#85

At that moment, Zerakiel frowned deeply. His expression unreadable, I felt my confidence falter and reflexively lowered my gaze.

“No?” I asked hesitantly, my voice wavering.

Even with my timid question, Zerakiel remained silent. ‘Maybe I got too cocky from all the praise I’ve been getting lately,’ I thought, bracing myself for a scolding as I nervously darted my eyes around.

But Zerakiel sighed heavily and said, “When you say it like that, I can’t do anything.”

“Zerakiel?”

“I always thought losing was the worst thing in the world,” he murmured, his words vague and hard to follow. Then, he lightly tapped my cheek. “But losing to you doesn’t feel so bad.”

What was I supposed to do with this man who not only tolerated me hitting him but now claimed he didn’t mind losing to me? I blinked, too stunned to respond. At least it seemed to mean he was letting me have my way.

I grabbed his hand tightly and said, “I know you do this because you care about me.”

“Really? Because the way you act, it seems like you don’t get that at all,” he replied with a slightly sharp tone, though his gaze had softened considerably. A sign he was already calming down.

I swung our clasped hands gently and said, “Anyway, I want to contribute to Jabis, too. So please, don’t stop me.”

“Ha, how did I end up like this…” Zerakiel sighed deeply, finally resigning himself to the situation.

“Promise me, then. Next time, you’ll tell me first.”

“Hmm…”

“If you promise, I won’t stop you from doing what you want.”

“Alright.” I nodded without hesitation and hooked my pinky finger with his. From today’s events alone, it was clear that I wouldn’t get anywhere without involving him. Better to win him over and have him support me.

Rachel, who had been observing us the entire time, finally chimed in. “Well, this is a surprise. I thought for sure there’d be a grand showdown when Riki gave in.”

Her tone carried a hint of disappointment, as though she regretted missing out on the drama.

And just like that, Rachel’s comment served as a signal for Zerakiel to redirect his annoyance toward her.

“This is partly your fault, Mother.”

Rachel’s expression wavered, and she averted her gaze. “Oh my, are you blaming your poor mother when you couldn’t even win against her?”

“At the very least, you could have given me a heads-up. Do you know how baffled I was when I arrived in Ilanbore?”

Zerakiel scowled at the memory, and Rachel, unwilling to back down, raised her voice in retaliation.

“I didn’t exactly have time to prepare either! You know how your wife can be when she sets her mind on something!”

‘Didn’t you suggest we leave right away, Lady Rachel?’

I pursed my lips, holding back the words that hovered on the tip of my tongue. If I said anything now, I’d only earn a second round of scolding from Rachel later.

Then Zerakiel spoke in a serious tone. “Don’t talk badly about Chichi.”

“Well, I never—!” Rachel gasped, too flustered to finish her sentence. After a moment, she sighed and muttered, “At least I didn’t let her come here alone.”

“For that, I’m grateful,” Zerakiel replied earnestly.

“That’s your idea of showing gratitude?” Rachel huffed, though the upward curl of her lips betrayed her amusement. She seemed pleased to be having such a long conversation with her son.

Their relationship was still somewhat awkward, but perhaps that was a good thing. If they were closer, the sheer strength between them would make even a minor disagreement escalate into a full-blown catastrophe.

Thinking back to the fights I’d seen between Zakari and Rachel, I couldn’t help but feel that a Zerakiel-versus-Rachel battle wasn’t entirely out of the question.

Rachel, now sitting with a more nonchalant expression, said, “We should inform your father. He must be worried since all three of us disappeared.”

“It’s rare for you to be concerned about Father,” Zerakiel remarked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

“Well…” Rachel trailed off, looking awkward as she avoided his gaze. I jabbed Zerakiel lightly in the side, giving him a look that said, ‘Are you seriously asking that?’

Zerakiel shrugged, feigning innocence. It was clear he knew exactly what he was doing. He probably just wanted to prod Rachel for not stopping me.

‘So petty.’

Rachel, whose face was now as red as a beet, waved a hand as if fanning herself and shouted, “It’s just because your father’s pathetic life is pitiful, that’s all!”

“Of course,” Zerakiel replied with an exaggerated nod.

“Argh!” Rachel, clearly at her limit, seemed ready to curse but was quickly interrupted by Kiera, who stepped in to mediate.

“Lady Rachel, why don’t you have some tea while we wait? Lord Zakari will likely come here once he hears the news.”

“Oh, that’s true,” Rachel said, instantly forgetting her irritation as she began humming a little tune at the thought of Zakari’s arrival.

Watching her so easily distracted, I had to stifle a laugh. Her emotions were written all over her face.

* * *

Shortly after Ella returned to her room, Isaac was already there, sitting with a composed air on the sofa as if he had been waiting for her.

He lifted his head as soon as he noticed her. “So, you’re finally here.”

“Sir Isaac,” Ella greeted him, her shoulders instinctively hunching at the sight of him. Isaac, unbothered by her reaction, gestured for her to come closer with a slight tilt of his chin.

Isaac, one of Naaman’s twelve loyal disciples, was not only Ella’s direct superior but also her foster father. These disciples, chosen by Naaman, wielded significant power through the Guardian Ring, which granted them strength comparable to pheromones.

The Guardian Ring, an artifact imbued with the power of the Guardian—whom only the leader of Hebel could communicate with—was a symbol of eternal authority, designed in the shape of a Möbius strip. It was a coveted item among Hebel’s priests, representing unparalleled influence.

In Hebel, where pheromones were either weak or absent altogether, the Guardian Ring provided a unique advantage, allowing its wearer to exert great power. This made becoming one of Naaman’s disciples a fiercely competitive endeavor.

Isaac was no exception. Recently, he had been appointed as the youngest of the twelve disciples and was awarded the Guardian Ring.

Ella had been adopted by Isaac long before he rose to his current position. Smiling benevolently, Isaac spoke. “You should address me as Father.”

“…Father.”

“Good,” Isaac said, a faint smirk forming on his lips. Ella’s gaze naturally shifted to his clasped hands, where the silver Guardian Ring gleamed under the light, demanding attention.

Even before coming to Hebel, Ella had known the significance of the ring—it was an honor bestowed only upon Hebel’s high-ranking priests.

She had deliberately sought Isaac out, knowing he was on the path to becoming one of the twelve disciples. Being by someone’s side during their humble beginnings often left a lasting impression on them.

It had taken Ella considerable time to fully integrate into Hebel. But now, she was firmly entrenched, so much so that she had accompanied Isaac to the Jabis estate.

With a seemingly innocent expression, Ella asked, “What brings you here?”

“Do I need a reason to visit?” Isaac replied, his tone faintly reproachful.

“…That’s not what I meant,” Ella quickly corrected herself, lowering her head. Satisfied, Isaac softened his expression and said, “I came to deliver a message. Naaman has entrusted you with keeping an eye on that white weasel. Use this as an opportunity to observe her closely.”

“Observe her?”

“Yes. Isn’t there something suspicious about her? She’s no ordinary individual. Build a rapport with her to lower her guard. And if you notice anything unusual, report it immediately.”

“Yes, I will,” Ella replied, her face adopting the familiar mask of obedience. She couldn’t help but steal a glance at Isaac, whose self-importance had only grown since he became the youngest disciple.

‘Still, I have to endure it,’ Ella reminded herself, maintaining her innocent facade. She focused on her true purpose for being here, concealing her thoughts behind a placid smile.

Pleased by her response, Isaac reached out and patted her head gently.

“Good girl.”

 

 

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