EVHE 44

Chapter 44

The sun had yet to set, so it was still too early for the ball to be in full swing.

Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—Olivia and Nox were nowhere to be seen in the ballroom. Pretending to mingle with other men, I seized the chance to quietly slip away into the garden.

“Ugh, it’s so unbearably noisy.”

The moment I found myself alone, complaints spilled out of me. Every time I greeted another man, Abel had butted in with some remark.

That one’s family has shortcomings.
That one’s parents are nothing special.
That title he has is worthless.

It wasn’t so much casual meddling as it was pure gossip.

“He should just worry about himself…”

Muttering under my breath, I strolled along the garden’s winding path. I admired the countless blooming flowers until I reached the very end of the path, where a row of white columns formed a corridor.

“Did I wander too far?”

I was about to turn back when a side gate to the garden swung open and several carriages rolled in. The carriages, pure white and without a single decoration or crest, came to a halt.

What… what is this?

Sensing something was off, I hid behind one of the columns.

The sound of carriage doors opening was followed by the murmur of people disembarking. I peeked out just enough to see what was going on.

Priests?

They were unloading large, heavy-looking boxes from the carriages.

I was still watching curiously when a familiar face stepped down from one of the carriages.

Saint?!

Unlike the other priests, Saint was dressed impeccably in full ceremonial uniform from head to toe.

Seeing him brought to mind his insistence that he would absolutely attend the ball.

“How dare you trespass in the imperial palace so early in the day.”

At the sound of a not-unfamiliar voice, my whole body stiffened. I clamped my hands over my mouth, startled enough to stop peeking.

“Even if you are a High Priest candidate, this is unacceptable.”

It was unmistakably Reshel’s voice—polite at first glance, but laced with displeasure.

So this is the Second Prince’s palace.

The massive building at the end of the corridor must have belonged to Reshel.

Which meant the priests had just marched right up to the Second Prince’s residence without permission. This wasn’t some small matter—it could even be construed as treason.

Unable to fight my curiosity, I peeked out again. Reshel stood with a small retinue on the opposite side from the priests.

“How could the temple be absent from the founding day celebrations?” Saint said.

“Well, I’ve no habit of welcoming uninvited guests,” Reshel replied with a scoff.

At Saint’s signal, the priests carried one of the large boxes forward and set it before Reshel.

“I hear His Majesty desires the temple’s holy sword.”

Inside the open box was a sword so dazzling it was almost blinding.

“A gift from the temple,” Saint added.

Reshel didn’t even glance at it. Instead, he let out a quiet, incredulous laugh.

“Don’t think you can buy forgiveness for this intrusion with a bribe.”

“What could be more important than His Majesty’s wishes?”

Their clash was intense—neither side backing down, the air between them thick with silent hostility.

Just watching made my heart shrink. I was half-afraid Reshel might just draw his sword and behead Saint.

“Bring it inside.”

Suppressing his irritation, Reshel stepped back. At his command, his attendants quickly carried the holy sword inside.

“Your Highness!”

At that moment, a servant rushed up to Reshel, speaking in hushed tones meant only for him. Reshel’s face grew cold as he listened.

“My apologies. The High Bishop has instructed me—”

Seeing Reshel’s expression, Saint cut in.

—that “if I didn’t get you away from the palace, you would not be allowed to attend the ball.”

A deliberate smirk tugged at his lips—just enough to grate on Reshel’s nerves.

“…Is that so.”

Reshel, bound by his public image as a virtuous prince, rarely lost his temper in front of witnesses. But today, for some reason, he seemed close to the edge.

“Don’t think I’ll keep tolerating you.”

It was an overbearing tone—and given his rank and power, it was no empty threat.

Anyone else might have cowered, but Saint simply looked unconcerned.

“Kane, prepare to leave for Oksis.”

“Yes, sir.”

With that, Reshel disappeared into the palace. The priests quickly boarded their carriages and vanished through the garden’s side gate.

I was still staring blankly after them when I felt a gaze on me. Snapping back to my senses, I quickly ducked back behind the column.

But the sound of footsteps approached.

“Out here to greet me?”

Saint leaned one arm against the column and looked down at me.

“Uh… I guess?”

I stammered, clearly caught spying.

“What would you have done if trouble broke out?”

Not wanting him to dig further into that point, I quickly changed the subject.

“Is it really okay to speak to a prince like that?”

He raised an eyebrow, as if my question made no sense.

A mere priest and a prince—the gap in status was sky-high, and yet his behavior was downright insolent. Reshel could easily use it as an excuse to condemn the temple.

“And what exactly did you do in Oksis?”

Oksis was a dense hub of large-scale commercial facilities. From the conversation I’d overheard, Saint had clearly done something there.

His answer was instant.

“Nothing much. Just pitted two organizations against each other.”

“That’s nothing much to you?”

It had been only a few weeks since a gang war shattered Nolton, and yet he spoke with complete nonchalance.

Right… he’s the villain, isn’t he.

In the original story, Saint had killed countless people. A little scheming like this wouldn’t trouble his conscience.

“The Second Prince is headed there. It’ll be handled soon enough.”

“You’re so irresponsible.”

He only shrugged at my sulky retort.

“It’s not that I didn’t think of other ways to sneak into the palace…”

His eyes lingered on me, almost uncomfortably.

“…but someone didn’t respond when I knocked on their window.”

The way he said it, it sounded like he was blaming me.

…Window?

The word struck me.

“Wait—was that you?!”

For the past three nights, the window had rattled loudly every time I lay down. I’d assumed it was just the wind and hadn’t even bothered to look outside, covering my ears with the blanket instead.

“I wasn’t going to come after that,” he said, his expression softening just slightly.

“But you seemed… sad.”

His voice was still emotionless, yet oddly gentle.

“I thought my presence might help.”

Then he grabbed my arm and pulled me closer—not quite into an embrace, but close enough.

“That’s enough. I’m not in such dire straits that I need anyone’s help.”

Flustered, I tried to pull back, but he didn’t let go.

Instead, he linked his arm with mine and started leading me back down the path.

“W–where are we going?”

“To the ballroom, of course. The party’s about to start.”

“Ughhh…”

I groaned involuntarily.

Even without Olivia and Nox, the place was full of people I’d rather avoid. Especially Abel… and Abel…

He was too loud for me to handle alone. Even the awkward duke was easier to deal with.

“If you face any difficulties, I expect you to tell me.”

“Why?”

Pouting, I answered curtly—partly just to delay going back inside.

“Because…”

He paused, stroking his chin out of habit before continuing.

“Because I’m your teacher.”

That was the last thing I expected to hear.

“You understand, don’t you? A student’s troubles are always a teacher’s responsibility.”

It was strangely familiar—almost like something I’d once said to him.

In the shadows, his sky-blue eyes shone as they fixed seriously on me.

When we returned to the ballroom, there were no new faces. Abel didn’t seem to notice me from across the room.

I glanced at Saint, who still wore that utterly indifferent expression toward the world.

Why had he even insisted on coming if he was just going to stand around like that…?

But I had no time to dwell on it, because someone was walking toward us.