CHAPTER 23………………………………………..

As soon as she arrived in the room, the hero strode toward her as if he’d been waiting. Zhenya stiffened, her body going rigid.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Zhenya rolled her eyes slightly as she tried to take in the situation, then nodded. Physically, at least, she seemed fine.

But even after her answer, the hero examined her from head to toe—thoroughly, almost obsessively.

She hadn’t expected him to think she would run away or change her story, but she also hadn’t anticipated such an active reaction, and it left her a little flustered.

Only after confirming there wasn’t a single scratch on her did he pull out a chair at the table for her.

“I prepared it the way you usually drink it.”

Caught off guard, Zhenya sat down, staring blankly at the steaming cup of tea on the table. Awkwardly, she took a sip.

The tea was the perfect temperature, exactly to her taste. She set the cup down and glanced sideways at him.

When their eyes met, the hero’s gaze softened into a gentle curve as he asked,

“Does it suit your palate?”

“…Yes.”

She swallowed the comment that maybe he should just handle the tea from now on.

Then she wondered how she should bring up what had happened with Eligos, but the hero spoke first.

“First… as you suspected, I am indeed the hero people speak of.”

So he was starting with an introduction. Not a bad beginning.

“Because of my unusual constitution, I was entrusted to the temple. The Saint gave me a name and a mission. I was raised by her. After that, as you know, I lived as the hero.”

It was heavily summarized, but clean and simple.

“…May I ask how you ended up here alone?”

“…There was an incident.”

It didn’t seem like he intended to explain in detail. Perhaps it was too long a story, or perhaps…

“Then what are you planning to do now?”

“……”

Maybe he still didn’t trust her enough.

But how am I supposed to help if I don’t know the plan?

Had he come alone to defeat the Demon King? Or had that “incident” separated him from his companions?

So many questions spilled over in her mind—whether he could contact them, whether they would come looking for him…

But trust couldn’t be forced.

And besides…

“Today, the butler called me aside to warn me.”

“A warning?”

“He said that if I keep living the same way as before, nothing will happen. But honestly, that’s such a vague statement.”

Zhenya exhaled before continuing.

“What I’m trying to say is… the butler might not even know you’re here.”

She thought speaking the anxiety aloud would ease it, but instead, her trembling only grew worse.

Her heart pounded quickly as she bit the inside of her cheek. Across from her came a puzzled response.

“If they knew I was here, the castle wouldn’t be this quiet. And you wouldn’t have returned safely either.”

Cold, but objective.

On the surface, it made sense.

Still…

What am I even thinking?

Zhenya shook her head, brushing away the thought, and forced herself to look at reality as calmly as he did.

“That’s true. If I were truly suspected, I wouldn’t be safe.”

As soon as she organized it that way, her mind cooled. She must have panicked on her own.

“Still, preparing isn’t a bad idea.”

Looking at things rationally, there was only one precaution they could take.

“Just in case… don’t tell me your plans.”

So that even if Eligos sensed something and captured her, the hero’s plan wouldn’t be disrupted.

And, if possible, she could gain his trust by saying it first.

“Until we find a better way, I think it’s best to live as we have been.”

When she looked at him for agreement, he nodded slightly.

For a first proper conversation, it wasn’t bad.

Though there was still something she needed to know.

Leaning back in her chair, she asked,

“So… what’s your name?”

She didn’t know how long they’d be together, but she couldn’t keep calling him Hero, Hero forever.

The man’s face, which had seemed faintly mechanical even when smiling, suddenly showed clear emotion.

Seeing how openly surprised he looked, Zhenya tilted her head.

It was just a name. Why was he so startled? Was the hero’s name some enormous secret in the human world?

“If it’s hard to tell me your real name, an alias is fine—”

“Lumiere.”

He cut her off.

Zhenya raised her brows, staring at him.

Lumiere.

“That name suits you.”

Half manners, half sincerity. It would have been strange if someone with that face were called John or Peter.

