Bang.
The door of the carriage, painted a deep brown, swung open. The emblem of Duke Lepret’s family was stamped prominently on the passing door.
‘The carriage was in the same spot and a similar color, so of course I assumed it was the Marquis’ carriage!’
Startled, Jeril tried to descend the steps quickly, but a black hand shot out from inside, snatching her before she could react.
Before she knew it, she was seated obediently in a plush chair, letting out a nervous laugh.
The deep ruby velvet covering the chair, the floor and ceiling sparkling as if embedded with jewels—yet all the luxurious decor was completely overshadowed by the fierce and handsome man calmly waving his hand.
“What is this?!”
“If I didn’t do this, you’d have been avoiding talking to me until next year, wouldn’t you?”
“This is kidnapping!”
“The door is always open. If you want to leave, try going out.”
His glossy leather gloves teased her by opening and closing the carriage door repeatedly.
Long legs clad in a neat suit blocked Jeril’s path entirely.
After a brief moment of trembling in frustration, she thought, Well, since it’s come to this, I might as well settle things and get it over with.
“Fine. Let’s talk.”
“It’s good that you speak plainly. I’ll be direct: don’t.”
“I don’t want to.”
“I knew you’d say that. Still, don’t.”
Caron, chin resting on his hand, slowly rolled his amber eyes.
It was dangerous for her to roam the palace freely. Even putting aside the Saintess, whose motives were unclear, if that foal of a girl ran around the emperor’s watchful gaze, something bad would definitely happen.
‘…I know she’s not the type to just listen when I say “don’t.”’
Still, Caron intended to argue.
Since the Rubian affair with their previous meeting, Jeril had caught the emperor’s attention. If things went further, the palace would find out she was a Blue Mage.
He frowned at the unpleasant thought.
‘This is my karma.’
Even if he hadn’t chosen Rubian as a match…
“Caron, I don’t care whether you oppose it or not.”
“I know.”
“You know that I could just ignore you and hand the employment contract directly to Ian, right?”
“I know. But do you know who has the final approval for the knight recruitment?”
‘……’
She pointed straight at herself.
Damn royalty. Jeril sighed briefly at the idea that bloodline and connections mattered even here, and curiously regarded him, obsessed over this issue more than usual.
‘It’s not like I’m going into the palace as a spy, I’m entering formally as a knight’s healer. Why is he so opposed?’
Caron, observing Jeril frozen in front of the immense wall of final approval authority, tilted his head slightly, a playful glint appearing in his gaze.
“Do you really want to go in?”
“Yes.”
“Then show me your determination.”
“…What?”
“No matter how special the recruitment, don’t you have to go through an interview? I’ll be your examiner. Tell me why you’re applying.”
“Are you joking?”
“If you don’t want to, then fine. Leave.”
Without hesitation, he opened the carriage door. Jeril exhaled deeply.
“If I tell you, will I get accepted?”
No. He swallowed the answer internally, nodding instead.
“After the banquet massacre, the Order members regularly report suspicious occurrences within the palace.”
“Order members?”
“Chevy works as a servant in the Crown Prince’s palace. He doubles as a spy.”
“So, what does he report?”
“Since that day, patients with blue rashes have been appearing regularly inside the palace. Everyone keeps it hush-hush, but apparently some develop murderous impulses as well.”
Caron’s face hardened. Even Jeril’s intelligence sources hadn’t caught this. The emperor must have been carefully watching over the Crown Prince and the Saintess.
“Don’t you get it? This is a sign of another massacre.”
“…And what does that have to do with you going undercover?”
“I’m the only one qualified to research the cause of this phenomenon. It’s a disease that only Blue Magic can resolve.”
“….”
If the Crown Prince and Saintess attempt to kill again, who around me will die?
Ever since the banquet incident, Jeril had prayed long and hard:
That the red corpses under the white cloth would not be anyone she knew. That no one else would be lost in vain.
This time, she wanted to prevent death.
“I have too much desire in this life to lose someone.”
“….”
“You’re included in that.”
A crack appeared in his flame-like amber eyes. The cruel smirk on Caron’s face faltered for a moment.
Hesitant, he slowly blinked.
“Now you tell me. Why are you opposed to my going into the palace?”
“….”
“Caron?”
“Ah.”
He let out a short sigh, pressing his temple with his fingers.
“You, why….”
“What?”
“…Never mind. What was the question again?”
“Why do you dislike that I’m working in the palace?”
“Oh, right.”
He returned to his usual expression, almost emotionless, and continued:
“If someone sees you using Blue Magic while tracking the phenomenon, what will happen?”
“If it’s not like the collective seizure incident last time, regular purification magic can control it to some extent.”
“You’re saying you won’t use Blue Magic?”
“Why do you sound like you don’t believe me?”
“Look at your past actions.”
Caron frowned and began giving examples, spreading his hands politely.
“You used Blue Magic in front of me when you first met me to save a collapsed child.”
“That was…”
“You forced yourself to use it again to treat me, a ticking time bomb that could go berserk anytime.”
“Should I have just left you to die?”
He ignored her sarcastic remark lightly, folding a third finger.
“At the banquet, your sister clearly told you not to use Blue Purification Magic, but you insisted and wandered between life and death for several days.”
“….”
“And now you claim you’ll refrain from using Blue Magic even when seeing people suffer from blue rashes?”
“…As long as I’m not caught.”
“Rubian.”
A low, firm voice that made the hairs on her arms stand up rang clearly.
Jeril, losing all words of protest, shook her head weakly. Caron’s concern was valid, far more than her reason for entering the palace.
Still, she could not give up. As if reading her thoughts, Caron furrowed his brow sharply and snapped:
“Are you under the illusion that you can save everyone?”
“Caron.”
“Can’t you control that reckless sympathy? The Saintess is separate. Why are you acting like her?”
“Watch your words.”
“Oh, before you were adopted by the Marquis, did you lose your sister by mistake?”
“….”
“Is this indiscriminate use of Blue Magic atonement? Do you think saving others will forgive your past mistakes?”
Jeril’s face drained of color.
Seeing her pale expression, Caron, cursing inwardly, fell silent.
For a long while, silence filled Duke Lepret’s carriage.
Breaking the fragile quiet, a small voice slipped out—but to Caron’s ears, it sounded louder than any scream:
“Move your leg. I’m leaving.”
“….”
The black boots didn’t budge in front of Jeril. The buzzing sound of the carriage seemed to echo in her ears.
[Sister! I hope that even if I’m reborn, you’re still my family.]
Jeril squeezed her eyes shut. What had she replied when he had said that before?
Had she nodded reluctantly under her adoptive parents’ gaze, or had she cruelly said she hated a younger brother like him?
“Move your leg.”
“Rubian.”
“I won’t say it twice.”
Breaking free from the hallucination, she finally opened her eyes, seeing her reflection in the polished shoes—distorted by shame and the cursed karma she carried.
[Karma: 50]
The breath trapped in her chest burst out.
Whenever memories of him surfaced, she was reminded of her own guilt.
Caron, uncharacteristically hesitant, reached for Jeril’s wrist. Or at least tried to.
“…Rubian.”
But before he could, Jeril swiftly swung her long legs over and stepped out of the carriage.
The door closed behind her. Left alone in the smoky, acrid air, Caron clenched his eyes tightly.
“….”
Time passed. Muttering curses under his breath, he finally rose and flung the door open with a forceful bang.
