Chapter 2
“Don’t lie.”
Leia was dumbfounded.
“Why would I lie to someone I’ve just met?”
“There’s no rule saying you wouldn’t.”
“Excuse me?”
Leia shook off her arm from his grip and crossed her arms, staring at him.
“You’ve got some nerve, labeling me a liar right away. If you don’t trust me, go outside and ask someone else.”
“You were the one who woke me.”
This isn’t making any sense.
Leia ran a hand through her hair.
“Fine. I was going to ask how to get out of here, but I’ll find my own way. You just stay here and keep looking for your dragon.”
She spun around and stepped forward.
Stumble.
The ankle she had forcefully put weight on twisted immediately.
“Ah!”
Whoosh!
At the same time she lost her balance, the ground suddenly sank, and something flew toward her.
“Danger!”
The man lunged and pulled her toward him.
Before she knew it, Leia found herself pressed against his firm chest, her eyes widening.
His long silver hair spread out in front of her before settling, and she caught sight of the veins standing out along his right arm.
“A–an arrow…?”
“It’s a trap.”
Calmly, he spoke while gripping the arrow tightly in his hand.
Oh my god! He caught a flying arrow with his bare hand?
In a trembling voice, Leia asked,
“Y-you didn’t trust me… so why did you save me?”
He replied bluntly,
“Because I can’t just let someone die.”
Leia blinked. Too shocked, her thoughts spilled straight out as words.
“Wow. I thought you just looked normal but had a twisted personality….”
A crack formed in the man’s previously cold expression.
“A twisted personality…?”
❀ ❀ ❀
The man was speechless.
As the Guardian of Mana, hailed as a symbol of fairness and morality, to be called “twisted”…
‘The moment I break out of my seal, I’m hearing nonsense.’
The man spoke stiffly.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever heard someone say that to a Guardian.”
“A Guardian?”
Leia tilted her head and asked back.
“What’s a Guardian?”
“You don’t know what a Guardian is?!”
“Nope. First time hearing it.”
He stared at her, stunned.
“What… that can’t be. You must have heard of me at least once… Miss… no, hmm.”
Flustered, he trailed off and chose his words carefully.
“Ahem. You seem like someone who’s been educated in history and etiquette.”
“I have been, but I’ve never heard of a Guardian.”
His pupils shook as if an earthquake had struck.
“If you don’t know Guardians, then do you at least know of the Tower of Magic?”
“The Tower of Magic? Like the final stronghold of mages in stories?”
What on earth did this woman actually know?
He was starting to feel like sighing.
‘Strange.’
If she had entered this dragon’s lair, she couldn’t be an ordinary person.
Yet she didn’t know anything about Guardians, the Tower of Magic, or even dragons.
‘Well… I suppose I’m not in a position to understand what’s going on either.’
He thought bitterly.
He vaguely remembered being ambushed by dragons and sealed away here.
But the exact details were hazy. The dragons must have done something to his memories.
The man studied Leia carefully before speaking again.
“…If you truly know nothing as you claim, then how did you end up here?”
His gaze sharpened.
“Who sent you?”
“Huh?”
“Is there a war outside?”
“Eh?”
At that moment—
Grrrrr…
A loud rumbling sound echoed.
“….”
“….”
Leia, slightly embarrassed, pointed at his stomach.
“Um… looks like the war’s happening there.”
❀ ❀ ❀
Grrrr…
Hearing the sound from his own stomach, Helix fell into confusion.
Ever since becoming a Guardian, he had never felt hunger or cold. Mana had transformed his body beyond that of a human. And yet…
‘I’m… hungry.’
In a panic, Leia looked at him with a sympathetic expression.
“How have you been starving in a place like this?”
“…That’s not it.”
“Wait here.”
She rummaged through her clothes and pulled out a snack pouch.
“This is my favorite bakery’s signature cookie….”
She paused for a moment.
Come to think of it, had she bought this in the capital before coming to recuperate?
‘I was too busy packing, maybe I didn’t stop by. Did the maids pack it?’
Leia handed the pouch to Helix.
“What is this?”
“Eat it.”
“You’re giving this to me?”
“You’re hungry, aren’t you?”
Helix stared down at the small pouch in silence, unsure how to react.
“….”
During his long slumber-like seal, Helix had often wondered what the world would look like once he awoke. How would the world receive him?
‘…It probably won’t be much different from before.’
He had assumed anyone who woke him would try to exploit his power. But the woman before him kept acting unexpectedly.
She showed no interest in using him, didn’t even seem to know who he was, spoke bluntly, got angry, and yet looked at him with sympathy while treating him casually.
Even the small snack pouch she offered now seemed… not much of an offering at all.
