ESL Chapter 68

Lea, who had been staring blankly at him as he smiled with the corners of his eyes curving gently, answered honestly.

“No. Because you’re pretty.”

“Is that so?”

Luciel looked at her for a moment as if thinking something over, then set down the documents he had been reading and rose from his seat. He then came over and sat down right beside her.

“Hm?”

At the sudden change of seats, Lea looked over wondering what was going on, and Luciel propped his chin in one hand and smiled at her with his eyes.

“If you like what you see, look as much as you want.”

“……”

What’s with this atmosphere? For a moment she wondered if Luciel was teasing her. But she couldn’t quite tell, because there wasn’t even a hint of mischief in his eyes as he smiled. Watching her reaction, Luciel laughed to himself with quiet danger, then reached out and whispered as he ran his fingers through her soft black hair that shone like gleaming thread.

“I think you’re even prettier, you know. So can I look as much as I want too?”

“……Did you eat something weird?”

Well, of course… Luciel had expected that reaction, and buried his face in his arm with a chuckle. It really did seem certain that Lea’s romantic sensibilities were completely dead.

‘The problem is bringing them back to life… what would be the best way…’

He spent a moment thinking of various methods to revive Lea’s romantic side, then looked up when she began tapping lightly on the back of his hand. Her long, pale fingers touching the back of his hand were pretty.

“Stop joking around… Has Zender contacted you yet?”

Watching Lea take his sincerity as a joke, Luciel felt a sudden flash of petulance, but he didn’t let it show and instead curved his lips upward smoothly. Now was the time for seduction, not sulking.

“He’ll be here soon. It seems he’s found it.”

“Wow… that’s impressive. Already?”

It had been only two days since Luciel had given the order. And he’d already found it… the name Black Kavan was certainly not given for nothing, she thought with admiration. Just then she spotted Zender entering the garden guided by Thomas, and Lea’s eyes lit up with anticipation. Zender, upon arriving, greeted Luciel with formal courtesy.

“Zender Kman, returned from carrying out Lord Luciel’s orders.”

“Good work. The results?”

At Luciel’s question, Zender reached into his breast pocket and produced a sheet of paper, which he held out to him. It was a map of the capital, with one area marked with an X.

“There were eight locations in total that seemed suspicious, but after investigating on my own, I believe what you’re looking for will be found at the location I’ve just given you.”

“What makes you so certain?”

“Knights disguised as civilians were coming and going from a large space capable of housing at least twenty people or more. And among those knights, several were confirmed — despite being in disguise — as members of the 6th unit of the Mihael Order. The rest appear to be mercenaries.”

“I see.”

The place where the final card to drive out his uncle lay… his uncle would certainly use it as bait to capture him. In that case, what would be the most efficient approach… After a brief moment of thought, Luciel looked up at Zender as he continued.

“However, there is a bit of a problem.”

“What is it?”

“The red-haired man who crossed blades with the young lady is there.”

“The red-haired man who crossed blades?”

Luciel’s gaze sharpened. But the stronger reaction came from Lea.

“What? That madman is there?”

Watching her make no effort to hide her look of disgust, Luciel said with a hardened expression:

“Madman, you say. Explain, Lea.”

“Remember when I followed Berchel to meet Zender? The one who attacked us then. He’s also the one who did that to Ian.”

At her words, Luciel immediately recalled the memory of that day. That day, after treating the injured Ian, a tension-released Lea had sunk into her seat and said it. That she had run into a madman… He had thought it was a chance encounter, but it seemed that was not the case.

“Top-tier combat ability and an equally top-tier insanity level. I still don’t understand why he’d deliberately leave one shoulder open just to see my face, and on top of that he was smiling even while blood was pouring out.”

What else could you call him but a madman? As Lea was grumbling, she suddenly recalled Zakar’s silver gaze as he had looked at her, and her body gave a shudder. That look in his eyes was the look of a predator eyeing prey. And the very fact that he saw her as prey was repulsive to her. How dare he… As the recalled memory soured her mood, she didn’t notice that the temperature of Luciel’s voice had dropped.

“……What did that guy say to you…”

“Hm? I don’t really remember that clearly. I was tense and Ian was injured so my mind was a mess. I don’t think it was anything important.”

Lea was trying to remember when she was startled by Zender’s words.

“He said, ‘Pretty enough to match the price…’ And after the young lady disappeared, he said, ‘Next time we meet, I’ll show her why a madman is a madman.'”

Good heavens… Sir… you were watching everything, weren’t you? was the look of shock in Lea’s eyes as she stared at him, and Zender added bluntly:

“In my assessment as well, that man’s combat ability is not something to be taken lightly. The same could be said of the young lady, but he too did not appear to have used his full strength. For now, he seems like he will be the greatest threat. There are very few within this kingdom capable of holding their own against him in a sword fight.”

“…And what about you?”

At Luciel’s question — his voice now completely cold — Zender answered honestly.

“I believe I could hold him off for a time.”

“Meaning actually winning would be difficult.”

“That is correct.”

“…I see. I’ll ask you to continue the surveillance.”

“Understood.”

“Ah… Zender?”

