Episode 13

“Stop.”

In the midst of the tense standoff, a low voice intervened.

With it, a powerful presence settled over them, pressing down on both of them.

The energy was dark, intense, as if to announce its formidable and dangerous nature.

The thick, clashing magic from both men was gradually swallowed up by the sudden presence, fading away as if devoured.

In an instant, the volatile tension was dispelled.

A familiar figure stepped between them.

“As I thought, bringing the two of you together is no easy task. Were you intending to brawl here in my palace?”

“…When did you arrive, Your Majesty?”

Despite witnessing their intense confrontation, the Emperor’s expression remained completely composed.

The aura enveloping them had been overwhelming, and surely, the Emperor wasn’t oblivious to it.

Yet he seemed to tolerate their behavior with a calm, even frightening ease, as if reassured merely by the fact that his palace hadn’t been damaged.

The Emperor, hands clasped behind his back, surveyed the situation with a faint smile.

“I have no interest in your personal matters, but disrupting my palace is another matter entirely.”

“…My apologies, Your Majesty.”

Though the clash had been between the two of them, only Aydin lowered his head in apology.

The Emperor cast a brief glance at Leonard, who showed no reaction to his arrival, then quickly looked away.

“It seems I underestimated you both. Your magic is even stronger than when we last met.”

“You flatter me.”

“No, not at all. I’m quite sincere. I don’t think I’ll be calling you both together anytime soon.”

“….”

“The banquet was supposed to be my final attempt, but Duke Bert has already spoiled that.”

At the Emperor’s meaningful remark, Russelin’s eyes widened.

It seemed he had gone out of his way to conceal his presence, but it was futile in front of the Emperor.

“Were you unaware, Lady Lavrenti? Because your fiancé cleverly concealed the second priestess, I was forced to end the banquet.”

“…Aydin?”

“Indeed. From what I hear, she’s already been carefully hidden away by Duke Bert. Quite audacious.”

The Emperor clicked his tongue in disappointment, though Aydin merely bowed his head without a word.

Only now did Russelin understand why the previous night had passed in such strange quiet.

“Well, we’ll have to wait for another chance. As bearers of Ragnar’s blessing, it’s inevitable that you two will face each other.”

“….”

“A shame, though. I had hoped to visit Ragnar’s temple while I had the chance.”

“…The temple?”

At the mention of the temple, Russelin’s face turned pale.

The Emperor’s gaze drifted as if in thought before briefly landing on Russelin.

However, Aydin quickly shielded her in his embrace, causing the Emperor to look away.

“It’s settled. We’ll depart tomorrow.”

His voice, as though making a vow, was heavy.

Aydin’s gaze lingered on Russelin, who seemed unusually affected.

* * *

‘Stay locked in your room, as if dead, until we leave for Bert tomorrow. Understand?’

As expected, Aydin bound Russelin’s hands and feet as if in response to the Emperor’s light provocation.

Her visible reaction to the mention of the temple had contributed, as Aydin was particularly sensitive when it came to anything concerning the temple.

Fortunately, he left her confined and then departed.

Left alone, Russelin stepped out onto the terrace, lost in thought, unaware as the night deepened.

Her mind was filled with the tense encounters from earlier that day.

“I thought no one could stand against a protector of Ragnar….”

Even the Emperor had seemed unconcerned by the two men’s brief skirmish.

Though her expression was uncertain, a determined gleam shone in her eyes.

It was a faint but unmistakable glimmer of hope.

‘It’s clear. Aydin’s magic wavered, if only briefly, against Leonard’s.’

Even if it was a fleeting moment, it was a heartening revelation for Russelin.

The only one who might stand against Aydin Bert… that could only be…

‘As bearers of Ragnar’s blessing, it’s inevitable that you two will face each other.’

“Inevitable, is it….”

Russelin pondered over the Emperor’s words.

The destiny of bearing Ragnar’s blessing wasn’t limited to just Aydin and Leonard.

Perhaps…

Her gaze, cast far into the distance, wavered for a moment.

“Is that… light?”

“No… something even darker…”

Before Russelin could reach a conclusion, moonlight slowly pierced through the darkness, casting its soft glow.

Under that faint glow, a dangerous red aura flickered, as dark as blood.

Russelin’s eyes widened in shock.

“…Grand Duke Estere?”

Leonard Estere was standing there.

Russelin instinctively gripped the railing with trembling hands, her expression wavering uncertainly.

