Chapter 38

When I went up to the fourth floor, I found Alex leaning against the staircase railing.

His official rank was 9th.

Perhaps because his rank was lower than he’d expected, he didn’t look pleased.

‘I think he did well enough.’

There was a common misconception among Hunters: they believed that once a rank was set, it was their permanent position.

But as Duke Ruthius had said, rankings could change at any moment.

Of course, the higher you climbed, the harder it was to raise your rank, but it wasn’t impossible if you made good use of the Shop.

So, being disappointed just because you didn’t get the rank you wanted was foolish.

‘It would be much wiser to spend this time browsing the items in the Shop.’

I pretended not to see Alex and walked past him.

However, before I had taken more than a few steps, he blocked my path.

“What is it?”

As I stared up at him, Alex averted his gaze.

Up close, his face was a mess. Dark circles had formed under his eyes overnight, and his skin was rough.

He looked like he hadn’t slept a wink.

‘Was he so pissed off he went drinking? Tsk, tsk, tsk. He should take better care of himself. His face is all he has going for him.’

It was understandable.

His mad younger sister, whom he had utterly disregarded, had saved his life. What a blow that must have been to his precious pride.

That was probably why he hadn’t shown up for breakfast.

‘But is that any reason to pick a fight first thing in the morning?’

What was he about to say? Was he going to yell at me for saving him?

Was he going to demand I hand over the core, claiming it would have been his if not for me?

My heart was pounding with curiosity, wondering what kind of fresh bullshit he was going to spew this time.

I held back a sigh and asked again.

“I asked what you’re doing.”

“…This.”

Alex held out something unexpected. It was a glass bottle filled with a liquid that shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow.

It wasn’t the first time I’d seen it.

I had used a similar item to treat my wounds just yesterday.

“A potion? Why are you giving this to me?”

“You were hurt.”

“I was?”

“Yeah, yesterday… when you were saving me.”

“Ah…”

It seemed he remembered that I’d been injured by the Matriarch’s fangs while saving him.

“It’s fine. I’ve already treated it.”

“…I heard you had a nosebleed, too.”

“You know about that?”

“It’s all anyone was talking about. That you had a nosebleed this morning.”

Do people in this world not get nosebleeds? One more and it’ll probably make the papers.

I let out the long sigh I had been holding in.

“Hah, it’s fine.”

“Still, take it.”

“My nose stopped bleeding before I even ate. There’s no reason for me to take it.”

“…Just take it.”

“I’m telling you, I don’t need it.”

“Damn it! Just take it when I tell you to!”

Alex’s angry voice echoed through the hallway.

Startled servants stared at us with wide eyes.

Even Zenia, who had been standing behind me like a ghost, held her breath.

“What, you think I’m giving you poison? This is a perfectly fine potion! Even I wouldn’t pull a stunt like that!”

“Why the sudden outburst? When did I say I wouldn’t take it because I suspected the potion? I’m saying I won’t take it because I don’t need it.”

“Is the 1st-ranked Hunter invincible? You think you’ll never get hurt again? You might not need it now, but who knows what will happen later! You can just keep it and use it then, can’t you?”

“No…”

Alex, who had been fuming, snatched my hand and forced the potion into it.

“If you’re so suspicious, then just throw it away!”

I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t refuse.

I had expected him to pick a fight, not to foam at the mouth while insisting I take a potion.

“Did the Constellations put you up to this? Did they say they wouldn’t watch your stream if you didn’t give me a potion?”

“You think I’m doing this because of the Constellations?”

“Then what? Am I wrong?”

“Hoo…”

Alex squeezed his eyes shut and took a long, deep breath. His broad chest expanded greatly before slowly deflating.

“I must look like an idiot to you. You’re right. I feel like an idiot myself.”

“…”

“But Astell, even an idiot knows how much danger you were in when you saved me. I have enough sense to realize that much.”

“So what’s the point? Are you saying you’ll change from now on, so we should forget the past and try to get along?”

Alex’s face instantly turned beet red. The change was so drastic it even startled me.

“…Wh-when did I say I wanted to get along? What did I do that was so wrong? I’m the one sacrificing for you! I didn’t even know the Queen’s eye was the core! I just don’t want to be in your debt!”

“…”

“G-get along? As if!”

Alex stormed off after spouting his usual infuriating nonsense.

I watched his broad back for a moment, then tilted my head. The Ruthius men are both acting strange today.

“Did the ranking shock make him lose his mind?”

“Um… Your Highness.”

Zenia cautiously interjected from behind me.

“The Young Duke skipped breakfast, you know.”

“And?”

“They said it’s because he went out before dawn and just got back a little while ago. He probably went to the central Temple to buy that potion.”

Was she trying to say Alex had turned over a new leaf?

I scoffed.

I don’t know if they have the same saying in this world, but people don’t change.

This was just a ‘show.’ A performance for the Constellations.

“You don’t need to report every little thing to me.”

“But that’s a very expensive, top-grade potion…”

“Zenia.”

“They only sell ten a week, and you can’t have someone buy it for you. You have to wait all night to get just one. It seems the Young Duke stood in line himself to buy it.”

“You’re getting a little bold lately, aren’t you?”

Even though I shot her a warning glare, Zenia just smiled faintly.

‘Well, look at her.’

It was absurd. I expected her to get scared and shut her mouth.

“Have I? I’m sorry, Your Highness. Please forgive me this once.”

“…”

I raised an eyebrow. Zenia’s behavior was different from before.

It wasn’t that she was being insolent, but something felt incredibly awkward. Her gaze, in particular, was making me very uncomfortable.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Me? Is something wrong?”

“I might be mistaken, but the way you look at me… it seems to have changed.”

“Oh! Was it that obvious?”

Zenia’s face turned pink.

She cupped her cheeks with both hands, blushing shyly, then looked up at me.

‘Ah!’

In that moment, I realized what it was. This was it.

The look a fan gives their favorite idol.

There had been someone who looked at me just like this in my past life.

Eyes full of adoration and a face flushed with shyness.

A look that said they would do anything for me.

“I’m happy as long as you’re happy, Noona. That’s my happiness.”

“You’re hurt again? Why are you always getting hurt? Are you the only Hunter in the world? Everyone else is fine, so why is it always you who gets hurt?”

A chill ran down my spine, and the hair on my head stood on end.

I forcibly pushed away the jumbled thoughts and spoke coldly.

“Zenia, you seem to be mistaken. Everything I did was not for you.”

“But you saved me in the carriage, blocked Lady Herot’s attack, and protected me from the spiderling. If not for me, then who was it for?”

‘I saved her that many times?’

I barely managed to hide my bewilderment.

“For myself. It’s just that it would have been inconvenient for me if you got hurt.”

“Ah, so that’s why you remembered that I hurt my knee.”

“…Th-that’s right.”

“And the reason you always helped me up was because I was in your way?”

“Yes. You’re nothing to me. The moment you lose your value, I’ll discard you without a second thought. So you should also…”

“You’re saying I should discard you when you’re no longer needed?”

“…Yes.”

“I understand, Your Highness. I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.”

Zenia smiled gently, her hazel eyes filled with a soft warmth.

I quickly turned away.

‘Don’t be swayed. Zenia isn’t Shinwoo. She’s completely different from Shinwoo.’

I repeated it to myself several times, like an oath. Only then did my restless heart begin to slowly calm down.