The hand that had lingered for a long time, as if measuring the circumference of his thigh, suddenly moved up.
Hick, Ranshel gasped.
“It’s just skin and bones.”
When Zavad’s hand brushed his hipbone and firmly grabbed his waist, Ranshel could no longer control his body by his own will.
The strength left the hand holding the hem of the skirt.
“I think I need to formally protest Vershel…”
It was just as Zavad was muttering, lost in thought.
Knock, knock, someone knocked on the door.
“Are you all prepared?”
The moment Daniel’s voice was heard, Ranshel used all his strength to shove Zavad away.
But the rock-solid Zavad remained still, and Ranshel was the one who was pushed back.
A look of bewilderment appeared on Zavad’s face.
“What are you doing?”
“Don’t come near me!”
When Ranshel, who had stumbled but regained his balance, shouted, Zavad’s foot, which had been coming to support him, paused.
His gaze, which had been lost in thought, now turned to Ranshel’s face.
His skin, where his red hair was scattered and clung, was entirely flushed, as if stained by the color of the wig.
When Ranshel looked up, filled with indignation, Zavad also seemed a little flustered this time.
“Are you a pervert, Young Master?!”
“No, what on earth…….”
“Do you think it’s okay to grope someone’s body like this?! Huh?!”
Zavad, who was staring blankly at Ranshel shouting in anger, frowned and opened his mouth again.
“As the master, I have an obligation to properly assess my servant’s condition. If Vershel, who was in charge of your care, failed to perform his duty properly, I must naturally hold him accountable….”
“Young Master!”
Ranshel cut Zavad off and shouted.
“Young Master, you are the most foolish person in the world!”
“……What did you say?”
“My dress is all wrinkled, so I need to fix it again. Please leave now!”
“No….”
Zavad, unable to overcome the intensity of his servant, who was huffing and shouting with an unprecedentedly red face, left the room with a look of embarrassment.
When the door closed, Daniel’s faint voice asking what was wrong was heard from outside.
Ranshel denied reality and raised the hem of his skirt with trembling hands.
However, the bulge below his underwear clearly indicated one symptom.
Ah, damn it! Ranshel ran his palm over his face and wildly messed up the wig on his head.
He had never liked anyone else even during the time he lived Cha Eunseong’s life.
Naturally, he had never dated, and there was no way he would have had the leisure for it.
It was already overwhelming just continuing his weary life day after day.
So, having someone touch his body so casually was a first experience in his life.
Even though Zavad had no ulterior motives other than checking his body as if in a medical examination, Ranshel had reacted all by himself and caused a scene.
Ranshel tried to calm his body and took a deep breath.
Then, he suddenly noticed the mirror in front of him.
His cheeks were bright red, and his eyes were moist.
The emotion within them was terribly clear.
He bit his lip and straightened the disheveled wig.
To Zavad, he was not a being who evoked sexual desire, but the same wasn’t true for Ranshel.
A feeling of despair stronger than shame washed over him.
If he thought about it, Zavad was similar to Cha Eunseong.
Since he was young, he had been confined to a narrow, shabby room at the top of a wide corner of the castle, living without proper interaction with others.
The situation hadn’t changed much even after coming to Lima.
He attended official meetings, but he didn’t spend private time with any noble other than Frey Vershel.
Before, he thought it was natural because he liked Frey, but thinking about it now that he knew the truth, it seemed he used meetings with Frey as a justification to reject tiresome invitations from other nobles.
After he got a little older, if he had free time, he immediately trained his swordsmanship in the training hall.
When he was alone, he trained his muscles, moving his body diligently and hardly ever taking a day off.
He severely pushed himself in an environment where desires were strictly restrained.
Since most people around him were trying to use him or harm him, he seemed eager to gain power as soon as possible.
He focused only on what he could do right now, excluding the emotions that a man of his age would easily have.
Zavad didn’t have the leisure to look around or feel heart-fluttering excitement.
Ranshel understood him. His former self had been like that too.
‘…I wish I were like that now.’
How great would it have been if he hadn’t realized it?
If he had been able to barely endure, struggling in the cold, painful water, and escaped on his own.
If he had come out alone, without anyone’s help, as always.
Then he wouldn’t have realized it.
The face reflected in the mirror wouldn’t have looked like such a love-struck fool….
Life with Zavad was not easy either.
However, it was different from when he was just a burden to his only younger sister, desperate to somehow reverse his mistake.
Enduring, persevering, and praying for the difficult moments to pass was so familiar to him, but Zavad wouldn’t leave him to endure alone.
He worried about every little scratch and feared he might catch a cold, acting as if Ranshel was precious to him.
Even if his words were rough and sometimes savage, he couldn’t hide his care for Ranshel.
Because he was the person who finally dragged him out of the cold water and held him in his arms, Ranshel helplessly fell in love and gave away his heart.
Ranshel ran his arms over his body.
As the excited tension subsided, an icy-cold reality greeted him.
It was a feeling that could not be realized, nor should it be.
Because he had to die by Zavad’s hand.
There was no other choice.
He would somehow achieve his goal.
Betraying him and suffering a tragic revenge was the future he had to realize.
If there was one thing he wished for, it was that someone would appear who would make Zavad happy, even if it wasn’t Frey.
So that Zavad Pompel’s end could be a happy one.
He desperately prayed that Zavad would meet someone who loved him very much and find salvation from his lonely life.
God wouldn’t listen to his prayers, but Ranshel hoped that for Frey’s sake, God would listen this once.
‘Knock, knock,’ a knock sounded.
Ranshel, with a much calmer face now, left the room.
Daniel was waiting for him outside.
“The two of them have already departed to attend the service.”
It meant Zavad and Frey were already gone.
Ranshel felt relieved.
He was so thankful that he didn’t have to look at Zavad’s face right now.
“Have you also identified the location of the Holy Knights?”
“Yes. Since even the Commander is in the chapel, we should be able to attend the prayer meeting without any problems.”
The day had finally come to uncover the true identity of the ‘Resurrection Prayer Meeting’ hosted by the Archbishop.
Ranshel walked carefully beside Daniel, matching his pace.
Soon, the female believers who had led Daniel to the prayer meeting appeared.
“This is my cousin I mentioned. Please understand that he cannot speak.”
Ranshel bowed his head slightly, covering his face with the flowing wig, and remained silent.
The believers led them to a small door in the middle of the corridor.
Guards appeared there too, but when they offered the silver coin as before, the guards checked it with light and let them inside.
The silver coin, which Ranshel had previously thought was just ordinary money when he went with Kon, was a separately marked pass.
