EVHE 62

Chapter 62

One second, two seconds… only a short span of time passed as we just stared at each other. Sweat pooled in the hand gripping the doorknob. Maybe it was the tension—my chest tightened so much I could hardly breathe, and my head throbbed in pain.

Despite all the commotion, no reinforcements had come. It seemed the guards we’d faced were all there was.

I have to take down all three at once.

That left only one option.

I clutched the necklace in my hand. Then I sprang right into the middle of them.

Now!

The second power exploded from the necklace.

A flash of white light erupted, and the sound of the ceiling in the hallway collapsing roared above us. I spread a shield, blocking the falling debris.

Without hesitation, I bolted toward the iron door. Maybe the attack had been effective—no one moved to stop me.

The corridor inside shook with faint tremors, as if the whole building were about to come down under the force of the blast.

I ran with everything I had. My lungs burned, about to burst. I was pushing my body so far past its limits that I could feel the edge coming closer and closer.

Ugh! At this rate I’m going to die for real!

A stinging pain made me glance at my arm. A sharp scratch ran along it—some debris I hadn’t managed to block.

At the end of the hallway, light streamed in, likely from outside. The door stood wide open—Olivia must have already escaped.

That’s the exit!

Relief flooded me at the sight of the bright light, my eyes stinging with the urge to cry.

But the necklace’s power was spent, so from here on I had to be cautious. Carefully stepping outside, I found myself in a familiar forest.

I glanced around, searching for Olivia. But I froze on the spot.

So that’s why the prison had felt oddly empty—most of the guards were gathered aboveground.

But all of them lay sprawled on the ground. Unmoving. Unconscious, perhaps.

Don’t tell me… Nox is here?

A chill raced down my spine.

During the Bistad kidnapping incident, it had been Nox who saved Olivia. If that was true, then who else but him would have rescued her this time as well?

But what entered my vision was someone else entirely.

A figure in a familiar black uniform, white hair, long sword in hand.

Saint?

He was standing with his back to me, facing Olivia.

The moment I saw Saint’s back, the air locked in my chest released in a rush. I was alive—finally alive. The dizzying fear faded like smoke.

“I’m sorry I was late. I only realized too late that the location had changed.”

“Still, I’m glad you noticed the signal.”

Something about their exchange was strange—too strange for me to feel reassured.

As I stood there in a daze, Olivia’s gaze shifted and met mine.

Her eyes flew wide and she quickly clapped a hand over her mouth. Then she tugged at Saint’s sleeve in warning.

Saint turned. His sky-blue eyes wavered when they met mine.

He hadn’t expected me here either.

I had always known Olivia and Saint were acquainted.

But why… why here?

A creeping dread spread inside me, the continuation of the unease that had been gnawing at me all along.

…No way.

Why had a relationship between the two of them suddenly appeared, when it never existed in the original story? Why had Olivia interfered with him?

If Olivia truly knew the flow of the original, and if she sought revenge on Lilith—

Wouldn’t she try to steal away Lilith’s closest allies first? Saint, after all, was Lilith’s right hand—and a dangerous enemy if turned against her.

In that case…

There was one question that could confirm whether Olivia truly knew the original.

“Saint, let me ask you just one thing.”

My voice trembled as it slipped past my lips. I prayed—desperately—that my suspicion was wrong.

In the original, Saint’s past is dragged to the surface, and he faces expulsion from the temple. It was Lilith who helped him then.

With the Crescent Duchy’s influence and Leschel’s unwavering support behind her, she gained his loyalty in return.

That was how their first relationship began—long before love ever entered the picture.

So if my guess was right, then this time too…

“Did Olivia promise to help you keep your position?”

I pushed my messy bangs back, raising my weary eyes to meet his.

Saint gave no answer. But his sky-blue eyes flickered like a quivering flame.

His silence was as good as an affirmation.

“Answer me.”

Still, I pressed him. I wanted him to deny it—even if it was a lie.

But instead, Saint slowly nodded.

My gaze dropped to the ground. I wrapped my aching arms around myself.

I was right.

I had always taken it for granted that he was on my side. Not once had I doubted it.

In the original, it had been that way. And we… we had been close.

Even when he suddenly said goodbye, I had believed with certainty that he would come back one day.

I trusted he would never turn a cold blade on me.

