I thought I was going to choke to death.
I shivered, afraid we’d be found out.
“I’m sure we’re done here, right? Should we get out?”
“…Why? Are there still priests left?”
“I can feel the last of them.”
The Grand Duke still held his breath, watching for signs.
The abandoned palace where the priests had fled was filled with a chilling aura.
“……The energy is too strong.”
The serpentine aura that lingered in the abandoned palace was suffocating. It was a painful sensation that made the hairs on my body stand on end.
The Grand Duke, who had been keeping a wary eye on the back of the door that hid us, turned in an instant.
If I leaned in just a little further, our lips would be touching.
A bead of sweat traced the line of his sharp jaw.
I couldn’t help but turn my head to the side as he stared down at me from such close range.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
Unaware of my feelings, the Grand Duke stuck close by me, tilting his head to study my complexion.
His face followed closely.
“What do you mean? I’m fine.”
Even in this dark and unpleasant place, his handsome face glowed unnecessarily.
I shifted a little more, avoiding him.
In response, the Grand Duke ducked even further.
I felt even more like dying than when I was hiding from the priests.
“Did you read the aura of the remaining priest?”
No, who said anything about the priest?
I yelled out loud without realizing it.
There might be a priest who hasn’t left the abandoned palace yet.
The Grand Duke was dumbfounded for a moment, but then he smiled sheepishly.
“My wife is still uncomfortable with her husband.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re don’t sense them anymore, do you?”
With that, the Grand Duke raised his right hand and swung the door that hid us forward.
We came face-to-face with a priest descending the stairs, inside the abandoned palace.
Looking over the Grand Duke’s shoulder, the priest also wore a puzzled expression.
No wonder, an outsider had intruded on their private meeting place.
I curled the hem of the Grand Duke’s robe hard.
“You knew about this, didn’t you?”
In a low whisper, the Grand Duke laughed, the sound of his breath blowing through my hair.
“Why do you ask the obvious?”
“Are you crazy, if any of the other priests show up at this……”
“Don’t worry. I don’t intend to watch you get hurt with my eyes open.”
With a playful tone in his voice, the Grand Duke turned to face the priest.
He has no intention of watching me get hurt.
I don’t know how he could joke in this situation.
I tightened my grip on the bell, just in case.
At least it wasn’t a high priest with a lot of energy. The bell was more subdued than I expected.
“Be careful though, there might be others out there.”
The priest standing on the stairs narrowed his eyes to make out our faces in the darkened ruins.
The priest slowly descended the stairs. He’s on high alert, but he doesn’t stop walking.
“You’re not supposed to be here…….”
“It is a pleasure to speak with you.”
The Grand Duke’s sullen voice echoed through the ruined palace.
“Are you…… Grand Duke Noctis?”
The priest, who had been inching closer, frowned as soon as he recognized the Grand Duke’s voice and blurry face.
“Grand Duke, how did you get here……!”
“Too bad. If you had left like the others, you would have been spared.”
He drew his sword from the scabbard at his waist. A strange glow emanated from the pure white hilt.
“Did you leave anything behind? I find it suspicious that you descended as quietly as a mouse.”
The Grand Duke grabbed my hand with the opposite hand that held the sword and pushed her a little further inward.
He was twice my size, so my body was completely obscured.
“Don’t change the subject, just tell me why you’re here.”
Surely the priest knew. That he was no match for Denver Noctis on his own.
The Grand Duke’s demeanor was relaxed, but his presence was formidable.
Even as his ally, my heart raced.
The priest hesitated, taking a step back.
“I don’t think you have anyone to ask for help, so beg for your life.”
“Then perhaps my generosity will spare your life.” (Denver)
“I’ve seen this place. This is our territory.” (Priest)
“You have stepped into a place that honors the great Eden, and you will not get out alive.” (Priest)
With that, the priest reached into his bosom and pulled out a statue of a snake, its eyes adorned with ruby jewels.
‘He will use his power, not his body.’
True to the Grand Duke’s words, the other priests had already left the palace.
The priest nervously held the statue between his hands.
There was only one priest in front of us. Despite the fact that I am terrible at using my body, there are two of us.
Even if the Grand Duke is killed, I’ll be able to…….
I didn’t want to die in this place, so just as I was racking my brain for a contingency plan, I heard a dull thud as the Grand Duke moved swiftly.
