Chapter 33

I lowered my gaze demurely, thinking, ‘Ah, the life of a powerless commoner is full of hardships.’

“Please don’t take out your anger on the child,” Adam interjected, stepping in front of me, his broad back blocking the prince’s intense stare. The nobleman—no, the Crown Prince—seethed with fury.

“You always make me out to be the villain,” the prince spat.

“And here I thought His Highness never engaged in villainous deeds,” Adam replied coolly.

“Hah… fine, let’s pretend it’s my fault. But why do you always look at me with that damned expression?”

“What can I do? This is just how my face looks. Perhaps you’d like to take it up with my deceased parents?”

The Crown Prince’s face flushed, his lips parting in shock. He was clearly furious, his veins bulging, yet he seemed at a loss for words. Unable to respond, he vented his frustration by slamming his fist into a nearby pillar.

“Ugh!”

“It would be fitting for His Highness the Crown Prince to act with decorum.”

“Hah!”

The prince gripped his aching hand, as if preparing to shout something, but was interrupted.

“Your Highness, what are you doing here?” The High Priest strode toward them, his normally composed footsteps quick and urgent.

“Your Highness, if you came to pay respects to the deity, shouldn’t you be in the sanctuary?”

“Hah! You always take his side, High Priest.”

“Well, that might be because Your Highness tends to give me reason to.”

“Silence!” The prince’s glare landed back on Adam, who merely shrugged in response. It was almost comical, the stark contrast between Adam’s calmness and the prince’s fury.

But with the High Priest present, the prince regained some of his composure. He walked past the High Priest, approaching Adam until he was nearly nose-to-nose. Adam, perhaps out of respect for the High Priest’s presence, didn’t ignore him as blatantly as before.

The prince leaned in close, whispering, “I heard a little something… so it’s true, isn’t it?”

The prince lifted his pinky finger in a gesture that made me nervous, half-expecting Adam to snap it in half.

From the look on the High Priest’s face, he seemed equally on edge, as if his heartbeat was audible.

“…If Your Highness has had something disagreeable, perhaps you should consult the High Priest for some divine energy.”

“Ah, yes, yes. I’m feeling charitable, so I’ll let it go this time,” the prince sneered, apparently satisfied that he had the upper hand. With a smug grin, he strode off, his entourage of priests hurrying after him.

Adam watched them go before turning back to me.

“Eve, are you hurt anywhere?”

“I knew he was a brat, but does he actually hit people?”

“No, even he doesn’t go that far. When he can’t contain his anger, he just ends up damaging property…” Adam’s voice was calm, but his expression betrayed a certain sharpness. ‘Honestly, it’s a shame he lacks the learning capacity to avoid self-inflicted injuries,’ he seemed to imply.

Finally, I couldn’t help but ask, “Are you… on bad terms with the imperial family?”

“Hmm, just as you saw.”

‘So they’re like cats and dogs.’ It seemed there was more to the warrior’s past than I knew. I hadn’t needed the details to play the game, after all.

“Warrior, you came here to rest, yet you had to witness such an unpleasant scene. I don’t know how I can apologize,” the High Priest said, bowing deeply in apology.

“It’s all right, High Priest.”

Adam gestured for the High Priest to stand upright, though the priest continued to bow with a look of genuine remorse.

“You may want to tend to His Highness. Who knows what he might do in his anger?”

“Yes… Don’t worry, warrior. We’ve kept your quarters hidden, so he won’t find you.”

“Thank you. I’d rather avoid another private audience with the Crown Prince at my quarters.”

Judging from their conversation, it seemed the Crown Prince’s fixation on Adam was rather one-sided.

‘Could it be… what I think it is?’

…Was it unrequited love?

‘That unfortunate type of love where only the bystanders suffer?’

“Why do you keep such a wall up when the High Priest treats you so kindly?” I asked Adam, genuinely curious.

“…”

Adam seemed a bit surprised that I’d noticed his guarded stance. The High Priest was so clearly supportive and eager to help him, yet Adam rejected every offer. And it wasn’t because he felt burdened or unworthy.

“That’s because he wants something from me. And I don’t want to give it to him.”

“What could it possibly be?”

“It’s not something you need to know, Eve.”

Well, that was disappointing! I pouted visibly, but Adam merely gave his usual smile without offering further explanation.

‘In the past, he used to tell me everything without me even asking…’

Now he was acting all defiant, just because he’d gotten a bit older. ‘This is why they say poor parenting leads to difficult children in your later years.’

“Fine,” I replied, dropping the matter with a sigh. After all, everyone has a secret or two. It was just… mildly disappointing, a bit disheartening, and left a slightly bitter taste, but as a person with a big heart, I could understand.

“Anyway, sorry about this, Eve. His Highness the Crown Prince will likely be a nuisance, so it’s best if we leave while the other priests keep him occupied.”

At that moment, I noticed a priest nearby, nervously hovering with beads of sweat on his forehead. When our eyes met, Adam turned as well.

“W-Warrior, the High Priest says he’s prepared everything as requested.”

“Thank you.”

“However, when His Highness arrived, you left so quickly that…”

“It’s fine. I’ll retrieve it myself.”

Adam graciously overlooked the priest’s oversight, who seemed genuinely impressed by Adam’s forgiving nature. To me, though, it looked more like Adam just wanted to end the conversation swiftly.

Pretending not to notice anything, I jumped in to lighten his load.

“I was eager to head back anyway, so it’s fine! I’ll pack up now.”

“Good. The temple has offered us horses. I’ll bring them to the back gate, where a priest will meet you.”

“Got it!”

I waved him off with a smile and, as soon as Adam was out of sight, my expression shifted. I stopped the priest who was about to leave.

“So, what’s this item that the warrior felt important enough to ask the High Priest for?”

“Ah, well… that’s…”

The priest shifted nervously, glancing around. I leaned in, cornering him between the walls, smiling sweetly.

“As someone accompanying the warrior, I think I should know. It’s not like I’d do anything to harm him, right?”

“O-Of course not!”

At that, the priest’s face flushed bright red as he squeaked in protest.

“We only had to witness your interactions for a single day to see that! Oh, perish the thought!”

“Uh… thank you, I guess?”

“The warrior asked for books. They’re about past heroes and the Demon King. But he said the details are confidential.”

The mention of the Demon King piqued my interest. I’d witnessed Adam drive his sword through the Demon King’s heart myself. Adam, who had slain him with his own hands, knew the Demon King was dead.

“Oh! And he was also asking about records on the Demon King’s appearance left by past warriors. I overheard him asking for the official records the High Priest’s scribe keeps, as they’re more detailed than the usual accounts.”

The Demon King’s appearance?

‘This time around, the Demon King definitely had jet-black hair and blood-red eyes.’

He’d welcomed Adam into the castle himself with a lazy smile, his long, pitch-black hair flowing past his waist. In my mind, I could still see the middle-aged figure, youthful yet not quite Adam’s peer.

But what stood out more than his imposing presence were his eyes.

They were a crimson that rivaled the eyes of Abraxas or Potato—so red it was almost grotesque.

“What did the previous Demon King look like?”

“Well, as far as I know, he also had jet-black hair and red eyes. Of course, aside from the warriors of their time, most people know little about the Demon Kings.”