Episode 9

At that moment, Leonard’s intense gaze seized Russelin’s attention completely. Beneath her trembling eyelids, her blue eyes captured his image entirely.

“Do you know the easiest way to hide your true intentions?”

“…W-what is it?”

“Hold eye contact. Without wavering.”

“Eye contact?”

“Yes. It’s a form of asserting dominance. If you look away first, you show a weakness.”

That’s… not easy. Russelin swallowed the complaint rising in her throat. She instinctively tried to lower her gaze again, but Leonard swiftly cupped her cheek, surprising her.

“Don’t open your eyes so wide like that.”

“W-what are you…!”

Russelin tried to relax her gaze, conscious of Leonard’s instruction, but her efforts only made her eyes quiver with a visible struggle. Leonard chuckled lightly at the sight.

“Haha. It seems that’s too much for you. Your emotions are too easily readable.”

Even though Leonard’s tone was light, Russelin continued to stare at him. His softened expression, though out of place, oddly suited him, and for a fleeting moment, it eased her anxious heart. Maybe that was why…

“The way you tremble before that man bothers me.”

Russelin didn’t fully process his murmured words. Leonard, sensing her distraction, brushed his fingers slowly along the edge of her eye, his touch surprisingly gentle for someone usually so imposing.

“Now I can finally get a proper look at you.”

“…!”

“Back then, I had to let you go too quickly. It was a shame.”

Leonard’s voice held a dangerous sincerity, and Russelin flinched under his sharp gaze that seemed to scrutinize her thoroughly.

“But it seems you’re not exactly pleased to see me.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Are you still tethered to your fiancé? You two were practically glued together at the banquet.”

…So he had been watching her.

“Did you know I was here?”

Russelin asked the question but looked as if she feared the answer. Leonard, fully aware of her unease, finally decided to unsettle her even more.

“Of course.”

“…!”

“I wouldn’t have come to a place like this if it weren’t for you.”

Why… why are you saying these things? It sounds like you came here just to see me. But you don’t need me…

Lost in her conflicted thoughts, Russelin unconsciously took a step closer to Leonard.

“Why did you…”

Russelin began, her voice laced with a question she knew she shouldn’t be asking. But she never got to finish.

“Ah! Y-Your Grace…!”

“Shh.”

Before she could say another word, Leonard pulled her firmly into his arms. Though his sudden touch should have felt unfamiliar, she found herself instinctively nestling against him, a little embarrassed by her own comfort in his embrace. Ignoring her reaction, Leonard cast a sharp glance around.

“Excuse us for a moment.”

Without explanation, Leonard quickly guided her behind a door, pressing them both into the narrow space. The closeness was almost suffocating.

“This… this is too close…”

Unable to bear it, Russelin tried to push herself away just as—

Creak

The door swung open, shrouding them in darkness.

“Russelin? Are you here?”

The familiar voice made her freeze instantly, her entire body tensing. It was Aydin Bert, searching for her. She had been foolish enough to believe she’d escaped him, if only for a while.

‘…Damn it.’

Leonard cursed inwardly. He had just managed to get her to relax, and now this damned man had ruined it all. He could feel Russelin instinctively holding her breath, her anxiety so intense that she was nearly trembling. Noticing her shaking, Leonard wrapped his arm silently around her waist, pulling her closer.

“Shh… just hold on a little longer.”

Leonard’s voice was gentle, as if he understood exactly what she needed to calm her nerves. Meanwhile, Aydin, oblivious to their hidden presence behind the door, sighed in frustration.

“Where could she have gone…”

As Aydin’s voice faded, any momentary relief Russelin had felt was washed away. After another second, Aydin closed the door and left, and only then did Leonard release her.

“Sorry. I sensed someone approaching suddenly.”

“…”

“Did that scare you?”

Leonard’s voice was tinged with concern, but Russelin remained silent, her head lowered as she mumbled softly.

“…Why did you hide me?”

“Was hiding you a problem?”

“No, that’s not… I just…”

Russelin stumbled back after pushing Leonard away, her balance unsteady, and Leonard wasted no time catching her, pulling her securely into his arms. This time, she didn’t resist his touch, and her tear-bright blue eyes remained fixed on him. Seeing his unwavering composure only made her want more.

‘Are the feelings in those eyes sincere?’

