Chapter : 52
Sirius clicked his tongue at the open door. He couldn’t believe how defenseless it was.
“You’re not afraid at all… not even locking the door.”
He deliberately made a sound so Selene inside could wake up, but no response came. The bed, bathed in moonlight, was empty.
Sirius hurried into the room. He looked around, but Selene was nowhere to be seen.
“Did she run away?”
It was just before entering the territory where the Demon King was sealed. Perhaps the pressure had been too much, and she chose to flee.
Sirius rushed up the stairs in search of any trace of Selene.
As he was passing through the hall toward the entrance, he froze at the sound of laughter coming from the parlor.
“Could she be there?”
It wouldn’t hurt to check. Sirius turned and walked toward the parlor.
“…hmm.”
Noel’s voice came from inside. Sirius stopped his hand just as he was about to open the door.
If Noel was there, there was no need to go in. Selene might have gone far away even at this hour.
Without hesitation, Sirius turned away.
At that moment, he heard Selene’s laughter from beyond the parlor door.
“Together…?”
Sirius grabbed the doorknob. Carefully pulling it to avoid making a sound, he saw Noel’s broad back. And beyond him…
Selene was there, cheeks flushed, biting her lip.
Sirius couldn’t contain the surge of anger rising within him.
“What are you doing?”
He observed both Selene and Noel.
Noel wore a meaningful smile, while Selene looked nervous, stealing glances.
Sirius felt his heart race in a way he hadn’t experienced before.
“Disgust.”
It was different from the annoyance he felt toward the Crown Prince’s irritating face. He was feeling an emotion he usually only felt toward monsters—toward Noel.
“Was this a symptom of the side effects?”
Sirius clenched his fists, trying not to unleash his anger.
After Selene left the parlor, Sirius stood in place, staring at Noel.
Noel gestured toward the sofa as if inviting him to sit.
Sirius glared at him without a word. Noel shrugged and spoke.
“Do you have something to say?”
“What did you do?”
Noel lifted his teacup, eyes fixed on it, and replied,
“Well… I don’t think it’s something worth telling the Duke.”
Sirius’s icy gaze made Noel set the teacup down with a clatter.
Noel, usually so refined and elegant, acted roughly.
“You’re just someone I have to use anyway… I don’t understand why you care so much.”
Sirius understood perfectly well. Selene was merely a tool for the seal. Yet, he couldn’t help blurting out:
“You didn’t do anything strange, did you?”
“I’m not sure what you mean by ‘strange’… but even if I did, what difference would it make?”
Sirius ground his teeth. Noel must not realize that his behavior was odd, or worse, that the contract had gone wrong.
Straightening his stern expression, Sirius said:
“Treat a tool like a tool.”
“A tool? That’s harsh.”
After walking for a long time, the group busily prepared a place to rest as the sun set.
Since they were in the forest, they couldn’t expect proper accommodations, so they decided to camp with tents.
Even the elegantly raised noble ladies, Eloy and Viviana, watched without complaint as the sleeping arrangements were made.
Sirius glanced at Eloy.
Eloy, who always clung to Selene, had been speaking only with her family throughout the journey since it began.
Even at Baron Huber’s villa, there was little contact… but in the forest, her behavior changed.
“It seems the family issued instructions.”
Each noble family had its own plans. It didn’t matter as long as it didn’t interfere with him.
But…
“Selene probably doesn’t care, but I’ve made things awkward for her!”
“Doesn’t care?”
It was something Sirius had been curious about all along.
He didn’t necessarily agree with the butler or physician’s opinions, but he wanted Selene’s answer.
“Ah… it’s nothing like that…”
Selene quickly avoided him, watching his reaction. Sirius wanted to hear it directly from her.
That night, after everyone had fallen asleep, Sirius patrolled near the campsite and stopped in front of Selene’s tent.
He hesitated, wanting to call her but afraid of the answer.
“Am I… afraid?”
When had he ever felt fear?
He recalled being trapped in a dark room as a child. But this fear was different.
He clenched his fist, stopping his thoughts.
He wasn’t a fool.
Even if he claimed no interest in silly things like romance, he knew how people in love acted.
As a child, he had asked his nurse:
“How do I tell if someone harbors ill intentions toward me?”
She told him to ignore those with malice and instead notice those who liked him.
If they avoided eye contact, blushed, tried to be near him, or made unnecessary conversation to continue talking…
Sirius recalled Selene’s behavior:
When they made eye contact, she would stare at him, scanning him up and down before returning her gaze to his face.
Yet if he approached her, she would jump back in surprise. If he spoke to her, she would respond blankly, sometimes smiling oddly.
“This must be the curse of the unresolved, faulty contract.”
Even so, he had to confirm. Sirius lifted the edge of the tent and whispered softly.
Sleep was sweet.
He hadn’t walked so much since visiting the prophet’s mansion.
“Walking really isn’t my thing…”
The moment his head hit the pillow, he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
“…yes.”
A sweet voice reached his ear. Half-awake, he opened his eyes. It was still dark outside.
“Did I hear that wrong…?”
No one was around who could call him at this hour. He turned over to sleep, trying to ignore it.
The voice called again, louder this time, as if confirming it wasn’t his imagination.
“Wake up.”
“Just a little more…”
He mumbled under the covers as he usually did in the mansion. Pulling the blanket over his head muffled the sound outside. He was going back to sleep…
Wait.
This voice?
“Come out for a moment.”
No wonder it sounded sweet…
He opened his eyes wide and got up.
It was Sirius. At this hour, he wouldn’t call him for no reason.
Monsters came to mind first. Perhaps the trauma of being surrounded by them lingered.
He hurried to the tent’s entrance.
“Ugh… it’s bright.”
Outside, bathed in moonlight, stood an angel… no, Sirius.
“…What is it? Did a monster appear?”
But it was too quiet for that. He rubbed his eyes and looked around, then at Sirius standing before him.
He seemed on guard, cloak wrapped around him.
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Why aren’t you out tonight?”
What was he talking about?
He stared, puzzled.
“Why are you outside at bedtime?”
At his reasonable question, Sirius furrowed his brow.
“Then why did you come out yesterday?”
Yesterday?
He tried to recall. Yesterday, he had met Sirius in the villa’s parlor.
“Oh… I was hungry yesterday… but today, I’m fine.”
“Why?”
“Huh?”
Of course, he had eaten well at dinner… right?
Blinking at his words, Sirius snorted.
“Could it be that you didn’t come out today because the Crown Prince isn’t here?”
Hearing Sirius’s cold voice, he tilted his head.
“Jealousy?”
But he shook his head immediately. Sirius wasn’t that kind of person. His cold, indifferent personality was part of his charm.
He seemed like he had something to say.
During this journey, every time there was a chance to talk, they had been interrupted.
They had promised to talk later, but he hadn’t said it would be at this hour.
What kind of story could it be? He nodded weakly.
“Wait a moment. Let me grab something to wear.”
As he went inside, Sirius shook his hand, removing the cloak he was wearing.
“No need. It’ll be cold with just your clothes.”
Who wakes someone up at this hour knowing that? Only this kind of person… handsome face makes up for everything?
…well, it kind of does.
He hesitated to take the cloak. Sirius alternated his gaze between the cloak and him, asking:
“Why?”
“Well…”
