“Why?”
Helos tilted her head, silver strands of hair falling over her shoulder, her pale purple eyes gleaming with a mischievous light. “Are you going to rob the rich to help the poor?”
Julius took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling beneath the black uniform.
The sunlight cast golden shadows on his resolute profile:
“Something like that.”
The boy’s voice suddenly grew a little low, laced with a hint of mystery.
Helos squinted suspiciously, appraising the boy before her from head to toe.
“Just hold on for two more days,”
Julius lowered his head, a flash of determination in his eyes. “I’ll try to see if I can get you some money.”
Outside the window, a bird from who knows where let out a timely cry, as if bearing witness to this sudden promise.
Helos opened her mouth to ask more, but upon seeing the resolve in the boy’s eyes, she swallowed the words she had almost spoken. “Alright~”
She shrugged her shoulders, hands clasped behind her back, and spun around lightly. “Then I’ll wait for your good news?”
Julius looked at her like that, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
He reached out and gently ruffled Helos’ hair, then turned and left amid the girl’s exaggerated protests.
“Hey!”
Helos suddenly called after him, a barely noticeable hint of worry in her voice. “Don’t do anything stupid, okay?”
The boy didn’t look back, just raised his hand and waved casually:
“Just wait for my good news!”
***
Two days later in the evening, the sunset’s afterglow dyed Olivius City a sea of gold.
Julius stood in the shadows of the corridor, the silver buttons on his black uniform gleaming faintly in the twilight.
He had just finished a detailed report on the escort mission, leaving the council chamber in haste without even a sip of water.
“It’s time.”
The boy took a deep breath and quietly walked down the hall, his boots making no sound on the carpet.
At the end of the corridor, Eleanor’s door was carved with exquisite patterns, looking incredibly expensive.
Julius paused in front of the door, hesitating for a moment before raising his hand to gently knock:
“Miss Eleanor, are you there?”
A faint noise came from inside, like the sound of a book closing.
After a moment of silence, Eleanor’s clear voice came through the door: “Ah… Julius?”
Her tone carried surprise, yet also as if she had expected it. “Please come in.”
The boy pushed open the door, and the room bathed in the golden hue of the setting sun came into view.
Eleanor sat in the armchair by the window, her golden hair cascading over the pristine white dress, holding a gilded tome in her hands.
Sunlight filtered through the window, casting a golden glow on her delicate profile.
Beside the girl stood a personal maid, carefully brushing the loose strands of golden hair.
The maid’s nimble fingers moved skillfully through the locks, pinning stray strands back into the coiffure.
“Sorry to disturb you.”
Julius bowed slightly, his brand-new black uniform looking especially solemn in the warm light.
“What’s the matter? Could it be about those past few days…?”
“No, His Excellency the Duke has already sent people to handle it. We shouldn’t have to worry about the follow-up.”
Julius shook his head, glancing at the maid beside Eleanor.
A faint smile played on Eleanor’s lips as she set the book down on the side table. Following Julius’ gaze, she softly spoke to her maid:
“Sister Lille, could you please prepare some tea and refreshments first?”
“Yes, Miss.”
The maid bowed respectfully; her black and white skirt fluttered gently with the movement.
She left quietly, closing the door with barely a sound.
Eleanor turned back to Julius, sunlight dancing on her golden lashes:
“Now, you may tell me the reason for your visit.”
The girl’s voice suddenly grew serious, and even she sat up straighter.
Julius instinctively rubbed his nose and swallowed hard.
The collar of his black uniform seemed suddenly too tight, making it hard to breathe.
“Miss Eleanor…”
The boy’s voice was a few tones lower than usual.
“Hmm?”
“Could you…”
“Hm?”
“Lend me some money?”
“Huh—what?”
Eleanor’s eyes snapped wide open, her deep blue pupils reflecting the boy’s embarrassed figure.
Her slender fingers released the armrest, pausing in mid-air as if to confirm whether she had heard correctly:
“What did you just say?”
Julius took a deep breath:
“I said I need money.”
His voice regained its usual firmness but trembled slightly on the last word.
Eleanor slowly stood, the white hem of her dress flowing like water.
She walked toward Julius, each step making his heart beat faster.
“Lift your head.”
Her voice remained gentle, yet carried an irresistible authority.
Julius looked up, meeting Eleanor’s scrutinizing gaze.
Those deep blue eyes so similar to Helos’, but now showing a completely different expression.
“Tell me,”
Eleanor’s hand lightly rested on the boy’s shoulder, “what exactly happened that made my Saint Knight Squire suddenly need extra funding?”
“Because I’m broke.”
“?”
Eleanor withdrew her hand and took half a step back, tilting her head as she examined the boy.
The golden tips of her hair swayed slightly with the movement, her voice tinged with disbelief:
“…Is that all?”
Julius spread his hands helplessly:
“What else do you want me to say?”
“That’s not the point!”
Eleanor’s fingertip poked his chest gently. “What exactly do you need the money for?”
“A Magic Crystal,”
Julius met her eyes directly, “a complete one.”
“Oh~”
Eleanor’s voice rose a little, pale purple eyes flashing with understanding.
When the words “Magic Crystal” left the boy’s mouth, her tense shoulders visibly relaxed.
“A gift?”
“You want to buy that child an apology gift?”
“Yeah—huh?”
Julius’ voice suddenly faltered, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.
But he quickly masked the momentary hesitation and continued with Eleanor’s words:
“Right, right, you see, I accidentally lost the Amulet she gave me.”
He scratched the back of his head, giving a somewhat apologetic smile. “So I want to buy something to apologize to her.”
“Why didn’t you say so earlier!”
Eleanor suddenly let out a long breath, the tension in her expression instantly melting away.
She turned toward the armchair, the white skirt trailing softly on the carpet. “I thought someone was blackmailing you!”
The girl sat down again, her gaze returning to Julius:
“How much money do you need?”
“I don’t know,”
Julius scratched his head, “I haven’t looked up the prices.”
“…Well, that makes sense.”
Eleanor sighed and lightly clapped her hands. “Since it’s for my sister, I’ll give you extra.”
“Sister Lille!”
“Take 100,000 Soli from my pocket money for Julius.”
“If it’s not enough, just ask me again!”