Episode 5
I blinked blankly at him, and Castian moved his hand even closer.
What’s this?
Is he planning to chop me in the solar plexus with a knife-hand strike?
That’s too much for someone who nearly tumbled down the stairs!
As I instinctively pulled my body back to avoid his hand, Castian let out a frustrated sigh and grabbed my hand.
“This way, you won’t fall.”
Then, without another word, he began to descend the stairs.
Holding up my skirt in one hand and clasping Castian’s hand with the other, I carefully walked down the steps beside him.
What in the world is going on now?
Is he holding my hand just so I won’t trip?
He even slowed his pace to match mine.
Thanks to that, I was able to walk comfortably. I stole a glance at Castian’s side profile as we walked together.
His sharp jawline and sculpted nose were works of art, sure, but… kindness from a fearsome necromancer?
He was like a warm baguette—crusty on the outside but soft inside.
He’d been kind of annoying earlier when he made a big deal about removing his hood, but yes, this man truly deserved to be my favorite.
Whatever the case, with Eden glaring daggers into my back from behind, I had no one else to rely on but Castian.
He had said that if I held onto his soul properly, he’d believe in my innocence. In the end, my only chance of survival in this place was through him.
Just you wait, Castian.
Until you return to life, I’ll make sure to protect your soul with everything I have.
I’m not about to let that cursed author have their way after killing off the male lead and making me run for my life.
As I stared at the side of Castian’s face and silently renewed my determination, our eyes met.
He glanced at me briefly, then quickly turned his head away and muttered in a low voice,
“Watch where you’re going. Do you plan to fall again?”
His tone was curt, but his warning had the faint, toasty warmth of freshly baked bread.
“Yes!”
Now that we were holding hands, the amount of mana consumed was significantly reduced, making it much easier to maintain the soul-binding spell.
In high spirits, I skipped along cheerfully until we reached the edge of the duke’s estate, where members of the expedition—wearing the same disapproving look as Eden—were waiting.
Though they all respectfully bowed their heads to their commander and expedition leader, Castian, their eyes clearly said they wanted to strangle me on the spot.
Perhaps unwilling to show them he had been holding hands with a necromancer in front of so many, Castian let go of my hand and stepped forward.
I shrank behind his back, trying to escape the blade-like gazes piercing into me.
Castian glanced at me and then quickly mounted his horse.
“Let’s move.”
At his command, the others mounted their horses as well, and Eden led a horse to me.
It was a brown horse with a white mark on its forehead, and it had beautiful eyes… and enormous nostrils.
It was the first time I’d ever seen a horse in real life.
I stood frozen in fascination, staring blankly, until Eden barked at me in an irritated tone.
“What are you doing? Lord Castian is waiting.”
I turned to look at Castian—and sure enough, he and all the other expedition members already on horseback were staring at me.
So… I’m supposed to ride this?
Can I even ride a horse?
I’ve never ridden one before, and I have no idea how Lydia did it in the novel!
I hesitantly grabbed the reins Eden had practically thrown at me, and the horse snorted and shook its head.
At that moment, I knew for sure.
I couldn’t ride this thing.
What the heck—it’s huge. And terrifying.
“What are you waiting for?”
His voice, dripping with annoyance, prodded me again, but I couldn’t summon the courage to mount.
I wanted to cry. Truly.
Oh heavens above, what sin have I committed?
Swallowing back tears, I raised my right foot toward the stirrup, but the cruel horse stomped its hoof and tossed its head wildly.
Hey! Not you too! If I don’t ride you now, those people might ride me down instead!
“I-I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Just once, okay? Please, just let me ride you this once…”
I begged earnestly, but the horse continued to snort and stomp, and I was hopping in place beside it when—
With a sigh, Castian dismounted and walked over to me, then lifted me by the waist.
“Eep!”
My body floated up, and the next thing I knew, my butt landed on the horse’s back.
Hard! This feels so weird! Ugh—it’s moving, it’s moving!
Before I could finish panicking, Castian mounted behind me and took the reins.
