EVHE 64

Chapter 64

No matter what I did, it felt like the future would never change. Even if I overcame hardships, in the end, it was just another mountain blocking me from every direction.

“Maybe the happy ending I’ve been longing for doesn’t exist at all?”

A sudden possession, countless brushes with death. Dreams of the execution ground that could be my future, an unknown presence chasing me. Repeated failed escapes, uncertain relationships, and swelling distrust.

It felt like all the suppressed emotions had piled up and suddenly exploded.

“Is this my limit?”

There were too many worries for me to bear alone.

But even so, I couldn’t possibly share all of this with Calix.

I was just an outsider who had entered this book, and he was the main character of this world.

My worries even included him—the person who would eventually grow distant.

That meant we weren’t in the kind of relationship where we could share even one honest burden with each other.

“Lately, I’ve been having nightmares every night.”

As I stayed quiet, Calix spoke first.

“There’s somewhere I want to reach, but it’s like my body is glued to the ground. I can’t break free.”

I glanced at him at the sound of his serious voice.

He wasn’t looking at me. His eyes were fixed far off, past the horizon.

“What scared me the most was the thought… what if that wasn’t a dream, but reality?”

I listened quietly to his words.

What exactly was it that he feared? Curiosity rose, but I pushed it aside for now.

“But in the end, I think it was just a dream after all.”

At last, Calix turned to me. His eyes gleamed mischievously, the corners curving up.

“So there’s no need to let myself be chained down by those nightmares anymore.”

Then he grinned widely—far brighter than any smile I’d ever seen on him before.

I hadn’t done a thing, yet somehow Calix looked relieved. Behind him, the golden sunset blazed.

His hair was black, a darkness that didn’t quite match the brilliance around him, yet on him it harmonized perfectly.

Since I hadn’t shared my worries, I was sure he was just speaking casually, without much meaning.

So his words weren’t really comforting, nor helpful to me.

And yet—I felt strange. My chest tickled, unfairly so.

It was as if, despite his nonsense, I found comfort in what he said.

Slowly, I blinked. Dampness gathered at the corners of my eyes, clinging before dropping.

“Here. Take this.”

Calix didn’t stop there. He suddenly grabbed my arm.

Something heavy was pressed into my hand. When I opened my palm, I found a brooch set with a crimson jewel.

“This morning, some shady guy was lurking around the palace.”

The story was abrupt, but his expression was deadly serious.

“I caught him and confiscated this brooch. It’s apparently a self-defense magic tool. It’s enchanted with both explosion magic and teleportation magic—so, if you ever get kidnapped…”

He went on explaining with a solemn face, rattling off complicated principles and activation conditions without hesitation.

And the way he suspiciously kept emphasizing ‘if you ever get kidnapped’…

It was clear Calix already knew about the kidnapping incident from a few days ago.

‘Well, since Olivia was there too, it’s natural he’d know.’

Even so, why he was giving me this—I couldn’t understand. But… I didn’t dislike it.

“Don’t think of returning it. Just keep it.”

He covered my fist with his palm.

“It’s not really a gift. It’s just useless to me, so I’m giving it to you.”

But that added explanation was utterly unconvincing.

His sincerity made me drop my head and burst into laughter.

“You could’ve just said you were worried.”

Why did he have to go in circles like this?

At my words, Calix’s rambling stopped abruptly. Clearly, I’d hit the mark.

‘What a fool.’

If things followed the original story, he was the one who would distance himself from me first.

Even without going that far, he was the type who would always leave me behind without any lingering attachment.

So I should’ve kept my distance, to avoid being disappointed later. That would’ve been the smart thing to do.

And yet… whenever he appeared before me, I felt reassured, felt closer to him.

“…Maybe…”

Only now did I realize the true reason my heart felt lighter.

It wasn’t because of a sweet rest like honey, nor because of breathtaking scenery.

I stared blankly up at Calix, whose eyes seemed unshaken, as if even a storm couldn’t move him.

“That’s right.”

The words from the maids or from Calix might have been useless answers for me right now.

But the reason I found comfort in them was because I knew—they truly cared for me.

“I haven’t lost anything yet.”

Everything I’d done until now might have felt like failure, but in the end, I hadn’t died.

Not all misunderstandings were aimed at me. The bloody dead ending hadn’t arrived either.

I didn’t know Olivia’s circumstances in detail. I had no certainty that Saint would attack me.

