Chapter 100
At the knight commander’s words, the past Lemoni fell silent. She quietly closed the window and fixed her dim gaze on him. A vague memory surfaced—Deon had once gathered her together with the knights of the Southern Empire after the expedition had been decided, and had spoken firmly.
“Unlike you, she acts before she thinks. She’ll definitely do something reckless. If that happens, I want you to stop her.”
Deon’s last words had not been an order, but a request.
She already knew, from Deon’s descriptions, what the present Lemoni was like, so she wasn’t surprised that Lemoni would act this way. Still—going back, of her own accord, to Draith Prison, the place she had barely escaped alive from, was utter madness.
But—
“Doesn’t that just mean she’s confident in herself?”
“…What?”
The knight commander lifted his head, startled by the unexpected reply. He had assumed she would immediately try to stop Lady Lemoni.
“Then why is she trying to go there?”
The past Lemoni’s sharp question brought tension back into his face.
He probably thinks I’ve spoken as the ‘past lady’ and said something important.
And yes, she was asking to better grasp the situation.
But deep inside, hidden in that question, lay a cruel desire—to delay carrying out Deon’s request as much as possible.
“The Southern Empire’s mages and priests have discovered a ritual that allows them to heal many monsters with only a small amount of divine power. But the extensive black magic catalyst needed for the ritual is said to be inside Draith Prison. We’re scheduled to depart tomorrow morning.”
“Then… if this expedition succeeds, the end of the war could be brought forward?”
“…That is correct.”
When the commander nodded, she deliberately held back further words.
That was why they needed Lemoni. The knight commander’s expression showed that he understood, even without her saying it.
“But we are the Southern Empire’s Royal Knight Order. To underestimate us…”
“According to Lemoni, she’s the only surviving prison guard from Draith. From her perspective, it’s a familiar place. Naturally, she would think she’s needed there, wouldn’t she?”
“Which is exactly why she must be stopped! My lady is the sole surviving prison guard who escaped Draith. When discussions arise after the war about how to handle the prison, she will be indispensable.”
She agreed with the argument that Lady Lemoni would still be needed after the war.
But she too was Lemoni—and that fact irritated her for some reason.
“Lake. Your priorities are wrong. If Draith is the key to ending the war, then of course Lady Lemoni should go.”
“But Lord Deon personally asked you—!”
“You are Lady Lemoni’s subordinate, not Deon’s!”
“…My lady.”
The commander’s voice, startled, snapped her back to herself. He stared at her, frowning in disbelief.
Ah. She had gone too far.
“…I spoke too harshly.”
Groaning inwardly, she forced a lighter tone, rising to pat his stiff shoulder.
“I only said that because I want this war to end sooner. Of course Lady Lemoni’s safety matters. Don’t worry—I’ll go to her myself and persuade her.”
“…No, I’m the one who must apologize.”
The atmosphere turned awkward. She gave a cautious smile, but the silence after his apology lingered heavily. Unable to bear it, the commander excused himself with a bow and left. Left alone, she collapsed into the sofa.
Why had she done that? She had so little time left—she only wanted to leave behind a good impression, right until the end.
“…Especially for you.”
Beneath her palm, covering her eyes, hot tears began to seep through. Bowing her head quickly in case someone entered, she curled in on herself, as if to shield her fading form. Her body was already growing faint—her hand nearly passed through her own chest. Even patting the commander’s shoulder earlier had been nothing but a pretense.
At most, she had two days left.
At first, she had tried every possible method to enter Raylia’s body. But her soul, trapped for so long inside the forbidden book, could no longer possess another vessel. It could only drift.
There was no way.
She had to prepare for farewell, for real this time. In her remaining days, she spent as much time as possible speaking with Deon. She didn’t care about the present Lemoni—her memories had split in two, leaving her like a stranger anyway.
“Shouldn’t you tell Lemoni about this?”
But at the end of every conversation, he always brought her up.
“Don’t worry. The twenty-one-year-old you grew up well. She even knows how to shoot now.”
Even while gently holding her hand, Deon would speak of that woman.
She became a prison guard. She’s a little childish, but strong.
The fainter her body grew, the more time he tried to spend with her. And the more he did, the clearer it became to her: Deon, too, was preparing for farewell.
“Nothing else to say? For the last time?”
“…Protect Lemoni, Lemoni.”
Perhaps that was why.
When he kissed the back of her hand as she cried before his departure, his crimson eyes were cruelly calm.
“It means protect yourself.”
At some point she had fallen asleep in tears. Waking up, the deep, low voice still echoed vividly in her ears. Staring blankly out the window, she suddenly realized evening had already fallen and leapt up.
I really should tell her.
She had been stubborn long enough, like a child. Time was almost up.
Even if she resented Deon, she didn’t want Lemoni to fall into danger.
“Lake. Just who I was looking for. I’d like to speak with Lady Lemoni—where is she?”
Her eyes still red, she asked the knight commander. But his face looked strange.
“…She’s gone.”
“…What?”
“She left only this note and disappeared. It seems she slipped out in secret.”
“…What did you say?”
Flustered, Lemoni snatched the note from his hand. She hadn’t wanted to stop Lemoni completely—but this wasn’t what she intended either.
I survived once, I can do it again. I’ll keep sending messages, so don’t worry. I’ll return within a week.
“…Find her immediately! Damn it!”
She swore—rare for her—and ran in the opposite direction, throwing open every door in sight.
Too late. She was too clumsy to deal with a grown Lemoni.
Meanwhile.
“Ian. You really don’t need to come with me.”
The dirt road was unpaved, and the deeper into the forest they went, the muddier her boots became. Careful not to alert the knights, she moved quietly—yet behind her came leisurely footsteps.
“Wouldn’t it be stranger if I didn’t follow? I stayed at the fortress only because of you.”
“…But it’s dangerous.”
“For a vampire like me?”
“You’re half human, aren’t you?”
“I’m the one with the strongest vampire blood in the entire Ernmenst family, Lemoni.”
Was it because her legs were short, or his were long?
In only a few steps, he had caught up to her. Hands in his pockets, he walked with easy grace. Anyone else might think he was out for a stroll. But she knew better.
His golden eyes, glinting with a chilling light, were scanning the pitch-black forest ahead, wary of whatever might leap out.
Whatever appeared before them, Ian clearly intended to tear it apart.
Yes, with him by her side, half her worries would vanish.
But guilt gnawed at her. She fumbled inside her bag.
“I only brought food for myself… are you sure you’ll be fine?”
At her question, his eyes turned toward her. After a long silence, she finally realized.
“…Oh. Food.”
Of course.
Not wanting to speak the last thought aloud, she pressed her lips shut and looked straight ahead. From beside her came a low, pleasant chuckle.
