“We’ll get caught at this rate.”
“Then what are we supposed to do?”
At Brax’s command, the guild members were loitering around the duke’s estate.
They had to find Hazen, who lost contact.
Returning empty-handed was not an option. Otherwise, they would face Brax’s wrath.
That would surely cost someone their head.
“Have you found anything?”
“This place is so big, I don’t know where to start.”
The main gate was heavily guarded by knights, so they were inspecting the estate’s perimeter.
But even that wasn’t easy.
The towering walls of the duke’s mansion were like fortress walls, making it impossible to determine what was happening inside.
Even if they tilted their heads back and looked, all they could see was a high wall and the sky.
“This won’t work. Someone has to go inside.”
“How? It’s not like we can change forms like Hazen.”
As non-shapeshifters, they had no way of entering the duke’s estate.
The security was so tight that sneaking in was out of the question.
The guild members were at a loss, neither able to advance nor retreat, when suddenly—
“Looks like it’s getting late. Let’s head back.”
A murmuring voice came from quite close by.
When they looked back, they saw men wearing knight uniforms embroidered with a black rose, the symbol of the Duke’s order of knights, walking towards them.
It seemed they were returning from an outside patrol.
“Gasp! Hide, quick…!”
Panicking, the guild members frantically searched for cover.
Anyone who saw them loitering around the wall would have thought they were suspicious.
“This way! Hide in the grass!”
One of them pulled the others into the tall grass beneath a tree by the roadside.
They crouched low, flattening themselves against the ground.
And then they clasped their hands over their mouths to stifle their breathing.
“What should we do with this cat’s body, though?”
One of the knights mumbled, looking at the lifeless cat in his arms.
He found it while on patrol around the estate and was now carrying it back.
It was a stray cat they occasionally encountered and fed during their patrols, now tragically lifeless.
“Not sure. Disposing of it will be tricky.”
The knights walked past the bushes where the guild members were hiding, still discussing the cat.
“Come to think of it, this cat’s eyes were quite unique.”
“Different-colored eyes, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, exactly.”
The knight recalled the cat’s appearance.
Its eyed had been unusual, one side seeming blue and the other side seeming green.
Having roamed the streets its whole life, the knight wanted to give it a proper resting place.
The knights, their expressions solemn, continued toward the mansion.
Whether by misfortune or luck, they failed to notice the guild members hiding nearby.
Once the knights’ voices faded into the distance, the guild members finally lowered their hands from their mouths and exchanged uneasy glances.
“Could it be…?”
“Hazen…?”
Their eyes trembled with dread.
The description of the cat’s body, its distinct eyes, and the fact that Hazen hadn’t returned or communicated…
“Hazen is dead…”
They were certain that he was discovered by the Duke and killed.
The knights’ words were easily misunderstood.
“Hurry! We need to report this to the master.”
The guild members got up from their seats in a hurry and went back the way they came.
* * *
Lizelle stared at Chase with an expression of utter shock.
The way he spoke so casually about a fight almost made her dismiss it as an everyday occurrence.
How could he talk about a fight so lightly, as if it were small talk?
“He had a small quarrel with the daughter of my good friend, Marquis Erden Halvron.”
Marquis Halvron? Halvron, if it’s Halvron…
‘He’s the female protagonist’s father!’
Lizelle sprang to her feet, startled.
“Are you alright?”
“No, it’s nothing. I’m just surprised that Raphel got into a fight…”
She quickly sat back down, stopping Chase from rising.
Aileena Halvron.
Aileena was the heroine of the novel and Raphelion’s fated partner.
They met. Finally. The male and female leads met.
Wait, did they fight during their first meeting in the story?
She vaguely remembered something about a minor conflict.
“I actually wanted to discuss this matter with you.”
“What matter?”
“The marquis’s wife seems to be in poor health and has decided to recuperate at their small countryside villa. However…”
Although Lizelle already knew the story, she listened calmly as Chase continued.
To care for his ailing wife, Marquis Halvron planned to relocate to the countryside.
But the countryside lacked the infrastructure of the capital, and the marquis didn’t want his daughter confined to a rural area, nursing her mother when she should be enjoying her youth. He asked Chase if he could look after his daughter for a while.
They could have left her in the care of relatives, but the Marquis and Marchioness had no close relatives.
He asked Chase because he was the only person he could trust.
