“Since it looks like you know where to go, where should we go?”
My gaze unconsciously drifted to the thick book in Delilah’s hands. Ever since we left the Inn, she would stop, glance at the book, and then head in a specific direction.
This had gone on at least five times.
Normally, I wouldn’t have minded, but seeing people around me stare at Delilah, I couldn’t help but feel my lips twitch. Didn’t she make it so people wouldn’t look at her? Yet, even so, her presence alone was enough to draw attention.
What kind of power was this?
I felt like we were in some sort of zoo.
Wherever we passed, gazes would wonder our way. Well, Delilah’s way. Unlike her, I knew how to hide my face well.
‘Oh, shit. Looks like someone is finally getting the courage to come talk to her.’
Just one look his way and I could tell he was someone with somewhat of a status. He also appeared powerful enough to notice something off with Delilah.
“I found a nice place. Want to check it out?”
“Eh….? But we’re almost—”
I grabbed Delilah by the shoulders and brought her into the nearest shop.
I glanced around. The shop was spacious yet filled with a pleasant, aromatic scent that was soothing to the senses. Ahead were several rows of different clothing, all unique and different than the one I was used to.
That’s when I realized—it was a clothing store.
‘Uh, he’s here.’
Looking back, I grabbed a few outfits off the rack and hurriedly pulled Delilah toward the changing rooms before closing the curtain behind me.
She had been strangely obedient ever since I pulled her into the store.
“Well, you should try these. I think they might not be—”
I stopped halfway through my sentence as I heard the sound of her breath. It was somewhat quick.
That’s when I realized the kind of situation we had gotten ourselves into.
I swallowed quietly and looked towards the closed curtain.
“I… I was in a haste, so… I didn’t think much when I entered.”
My words were met with silence. Glancing down, I noticed Delilah’s gaze fixed on my nose. The space was tight, and with even the slightest movement, we’d be inches away from touching.
I tried moving my head back to draw some distance between us, but as though my head was a magnet, Delilah’s head followed.
I licked my lips and tried to start a conversation.
“….How far did you say the sightseeing place was? It shouldn’t be far, right?”
“I already am.”
“Huh?”
What did she just say?
Delilah pulled the handbook behind her and added,
“There’s another one, but it’s far.”
“No, I’m pretty sure you said it was close just a few minutes ago.”
“You heard wrong.”
“So you say.”
“No, it is.”
“Sure.”
“It will take a long time, so we can stay here.”
“…..”
There it was! Her real motive. However, what could I say to her? Seeing how she was so insistent on it, I decided to stay quiet. But with that being said, Delilah’s gaze continued to remain fixed on my face, and I felt a lump form in my throat.
Just how long was she going to stare for?
It was rather uncomfortable.
The notifications flashing in front of me were starting to get increasingly annoying.
Thankfully, this hell didn’t persist for very long. By the time I was sure that the ‘weirdo’ was gone, I pulled out of the changing room and reminded Delilah to try on the clothes before leaving.
She never did try the clothes though, saying something like, “They don’t look quite nice. You should’ve picked something better. But if you also wear the same one, then…”
Well, sure, I did pick them randomly, but it was for the sake of the situation.
In the end, coming out of the shop, we decided to go to a more secluded street in order to avoid any attention.
We eventually stopped by the place that Delilah wanted to see, and as expected, it was only a five-minute walk.
I didn’t even bother bringing it up to her, knowing she would just randomly switch the topic or feign ignorance. Overall, the place was quite nice. It had a nice view, and I managed to relax a little.
Unfortunately, it was soon nighttime.
Before I knew it, the three hours were up, and thus, I had no choice but to bid farewell to Delilah, who glared at her pocketwatch, mumbling things like, ‘Scam? Did I get scammed? How could it be…?’
Seeing how distressed she was, I looked at my pocketwatch and laughed.
“That would make the two of us. I think I also got scammed.”
***
Evenus Household.
“Father, may I come in?”
“…You may.”
As Linus entered the Family Head’s office, he immediately saw the family head sitting behind the desk, wearing his usual stern expression.
Although he was aware of Linus’s presence, Aldric kept his attention on the documents before him.
Scribble~
As a result, Linus stood in front of him with an awkward expression.
Each second Linus stood there felt like an eternity, and just when he couldn’t hold it any longer, Aldric finally broke the silence.
“I heard that you managed to rank third overall this year.”
“…Ah, yes!”
Linus’s head shot up the moment he heard his father’s words.
Ever since the incident with Julien in the Mirror Dimension, it was as if something had shattered within him. This led to a significant leap in both his abilities and the way others perceived him.
