Episode 11

It was pitch-black darkness.

At that time, when she could barely grasp anything fully, a familiar voice echoed in Russelin’s mind—a voice she could never forget, no matter how much time passed.

‘Listen carefully, my dear. Since ancient times, they’ve said that too much of anything is no better than nothing at all.’

‘What do you mean, Mother?’

‘It means that even the mighty strength of a protector is worthless without a priestess’s touch. Remember this well, alright?’

As a child, her mother’s words sounded nothing more than nagging.

Yes, at least back then, she considered the faint divine power within her a blessing.

Until the day the Lavrenti couple passed, Russelin grew up as a noble child blessed by the gods.

Even though she couldn’t wield her divine power fully, those were simply happy days.

‘Do you believe that? What’s so blessed about a priestess who can’t even fulfill her role?’

‘If it weren’t for me, no one would take you in. You’d do well to come to me quietly.’

…Yes, that was until she became ensnared in Aydin’s grip.

‘If only I had heeded my mother’s words back then…’

Just as her heart grew heavy again, the darkness in her vision began to lift.

When she forced her eyes open, she found herself in an unfamiliar bedroom.

“Ugh…”

Before she could even question why she was here, a painful groan slipped through her lips.

Her whole body throbbed as if it had been struck all over.

As she felt the faint energy circulating within her body, memories of the nightmarish events from the previous night began to surface.

‘Did you enjoy harboring his magic rather than mine? You never allowed me even a single chance.’

‘I won’t step back until you can fully accept this power, so remember that.’

Aydin’s scornful words churned through Russelin’s mind once again.

Aydin always used sharp words to tear at her heart, but last night, he went even further.

‘It must be because of Grand Duke Estere. Aydin was always particularly wary of him.’

More than the fact that she had slipped from his grasp, Aydin must have been furious that it was none other than Leonard Estere who had touched her.

Even though Russelin knew this was the first step to escaping Aydin Bert, her heart still ached.

‘I find myself quite interested in you, even putting aside the cursed fate of Ragnar.’

Was it because she remembered that fleeting moment of liberation?

Unable to fully understand her emotions, Russelin painfully rose to her feet.

“Ouch… It hurts…”

The unpurified magic that had yet to cleanse her divine power still lingered, circulating through her body and bringing searing pain.

Knock knock—

Startled by the sudden knock, Russelin flinched in her defenseless state.

But only for a moment; she quickly relaxed.

‘…At least, it’s not Aydin.’

Aydin was the last person who would ever knock on her door with courtesy.

As if to confirm her intuition, a voice came through the door.

“It’s Lily, Lady Russelin. May I come in?”

“…Lily?”

Hearing the familiar name, Russelin nearly forgot for a moment that she was in the Tristan Imperial Palace.

She hadn’t noticed when she was brought here, nearly dragged by Aydin, but it seemed Lily had come along too.

Russelin absentmindedly gave her permission, and soon, a maid with brown hair hurried in.

Russelin’s expression softened momentarily as she looked at Lily.

“Good morning, my lady. You struggled with sleep again last night, didn’t you? You always have trouble sleeping in new places.”

“No, thanks to your care, I slept well.”

“Oh, I’m glad to hear that. Still, it’s chilly in the morning, so be sure to wear a shawl.”

With a gentle touch, Lily draped a shawl over Russelin.

As the only one who had come with her from Lavrenti, Lily was the one maid in the Bert household who understood her heart.

“What about Aydin?”

“The Duke left the bedroom early this morning. Are you feeling alright, my lady?”

“Hm?”

“I heard from the Duke that you weren’t feeling well, so he mentioned you’d stay at the palace a little longer.”

It seemed he had already made up his mind and spoken on her behalf.

Russelin didn’t bother hiding her weary expression and nodded slowly.

Lily’s face twisted with concern, as though her sympathy held back the words she couldn’t voice against Aydin.

Her silent suffering was pitiful yet somehow comforting to Russelin.

“My lady, you’re already delicate… Please, get plenty of rest until the Duke returns.”

“All right, Lily.”

Russelin listened to Lily’s heartfelt words and smiled warmly.

Her caring voice felt so much like her mother’s that it lifted her spirits.

“How was the banquet last night, my lady?”

“The banquet?”

“Yes! I heard that His Grace, Grand Duke Estere, attended the banquet! They say he’s fearsome, but he’s also incredibly handsome!”

“Hm, is that so…”

At Lily’s question, Russelin unconsciously recalled the dangerous encounter from the previous night.

However, she couldn’t give Lily a reply.

Bang!

“Russelin!”

The firmly closed door swung open with a harsh sound, and an uninvited guest intruded.

Aydin, caught up in his own emotions for some reason, hurriedly entered and strode toward Russelin.

“…Aydin?”

