Chapter 35
The Enemy Is Too Warm
It was frustrating—wanting to be honest but unable to.
“…Because I want to protect them. I have to protect them.”
Sharmin’s head dropped of its own accord.
How? What more could she say?
Her mind went blank.
The king let out a short, dry laugh.
“I knew you cared for Elium more than anyone else.”
“…?”
Sharmin slowly lifted her head, bewildered.
“If you put it that way, then I have no choice. I’ll leave them to you. But if anything becomes difficult, speak up. It could be dangerous, so I’ll inform the Tower Master as well.”
Sharmin nodded in relief, grateful that her request had been accepted so easily.
As expected, Aheel Duff seemed to know Elium’s circumstances inside and out.
“How much does the Tower Master know?”
“Hm?”
The king acted as if he’d just heard something unusual.
Sharmin quickly rephrased.
“Ah, no… I mean, he knows everything too, right?”
“You’re stating the obvious. The Master of Runhill asked for trust in exchange for supporting us, didn’t he? Of course he has to know everything. You understand that better than anyone.”
The king even went so far as to say that if he ever deceived the Tower Master or hid the truth, Runhill would immediately withdraw its support for Elium and return to being an independent force.
“Ah, right. I just suddenly wanted to double-check.”
“You’re so anticlimactic. Then I’ll send word to you as things progress. Thank you for coming today.”
After bidding the king farewell, Sharmin left, silently patting her chest in relief.
Out in the corridor, she looked around for Aheel Duff.
She soon spotted him, leaning casually against a window.
He was idly bouncing a small ball—where he’d gotten it, she had no idea.
When she lingered for a moment, he seemed to sense her presence and looked up.
“All done?”
He straightened and walked toward her.
“Ah… yeah.”
He stopped right in front of her.
He said they share everything, right? Then he must know about the elves and about me, too.
That would make it easier to talk.
But Mia Belkinson had told her that Sharmin Pepe and Aheel Duff weren’t that close.
In fact, she’d said Aheel Duff didn’t particularly like Sharmin Pepe.
That suggested that aside from official matters, the two hadn’t had much personal interaction.
Of course, it might just be Mia’s opinion.
Still, Mia Belkinson had known this body’s original owner far longer than she had—so Sharmin could only put more stock in her words.
When she’d subtly asked Bakun about it while buying Jesper’s weapon, he’d said much the same thing.
So had Alonso, and even Lord Alessandro.
Do Elium’s people have a different definition of ‘close’ than I do?
She knew Aheel had his eccentricities, but since she didn’t truly know what was in his heart, she felt even more uncertain.
The odd, probing questions he’d asked her before—
They didn’t seem like the sort of things you asked someone you were only moderately friendly with.
It was more like he was acting as her guardian.
Was she overthinking it?
The more she thought about it, the more she wondered if even his saving her that time had really been a coincidence.
His questions had felt less like idle curiosity and more like attempts to test her convictions—sometimes even to change her mind.
They say that once you reach a certain level, you see the world differently.
She’d only ever seen what she wanted to see, but maybe he really did have that broader vision.
Maybe she should just ask.
“Your face.”
Aheel bent forward, bringing his face close to hers.
Sharmin froze and blinked.
“…My face?”
She raised a hand to touch her cheek. What about it?
“Your expression doesn’t look good.”
Still blinking blankly, Sharmin let out a belated “Ah…” as her mind caught up.
“Did something happen in there?”
“No. Nothing.”
“Then that’s good.”
Aheel straightened again.
“Shall we head back?”
Sharmin nodded, then glanced at the long path stretching from the palace entrance.
“Want to walk to the gate?”
After the war, she’d never walked this route. She wanted to stroll along this path, alive with vibrant greenery.
“Sure.”
Aheel took the lead, and she followed close behind.
Instead of teleporting, the two walked down the broad palace road.
Everywhere was green.
The air was thick with life.
There wasn’t a single patch of rot or shadow.
For a place supposedly cursed, it overflowed with vitality.
No wonder Lakan resented it.
I guess I’ll have to go see for myself.
She had never imagined she’d set foot in her homeland again this way.
But will I even be able to go? Maybe it’s better to focus on seeing my disciples safely first. Which is the safer course?
“…Haa.”
As she sighed, a pair of polished shoes appeared in her line of sight.
