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Chapter 7
Don’t Say “Let’s Kiss” Meant That!
“You’d better stay outside.”
Theo spoke to Evelyn, who was following close behind him.
Because of the cracks in the ground, even the inside of the cave was unstable.
“I’m going with you. I can’t let you go in alone, Your Grace.”
This time, Evelyn’s concern wasn’t welcome. They had no idea what might be inside the cave.
“Do you think you’ll be of help?”
“If it’s dangerous, I’ll throw rocks instead of books.”
At her absurd answer, Theo let out a small laugh.
“Fine. But don’t stray from my side.”
Evelyn nodded and stuck close to him with a resolute expression.
In front of the cave, broken debris was piled up to knee height.
After climbing over it and crossing the rough ground, they began to move deeper inside.
The cave walls that once held monsters were covered in claw marks.
Then Evelyn asked with a puzzled look,
“Isn’t that water?”
From deep within the cave, a thin stream was flowing out.
“That’s strange. Water shouldn’t be reaching this far.”
Theo strode toward it.
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve been inside this cave before. If you go down the forked path for quite a while, there’s a valley.”
“For quite a while? Then this water flowing now—”
At that moment, they found the light they had been desperately searching for.
Thankfully, it wasn’t far from the cave entrance.
Something was glinting between the fork Theo had mentioned.
Water had pooled in a hollowed-out section of the floor, and from within it, a vivid light shone.
“The valley must have overflowed.”
There was no telling why the water level had risen. Aside from the monsters, the cave had always been the same.
“Let’s deal with this first.”
Theo bent down toward the glowing water.
Evelyn grew more confused by the second.
No matter how she thought about it, too many things were strange.
Why had the usually calm valley surged upward? What was this thing that had suddenly appeared? She couldn’t make sense of it.
Without hesitation, Theo plunged his hand into the shallow water.
“Be careful!”
“I will.”
But despite his words, he didn’t seem particularly concerned.
He even put in the hand that was still stained with blood from earlier.
Soon, he pulled something out. With a clinking sound, the light flared brightly.
He opened his palm to show Evelyn.
“A watch? Or a compass…?”
“It’s just a pendant.”
Two circular devices, each about the size of a palm, were joined back-to-back.
They looked like a double-sided compass.
At the center, a gemstone pierced through both devices, connecting them like an axis.
Mysterious patterns were engraved along the edges surrounding the gem.
Evelyn stared at it, captivated.
What snapped her back to her senses was the red liquid touching the device.
“Your Grace, you’re bleeding again!”
Perhaps he had rummaged too roughly through the water; blood was once again flowing over Theo’s palm.
Evelyn hurried to take out her handkerchief.
Then an astonishing sight unfolded.
As if drawn somewhere, Theo’s blood began to move.
Looking closer, the pendant was absorbing it.
“What is this…?”
They stared in shock as the scene changed by the second.
Then the two sides connected by the central gem began to rotate in opposite directions.
The mysterious patterns along the rim spun rapidly.
After whirling for some time, the two sides stopped with a sharp click.
The bright light that had been spreading began to fragment like puzzle pieces.
In midair, the fragments gathered together, forming a shape.
Evelyn’s eyes widened.
“Ancient script…?”
It was ancient script.
The letters grew clearer and finally formed a sentence.
Evelyn inhaled sharply, her body stiff with surprise.
Theo called her name.
“Evelyn.”
He gently took her hand.
“It’s all right.”
“…”
His warmth steadied her.
Only then did Evelyn let out a long breath.
Just as Theo said, everything felt as though it would be all right.
Collecting herself, she looked at the pendant again.
“I’ll read it first.”
Somehow, all of this felt like fate.
Even the floating ancient script seemed to be urgently calling to her.
Finally, Evelyn spoke.
“…O you who part the darkness and face the light, never release the guide you have obtained. When the truth buried layer upon layer reveals itself, the sleeping god shall sing.”
The moment she finished reading, the pendant began to rotate again.
