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chapter 40
I had no idea how rumors about Silvester had reached the Holy Empire.
Well, even if Silvester went there, what could really happen? But Belita couldn’t accept even his offer to accompany him.
If it were another country, perhaps, but she could not go there. She didn’t want to set foot there. She was worried.
“If it’s the Empire… it must be Rastavan’s land.”
Belita remembered the hierarchy system of the Empire that Silvester had described.
As far as she knew, the only person capable of establishing that level of order, expanding influence, and building an empire was Rastavan.
“Whether he becomes the leader directly or manipulates it from behind the scenes.”
No matter how much time had passed, it didn’t matter. The Empire’s land was absurdly vast; there was little chance she would encounter Rastavan, and even if the journey were completely safe, she hated the idea.
Words alone could not reassure her. The uncertainty, the “what if,” clung to her ankles.
What if that land really is Rastavan’s? What if he’s stronger than I remember?
What if he still remembers me and locks me up the moment he finds me?
Out of all the people in the world, what if I encounter him…?
That fear and anxiety were a trauma planted by the past. Even though many years had passed since the sealing, she felt relief that Rastavan hadn’t found her—but the unknown intentions behind that absence birthed worry.
The thought that she might still be in his palm.
“……”
Better to die than be trapped for hundreds or thousands of years again. Belita shook her head.
“Creepy.”
She hugged Silvester a little tighter and rubbed her forehead against his chest.
Belita wanted to eliminate any chance, even the slightest, of encountering Rastavan. She still wanted to live.
For that, all she needed was physical distance from Rastavan’s traces, just like now.
She wouldn’t act recklessly like before. She wouldn’t let her name reach Rastavan’s ears.
Quietly, just survive.
That was all Belita, having received her second life, wanted.
“……”
Belita recalled one of the encounters that had forced her into this life.
Somewhere in the world, perhaps certainly in the Holy Empire, Rastavan still lived.
Her first long conversation with him had been on a day when the foliage glowed under the setting sun, at the entrance of Kesis’ house.
“I’m Avan.”
He introduced himself while taking off his rough-textured white robe.
“I know. You’re Kesis’ guest, right?”
“Yes.”
“Kesis went to meet another guest and isn’t here now.”
“When will they return?”
The man exuded a subtle sense of alienness. Even Belita, who had lived a long time, felt his old-fashioned way of speaking, his complete ignorance of human etiquette, and his unusual mannerisms.
“What’s with this young one?”
At that time, Belita firmly believed him to be “Avan.”
“I don’t know exactly. I think they won’t come before the sun sets in the west.”
“In the west… I see.”
With a youthful beauty, Avan stood in the house radiating a pure light, spotless as if untouched by dust.
“Can I wait here?”
A person whose mere presence dazzled the eyes.
“It’s not that you can’t….”
Belita had never seen anyone with such white hair and eyes.
“So it’s okay?”
His expressionless face stared at her. Belita hedged her answer.
“It might take a little while.”
“I’ll wait here.”
He spoke with absolute determination.
“Better just go somewhere else.”
Honestly, letting someone stay in Kesis’ empty house was bothersome for Belita. Even if the guest didn’t expect special treatment.
“…Fine, then.”
Still, since he was technically Kesis’ guest, Belita thought she shouldn’t treat him coldly. Annoyed though she was, she brought him some water.
“What is this?”
Avan, surprisingly, looked at her blankly and asked.
“Water. Can’t you tell just by looking?”
“Is it for me?”
“Yes.”
“For me…?”
He seemed strange in multiple ways. Avan peered into the cup as if almost burying his nose in it.
‘Really….’
Belita observed him.
Even ignoring why he didn’t drink, Avan was truly suspicious. Dry in expression yet full of curiosity, asking for permission for the smallest things.
Eventually, Avan spoke.
“But why did you give this?”
He didn’t take his gaze off the water.
Yes… this. Always asking questions, always picking at details. Belita recalled Kesis being unusually flustered when meeting Avan.
“They couldn’t scold him because he’s a guest.”
Was he stupid, thoughtless, or just pretending? Avan was hard to define.
No, in any case, it was the same.
Belita could somewhat understand Avan’s innocent behavior but could not grasp why he was curious about trivial things.
“Not a fool….”
At that moment, Belita thought of Avan as that kind of being.
“Of course, I gave it for you to drink.”
“I didn’t ask for it. Why?”
“It’s customary to offer water to guests when they visit.”
