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Chapter 14




Lianrius changed after the day he saw her hold Birce’s white bird on her finger.
For some reason, he stared at Liarte’s face, and then told her information that was shared only inside the family. The harvest was only one thing.
‘Spirit Stone.’
A stone that might have had something to do with her regression, and may have been awakened by Liarte.
It was said that a blue boy appeared from it.
But what Liarte saw from the future was not a boy, but a man instead.
However, she decided not to judge the spirit stone.
“Liarte.”
Lianrius held the wrist of Liarte who was about to pass by.
Liarte pondered.
She had seen a booklet in the library which talked about the living creatures in the Elheim hunting ground.
“Then, a silver fox.”
It was an animal that inhabited moderately deep inside the forest.
It wasn’t a dangerous animal and one didn’t even have to go deep into the forest to find it.
However, obstacles such as tree trunks, vines, and stones existed around it.
“Catch the silver fox. Alive.”
She hated the thought of killing animals unless it was unavoidable.
The rare silver fox lived in a tricky terrain and her condition was to catch it alive, therefore it would take time for Lianrius to return.
In the meantime, she didn’t have to bother with Lianrius.
She wasn’t very interested in why Lianrius offered to catch her a prey.
It wasn’t even worthwhile to think about it.
“I’ll keep my word. For sure.”
Lianrius stared at his twin.
He thought Liarte, who lived her whole life in Elheim, was the only one who had ever pushed him away.
He felt a strange feeling at the end of his nerves.
The little warmth he felt in his hands belonged to the hand that only came into contact with his whenever he needed to use the ability of water.
Could this be her blood and flesh? He thought that if Liarte had heard his thoughts, she would have just ignored it.
It was only after Lianrius moved away did Liarte become free.
There were no men guarding Liarte.
‘All knights and awakeners should be escorting Lian.’
Now that the Spirit King of Water woke up, the Duke was going to try to protect Lianrius in every way.
As a result, Liarte, who was usually monitored, was able to roam freely.
‘Perhaps he thinks it’s okay now because the Spirit King of Water will give him power now and won’t be needing me anymore.’
It was a good thing anyway.
It was pleasant to walk outside during the day.
Sunlight and a cool breeze could be felt through the leaves. Even the  sound of birds chirping could be heard.
Then, a black shadow approached behind Liarte.
“I found you.”
She heard a pleasant low tone.
The man standing behind her was Michael, who had taken off his velvet eye patch.
Michael smelled as he felt the wind in the forest.
“Michael?”
The branches swaying in the wind stopped moving, and birds and animals became quiet, as if they were holding their breath.
It was her first time meeting him during the day as she had always seen him at night.
“I’ve been looking for you, Liarte.”
Michael was smiling prettily.
She didn’t know if it was a good way to describe his expression as he was a guy who was a head taller than Liarte after all.
“How did you know you I was here?”
Instead of saying that he followed the refreshing scent through the wind, Michael said.
“Just by feeling. Somehow, I felt that I would meet you when I came here.”
Walther, who hid among the trees, dropped his jaw as he stared at Michael.
It was absurd that the same person who usually acted cocky and showed a dog-like attitude would suddenly use a soft voice.
‘Moreover, that person is..’
It was Liarte Elheim, who was also known as an unawakener.
In fact, it was the first time Walter saw her in person. But he had followed Lianrius, so he recognized her similar face.
“Are your eyes okay?”
“It’s okay. I didn’t get sick today.”
In fact, as soon as he entered the forest, he stopped hunting and chased after Liarte. Fortunately, her twin wasn’t near Liarte.
Michael carefully touched her wrist where the blue bruise was starting to become visible for fear that he would end up hurting her if he wasn’t attentive enough.
“You’re bruised. It must have hurt.”
“It didn’t hurt.”
“Just looking at it hurts. That’s a bad bruise.”
Michael took out a small ointment. He then applied his medicine to Liarte’s wrist.
“I hope it gets better soon.”
Healing her wounds would’ve been simple with her watery powers, but now, Liarte was acting like an unawakener.
“Thank you.”
Liarte’s long lashes fluttered as she looked down.
She was indifferent but sweet, and she was too weak to other people’s kindness.
“Why are you here?”
“I missed you. Liarte.”
A friendly statement that was full of respect for Liarte.
It was different from the people here who didn’t even see her as a person.
”Me too, it’s good to see you,”
Walter shook his head from a distance as he witnessed the unfamiliar atmosphere.
The aid pretended not to know anything.
Michael had said that he liked her, and in Walter’s eyes, it seemed that Liarte also liked Michael too.
Walter eventually had to cover his eyes and ears as they looked like lovers before even dating.
