Episode 14

“…Chocolate?”

Russelin’s face went blank, as though in disbelief, at the unexpected item that Leonard had offered her.
Leonard tilted his head in mild confusion.

“Do you dislike sweets?”

“No, it’s not that….”

Russelin couldn’t bring herself to tell him he had missed the mark.
The important thing right now wasn’t something sweet like chocolate.

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“You said you had a headache.”

“And that’s why you’re giving it to me?”

“Sweets are good for headaches.”

Was that the surprising part—that it came from Leonard?
Enchanted by his unexpected gesture, Russelin found herself accepting the chocolate he offered.

“Aren’t you going to eat it?”

“…I-I’ll eat it in a bit.”

“Alright, then.”

The previously tense atmosphere began to ease, almost curiously.
Leonard turned his gaze away from her and looked out over the darkened garden.

Russelin, hesitant but intrigued, also cast her gaze where he was looking.

Caught up in the delicate mood, she spoke softly.

“…I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

Though they weren’t looking at each other, they were both more focused on one another than on anything else.

Russelin glanced at Leonard, taking in his sharp profile, unwaveringly fixed on a point in the distance.
He looked so strong and unyielding, as though nothing could shake him.
Perhaps that’s why…

“Do you really believe that a protector’s destiny is a blessing from Ragnar?”

Russelin carefully asked a question she normally wouldn’t dare to voice.

Yet, Leonard still didn’t look at her.

“I believe I’ve told you this before.”

Leonard’s voice turned icy.

He finally turned to face her, locking eyes with Russelin.

“I don’t particularly like it when people ask questions they already know the answer to.”

His violet eyes were cool and calm.

At a glance, it might look as though he were annoyed, but in truth, Leonard was pleased by her boldness.

The sight of her struggling under Aydin Bert’s control had always irked him, yet now he saw a defiant side of her.

‘Interesting.’

As Leonard’s interest piqued, Russelin’s eyes gleamed with a strange light.

Was this… a trap?

Watching her intently, Leonard tilted his head slightly for the first time.

Russelin slowly, almost agonizingly, parted her red lips.

“I’ll ask again.”

“…Go on.”

“Do you believe there is anyone who can stand against one blessed by the gods?”

“There isn’t.”

With such immense power, who could even dare?

Leonard lightly moved his hand, where a faint trace of red magic lingered.

A bitter smile played at his lips, as if he understood the burden of such strength.

Yet, his gaze shifted, his expression altering slightly.

“Except, perhaps, another protector.”

Leonard’s gaze swept over Russelin, observing her carefully, as though assessing her reaction to his subtle provocation.

Matching his expectation, Russelin gave him a mysterious smile.

“So, that’s what it is.”

The uncertainty in Russelin’s eyes cleared.
Intrigued by her response, Leonard turned fully toward her.

“Has the priestess of Ragnar finally realized something?”

“…I realized it too late, didn’t I?”

“Is that so.”

“Yes. Maybe I’ve gotten used to Aydin dismissing me as half-formed….”

Just as Russelin’s words, tinged with resignation, came to an end, Leonard frowned, visibly displeased.

“I don’t like it.”

“What?”

“Accepting that nonsense about being ‘half-formed’ as if it were fact. That guy can’t even properly use his power without a priestess, can he?”

“W-What do you mean…?”

“And the way you cower at Aydin Bert’s side.”

His sharp words came at her like stinging barbs.
Frustrated, Leonard jumped down from the railing, standing directly in front of Russelin.
His tall shadow enveloped her completely.

“Let me ask you something. Why do you stay by his side, enduring such treatment?”

“I… I told you. There’s nowhere else for a half-formed priestess like me.”

“What if there were somewhere else?”

“…!”

His brief statement was fraught with tension.
Russelin looked up at him in shock, but his expression was colder than ever.

“You saw it, didn’t you? Your fiancé faltering before me. And…”

“…”

“How I could stand firm even without a priestess’s power.”

“S-Stop…”

“At this point, it seems our intentions are quite clear, don’t you think?”

Startled by Leonard’s sudden boldness, Russelin took a step back.
But Leonard didn’t give her a chance, stepping closer still.

“Do I need to make it even clearer?”

“What exactly are you…”

“Just as Aydin Bert presumes he has two priestesses.”

“…”

“You, too, have more than one protector to choose from.”

Leonard leaned in, his face drawing so close that their breaths mingled, creating a sense of dangerous intimacy.

Yet Russelin couldn’t even think of retreating.

