real time, Raylenne, concerned, touched his cheeks again.
“What’s wrong? Are you getting a fever again?”
His skin felt as hot as a heated floor.
Raylenne examined him with a worried look, and soon Aiden spoke in a small voice.
“Move… away…”
“What?”
Unable to hear him properly, Raylenne moved her ear closer, taking her hands off his cheeks.
Aiden, on the other hand, averted his gaze.
“Please move away.”
As he spoke, Aiden covered his face with one hand.
First he wanted her close, now he wanted her to move away. Raylenne looked at Aiden with the eyes of a mother dealing with a teenage son.
But with his large hand covering his face, all she could see was his neck turning red.
