Episode 12

‘…Since when has Aydin looked at me like that?’

What she had once thought were indifferent eyes hiding affection now held a faint hint of anger.

Though it wasn’t directed at her directly, it always seemed connected to her in some way.

For the first time, Russelin took a step toward Aydin.

“Aydin, to you… what am I…?”

What kind of existence was I to you?

The words lingered in her mouth, unable to leave.

Was she afraid of hearing his answer?

Or maybe…

‘Perhaps it’s because I already know the answer….’

As Russelin struggled to finish her sentence, Aydin seemed momentarily unsettled, then let out a low scoff.

Then, with a stride far larger than the step she had just taken, he advanced toward her.

As always, his heavy shadow pressed down on her.

“Don’t overstep, Russelin.”

“…Aydin.”

“It seems you’re too distracted, lost in thoughts of meeting that man.”

The anger in Aydin’s eyes grew darker.

Moments later, he roughly grabbed Russelin’s wrist.

“I am the only one who can possess you. I won’t hand you over to anyone. Not even Leonard Estere….”

As the dangerous name slipped from Aydin’s lips, Russelin tensed up without realizing it.

But then, uncharacteristically, Aydin hesitated and released her wrist.

He even diverted his intense gaze, no longer focused on her but on something behind her.

“Aydin? What are you…?”

Russelin turned to follow his gaze, only to freeze as he had.
Cynical purple eyes calmly took in the scene between the two of them.

“…Leonard Estere?”

Russelin spoke his name naturally, a name that should have felt unfamiliar.

She was startled by her own ease, but fortunately, her reaction didn’t seem obvious.

“I didn’t expect my name to pass from your lips, Duke Bert.”

“…Grand Duke Estere.”

Russelin’s quiet voice was overshadowed by the tense standoff between the two men.

Leonard approached Aydin with an expression of intrigue, and Aydin held his ground, not stepping back.

‘To think I’d meet him again like this….’

Russelin did her best to hide her surprise, unable to take her eyes off Leonard.

But soon, she felt a dangerous energy closing in around her and regained her senses.

Just as a shiver of tension coursed through her body, Leonard lifted one corner of his mouth into a crooked smile.

“His Majesty does have a wicked sense of humor, doesn’t he? Gathering people who can’t stand the sight of each other.”

“…Look who’s talking.”

“That nasty temperament of yours hasn’t changed, Duke. I could hear your voice filled with rage from afar.”

“This is none of your concern, Grand Duke.”

“Still as insolent as ever, daring to disrespect a Grand Duke.”

“A protector of Ragnar is recognized for their worth, regardless of status.”

“Tsk. Your words only grow longer when you’re pricked, I see.”

“Grand Duke Estere—!”

Russelin was the only one surprised by the sudden shift in the atmosphere.

She widened her eyes and tried to focus on the intense exchange between the two.

‘This is the first time I’ve seen Aydin at a disadvantage.’

The two of them carried distinctly different presences.
Aydin showed his fierce energy openly, yet it seemed ineffective against Leonard.

Leonard, on the other hand, spoke with the dignity of a noble but managed to unsettle Aydin all the same.

As she had anticipated, Aydin was easily provoked by Leonard’s taunts once again.

“Isn’t it rude for a Grand Duke to interfere in a conversation between a man and his fiancée?”

“Oh, that’s even more surprising. Were you speaking to your fiancée just now?”

“What?”

“It’s shameful enough to address someone so disrespectfully, even if they were just a servant. But a fiancée….”

The strange energy surrounding them suddenly grew cold.
Russelin sensed it, and a faint tremor ran through her body.

“In what world does a man…”

Leonard’s gaze, which had been fixed solely on Aydin, slowly shifted.

It moved leisurely, as if assessing, and soon came to rest on Russelin as though it had found its destination.

His violet eyes, laced with a hint of mockery, took in the sight of Russelin.

“Is that how you treat your beloved fiancée?”

“…!”

“Isn’t that right, Aydin?”

Russelin instinctively tensed, her body stiffening.

There was something different about this compared to when she faced Aydin.

Though there was no outward hostility or cruel words, Leonard’s sheer presence was enough to completely shake her.

The situation was tense, ready to explode at any moment.

“Ouch! A-Aydin…!”

“Stay still.”

Aydin, barely holding onto the last of his composure before confronting Leonard, pulled Russelin to his side, holding her close.

Yet, he didn’t completely shield her behind him…

“Did you get back safely last night, Lady Lavrenti? I must admit, I was left a bit disappointed.”

“Do you know my fiancée, Grand Duke?”

No doubt, Aydin was using this response to counter Leonard’s provocation.

Despite knowing everything, he deliberately asked as if to test Leonard.

But Leonard did not take the bait, responding smoothly.

“The fiancée of Duke Bert, is she? The priestess of Ragnar that you claimed to possess?”

“How dare you approach her without knowing that….”

“Somehow, that image doesn’t quite match what I saw yesterday.”

At Leonard’s cryptic response, Aydin and Russelin, for once, shared the same expression.

Everyone in this room was aware of last night’s secret meeting, yet Leonard seemed oblivious to it all.

This evasive answer grated on Aydin’s nerves, and he raised his voice.

“Stop with the nonsense! You dragged Russelin into this yesterday…!”

“Dragged her in? Me?”

Leonard’s voice sank into a chilling calm.

It was as if he’d been waiting for Aydin to lose control.

