Episode 07
Helios and Ogedai continued their conversation lightly, as if catching up after a long time.
But beneath Helios’ calm exterior, something gnawed at him.
The fact that he would have to remain at close quarters for months with that woman buzzed in his ears like an irritating insect.
Carefully masking it, he asked,
“Is the master of the Morgenda Tower someone trustworthy?”
Ogedai scratched his chin lazily, as if choosing his words.
“If you mean her skill—she’s exceptional enough to kill her own master. As for my personal opinion… honestly? She’s disgusting.”
He smirked faintly.
“But she’s good to work with. Once she has a goal, she’ll achieve it—no matter what it costs. Even if that means killing comrades who were like family.”
Their eyes met.
Ogedai grinned like a mischievous boy.
“Of course, I’m always on your side, Helios.”
Helios recalled Marie’s report—that Ogedai had strongly defended Enya.
Even so, he could not fully trust her.
Not even the one person in the capital who should have been his ally.
He almost laughed at himself for it.
Then, unbidden, last night resurfaced—
That strange air.
That faintly sweet, sharp voice.
“So you should endure it too.”
“Think of what you’ve killed… and what you’ve protected.”
Why did those words linger?
He had always endured.
Why now…?
Suppressing the thought, he lifted his teacup to his lips.
“I, too, am on Your Highness’s side.”
“You came out quickly.”
The one who greeted Helios outside the prince’s residence was not an attendant—
but Enya Valencia.
Behind her, an attendant stood awkwardly, clearly unable to oppose the master of a magic tower—especially one with such terrifying rumors attached.
Helios spared her only a glance and stepped into the carriage.
A look as indifferent as tossing coins to a beggar.
Enya snorted softly and climbed in after him, sitting across from him.
The door shut.
The carriage began to move.
She scanned the cramped, worn interior, her darkened eyes narrowing in disdain.
“Your carriage is rather modest, Sir Knight. Even for a holy knight, aren’t you living a bit too tightly?”
“Get to the point.”
She leaned back slightly.
“I don’t care what you and the crown prince are plotting. But now that I’m involved, I need to at least understand the situation.”
Despite her long seclusion, she wasn’t blind to the subtle tensions surrounding the imperial court.
First—Helios.
Still a holy knight. Meaning the emperor had not granted him a title.
He could have refused it himself… but if that were the case, he wouldn’t be lingering at the prince’s side, stepping into high society.
So—
He wanted something.
Most would assume he intended to serve the prince.
But Enya thought otherwise.
She murmured,
“A nameless land. A crumbling wasteland. A knight from the land where the sun sets…”
Her half-lidded black eyes fixed on him.
“You’re trying to become the ruler of the west.”
Helios’ gaze shifted to her slowly.
Not a flicker of surprise.
“Correct,” he said plainly.
“You’re the justification.”
His current standing in the capital was nothing more than a priest under the crown prince.
But in truth—
He wanted to rule the west.
To become an independent power beyond the reach of both temple and throne.
“The monsters are beyond the borders. Power lies in the capital. But to those here, the Demon King and monsters are nothing but distant stories.”
To the people—
He was either a heroic figure…
or an inconvenient priest.
To gain a title, he had to prove himself again—this time in the capital.
Ogedai needed him.
He needed her.
A mutually beneficial alliance.
Still—
Being seen through so easily left a bitter taste.
Sharp, for someone who lived in seclusion.
“Then again,” Enya muttered, “they wouldn’t just hand you a title. You’ll need a notable achievement.”
She continued thinking aloud.
“A dream demon affecting the capital… the reclusive tower master… and the ‘Radiant Knight’ joining forces…”
She glanced out the window.
“Yes… that would leave quite the impression.”
Silence fell.
Helios studied her.
He couldn’t tell what was going on in that small head of hers.
At times, she looked like she wasn’t thinking at all.
And yet—
This was the same woman who had annihilated her own comrades.
He had no need to dig deeper.
And yet—
He wanted to.
So he waited.
Her long fingers pressed lazily against her lips as the carriage rolled along.
Only after they had left the palace grounds did she speak again.
“It’s hard… to be acknowledged by your family.”
“….”
“Don’t you think so, Sir Knight?”
Helios stilled.
She had not only deduced his ambition—
but also the emperor’s personal rejection of him.
There were political reasons, yes.
But at the core—
His father hated him.
Helios braced himself for mockery.
But none came.
Only silence.
He assumed it was a tactic.
A calculated pause.
So he spoke first.
“Do you want something in exchange for your silence?”
“No.”
Her answer was immediate.
“This is enough.”
No mockery.
No sarcasm.
For a fleeting moment—
Her tone almost sounded… kind.
“I told you. I just needed to understand the situation. I wasn’t expecting anything.”
His expression darkened.
A woman who moved purely for profit…
now speaking like this?
Unconvincing.
“I don’t believe you.”
“…What?”
Her expression—genuine disbelief—was almost theatrical.
“If you reveal even a word of today’s conversation,” he said coldly,
“you’ll gain nothing from it.”
He leaned forward, meeting her eyes directly.
“I could reduce Morgenda to ashes in two days.”
“…Are you threatening me?”
Silence was his answer.
Enya stared at him, incredulous.
She had held back out of basic courtesy.
And this was his response?
She frowned.
Then asked,
“Let me ask you something. Did you know I’d be involved?”
“I expected someone to join. Not you.”
He spoke flatly.
“I only knew the framework of the plan.”
Ogedai trusted no one fully—not even him.
They seemed close, Enya thought.
As if reading her mind, Helios cut her off.
“Unlike someone, His Highness doesn’t stab allies in the back.”
The words struck sharply.
Enya blinked, momentarily stunned.
For a fleeting moment, she had pitied him.
What a fool she had been.
What kind of curse made me feel any kinship with him?
If she could, she would dig up last night and throw it away.
Enough.
No more courtesy.
Her thoughts cleared instantly.
A goal formed.
I’ll break him completely.
Leaning back casually, she smirked.
“You choosing to play the crown prince’s dog is a relief. Wouldn’t want the palace drenched in blood over some stray stone rolling in.”
“Is that all you have to say?”
He didn’t even blink.
As if daring her to continue.
As if—
He had no intention of yielding at all.
