Chapter 63
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Chapter 63
Yurien de Harden Kirie's gaze followed a single tear as it traced down her cheek. Echinacea Loaz, unaware of his attention, pressed further. "If you already knew, why were you so surprised earlier?"
"If you already knew, why were you so surprised earlier?"
His composed expression crumbled entirely. He began to respond, then froze—suddenly realizing he'd been gripping her shoulders. He yanked his hand away as though burned, the realization of his own actions dawning on him only now.
Yurien de Harden Kirie stepped back, creating distance between them. Echinacea Loaz waited silently for his answer. He hesitated, then finally spoke, his voice barely audible.
"You..."
He trailed off, unable to finish. While he fumbled for words, she gradually composed herself.
He hadn't recognized her as a Demonic Sword demon—he'd recognized her talent and taken interest in it. The realization was unsettling yet oddly reassuring. Thinking clearly, her current situation wasn't as dire as it seemed. She'd need to fabricate some explanation for becoming a Master, but that was far better than being exposed as wielding a Demonic Sword.
If he'd already suspected she was a Master, lying would be easier. Others would certainly dig into her past if they learned the truth, making it impossible to avoid suspicion. But with Yurien alone, she could simply claim she'd been wielding a sword since childhood and gradually became a Master. It seemed plausible enough.
He wouldn't investigate her childhood, and he wasn't the type to promise secrecy only to spread rumors. Since he'd been observing her talent all along, he likely wouldn't connect the fact of an unknown Master to the Demonic Sword demon.
The more she thought about it, the more her anxiety settled. She wiped away the remaining traces of tears with her gloved right hand. Only then did Yurien de Harden Kirie respond, his voice impossibly small.
"That you... called my name. It's the first time I've heard you say it."
"...I'm sorry?"
It was completely unexpected. He'd been so startled simply because she'd called his name? Now that she thought about it, in her panic, she'd called out his name without restraint, exactly as she'd been thinking it.
Echinacea Loaz noticed his ears had turned a deep crimson as he looked down. What was that? Why were they turning red? A Squire calling her Lord's name without permission—and rather than scolding her for rudeness, he seemed... pleased? She stared blankly at him before a sudden question sprang to mind.
"You said earlier that if I wanted to hide the fact that I'm a Master, you'd keep it secret for me. But how did you know I'd want to hide it?"
"...If you tell me."
"If you tell me" meant he didn't know now. Echinacea Loaz's expression became peculiar. She stepped closer to him. He flinched but didn't retreat. She looked up at him intently.
"So you'd keep my secret without even knowing why I want to hide it, just because I asked?"
"..."
"And it sounds like you won't even ask the reason until I tell you myself. Am I understanding this correctly?"
"..."
"...Why are you being so considerate toward me?"
"..."
As she pressed him and he remained silent, the flush spreading from his ears intensified, creeping across his eyes and staining his cheeks a vivid red. Yurien de Harden Kirie looked away, clearly flustered. When she continued to watch him in silence, his entire face turned a brilliant crimson.
Looking at him like this, only one explanation came to mind. As she recalled everything that had passed between them—every gesture, every word—the hypothesis solidified.
The cloak, the ginger tea, his hope that she wouldn't be uncomfortable, his unguarded smile, his reaction when they emerged from the Nodule, the sudden question at the appointment ceremony, their conversation before this mission, the amethyst, his admission that he was delighted when she spoke to him.
All the moments she'd witnessed—his carefulness, his blushing, his tension in her presence, his laughter at her smallest words, the way he observed her with such attention.
These were reactions that couldn't arise from mere interest in her talent alone. Though questions remained—why, when it had started—they were overshadowed by a growing certainty.
"Lord... could it be..."
No, she was insane. What was she about to ask? This was pure fantasy. Her thoughts scattered in a dozen directions, and she tried to stop herself. But the question that tumbled from her lips couldn't be caught.
"Do you like me?"
The words Echinacea Loaz spoke were like a stone cast into still water. Ripples spread outward. Through him. Through her.
She was shocked by her own words. The possibility that he could like her. It would be impossible between "Yurien de Harden Kirie with his memories" and "the Demonic Sword demon," but between "Yurien de Harden Kirie" and "Echinacea Loaz," however unlikely, it was possible.
At first, there had been no connection between the distant Changtian Knights Commander and an ordinary count's daughter. But after she came to Agenka, a connection formed. Then came the intimate relationship of Lord and Squire. Even if she still didn't fully understand it.
Yurien de Harden Kirie couldn't answer immediately. His face had turned so red it seemed impossible for it to deepen further. Beneath trembling eyelashes, his blue eyes darted frantically—at her, away from her, into empty space—before finally settling on her face.
"I..."
He managed only a single syllable before covering his mouth with one hand. His eyes dropped, then found hers, then searched the air uncertainly.
