Chapter 86

Chapter 86

“Yes, it’s a heirloom passed down through House Karsen for ages. It was used for hunting, generation after generation. Whenever the blade dulled, they’d reforge it fresh. Hmm… come to think of it, I bet a lot of death has brushed against that edge. It’s a blade that’s seen centuries of hunting. It wouldn’t be strange if a few of those countless souls got tangled up in it. Maybe this was bound to happen sooner or later anyway.”

“Ah…”

“So, even if it’s not fine, there’s no helping it. It’s just breaking when its time to break.”

He shook his head, trying to show he really didn’t mind. Then, in the same breath, he turned to the Duke and pivoted the conversation.

“Oh, and thanks for going to all that trouble to peel that spirit off me. Elize, you’re usually such a scaredy-cat—must’ve been rough, seeing ghosts like that… You really put in the work.”

“Huh? Something wrong with my thanks?”

The Duke arched one eyebrow, looking incredulous. I just stood there, silently watching them bicker. This was their usual routine whenever they met—nothing out of the ordinary. They’d reached a point where treating each other however they pleased felt perfectly comfortable.

Anyway, they went on talking for a long while after that. They rambled this way and that about what happened at the hunt, about the ghost. Before I knew it, it was time to head back.

“I’ll be off now. Take care of yourself.”

The Duke stood up from his seat as he said it. I followed suit, rising from the stool I’d been sitting on. But then the young marquis suddenly grabbed hold of my sleeve, stopping me.

“Come to think of it, I didn’t say this to Laura yet. Thank you for going out of your way for me.”

He spoke while holding tight to the end of my sleeve.

“Oh, no. I’m just glad you’re safe, young marquis.”

“Yes. And… thank you for worrying about me like this.”

He gave a short reply. But he still hadn’t let go of me. Somehow, I felt like he still had something else to say. So I stared at him expectantly, waiting for an answer. But the young marquis didn’t offer any words back.

“Laura. Let’s go.”

Seeing me stuck there, the Duke turned to me and spoke. I said, “Yes,” and quickly turned away. As I hurried my steps, the young marquis’s hand slowly slipped off, following my movement.

As I stepped out of the room with the Duke, I caught a glimpse of the young marquis through the gap in the door. He was quietly waving at us. I stayed close to the Duke and gave him a small wave back. Then the door clicked shut, hiding him from view.

It felt like… he had something he wanted to say to me….

I thought back to the young marquis holding me, and let the notion linger for a moment.

“Laura. We need to be back before sundown, so let’s hurry.”

“Oh, yes!”

But the Duke’s call quickly swept those thoughts away. And so we headed straight back to Cuvershaiden.

* * *

Dressed in the fresh new clothes I’d bought, I was about to step out of the manor when I ran into the butler coming from the opposite direction.

“Hello! Butler!”

I waved my hand cheerfully at him, feeling unexpectedly glad to see his face.

“You seem in good spirits today, young lady. Off somewhere?”

“Yes. I’m heading to the temple first, then meeting a new friend I made at the banquet hall.”

“Made a friend already? You’re quite sociable.”

“Just lucky, I guess. It’s not easy finding someone who really clicks with you.”

“If they click with you, young lady, they must be a good person. What kind of person is it?”

“Well… Hereis Darlin. She said she works in the Imperial Castle. She’s a bit quiet, but seems kind….”

I pulled Hereis’s image from my mind and launched into a lively description of her. But as I spoke, the butler’s face suddenly stiffened. Even his mustache gave a little twitch, as if caught off guard.

Huh? Something’s wrong?

“What’s the matter, Butler?”

“……Hereis, you said?”

“Yes. Why? Do you know her?”

He was acting like the name ‘Hereis’ stirred up some bad memory. Flustered, I studied his reaction.

“……Is this a date?”

He smoothed his expression, then fixed his gaze on me as he asked. His voice sounded dead serious.

“Huh?”

For a second, I felt like I’d been slapped. But then I burst out laughing. Come to think of it, the name ‘Hereis’ did sound a bit androgynous. But still—the Duke he serves is named ‘Elize,’ isn’t he?

“No. Hereis is a girl.”

“Ah. I see.”

“Yes. No need to worry! I’m just going out to play with a friend!”

I answered without bothering to hide the smile that slipped onto my face.