As that cold tone settled heavily, Russelin instinctively sensed that Aydin had fallen into Leonard’s trap.

Yet, Aydin himself remained oblivious, foolishly challenging Leonard.

“Even if you’re an immature brat who can’t manage your own emotions, you should at least know how to take responsibility. Don’t you think?”

“What?”

“Whether I was the one who involved her, or…”

With one corner of his mouth curling into a crooked smile, Leonard stepped closer to Aydin.

His violet eyes glinted icily, and he sneered.

“Or whether she was pushed into it, you should at least know that much.”

“You, you bastard…!”

“If you truly are Lady Lavrenti’s fiancé, that is.”

Leonard, who had thoroughly unsettled Aydin to the very end, finally stepped back, as if he had no further business.

Aydin, incensed, attempted to approach Leonard, but this time, Russelin barely managed to stop him.

“No, Aydin.”

“Move aside! Who do you think you are?”

“Get a hold of yourself. This is the Tristan Imperial Palace. Are you really planning to fight in front of His Majesty the Emperor?”

“….”

When Russelin offered a sensible excuse, Aydin, though still seething, grudgingly stepped back.

“Goodness… what an unpleasant sight.”

“What!”

“Shall I offer you the answer you want to hear?”

Leonard, watching the scene with an inscrutable gaze, spoke quietly.

“Meeting Lady Lavrenti yesterday was a coincidence. She was wandering alone, lost, thanks to her inattentive fiancé.”

“What?”

“Well, it was bound to be an uncomfortable gathering for her, given it was a banquet introducing the second priestess.”

At Leonard’s indifferent response, both Aydin and Russelin fell silent, each for their own reasons.

Russelin’s expression turned pensive as she gazed at Leonard.

‘Does he know that I lied about it?’

Regardless, Leonard’s words seemed to read her heart, and his voice lingered in her mind.
Whether intentional or by sheer coincidence, Leonard’s provocations had succeeded.
Of course, it was the same for Aydin.

“What do you know!”

Not only did Leonard support Russelin’s excuse, but he also criticized Aydin’s disregard for her.
As if to mask his wounded pride, Aydin pulled Russelin closer, tightening his hold on her.

“So you had the audacity to contaminate her with your filthy magic!”

“Interesting. For someone supposedly in a committed relationship, I didn’t sense a trace of magic on her.”

“What?”

“To possess the sole priestess in existence and yet produce such paltry magic. Tsk.”

Listening to Leonard, it was impossible to decipher his true meaning.

Despite being a fellow protector, Leonard seemed to defend the priestess while belittling Aydin.
This final remark finally eroded Aydin’s last bit of restraint.

“Don’t speak recklessly just because you have a mouth!”

“Aydin!”

Aydin began to draw out his roiling magic.
As a result, the thick magic surrounding Aydin seeped into Russelin, who was still in his arms.

Even as Russelin instinctively flinched, Aydin deliberately tightened his grip on her.

“Knowing nothing! You should be grateful I’m even willing to embrace a half-baked priestess!”

“…Half-baked?”

“Yes! I’m the one who took in a woman who couldn’t even receive Ragnar’s full blessing!”

“A blessing… a blessing, you say….”

Leonard, mulling over Aydin’s words, momentarily furrowed his brow.

As if this were a cue, a dangerous red magic flared around Leonard.

“So, it was you.”

“What?”

“I wondered where that term ‘half-baked’ came from.”

“…!”

Leonard’s sharp gaze fell on Russelin.

Russelin froze, holding her breath.
In that tense moment, the frightening rage in Leonard’s eyes softened slightly.

“Hah, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“…!”

His voice, tinged with discomfort, sounded as if he hadn’t anticipated this situation either.
To prove that it wasn’t her imagination, the intense magic emanating from Leonard faded briefly.
This rough display of consideration somehow felt oddly familiar.

Russelin, momentarily forgetting her fear, gazed steadily at Leonard.

“It would be best if you stepped back.”

“What? What do you…?”

Before Russelin could fully grasp his words, she sensed an intense energy rising behind her.

She didn’t need to look to know who it belonged to.

“This lunatic, spouting such nonsense—!”

“Aydin!”

Apparently even Leonard’s ambiguous words had irked Aydin, for he instantly released his fury.
In sync with his emotions, the magic enveloping Aydin exploded outward.

“I’ll kill you!”

“Well, let’s see if you can.”

Unlike Aydin, who openly displayed his agitation, Leonard calmly retracted his magic, observing him.

As the situation grew increasingly dangerous, Russelin turned fully toward Aydin, clinging to his arm.

Sizzle—

“Ouch! Aydin, please, calm down…!”

The strong magic coursed into Russelin through her grasp on Aydin’s arm.
For a brief moment, Leonard’s composed expression twisted.

“Tsk. I had hoped to step back quietly for once.”

Leonard’s suppressed magic surged suddenly.

Yet it only formed a barrier around him, rather than reaching toward Aydin or Russelin, who clung to him.

“Your Grace…?”

Russelin instinctively turned toward the radiant glow, meeting Leonard’s gaze.

But the next moment, Aydin’s unleashed magic rushed toward Leonard.

“No… don’t…”

Russelin froze, unable to reach out and stop it.

In that instant, the two intense magics collided as if sizing each other up.

Flash—!

“Ah…!”

A bright light exploded, causing Russelin to squint instinctively.

But the swirling light was so unsettling that she couldn’t close her eyes.

Why… why was this happening?