Instead of reacting with surprise at Aydin’s sudden appearance, Russelin sat with a deliberately indifferent expression.

Perhaps this provoked Aydin further, as he snatched her delicate wrist and yanked her up.

“Ouch!”

“Stand up straight.”

Even as Russelin staggered, unable to withstand his rough grip, Aydin only looked down at her with a cold expression.

“Ha. You seem quite relaxed. I thought you’d be stuck in bed until tomorrow.”

“I can’t afford to break down in the Imperial Palace. I’m sure that’s not what you wanted either.”

“So? Were you planning to run off to harbor that man’s magic again today?”

“…Why are you saying that? Wasn’t that matter settled yesterday?”

“According to whom? I haven’t even received an answer yet.”

Aydin pressed her, his voice simmering with anger.

“What’s your relationship with him?”

“Him…?”

“Leonard Estere! You planned to escape from me and hold his hand, didn’t you?”

Despite Aydin’s sharp interrogation, Russelin did not show much agitation.

Seeing her unexpected reaction, Aydin bit his lips and furrowed his brow.

She, too, was surprised at her own remarkably calm response.

‘It seems like I’ve changed a bit after facing Leonard.’

Unlike Leonard, who quietly subdued his opponents with a sense of intimidation, Aydin only hurled sharp words, which didn’t feel threatening.

Besides, her plan hadn’t even begun yet.

In fact, what deviated from her expectations wasn’t Aydin but rather Leonard Estere, that man.

To Russelin, this situation seemed like nothing more than Aydin’s desperate outburst.

“We have no relationship. I met him for the first time at the palace banquet yesterday, and he only helped me because I said I was lost.”

“Met him for the first time at the banquet and ended up alone together in secret? With that filthy magic still lingering on you?”

…Magic.

Come to think of it, she had helped suppress Leonard’s magic when it raged.

She had absorbed a powerful force then, no less than Aydin’s, leaving a strong trace behind.

‘It didn’t hurt at all when I accepted Leonard’s magic….’

Russelin lost herself in thought, forgetting momentarily that she needed to respond to Aydin.

This only served to provoke Aydin further.

“Fine. If you’re not going to speak easily, then I have my own ideas.”

“…What?”

Muttering something ominous, Aydin threw Russelin onto the bed and swiftly turned his back.

Just as she struggled to hide her pained expression, she saw Lily standing behind Aydin, looking distraught over his rude behavior.

Lily shifted anxiously, unable to hide her discomfort at Aydin’s behavior.

“You, over there.”

“Y-yes?”

“Prepare Russelin immediately.”

At Aydin’s cryptic order, Russelin struggled to her feet and stood in front of him.

It was no coincidence that her small figure shielded Lily.

“Where are you going? Are we returning to the Bert estate?”

“Why, do you want to go back?”

At his meaningful question, Russelin found herself instinctively freezing up.

Aydin, displeased by her reaction, frowned and brushed past her coldly.

“We’re going to meet the Emperor of Tristan.”

As protector of Ragnar and his priestess. Aydin declared this as if it were an announcement.

* * *

It didn’t take long for Russelin to get dressed.

After all, she knew she wasn’t the focus of this gathering.

Even so, she remained tense, even as she walked alongside Aydin.

“What are you doing?”

Apparently, her hesitation finally tested Aydin’s patience.

He roughly pulled her closer, forcing her to walk by his side.

“Stay close. I don’t want any bothersome rumors spreading.”

“…Rumors.”

Russelin unconsciously mulled over Aydin’s words.

She felt as though she’d heard similar words before.

His tone was harsh and unrefined, yet Leonard…why did he…

“Russelin?”

“…Ah.”

Before her precarious thoughts could fully settle, Aydin called Russelin.

Only then did Russelin pull herself together and focus on the present situation.

How could she let her mind wander in front of Aydin Bert of all people?

When she finally turned her gaze to him, he, as expected, looked distinctly displeased.

“What are you thinking about?”

“I’m just a little nervous.”

“About what?”

“Why His Majesty the Emperor called us….”

Russelin thought she had come up with a decent excuse, but Aydin only furrowed his brow further.

“He intends to gather those blessed by Ragnar in one place. It seems he had plans for that at yesterday’s banquet.”

“The banquet….”

Only now did Russelin realize that she had no idea how the banquet had ended yesterday.

Yesterday, she had been busy standing up to Aydin and…

‘Do you know the simplest way to conceal your thoughts?’

‘They call it establishing dominance. If you avoid someone’s gaze first, it reveals your own weaknesses.’

Establishing dominance…

The sound of Leonard’s voice, which used to irritate her, now didn’t bother her at all.

Just as Leonard had advised, she wouldn’t avoid eye contact.

Slowly, Russelin lifted her gaze and met Aydin’s eyes.

At that moment, Russelin’s eyes widened in surprise.