“One of those choices happens to be quite interested in you right now.”

“…Your Grace, the Grand Duke.”

“So now…”

Do you still feel like you’re only half-complete?

* * *

‘I’ve made up my mind. Will you give me some time to gather my thoughts?’

‘I won’t wait long. Meet me in the garden before you depart for Bert tomorrow.’

With those parting words, Leonard left, stirring up Russelin’s heart with his cryptic challenge.

Was he trying to provoke her by leaving such tantalizing words behind?

Alone in her bedroom, Russelin struggled to calm her racing heart.
It felt as if she were engaging in some forbidden rendezvous, just as Aydin had always accused her of.

“Russelin.”

But her composure was fleeting; a low voice soon called her name.
Feeling her earlier warmth turn to ice, Russelin rose to her feet, her expression hardening.

“You’re here?”

“…Yes.”

“I was just about to say—”

“Come here.”

Without waiting for her to finish, Aydin grabbed her and pulled her close.

Her small body was thrown onto the bed with force, and Aydin loomed over her, his shadow covering her entirely.

The faint trace of his magic made Russelin wince.

“Aydin…?”

“Be honest with me.”

Aydin leaned in close, his breath hot and uncomfortably close.

“Are you sure there’s nothing between you and Leonard Estere?”

“…You’re asking that again? I told you, there’s nothing between us, and the Grand Duke confirmed it as well.”

“How can I believe that?”

“…Stop being so paranoid. I’ve told you, I’m yours.”

For now, at least.

Though she tried to reassure herself, each word she spoke to appease Aydin felt like a burden.

Whether fortunate or not, Aydin responded to her placating words with a cynical laugh.

“Hah, as if you could even think of escaping from me.”

“…”

“You should be grateful I’m willing to accept someone half-formed like you, shouldn’t you?”

“…Yes, I suppose so.”

Leonard’s provocative words echoed in her mind, hitting her with unexpected sharpness today, unlike before.

“If you know your place, then play your role.”

“N-Not today…”

Not today.

She had a promise to keep with Leonard tomorrow.

Seeing her hesitation, Aydin misinterpreted her reluctance and frowned.

“Not just today. Once we’re back at Bert, I’ll be in your room every night.”

“Aydin…”

“I’ll make sure you don’t even have time to think of Leonard Estere.”

Before he even finished his cold declaration, Aydin’s intense magic flared up.

It searched for a target, then surged ruthlessly into Russelin’s body.

“Ugh—!”

Her vision turned crimson for a moment.

The invasive, unfamiliar magic felt overwhelmingly foreign, stirring her deeply.

His hands supporting her felt nothing but oppressive.

Aydin’s low voice rang in her ears as he spoke, as if soothing her fallen form.

“Stay close to me like you’re dead. When you open your eyes, you’ll be back in Bert as always.”

“N-No… not today…”

‘If you don’t show up, I’ll make my own move, just so you know.’

She hadn’t even given him an answer yet.

Her desperate thoughts slipped away as Russelin fell into unconsciousness.

In the process, she failed to notice the faint power that was beginning to flow out from within her.

* * *

Russelin slowly opened her eyes.

Above her was the familiar ceiling she knew all too well.

‘I’m back… back in Bert.’

Her expression grew cold, thoughts drifting back to her unfinished business at Tristan Palace.

‘I didn’t even get to tell Leonard before leaving.’

Would he be angry that she broke their promise?

Or had she just been a fleeting curiosity, easily discarded?

While she couldn’t predict his reaction, she didn’t feel the same sense of unease as before.

‘We’ll meet again soon.’

…It had to happen.

With that quiet resolve, Russelin forced herself to sit up.

“Ugh…”

“Oh, Lady Russelin!”

At the sudden voice, Russelin turned her head slowly.

She saw Lily, who had been coming toward her, her arms full, now looking at her in surprise.

“You’re finally awake, my lady!”

“…Lily.”

With an expression of relief, Lily hurried over to her.
But her joy was short-lived, and she stopped abruptly as she approached.

“Lily? What’s wrong?”

“Ah, my lady…”

Though Russelin looked at her in confusion, Lily only tilted her head, approaching her cautiously.

Kneeling by Russelin’s bed, Lily looked up at her with brown eyes that held a mix of shock and joy.

Russelin took her small hand, asking gently.

“What is it, Lily? Is something the matter?”

For once, Lily’s gaze, usually fixed unwaveringly on Russelin, drifted away.
TL/N: This piece of shit is g-raping our fl… my god I didnt know this when I ripped raws