Naturally, Chase accepts his request, and Aileena goes to live with Raphel at the Duke’s residence.
This was how the original story unfolded.
“What do you think, my lady?”
“About what?”
“Would it be alright if Aileena stayed with us?”
Why was he asking her? Shouldn’t he have just accepted and informed her that she was going to live with them?
“Why are you asking me that?”
“You too are now a member of the Halos family.”
Chase spoke slowly as he looked into Lizelle’s eyes.
“Of course your opinion is important.”
She will soon become a member of the Halos family and will be his wife.
His sincere red eyes were entirely focused on her.
“…”
Lizelle could only gape at him, unable to find the right words to respond.
She didn’t know what to say.
A faint breeze carrying the scent of grass enveloped them, adding to the heavy silence.
Though they sat side by side, the small gap between them on the bench felt charged. Their fingertips, resting on the bench, were almost touching.
There it is again—that strange atmosphere.
It was the same as when he looked deeply into her eyes while drunk, stroking her cheek.
What was he thinking?
And why was her heart pounding?
Was it because he referred to her as part of the Halos family? Was it the reality of their upcoming marriage sinking in?
She didn’t know.
But strangely, she didn’t dislike the way this unease made her feel.
“If you don’t want her to stay, I’ll refuse.”
“Pardon? No! It’s fine!”
Her sudden, loud response startled even her.
She’s the heroine! She has to be with Raphel for the story to progress!
“Are you sure? Even if the nanny takes care of her, it might require some of your attention.”
“Oh…”
Lizelle hesitated, a bit flustered by the unexpected situation.
Was Chase actually hesitating because of her? Why?
In the original story, he accepted without a second thought.
Lizelle swallowed nervously.
His attitude of asking for her opinion instead of informing her and being considerate made her feel a tickle in her throat. It felt strange.
“You can be honest.”
“No, it’s fine. Really, I’m okay with it.”
In any case, Aileena had to stay at the Duke’s residence.
That way, Raphel could escape the pain caused by his lost memories, and Aileena could also cure her mother’s illness by awakening her powers thanks to Raphel.
“Then I’ll bring her there after the wedding.”
Watching her wave her hands almost frantically, Chase chuckled softly.
That laugh reached her, warm and disarming.
‘Why does he have to smile so handsomely?’
Lizelle found herself grumbling inwardly as she stared at his refined, smiling lips.
‘Is he a natural player?’
Otherwise, how could someone captivate others with just a smile?
Her eyes lingered on him as her thoughts ran wild.
“My lady.”
Yes. It’s because he’s too handsome. That’s why she felt so odd.
In both her past life and her current one, she never encountered someone so good-looking.
That had to be it. She was weak to handsome guys.
She was just unaccustomed to dealing with such beauty.
Lost in thought and staring at him with a serious expression, she tried to decipher this strange feeling she was having.
Lizelle didn’t realize Chase was gazing intently at her.
“My lady.”
“Ah! What?”
Chase suddenly leaned in closer, startling Lizelle into clutching her chest in surprise.
Her heart pounded as his face came dangerously close.
“Is there something on my face?”
“No! Nothing!”
“Then why were you staring so intently?”
“I-I was looking at that flower!”
Panicked, Lizelle pointed at a random plant behind him to escape her embarrassment.
“…Do you like it?”
Chase turned to check the plant she indicated, his expression confused.
“Of course! It’s lovely, isn’t it?”
Trying to sound convincing, Lizelle fixed her gaze on the plant she impulsively pointed to.
“…”
“…”
An awkward silence fell between them.
The plant she pointed to was a Venus flytrap.
Its slender, spiny leaves spread wide open.
“Why is that even in the garden…”
While Lizelle mumbled to herself in embarrassment, a butterfly floated through the air, heading straight for the Venus flytrap.
The moment when the butterfly slowly entered the mouth of the Venus fly trap, unaware…
Snap.
“Ugh…”
She flinched.
The flytrap quickly closed its mouth and swallowed the butterfly. In the blink of an eye. A single bite.
Of all the plants, why…
The plant she proudly said was pretty and that she liked was actually a Venus flytrap.
Lizelle wanted to turn to dust and vanish on the spot.
“I see.”
Chase respected her tastes.
He tried to reason that the sight of a flytrap eating its prey might look beautiful.
To him, everything about Lizelle was special—even her unique preferences.
