Episode 109

Edwin’s unexpected appearance left me gaping in shock.

“W-why are you here?!”

“That’s what I should be asking.”

At my bewildered voice, Edwin furrowed his brows.

“What are you even doing here, hiding under a desk?”

“Uh, uh… Hide-and-seek with Tara… The window was open, so…”

I blurted out the excuse I had prepared in case I got caught.

But Edwin’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“Why would you play hide-and-seek here? Do you even know where this is?”

“W-where is it?”

“This is Logan’s room. You didn’t even know that, and you snuck in here?”

His voice rose in frustration, but he barely managed to stop himself from shouting.

He looked angry, but his golden eyes were filled with shock and concern.

‘Well… I suppose anyone would be startled to find someone crouching in a dark room like a ghost.’

Understanding his reaction, I mumbled a small apology.

“…Sorry.”

“I’m not asking for an apology. I’m asking why you’re doing something so dangerous.”

“It’s inside the mansion. What’s dangerous? Besides, Logan is the duke’s aide…”

“Aide or not—do you even know what he might do if he found you sneaking around his room? …Ugh.”

Edwin, who had been arguing back at me, suddenly let out a deep sigh and reached toward his waist.

Shhng—

The sound of a blade being drawn echoed through the room.

I froze as I watched Edwin unsheath a real sword, one designed precisely for his height.

“I’m not an intruder! It’s really me, Belze!”

I meant to say don’t cut me down, but—

“…What?”

Frowning, Edwin didn’t respond to my nonsensical outburst.

Instead, he suddenly sliced his own sleeve with the sword.

Swish, swish.

Then, using the cut fabric, he carefully tied the ends into a ribbon before handing it to me.

“Here.”

“……”

“Next time you play hide-and-seek, tie your hair up. What’s the point if your hair is sticking out from under the desk like earlier?”

I stared blankly at the fabric in his hands.

It was unmistakably a hair ribbon.

Thanks to the duke and Edwin, my dressing room was overflowing with hair ties and accessories.

Yet, despite knowing that, Edwin had cut his own sleeve without hesitation, just for this moment.

The sight made my chest tingle strangely.

“Y-you really didn’t have to go this far…”

“Turn around. Do you want Tara to catch you like this?”

“N-no!”

His argument made too much sense, and in a panic, I forgot I wasn’t actually playing hide-and-seek and turned around hurriedly.

Just like how he had neatly tied the ribbon earlier, Edwin skillfully gathered my long, thick hair and secured it into a smooth ponytail.

‘Where did Edwin even learn how to tie hair?’

Even though it wasn’t the time for such thoughts, my heart pounded stupidly.

Even when he finally said it was done, I couldn’t bring myself to meet his eyes as I turned back around.

“…But why are you here, Edwin?”

Still absentmindedly touching my newly exposed neck, I finally asked.

“Isn’t today your sword training day?”

The moment I said it, the question I had momentarily forgotten came rushing back.

His sword training, which had been paused for a while because of that bastard Svel, had recently resumed.

This time, Kallios’ knight commander was personally instructing him—a much more rigorous class than before.

His sheathed sword, his training attire—everything indicated he should be at training right now.

‘So why did he come to Logan’s room? And with a key?’

I had the Master Key, which meant the one Edwin used must have belonged to the duke—or was a copy.

The more I thought about it, the more strange it seemed.

When I lifted my gaze to look at him—

“…I…”

I saw Edwin’s face, painted with hesitation.

After mouthing words silently for a moment, he finally answered.

“…I came to look for something.”

“What?”

“…Something.”

“Tch.”

His vague response made me click my tongue in annoyance.

His refusal to tell me anything made my cheeks puff up in frustration.

‘He nags at me about everything, but when it’s his turn, he won’t tell me? That’s so unfair.’

I glared at Edwin, trying to convey my annoyance, but it had no effect on him whatsoever.

Instead, he pushed me toward the door.

“Now go. Before the room’s owner returns.”

“What about you?”

“I told you, I have something to find.”

“Can’t I help you look?”

“No, you can’t.”

“Why not?! I can help you too, you know!”

Planting my feet firmly, I stomped on the floor so I wouldn’t be pushed out.

‘Do you know how much effort I put into sneaking in here?!’

Even if I left empty-handed, I needed to at least find out why Edwin was here—otherwise, I would feel too wronged.

As Edwin tried to lift me up to carry me out, I shouted in desperation.

“What is it, what is it?! I’ll help you!”

“Even if I tell you, will you understand?”

“If you keep looking down on me like that…”

“……”

“I won’t play with you anymore! I’ll only play with Hanta and Ismail from now on!”

The moment I threw out my ultimate threat, Edwin—who had been about to pick me up—froze.

“I even got into a fight with Ismail yesterday because of what you said…”

“……”

“Now I’m just going to call him oppa.”

Even after saying that, I gulped and anxiously watched Edwin’s reaction.

I had said it just to provoke him—knowing full well he hated the idea of being called oppa.

Would it work?

As I nervously waited for his response,

Edwin’s gaze darkened as he stared at me.

“…Is that true?”

“Huh?”

“Did you really fight with him yesterday?”

His unexpected question left me confused.

But at least he no longer seemed focused on kicking me out of Logan’s room.

‘…Sorry, Ismail.’

