Episode 8

I spoke, my voice trembling slightly.

“How could I not worry about you?”

I can’t be at ease until I’ve fully avenged you and put you on a path of happiness!

Harnen responded with a lazy smile.

“I’m happy, Ainra.”

Perhaps it was because he had been an emperor in a previous life, but Harnen’s languid smile reminded me of a well-fed predator, exuding a certain regal charm.

Oh, my precious favorite. Everything you do is just so cool, cute, and beautiful all at once.

As I wiped away my metaphorical tears, I suddenly raised my head.

“Right! Harnen, how’s the evidence-gathering going? Is there anything more I can do to help?”

The only people who knew that Harnen had been the emperor of the Belzesti Empire in his past life were me, Akes de Serenia, and the emperor of Elberc. Since Harnen had personally confided in me, I didn’t have to hide that I knew. However, I still had to be careful, as he hadn’t shared every detail of his past.

Remembering that Harnen was currently looking for evidence to bring down the nobles of the Belzesti Empire, I asked if he needed more help, but he shook his head to indicate that everything was fine.

“No, it’s fine. The Quiels you sent last time are more than enough.”

Quiels, small water spirits shaped like blue mermaids, were helpers I had sent to aid Harnen. Since they required less summoning power and could stay near him in the capital for longer periods, they were the best option.

The Quiels were mainly tasked with monitoring the nobles of Belzesti, but lately, they also seemed to be helping gather evidence.

‘I’d be able to help more if I went up to the capital myself.’

I had this thought but couldn’t bring myself to say it aloud.

Going to the capital would mean frequent visits to the palace, which would inevitably increase the chances of running into Akes.

Ever since that ‘incident,’ before the war with the Semel tribe, who lived in the wastelands, Akes had avoided me, even going as far as wearing a mask to avoid confrontation.

Given how he’d behaved then, if I were to show up in the capital now, where he was likely celebrating his recent victory, it would no doubt sour his mood.

Besides, tomorrow would be Akes’s birthday, right around when the acacia blossoms began to bloom.

Heading to the capital now didn’t seem like a good idea for many reasons.

‘Still, since I’m a water spiritist, I’ll eventually have to visit the capital. I need to make sure Akes doesn’t hate me before then…’

“Harnen,” I began.

“Yes, Ainra?”

Clearing my throat, I finally asked the question I’d been holding back.

“…How is Akes doing?”

Harnen’s handsome face, which had been filled with a bright smile, suddenly showed a flicker of annoyance.

“Oh… that archduke.”

“Harnen! ‘That archduke’?!”

Akes is your patron, your superior, and one of your few allies!

When I scolded him, Harnen’s expression instantly softened into something warm and pleasant, like a blooming flower in spring.

“There’s no need to worry about him at all, Ainra. The archduke is doing just fine, really well, actually.”

“Is he really okay? Is he still wearing that mask?”

“He probably wears it when he feels like it and takes it off when he doesn’t.”

Harnen replied in a gentle tone, as if he had no concern at all whether Akes was masked, unmasked, or doing something ridiculous.

“So, stop worrying about him. Just worry about me, okay?”

Harnen coaxed me sweetly, as if trying to soothe me.

I looked at him with a dazed expression.

My precious, beloved Harnen, Akes is one of your allies…

As I pondered this, my thoughts drifted, and I suddenly remembered As.

“Oh, right! Harnen, do you happen to know any noble boy with black hair and red eyes? Around ten years old?”

“Black hair and red eyes? Hmm, that’s an unusual combination.”

“His hair is slightly curly and reaches down to his waist, and he’s ‘incredibly’ cute. His name is As.”

“…As?”

Harnen paused for a moment.

I nodded.

“A few days ago, he collapsed in front of my house, covered in wounds. I treated him, but when I tried to send him home, he said he couldn’t remember where that was…”

“Dammit.”

Harnen’s face turned fierce as he suddenly shot up from his seat.

I blinked, choosing to ignore the fact that my precious favorite was finally showing his true nature.

Of course. My favorite character is still my favorite, regardless of his temper.

I never said my favorite was a saint…

Cursing under his breath, Harnen seemed ready to storm off somewhere, but a voice interrupted him, stopping him in his tracks. It was Count Chevila, Akes’s aide.

“Harnen, I trust you remember your audience with His Imperial Majesty at 8 p.m. today?”

“…Damn it, this is driving me crazy.”

Running his hand roughly through his hair, Harnen sighed and sat back down.

When he looked at me again, his face was as bright as spring sunlight.

The quick switch in his demeanor was so seamless that it almost brought tears to my eyes.

Oh, my poor favorite.

How much did you suffer as emperor to master such rapid, smooth transitions?

“Ainra, it seems I’ll be heading over there sooner than expected.”

My eyes lit up, and I couldn’t hide my excitement.

“Really? When are you coming?”

“At the latest, before the end of the month.”

“Yes!”

Finally! After nearly a month of being too busy to see him, I would be able to meet my favorite again!

As I cheered, Harnen gazed at me fondly and continued,

“Until then, be careful with that boy, As.”

“Huh? As? Why?”

“He’s a bad wolf pup. I can tell just by looking at him.”

Harnen spat out his words like they were venom, before his face softened into a gentle smile again. “Got it?”

I blinked, struggling to comprehend what he had just said, and then furrowed my brow.

“Did you seriously just call a little kid a bad wolf pup?”

“Ainra, that boy is—”

“That’s so mean! How can you say something like that about a child? Take it back!”

“…Sigh.”

Harnen sighed, pressing his fingers to his temple as if dealing with a headache. He ran his hand through his hair again before looking up, smiling as if to reassure me.

“If it makes you feel better, I’ll take it back.”

“Thank you!”

“But still, it’s wise to stay cautious around As, at least until you get to know him better.”

Harnen added, his tone more serious.

I nodded, feeling a bit downcast, but then something occurred to me, making me look up abruptly.

‘Wait.’

No matter how questionable Harnen’s personality might be, he wasn’t the type to insult someone he didn’t know without reason.

Which meant…

“Harnen, do you already know who As is?”

I asked, wide-eyed.

Harnen stared at me for a moment, as if weighing his response, then nodded.

“Yes, I know.”

Hearing the confirmation, my eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“Who is he?”

Leaning back in his chair, Harnen tilted his head, squinting slightly.

“He’s a very high-ranking noble.”

“A high-ranking noble…?”

I tilted my head in confusion.

‘I thought I knew most of the prominent nobles…’

Even though I was living in Count Haila’s territory right now, I was the only spiritist in the world to have made a contract with the Spirit King. My influence was enormous, and naturally, nobles sought to establish connections with me. As a result, I had come to know quite a bit about the noble families.

But in the past five years, had a new noble child with such high status appeared without me knowing?

‘Which family could he be from?’

While I scratched my cheek in thought, Harnen’s voice interrupted.

“Just know that much. I’ll handle everything regarding that boy. There’s no benefit for you in getting involved.”

A crooked smile played on his lips.

It was the kind of smile that could be called downright arrogant, and I scratched my cheek again, averting my gaze.

Maybe Harnen has some unpleasant history with As’s family…?