* * *
“……Huh?”
Watching Raizen so overjoyed, I was the one who ended up feeling flustered.
I’d grown more used to expressing my emotions, but to see him like this… so happy?
‘Happy? Why would Raizen be?’
It was true that his sudden change in attitude made my heart race uncontrollably, but deep down, I couldn’t shake my doubts.
I hadn’t done anything yet—so why had Raizen changed? What was he doing this for?
The same went for the talk about engagement.
Raizen acted as though he truly saw me as his fiancé.
It was baffling—but not unwelcome.
‘But… it was definitely strange.’
Engagements and marriages in this world weren’t acts of love.
Especially for nobles, they were strategic alliances meant to ensure the prosperity of their families.
But if Raizen wanted that, then it didn’t make sense.
The House of Marquis Kreveta and the Duchy of Pantheon had maintained a strong relationship for generations.
Of course, things weren’t great between them now, but that was merely a front for the outside world.
In this situation, there was no reason for Raizen to seek an engagement with me just to gain the Kreveta family’s support.
And if it wasn’t for political reasons, then…
‘But there’s nothing between us.’
We had spent time together. I had some feelings for him.
But it wasn’t enough to call it love.
Yet, if he looked at me like that…
‘It almost makes me feel like he really wants me.’
“Sei?”
“Ah, yeah. That’s right. I’ve decided. It’s the first time I’m telling you.”
For me, returning to being Sean Kreveta was the natural choice.
Only then could I legally reclaim the inheritance that Duke Pantheon had been holding for me.
What mattered was what came after.
Would I return to the Kreveta family and live as its heir?
Or would I disappear without a trace and live under another name?
Up until now, I had been determined to choose the latter.
My grandfather—the former Marquis Kreveta—seemed to want that as well.
But now…
‘I don’t know anymore.’
What did I really want?
I wished for a happy ending with Raizen, but was that even possible?
Was it because I’d never had anything I truly wanted before?
Then, a voice as soft as a whisper brushed against my ear.
“Thank you.”
Raizen’s cheeks were flushed red as he spoke.
His expression was so sincere that it was impossible to believe he was acting.
No—could anyone even fake a look like that?
I turned my head away instinctively.
“Wh-what are you thanking me for? We made a promise.”
‘But still, if you decide where you’re staying, will you tell me first?’
Back in the cabin, Raizen had asked me this, and I had agreed.
“You kept your promise.”
He was thanking me for that.
Suddenly, I remembered what Raizen had once said he wanted as a gift for his coming-of-age ceremony.
He had asked me never to leave his side.
That day, when I asked why he wanted me to stay, Raizen had simply said, “Because I need you.”
But what about now?
Cautiously, I looked at him.
“Brother.”
“Yeah?”
There were so many things I wanted to ask.
If he didn’t want me to leave, then why was he happy about me returning as Sean Kreveta?
Was it because he was considering engagement?
And if so, why?
But none of those questions made it past my lips.
It felt like invisible hands were choking me, stopping the words from coming out.
‘I’m scared.’
Scared that if I asked, I’d get the same answer as before.
“…Never mind. It’s nothing.”
Shaking my head, I lowered my gaze.
Raizen didn’t press me further.
The atmosphere had become strangely heavy, and I couldn’t bear it any longer.
I stood up.
“Brother, I’ll go ahead. …Thanks for comforting me.”
With those parting words, I quickly left the cabin.
∗ ∗ ∗
Thud. A tiny foot pressed against my forehead.
[Focus!]
The moment I heard that, the large plate of holy energy I had spread before me vanished.
Normally, Seol would have scolded me for messing up, but now, he was silent.
“…Sorry. Let me rest for a bit.”
I slumped into my chair.
Seol, who had been staring at me, leapt onto my lap.
[What’s wrong?]
It was a direct question.
I looked at him in silence before hesitantly reaching out my hand.
He rubbed her head against my palm.
Warm and soft.
The gentle sensation soothed my chaotic mind, even just a little.