As a result, he managed to rank up all the way to the third rank.
He was still not the Black Star, but at the rate that he was growing, it wouldn’t be possible for him to reach it by the second year.
“Hmm, that is not bad.”
“Yes!”
Hearing Aldric’s words, Linus’s ears perked up.
He felt a strange sense of excitement. This… while it wasn’t exactly a compliment, it was still a lot better than anything his father had ever said.
He was clearly satisfied, and Linus felt moved.
But, of course, the excitement didn’t last for long.
“I’ve received word that your brother, Julien, has recently regained the first rank.”
Aldric paused and put the pen down before raising his head.
“What do you take of that?”
“I…”
A complicated look flashed Linus’s features.
He still hated and despised his brother, yet, in a strange way, he had also played a part in helping him grow to this point. There were moments when his brother seemed like a completely different person from the one he had seen in the nightmares and the one he knew.
But at the same time, he couldn’t forget the moment when his brother had revealed his true self to him.
Was he acting, or was there more to it…?
Regardless of that, if there was one thing that he couldn’t deny, it was the fact that his brother was a monster. His rate of growth was unbelievable, and his achievements were second to none.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to say he was currently the most known cadet.
But at the same time, he was also the scariest.
‘Haven’s Demon King’ was what they called him, but the rumor was quickly shut down when Julien found out about it, and he started giving a beating to anyone he heard saying that name.
Considering he had never reacted that way to his previous nickname, “The Twin Star of the Evenus Household,” it was likely that he loved his previous nickname.
With a sigh, Linus turned to his father again.
“Within the Academy, there’s no one that has more prestige than Julien. I’ve seen his strength firsthand, and I don’t see any foul play. In that sense, I have nothing to say about his achievements. He earned them.”
“I see.”
Aldric nodded, but for a brief moment, Linus felt like he caught a fleeting, barely noticeable curve of his lips.
However, it lasted only a moment, vanishing as quickly as it appeared, leaving Linus questioning whether what he had seen was real or just his imagination.
Unfortunately, he never found out, as he was quickly dismissed from the room, leaving Aldric alone to lean back in his chair.
“…..”
He stood in silence for a brief moment before a figure appeared beside him.
“Family Head.”
“Mhm.”
Aldric merely acknowledged with a nod as the figure started speaking.
“The trade deal between the Kasha is proceeding smoothly. The Verlice family has agreed to act as an intermediary between us, and over the past several months, we’ve made significant profits. Should we reinvest the profits into the territory?”
“Not yet.”
“But if we don’t, our neighboring households will become restless. As it stands, they’ll begin to attack us, claiming that we’re not properly managing our land.”
“As they should.”
“Uh…?”
Taken aback, the figure met Aldric’s gaze, his eyes dark and endless. Like pools of black that seemed to lead straight into the abyss.
Those eyes…
They didn’t seem like the eyes of a mere family head.
What sort of—
Cutting his thoughts short was the Family Head’s cold voice.
“You need to do what you’re told. Nothing more, nothing less.”
A chance occurred then.
It was as if his eyes had come alive; they twisted unnervingly, as though they were attempting to swallow him whole.
Thankfully, the sensation only lasted for a brief moment before Aldric turned away and dismissed him.
“Haa… Haaa…”
“You may go. “
The figure didn’t wait a single second before fading from the spot.
It was only after he had left that Aldric focused his attention back to his work.
Scribble~ Scribble~
He continued to work on the files for the next few hours until he suddenly recalled something.
‘Oh, right.’
He checked the time.
“Julien and Leon should have already arrived at the Congress.”
The Congress was a highly significant event that most would never think of skipping. Aldric, however, had no intention of attending himself, instead sending Leon and Julien in his place.
There were various reasons, but it mostly had to do with the fact that he was too busy handling the situation within his territory. It needed his full attention.
With that in mind, Aldric’s thoughts drifted to the letter on his desk.
It bore a golden insignia, the symbol of the Verdant Empire.
“…I guess they’re finally going to make their move.”
Their goal was clear, Leon.
The Emperor and the Empress were most likely going to reveal Leon’s origin at the Congress.
It would surely be a sight to see.
Still, the fact that they had only recently discovered Leon’s origins and whereabouts seemed somewhat amusing. This was especially considering their power and connections.
“As they say, it’s what’s hidden in plain sight that’s far more elusive than what’s hidden behind a veil.”
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Aldric tapped onto the wooden table, mumbling,
“Leon… Leon… Leon…”