We were in an awkward back-hugging position, but that was the least of my concerns right now.
Without warning, Castian spurred the horse into motion.
“Let’s go!”
As he sped forward, the other members followed in a thunderous charge.
We raced at what felt like 480 km/h, galloping well past the imperial capital of Heimnad and beyond.
As planned, we split up with the rest of the expedition midway and arrived in front of a mansion in a small city.
It was already pitch dark outside.
Pulling back on the reins, Castian leaned close to my ear and asked,
“You alright?”
“Alright? I’m practically dead!”
I had nearly bitten my tongue at least eight times, my spine had dislocated in every possible way, and I was fairly certain my tailbone had shattered.
When he helped me down, my legs twisted like I was dancing to silent music.
“I’ll arrange a carriage next time,” he said, offering me his hand.
He must’ve realized just how wrecked I looked.
It was my first time seeing a ‘carriage’ too, but never had the word ‘vehicle’ sounded so beautiful.
Bless civilization.
Grabbing his hand, I limped into the mansion with him.
Though this was supposedly a safe house used by Bernstein’s intelligence agents, it looked like a normal noble residence from the outside.
Not quite on the level of the Bernstein estate, but still large and well-staffed.
Castian requested a meal for me from what appeared to be the butler and was about to walk off when Eden muttered under his breath.
“Giving a nec—someone like her a meal is far too generous.”
He couldn’t say “necromancer” out loud, lest someone hear, but his tone dripped with discontent.
I could understand disliking a dark mage, but taking issue with me eating? That was too much.
Even a death row inmate gets fed. What a heartless guy.
I glared secretly at the back of Ethen’s red head, but then Castian turned to him with a sharp expression.
“Her name is Lydia.”
“…Sir?”
“She is not ‘someone like her.’ She’s Lydia, Eden. If you act disrespectfully toward someone staying with me, others will start asking questions.”
A rare and welcome defense.
Only the expedition members present at the strategy meeting knew Castian was relying on my soul-binding magic to keep moving like a living person.
Even if my identity was exposed, the bigger problem would be if his condition were revealed.
That’s why I was trying to keep my necromancer status hidden in the first place.
Eden drooped like a kid who’d just been scolded and mumbled,
“…Understood.”
Castian patted his slumped shoulder and walked off again.
When we reached his room, a simple but hearty meal had been set on the table.
As I nibbled on the soup, I nervously glanced at Castian sitting across from me.
He rested his arm on the chair and his forehead on his fingers, quietly watching me.
Okay, I get that he can’t eat because he’s technically dead, but why’s he staring like that?
Am I supposed to eat or not?
Just as I thought I’d choke from nerves, he finally spoke.
“We’ll have to pretend to be lovers for the time being.”
“L-Lovers?!”
I nearly spat out my soup.
Barely managing to keep it in, I looked at him in shock. He laced his fingers and rested them on the table, answering casually,
“We’ll need to share a room. What other explanation is there for our arrangement?”
Ah, so that’s what he meant. I’d panicked for nothing.
It was easier to maintain the soul-binding spell the closer we were. Physical contact worked best.
Still, it’s not like the spell broke the moment we weren’t touching.
I planned to keep it up by sheer willpower. Otherwise, he’d die.
The farther apart we were, the more mana it consumed—but if I stayed in a nearby room, it should be fine.
“That would be uncomfortable for you. I’ll just stay in the next room.”
I said it out of consideration for him, but his blue eyes suddenly turned cold.
“I told you not to leave my side. How can I trust what you’ll do if I can’t see you?”
That was… a completely reasonable suspicion.
If I withdrew the spell, he’d die instantly. He was staking his life on me now, but had no reason to trust me.
I genuinely wanted to save him—but he had no reason to believe my sincerity.
To him, I was nothing more than an untrustworthy dark mage.
Realizing that, my appetite disappeared completely.
I set my spoon down and lowered my head.
“Alright.”
He was silent for a moment, then asked curtly,
“Do you dislike it?”