Without thinking, I hugged her tightly.
“I just… I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do.”
The gods had placed me here to break Raizen’s curse.
But I’d learned that everything had been orchestrated by Baldur.
Raizen was the reincarnation of the soul that had killed Baldur, and to lift his curse, true love was required.
But what even was true love?
And besides, I didn’t even understand love.
“Why me, of all people…”
If Raizen needed someone to give him real love, wouldn’t Sean Kreveta—who had grown up in a loving home—have been a better choice?
Was it because the Marquis Kreveta couple had been doomed to die?
But if their souls had been intact, Sean could have been raised as a truly affectionate child.
‘Why does it have to be me?’
Someone who doesn’t know how to love or be loved.
Can I really break Raizen’s curse?
“Love… Is that really the answer?”
It was too difficult.
And it felt too ridiculous.
“Ha…”
The most frustrating part was how helplessly I was being dragged around by my emotions.
Instead of keeping a clear head and guiding Raizen, I kept getting overwhelmed by every little thing he did.
“Shouldn’t love strong enough to break a curse be something more noble and sacred?”
But what I felt wasn’t anything like that.
[No.]
For the first time, Seol spoke up.
“No?”
[Yeah.]
His response was so firm it almost felt unfair.
“Really… it’s not?”
[Noooooo…]
With a voice full of childish complaints, Seol wriggled deeper into my embrace.
[Don’t get trapped in your thoughts. Just… just look at things as they are.]
“……”
[Just do what you’ve always done.]
“……”
[You’re doing well. Really.]
Seol’s voice trembled endlessly as he spoke.
It didn’t sound like he was just saying something comforting—it carried a hint of guilt.
‘What could you possibly have to feel guilty about?’
“…Thanks. I… I’ll do my best.”
[Yeah!]
With a determined cry, Seol carefully pulled away from my arms.
His golden eyes gleamed, catching the light in a dazzling glow.
[So let’s get back to training!]
“…Huh?”
[The Holy Sword! You need to learn how to wield it properly!!]
“……”
Honestly, wasn’t this his goal from the very beginning?
I felt like I’d been tricked somehow, but in the end, I still got up.
Seol wasn’t wrong, after all.
‘There must be a reason why Seol has the Holy Sword.’
Now wasn’t the time for hesitation.
I had to move forward—even if I was afraid.
∗ ∗ ∗
Duke Pantheon’s brow furrowed as he read through the lengthy report.
“Hah…”
This time, the monster wave was larger than the last.
Because of that, most of the military forces had to be deployed for the subjugation.
The Emperor had agreed to assist with investigating the cause, sending a few of his shadows to aid in the search.
But by the time they arrived, it was already too late.
All that remained in what seemed to be the site of a ritual was a sinister magic circle.
“How is Duke Luavis moving?”
At Duke Pantheon’s question, a shadowy figure cloaked in black stepped forward.
“Recently, Duke Luavis has been secretly meeting with the High Priest. Sometimes, Karon Luavis accompanies him.”
“And the search for the Saint—has it been completely concluded?”
“Yes. It has been confirmed that no further search teams are being dispatched.”
Duke Pantheon clenched his jaw.
‘So, he intends to make his own son the Saint.’
At first, he had thought that the monster wave was orchestrated to frame Raizen as the “Seed of Calamity” mentioned in the oracle.
But now, it was clear that, from Duke Luavis’s perspective, it didn’t matter whether the monster wave was a sign of disaster or the work of dark sorcerers.
‘As long as the connection between Duke Luavis and the dark sorcerers remains hidden, Karon Luavis can forever be hailed as a hero.’
Just then, someone knocked on the office door in urgent haste.
“What is it?”
One of the Duke’s aides entered, holding a letter in his hands.
“Y-Your Grace. A letter has arrived for Young Lord Pantheon… It’s from Karon Luavis. And… it’s a marriage proposal.”
At those words, Duke Pantheon shot up from his seat.
“…What did you just say?”
* * *
