Chapter 11 Part 3
As his warmth filled the spaces between my fingers, I found myself completely captured in Hyle’s grasp.
It was just a simple interlocking of hands, yet time flowed terrifyingly slowly.
As if the entire world was deliberately replaying only this scene in slow motion.
In this moment, Hyle and I were touching more closely than anyone else.
This contact was unnecessary since I didn’t need to absorb any more spiritual power today.
Above all, it hadn’t even been a minute since I’d promised not to touch Hyle more than necessary…
Staring at the scene like a dazed fool, I felt his lingering gaze and looked back at him.
Soon, Hyle’s firmly closed lips parted again with a voice as solid as a driven stake.
“Touching you is not unpleasant. Not at all.”
After speaking, Hyle raised our interlocked hands high with a playful glint in his eyes, as if to demonstrate, and gently swayed them back and forth.
My hand ridiculously swayed along with his trivial movement.
Was I the strait-laced one, not Hyle?
Like waves that crash in again no matter how many times you push them away, whenever I pushed Hyle away, he poured back to me defiantly.
My world was shaking.
“…Is that true?”
After a long silence, my mouth finally opened. Hyle nodded as if he had been waiting.
“Of course, there are some among those with spiritual power who dislike touching magic. But that’s just a peculiar sensitivity, not everyone is like that.”
And I’m especially not like that, he added softly.
There was no artifice in Hyle’s words. He was speaking the truth.
“Then… that’s a relief.”
It seemed I had been digging an unnecessary hole.
But it could have been true… While I somewhat regret my previous needless behavior, what’s done is done.
“Don’t tell me you’ve been keeping your distance from me for that reason?”
His gaze, filled with suspicion as if realizing something unpleasant, was painfully intense.
Feeling needlessly guilty, I subtly avoided his eyes.
“So that’s why you abandoned me at the mansion and got in the carriage. And all that strange behavior on the way here…”
“Ugh. I told you, I didn’t abandon you.”
Despite my protest, Hyle’s scrunched face suddenly met my cautious gaze.
Somehow, I felt cold sweat that wasn’t actually flowing.
“What an adorable worry.”
…A-adorable? How did he reach that conclusion?
As I stared at him with incredulous eyes, Hyle seemed to contemplate deeply for a moment before quietly speaking.
“I won’t take back what I said before, about not dying.”
“Huh?”
His expression had become quite serious. Why suddenly mention not taking it back?
“When I didn’t know you well, I thought you wanted to die. Someone who claimed to want to live was constantly using black magic.”
That was all out of necessity and unavoidable… but it wasn’t the right thing to do, so I can’t argue. From Hyle’s perspective, I must have looked like I wanted to die.
I can’t deny it…
“But now… every word you say sounds like ‘I want to live’ to me. And I expect it will remain that way.”
I wasn’t sure exactly, but it felt like Hyle was seeing me in a new light.
Just as I was discovering new aspects of Hyle, he seemed to be doing the same with me.
“So live, Rosiel. Just like now, and on into the future. I’ll do my best to save you too.”
Suddenly, the moon behind him looked like a halo.
Hyle’s green eyes were half-submerged in darkness, but to me, his lowered pupils appeared brighter than anything else, like the moon.
A flash of yellow moonlight crossed his eyes. It made him look like someone possessed by madness.
That strange sight drew me in even more.
As I was about to respond to his words, Entrie suddenly flew in front of Hyle and me.
Due to its urgently flapping wings, a white feather scattered into the air.
“What’s happening?”
As I turned my head in confusion, people who had attended the party were coming outside one by one.
Entrie had alerted us to the presence of people.
“It’s clever. Takes after its owner?”
I glanced sidelong at Hyle as I praised Entrie. We had been so focused on each other that we hadn’t noticed the people approaching.
“I suppose so.”
Hearing me, Hyle calmly answered with a nod.
That perfectly serious expression seemed genuinely sincere.
I was only joking…
The party had ended safely, and I had absorbed enough spiritual power, so today’s tasks were complete. It was time to part with Hyle.
“Rosiel, you’ll soon receive a message to come to the Grand Temple for a spiritual power test.”
Ah, that’s right. I had forgotten about that.
“Okay.”
“Call me if you find it difficult to go alone.”
This time, I couldn’t readily answer Hyle’s offer.
Because Hyle…
“Well, judging by how the High Priest only told Abel about you, it seems the Grand Temple doesn’t welcome you.”
The High Priest was openly rejecting Hyle now. He could do this solely thanks to Abel.
I didn’t know what kind of relationship bound them, but it didn’t seem like a good reason. At least not for Hyle and me.
“The Grand Temple cannot refuse my entry. It’s not a place that can do that.”
“Well… I’ll keep it in mind for now.”
Hyle escorted me to the waiting carriage. As I was about to board, a strange sound came from behind.
Didn’t I just hear a coughing sound?
“Hyle?”
For a moment, a pale color crossed Hyle’s face. He looked somewhat ill…
“It’s nothing. Go ahead and get in.”
With Hyle personally opening the carriage door, I had to board despite my lingering concern.
Fortunately, Hyle’s complexion quickly returned to normal.
He had looked unwell for a moment… or did I see wrong?
“Rosiel, I’ll be in touch.”
Just before the carriage door closed, Hyle spoke and then shut it. I immediately opened the window halfway.
“I’ll be in touch too.”
As if he hadn’t expected to hear my answer, Hyle’s green eyes widened for a moment.
Eventually, his eyes curved into a narrow smile.
* * *
The carriage quickly arrived at the Laté mansion.
Just moments ago, I had been in a brilliantly bright place, but here, every step was still shrouded in deep darkness.
Given the mansion’s nature, it was gloomy even at midday, so its eeriness intensified at night.
I could feel a stirring among the demon beasts as they sensed my return.
“Welcome back, miss!”
As I entered the mansion, Lynn, who had been waiting, rushed to my side in one breath.
“I’m quite tired today.”
“I thought you might be, so I’ve already drawn a bath. I added lots of rose petals, just how you like it.”
Hearing my casually dropped words, Lynn quickly answered with an accommodating smile.
“Well done.”
With that light praise and a pat on Lynn’s head, the corners of her mouth curved smoothly.
Her warm brown pupils folded into half-moons.
As I headed to my room with Lynn following me like a puppy, an unwelcome person blocked my path.
“What do you want?”
I knew it was Fergio without even having to look at him.
I spoke first without even giving him a glance.
“You might not realize it, but you reek of Feros. I can smell it from a distance.”
“Good nose. I’ll give you that.”
Whether he cared or not, I stepped aside and passed him.
If he blocks the front, I’ll just go around.
Fergio didn’t bother to follow me. But he didn’t stop talking either.
“Rosiel, you should be careful. Father has heard the rumors about you.”
