CHAPTER 33
Luisa carefully dried her hands, glancing down at the familiar ring she wore. Is this why he’s here…? She’d tried not to think about it, but it was time to reveal the artifact—if Rafael noticed its activation, he’d surely recognize it.
Mary, still holding the door handle, asked, “All ready?”
Luisa blinked into the corridor where Rafael stood, waiting. She considered ignoring him, but then addressed him directly.
“Director.”
Rafael flinched, turning his gaze away. She watched his stiff posture, then deliberately curved her lips and held her hem while tilting her head.
“Going to lunch?”
Rafael cleared his throat. “…Yes. I’m headed there too—shall we go together?”
That’s odd—he wouldn’t normally follow.
Luisa blinked twice and nodded. She wasn’t eager, but decided it was better than risk him preparing strange health food if she ate alone in her room.
At lunch, Rafael walked beside her. He spoke in a hushed tone as she sat down.
“Duke Blake and the Viscount already left for the temple.”
Temple? Why now? she thought, raising her eyebrows.
He glanced down before sitting. “They left early to deliver something.”
Deliver… something.
Luisa asked, “What about you, Director?”
Rafael hesitated. “I’ll go after lunch.”
Really? Like an assignment? Hmph.
She bit her lip.
He searched her eyes, then spoke. “Shall we go immediately after eating?”
She nodded. “Two hours delay is fine.”
Good, that gives me time.
During the meal, Rafael couldn’t stop watching Luisa. She ate with such appetite that he nearly forgot manners. But she seemed unaware of his gaze, focusing only on her food.
Are you really okay? he worried. She’d bled yesterday, coughed up blood, yet never complained—if anything, she’d tried comforting Damian.
When Luisa softly said, “You should stay by my side,”
Rafael felt her loneliness—and perhaps others’, too.
His concerns included the spreading corruption in sacred relics—he might have needed to help elsewhere. I must fulfill my duty, he resolved, though eyes lingered on her.
After lunch, as they walked to the carriage, Luisa finally spoke.
“This,” she said, removing the ring and offering it.
Rafael’s brow furrowed. “…What is it?”
“An artifact. I promised to show it.”
He paused, surprise softening his expression. “You don’t need to if you don’t want to.”
“No,” she insisted, and he reached forward, taking it.
He examined it. “It’s an artifact?”
Luisa nodded.
“Have you activated it?”
She hesitated. “Unexpectedly…”
He scolded quietly. “That’s dangerous!”
He closed his eyes, exhaling sharply. “Are you unharmed?”
“Absolutely.”
He shook his head. “Incredible luck it didn’t harm you. Don’t fool around with unknown items again.”
She blinked, then nodded. But he stared, uneasy—even frustrated by her casual attitude.
She’s unpredictable…
Turning away, he watched her silhouette through the window. In the pale winter light, she looked unexpectedly like spring: her hair catching golden highlights, delicate features, translucent skin. He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them, his gaze drifting back to the ring in his palm.
The artifact’s transformation—embedding itself within the golden band—had been remarkable.
And possibly triggered by her speaking its incantation without realizing.
Eh? Director? The translation have gone considerably low. This was disappointing.