‘Trivial.’
Did she really come here knowing nothing about this place—or about him?
While he stared intently at the pouch, Leia said,
“Open it.”
Rustle.
Helix’s eyes widened.
A sweet, nutty aroma immediately filled his senses.
“That’s good.”
At her words, he carefully reached out with his long fingers and picked up a cookie.
Crunch.
He closed his eyes. She had been right.
‘This… is unbelievably delicious.’
It was almost overwhelming.
He had known that his power had been sealed along with him, but he hadn’t expected that without power, his senses would become sharper instead.
‘…Or perhaps confectionery has advanced in the meantime?’
Crunch crunch.
‘How long have I been trapped?’
Crunch crunch crunch.
Leia clicked her tongue.
“Eat slower.”
“…Incredible.”
Helix spoke in awe.
“Is a cookie normally this good?”
Leia straightened her posture proudly.
“Anything I say is good tends to be good. When it comes to food, I’m always serious.”
“…I can feel your sincerity.”
“See? I’m telling you. It’s the signature menu of a really good bakery.”
“Then you should have some as well.”
He carefully pushed the pouch toward her.
She chuckled.
“With that build, a single pouch won’t satisfy you. Just eat it all.”
“No. If it’s something you truly like, you should at least taste it.”
Leia looked at him anew.
He had been making those stomach sounds, yet he was offering the food to her?
‘…Is he actually a good person?’
She had thought he was rude for suddenly speaking informally and pushing her around, but unexpectedly, he seemed considerate and attentive.
Smiling, she took a cookie.
“Alright, I’ll just taste one.”
Crunch.
As she took a big bite, happiness spread across her face.
“Still tastes great, no ma—!”
Before she could finish, Leia dropped the pouch.
Thud.
Her fingertips froze.
Sensation vanished.
Her body felt icy cold to the point of shivering, yet her eyes, lips, and stomach felt as though they were burning.
Everything in front of her went black.
“Miss?”
As she collapsed while still smiling moments ago, Helix quickly caught and supported her.
Her body in his arms felt alarmingly light. He frowned.
A surge of energy suddenly erupted from her body—one he hadn’t felt just moments ago. A familiar energy.
“This is…!”
❀ ❀ ❀
Meanwhile, in the capital of the Kingdom of Payron.
In the bustling central square, a strong scent of lilies filled the air, despite the season.
The Lily Fan Club of “Paylily” had brought one flower after another, filling the streets in anticipation of her return from recuperation.
“My goodness. Why are they going this far for Paylily?”
“At this rate, won’t the lilies of Payron become more popular than the prince?”
At this unprecedented scene, citizens shook their heads while social commentators gossiped.
Meanwhile, the devoted fans held lilies and shouted at the top of their lungs:
“Please come back soon, Paylily!”
“Don’t get too healthy! We can’t lose your frail beauty!”
If Leia had heard them, she would have been fuming, thinking, “Get lost, you lunatics! You want me to stay sick just for your tastes?”
But where there is popularity, there are always nuisances.
“…Paylily.”
A man muttered anxiously while gazing at the lilies from the terrace of his mansion.
Baron Randall DeFord.
If the fan club were flies, Baron DeFord was a persistent horsefly.
He was the illegitimate son of Grand Duke Kaloshi, the king’s uncle. Though not officially recognized as royalty, he was treated almost as one, being the favored son of the powerful grand duke.
He had inherited his mother’s beauty, once known as a famous actress, and owned an estate near the capital.
But if you asked Leia about Baron DeFord, she would give only one answer:
A disgusting stalker.
Among stalkers, he was the most persistent, with plenty of time and money. He had even taken out loans to buy a mansion near the Piet family estate just to pursue Leia.
He would show up at every party or gathering she attended, buzzing around her like a mosquito.
“I believe a man of my stature should marry a young, refined lady from a good family, don’t you think, Lady Piet? You’re nineteen this year… exactly half my age! A perfect match!”
“For the stability of the royal line, I must choose a proper spouse… someone pure and lily-like. Of course, such women may lack certain… physical assets, but that’s not important for a mistress of the house. Not a concubine, after all! Hahaha!”
Even when Leia looked at him coldly as if thinking, “Is this guy insane?” and ignored him, his relentless stalking never ceased.
The baron was determined to make Paylily his.
Just imagine how envious other men would be to see her—like a fresh, dew-kissed lily—by his side. The nobles of the capital would surely be green with envy. The thought alone filled him with pride.
Moreover, with her noble lineage, beauty, and flawless reputation, having Paylily as his partner would ensure even the royal family could not ignore him. His father would surely praise him above the legitimate heirs.
‘But to think Paylily has gone to the northern region to recuperate!’
