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Chapter 8
“Let’s pretend none of this ever happened!”
“What?”
Fighting the delicious smell of food, Luna hurriedly spoke. Hearing the servants’ voices outside had reminded her what she needed to do first.
“I mean what just happened. It was all a misunderstanding, right? I’ll act like it never happened, so I’d like you to do the same. Ordering everyone to keep quiet shouldn’t be difficult for you, should it?”
A faint puff of laughter escaped the client’s lips.
She had no idea what that expression meant, but that wasn’t important. She didn’t want strange rumors spreading, and she wanted to bury this once-in-a-lifetime memory deep in her heart.
She glanced sideways at him, waiting for an answer.
Before she realized it, he had taken a seat beside her. Holding out a bowl of creamy soup, he curled the corner of his mouth.
“If you finish everything that’s been prepared, I’ll agree.”
“Really? You can’t take it back later!”
Instead of answering, he nodded without hesitation.
Yes!
Can it really be settled this easily? This man is surprisingly reasonable.
She had expected him to seize on the incident and never let it go, but contrary to her fears, he was straightforward and decisive.
Feeling relieved, Luna scooped up a spoonful of soup.
She had been starving since yesterday, and the rich, creamy soup was so delicious it almost brought tears to her eyes.
The freshly baked bread was just as incredible, fragrant with butter and impossibly soft. It tasted like something served only in an upscale restaurant.
“Um… Sir, what happened with Raven’s vice commander?”
As she ate, she noticed him staring at her and decided to ask what had been on her mind.
“You don’t need to concern yourself with it.”
“Oh… okay.”
It wasn’t much of an answer, but the vice commander had said this man was someone important, so she figured she really didn’t need to worry.
After finishing the soup, she tore off another piece of bread and asked her next question.
“Um… if you spoke with the vice commander, does that mean the purification was successful?”
“It failed.”
“I-I see.”
Luna forced an awkward smile.
She had expected as much. She must have collapsed halfway through and ruined everything. Suddenly, the soft bread in her mouth felt as tough as leather.
Then why did he bring me here? Did the vice commander hand me over because I failed the job?
Wait… is this dangerous?
Her eyes slowly widened as she cautiously looked at the muscular man.
Her lips suddenly felt dry.
“What is it? Do you think I’m going to harm you? There’s no poison in the food, so relax and finish eating.”
How had he read her mind so perfectly?
As he handed her a glass of water, he spoke so casually that it sent a chill down her spine.
Luna hurriedly stuffed the remaining bread into her mouth.
She couldn’t even taste it anymore, but she diligently finished it to satisfy the condition he had given her.
Watching her with satisfaction, Khalid finally explained.
“The curse removal itself failed, but it had some effect.”
“Oh.”
Only then did Luna feel safe enough to drink the water he had offered.
So it hadn’t been a complete failure after all.
The cool water tasted wonderfully sweet.
“That’s why I want you to purify me again. How should I arrange another meeting?”
“Wouldn’t it be enough to submit another request?”
Then, mimicking his earlier posture, Luna tilted her chin up slightly.
“And…”
“There won’t be any more rudeness like before, right?”
Khalid was silent for a moment.
He brushed along his smooth jawline—more specifically, the cheek she had slapped.
“I have no idea what you mean. Did I ever behave rudely toward you?”
“N-No! I’ll definitely succeed next time!”
“It won’t take long to arrange another commission. Until then, make sure you recover completely.”
“Yes…”
A look of defeat crossed Luna’s face.
She had been completely outmaneuvered by his trick. Turning her head away, she pouted in frustration.
Thump! Thump!
Knock! Knock!
Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed outside.
The urgent knocking that followed sounded anything but ordinary.
As if greeting an unwelcome guest, Khalid’s expression instantly turned cold.
Unlike the person outside, he leisurely walked over and opened the door.
“Hast. Have you finished the investigation?”
“Yes. But, my lord! Is what the servants said really true? It’s honestly hard to believe. Is she still here? So Your Grace actually spent the entire night with a woman until dawn—Gah!”
A fist slammed into the black-uniformed man’s stomach before he could finish.
The strike was so fast and powerful that Hast doubled over, gasping for breath.