Unless he was a fool, the answer was obvious. He was a nervous wreck, and his eyes had begun to glisten slightly with moisture. Echinacea Loaz watched his every reaction as though witnessing something unreal. She almost felt sorry for tormenting him.
Moreover, as she watched, her own cheeks began to burn—she could feel her face flushing to match his. She opened her mouth, floundering for words.
"L-Lord, I apologize for asking something so presumptuous..."
"I'm in love with you."
He cut off her words abruptly and spoke. Echinacea looked up at him in surprise. Yurien de Harden Kirie's face was still flushed crimson, his eyes slightly glistening with moisture, his voice trembling, yet his words remained resolute.
"No, rather than simply liking you, I admire you."
Not just her mind, but her entire vision turned white. Her heart raced wildly, heat flooding through her entire body. A tingling, delicate sensation danced through her being, sweetening her mouth. He said he likes me. That he admires me. It couldn't be real. Was I dreaming?
Yet simultaneously, an uncontrollable terror surged within her—something dark, crimson, and viscous. Realities she could not shake away.
'He doesn't know. That I'm the demon who destroyed him.'
What he claimed to love was surely Echinacea Loaz, born into the Count Loaz Estate with exceptional talent. The eccentric cadet who wandered about in dresses. His squire harboring the secret of being a Master.
Even if he possessed no memories from before the regression, she could not rejoice in his affection. She was not shameless enough to merely accept his love while carrying the memory of having killed him and destroyed his name. She was not so crude as to eternally feign ignorance of that truth and see only love.
Reversing their positions made it even clearer. If someone who had slaughtered everyone precious to her, who had ultimately killed even her, were to resurrect them all and then claim that since everything was restored, it was as if nothing had happened, and declared their love for her—
'I would want to kill them out of rage.'
That was the undeniable truth between her and Yurien de Harden Kirie. Even if he didn't know this fact, it would be difficult to accept easily, but he certainly had his memories.
If he were to discover later who she truly was. If he were to realize that the woman he had confessed to admiring was the demon who had killed him. At that mere thought, her breath caught.
'This is deception.'
Accepting him while hiding that truth was deception. Then should she confess everything? Even ignoring the backlash of the Demonic Sword's master being revealed, considering only Yurien de Harden Kirie, she could not do it.
She had felt it during the sparring attempt. It was impossible for her to even draw her sword against him. If in this situation he were to glare at her with eyes of hatred and speak of revenge, what would become of her? Would she wish to die by his hand? Could she maintain her sanity in that moment?
If she were to lose her reason, what of the murderous intent accumulating in Bardegiosa? She might again be consumed by that intent and descend into madness. Kairosgiosa had said there would be no second chance.
'I can't... I can't accept this. It's deception to him, and I... I can't bear it.'
Like bare skin adhering to frozen metal, a cool and agonizing realization. The heated body grew cold. The heart intoxicated by first love froze over. Turned ashen. She could not accept it. Never.
Yurien de Harden Kirie watched as Echinacea Loaz's face flushed with warmth, then gradually drained of color. And he clearly saw her finally step backward, her complexion now deathly pale.
He suppressed the heat rising within him. Rather than reaching out to stop her retreat, he simply turned away. After steadying his breathing several times, drawing in a deep breath, and controlling his trembling lips, he managed to speak in an even tone.
"You need not answer, Echinacea Loaz. It is simply how my heart feels."
Yurien de Harden Kirie left those words behind and grasped Rangiosa, heading toward the remains of the black giant. She did not reach for him. She could not answer. Despite being so close, she could not extend her hand—afraid of the future that would shatter if they touched.
Flickering flames spread between him and her.
Echinacea stood motionless, watching only his retreating figure. Red blood spread along his lowered forearm, dripping steadily. The wound he had sustained earlier. In their distraction, neither he nor she had paid it any mind.
The moment that wound entered her vision, she moved without thinking. Her frozen body moved of its own accord. Echinacea Loaz leaped across the flames and approached him, grasping his arm. Yurien de Harden Kirie started in surprise and turned around.
"Your arm is injured. You haven't even stopped the bleeding."
Echinacea Loaz raised his arm and drew out Amethyst. Without hesitation, she cut away the petticoat beneath her dress. Then, tearing the fabric into long strips, she pressed them against his wound and bound it tightly. As she wrapped his arm with the makeshift bandage, she felt his gaze from above. She could not lift her head.
"Shay... that is, I left the owner of Elgiosa and the villagers elsewhere. I will bring them here."
Echinacea Loaz spoke as she tied the knot. Without looking at his face, she simply bowed her head and left the spot, heading toward where Shay would be. Half of her was fleeing.
Yurien de Harden Kirie held his arm aloft even after she departed. His fingertips traced the knot she had tied.
Echinacea Loaz had bound the wound quite skillfully with the petticoat fabric. Yet contrary to her deft movements, her hands trembled continuously as she tied it. Her voice trembled too. Between the drooping strands of pink hair, her downcast eyes glistened with moisture. She looked as though she wanted to cry.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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