Today, for some reason, I woke up with a bad feeling.
“Why is my hand shivering?”
It wasn’t just any regular bad feeling. It was one that seemed to come from deep within my bones. It made every part of me shiver, and the more time passed, the worse the sensation became.
“What’s going on? Did I develop Leon’s senses…?”
I waited for some sort of vision to pop up to confirm my guesses, but it never appeared.
By the time I had to leave for the Congress, the feeling had only worsened, gnawing at my insides like some sort of hookworm.
‘Seriously, what in the world is going on?’
Why was I feeling this way?
To Tok—
When Leon’s inevitable knock came, I hesitated before finally reaching out to open the door. The moment I did, he lowered his head, his gaze sharpening as if sensing something off about me.
“Are you okay?”
“Do I look okay?”
“…You don’t. Your face looks quite pale.”
“Like I thought…”
For whatever reason, the feeling continued to invade every part of my body, only growing stronger with each passing second.
“Could you be exhausted from yesterday?”
“Why would I be exhausted? If there’s anyone who should be exhausted, it should be you.”
“That’s true.”
Leon smiled wryly before tilting his head again.
“Then…?”
“I don’t know.”
I helplessly raised my hands.
“Ever since this morning, I’ve been having a terrible feeling. I don’t know what it is, but it’s leaving me unsettled.”
“You’ve been having a terrible feeling? “
Leon’s brows knitted tightly the moment I revealed the reason for my current state. Covering his mouth, he began to mumble, ‘There’s no way, right? I thought it only applied to me. How is that possible…? No, it could just be one of his whims…’
Whims? What was he talking about? What sort of whims did I have?
Regardless,
“I don’t know. Whatever the case is, it’s not like we can miss today.”
The event was of utmost importance, and knowing how arrogant some people could be, my absence might easily be taken as a deliberate insult.
Sadly, this was how the noble circle worked at times. Things were already kind of difficult because of the family head’s absence. If not for the fact that Leon and I were more popular than him, then they could’ve easily have caused trouble.
Unless I were on my deathbed, skipping the event simply wasn’t an option.
With a sigh, I adjusted my clothes and stepped out of the room. Just as I was about to pass Leon, I suddenly halted, my gaze drifting to his outfit—specifically, the crisp new blazer and suit he was wearing.
“You bought a new one? I’m telling you. You could’ve easily had your blazer sewn back togeth—”
“You know…”
Leon stopped me with his hand.
“…Whatever bad feeling you’re having. I hope it happens.”
“Uh?”
I was taken aback.
“How could you talk to me like that? I am—”
“Money has changed you.”
Leon clicked his tongue, his head shaking in disappointment as he turned his back on me and walked again.
Slowly walking away, Leon kicked the ground while mumbling, ‘Things would be different if I were some sort of prince… The way I’d have him executed in a heartbeat…’
“…..”
Watching him walk away, I slowly lowered my head to stare at my hands.
They were trembling.
“O-oh.”
I then recalled who the people speaking today were and pursed my lips before reaching out for my communication device and texting Amell.
—You… guys are not planning on revealing Leon’s identity, are you?
I prayed.
Prayed that I was overthinking as I sent the message.
But,
Ding!
—Uh? How did you know?
My prayers didn’t work.
“A-ah.”
I lowered my hand as my communication device continued to vibrate. Most likely, Amell trying to figure out how I figured everything out.
But none of it mattered anymore.
“I’m about to get executed, aren’t I…?”
*
Even though I had every reason to stay away, I knew I had to go. My legs wobbled as I made my way to the palace for the Congress, and along the route, I caught several people stealing curious glances in my direction.
I was too busy thinking of a way to stop this entire mess to care.
‘The reporter might be here again. What if I use the Emotive tag and have him pass out? That could distract everyone and make sure that the announcement isn’t made. No, what if I just let him do his job thing? Eitheway, I’m fucked. In that case, I might as well choose the lesser evil…’
The situation was desperate. I didn’t want to think like this, but I was being pushed into a corner.
‘…Even better, what if I become a terrorist?’
My thoughts contained to spiraled, growing darker by the second.
“What is wrong with you? You’ve been acting strange since we started heading for the congress.”
As Leon’s voice pulled me from my thoughts, I found him staring at me, his face looking confused.
I merely brushed off his concern with a wave.
“I’m fine… Just a little wary about the strange feeling. I hope that I’m overthinking.”
I hurried my steps and entered the place. As usual, it was packed, and guards appeared everywhere.
It was just as closely guarded as it had been the day before. Scanning my surroundings in haste, my eyes eventually landed on a particular figure striding toward us with a calm, his steps even.
Well, he did look calm on the surface, but looking at him, he appeared somewhat rushed.
“Oh, you guys… are here.”
The figure was none other than Amell, who approached us with a smile, though it seemed quite forced.
“I was really busy the past few days, so I never had the chance to greet you.”