“You too…”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Khalid’s voice remained calm, almost bored.
Luna immediately realized that, just like her, he wanted to keep what had happened a secret.
Please make sure everyone stays quiet…
Swallowing nervously, she walked calmly toward the two men.
It was time for her to leave.
“Good morning.”
“Hast. Keep your mouth shut.”
Is it already dawn?
Luna dipped her head in thanks and headed for the exit.
As an illegal purification mage, drawing any more attention to herself would only bring trouble.
But just as she stepped over the threshold—
Thud.
The client blocked her path.
Luna looked up irritably at the tall man towering over her.
“Now what?”
“I’ll have a servant brought in. Change into fresh clothes before you leave. And I’ll add as much as possible to your payment.”
The moment she heard the word payment, Luna turned around without the slightest hesitation.
Meeting the gazes of the two men, she flashed them a bright smile.
“Exactly! You have to make sure you get what you’re owed.”
* * *
The door to the study in the temporary residence of the Grand Duke of Bahir quietly closed.
As Khalid entered, Hast clasped his hands behind his back with an unusually serious expression.
“Report.”
The instant the order was given, Hast recited everything he had uncovered about Luna Aderet.
Her family background.
Her connection to Raven.
Even her financial circumstances.
It was a thorough report.
Khalid listened without changing expression.
There had been too many things that felt unnatural.
Just as he had expected—
She wasn’t affiliated with Raven at all.
A purification mage with both exceptional ability and exceptional beauty.
“Is she brave… or simply foolish?”
A woman willing to return to a nest full of predators after promising to meet again was unlikely to live very long.
She was troublesome.
But he couldn’t simply let her die.
Khalid smiled.
She was the first mage who had ever produced even the slightest effect against his dreadful curse.
Until he could verify it through another purification, he intended to protect her.
“Why did you allow her to leave?”
Hast asked firmly after studying his master’s face.
“Just make sure the money pouch you deliver to her is heavy.”
Unlike usual, Hast refused to back down.
She was someone they absolutely couldn’t afford to lose.
Khalid slowly folded his arms.
Does he want another beating?
His sharp eyes fixed on his insolent subordinate.
“I can’t treat her carelessly. Especially now that I know she’s a noble.”
“Then are you really going to let her go? She doesn’t look fully recovered yet.”
“Assign guards without letting her notice. Watch her day and night.”
“Yes, sir!”
She was undoubtedly the key.
The only person in the entire Empire they had found.
Even so, he couldn’t imprison her or keep her for himself simply because she was useful.
Still…
Something about his loyal knight’s question irritated him.
“No.”
“I’ll go myself.”
“…Pardon?”
“I’ll stay by her side.”
“But, Your Grace, don’t you still have documents that need your attention today?”
Looking at the bewildered Hast, Khalid slowly smiled.
The question had come from loyalty.
Even so, daring to question his orders deserved consequences.
“What are you talking about? As far as I know, the Grand Duke of Bahir is buried in paperwork.”
Hast finally realized what was happening.
His mouth fell open.
Too late.
Khalid opened a secure drawer, took out Bahir’s official seal, and kindly placed it into Hast’s hands.
Closing Hast’s fingers around it one by one, he smiled with his strikingly handsome face.
“I’ll leave… the rest… to my trusted aide.”
After all, any documents arriving while he was away could be handled under Bahir’s authority.
That wasn’t a problem.
The problem was that the man serving as both his knight commander and secretary apparently hadn’t realized it.
“I’ll… bring the bag of gold coins.”
Then, wearing a melancholy smile under the weight of an absolute order, Hast finally voiced the question he had been holding back.
“My lord.”
Khalid gestured for him to continue.
Now that he had decided to personally watch over Luna, the irritation he had felt melted away like snow, even softening his eyes.
“Perhaps…”
“Speak.”
Rubbing the spot where he had been punched earlier, Hast backed all the way to the study door—close enough to escape if necessary.
Then he blurted it out.
“I know it’s impossible… but…”
“Did the young lady slap you? One of your cheeks looks unusually swollen and red…”
“Hast.”
Click.
Fearing that his own cheeks might soon turn red as well, Hast slammed the study door shut in an instant.