‘Could it be… he still hasn’t managed to suppress the magic he unleashed earlier?’

She didn’t realize that it was a luxury to be worried about the cold-blooded tyrant.

Whether fortunate or unfortunate, Leonard had his back turned to her, unaware of her presence.

Yet his solitary figure looked strangely desolate, a sight that seemed uncharacteristic of him.

“Why are you standing there all alone…?”

It was as if he mirrored her own reflection.

Russelin saw her own fragile self in the resilient figure of Leonard, ironically layered over him.

Meanwhile, Leonard, standing under the moonlight, began to gradually suppress the red aura surrounding him.

Just as the ominous energy started to fade, his body wavered for a moment.

“Ah!”

Russelin, focused on Leonard, instinctively reacted to his faltering movement.

Sensing the sudden presence, Leonard swiftly turned around.

In that instant, their gazes met in mid-air.

“Russelin?”

Leonard looked directly at her and said her name.

Russelin noticed a slight hardening in Leonard’s expression as he looked at her.

Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to step back.

‘I want to meet him… closer.’

If it were Leonard…

The man who had embraced Ragnar’s power and overcome that cruel fate, surely…

Russelin took a step toward him, her eyes filled with a strange glimmer of hope.

But Leonard, noticing her movement, shook his head.

“Why…?”

That gesture, as if rejecting her, made Russelin’s face fall in shock.

Leonard, having read her expression, silently raised a hand to gesture behind her.

‘Behind me…?’

Russelin’s face went pale as she thought of a dreadful possibility.

‘Could Aydin have returned?’

She couldn’t hide her alarm as she quickly turned around.

But contrary to her anxious guess, the room remained quiet and empty.

“What… why did he tell me to look back?”

Puzzled, Russelin turned back toward the night garden.

But what she saw next only made her tilt her head in further confusion.

“He’s… gone?”

Leonard was nowhere to be found.

Just a moment ago, he had been standing beyond the garden.

Feeling a sudden weakness in her legs, Russelin gripped the railing tightly.

“There was no need to leave in such a hurry….”

A deep sense of regret flashed across Russelin’s face.

There were things she’d wanted to say.

Questions she wanted to ask…

Just as Russelin was hiding her bittersweet feelings, a voice suddenly interrupted.

“Step back.”

The unexpected voice startled Russelin, and she instinctively recoiled.

In that brief moment, a dark figure swiftly leaped up onto the terrace.

“Eek!”

“Shh.”

Even in the darkness, fierce purple eyes glinted, capturing her gaze.

“We meet again.”

“…!”

Gone was the vulnerable figure from moments ago.

There he was, as aloof as ever, perched casually on the terrace railing.

He even waved his hand lightly, as if he were unaware of her surprise.

It seemed that being on the second floor posed no challenge to him at all.

“L-Leonard…!”

Shocked by the sudden encounter, Russelin didn’t realize she had called him by name without permission.

Leonard, watching her, smiled with satisfaction.

“I like it when you call me that. Much better than ‘Your Grace the Grand Duke.’”

“…!”

“Say it again.”

Leonard spoke in a teasing tone that seemed out of character.

Only then did Russelin realize that his formal demeanor earlier had merely been for show.

Feeling a surge of indignation, she resisted the urge to call his name.

“What… what are you doing here?”

“Weren’t you the one who called for me? You looked like you were hoping for it, quite intensely.”

“That was…!”

Because you were struggling to contain your magic…

As Russelin trailed off, Leonard didn’t press her to continue.

Leonard, now comfortably seated with one leg crossed, swept his indifferent gaze over her.

“No need to be on guard. I came here casually.”

“…”

“I was just bored, didn’t expect you to notice me.”

“What were you doing there?”

“You saw everything, didn’t you?”

“…!”

It seemed Leonard had no intention of hiding the fact that he was suppressing his magic.

As Russelin fell silent, Leonard, as if waiting, pressed on.

“So, what were you doing here? Where’s your illustrious fiancé?”

“My head was hurting.”

Because of you. Russelin swallowed her unspoken words.

Leonard let out a low chuckle at her response.

“Seems like you’ve had quite the headache. You even avoided answering my question.”

“…!”

“Well, it’s fine. I wasn’t that curious anyway.”

Leonard had picked up on her deliberate evasion.

As Russelin winced at his sharp perception, Leonard extended something toward her.