Or, even if they weren’t sincere… just once… While Russelin hesitated, Leonard lowered his head toward her, his deep purple gaze capturing her entirely.

“Tell me what you want.”

“…!”

“I’ll grant it, whatever it may be.”

His alluring words stirred something in her heart. Part of her wanted to respond to him.

‘…But what would I even say?’

Lost in thought, Russelin bit down hard on her lip and slowly pushed him back. Surprisingly, Leonard let himself be pushed without resistance.

“My… fiancé is waiting.”

In the end, the only thing that left her lips was a cowardly excuse. Her resolve to ally with Leonard Estere, to escape Aydin’s grasp, wavered. All that remained was a woman struggling to stand on her own, without support.

“Let me go. I have to go to him. Otherwise…”

“Otherwise what?”

“…I won’t be able to escape.”

From him, from Bert. She’d taken Leonard’s hand to escape her torment, but now… Without fully understanding her own words, she pulled away from his embrace. Leonard released her without hesitation, his hold on her slipping away all too cleanly, almost making her feel an odd pang of regret.

“Funny. You don’t look like someone heading toward a lover.”

“…Don’t say things like that.”

“You know, your mind and body don’t seem to agree.”

In a daring move, Leonard pressed his thumb against her soft red lips.

“With these lips, you tell me you’re going to run off…”

His hand trailed up, gently brushing the edge of her tear-filled eyes.

“…But with those eyes, you cling to me. How am I supposed to ignore that?”

His voice, though playful, held a trace of genuine intent. As Russelin struggled to find words, Leonard chuckled softly.

“So, where should I start to meet your needs? I said I’d do whatever you wanted, didn’t I?”

“Honestly… that’s such a twisted way to put it.”

“Maybe so. But it’s just how I am. You’ll have to put up with it.”

Though his words sounded like a polite request, his voice was steeped in arrogance. He looked down at her with a cool, indulgent expression, as if humoring the whims of a child. Underneath his gaze, Russelin felt strangely calm, despite her nerves.

‘…Was this what he was after all along?’

Russelin tried to guess at Leonard’s intentions but quickly gave up.

“Are you going to answer, Russelin?”

She knew that letting her guard down in front of a beast with hidden fangs would only lead to being devoured. Steeling herself, Russelin met his gaze without looking away for the first time.

“…Next time.”

“Next time?”

“Will we meet again?”

Even the words she managed to say felt painfully uncertain. Yet, Leonard didn’t mock her; he looked as serious as she was.

“If that’s what you want.”

Leonard’s hand drifted away from her sorrowful eyes as he stepped back. Russelin unconsciously lifted her head to follow his retreating touch.

“But it feels like a waste to let you go now.”

“What do you mean…?”

“I’m not used to this kind of feeling, either.”

Instead of answering her question, Leonard gave her a broad, playful smile.

* * *

Aydin raked a frustrated hand through his hair.

“I told her to stay where I could see her.”

He’d brought Russelin to the palace today to remind her of her place, to make it clear that she was helpless without Aydin Bert by her side.

“You should be careful, Duke. In this world, no secret stays hidden forever.”

But now, not only had the Emperor hinted at dangerous secrets, but Russelin had disappeared after he left her alone. Something about the situation gnawed at him, and despite his efforts to shake off the feeling, he couldn’t get rid of the discomfort. Aydin stopped, deciding to revisit the room he’d checked moments ago, driven by an inexplicable unease.

“…Something’s different.”

Opening the door, he frowned, sensing a subtle change in the empty room’s atmosphere. Stepping inside, Aydin scanned his surroundings, his sharp instincts picking up a faint, familiar trace. He turned, his gaze hardening as he recognized it—a lingering, familiar presence in the darkness.

“…Russelin.”

There was a faint trace of her divine power left behind, something that only slipped out when she was emotionally shaken and struggling to control it. And alongside it, a suppressing force. Aydin clenched his fist tightly.

“Leonard Estere…”

You dare lay hands on what’s mine?

With a grinding jaw, Aydin made a small gesture, and a knight, hidden in the shadows, immediately knelt before him.

“Has Russelin returned to the banquet hall?”

“No, my lord. The lady has yet to return.”

“And what about that bastard Estere?”

“The Grand Duke of Estere hasn’t returned either.”

“…Damn it.”

Irritated, Aydin roughly loosened his cravat, casting a glare at the knight.

“Bring Celia to me.”