Thud. Thud.
All the lights went out, and only the small oil lamps scattered around the castle illuminated the dark night.
A man moved his steps, crossing the cold air.
As he passed by an oil lamp, his golden hair became faintly visible, and for a moment, his stiff expression was dimly reflected on the white porcelain set on the street corner.
The place he moved toward was a terrace slightly away from the hall where a social party had been held earlier.
“…You’ve arrived, Vermilion Drake.”
As he revealed the dark-colored curtains, there was a man standing on the terrace, where he had assumed no one would be.
Upon seeing the face of the man who had humiliated him in front of the spectators earlier, Vermilion felt a surge of emotion, but he quickly composed himself.
He knew better than anyone that confronting this man was meaningless.
“What’s the reason you called me?”
“Of course, it’s the fulfillment of a promise. You didn’t forget, did you?”
“Tch.”
Vermilion, who had been playing the part of a kind person, realized it was useless in front of Kyle, so he openly clicked his tongue, showing his displeasure.
However, he didn’t run away from the situation, even though it was uncomfortable.
Although his temperament was a bit twisted, he was still a noble’s child, educated to not retreat from a statement once made.
No, rather, because his pride was so strong, even if he wanted to run away, he couldn’t.
He knew better than anyone that fleeing from a consequence he hadn’t chosen was something only losers would do.
“You said you had something to ask?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, don’t hesitate, just ask. I’ll answer whatever it is.”
Vermilion replied bluntly, thinking it would be a pointless question anyway.
“Good, you’re quick. Then, let me ask. Are you a member of the Dawn’s Eye?”
For a moment, as Kyle’s words continued, Vermilion’s eyes widened in surprise, his expression instantly revealing his inner shock.
His gaze alone had already answered the question.
“By the way, you’d better give up any thoughts of running away or lying. I’ve made sure you can’t do either.”
“…So it was a barrier, damn it.”
“Yeah.”
From the moment he stepped onto the terrace, Vermilion had felt a strange, foreign sensation.
Realizing that this place had been set up as a trap to catch him, Vermilion gritted his teeth.
Moreover, seeing that Kyle had asked him to give up lying, it seemed that Kyle had used a special trick in the barrier or was learning magic to detect lies.
Sitting casually on the railing, Kyle nodded as if urging him to speak, and Vermilion clenched his fist tightly.
“…What happens if I can’t answer?”
“Then I’ll force you to speak. Did you think I wouldn’t consider that possibility?”
“I guess so.”
Vermilion sighed, figuring Kyle was probably using magic to force the truth out, as he didn’t seem like the type to enjoy torture.
“Let me ask one thing. How did you find out?”
“That emblem you’re holding. It’s proof that you’re a member of the Dawn’s Eye, isn’t it?”
“It’s hard to tell with just that. It could just be a decoration, right?”
“Well, I suppose that’s true. There must be a lot of people with that kind of piercing.”
As Vermilion had said, getting a piercing on the back of one’s hand was quite a popular decoration, especially in the western regions.
That’s why Vermilion didn’t think he’d be caught with such evidence, and that’s why he had casually taken off his gloves at the time.
Had that not been the case, he would have surely kept his gloves on and calmly offered a handshake.
However, there were other reasons Kyle had figured out his identity.
“Actually, I heard rumors when I was in Ruben recently. They said they saw the Drake family secretly supporting the Dawn’s Eye…”
“…You managed to hear that rumor?”
“The people who spread it have probably been dealt with by now.”
“Is it that easy to hide a rumor?”
“So, is that all?”
Vermilion furrowed his brow, unsure whether to believe this was sufficient evidence to be so confident.
Kyle shrugged and nodded, then pointed to Vermilion’s body.
“No, I became sure after our duel. From what I saw earlier, that power… you must have gotten it from them.”
“…!”
Vermilion’s eyes widened, his surprise evident as he had been trying hard to keep his composure. The truth he least wanted revealed was now exposed.
“How did you know that…”
“It’s simple. Logically speaking, there’s no way someone from a prestigious family like you would willingly walk into a group of traitors.”
Kyle, with a mocking grin, dropped down from the railing and slowly approached Vermilion, resting his hand on his shoulder.
“It’s one of two things. Either you were offered power to join the Dawn’s Eye, or someone close to you is already in the Dawn’s Eye, and you naturally joined. Or, maybe it’s both.”
“You’re a ghost….”
Kyle spoke casually, but with every word, Vermilion felt chills running down his spine. Everything he said was spot on.
In truth, the entire Drake family was a part of the Dawn’s Eye.
Though Vermilion didn’t know the full history, his father, Braeg Drake, had once said they had received power from the Dawn’s Eye, earning the title of the magical family.
