Chapter 28
The moment they stepped out of the banquet hall, Felix glanced down at the child trailing close behind him.
“Shh, it’ll be fine, Jeremy.”
His voice was indifferent and cold, but beneath it was a trace of concern for the boy.
“R-right, sniff… it will?”
“……”
The boy kept sniffling, rubbing at his eyes.
Without a word, Felix made his way toward his bedroom. His brow was deeply furrowed, as if lost in thought.
Creak, thud.
Once inside, Felix sat Ellia down on the bed. Outside the window, night had already settled in, and that same darkness seemed to have taken hold in her blue eyes.
“Lady Ellia!”
The boy placed both hands on her knees and looked up with tearful eyes. Her gaze, still vacant, didn’t so much as flicker.
Felix shut his eyes tightly before opening them again.
How the hell should I deal with that bastard Chase?
The curse almost slipped out. He was nearing the end of his patience.
I was far too careless.
He should have at least warned her. Relying on her special ability and leaving her alone had been a grave mistake.
“Father…”
Felix looked up at the boy’s watery voice.
“Stay here tonight. I’ll think of a way tomorrow.”
Jeremy sniffled and nodded.
Felix laid Jeremy and Ellia together on the bed. He then sat down on the sofa in the corner of the room, unable to fall asleep for a long time.
“Hic, hic… Lady Ellia…”
The boy’s muffled whimpering filled the room. Felix squeezed his eyes shut, swallowing down his anger.
Click, thud.
Felix raised his head at the sound of the door opening and closing.
She went out…?
He frowned and quickly made his way to the bed.
Only the boy was there now, sleeping with tear tracks on his cheeks.
“…Damn it.”
Muttering under his breath, Felix raked his hand through his hair and strode toward the door in anger.
Ellia’s slender figure was already far down the corridor. Felix hurried toward her.
“…This isn’t where you should be. Go back to Jeremy.”
He grasped both her arms and turned her around. Thankfully, she followed without resistance. Relieved, he was about to lead her back when—
Creak—
As if on cue, a door opened. Glancing back, Felix saw Chase Lloyd leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, watching them.
“Visiting another man’s bedroom at this hour… the duchesses of this place really are so improper, aren’t they? Ha-ha. Still, what can I say? I rather like it.”
Felix ground his teeth but ignored the taunt, continuing forward. Again, Ellia followed without trouble.
“…Ellia.”
Chase’s low voice echoed down the hall. Ellia stopped in her tracks.
“Haa…”
When she remained frozen, Felix shut his eyes for a moment before turning to glare at Chase.
“Do you have a death wish?”
“Ha-ha, I’ve never seen you this riled up before, Brother.”
Chase’s mocking smirk was infuriating.
“Funny, is it?”
“Of course. Quite amusing, actually. This is all so refreshingly new.”
Felix’s fists trembled. If only he had a sword in hand…
“What exactly do you want?”
Felix’s voice was laced with contempt.
“You’re only asking me that now? You’ve ignored me all this time, but you seem to like this wife of yours quite a lot.”
Chase tilted his chin in smug amusement—until—
“Lady Ellia! Father!”
Jeremy came running from the end of the corridor, still in his pajamas, his cheeks brimming with tears.
“I—I woke up, and no one was there…”
He rubbed his eyes furiously with small hands before reaching for Ellia’s dress.
“Does the Lady Lloyd… like Jeremy?”
At Chase’s words, Ellia stirred.
Smack!
She slapped Jeremy’s hand away.
The boy’s big eyes filled with tears before they spilled over. Shocked, he began sobbing loudly.
“Hic… waaah! G-give Lady Ellia back, you villain!”
He cried bitterly and even ran up to Chase, punching him with his tiny fists.
“Oh dear. How unfortunate for you, Jeremy. But what can I do? I’m enjoying this situation.”
Chase placed both hands gently on the boy’s shoulders and whispered.
“Uuuhhh… hic…”
Jeremy’s sobs echoed through the hall. Chase frowned in mild annoyance.
“Ellia.”
He spoke like summoning a servant. Watching this, Felix stepped forward menacingly—
And in that moment, Ellia moved as well. Her delicate hands shoved the boy’s shoulders hard.
Thud!
Jeremy toppled easily to the floor.
“……!”
With tears still clinging to his lashes, he looked up at Ellia from where he’d fallen.
“Hic!”
Startled, he even hiccupped.
Felix was about to rush to him when Ellia’s shoulders suddenly trembled.
Felix caught the movement and looked into her clouded eyes.
In her dawn-blue irises, dew began to gather—
Then, in an instant, a blue glow spread across her gaze. Mana was concentrating in her eyes.
“Je… remy…”
Her crimson lips parted and closed in a faint, fragile voice.
“Lady Ellia!!”
Jeremy sprang to his feet, crying out. Sobbing, he clung to her skirt as if never to let go again.
Shaa—
The sound of rain filled the air. As her ability manifested, clarity returned to Ellia’s once-dull eyes.
“…What is this?”
Chase frowned faintly, his smile vanishing.
Felix caught Ellia as her strength gave out.
Outside the fortress, a torrential downpour made it impossible to see ahead.
A red haze had clouded her mind, leaving her unable to think at all.
Then blue light burst through it. Through that light came the sound of a child crying.
…It must be a dream.
Otherwise, she would never have pushed a child away so harshly.
Soon, she felt the familiar warmth of someone’s embrace. Even through her blurred vision, she knew exactly whose it was.
Felix… you…
His deep scent lingered at the tip of her nose. Ellia slowly closed her eyes, dampness and darkness wrapping around her.
Ellia’s eyes flew open as she bolted upright. Her head throbbed like it was splitting apart, and her eyes burned as if they’d burst.
“Haa… haa…”
It took her a while to steady her breathing enough to endure the pain. Darkness surrounded her so completely she couldn’t see an inch ahead.
But she could tell there was someone lying on either side of her.
“…Awake?”
“Fe… Fel?”
Unable to see in the dark, Ellia reached toward his voice.
Her hand brushed over hot, solid muscle. She flinched and tried to pull away, but he caught her hand instead, his warmth slowly thawing her cold fingers.
“…This is mostly my fault. I should have warned you.”
“What do you mean? I was clearly with His High—ugh!”
As she tried to recall, Ellia clutched her head, bowing under the sudden surge of heat and dizziness.
“Chase Lloyd has an ability—charm.”
His low, worried voice resonated in the dark.
“……”
So it wasn’t a dream—it had really happened. The thought of her body not obeying her own will made her shiver.
Felix gripped her trembling hand tightly.
“Th-that…”
Her whole body shook uncontrollably.
“Are you all right?”
“……”
She nodded slowly, curling her knees up. Her head still felt like it would split.
Creak.
The bed springs shifted, and Felix’s cool scent drew close.
He let out a low sigh.
“It wasn’t your fault…”
His voice echoed softly in the darkness.
“…Yes.”
After a long silence, Ellia finally answered.
Then she heard the quiet breathing of the boy sleeping beside them.
Listening to his soft snores gradually brought her mind back into focus.
“It all feels like a dream. Did Jeremy… cry a lot?”
She hesitated but asked what she most wanted to know.
“He cried buckets, then fell asleep.”
“Haa… We were finally getting closer…”
Ellia’s eyes stung at the thought that Jeremy might start avoiding her again tomorrow.
“Stop worrying about useless things and lie down.”
She obeyed his touch and lay down. Her eyes had adjusted to the dark enough to see him right in front of her.
“…I’m scared. What if Jeremy avoids me again?”
“All you ever think about… is that boy, isn’t it?”