It reacted just as it had when it absorbed Theo’s blood.
After turning several times, it stopped.
The light surrounding it slowly faded. The floating script vanished as well.
At the same time, the overflowing valley began to recede.
Only faint traces of water remained.
It was as if everything had happened solely to reveal the pendant.
“…”
“…”
They stood in silence, looking around at the now-quiet cave, as though nothing had occurred.
Theo was the one who broke the silence.
“What on earth does that mean?”
Evelyn burst into laughter.
The ancient script was baffling to her as well.
She just hadn’t shown it in the serious atmosphere.
Theo, however, was honest.
“Let’s head down.”
“W-What about this?”
Evelyn asked as he turned to leave without hesitation.
Without even thinking it over, he took the pendant.
“It said not to let go of the guide.”
“That’s true.”
“Let’s go.”
“We should hurry! What if the monster disappears?”
The monster serving as their bridge would crumble into dust in an instant.
Without thinking, Evelyn grabbed Theo’s sleeve and pulled him out of the cave.
Theo obediently matched her pace.
Following the path back, they soon saw the exit.
On the cracked earth, the fallen monster was slowly fading.
“No!”
Still clutching Theo’s wrist, Evelyn ran.
The moment they crossed over the deeply split ground using the monster as a bridge, a soft puff echoed behind them.
The monster had turned to dust and scattered into the air.
Now that all the monsters were gone, the priests would soon come to seal the monument again.
The annual cycle of sealing, unsealing, and monster subjugation…
A tiresome beginning-of-the-year ritual.
“Wow… that was close…”
Evelyn panted.
Only after she caught her breath did she notice her hand tightly gripping Theo’s sleeve.
“I—I’m sorry!”
Even if it had been urgent, she knew it was improper.
“It’s all right. I don’t dislike seeing you take initiative.”
“Huh?”
What did he mean?
For some reason, Theo looked rather satisfied.
“Let’s head down. We have much to do.”
“Because of the pendant?”
“Something more urgent.”
More urgent than work?
Evelyn quietly followed him.
Theo glanced at her and slowed his pace.
“Are you exhausted?”
“Not really. I didn’t do much.”
That was true.
“If anything, you must be the tired one, Your Grace.”
Then she suddenly remembered she hadn’t thanked him.
“Your Grace, thank you.”
“For what?”
“For saving me from the monster.”
“Wasn’t it the same for you?”
“It’s embarrassing to even compare…”
How could throwing a book at random compare?
“Just let me be grateful.”
Theo shrugged.
“Fine. In that case, you’ll have to take responsibility for me.”
“Responsibility?”
“As you can see, I’m in quite a shocked state.”
He placed a hand over his chest, as though unable to control his pounding heart.
Yet his expression remained shamelessly unchanged.
Evelyn eyed him suspiciously.
“…What would you like me to do?”
“Let’s have a meal first.”
“Pardon?”
“If we eat and take a walk, I think I’ll calm down.”
“…”
“Of course, with you.”
Wouldn’t it be better to rest at the inn…?
Evelyn swallowed her thoughts.
In any case, he had saved her life—and he was a high-ranking noble.
She had enough sense to know what to say and what not to.
“Is your hand all right? Shouldn’t you treat it now?”
“If you wish.”
Theo pointed to a wide rock.
Before Evelyn could sit, he took out a handkerchief and spread it over the surface.
“It would be better to use this to stop the bleeding—”
“There’s no chair, so we should at least observe some formality.”
That made no sense.
Evelyn didn’t bother arguing. She had her own handkerchief anyway.
Like with the vase before, he seemed oddly particular about formalities in strange moments.
“There’s no blood anymore. It must be because of the pendant.”
Evelyn examined his hand.
“Then I’ll just apply ointment.”
Her fingers brushed against his palm as she applied the ointment, tickling the wound.
Theo found the soft touch against his skin rather pleasant.
As he gazed at her, he spoke.
“Evelyn.”
“Yes?”
“Is there a man you’ve promised your future to?”