But at her simple words, she heard again that sweet laugh from the early dawn—one that made the listener’s heart itch pleasantly.

Not a perfectly crafted smile with both eyes curved prettily…

But one where only one eye crinkled slightly.

“Thank you, Zhenya.”

It wasn’t a flawless smile.

That was why it was even harder to look away.

And hearing her name spoken in that laughter-filled tone felt… oddly unfamiliar.

* * *

The night before.

After the laughter faded, the two of them exchanged small talk.

The hero had many questions, but strangely, most of them were about Zhenya.

What kind of work she usually did. What foods she liked. Whether she had hobbies. Which season she preferred.

They were trivial questions, but those small conversations quickly closed the distance between them.

And today—

Despite having fallen asleep late, both of them started the day early, leaving the morning before work unusually relaxed.

“So… does that mean you were a princess?”

Ah, that.

Zhenya lifted her head at Lumiere’s question.

After asking so much yesterday, he only asked this now—was that patience?

“That’s right. Though the kingdom fell, so it doesn’t matter anymore.”

“And you were kidnapped by the Demon King and forced into labor?”

Seeing Lumiere’s furrowed brow, Zhenya let out a small laugh. It was strange hearing him say “forced labor.”

“That’s right.”

“Weren’t you kidnapped because of your holy power?”

The question implied: Then why are you suffering in an office job?

“Exactly. Somehow, I ended up handling all the Demon Realm’s work.”

“All of it?”

“Unless it’s classified as top-level security, I look through it all and report it. And since there aren’t many top-level documents, most of it passes through my hands.”

As she spoke, something felt odd.

Yesterday’s questions had all been meaningless personal ones, leaving her confused.

Was he gathering information now?

Maybe yesterday’s conversation had been a tactic to make her loosen up first.

You could’ve just asked directly.

Zhenya decided to play along.

“How long did you say you’ve been here?”

“Ten years. So I understand most of how the Demon Realm operates now.”

She smiled gently, implying he could ask anything.

But Lumiere’s face darkened noticeably.

“I’m sorry.”

Suddenly?

Zhenya narrowed her eyes, impressed at how well he knew when to pull back.

If he’d asked about Demon Realm affairs right away, anyone would have seen his purpose.

She maintained a faint smile, as though she understood nothing.

“What do you have to be sorry for?”

“……”

He actually seemed genuinely apologetic.

Was it the hero’s sense of responsibility? Or guilt for dragging up painful memories?

Either way, it wasn’t something he needed to worry about.

Before he dug himself deeper, Zhenya decided to wrap things up.

“It’s time for work. I wonder what they’ll make me do today…”

She almost asked what he planned to do, then remembered she wasn’t supposed to hear his plans.

“They’ll probably let me leave early today, since I’ve had a rough three days.”

“I see.”

“Is there anything you want to eat? You didn’t answer before, so I chose on my own, but now you can tell me.”

Her teasing complaint made a soft smile return to Lumiere’s face.

“So stop only asking about my preferences, and tell me yours too.”

Zhenya pulled out a catalog from the corner of the room.

“Do you like beef stew? There’s a place that does it really well.”

It was one of the few restaurants Zhenya—who believed beef was the greatest food—truly approved of.

“They put in tons of meat, it’s rich, and even one bowl makes you feel full.”

She pointed at the delicious-looking picture and asked brightly,

“What do you think?”

Lumiere looked between her and the catalog, then nodded.

“…Sounds good.”

“Then let’s get off work early today and eat something delicious.”

“Yes.”

The answer came quicker this time.

Thankfully.

Because she’d been moving more slowly than usual, she would be late if they didn’t leave soon.

“Could you handle the cleanup?”

Zhenya gestured at the dishes.

Lumiere smiled softly.

“Don’t worry.”

Yeah… seeing him smile again, she felt like she really didn’t need to.

With an easier heart, Zhenya left the room.