Chapter 89

For a week, the capital had been abuzz, and I knew a proper date wouldn’t be possible. However, we went to a cafe with impressive interior design and even visited a clothing shop for the first time.

It was a bit strange that there was no one wherever we went, but thanks to that, we could spend time without worrying about people’s gazes. And that evening, we came to see a play that was said to be popular in the capital.

We came to see it because it was rumored that the two best actors these days met and created an interesting story. One of the popular actors, Lara Evian, was known for her beauty and outstanding acting skills even during the Order of Knights era, so I really wanted to see her.

Unlike the relaxed dates we had so far, the front of the theater was crowded.

“There are a lot of people.”

“It’ll be comfortable inside.”

“This isn’t bad either.”

I had brought a mask just in case, but there were so many people that it seemed like they could barely recognize each other. As I was about to climb the stairs with his escort, someone came rushing towards us. Someone wearing a hat pulled down low.

“Oh, I’m sorry! I’ll just pass by―!”

“Hazel, watch out.”

Kairos quickly hugged me and stepped aside. I didn’t get hit, but I couldn’t help but widen my eyes at that moment. The person who just bumped into me and passed by grabbed my hand tightly for a split second and disappeared.

“Are you okay?”

Kairos asked, shielding me protectively.

“Oh, I’m fine. It was just someone passing by.”

I said I was fine and went in quickly, but I felt something on my fist. I felt something thick and coin-sized in my palm. I looked back for the woman who had just passed by, but she was nowhere to be seen.

Was it a woman?

The voice was clearly that of a young girl. I pretended to hold my dress to avoid being caught by Kairos and entered the theater, hiding my hand.

As he said, the theater was comfortable. Although it was crowded downstairs, the upper seats were for two people only, so I didn’t have to worry about other people’s gazes. While Kairos was gone for a moment, I belatedly unclenched my fist.

“…A.”

It was a portable communicator that wasn’t in circulation.

I could tell who sent it by the letters written on it. I knew that contacting me was just a courtesy, considering the atmosphere, but I didn’t expect them to send someone.

It was fortunate that I could contact them, although the connection was cut off after the incident, and I couldn’t contact them except when Annie did it first. I hurriedly stuffed the communicator she sent into my chest before Kairos came back.

As soon as I finished fixing my clothes perfectly, he came back to his seat.

“I think it’s about to start.”

I spoke as calmly as possible, but my heart was pounding again after a long time.

Even though we weren’t leaving right away, I felt inexplicably nervous and waited for the curtain to rise. Should I contact her once before going north? I wonder if she already knew that I was going north. If she knew that I was here to see a play, it meant she had been watching me for quite some time.

Just then, the voice announcing the start of the play was heard.

The surroundings began to darken.

* * *

Kairos gritted his teeth with one hand covering his eyes. The play was in full swing.

He heard it was a love story about a couple reuniting, but it was a strange story. The story was like this: The two met and fell in love at first sight, and they got married in no time. They had happy days, but the man turned out to be a great con artist, and when the woman found out, she left him.

The man belatedly realized his true feelings and regretted it, and he desperately clung to his love. It was more abundant if you looked into it, but the overall content was like that.

What the hell is this play about?

It was unlike him to be so distracted, but Hazel was completely absorbed in it. In the bright light coming from the stage, Hazel’s profile clearly entered his field of vision. It was a good opportunity, as he hadn’t been able to see Hazel’s face like this except when she was sleeping lately.

Of course, if it weren’t for the content of the play.

“How can I trust you? Everything that comes out of your mouth is a lie!”

“No, listen to me. Even though I’ve lived the life of a con artist all my life, my heart towards you was sincere.”

At that moment, Hazel turned her head slightly and stared at Kairos. Kairos, who seemed to be numb on his feet, cleared his throat.

“He’s a really bad guy. How could he deceive the woman he loves?”

“….”

Hazel turned her head back to the front, but Kairos clearly saw it. One side of her mouth went up as if she was sneering.

D*mn it.