“I don’t know such etiquette.”
“Just drink it.”
He was not a child but had endless curiosity. A nuisance, a being seemingly made entirely of questions.
“I’m not thirsty.”
In a devilish, frustrating way:
“I don’t know why I should drink.”
A headache-inducing, infuriating presence.
“Can’t I just look at it?”
“Then don’t drink it. Goodness.”
Such a being was poison to Belita. The more she dealt with him, the more endless it seemed. She got up from her seat.
“Where are you going?”
“To escape an annoying guest.”
“What does ‘escape’ mean?”
Belita didn’t answer further.
‘This will never end.’
So she finally moved to another spot, offering the room so he could stay comfortably, silently wishing he’d stop being a nuisance.
“……”
Yet Avan followed closely. Belita frowned.
He stood just a handspan behind her, looking down at her.
“…Why are you following me?”
“I want to know where you’re going.”
Belita felt truly exasperated.
They say newborn animals follow the first thing they see as their parent—this wasn’t that. She wasn’t even his first encounter, and she wasn’t an animal.
“Take me with you.”
The devil normally liked humans, but Belita made a decision that day.
“Take me… why are you walking faster?”
This damned being would be an exception to human rules. Even if he offered his soul, she would never accept it.
“…You, I get it. You’re trying to leave me behind!”
That day, Belita ran like never before.
“This old fool… How did you know that one thing?”
She had never run so desperately, not even with Kesis.
“I’ve been betrayed by my brothers too many times!”
“Don’t follow me!!”
“No!!”
Belita finally buried herself in Silvester’s embrace, as if escaping the past.
“……”
It was a little disappointing that Silvester would be away for a long time, but it was better this way.
His absence was advantageous; she could meet Roman freely without worrying.
In a few weeks, she could gather information. She hadn’t forgotten her purpose.
She needed to check if the painter who would depict her also had abilities like Silvester, and focus on uncovering the source of his power.
Other painters probably weren’t special like Kesis or Silvester, but confirming it once would allow her to focus on what made Silvester different.
Belita realized the divine power only revealed itself when Rastavan showed strength. Having experienced it once, she could now sense divine power unless it was concealed.
But Silvester didn’t emit such power.
Even someone unaware of it themselves, believing they were ordinary, wouldn’t conceal divine power.
‘He’s really bad at hiding anything.’
So, somewhat vaguely, she figured that tracing his lineage might reveal something.
Just observing Silvester wasn’t enough. She had to act first.
She had to uncover Silvester’s secrets and find his connection to Kesis. The thread tied through the portrait needed unraveling.
She had to find Kesis’ whereabouts, discover why she was sealed, when the plan began, and when Rastavan was involved.
What happened after her sealing, what death she faced…
…Did she really commit suicide, as in her dream?
This became the new purpose of Belita’s second life.
For now, she had only intuition, no clear evidence. Belita wanted to approach Silvester first to achieve her goal.
That he knew nothing about his origins but remembered his childhood was fortunate.
Belita recalled Silvester’s story: growing up with neighborhood boys, later living in an orphanage. About 20 years ago, a director died of illness after raising the children without charge. Relatives sold the orphanage.
She decided to find that place and locate people who knew Silvester in his youth.
‘Investigations of the wealthy have always been thorough. I can probably trust Roman.’
That might reveal Silvester’s bloodline, and perhaps the source of his abilities.
Belita gazed at the sleeping Silvester.
‘…Come to think of it, I haven’t told him I’m leaving tomorrow.’
She stroked Silvester’s hair.
Today’s shocking story about the commission left her no chance to mention her own plans. Tomorrow was the day she would finally meet Roman and the painter.
……
“…I thought you were gone.”
Belita recalled Silvester panting in fear a few days ago as he ran into the city.
“I thought you had left me.”
Since he had searched for her after being gone briefly, she decided to leave a note this time.
‘Then he won’t come looking again.’
As she sorted her thoughts, sleep gradually came.
“…Mm.”
Sleep arrived swiftly, despite the earlier alertness. The body was funny that way. Remembering the important meeting tomorrow made drowsiness strike like magic.
The comforting scent of Silvester lingered at her nose.
The pleasantly cool nape of his neck, his warmth around her waist, the blanket smelling as if infused with sleep-inducing qualities.
Even the finest demon couldn’t resist slumber. Her eyes gently closed.
‘Silvester, this time I won’t surprise you.’
With that, Belita drifted to sleep.
