The person I thought I knew was gone.
And in his place stood a stranger — surrounded by the heavy stench of blood and an eerie darkness.
It was true that I had only met Friane Izanar a few times, exchanging brief words at most.
I didn’t really know him.
But I never wanted to find that out like this.
If the connection between the drug and the cult became clear, and if I failed to prove my innocence,
then the first person who would come to take my head… would be him.
The thought sent a chill down my spine.
I couldn’t even tell whether this was irony, fate, or just a cruel joke.
So, the Inquisitor himself—had been given the drug?
At that moment, I had to admit the truth:
the pervert hadn’t chosen who to give the drug to on purpose.
If he actually wanted to live, he wouldn’t have done something this insane.
And if he truly believed he could get away with it forever… well, I had to almost admire that kind of audacity.
“……”
“……”
Honestly, I wanted to just hide in this confusion a little longer and pretend I didn’t see anything.
But if I was shocked, then Friane Izanar was even more startled.
There was no ignoring that.
Of course, he had noticed someone enter the room long ago—
but it seemed he realized who it was only when it was too late.
When he lifted his head and our eyes met for the first time—
The way he froze made it clear he hadn’t expected me.
For a moment, the pressure in that gaze made me stumble and grip my cane.
Then suddenly, focus returned to Friane’s eyes.
And his expression—shock, fear, maybe even panic—flashed across his face.
He stepped back in a hurry, like a prey animal that had just met its predator.
His already pale skin turned even whiter.
He staggered again and quickly hid his sword behind his back.
…As if that could hide anything.
Then, looking at his blood-covered hands, he panicked and tried to wipe them clean on his robes—
but his robes were just as soaked, so the blood only spread more.
When he realized that, he stopped, his breath trembling.
Finally, he hid both hands behind his back and backed away until his shoulders touched the wall.
Since then, we had just been standing there, staring at each other in silence.
When our eyes met earlier, it had truly terrified me.
You know that feeling—
the primal fear that comes when you realize you’re face to face with something beyond human reason.
And somehow, I could tell that Friane felt it too.
I tried to keep my voice calm as I took one small step toward him.
Immediately, he spoke.
“Don’t come closer.”
“…”
“It’s… dirty here. Please… don’t come closer.”
His voice cracked slightly, filled with emotion I had never heard from him before.
He must have hated letting me see him like this.
He hadn’t wanted to reveal himself this way.
I looked around the room carefully.
Iron bars—like a cell.
Old bloodstains on the floor.
Rusted torture tools.
It was hard to even imagine what had been done here.
And Friane Izanar… he had probably seen this kind of horror countless times.
Then I remembered what that Holy Knight said earlier—
that to look into the darkness, one must step inside it.
Maybe he meant people like Friane—those who fight monsters eventually become part of that same darkness.
“It really is filthy here,” I said softly.
“…”
“Come here.”
Friane didn’t move.
Careful not to step into the puddles of blood, I walked toward him slowly.
Step by step, not fast—almost painfully slow—but still, he didn’t run away.
He just stood there, breathing shallowly, tense and still.
When I finally reached him, I cleared my throat.
“Are you done with your work here?”
“…”
“Then could you help me with something? I need a favor.”
“…”
“Let’s go outside first.”
I gestured toward the door.
After a few steps, I noticed he wasn’t following.
“You plan to stay here?”
“…”
“If you’re going to leave anyway, then come with me.”
Without waiting, I reached for the hand he was hiding behind his back and pulled it out.
His hand, awkward and stiff, met mine.
It felt strange, but I didn’t let go—I just started walking.
To my relief, Friane followed quietly.
“Please—let go.”
He said it, but he didn’t really mean it.
“Just be quiet and follow.”
“But my hands are dirty…”
“You can wash them later. It’s not a big deal.”
Friane went silent again.
We didn’t speak, but I could feel the tension ease between us a little.
The knight who brought me here had run off, leaving me alone in a blood-soaked torture room with the Inquisitor.