So he said, but I could see that the only reason he had come out was because of something else, as his eyes continued to dart in my direction.
I could more or less understand why he was acting this way.
‘For whatever reason, they’re keeping the announcement a secret.’
My guess was that it most likely had to do with Leon’s safety.
I wasn’t really familiar with the politics involving the Verdant Empire, so I could only speculate.
“I met Aoife on the way here. She also looks quite busy. Oh, and Kaelion and Caius are also here.”
“They are?”
I looked around. I hadn’t seen the two since the Congress started. But then again, the two weren’t exactly popular in their home nation.
At least Kaelion wasn’t a high-ranked noble, and Caius had long since fallen out of favor with his family.
“Yeah, yeah, they’re right there.”
Amell pointed towards a certain direction. Following the direction he pointed at, my face twitched.
It all finally dawned on me. The reason I couldn’t find them at all.
It wasn’t because the two of them were hiding or anything of the sort. Far from it.
“Oh.”
Leon scratched the back of his head, his expression turning strange.
“The two are quite popular.”
Indeed, they were quite popular. Surrounded by several girls, they smiled gently and conversed with them, their expressions calm and their hair neatly styled.
At a glance, they looked like the epitome of refined nobles—perfectly embodying the image of elegance and gentleness. My face twisted in disgust.
‘It makes me want to puke.’
As if sensing our gazes, the two of them raised their heads and looked at us. Our eyes met for the briefest of moments, and their faces froze.
I shook my head in disappointment.
‘Disgusting…’
But most importantly, why was the difference between us so big?
Not that I cared about being surrounded like them, but I was sure I was also pretty handsome.
How come they had so many people flocking to them and not me?
“Oh, it’s because you look scary.”
“Eh…?”
Raisisng my head and looking at Amell who had spoken, I cocked my head.
What was he…?
“I just assumed you were thinking why they were like that, and you weren’t. You were making that kind of face.”
“That…”
Was I being that obvious? No, more importantly…
I turned my head and looked at Leon.
“Do I look that scary? I don’t look scary.”
Leon’s lips pursed as he mumbled, “Well…”
“What, really?”
Leon didn’t say anything more than that, but his face said it all. I found myself at a complete loss for words.
“Leaving Julien aside, I’m more surprised by Leon.”
“Hm?”
I looked up to see Amell carefully scrutinising Leon.
“I can understand Julien, but I’m more surprised by you. Is it because you’re a knight? Why—”
“I know the answer to that.”
I cut Amell off.
“It’s because his face looks stupid.”
“It doesn’t look stupid. You’re stupid.”
“What sort of comeback is that?”
“He looks stupid?”
Amell frowned while looking at me and Leon. He then shook his head.
“He doesn’t look stupid.”
“Of course you’d say that.”
You two share the same stupid-looking genes.
I held my words at the last moment as Amell’s eyes squinted.
Then, as if recalling why he had suddenly come to greet us, he looked in my direction.
“Leaving those matters aside, I have something I need to talk to you about.”
He then looked at Leon.
“If you wouldn’t mind.”
“….?”
Leon raised his brow, alternating his gaze between the two of us, but seeing me nod, he eventually stepped away and left.
With him leaving, it was just Amell and me as he lowered his tone while looking at the departing Leon.
“Did… he… You know?”
“If you’re asking whether I told him about what I figured out, then you don’t need to worry. I didn’t say a single thing. I can tell why you didn’t choose to reveal it.”
“…That’s good.”
Amell placed his hand on his chest, sighing in relief.
I looked at him carefully.
“That aside, I’m curious about something.”
“What are you curious about?”
“I know that you’re trying to keep this a secret for his sake, but couldn’t you have told him in advance? I thought the reason why you suddenly showed up at Haven was because of that.”
“That was the original plan, but… things have changed recently.”
“Hm?”
Did something happen in the Verdant Empire?
My ears perked up, but before I could ask for more, a sudden commotion gained the attention of everyone present.
Slowly turning my head, several people appeared by the entrance of the hall.
Dressed in yellow tunics, with a large cross in the middle of their chest, a group of people entered. Their presence alone was enough to gain the attention of several people, but it wasn’t enough to make everyone stare.
The reason everyone was staring was because of someone else.
With long, flowing blonde hair and half-closed eyes, barely allowing a glimpse of her crystal-clear blue gaze, she exuded an aura of purity that captivated everyone in the room.
Her features were strikingly clear, carrying an innate charm that effortlessly drew everyone’s gaze toward her.
Her looks… they were enough to rival Delilah.
“It’s her…”
“She’s here?”
“Why is she here?”
Seeing how everyone was talking about her, I looked towards Amell, who looked equally stunned.
“Wait, who is she?”
“That…”
Amell licked his lips, his eyes regaining their focus as he took a deep breath.
“…She’s the chosen one of the Round Table, the light of all Templars. The Saintess of Light.”