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Chapter 24
“Ell. Someone might try to ambush you like this.”
Karon gripped his dagger menacingly and lunged at Ell. The blade stopped precisely at Ell’s neck.
“Ell.”
Ell made no move to defend herself, quietly offering up her neck. Such stubbornness.
Until now, Knight Nine had always sparred with Ell as her stand-in partner, but today Nine had duties elsewhere and was absent.
Instead of lowering his blade, Karon gave a quiet, heavy warning.
“I could have killed you just now.”
“Yes. I know.”
“If you don’t block next time, you will die. Because I’ll swing in earnest.”
“Do I really have to block it?”
Ell’s question was so naïve it was almost disarming. Karon’s eyes twitched, then he swung again.
Once more the blade aimed precisely at Ell’s throat, but she did not flinch, simply gazing at him.
“…”
In her clear brown eyes was nothing but chilling, absolute devotion.
Karon’s lips curved into a hollow laugh at the sight, surprised by her unwavering gaze.
“Ha… haha… Ell. Come here.”
Clang. The dagger dropped to the floor as Karon spread his arms.
Without hesitation, Ell stepped forward toward the very man who had aimed his blade at her and rested her head against his chest.
“Ell. Value your life.”
“…”
“Even if the one threatening your life is me. Block it, no matter what. And live.”
“…If Lord Karon takes my life, it must be for a good reason.”
“No. Block it unconditionally. That’s an order.”
“…Yes.”
But she wouldn’t. How could she ever raise her hand against her god? Better to die herself.
Karon sensed her answer was false and gave a quiet laugh. The vibrations of his chest as he laughed resonated through Ell.
She wished Karon would laugh more often—because of her.
“…”
The sound of someone entering the training hall reached them. Karon gently pushed Ell away.
A small pang of regret rose in Ell’s chest. His arms were always so broad and solid. Having never been embraced by anyone before, Karon’s arms felt indescribably precious.
“Nine.”
The presence belonged to a knight. When Ell turned, she saw Nine awkwardly picking up the baggage he had dropped.
“Ah, haha, my lord… I barged in again without realizing….”
“If you know, then get to work.”
“Yes, sir.”
Quickly stowing his things in the corner, Nine rushed over to them.
“Pick up a sword.”
“Eh? Pardon?”
“I said, pick up a sword.”
Still confused, Nine reflexively accepted the dagger thrust toward him.
“What if she gets hurt?”
“Then don’t let her get hurt.”
“My lord….”
“Two days off. Grip the sword.”
“Yes, sir!”
Hesitation vanished from Nine’s eyes.
Clang! The blades clashed sharply. Nine’s eyes widened when Ell parried his strike.
Ell’s movements were swift and agile. Having lived with survival as her only goal, she hesitated little, her defense sharp and her ability to exploit openings exceptional.
It was plain that Ell had fought for her life against countless wild things in the forest.
“…”
Karon’s black eyes gleamed as he watched her. Ell was proving her worth—no, more than he had ever imagined.
“Wow, young lady. You’ve improved so much!”
“Th-thank you…”
Unaccustomed to praise, Ell blushed and bowed deeply to Nine.
“Young lady, you must be careful not to bow during sparring.”
“Ah… I forgot. It’s a habit.”
“My lord has discovered a rare gem. Even after training ends, please come by sometimes.”
Nine extended his hand—a handshake recognizing her as a fellow knight.
“I will!”
Ell beamed and grasped his hand, shaking it eagerly. She looked so happy that Karon’s lips twisted upward.
“Maybe I’ve been living too gently lately.”
He slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again.
When he did, the emotions that had lingered in them vanished without a trace, returning to that familiar, expressionless darkness.
* * *
“My lord. You mean you trained the young lady right up until the day before the party?”
The old butler’s gaze was on the window, where Ell swung a wooden sword at the air, practicing alone.
“Training must never be skipped.”
“The young lady is still very delicate.”
Karon’s retort was sharp.
“Delicate? Ell? That’s laughable. If you had seen her obediently offer her neck to me as I raised my blade, you wouldn’t say such things.”
“…”
The butler swallowed a sigh. So his lord had even raised a blade against the fragile girl.
He no longer knew where his duty to advise should begin and end.
“Old man, you look like you’ve gained a granddaughter.”
If anything, Karon had grown even harsher over the week he had been training Ell.
“She is indeed similar. The young lady is bright, polite, and rather spirited.”
“Ell?”
Karon repeated, incredulous. The butler, not understanding, simply nodded.
Karon laughed dryly.
Ridiculous. Those were the very last words that suited Ell, and yet the butler said them as if he knew her best.
“Ell is slightly mad right now.”
“Pardon? My lord, what do you mean….”
“She’s completely mad about me.”
“My lord. Of course, your looks are well known, but you are mistaken.”
The butler spoke earnestly, but Karon’s next words silenced him.
“Don’t you see it? The feelings Ell holds for me.”
“…”
Of course he did. How could he not?
“It’s utterly blind. Too fanatical to call love, too devoted to call obsession.”
“…”
“Perhaps it’s best called blind faith. Or worship.”
Karon handed over the documents he had finished reviewing. The sun was already sinking low.
“That’s…”
The butler parted his lips.
But on this point, he could not deny it. Ell poured her entire life into Karon to a worrying degree—like one repaying a great debt.
Karon rose from his chair, his steps leisurely, like a predator that had finished its hunt.
He stopped before the window.
“You know what’s worse? My own base desire that thrills at Ell’s blind devotion.”
“My lord.”
Karon’s fingertips traced the glass. Outside, Ell swung her wooden sword, wiping away sweat.
“As you know, my life has been a mire. Haven’t I always yearned for someone blind and eternal?”
“…”
“She digs too deeply into my weakest parts. It’s unsettling. It overjoys me so much that it drags out my most wretched desires.”
“…”
“Don’t worry. I won’t kill Ell. She swore an oath to remain by my side forever.”
Perhaps it was closer to madness than love.
Ell did not love Karon—she worshiped him. And Karon craved something eternal, something that would never change.
For the love he had seen changed far too easily.
In that sense, Ell’s feelings were more than enough to sate his thirst.
Ell fulfilled Karon’s deepest, most desperate craving.
“Then are you going to reveal everything now?”
“I suppose I can. Nothing is more precious to a person than life, after all.”
And Karon had become just as precious to Ell as her very life.
That meant no matter what unequal bargain he demanded, she would accept.
Perhaps no bargain was even needed—just letting her stay at his side was enough.
The butler, eyes shadowed with concern, handed over a set of papers.
“My lord, here are the letters and list of visitors who wish to come to the estate this month. Please review—”
“Reject them all.”
Karon shoved the documents back toward him with cold finality.
“But my lord, this list includes—”
“I said reject them all. Didn’t you hear me?”
“…Understood.”
The butler hesitated, then tucked the list back into his breast and left the office.
He had thought the timing was good, but clearly today was not the day.
As he glanced again at the list now back in his care, he sighed softly.
“Asella Dellus.”
The precious daughter of Count Dellus, one of Karon’s few friends, and someone who had shared his childhood.
Until now, all visitors had been refused under strict orders to admit no outsiders until matters were settled.
But this time, a formal letter accompanied the request to visit.
And its purpose seemed intent on unraveling all of Karon’s plans.
(To be continued in the next chapter)