When I saw him again, I was going to strangle him.
“…What kind of favor?”
After a long silence, Friane finally spoke.
“Well, about the drug they were spreading here—you know about it, right? I accidentally inhaled some of it…”
Friane suddenly stepped in front of me, his eyes wide.
“Are you all right?”
He wanted to check my condition, but his hands were dirty, his clothes soaked with blood, and he clearly didn’t know what to do.
His hand trembled in the air helplessly.
And still, he didn’t let go of the one hand holding mine.
That was kind of funny.
He’d asked me to let go earlier, but now he couldn’t do it himself.
I squeezed his hand and tugged.
Friane stumbled forward.
“How do I look to you?”
I tilted my chin up and looked straight into his eyes.
He froze.
Our clothes brushed against each other, faintly smearing blood.
Then I reached out and touched his hair.
Honestly, I had wanted to do that for a long time.
Carefully, I untangled the dried, clotted strands and pulled a bit of his silver hair back over his shoulder.
“…”
His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.
I couldn’t help but think of something practical, too.
The Inquisitor had absolute power under the Temple’s protection—
he could judge and execute anyone, no matter who they were.
If that pervert was truly connected to the cult,
then he’d definitely regret ever letting Friane Izanar come anywhere near me.
Friane finally spoke, his voice catching.
“You… you seem fine.”
He glanced at me, looked away, then looked back again—over and over.
He seemed unable to handle my direct gaze.
“It’s strange. I feel completely fine,” I said.
“…”
“But someone else isn’t. He’s hurt. Can you help him?”
“…Yes.”
Friane finally met my eyes, steady and calm this time.
“I will.”
The gentle pressure of his hand around mine told me—
even if I let go, he wouldn’t.
Friane seemed like he wanted to change clothes, so I let him go and headed back alone to where Zaka was resting.
But as I got closer, I heard noise.
When I hurried in, people were surrounding Zaka.
At the center was the Holy Knight Commander from earlier.
“Where’s your master?” he demanded.
Since they were talking about me, I stepped forward.
“I’m right here.”
“And how should I take it that you left your attendant unattended?”
“With all respect, he serves me, not you. Do I owe you an explanation?”
“…Ha!”
From the look of things, the Commander had come while Duke Gladinare’s attention was elsewhere—probably hoping to find fault with us.
But I wasn’t about to cause trouble for the Duke, not after he’d just helped me.
“If you have questions, you can ask me directly.”
“Did you find anything new?”
“The evidence we recovered from the fire has already been handed over to the Temple. I’m sure you’ve received the report.”
“And why should I believe that?”
He was clearly frustrated—
maybe angry that he couldn’t throw his weight around here like in other provinces.
“So, you’re admitting you worked together without any formal trust or permission?”
“That’s right,” came a voice from behind me.
The Duke.
He stepped forward and stood at my side.
“If you say you can’t trust the Baroness, then you’re saying you can’t trust me.
And if you can’t trust me, then you’re saying you can’t trust the Empire itself.
Is that what you mean?”
“…I wouldn’t dare presume the intentions of someone of your rank, Your Grace.
I only meant that I needed to verify things personally.”
Then another voice joined in—from the left.
“I can vouch for her. Is verification still necessary?”
Friane Izanar.
“You’re vouching for her, Sir Izanar?”
The Commander turned, startled, and looked at me.
“She’s not the Duke’s person?”
“She is,” the Duke answered before I could speak.
“And at the same time, she’s mine. I don’t see any issue with that, do you, Commander?”
Friane added calmly, “None at all.”
Just like that, the matter was settled—without me saying a word.
But standing between the two of them, with everyone’s eyes on me,
I suddenly felt a bad feeling creeping up my spine.
Wait. This…
The Duke and Friane’s gazes met briefly—just long enough for something unreadable to pass between them.
And then—
“…Asha,” came a weak voice.
Zaka, struggling to sit up, was reaching out to me.
“I’m hurting.”
…Zaka.
Read the room, for heaven’s sake.