“Is that so. So there’s nothing to worry about, then?”

At that, the butler suddenly twirled his mustache and broke into a round, knowing grin. Only then did I realize my mistake. Saying there was nothing to worry about… What else could he make of that?

“Ah. No. It’s not that there was some other reason not to worry…”

Suddenly, heat rushed to the crown of my head.

“It’s not…”

I scrambled frantically, searching for an excuse. But my flustered mind came up blank.

“Of course. I understand. What other reason could there be? Well then, have a pleasant time and come back safely.”

As I stammered, unable to continue, the butler cut in. He just laughed, then walked past me and continued on his way. Left alone, I could only watch his retreating back in dismay.

Ugh. No way…

Embarrassment pricked at me, threatening tears. But there was no other way to navigate this situation. So I decided, for now, to pretend I hadn’t seen him.

‘Forget it. I’ll think about it later… First, I need to get to the meeting place…’

And so I trudged out of the manor, deliberately ignoring everything that gnawed at my mind. I hailed a hired carriage and set off for the temple.

The temple wasn’t far from the bustling streets. The carriage ride was quick, and soon I arrived. A priest was already waiting for me out front. As I stepped down from the carriage, he greeted me warmly.

“You’ve come, Lady Highen?”

“Yes. Have you been well?”

“Quite well, no trouble at all. And how are you, young lady?”

“I’m fine too! And I haven’t been possessed again since that day!”

I said it with a light tone, trying to downplay how alarming the sudden possession at the Imperial Castle had been. Truth was, the whole affair had made me uneasy—so many people worrying over me because of it. I just wanted to set everyone’s mind at ease, including the priest’s.

“Is that so? That’s a relief. Shall we head inside, then?”

At that, he cracked a faint smile and pointed toward the temple with his fingertip. Then he hurried me straight into the worship hall.

“I asked the High Priest, and it turns out there’s one way to share divine power with you.”

The priest rummaged through a drawer cabinet set against one wall as he continued speaking.

“And this is exactly that method.”

Then he reached out and handed me a crude-looking jewelry box.

“Go on, open it.”

Following his words, I slowly lifted the lid. Inside lay a jewel the size of my thumbnail—a raw, unpolished gold-colored stone.

“What the hell is this?”

Of course, there was nothing strange about a jewelry box containing a jewel—but that this was the method for sharing divine power felt deeply peculiar. Which only made it more puzzling.

“It’s a jewel called the Eye of the Sun. It’s also the only vessel that can hold divine power.”

“So, does that mean there’s divine power inside this?”

“Yes. I placed it inside. From now on, keep it on your person at all times. It will keep the ghosts from wandering in.”

“Whoa… That’s amazing.”

I turned the jewelry box over in my hands, peering at it from every angle. Then it hit me—the name ‘Eye of the Sun’ felt strangely familiar.

That’s odd. I’m completely clueless about jewels… Why does ‘Eye of the Sun’ sound so familiar?

“Ah!”

Then, in a flash, a fragment of memory surfaced.

‘That’s right! The Eye of the Sun!’

Looking back, there was no way I wouldn’t recognize that jewel. It had been one of the gems on the list my parents had tried to acquire when they were alive.

“I know this is incredibly expensive!”

That’s what my parents had said. It was rarer than others, and it didn’t occur naturally in our country. I also remembered hearing that finding a large, high-quality piece was extremely difficult.

“Yes. It’s among the more valuable jewels. But His Excellency purchased that one, so there’s no need for concern.”

“The Duke did?”

“Indeed. So you may simply take it with you.”

“I see. I’ll have to thank the Duke, then.”

I fidgeted with the jewelry box, feeling awkward. Then I looked up abruptly and met the priest’s eyes. Even without thinking too hard, there was one more person here I owed my gratitude to.

“And thank you so much, Priest.”

“Not at all. Ah, do be careful not to crack the jewel. All the divine power might leak out. And you mustn’t have it re-cut.”

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

“And one more thing—if all the divine power drains away, the jewel will shatter into pieces.”

“Yes, understood.”

After that, I parted ways with him and slipped out of the temple. In my arms, I clutched the jewelry box containing the Eye of the Sun. But there was one problem. The priest had said I needed to keep it on my body at all times. Carrying a whole jewelry box around with me every time wasn’t really practical.

I couldn’t just throw it away either…