It was likely that his grandfather, Elfeld Drake, had been in the same situation.
That’s why Vermilion had accepted their power, to get closer to his grandfather, who was his goal.
Relying on external power wasn’t a blow to his pride.
After all, he had always believed it was the path only someone chosen could take.
“…So, what are you going to do? Are you planning to betray me?”
Vermilion narrowed his eyes and spoke aggressively.
If Kyle already knew everything, he should have betrayed him already, so it was hard to understand why Kyle was going through this verification process.
What was his true intention?
Staring at Vermilion with an unreadable expression, Kyle tilted his head and finally spoke.
“No, I’m not planning on doing that. In fact, I might even help you.”
“You’ll help me…?”
“Yeah.”
At the unexpected answer, Vermilion’s eyes twitched.
Kyle, affirming his words, looked silently at Vermilion with his golden eyes. Then, he shaped a ball of magical power in his hand, showing it to him with a cold smile and added,
“Will you make a contract with me? Vermilion Drake.”
It was the same phrase a man had once said to him when he was most desperate for power before his regression.
Could the change in sleeping arrangements be the reason? Sylvia found herself unable to sleep, and in the middle of the night, she got out of bed and left her room.
It was fine at first, but standing alone in the corridor, perhaps due to the eerie silence in the air, she started feeling uneasy. She had been hoping to find Kyle and talk, but he must be deep in his dreams, so she decided not to disturb him. Instead, she made up her mind to wander aimlessly around the castle. She’d return to her room when sleep eventually came.
Thud. Thud.
Footsteps? Who could it be at this hour?
Then, a faint sound of footsteps from the opposite direction caught her attention. Given the vast size of the castle, there were likely patrols, and servants might be rushing through the halls even at night. Despite that, the cold night air made her anxious, so she hugged her arms to herself and waited until the sound got closer.
“…Princess Eleanor? What brings you out at this hour?”
“L, Laird Kyle?”
The person who appeared was completely unexpected. Rather than the uniform he had worn at the social party, Kyle appeared in what seemed to be casual attire. Sylvia’s eyes widened as she stared at him in surprise.
To meet him at the very moment she wanted to talk—it felt like either an incredible coincidence or perhaps fate.
“Ah… I woke up for some reason. I thought I’d take a walk until I got sleepy again, so I was wandering around.”
“Still, it’s dangerous for a woman to be out alone, even in the Duke’s castle.”
“Ah, you’re right. I guess it’s better to head back, then?”
Although she was happy to see him, his abrupt reprimand made Sylvia feel a bit deflated, but she still agreed with him.
As he said, the Duke’s castle was well-guarded, but there was always the possibility of something unexpected happening.
Just as she decided to head back to her room, Kyle’s voice stopped her in her tracks.
“…But if you had someone by your side, would it be alright? If you don’t mind, I can stay with you for a while.”
“Ah…!”
His blunt tone didn’t hide the meaning behind it, and Sylvia immediately realized his intention. She couldn’t help but gasp and look up at him, touched by his warmth.
It seemed like he was about to go back to his room, but his willingness to spend a little more time with her for her sake was incredibly thoughtful.
“Thank you, Laird Kyle. Despite everything, you’re so kind.”
“Enough with the flattery. Let’s go. Oh, but before that…”
Despite his usual stern expression, Kyle stopped as if he’d forgotten something. He turned toward her and looked down, then carefully took off his thin outer coat and draped it over her shoulders, making sure not to touch her too much.
“Even though it’s spring, the temperature difference can be quite sharp at night. Next time, make sure to wear a thin coat when you come out.”
“Hehe, I will. By the way… sniff sniff… this coat smells like you, Laird Kyle.”
There was no way the coat, which had just been thrown on, would smell that strongly. Still, Sylvia playfully sniffed the coat, flashing a mischievous smile, and Kyle felt a sharp throb in his head.
This woman…
“Just wear it quietly before I take it back.”
“Ah, that’s unfair.”
“Isn’t it more unfair that you’re joking around when you can’t even thank me properly for my kindness?”
“Of course, I’m grateful! I was just so grateful that I couldn’t find the words.”
“Well, you sure know how to talk.”
With a sigh, Kyle turned away and began walking, while Sylvia followed closely behind, smiling brightly.
Although she had spoken playfully, her feelings were genuine.
She was so thankful for him—this person who appeared at the moment she missed him the most. He was the one who, even without her showing signs of cold, took off his coat and handed it to her first. But more than that, what she appreciated most was that he kept his promise and stayed by her side, making an effort to be with her.
In that sense, Kyle was truly a gift to Sylvia, the kind of person for whom the old, cheesy saying “a gift in the form of a person” felt like the most fitting expression.