EVHE 49

Chapter 49

“Just asking to be sure—you’re not a slave trader, are you?”

“First a loafer, now a slaver… just how far is my reputation going to sink?”

Calix looked down at me with clear displeasure.

I had only blurted out the loafer thing as a throwaway jab, but apparently he’d kept it in mind all this time.

“There are plenty of things I want to ask, starting with why you’re even here… but you won’t tell me, will you?”

Calix walked over and scooped me up without warning. His voice softened, almost coaxing like he was talking to a child.

“You’re the same way, aren’t you?”

“Want me to tell you?”

“Not really curious—”

“The guys I’ve been tracking lately felt off, so I decided to hit first.”

He cut me off and puffed himself up like it was something to brag about. Then, still holding me, he started walking toward the exit.

“So, you were the one who freed all the captives?”

“Of course.”

It seemed there weren’t any prisoners left, thanks to Calix making his move first. That meant there was no reason for me to stay behind with Saint just for the sake of investigating.

“Ah, wait, wait—put me down.”

When I wriggled in protest, Calix lowered me to the ground.

I tried to head back toward the prison corridor, but after only three steps my legs gave out and I collapsed.

“Damn these useless legs!”

I smacked my thigh with my fist, but of course that did nothing to bring my strength back.

As if mocking me, Calix chuckled under his breath.

“And where exactly are you trying to go?”

I considered ignoring him out of spite, but quickly remembered he was the only one who could help me now.

“My friend’s still inside. Take me to him.”

I stretched out my arms like I wanted him to carry me again. Calix blinked blankly at me.

“Hurry up!”

Snapping irritably, I urged him on until he obediently lifted me into his arms once more.

This time he didn’t head for the door I’d come through earlier. Instead, he turned down another passage, as if following the sound of commotion.

Soon we arrived before a door that echoed with shouts. He pushed it open, and I immediately recognized the back of the man inside.

“Oh dear…”

Calix sighed, looking more troubled than I was.

“Saint!”

At my shout, Saint turned around. He had one unconscious person dangling from each hand.

Calix set me down on a chair where the guards had been stationed earlier.

“Everyone safe?”

But his concern wasn’t directed at Saint—it was for his own men sprawled across the floor.

“My elite guard, bested by a single priest. How disappointing.”

“Y-Your Highness…”

The men groaned where they lay, answering weakly.

“Forgive me. To free the captives, I had to infiltrate.”

At that, Saint seemed to realize something was amiss.

He dropped the men he’d been holding and shook the blood from his gloves.

“No wonder. Their fighting style felt awfully stiff and ceremonial.”

As usual, Saint couldn’t help but add a jab.

There he goes again! He’d been just as insolent back at the palace. The man truly had no sense of self-preservation.

“Saint.”

“…I meant stiff and honorable, of course.”

I shot him a glare sharp enough to cut, and he hastily rephrased his words.

From Calix’s earlier words, it was clear these men were his subordinates.

“Wait—then those guards you fought earlier…?”

I recalled the ones crushed under Saint’s attacks. If they weren’t criminals but ordinary knights, this could be a serious problem.

“Don’t worry. All of my men are right here.”

“Good.”

I exhaled in relief.

“Your Highness, all captives have been escorted to the surface. Wagons will arrive soon to transport them.”

One of the knights—still wobbly from Saint’s grip—reported as he staggered to Calix.

“But… what is Lady Crescent doing here?”

His gaze flicked toward me.

I froze.

I had left my perception-distorting robe behind at the place where I’d first run into Calix.

“Allen.”

Calix fixed his gaze on the knight. Realizing his blunder, the knight quickly bowed.

“Yes, I saw nothing.”

With that, Allen stiffened his expression, then dragged the other knights away upstairs.

When they were gone, only the three of us remained. The air grew dense, heavy, subtly tense.

‘It’s one thing for Saint to stay quiet, but why is Calix not saying anything?!’

Calix looked deep in thought, face solemn, as if weighing something serious.

‘Should I just suggest we go back?’

I carefully tested my legs, pressing them to the ground. I felt a trickle of strength returning—maybe I’d be able to walk soon.

“I won’t press you about why you came.”

But Calix spoke before I could.

