Reasons to Protect the Witch's Son

While searching the area with the knights, Elaine smelled the faint scent of blood on the wind. She had a better sense of smell than the average person, so she recognized it right away. It was the smell of the blood from the runaway demon.

As she followed the bloody scent, a forest appeared not far from where the demon had fled. As she ran through the forest and followed the scent of his blood, she saw a sight she never could’ve imagined.

“Espel…?”

For a moment, she wondered if she was mistaken, if she was dreaming, but the gray hair shining in the moonlight and the pure white face revealed underneath were so familiar… Suddenly the world seemed so far away. All thoughts stopped as everything about what she came here for and what she was doing were erased from her mind.

All she could see was the person in front of her.

The person who’d been a friend of Bella’s, who was a demon but was always kind to her, and who she thought she would never see again.

20 years ago, after that hellish night, people at least knew whether others were alive or dead, but she had no idea of Espel’s current status.

Demons don’t easily show themselves in front of people. Because of this, there weren’t many who knew of his existence or remembered his name. She couldn’t even figure out where or how to start looking, and just desperately prayed he was still alive.

And there he was, right in front of her. Espel was alive.

This couldn’t be a dream. Her heart leapt in her chest and her eyes burned.

“… Elaine?”

Espel’s eyes shook just as violently as hers. His red eyes, so calm a moment ago, rippled. Elaine moved slowly toward him, still stiff as if she were seeing something unreal.

“Espel… Is that really you, Espel?”

Her vision kept getting blurry due to tears welling up. If she blinked, she wondered if he’d disappear along with the tears. Maybe it was just a mirage.

Elaine arrived in front of him. Just as she was about to stretch out her hand, Espel finally moved. He reached out his hand before she could.

Slow movements. He absentmindedly cupped her face, as if to confirm that this was not an illusion. He felt the vivid texture and warmth in his hand. Eventually, Espel came to a certain realization and took a shallow breath. Joy slowly began to surge.

He smiled faintly and whispered.

“I’ve missed you so much…….”

Oh, really. This wasn’t a dream.

The voice that penetrated her ear and the face she’d missed were all clear. Elaine shed tears.

“You were alive… How could I’ve thought that Espel was dead that day…”

“I thought you were dead too. After that day, no matter how hard I searched, I couldn’t find you…”

Espel’s eyes twisted in pain and he trailed off.

There were many things she wanted to ask when she saw him. How had he been, whether he’d had a hard time alone, and what happened to him that day? New questions piled up like a dam. He must have just as many questions he wants to ask her.

However, Espel could not easily continue talking and only kept his lips pursed. Espel’s eyes were fixed on her face, unmoving. He was clearly pleased, but he didn’t seem to know how to react.

Suddenly, Elaine realized what he must’ve noticed. Her own face, unchanged from twenty years ago.

Espel doesn’t age because he was a demon, but she was human. It would be hard to understand, though, since she hadn’t aged or faded with time. As if she were not human.

He must be wondering how this was possible. With the realization, her heart became cold as ice. Elaine hesitated and retreated without realizing it.

“Well, this is…”

If Espel was alive, she knew that a moment like this would come someday. She wanted him alive more than anything else, so she was prepared. But when she actually saw his face, she couldn’t bring herself to say what needed to be said.

She couldn’t imagine the agonizing despair he must have felt at the loss of Bella. Espel had known Bella far longer than Elaine had, and she was special to him, more than anyone else. Elaine knew that best, as they had been like family.

 

‘I don’t want to see her hurt by humans anymore.’

‘This is why I cannot accept you.’

 

Nine years old. When Bella reached out her hand to Elaine, those were the words Espel had said to her.

 

‘I’m sorry.’

‘But I want to stay by Bella’s side.’

‘I won’t hurt her like those other people did.’

 

She had promised herself that she would not hurt Bella like the others, that she would make her happy.

But what was the result? She’d promised to make her happy, and then taken away her future. The person Espel cherished so much was taken away by her. When he found out, would he be able to welcome her like he did now? Could he forgive her?

Maybe, he’d want to kill her for surviving at the cost of Bella’s life. Just like the conditions she agreed to that day when she was 9 years old. If what he said was true, he would get rid of her if she ever harmed Bella.

Nevertheless, Elaine could not avoid it. She couldn’t hide it from him. No, she shouldn’t hide it.

“I’m sorry…”

She said, sobbing. She lowered her head because she couldn’t bear to face him. She closed her eyes and lukewarm tears continued to flow down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… Because of me…”

‘Bella died because of me. I stole her heart.’

“In Seveka, Bella, while stopping the massacre…”

“…”

“Bella almost killed me… She saved my life by giving me her heart.”

Fragmented words poured out in a mess. The broken words, resembling gibberish, didn’t contain everything, but one thing was clear.

Even as she repeatedly said she was sorry, Espel remained unmoved. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking. A long silence followed. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly.

“Elaine.”

After a while, his lips slowly opened and he spoke in a strangely subdued voice. He took a step towards her.

“You have Bella’s heart.”

Elaine could no longer even apologize. She just stood there, as if she were nailed to the spot, unable to move. She swallowed her tears and caught her breath. She waited for his hatred and resentment to pour out soon.

“So, you…”

A voice that seems to be talking to itself came from above her head. She felt his eyes on her face. A face that looked the same as before, as if time hadn’t passed by. At the same time, his hand reached out, as if he was going to strangle her at any moment.

He probably wouldn’t be able to forgive her. He’d hate her and want to kill her. Elaine did not avoid his approaching hand. And then his big hand touched her, not on the neck, but on her cheek.

“Elaine, I don’t know the details of that day.”

Espel cupped her cheek and lifted it up. His red eyes look down at her quietly.

“But… I do know one thing.”

He had his back to the moon. Clouds blown by the wind blocked the light, and his face was half buried in darkness.

“At least, that it’s not your fault.”

His eyes resembled the color of cold blood, but also, at the same time, the color was as a warm as an ember. His ruby ​​red eyes looked at her calmly, and his hand cupping her cheek, was gentle. This was the last thing she’d expected, she’d been preparing herself for his resentment and condemnation.

But why? She asked, almost crying.

“Don’t you resent me…?”

He smiled bitterly.

“Did you think I would blame you?”

“Bella is the person you cherished the most. But I…”

“Elaine.”

Espel cut her off. He gently stroked her cheek.

“I’m still too confused to take it all in… I don’t know much about what happened that day, so I know there are things you couldn’t say in detail.”

“…”

“As much as I want to hear the whole story… I don’t think I can right now.”

Espel lifted his gaze and looked beyond the forest.

“Someone is coming. I think I should go now.”

From afar, he felt a presence growing closer. One of the knights searching with her had seen her go into the woods, and since she hadn’t come out in a while, he must’ve come to see if something had happened.

Espel added, turning around. He pointed to the corpse of the fallen demon not far away.

“I took care of the demon. It’s a good idea to pull out any dangerous buds around Ash. It’s okay to pretend you killed him, but if you’re having trouble doing that, just say he was already dead.”

“Now, wait a minute. Have you met Ash? We’ve barely had any time to talk…!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll see you again soon.”

“When, no, where can we meet?”

“I’ll be waiting for you tomorrow at midnight on Averin Hill, by the bell tower.”

Espel flashed her a faint smile and turned away, quickly disappearing into the darkness of the forest. Elaine was left alone, staring blankly at the spot where he had disappeared.