Episode 27
The letter contained only a simple message: ‘I have something important to discuss, come to the Imperial Capital.’
Detective Mellots nodded seriously.
“Of course, Your Highness. Even if Helena does not return, should an opportunity arise to send a letter via a messenger, I will do so at any time.”
After bidding farewell to Father Melotz in advance, Rurik came to see me.
Now that Helena was gone, the daily routine at the monastery seemed to have become a significant burden for Rurik.
‘His pupils are mottled again today…’
Was he feeling resentful towards the worship and meditation sessions recommended by Father Didio?
Every evening when he came to see me, a faint black shadow always lingered in his pupils, only to quickly disappear whenever he pressed his palm to my forehead or held my hand.
‘Now, I’m truly all that’s left for Rurik.’
To think the male lead, who must be redeemed at all costs, has to rely solely on the affection of his powerless younger sister…!
‘And I’m not even his real sister, just a clueless creator…!’
I sighed as I looked up at him, and Rurik, oblivious to the bleak reality I was contemplating, asked nonchalantly.
“Are you sighing because you’re upset about not being able to go to Babenberg?”
My brow furrowed automatically.
I’ve said it repeatedly, Babenberg was just a place I happened to plan to visit.
“No,” I replied curtly.
It was true that Callisteon had been expecting my visit, but he wouldn’t want a woman, believed to be carrying his child, to continue with strenuous travel either.
“I already sent word that I can’t visit Babenberg. Of course, the Grand Duke said it was fine and understood.”
This time, Rurik sighed and asked.
“Then what is the reason for your sigh? Your maid said you’ve recovered enough to return to the Imperial Capital.”
I evaded his gaze and replied.
“It’s just… there’s something on my mind.”
Yes, I can’t keep postponing this pitiful male lead’s fate, leaving it to a female lead whose return is uncertain.
‘Why does everything have to turn out like this?’
Gritting my teeth, I resolved to more actively save the blood-related figure in this world’s setting and my male lead.
“Something on your mind…?”
Rurik asked cautiously.
“Is there nothing your brother can do to help?”
“Brother, did you know?”
When I thought about it, the only key I had from the beginning was Helena.
“Know what?” he asked.
So, I decided to make the most of the clue Helena had left behind.
“That maid girl I liked. She said that during the three days she spent with me, her spiritual abilities manifested, and she became a religious.”
Rurik showed little interest and tried to laugh it off.
“Is that so? Then it’s become impossible for you to take her to the Imperial Capital.”
I answered sullenly.
“Of course. She’s already left on a pilgrimage to the holy sites.”
“Already?”
That seemed unexpected to Rurik too, as his red eyes widened slightly.
“But she left me with a message on her last day.”
“What was it?”
I arbitrarily adapted the incident where Helena had detected my pregnancy.
“Helena said that she senses… another energy from you, Brother. An energy that isn’t yours, but another one entirely.”
“What? How?”
Rurik frowned.
“Louise, shall I tell you what I think?”
He didn’t even wait for my answer and spoke skeptically.
“Everyone in this monastery merely seeks a cause for war and slaughter in me, hoping for penitence and reflection. They try to break me to my knees as if prayer can wash away sin, but in truth…!”
His calm voice momentarily intensified, then Rurik said grimly.
“They have no interest in my suffering. They torment me to remember the resentful sacrifices of the dead a little more, wishing upon me a fitting hell.”
I looked straight into Rurik’s pupils, where the black shadow was beginning to swirl again.
“No.”
Then I abruptly got out of bed and found a mirror.
“Look closely, Brother.”
I thrust the palm-sized mirror right in front of Rurik’s nose.
“I may have no spiritual abilities, but if it’s a black shadow eagerly waiting to devour you, I can see it clearly too.”
Rurik in the mirror frowned in disbelief.
“What is this…?”
He carefully raised a hand and pulled at the thin skin under his eye.
The darkness lurking deep within was plainly visible.
“Keep looking, Brother.”
I placed my palm over the back of his other hand and stared into the mirror with him.
In the brief moment we shared body heat, the black shadow scattered and disappeared without a trace.
Uncharacteristically, Rurik stammered as he asked.
“What… what is this? Has it been like this? My eyes?”
I deliberately shrugged as if it were nothing.
“Sometimes. Only when you’re feeling down. When I soothe you like this… it quickly gets better.”
Rurik asked with a suspicious look.
“Do you have some… special ability?”
I let out a cheerful laugh.
“I wish I did, Brother.”
Then I looked straight at him.
“Your powerless younger sister possesses no special abilities. Nothing except her love for you.”
“…Hm.”
Rurik awkwardly averted his gaze.
‘Why is this stiff man blushing to the tips of his ears over something that shouldn’t be so embarrassing between siblings?’
I almost laughed out loud but instead held Rurik’s hand tightly.
“I’m sure it’s not my unique ability. It’s probably just that you don’t have many people you emotionally rely on besides me.”
“Not many?” Rurik said self-deprecatingly.
“There isn’t a single one. None but you.”
See, even just to increase that number, I should have wooed Helena!
I looked at him regretfully.
“Helena said you must be careful of that energy. She said if you don’t handle it properly, it could harm you or the people around you.”
“You mean… like you too?”
I was half-convinced he wouldn’t harm me even if he lost control, but I wanted Rurik himself to be unaware of that fact.
“I suppose so?”
The more he cherished me, the more I wanted him not to know.
So that he would fear and avoid the unidentified black energy even more.
“Since I’m always so close to you, Brother.”
A belated fear flashed across Rurik’s face.
“But I feel nothing. So how can I be careful…?”
Then he suddenly ran his hands through his hair in anguish.
“Perhaps the Father was right. It seems… I am possessed by a death demon. Not that it would be strange, given how many have bled by my hand…”
Oh no…
‘To think my perfectly built male lead has such a fragile mental state!’
It feels like if you tap him, he’ll make a crunching sound and shatter to pieces!
“No, Brother!”
I shook my head vigorously and began fabricating a story.
“But she said that… um, sometimes bad energy can attach itself to an object you’ve carried with you for a long time, like from the battlefield, and follow you! Do you have any… item like that?”
Demon sword. Demon sword. Demon sword.
I chanted it like a mantra internally, but Rurik only tilted his head.
“I’ve discarded most things like clothes. If anything else I’ve brought… my belt? Something like that, I suppose.”
No, it’s not the belt…!
I felt a strong urge to shake my head, but it was too much to point directly to the sword in one go.
‘That sword was even bestowed upon him by the Emperor himself.’
The cunning Emperor had coaxed the young Rurik by saying he would bestow the imperial family’s treasured sword to whichever of his two sons excelled more in martial arts, and thus, the demon sword had long become a source of Rurik’s pride.
I glanced subtly at the demon sword and forced a smile.
“Yes, it could be the belt. Not just that, you should find and discard all items you brought from the battlefield. After that, I’ll keep checking on you to see if the black energy remains.”
But we don’t have that much time to spare right now, you know?
‘If time passes like this and you find out I’m pregnant, you’ll lose control, won’t you?’
So before that, let’s just get rid of that sword, please…!