“You know this place is dangerous. No matter the reason, sending you back alone is out of the question.”

His reprimand chilled the air.

“What if I hadn’t been the one to find you?”

He wasn’t wrong.

I had a barrier, yes, but it hadn’t worked against Calix. That meant it might also fail against enemies.

“If you truly care for someone, you should keep them close and protect them better.”

There was a sharp edge to that last line, enough to feel like genuine anger.

I glanced at Saint. Guilty as charged, he kept his head lowered, offering no defense.

“I still have to finish up here. You’ll take her out, won’t you?”

Calix’s mouth curved into a thin, dry smile—yet it was laced with irritation.

“…Thanks.”

I answered in Saint’s place and tugged on his sleeve.

Once the iron door closed behind us, the corridor fell silent, not even an ant’s chirp to be heard.

“Hey, Saint.”

I tried to break the awkward tension with conversation.

“Why didn’t my barrier work earlier?”

It had bothered me ever since. I hadn’t heard the barrier crack, nor felt it shatter under force. If Calix had been a slaver instead of himself, I might have been seriously hurt.

“Are you using your barrier now?”

When I nodded, Saint suddenly grabbed my arm.

“Huh—?”

Like Calix, he passed through the barrier without the slightest resistance.

“Your subconscious doesn’t perceive me as a threat.”

“I see…”

That must have been why the textbooks said, A barrier can only be perfected by sharpening one’s awareness. It was to prevent situations like this.

But one part of his explanation didn’t sit right with me.

“Even if you don’t know who’s attacking you?”

“That’s the subconscious for you.”

He said it like it was obvious. I still didn’t quite get it, but I nodded as if I did.

The bottom line was—I didn’t see Calix as a threat.

Realizing that left me strangely unsettled.

‘…Since when?’

My first impression of him had been awful. I’d thought we would naturally drift apart. After the ball, I’d even considered him an obstacle in my way.

So why now?

No matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn’t find an answer.

Lost in thought, I walked until I saw the exit ahead.

The passage led out into a dark forest. I immediately pulled a magic scroll from my pocket.

“Tear this, and I’ll be back home, right?”

But instead of a reply, I heard a soft thud.

I turned to see Saint slumped weakly against a tree.

“You’re exhausted?”

“No.”

He answered curtly as I crouched beside him.

Then, gazing at me with cool, flat eyes, he suddenly took my hand. I stayed still, waiting to see what he’d do.

“I was seriously considering keeping you by my side, cherishing you always.”

“…What?”

The words hit me like a bomb, leaving my jaw hanging.

I didn’t dare ask if he meant me specifically—because I already suspected the answer would be yes.

“Next time,” Saint said, releasing my hand,

“let’s go on a real outing.”

His voice was unusually gentle, soft enough to roll warmly into my ears.

It was the promise we’d made before the ball ended.

“Alright.”

I smiled, and he gave the faintest of smiles in return—so faint it nearly disappeared.

That night, after a long council meeting, Reshel was returning to his office with his retainers.

Just then, a rustle came from the bushes by the wall.

The knights drew their swords, thinking it an intruder—only for a familiar head of dark hair to pop out.

Crimson eyes, crouched awkwardly, met theirs.

Caught off guard, Calix wore a sheepish expression.

“Brother.”

Before he could escape, Reshel called out. Having been recognized, he had no choice but to stop.

“And where have you been?”

Reshel’s tone was dry, his tired eyes scanning Calix up and down.

“Do I have to start reporting my schedule to you now?”

At that, Reshel dismissed his men with a cold glance.

“Since when were you not always beneath me, Brother?”

His words dripped with scorn, as if any pretense of authority from Calix was laughable in his eyes.

“I don’t know how long I’m expected to indulge your arrogance.”

Calix shot back without hesitation, his crimson eyes steady beneath his sharp brows.

“I asked you plainly where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing.”

Reshel’s voice made it clear that was the real point.

“Nothing much…”

Whether it took him a moment to catch on, or whether he was stalling on purpose, Calix trailed off mid-sentence.

“…Ah.”

At last, realization dawned.

“I met with Lilis.”

His lips curved into a sly, provoking smile, as if he’d delayed answering just to irritate.