🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 2
Silence flowed between Isel and the man.
Others would have thought the man had only drawn his sword to threaten.
But not Isel.
The House of Blisha was an ancient family of swordsmanship, known as the “Sword of the Empire.”
Since childhood, Isel had grown up watching the knights of the count’s family spar in battles that were almost real combat.
Just by looking at the way the man held his sword, she could tell.
From the very moment he drew it, a faint killing intent flowed from him. His stance was clean and refined.
He was a skilled swordsman—someone who would not hesitate to kill.
If Isel had not stopped him, the man would have cut down the mercenary holding her wrist without even blinking.
No matter how many people were watching.
Of course, that was not the only reason Isel stopped him.
“I need to get money for my carving knives. If he dies, I won’t be able to collect it….”
She gestured toward her broken carving knives scattered at her feet.
The man blinked for a moment as he looked down at her, then let out a small laugh.
It was a light, pleasant laugh. The corners of his well-shaped lips rose naturally, and his sharp eyes softened instantly.
Isel stared at him, speechless.
He was already handsome, but when he smiled kindly, it felt like he was glowing.
The man slightly tilted his head and smoothly sheathed his sword, just as cleanly as he had drawn it.
“Understood.”
It was a polite smile, one that made it hard to believe he had just intended to kill someone.
The very next moment, however, he grabbed the mercenary’s arm and twisted it.
Before anyone could even blink, the mercenary lost his balance and groaned.
Crack.
Something broke.
“Argh!”
Whether it was his arm bone or not, the mercenary screamed in pain.
But the man holding him did not even blink. He gestured toward Isel with his chin and said:
“Compensate her.”
His face, which had been smiling moments ago, had turned cold.
The mercenary’s face turned pale as he looked up at him.
The moment their eyes met, the drunkenness vanished instantly. The strength gripping his arm was not human.
Trembling, the mercenary handed over all the money he had to Isel and ran away.
His stumbling figure looked quite ridiculous.
Isel opened the pouch. It wasn’t much, but enough to buy new carving knives and chisels.
As she checked the money, she raised her head.
The man who helped her was silently looking down at her.
Isel bowed her head slightly.
“Thank you for helping me.”
“It was nothing.”
“I’d like to repay you…”
She didn’t have much money since she had left the mansion in a hurry.
After thinking for a moment, Isel slowly held out the pouch in her hand and looked up at him with wide eyes.
Maybe this…?
But his gaze wasn’t on the pouch—it was on her fingers.
The moment he saw the silver rings on both her pinky fingers, his eyes widened slightly.
An unknown emotion passed quietly over his golden eyes.
After a brief pause, he shook his head.
“I did not do this expecting a reward.”
“…Still.”
Isel frowned slightly.
She didn’t like owing others.
As she was thinking about what to do, the man spoke again.
“I have one question.”
“Yes?”
“How did you know I was going to kill that man?”
Isel parted her lips slightly.
She hadn’t expected that question.
After a moment, she answered:
“I just… had a feeling you would.”
There was no need to explain that she was the daughter of the Blisha count family, a house of swordsmanship.
Nor should she.
The man stared intently at her face, as if trying to judge her sincerity.
Isel did not avoid his gaze.
Her clear eyes made his eyes flicker slightly.
After a long silence, he spoke again.
“May I know your name?”
“My name?”
Isel asked, surprised.
He nodded.
She always used a fake name when she went out.
But lying to someone who had saved her life felt too heavy on her conscience.
Still, revealing she was a noble here would be foolish.
After hesitating, she spoke:
“…Isel.”
In the end, she only gave her first name.
The man seemed to notice she was hiding something, but he simply nodded as if he didn’t.
“I see.”
As she looked at his black hair swaying in the wind, Isel spoke without realizing it.
“And you?”
He smiled again.
Each time his golden eyes curved, it felt like warm light scattered in the air.
He slowly leaned closer.
His large hand rose near the back of her neck, as if he might gently cup her cheek.
Isel swallowed nervously.
She could hear the sound of her blood pounding in her ears.
His gaze moved from her eyes, to her slightly flushed cheeks, to her chin.
Then—
He pulled her hood over her head.
Her exposed face was hidden beneath it.
In the shadow, her light green eyes blinked.
From the close distance, he whispered:
“It seems we will meet again.”
“…?”
“When we do, I will tell you my name then, Isel.”
Before she could ask what he meant, he turned away without hesitation.
Isel stared blankly at his retreating figure.
“Isel.”
His low, soft voice echoed endlessly in her ears.
***
Jingle.
The small bell on the door rang softly, announcing a visitor.
The art shop, filled with the faint scent of pigments and lime powder, was empty.
On a large display table covered with blue cloth were various tools—carving knives and chisels neatly arranged.
Isel walked past it familiarly and headed toward a black curtain.
Before she could pull it aside, someone came out from the other side.
A woman with chestnut straight hair tied over her shoulder.
With a sharp nose, defined jawline, and tall height, she gave off an androgynous impression.
She was carrying cherry wood when she spotted Isel and widened her blue eyes.
“Master. It’s been a while.”
Instead of replying, the woman frowned slightly.
Her sharp gaze fell on Isel.
She was Ceres—the owner of the shop and an artist.
“Sorry for being late.”
As Isel bowed her head, Ceres’s gaze moved downward.
Isel was holding a statue wrapped in black cloth.
After a moment, Ceres spoke:
“So you finally decided to quit playing student after disappearing for two months… but I guess not.”
Her tone was blunt, but her eyes had softened.
Isel smiled.
Ceres might seem cold, but she was actually kind.
It had been three years since Isel first found this shop.
That day, she had come to buy something and saw Ceres carving a statue.
Watching her shape the muscles of a running horse with a chisel and hammer had deeply shocked Isel.
She immediately asked to become her student—but Ceres refused.
Her firm refusal broke only after seeing Isel’s own sculptures.
Since then, for three years, Isel had visited once a month to learn.
Before meeting Ceres, Isel only made small decorative carvings.
Her family and knights always worried she might get hurt.
So she had never tried large sculptures.
Working with large stone and wood here was her first experience.
She fell even deeper in love with sculpting.
All this time, Isel hid her identity.
Ceres hated nobles.
If she found out Isel was one, she would never teach her again.
“That’s why I couldn’t come last month… I was busy.”
Ceres nodded and held out her hand.
Isel handed over the statue.
As Ceres uncovered it, Isel briefly drifted into thought.
The man’s face came to mind again.
His golden eyes lingered vividly.
“Isel…”
Ceres called her name.
“Yes?”
Ceres hesitated, then sighed.
“…Never mind.”
Isel glanced at the clock and widened her eyes.
“It’s already this late…!”
She was far past the time to return.
Her expression turned gloomy.
This was the only time she could breathe freely.
The rest of the time, she was confined in the mansion under guard.
Even though she always left a note, they panicked every time.
“You should go back.”
Ceres clicked her tongue.
Isel took the new carving knives and bowed.
“I’ll come earlier next time, Master.”
“I told you to stop calling me that.”
Ceres waved her off.
Isel smiled and left.
Watching her disappear, Ceres turned to the statue.
It was a granite sculpture of the healing goddess Enix.
Sunlight softly touched its serene face.
The curves were so delicate, it felt alive.
The hair was so detailed it didn’t even seem like stone.
Ceres almost gasped when she first saw it.
Every time she saw Isel’s work, she realized one thing—
Isel was what people call a genius.