And above all, my escape route wasn’t completely blocked, without even a crack to slip through.

That meant—I had to keep moving forward.

“Thank you. Always.”

I smiled softly.

For some reason, I felt awkward looking at Calix, so I lowered my gaze.

Because of that, I didn’t see his face then. But I was sure it looked the same as always.

The next morning, I headed straight for the Palium Temple.

On the way, I stopped by the library, but the doors were firmly shut. Curtains hung down to the floor, blocking any view inside.

When I asked at the nearby shops, it seemed Saint hadn’t come to the library for quite some time.

“I’m sorry. I took a sudden break the other day without notice.”

“It’s no problem.”

At the temple, I was greeted, as always, by Lake.

He looked just the same as usual, with the same gentle manner of welcoming me.

Since today wasn’t a volunteer day, we didn’t go to the orphanage. Instead, we sat on a bench in the square, chatting lightly.

“I feel bad, taking up so much of your time like this.”

“Please don’t worry. Today isn’t a workday for me.”

“Huh? But still…”

On his days off, Lake usually wore casual clothes. But today, he was dressed in his silver armor.

“It just felt like I’d been taking too many breaks lately.”

Perhaps reading my thoughts from my gaze, he explained calmly.

“So you came to work even on your day off?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Wow. I swallowed the admiration that almost slipped out.

I knew he prioritized work, but seeing it firsthand made me realize how truly remarkable it was.

After the topic ended, a short silence followed. Lake’s gaze shifted elsewhere.

I followed his line of sight. Two priests in pure white robes were walking by.

“By the way, did you enjoy your outing with the priest?”

As if reminded by the sight, Lake asked me.

‘The priest?’

Surely, the only priest he meant was Saint.

But I’d never gone anywhere with Saint. He’d never invited me anywhere either.

“I even gave you some materials, to help find a place to go together.”

“No. Not at all.”

When I showed complete confusion, Lake’s expression turned awkward, as if he’d realized something.

“Ah… I hope I didn’t ruin the priest’s plans.”

He laughed sheepishly, embarrassed.

‘Hmm.’

I tilted my head, staring at Lake.

Clearly, some conversation had passed between him and Saint.

“Could you tell me more about it?”

He looked troubled. It didn’t seem like he’d reveal it so easily.

So I leaned in closer and widened my eyes pitifully.

“You really won’t tell me?”

I blinked at him repeatedly, fixing him with a long gaze.

“…Fine. Alright.”

Unable to withstand it, he eventually gave in.

“The priest asked others if there was anywhere suitable to go with you. I merely offered a few suggestions.”

Hearing that, I fidgeted with my innocent fingers for no reason.

It seemed Saint had actually been trying to keep the promise we’d made at the ball.

Maybe he really did consider me a friend. Just because Olivia had taken over his story didn’t necessarily mean he’d see me as an enemy.

“If Saint comes to the temple, could you please let me know?”

“Of course.”

Since he hadn’t been coming to the library either, Lake was my only lead now.

Just as I was about to leave the temple, thinking I was done for the day—

“Oh, right.”

Something I’d completely forgotten about came to mind, and I clapped my hands together lightly.

“Sir Lake, could you tell me what language this is?”

I pulled out the torn document from my bag and handed it to him. It was the paper I’d stolen from the prison during the kidnapping incident.

I hadn’t dared show it to anyone since I couldn’t understand its contents, but it had been troubling me all this time.

“This is… divine script.”

Fortunately, Lake recognized it.

“Divine script?”

The name was unfamiliar, so I tilted my head. He kindly explained.

“When God speaks to us humans, He always uses this language. Ordinary people cannot read or even comprehend it. I don’t know much about it myself.”

“Then does one have to be a priest to read it?”

“Even ordinary priests wouldn’t know it well. Only the High Priest who hears the voice of God directly, or perhaps an Archbishop, would.”

At that answer, my shoulders slumped.

I took the paper back and returned it to my bag, then stared blankly at the crowd in the square.

If their goal had been solely to kidnap Olivia, that would’ve been better.

But what if I was included too? If they had a reason for not killing me immediately, but abducting me along with her?

That meant I had a real reason to decipher this document.

But the High Priest never met even the faithful, so I had no chance of seeing him. The Archbishop’s seat was vacant, and while there was a candidate…

‘And I don’t even know where Saint is…’

I wasn’t sure if digging deeper into this was the right move. But if it was a threat aimed at me, I couldn’t just sit back and wait to be struck.