Kairos stopped looking at Hazel’s face and clenched his teeth again. He wanted to shut that con artist’s mouth. Should he just set this place on fire?

It was impossible because Hazel was watching.

Kairos subtly scratched her hand, trying to steal her attention, which was completely focused on the play. Hazel swatted his hand away as if to say no. After that happened a few times, Hazel grabbed Kairos’s hand tightly and glared at him with all her might.

“I’m watching.”

She grumbled with her mouth as if to warn him. Her eyes were full of resentment. Kairos had to sit on a bed of thorns without making a single sound until the play was over.

* * *

Hazel returned from her date with Kairos and picked up a newspaper that had been tossed aside.

The headline screamed, “The Atrocities of Count and Countess Gadiel.”

Even after reading the article, Kairos’ anger didn’t subside. After seeing Hazel’s fragile expression, he had spent considerable time digging up information about Count and Countess Gadiel.

Since it was such a long time ago, there was no concrete evidence, but fortunately, there were still witnesses who could recount the events of that time. He learned that Count and Countess Gadiel were not merely strict but had done things that would leave Hazel traumatized because of her powers.

He couldn’t believe it.

He would have liked to have them all strung up, but he had taken Sid’s advice to heart and decided to focus solely on Hazel for now. He had also been influenced by the words of others who said that he would never have met Hazel if she hadn’t come from the Count’s family and that he would have married a nobody if he hadn’t.

Well, at least he had stepped on them so hard that they wouldn’t be able to get up again. Kairos put the newspaper away.

His heart was heavy, but his eyes still held a flicker of anger.

* * *

A week later.

Preparations for the trip to the duchy were finally complete. The necessary luggage had been sent off this morning for sorting, and all that was left was for me to go.

After finishing my dressing and dismissing the maids, I fiddled with the magic tool I had received from Annie a week ago. Although there was a safety net in the form of a contract, I hesitated to contact her for fear of incurring her wrath.

I dismissed all the maids and looked around for a long time before activating the magic tool. The magic stone embedded in the coin-like magic tool emitted a light, and soon, a welcome voice was heard.

“Hazel?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

A sigh of relief came from the other end.

“You arrived safely. I received a report that it was delivered properly, but I was worried because I didn’t hear from you.”

“I was busy timing it. How did you know I went there?”

I lowered my voice, even shrinking my body against the communication device.

“I also knew the day you came up from the Ferrarium. It was very difficult to approach you.”

“There was no problem, was there?”

“Problem? Oh, yes. That day, after you came out of the Ferrarium, you were followed for a while, but there was no problem. He kept his promise… unexpectedly well.”

This time, I was the one who breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t touch them as promised. In fact, the inner anxiety continued, so I was more than a little worried that they might have gotten rid of them without anyone knowing.

“You didn’t have to do this.”

“I just felt uncomfortable ending it like that. Oh, and about the purification stone…”

“Yes.”

“The amount coming out of the temple is decreasing. I’ve got a whole warehouse full of it, but with the recent increase in the number of demons, it seems they’re buying it up.”

I nodded as I listened to Annie. Soon, they would probably close off the amount going out.

“That’s enough.”

“Shouldn’t I gather more?”

“It’s not like I can’t.”

“Then, I’ll scrape it all up. I’ll contact you if I need it.”

“I’m going north tomorrow.”

I quickly got to the point, figuring she would cut off communication as soon as she saw any sign of trouble.

“Yes, in case of emergency, it’s red hair.”

And with that, the communication was cut off. Red hair in case of emergency? I was left to ponder the cryptic words as the communication device went dark. What in the world did that mean? It didn’t seem to be referring to my hair color.

I tilted my head for a long time before leaving the dressing room.

“Ah…”

I belatedly realized that the maid’s hair, whom I had told to wait outside, was a similar shade of red to mine. I had deliberately ignored her until now. I stared blankly at the maid, who bowed her head to me as usual. No, really, when?

“Madam, do you need anything? Should I bring the carriage?”

“Ah, no. It’s, it’s okay.”

I stared intently at the maid’s face, which was no different from usual. No, really, since when?

—