Zender, who had been about to bow and withdraw, looked at Luciel at his call.

“My aunt says she’d like to see you briefly. She seems to want to thank you.”

“Understood.”

For just a fleeting instant, a complex emotion passed through Zender’s eyes.

After he departed, a cold air settled over the tea table that had been peaceful right until his arrival. To be more precise, it was an atmosphere created by Luciel, who was radiating iciness. Fortunately, the perceptive Thomas lifted the teapot and began pouring, which helped ease the mood somewhat.

“Lea.”

“Yes?”

Lea, who had been watching the tea filling her cup, raised her head at Luciel’s call and looked at him.

“Are you going to come along for this raid as well?”

“Yes. I came to help you, so of course I’m going.”

“Even though that madman will be there?”

“Of course I’d rather not run into him, but if I don’t go, there’ll be no one to deal with him. You need to attend the council of elders, and the Black Kavans will need to rescue the hostages under Zender’s command.”

I may not be able to win, but I won’t lose either… Lea lifted her teacup and took a sip, murmuring to herself. She knew it too. That Zakar had not used his full strength. And that if he did use his full strength, she might possibly be at a disadvantage. A madman was best avoided, but sometimes you had to face them head on, and she thought this was one of those moments. But Luciel didn’t seem to see it that way.

“This is my affair, Lea.”

Luciel said it gently but firmly. His tone, as if drawing a line, left Lea feeling strangely hurt — but his next words melted that feeling away like snow.

“You being hurt up until now has already been more than enough. If something more happens to you, I won’t be able to bear it. Just thinking about you meeting that madman makes me so furious I feel like I’m going mad.”

His words carried genuine concern. Perhaps that was why — Lea felt a sort of tickling warmth in her chest as she replied.

“It’s fine. I won’t do anything to drive you mad. I’m not that weak. And if worst comes to worst, I can always escape with spatial transfer.”

Lea raised her left hand to show the ring of Abel on her finger, with a right? and a soft smile. And that smile instantly undid all the counter-arguments Luciel had been preparing.

“….That smile is cheating, Lea…”

Luciel raised a hand to cover his face and muttered quietly. Through the gaps between his long fingers, his face was visibly flushed red.

****

Arhvina was walking alone in the garden, having dismissed her ladies-in-waiting. She had asked Luciel to pass along a message to Zender asking to meet, but she hadn’t expected him to actually come. He was the Black Kavan of the Mihael family, and she was now a person with no connection to the Mihael family whatsoever. As she strolled through the garden, her gaze came to rest on a small violet flower blooming alone in lonely solitude between the bushes. It was a flower that somehow felt like herself.

“…It resembles me.”

Arhvina reached out and gently touched the small flower. Though small, the petals held a sense of life within them. That vitality made her smile bitterly as she withdrew her hand.

“…No, it doesn’t… it doesn’t resemble me at all…”

Arhvina was murmuring listlessly when she was startled by a low, deep voice suddenly behind her.

“When did you develop the hobby of conversing with flowers?”

Hic. Perhaps from the shock, hiccups began to come, and Arhvina’s face turned scarlet with embarrassment. She didn’t know why she always had to show such embarrassing sides of herself in front of this man. As she couldn’t stop hiccupping, Zender let out an invisible sigh and turned away.

“…I will go fetch some water.”

“..Ah..No! Hic… I’m fine!”

Afraid he would leave, she panicked and, forgetting all decorum, grabbed his sleeve. And as she realized what an impolite thing she had done, her face burned as hot as it possibly could. The embarrassment was enough to stop even her hiccups in an instant. Arhvina bowed her head low and spoke in a voice that barely crawled out.

“I…It stopped… so… you don’t have… to go.”

“….Are you alright?”

“…Yes…”

With her answer, the two fell silent. Neither said anything, and yet somehow an unawkward silence passed between them. Feeling the flush on her face subside somewhat, Arhvina cautiously raised her head and looked at Zender. Then their eyes met as he was looking down at her, and her cooled face flared up again as if it had never settled.

“…Um… the thing is… the reason I asked to meet…”

Zender’s expression softened as he watched her stumble over her words in flustered confusion.

“If it is to offer thanks, you have already done so.”

His voice, always so blunt, seemed to carry a warmth in it now — but perhaps that was just her imagination. Maybe that was why. Arhvina gathered her courage and put into words what she had wanted to say.

“Pl…please don’t get hurt!”

“…….”

“I…I heard you’re going to rescue the hostages. That it might be dangerous… Of course you’ll be alright since you’re strong, but just in case…!”

Rambling without knowing what she was even saying, Arhvina felt as though her breath stopped for a moment. It was faint, but there was unmistakably a smile resting at the corner of his lips.

“I will not be hurt. If that is what you wish… Arhvina.”

Her right hand was lifted, and Zender’s waist slowly bent forward. The instant his lips lightly touched the back of her hand, Arhvina trembled as though struck by lightning. Only then could she clearly define what her feelings for this man were.

‘Ah… I am in love with this man…’

A smile began to slowly spread across her face. And as Zender looked upon her brightly smiling expression, a quiet tremor passed through his eyes.