She looked up to see that Aheel had stopped in front of her.
“What did you two talk about in there to make you like this?”
“Ah…”
Should she just tell him now?
But where to start?
If she wanted to protect her disciples, she’d have to keep dealing with him—especially for the sake of the Halslake–Soro Forest elves relationship.
And even if she didn’t say anything, he’d find out sooner or later.
Now that he’d agreed to side with Elium, the king would inevitably tell him everything.
In truth, there were more than a few things she wanted to ask him.
Fidgeting with her face, she lifted her head again.
“Um… there’s something I want to ask you.”
“Mm, go ahead.”
Sharmin swallowed dryly.
“We’re… close friends, right?”
“Hm.”
He gave her a strange look, then let out a cryptic sound.
“Were we close? Or not?”
She hadn’t meant to press, but the follow-up slipped out.
“Why do you want to know that?”
He threw the question back at her.
Sharmin narrowed her eyes.
“…Why? Because I lost my memory.”
“What about after you lost it?”
“…What?”
“You don’t remember anyway. I’m asking how it is now.”
“What’s that supposed to mean—”
He shrugged.
“I’m saying you can speak freely.”
“Oh.”
With that, there didn’t seem to be much point in asking further—she could ask the rest later.
“Not sure if you’ve heard yet, but I think Rintvel will be sending people soon. And the list of names—”
“Who is this?!”
A shout from behind cut her off.
Sharmin turned to see Keniz Sadinarr striding toward them in full armor, probably in the middle of duty.
“You really are here!”
“Duke Sadinarr.”
Memories of the banquet made her falter, but his face still looked as open and refreshing as ever.
“Were you here to see His Majesty? Together? You two have been glued at the hip lately.”
“Not really.”
They’d only been walking together, not exactly glued together. She instinctively shuffled a step to the side.
“So what brings you to the palace? The both of you?”
Sharmin hesitated.
She couldn’t avoid mentioning Rintvel, and he seemed more hostile toward them than anyone.
It was understandable.
As the man commanding the army, of course he’d be more antagonistic toward Rintvel.
And before the war, he and Sharmin—carrying out Lakan’s orders—had clashed several times.
Since he’d never succeeded in stopping her, he’d have even more reason to dislike Rintvel.
To Duke Keniz Sadinarr, Sharmin Noël Kenders was the perfect enemy—both politically and personally.
“Why are you so curious?”
When she hesitated, Aheel chided him.
“I’m not curious about you. I was asking the Marquis of Pepe. Right, Pepe?”
Sharmin forced an awkward smile.
“I just had a light chat with His Majesty.”
“Oh, I bet he enjoyed that. Ah, Pepe—remember that advice you gave me last time?”
“…?”
He tapped his left thigh.
“Yeah, this is my weak spot. I’ve been training hard lately.”
Surprised, Sharmin thought that could’ve been an insult to his pride—yet he sounded almost pleased.
She herself had never taken well to being taught, probably from a childhood of being knocked around in mercenary life.
Before pledging loyalty to Lakan, even more so.
The Sharmin of the past had been the farthest thing from humble.
“Well, sparring’s been scarce lately, but there’s someone I really want to beat one day.”
From the sharp look in his eyes, she could guess exactly who that was.
Though she would never again raise her sword to kill, she nodded willingly.
“Whoever it is, I hope you win.”
Keniz’s face lit up.
“Pepe, for you to cheer me on—then I must win!”
He seemed in such good spirits that he had no intention of leaving, despite being on duty.
From his armor, he must’ve been training with his knights.
“So, Pepe, how’s your shop these days? If you need any heavy lifting, just say the word.”
“Ah, even the offer is appreciated.”
“And how about stopping by the training grounds sometime? I’d like your keen eyes on my men’s drills.”
Sharmin quickly raised her hands.
“No, I’m not really… suited for that.”
“Why not? The advice you gave me was more than enough. How about right now, since you’re here?”
Feeling a bit overwhelmed by his persistence, Sharmin instinctively stepped back.
Aheel, who had been standing with his arms crossed, finally sighed and uncrossed them.
“We should talk at home instead.”
“…Huh?”
He held out his hand to her.
Without thinking, she reached out and took it.
The moment he grasped her hand, he teleported.
“Hey, what did I do wrong—!”
Keniz Sadinarr’s voice cut off mid-protest.