“The Duke is watching, so I should go back soon. Are you attending today’s banquet?”
Liarte recalled Lianrius’s words.
“Come to the banquet.”
The dresses and accessories that Lianrius had sent were still left unopened in her room.
“If you’ll go, I’ll go too.”
Liarte replied.
“Would you like to dance together then?”
“I can’t dance.”
“It’s okay. I’ll teach you, Liarte.”
“Okay.”
Liarte nodded her head.
Michael, who was about to return, looked at Liarte again.
“Oh, I have a question.”
In fact, this was the main point.
Michael whispered into Liarte’s ear.
‘It’s a trivial question, but I don’t know why you’re asking that.’  She then made an indifferent look.
Michael just smiled sweetly and brightly.
“It’s because you need me.”
Liarte then equally whispered her answer into Michael’s ear.
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‘Silver fox.’
Lianrius was on the move.
As Elheim’s direct lineage, he had the basic skills of a nobleman.
Among them, hunting was something that he was quite good at and so Lianrius was called a genius in that field.
If I bring her the silver fox, Liarte may laugh again.
He remembered that she liked animals since a long time ago.
“Are you sure you’re going to catch a silver fox?”
“Leave him alone, brother. Who would like a fox.”
Aynias and Danterion questioned the youngest, who was chasing a fox. It was not a big game, but they did not ask deeply.
Hwi-Amin looked out of place.
Liarte chose the silver fox just so she could be separated from Lianrius, but he considered her to be anticipating it.
‘There’s a footprint.’
Animals living in the Elheim estate had little body odour, perhaps due to the influence of the water’s ability.
Thanks to this, he could only chase the prey only by their traces.
Soon, Lianrius found the silver fox’s fur.
However, when he followed the trail, he found a dead end. He felt as if it was laughing at him. The silver fox was surely smart.
“Lian.”
The Duke of Elheim, who caught two predators, found his youngest son.
“It’s no big deal. You’ll catch the silver fox.”
“It’s a small animal, not a beast, but it has to be caught for some reason.”
“You picked a hard prey.”
“The fox?”
“Since the breed was killed by our predecessors, the silver fox is supposed to be extinct.”
“But we have already found traces.”
Lianrius, who had said that, realized.
‘Maybe this silver fox was the last one left in Elheim.’
“Catch the silver fox. Alive.”
They had to catch it. The two pursued the silver fox.
The Duke moved quickly and fixed the longest rifle behind him. The footsteps and fur of the fox grew more and more.
“Shall I shoot it down?”
“No, it must be captured alive.”
Lianrius’s blue eyes burned. Soon, the fox was in front of him. It was Lianrius who first discovered the silver fox.
A fox with a mix of black and silver fur stood out, had its triangular ears raised. The sparkly amber eyes looked at the opponent intelligently.
The silver fox walked and hid itself.
It was too far for it to be held at once by the ability of water.
Lianrius  immediately pursued the fox.
The silver fox, who was walking sneakily, started running faster.
Lianrius continued to chase after the running silver fox.
‘A little more.’
Soon, the distance was narrowed.
As they moved, they set traps on the places the fox could escape, and the hole that looked like foxholes were covered with water.
There was nowhere for the fox to go anymore.
If he stretched out his hand, it seemed like he would be able to catch the silver fox.
By the time he almost got it, Lianrius saw someone close by.
Bang!
Gunshots rang out.
A black pistol with gold ornament. The man who shot the gun was wearing a velvet eye patch.
The hunting ground was a place where one could use a gun.
The bullet cleverly passed by the fox’s foot. The shocked fox staggered from the sudden attack.
Michael Birce approached slowly.
He then leisurely picked up the silver fox and held it in his arms.
It was an easy capture with little blood.
Lianrius clenched his teeth.
“Just what are you doing, Young Master Birce?”
The Duke of Elheim, who followed him late, looked at the two alternately. It was because the situation couldn’t be easily grasped.
“What is it?”
The lips raised under the eye patch. Michael then laughed, like his father, Carmen Birce.
“It seems like Young Master Lianrius Elheim, who can see, is less capable of hunting than me, who is blinded by a curse.”
Originally, it was against the dignity of the aristocracy to claim a prey that the other was chasing.
“Isn’t that right?”
The way he spoke was as sweet as candy. But anyone could tell that Michael was being sarcastic.
Even though he couldn’t see, he naturally trimmed his pistol and put it in place perfectly.
“Next time, try to catch it quickly.”
Michael laughed politely, just like the laugh he showed to Liarte. However the eyes under the velvet eye patch were cold.
“You won’t realize if it’s going to be taken from you again.”