Silently apologizing to the male lead candidate who was probably working his butt off for me right now, I awkwardly nodded.

“U-uh-huh…”

At that, Edwin smirked and looked at me with a tilted gaze.

“You should’ve said that earlier. You didn’t even tell me you were leaving, and you didn’t bother reporting back after returning.”

“……”

“You never think about the people who worry about you, do you?”

“I left a note saying I was going with teddy bear…”

I muttered defensively, feeling a little guilty.

Edwin sighed lightly before speaking again.

“It was written in an ancient language.”

“A-ancient language…?”

“Yeah. That’s what I’m looking for. You don’t know anything about it, do you?”

“What?! No way!”

Annoyed that he had so confidently assumed I wouldn’t know, I shook my head furiously.

“I know ancient language too!”

“How could you possibly know it?”

“I saw it at the temple! I can help you look too!”

Edwin’s complicated expression made it clear he wasn’t thrilled with my outburst.

But at least he no longer seemed intent on kicking me out.

With an exasperated sigh, he finally spoke.

“…It might not even be here, so just go look around over there. And don’t get in my way.”

“Okay!”

Not only had I been allowed to stay, but he had even pointed me toward the bedside area, the complete opposite of his desk search.

I let out a silent sigh of relief.

‘Phew. He really hates being called oppa.’

It worked out well for me—I had wanted to check under the bed and inside the wardrobe anyway.

Just like I had done earlier, Edwin began rummaging through Logan’s desk and drawers.

‘But why is he looking for ancient language?’

His actions seemed suspicious, but I decided to set my curiosity aside for now.

After all, I had already wasted ten minutes arguing with him.

Only twenty-five minutes left before Logan returned.

Moving quickly, I checked the bedside table and under the bed.

Nothing.

Next, I opened the wardrobe.

Inside, there were just some extra blankets and a few plain outfits.

I slipped my hand between the blankets, checked the pockets of the hanging clothes—

Nothing.

No evidence of Logan’s connection to the temple.

No ancient text that Edwin was searching for.

Not even a scrap of paper.

‘That just leaves the locked safe in the drawer… and the bookshelf.’

Suppressing my disappointment, I turned away from the wardrobe and let out a small sigh.

The safe would require a different plan to unlock.

As for the bookshelf…

‘Ugh.’

The glass jars filled with preserved creatures made me hesitate.

Even without those disgusting specimens, searching the bookshelf would take too much time.

I would need to inspect every book, and there might even be a hidden compartment behind it—like in the duke’s office.

‘…Maybe I should just stop for today.’

It made me uneasy to leave, knowing that the temple’s spies could be plotting something.

But since I lived in the duke’s estate, I would get another chance.

Acting rashly would only ruin everything.

As I tried to console myself and was about to tell Edwin we should leave—

My eyes suddenly landed on the large painting beside the bookshelf.

The one depicting the Goddess of Erea in battle against the demons.

I had already noticed it when I first entered Logan’s room.

But this time, something about it felt wrong.

Slowly, I stepped closer.

Usually, holy war paintings were depicted with the Goddess and angels above, and the demons below—

A clear representation of divine victory.

But in this painting, the entire composition was reversed.

The sky, painted in dark crimson, was swarming with demons—while on the ground, the Goddess stood with her spear pointed upward.

And yet…

‘The spear’s tip… it’s broken?’

Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the bodies lying at her feet weren’t demons.

They were dead angels.

And that wasn’t all.

The angels surrounding the Goddess—rather than standing valiantly—

Their swords were all pointed downward.

As if they had lost the will to fight.

Or—

As if they were forming an inverted cross.

I wasn’t particularly religious, despite being a Saintess Candidate.

But this—

This was…

‘A horrifying act of blasphemy.’

A painting depicting the Goddess losing to the demons?

In Erea, the Holy Nation, such a thing was unthinkable.

A chill crawled up my spine.

The more I examined the details, the more the unease turned to sheer dread.

“…Edwin.”

My voice trembled as I called him.

Edwin, still focused on searching the desk, responded without even looking at me.

“What.”

“T-the painting… it’s weird.”

“What about it?”

“It’s… it’s really scary…”

Only when my voice cracked with tears did he finally lift his head.

“What’s wrong?”

“T-the Goddess… It looks like she’s l-losing to the demons…”

“What are you talking about…?”

Sensing something wasn’t right, Edwin immediately walked around the desk to join me.

The moment he stood beside me, the cold terror wrapped around me loosened slightly.

While I was frozen in horror, Edwin calmly studied the painting.

“This is…”

Frowning, he reached out and ran his hand along the corner of the canvas.

“…The paper has been layered over.”

“L-layered?”

Before I could fully process his words, Edwin suddenly scraped at the corner with his nails.

Riiip—

The canvas tore apart almost immediately.

“E-Edwin! Can you just—”

I had been about to stop him, but I suddenly froze in place.

Because Edwin was right.

The canvas had been layered over.

Beneath the torn painting, another blackened sheet of paper was revealed.

And on it—

Faint, eerie letters.

Recognizing them, Edwin ripped the canvas apart even more aggressively.

And without even realizing, I found myself helping him.

Rip! Tear! Shred—!

Dragging over a chair, we tore away the entire massive canvas.

And when we finally unveiled the hidden message underneath—

What lay before us…

Was the ancient text Edwin had been searching for.

 

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