Chapter 8
‘Is he about to give up?’
Kynemia tightened her grip on the broom as she watched the man’s hesitant movements.
She braced herself, pressing her left heel against the wall, ready in case he lunged at her.
Tap—
A finger-snapping sound echoed from somewhere.
“Huh?”
Kynemia’s ears twitched.
“Ghk!”
The man groaned, clutching his throat.
Thud.
His strength seemed to drain away as he collapsed to his knees.
What’s happening? Kynemia’s eyes flickered uncertainly.
‘Eiyan? Or…’
Just as she stepped toward the man, a figure landed in front of her, blocking her path.
Jet-black hair and pitch-black eyes. A boy with a bright, cheerful smile.
“You…!”
“Were you waiting for me, Lady Grand Duchess?”
“You! Where have you been?”
Eiyan tilted his head.
“You said we needed to find the frog sign, right? I went to look for it.”
Frog sign? Kynemia’s brow furrowed. You went to look for that while I was stuck here in this mess?!
“Hmm? Are you angry?”
Eiyan stared at her with a sulky puppy-dog expression. His disarming looks might have softened her anger, but Kynemia felt her amygdala blaring alarms in her mind.
Were you watching from somewhere, you psychopath?
As if reading her thoughts, Eiyan spoke up:
“It wasn’t on purpose. I won’t lose you again.”
Kynemia bit back her retorts. She wanted to part with Eiyan cleanly—no loose ends.
If only it weren’t for that vengeful future… If only Rikasha hadn’t…
Swallowing her frustration, she flung the broom aside and kicked it. It slid to the wall.
“You…”
“Yeah?”
“What do you really want from me?”
She met his gaze. Eiyan smirked, studying her icy blue eyes.
“I’m your bodyguard, Lady Grand Duchess.”
“That’s all?”
“What else?”
“You truly want nothing but to guard me?”
Eiyan lowered his eyes under her unwavering stare.
‘Sharp, this one.’
Before she could press further, he murmured:
“I… have nowhere else to go if I’m not with you.”
Kynemia replied flatly: “…You could return to the Magic Tower.”
“You saw the hole in my side last time.”
“Hasn’t it healed?”
“Touch it.”
“Eek!”
She recoiled when her fingers brushed the wound. Eiyan lifted his shirt.
“See?”
“…?!”
The sloppily wrapped bandage was soaked with blood.
He’s been walking around with an open wound?!
“Why didn’t you treat this? What’s wrong with you?!”
Eiyan grinned at her panicked flailing. “Feeling sorry for me?”
Though concern filled her wide eyes, Kynemia glared defiantly.
“The Magic Tower’s mages did this,” Eiyan said, smoothing his shirt. “If the current Rikasha dies, they can claim the title.”
“…They’d go that far?”
“Many resent a 12-year-old becoming Rikasha. Talented mages train for decades just to become elders. A child who hasn’t even undergone a second awakening? They’d never accept it.”
“…”
A 12-year-old constantly under threat… Kynemia’s fist tightened. She couldn’t help but pity him.
Seizing her hesitation, Eiyan pouted. “If I leave the Grand Duke’s castle now, I’ll probably die alone on the streets…”
But you’d just come back for revenge! Part of her wished he’d vanish. No—that’s too cruel.
Her mind weighed danger against guilt. Then morality tipped the scales: abandoning a wounded child wasn’t human.
“…Only until your wounds heal.”
“How generous, Lady Grand Duchess!”
“You said you were ‘hunting humans’ when we met.”
“Obviously a joke.”
“It felt real.”
Eiyan chuckled. Despite her lingering doubts, Kynemia grudgingly nodded.
“…Don’t lose me again.”
“I won’t.”
He smiled down at her mumbling. Her pout made no effort to hide her dislike.
‘Why does she hate me so much? From the very beginning…’
Eiyan knew his looks and status usually charmed others. Yet this Grand Duchess shuddered at both.
“Hand.”
“Huh?”
Kynemia held out her hand. “It’s crowded. If we get separated again…”
“Right!” Eiyan cut her off cheerfully, clasping her entire hand.
“Just hold the tips!”
Startled, she yanked back, leaving him gripping only her fingertips.
“Your hand’s too small—it’ll slip out.”
“Then try not to let it.”
“Yes, yes…”
His playful tone contrasted with her trembling fingers. Was she shaking earlier too?
In front of that nobody?
He’d assumed she hid her magic, yet her resolve radiated from such a small frame.
As they exited the alley, Eiyan adjusted his grip. Her hand could slip so easily…
He recalled a Magic Tower trainee who’d nursed an injured bird—a baffling act of care in their ruthless world.
Caring for others… Eiyan, abandoned at 7, had survived alleyways before the Tower took him in. Kindness was foreign.
‘Slipping again.’ He readjusted.
Caring meant constant vigilance: shielding Kynemia from fools, adjusting his grip, never looking away…
Thump.
Kynemia bumped into his back.
“Ah, sorry!” She awkwardly rubbed her head. “Someone pushed me…”
A sudden heartbeat thudded in Eiyan’s chest.
“Why’d you stop?” she asked.
“No reason…” He touched his chest.
Was this from his injury… or his second awakening?
