“Who’s there?!”
Julius’s sword tip suddenly swiveled toward the treetops, the swift movement stirring a rush of wind.
Though Helos’s voice was as soft as a falling leaf, his years of training had sharpened his hearing enough to catch even the faintest sound.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting shifting shadows across the boy’s upturned face, causing him to squint slightly.
His gaze locked precisely onto the silver figure hidden among the branches—Helos was sprawled on the trunk like a lazy sloth.
Julius blinked, then raised a hand to wipe the sweat from his brow. “Isn’t it hot lying up there on the tree?”
“?”
Helos froze, narrowing her pale purple eyes as she carefully slipped down from the branch and stepped in front of Julius. “Why are you stealing my lines?”
“Ah? I just wanted to—”
Before Julius could finish, Helos suddenly raised a palm covered in bits of bark, nearly pressing it against his face.
The boy stiffened in place, his breath seeming to halt for a moment.
“And who said I’m not hot?”
Helos pulled back her hand indignantly, silver strands clinging to her flushed cheeks from sweat.
She tugged hard at the ribbon around her collar, revealing tiny beads of sweat glittering at her collarbone. “I’m practically roasting here, you know!” she exclaimed, fanning herself exaggeratedly.
After hearing her complaint, Julius’s gaze drifted beyond the training ground to the magnificent Duke’s Mansion.
Sunlight danced atop the pointed roofs, making the whole place shimmer like it was bathed in golden light.
He had to admit, this was by far the most luxurious residence he’d ever seen—the entire estate was equipped with intricate Magic Arrays that maintained a perfectly comfortable temperature even during the height of summer.
The boy instinctively touched the damp collar of his shirt, suddenly remembering his childhood summers.
Back then, Novice Clerics would take turns casting Ice Magic, and the kids would always crowd close to the caster, playing and laughing.
Among common folk, it was even more common. While many could wield simple Ice Magic, only about twenty households in the entire King’s Capital could afford permanent Magic Arrays.
“So why don’t you just go back to your room and cool off?”
Since the Duke’s Mansion was covered in Magic Arrays to keep things cool, Julius couldn’t understand why the young lady insisted on staying outside in the heat at this hour.
She couldn’t be one of those who couldn’t nap at noon and chose to practice swordsmanship instead, right?
“Huh?”
Helos suddenly narrowed her eyes, flashing a smile that sent a chill down Julius’s spine. “Why don’t you come see for yourself in my room?”
The boy took a sharp step back, his scabbard clunking against a wooden stake on the training ground.
“Th-that wouldn’t be appropriate, right?”
“What’s inappropriate about it?”
Helos shrugged indifferently.
She squinted, sizing Julius up from head to toe. “Looking at you, it seems like you’re not planning on leaving my house anytime soon, huh?”
Julius instinctively nodded, his throat twitching.
“Besides,”
Helos suddenly stepped closer with a clear glint of amusement in her eyes, “if you’re out here roasting at midday, it means you must be pretty free this afternoon, right?
“Perfect! I’m free every afternoon anyway, so I’ll show you around and open your eyes~”
Julius opened his mouth to protest.
“But the young lady said the maids would take me on a tour this afternoon…”
“It’s only just past noon!” Helos tugged his sleeve without waiting for a reply. “Besides, I can take you around too!”
She suddenly lowered her voice mysteriously, her pale purple eyes sparkling with excitement. “And the places I’m going to show you? Those uptight maids would never dare bring you there!”
Julius seemed about to resist but was immediately silenced by Helos’s next words.
“Consider this a little thank-you for saving the kitchen earlier!”
She pulled him forward like dragging a large dog, completely ignoring the boy’s hesitant expression.
Finally, Julius sighed softly, his shoulders relaxing a bit.
Sunlight spilled over his face, highlighting the slightly resigned look in his eyes.
“Anyway… I guess it doesn’t really matter who shows me around.”
He muttered to himself as if convincing his own heart, nodding before stepping after the bouncing silver figure.
Helos led him twisting and turning through several unmarked small gates, finally stopping at a corner of the Duke’s Mansion’s outer wall, covered in climbing vines.
Julius looked around, frowning deeply—this definitely didn’t look like a path leading to a noble’s lady’s chamber.
The damp scent of moss mixed with the distant smell of stables, while a few rusty iron buckets were piled in the corner.
“Weren’t you going to take me to your room?”
Julius couldn’t help but ask.
“This is it~”
Helos blinked and walked toward a huge indentation on the wall.
Only then did Julius notice a hidden secret door concealed within the recess.
As she moved, the door creaked open, revealing a narrow staircase just wide enough for a single person.
There were muddy footprints on the steps—clear proof someone frequently used this passage.
The girl gave an exaggerated bow, her silver hair shimmering in the sunlight.
“Welcome to my personal secret passage, honored Saint Knight Squire~”
“I told you, I’m not a Saint Knight yet…”
Julius sighed helplessly, his voice echoing faintly in the narrow corridor.
“Titles don’t matter~”
Helos hopped around to stand behind him, placing her hands on his shoulders and pushing him forward.
“You should feel lucky, prisoner! After all, you’re the first person in years to walk through this secret passage!”
Julius looked up at the dim stairs. Dust gathered on the wooden steps, except for a worn shiny patch in the center.
He hesitated, glancing back to meet Helos’s purple eyes only inches away.
“Uh, are you sure this is safe?”
“Why don’t you go up and see for yourself?”
The girl winked, gently poking his back.
Julius took a deep breath, the wood creaking softly beneath his careful steps.
He climbed cautiously until his head bumped against a movable wooden panel.
With a soft “click,” stuffy, warm air rushed out.
When his eyes adjusted to the dim light, the scene before him made the boy hold his breath.
This didn’t look like the chamber of a noble lady at all.
It was as plain as the cramped room he had as a child!
No, maybe even worse.
And most importantly, the room’s stifling heat wasn’t much better than what he felt back at the training ground.
“This is… your room?”
His voice carried a barely concealed surprise. “I thought the mansion had Magic Arrays to control the temperature?”
“Yeah.”
Helos followed behind him, crawling out from the secret passage.
She glanced toward a nearby normal door that hadn’t been used for a long time, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“This is the one place in the entire Duke’s Mansion where the Magic Arrays don’t reach.”
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