The next moment, the priest’s body was slumped against the stairs.
“What, what is it? Did you… kill him?”
I squeezed my eyes shut at the gruesome sight, my trembling hands clutching at the hem of the Grand Duke’s robe.
I couldn’t help it if I wanted to live, but the sight of blood was horrifying.
“Rest assured, I only stunned him.”
At the softer tone of the Grand Duke’s voice, I cautiously lifted my eyelids.
True to his word, the priest collapsed without a drop of blood.
There was no red mark on his silver sword either.
The Grand Duke shrugged, still holding his sword.
“I just hit him and he fell.”
He didn’t realize how strong he was, and he struck him without realizing it.
Still, the Grand Duke had saved my life.
“What are you going to do about this priest?”
“I don’t know. Harton, get down here.”
The Grand Duke looked at the stunned priest like a mouse.
Harton must be outside the abandoned palace.
Just as he was thinking that, a large being fell from the top of the high stairs.
It was none other than Harton.
“Is it okay for you to be seen like this?”
Harton bowed to me and the Grand Duke, then glanced at the priest.
“It doesn’t matter. There’s no way the Queen doesn’t know I’m going.”
Harton nodded at the Grand Duke’s words. Then he lifted the limp priest onto his shoulders at a brisk pace.
“We’ll go to the manor first, then.”
“Very well. Take good care of him when he wakes up. His statue, take that away.”
Harton left the abandoned palace at a brisk pace, even with the burly man on his shoulders.
It was really just the two of us left in this unpleasant place now.
The Grand Duke returned the sword in his hand to its scabbard.
I looked through the open door at the large serpentine statue in the center of the room.
It was probably a ruby, but its eyes, glowing red in the darkness, were like warning lights.
I rattled my bell noisily and followed the Grand Duke up the stairs.
I couldn’t help but feel a twinge.
“Do I need to hold your hand?”
“Because you look like you’re scared.”
How could I not be scared?
I’m in a spooky abandoned palace, full of priests worshiping snakes, and a bad vibe surrounds me.
“Just…. I’m not used to this kind of thing.”
I replied, rubbing my goosebumps.
The old lady hasn’t shown up, and I’m exhausted from trying to fight off the snake’s energy alone.
A large hand appeared in front of me.
The hand’s owner looked down at me nonchalantly.
“Are you taking care of me?”
“Because you held my hand.”
Hearing the playfulness in his voice was somehow reassuring, even though he was the Grand Duke I despised so much.
I didn’t refuse and took the hand in front of me.
The warmth of his hand made me feel better, as if the chill that had been creeping up my back had been wiped away.
The Grand Duke stared at our joined hands for a moment, wondering why I’d taken his hand without saying no.
Then he turned and ran up the stairs ahead of me.
Once outside the palace, the crisp air greeted us.
I breathed in sharply to clear my lungs.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, ……. Just a little overwhelmed by the energy.”
“I know, don’t strain yourself.”
The Grand Duke pulled me closer, using his clasped hands to examine my complexion.
“Is there anything else besides difficulty breathing?”
“My stomach is a little queasy.”
One would think I was sick to death.
The Grand Duke watched my face carefully, his expression grave.
“Still, I think we should summon a doctor.”
“No. I’ll be fine if I go back and rest a bit.”
“That’s just your guess, isn’t it?”
Either way, the Grand Duke doesn’t budge on my point.
Even if a doctor were to come, my condition would not improve. A doctor can’t even restore my strength.
I let my laughter do the talking.
The Grand Duke looked at me and let out a short sigh.
“You’ve got me all worked up.”
With that, the Grand Duke mounted the horse Hardin had brought with him.
I had ridden with him when he came to the palace.
Why did it feel so awkward now?
I stiffly walked over to him.
He lifted me up easily, his arms strong.
“We’ll have a long ride, get some sleep on the way back.”
“How can I sleep on a running horse, it’s scary.”
I was scared to come here, too, so I braced myself.
The Grand Duke chuckled softly and pressed his fingers to my forehead.
The back of my head rested casually against the Grand Duke’s breastplate.
“I will make you comfortable.”
The Grand Duke’s words were like a magic spell.
I thought it was scary, but I actually fell asleep leaning against him.