But if Olivia had stolen Lilith’s story—if she meant to use it to take revenge on me—

Then whose side was he on now?

Goosebumps prickled across my skin.

I heard Saint take a step closer to me.

“Don’t come near me!”

I stumbled back in retreat.

“My lady!”

Sensing the grave atmosphere, Olivia called out to me. But even she didn’t step toward me.

Where had it all gone wrong? This relationship, this meeting?

My unease had turned to suspicion, and suspicion had hardened into certainty.

I didn’t know what to believe anymore.

The sting in my arm’s wound drove me mad. Belatedly, the resentment and frustration of the kidnapping welled up inside me. My temples throbbed from the stress.

“Ah…”

Suddenly, the fever raging in my head cooled in an instant. But with it came a freezing exhaustion that crashed through my body like a flood.

A thought struck me—it was all a waste of time.

“I’m going home…”

I muttered under my breath and turned away.

The road to the village was blocked by the two of them. So I veered into the forest instead.

No one tried to stop me. My body, drained of tension and strength, felt unbearably heavy.

I hitched a ride on a carriage passing through the mountain path and made it back to the estate. The moment the maids saw my condition, they were thrown into an uproar.

But I refused all questions and investigations, letting them treat me roughly before collapsing into bed.

It’s certain now—Olivia knows the original.

So then… could Saint hurt me on her command? How many enemies did I have now?

I cut the thought off there. I didn’t want to think about the future anymore tonight.

Normally, I would have begun planning my next move immediately. But now everything just felt tiresome.

I couldn’t even bring myself to care about who was behind the kidnapping. I was just tired of it all.

Assaults, accidents, abductions… I had never once given up despite all the hardships. I had believed that only by overcoming them would I finally find peace.

But now, in front of me stood yet another mountain too high to climb.

Lying in bed, I stared at the familiar ceiling, at the familiar room. For a moment, I almost convinced myself today had been a dream.

But the pain of the wounds beneath the bandages dragged me back to reality.

I closed my eyes, trying to sleep, but my thoughts were too tangled to let me.

Meanwhile, Calix, who had gone to Duke Granard’s estate, returned to the imperial palace in less than half a day. His subordinates seemed puzzled by his early return.

Calix gave no explanation, only entering his office. Among the mess of papers scattered across his desk, he picked up a single map.

On it was a crimson insignia—Bistad’s crest.

Bistad. The organization he had long planned to wipe out alongside Nox.

Until now, he had held back, waiting for the right moment to take down the Broke family that supported them.

But things had changed.

“We’re heading for Carlota immediately.”

Carlota—Bistad’s stronghold. Going there meant nothing less than annihilating them.

Allen’s eyes widened like saucers. But soon he bowed, signaling obedience.

What Calix intended now was reckless.

If he struck only at Bistad, the Broke family would surely cut ties and flee, undoing years of patience and planning.

Leschel would use it as a pretext for direct interference. He might even blame Calix for ruining the imperial palace’s careful operations.

But Calix didn’t care. His rage had drowned out reason. All he could think was that they had dared to lay hands on Lilith.

Abandoning reason, moving only by raw emotion—that was exactly how he had despised his younger brother for acting.

“Disgusting.”

Was he cursing Bistad? Or himself? The line blurred until he couldn’t tell.

Why was he so furious?

Was it because he had failed to protect Lilith again?

The moment he realized that, Calix despised himself more than ever.

He had pretended not to notice, but he had long suspected why Lilith had suddenly sided with Leschel.

The assassination attempt in the palace—he had heard only after the fact that Lilith had been attacked. Just like now.

He had done nothing. No attempt to rescue her, no move to protect her.

So wasn’t it only natural that she had sought safety under someone stronger?

So then… was his anger now simply fear of their friendship growing distant again? Or was it mercy for an old friend?

“…Ha. I really am a fool.”

Even in this moment, it was Lilith’s sorrowful face that rose in his mind.

Though he had heard she returned home safely, he worried—was she really okay, or trapped in dark thoughts again?

He wanted to crush Bistad immediately. But at the same time, he wanted to see her.

And then a question suddenly intruded, overturning everything he’d thought until now.

Was this nameless fury truly only because she was his friend?

If not…

Calix did not search for the answer. He simply sank into endless silence.